History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 49

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

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James Brown and William Loomis were early settlers, as were John Moore and Joseph Greek. . William Cotton came when a lad, and lived in the township over seventy years. . Peter Turner and Richard Struble were early settlers. . Zenas Cleveland came in 1816, and lived to be ninety-four years of age-poor, blind and bed- ridden, many years before he died-a soldier in the War of 1812-15. It was for this Cleveland family that Cleveland, Ohio, was named. With Cleveland came Nathaniel Hotchkiss, Joseph Nichols and Russell Marsh, who settled Litchfield, in 1816, and soon after, Paul Apgar settled near them and opened a blacksmith shop. . At South Hill, John Moore was the first settler. . Absalom Adams came to what is now Litchfield soon after Apgar started his blacksmith shop.

John Marks, Neff, Tappan and Beach were early comers.

Orsan Carner, a preacher, came in 1823, and settled the Henry Brink place.

There are two gristmills in the township: A. C. Hunt's, on the Wappasening, and Snell's, in Cotton Hollow, and at both Litchfield and at South Litchfield is a store. For thirty years the increase of population has been no more than the natural increase from births.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

MONROE TOWNSHIP-MONROE BOROUGH.

PRIOR to the Wyoming battle, on the Towanda flats, Jacob Bowman had moved near Mr. Fox, while Capt. John Bartles had settled, or at least made a pitch, above them toward Monroeton, and probably John Neeley at Greenwood. John Neeley had taken possession of the tract of land above Mr. Fox, at Greenwood, and was probably there at this time, and aided Mr. Fox in his emigration. The Strickland family settled on the Cole place at an early day. The first grave at " Cole's, as shown by the inscription on the headstone, was that of " Hannah Strickland," whose death occurred January 24, 1791, at the age of eighteeen months and two days. Noadiah Cranmer, born in New Jersey, August 26, 1736, located on lands east of those of his son John's, now included in the " Hinman property."

Usual Carter, a warm friend of Samuel Cranmer, came to Monroe before 1796; located on lands now included within the borough limits, and built his house near the residence of H. C. Tracy. . Peter Edsall and the Millers-Daniel, Shadrach, Jacob, William and Moses- migrated to Monroe at about the same time as did the Carter family.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

John Neeley purchased a tract occupied by Mrs. Brown and others at Greenwood. It is stated that, "as early as 1787 he came on and had his land surveyed and made arrangements preparatory to settlement. Undertaking to swim a horse across the river at the mouth of Towanda creek, he was drowned in Bowman's eddy. . Timothy Alden came to Monroe in 1800. He was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade for some time after coming into Monroe. In 1827 he built the stone house yet standing on the place where he settled.

The Northrups came to Monroe before the year 1800, and Nehe- miah was a property owner in Athens at or before the year 1795. John and James, like Bijah, were "watermen," and employes of the Meanses for some years before becoming land owners. . Henry Salis- bury was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and lost his right arm, with a wound in his left hand, at the surrender of Cornwallis. He migrated when his son Henry was seventeen years old, which would make his advent into Monroe in the year 1797. His purchase included the land held by the Coles, and his house, the largest in the neighborhood, stood near the public road between Samuel Cole's and the watering- trough.

John Schrader came to Greenwood and settled where the tannery now is, soon after Dougherty, perhaps as early as 1801-2.

Daniel Heverly, a native of Lehigh county, came to Greenwood in 1806, and remained there until 1810, when he and his sons moved into Overton, being the first settlers there. . James Lewis came to Mon- roe prior to 1806, and settled the Shultz place. . Reed Brockaway was an inhabitant of the township for a short time, as early as 1800.

Abner C. Rockwell, a native of East Windsor, Conn., born May 4, 1783, migrated to Monroe not far from the year 1800. . James Law- rence, born February 15, 1814, was associated with Wm. H. H. Brown in the mercantile business at Monroeton for about twenty years. After the dissolution of the firm he purchased Park's mills, now Rockwell Bridge mills, which he operated until the time of his death-Novem- ber 21, 1875. . Rev. Elisha Cole, born August 15, 1769, came to Mon- roe in about 1810-11. Jared Woodruff, born August 14, 1789, made a trip to the West a-foot and alone in 1812 or '13. With no particular point in view he drifted into Monroe, and after having lived there for a short time, a brother, Urial, came in, and they purchased the improve- ments which had been made by John Northrup.

Timothy Alden came from Otis, Berkshire Co., Mass., to Monroe in 1801. Andrew Irving settled in Monroe as early as 1812, and induced his brother George to come also from Northampton county, their former home. Andrew was a tanner, and had a tannery in the town. Soon after Andrew and George came, their brother, Welch Irving also came. . Noadiah Cranmer came to Monroe from Sussex county, N. J., at an early day. He owned the property where the village stands, and up as far as Mason's Mills. His sons, John and Samuel, had log houses and improvements. The father was an old man of about eighty years when he came into the country, and he lived alone. He was the ancestor of a large and important family in

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

the township, who have been identified with its history and interested in its progress from the beginning.

Peter Edsall came in before 1800, and lived next above Mr. Cranmer. The Tabors were in the town in 1800, and lived on the old Scott

place. Mrs. Pladnor lived on the property owned by Joseph Homet, in Monroeton, the house being near Mr. Brown's, in 1800.

The father of Nelson Gilbert moved up the creek in 1813, and lived in one end of a double log house, the other being occupied by William Dougherty. John Schrader was a Hessian soldier, who was one of thirty who deserted the British army at the battle of Trenton, joined the American ranks, and remained in the service until the close of the war. Then lived for a time at Milton, Northumberland county, and finally settled on the lower end of the flats just below Greenwood, where he died at an advanced age. . James Lewis settled above Schrader's. He had been a captive to the Indians in the last French-Indian war, being then twelve years of age. After the conclusion of peace he was returned to his parents. He first settled in Wysox, where he owned land on the Little Wysox, and built what were afterward known as Hinman's mills, he having sold to John Hinman, Dec. 13, 1793, and moved into Monroe, his house standing nearly on the site of the present Greenwood cottage.

Amos V. Matthews was among the early settlers on the Schrader branch. Vincent A. Matthews built a tavern in what is known as Northrup Hollow, on the farm now occupied by Nathan Northrup.

Henry Salisbury was an early settler in the lower part of the township, on the farm now occupied by Salisbury Cole. . Elijah Head moved out on pack-horses, and settled on what was afterward known as the Daniel Bowman place. . Jared Woodruff was early in Monroe, and a pioneer on the hill east of the village.

John D. Sanders, a native of Maryland, caine to Monroe in about 1802-3, and settled the Ridgeway place. . Daniel Gilbert set- tled at Greenwood in 1812 or '13. He was a son of Samuel Gil- bert, a native of Connecticut, who migrated to Pennsylvania in about 1790. . William French, or " Bill French," as he was more com- monly known, came in from the East as early as 1813, and settled on the hills above Monroeton, near the Franklin line. . The Hewitts were lumbermen. They came to Monroe before 1813, and had a mill in operation at Masontown for several years, and did quite an extensive business. . Thomas Cox was an early settler, and for a time he lived within the limits of Monroeton, then moved to the hills back of the village, in Towanda township, where he died. He married Susan, daughter of Usual Carter. U. M. Cox and Mrs. Nathan Northrup are children, and reside in the township.

Charles Brown came to the township and settled the Philo Mingos place, before 1813. Edsall Carr was an inhabitant of Monroe in 1813. . Job Irish was an early settler. . George Arnout came in 1816, and purchased with his son, Jacob, the farm generally known as the " Salisbury place." . Simeon Bristol, or " Uncle Sim Bristol," as he was familiarly called, was among the more interesting char- acters of Monroe, not far from 1818.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Among the names of those contained in the first assessment of Monroe (1821) are the following : James Crooks, William Day, Abra- ham Hess, John and Norman Stone, Solomon Tallady, Daniel Lyon.

Libeus Marcy, a native of Connecticut, migrated to Monroe in 1822. . Thomas Lewis, or " Uncle Tommy Lewis," as he was more generally known, a native of Lebanon county, Pa., came to Monroe in 1822 from McKunesville. . Dr. Benoni Mandeville, a native of Granby, Mass., came to Bradford county in 1813, at first settling in Orwell township, where he practiced his profession, and preached for a time. In 1822 he came to Monroe, and purchased what is now the W. W. Decker property.

Elizer Sweet, a native of Rhode Island, born July 9, 1778, found his way into Pennsylvania not far from the year 1800.

In 1825, the following were assessed in Monroe: Adam Beam, Samuel Campbell, Marcus Campbell, Sherman Havens and William Cox ; in 1826, William Black, clothier and spinner ; in 1827, Joseph Ingham and John Black, both clothiers; in 1828, Orrin Galpin ; in 1829, Gashun Harris, George A. McClen ; in 1830, Clark Cummings, Moses Coolbaugh, Joseph Griggs, Elisha Harris, John E. Ingham (physician); in 1831, Fisher and Wilson, merchants; in 1832, Francis Bull, John Gale, Harrison & Warford (merchants) ; in 1833, Thos. T. Smiley; in 1834, Joab Summers, John Campbell (miller), D. M. Bull ; in 1835, Nicholas Wanck, Jeremiah Hollon, Elijah Horton ; in 1838, James Blauvelt and Coonrad Mingos.

Joseph Griggs, a native of Windham, Conn., came to the township in 1830. . Dr. John Ellicott Ingham, whose father was one of the first settlers in Sugar Run, after having graduated in medicine, located at Monroe in 1830. . John Gale, a native of Orange county, N. Y., and grandson of Selah Arnout, became a permanent resident in the town in 1832. . Joah Summers settled at Liberty Corners in 1834.

Liberty Corners has one store and a postoffice. The place was formerly called " Hollon Hill."

Northrup Hollon was named after Nathan Northrup-the name also of a beautiful valley in Monroe.

Weston is a station on the railroad, made notable by the coal-oil excitement of 1884, when a company was formed, and a well put down 1,805 feet ; they found sand, rock and greasy odors, but no oil.

Masontown is really a continuation of Monroeton along the high- way. Here are the Salisbury Mills.

Greenwood is two miles, on the Canton road, beyond Monroeton. The Barclay road passes through it. It was platted by E. T. Park in 1884, on the old Higby place, and has 327 acres in the plat; 35 acres were sold out in lots. Adjoining this plat is a portion of the village and the hotel. In 1800 William Dougherty kept a house of entertain- ment here ; sold to Jacob Bowman, who in turn sold to David Gilbert.

Greenwood Tannery, by Thomas E. Procter and Jonathan Hill. They have seventy-five acres of ground connected with the plant, own 15,000 acres of timber land in Bradford and Sullivan counties, also contracts for the bark on 11,000 acres at the Foot of Plane, and have 10,000 cords of bark on hand. There is but one larger plant of the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

kind in the world-the one at Ralston, Pa. They have 458 tan vats, 13 coolers, each 8 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter; 16 leaches that will hold 16 tons of ground bark each ; employ 100 men in the tannery and 50 men all the time in the woods; ship 3 car-loads of leather a week ; their supply of hides, known as the African buffalo hide, comes from Calcutta, and the exclusive make is sole leather. They consume 12,000 tons of bark a year. G. B. Griswold, is bookkeeper and cashier ; M. E. Sarvay is mercantile manager. The tannery was established, in 1867, by Towanda parties, with a capacity of 25,000 hides a year. In 1881, it was purchased by the present proprietors, and enlarged to its present capacity. Connected with the tannery is a general store which does a large trade.

MONROE BOROUGH.

Monroeton, which is at the junction of the Barclay Railroad and State Line & Sullivan Railroad, is an important shipping point. The town originally commenced to grow at the time of the building of the turnpike in 1819. In 1820 a number of mills were started, and at one time fourteen of these were in the township. The trade reached its highest mark in 1844, and practically ceased in 1859. Matters stood stationary until 1871, the time of the building of the State Line & Sullivan Railroad. The village was plotted in 1828 by G. F. Mason, and was made a borough in May, 1855; in its limits are about 250 acres, once the property of Timothy Pickering. In 1840, E. F. Young built a foundry and machine shop; swept away July 19, 1850; rebuilt the next year. The foundry at that place was joined to the Towanda foundry in 1871. In 1882 it became the property of Rockwell & Cranmer.

Monroe Manufacturing Company was established in April, 1885, by O. M. Brock, H. M. Mullen and E. F. Fowler; they manufacture lumber, nail-kegs, lath, etc. In 1888 it was sold to an incorporated company, and in 1890 began making toys, etc. They employ about 200 men. Their entire product is completed in the factory.

The first officers of Monroe borough were: Burgess, W. H. H. Brown ; council, H. S. Phinney, E. B. Coolbaugh, Anthony Mullen, D. L. Lyon, John Hanson, Abraham Fox ; secretary, L. L. Terwilliger; treasurer, C. M. Knapp. The present officers are: J. T. Sweet, burgess ; council, Bernard A. Cranmer. F. H. Dodge, G. H. Smally, Thomas Ackley, Henry Walborn, J. A. De Voe ; clerk, Hobart N. Mullen.

Monroeton has the following industries : Two drug stores, two hard- ware stores, four dry goods and groceries, one coal dealer and one meat market. Col. Rogers Fowler erected a sawmill and gristmill in 1803, on the creek, at Monroe, and Anthony Vanderpool built, some time before this date, a little log tub-mill, which was the first mill in all this country. In 1800, Dougherty and Needham built the first mill at Greenwood. "King Pool " built a gristmill, with a single run of stone, at Monroe, several years before the Fowlers came. Jacob Bowman built the first frame house in the township. There were twelve distilleries within four miles of Bowman's; among them, Reu- ben Hale's, Thompson's, Ebenezer Tuttle's, Means' Widow Pladnor's, Stephen Wilcox's, Joseph Wallace's, and Johnson's,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXVIII. ORWELL TOWNSHIP.

TN April, 1801, the council of Luzerne county appointed Ezekiel Hyde, Josiah Grant and William Spalding, commissioners, to erect a township embracing this territory: "From the fifty-second mile- stone, on the north line of the county; thence south twelve miles, fifty-one chains and fifty links to the south line of Tioga district; thence east eleven miles; thence north twelve miles; thence west 11 miles to the point of commencement." The report was approved and the new township was called " Mount Zion." In April, 1802, on peti- tion of E. Coburn and others, the name was changed to Orwell.

The first settlement in Orwell township, as it is now, was in 1796, near Ransom's corner, by Francis Mesusan and David Russell. The following year they were joined by Asahel Johnson, Josiah Grant and Samuel Wells. Daniel Russell lived just below the forks of the road from Rome to Orwell hill, on the place occupied by his grandson, Stephen Russell. Edward Gridley occupied the Mesusan place. Mr. Russell was born in Tolland county, Conn., September 26, 1770; was married November 21, 1791, to Polly Chubbuck, and came to Orwell in 1794, on the Wysox creek, where he made a clearing and a farm, and reared a family of eleven children-five sons and six daughters. He made the clearing in 1794 and 1795, but lived at Sheshequin a year, until the summer of 1796, where his second daughter was born.

Two brothers of his wife, Ebenezer and Nathanial Chubbuck, came and settled near him afterward; the latter had ten sons and two daughters. His children, with one exception who died single, were all married and settled within five miles of his homestead. They in turn cleared away the forests and reared families, until the number of his posterity had in his life-time become more than one hundred souls.

Asahel Johnson and Zenas Cook came first to Sheshequin in the winter of 1795-96, and made that settlement their headquarters while they explored the country for a location. They made their selection in Orwell, Mr. Johnson purchasing on Towner hill. Their report was so flattering, several of their neighbors determined to come also; a company was formed, and Marks and Cook were sent to view the land more thoroughly. Their report being favorable, the company pur- chased the township, which was to be divided among its members. Mr. Johnson remained a year at Sheshequin, and came into Orwell permanently in 1797. The town was six miles square, and was called Menden; Mr. Johnson owned 3,000 acres. He lived where Albert Conklin now lives, and his brother Truman, who came in 1796, lived on the farm now owned by Albert Allen and Lewis Darling. His brother William lived where Zebulon Frisbie lives. The family came from Burlington, Litchfield Co., Conn,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY

Capt. Josiah Grant settled in the town in 1798, from Vermont. He was a captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, serving under Col. Ethan Allen, whose cousin he was, in his brigade of "Green Mountain Boys." Capt. Grant lived about one hundred rods west of the present site of the Presbyterian church in Orwell. . . Samuel Wells, who married a sister of Asahel Johnson, came from Burlington, Vt., and settled on the farm just south of Johnson, in 1799. His eldest son, Theron, now owns the property. Capt. Samuel Woodruff came also in 1799; a Revolutionary soldier from Litchfield, Conn. He was a brother of Capt. Grant's wife, and had four children, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Clarissa, and another daughter, who married Adarine Manville, one of the early settlers of Orwell. Clarissa married Dr. Seth Barstow, who settled on the Pool place in Wysox. Capt. Woodruff settled on the farm occupied by Josiah Newell. He sold to Josiah Grant, Jr., whose daughter married James, the father of Josiah Newell. Capt. Woodruff then went to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Barstow, and died there.

Levi Frisbie came to Orwell from Bristol, Conn. in February, 1800. His wife was the daughter of Aaron Gaylord, who was slain in the battle of Wyoming. After the battle the widowed mother with her three children went back to Connecticut, where Levi was married to her eldest daughter. Levi Frisbie, Richard Marks, Asahel Johnson, Will- iam Johnson, Truman Johnson, Zenas Cook, Asa Upson, and perhaps one or two others, formed the company, which, at the solicitation of Col. Ezekiel Hyde and Elisha Tracy, agents for the first Delaware company, purchased of these agents a township of land six miles square, extending north and east from the present Orwell. Mr. Frisbie came on the place where the Hon. Zebulon Frisbie resided. There had been a small clearing of some two or three acres made, and a log house rolled up by Deacon William Johnson, who had removed into Pike. This log house stood a few rods from the residence of Z. Frisbie. Levi Frisbie was born in Bristol, Conn., January 31, 1758, and died October 5, 1842. He married Phebe Gaylord, who was born in Bristol, Conn., November 19, 1769; married December 20, 1786; removed to Orwell, Pa., 1800; she died October 5, 1851. They had six children, Chauncey, Laura, Catharine, a son who died in infancy, Levi, and Zebulon. Chauncey, married Chloe Howard, and after her decease married Eliza, relict of Dudley Humphrey, M. D., and died May 4, 1864.

In 1801, Theron Darling and his father Abel, John Pierce, and Alpheus Choat came in. Col. Darling was from Litchfield, Conn., and Mr. Pierce and Mr. Choat from Vermont. Mr. Pierce's wife was a sister of Mrs. Josiah Grant. They lived where formerly was the Gridley farm, and left about 1804-5, and went to near Owego, N. Y. Mr. Choat married a daughter of Mr. Pierce, and subsequently moved into Wysox. Joel Barnes came with Levi Frisbie from Massachusetts, and settled near Mr. Eastman. He married a daughter of Capt. Grant, and died in Orwell. . Deacon William Ranney settled where Mr. Payson lives, and Lebbeus Roberts on the Woodruff corners, in 1802. Capt, John Grant was a brother to Capt, Josiah, and came to

Samuel Lyan

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Orwell about 1804-5, and located on the farm of Carlos Chubbuck, about three-fourths of a mile from Orwell hill.

Zenas Cook located a farm in the hollow in which Potterville is now situated, but abandoned it after finding his claim was worthless. Joel Cook, a brother, came to Orwell after 1800. His father, Joel Cook, was a soldier for three years in the Revolution, and was at the siege of Mud Island, and in the battle of Germantown. He and his son, Uri, came to Orwell in 1814, and settled on the farm adjoining his son Joel's. A daughter married Truman Johnson . . . Nathaniel Chubbuck was the first of his family who came to northern Pennsylvania. He was born in Tolland county, Conn., and came from there to Orwell, in the summer of 1811, and purchased the possession-right of 300 acres on Wysox creek ; on a portion of which he resided until his death, and a portion of which tract is owned by his son, L. S. Chubbuck. The pur- chase was made of William Keeler Oct. 2, 1811. Nathaniel returned to Connecticut, and on January, 28, 1812, married Hannah Lovet, and at once proceeded to his new home with her. His brother, Aaron Chub- buck, came to Orwell two years later, in the winter, traveling the whole distance with oxen and sled. He located on the creek about a mile below Nathaniel's, on land adjoining Dan Russell, where he resided until about 1854. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1819. The father of these two gentlemen, Nathaniel Chubbuck, with his wife, Chloe, and a daughter of the same name (since the wife of Levi Frisbie), came from Ellington, Tolland Co., Conn., in the spring of 1818, and selected several hundred acres on the hills of Orwell, in preference to lands in Wysox, now owned by the Piollets.

On October 10, 1803, Revs. Seth Willotson and James M. Wood- word, under direction of the Connecticut Missionary Society, organized a church at the house of Lebbeus Roberts, on "the Robert's corners" [any cross-roads at that time were called "corners"]. This was named the Church of Orwell, but afterward was moved to Le Rays- ville, and became the Church of Pike, and Rev. Benoni Mandeville was pastor from 1812 to 1814.

The first justice of the peace. in Orwell township was Jarvis Buttles, appointed by the governor, and, as recited, "to have and to hold so long as you behave yourself well." He was postmaster over forty years at South Hill, and since it was opened the office has been in the Buttles family.

Among the " old boys " of this township is yet living a man who split 200 rails to secure his marriage license, and who is the living testimony that marriage is not a failure. . The first couple married in the township were Archibald Coleman and Miss Walker.

The three-story wooden school building in Orwell was built by subscription in 1859 or '60, at the time with a hall above for public meetings, shows, etc. One room in second story for school, and resi- dences below. It was sold at public sale, and now is the property of Daniel Dimmick; center room for school, and upper hall for exhibi- tions ; two graded rooms in school. . Orwell township has five post- offices and four villages.

Orwell village has two stores, hardware, and grocery, an incorpo-

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

rated public library, tin, blacksmith and wagon shops. . Pot- tersville has two stores, one gristmill and one saw and planing mill. The gristmill is owned by E. & C. Workhiser, and the sawmill is owned by D. F. Barstow. . North Orwell has two stores and a cream- ery. . Allis Hollow has two stores.

Orwell Hill had some important industries established as early as 1839. The big " black building" was built that year by Hezekiah Dunham, a carpenter, as a distillery and feed-mill. In 1840 one room was used for a school. Then a tannery was built and a shoe and trunk factory started. Mrs. Maynard's present dwelling was built for a tavern, and ran several years; a carding-mill and bedstead factory were built " up the hill."

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 49

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