History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 54

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

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Obadiah Spalding, a brother of Col. Harry, a " mechanic and single freeman," lived in Towanda from 1812 to 1817. . . Noah Spalding, another brother of Col. Harry, who had been associated with Wm. B. Spalding (a brother) in lumbering on the Towanda creek, became a villager in about 1822. He built a tavern on the east side of the river, a little north of where the bridge approach now is, and kept it in con- nection with a ferry. He died in 1835, aged forty-seven years, and is buried at Riverside. . . Johri A. Spalding came to Towanda in 1824. He was a carpenter by trade ; was elected constable ; and afterward kept a grocery for some time. . . J. W. and G. K. Bingham erected a store on the ground where the Presbyterian church now stands, and began business in 1826. . . Elisha Munger, a silversmith, or watch repairer, etc., came to the village in 1825.

In 1826 the following were also residents of the village; Wm. W. Goodrich, shoemaker; John Turner, merchant; Robert Dunham, tailor ; Andrew McIntyre; John W. Berger, wagon-maker. In 1827 were added : Charles R. Brown, a cabinet-maker, who had a small shop and continued in business for some time. . . Thomas Polleys, a shoe- maker, became somewhat conspicuous as a fisherman. He had two sons, one of whom at one time edited a paper at Waverly, N. Y. . . Burton Kingsbury opened a store on the ground now occupied by E. F. Dittrich & Co., grocers, where he continued in business for some

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

years, then supplanted the wooden building by a brick one. In 1829 he built a brick residence on the corner of Pine and Main streets.

Dr. Samuel C. Huston, a native of Essex county, Mass., came to Towanda in 1827. He became eminent in his profession, was a man of great firmness, integrity of purpose and strong likes and dislikes. He was unswervingly a Democrat in politics, and prominently identified with the Masonic Fraternity. Dr. Huston married Miss Emeline, daughter of Col. Hiram Mix. He died May 20, 1856, aged sixty years. A son occupies a part of the homestead on York avenue. Huston street was so called in his honor. William W. Good- rich had come in 1826 from New York to take charge of the tanning interests of George Kirby, who, for a time, had a tannery on the bank of the river, near the west end of the old dam. He engaged in shoe- making and in the sale of merchandise. After some years he removed to Wysox, where he died.

The following citizens were added to Towanda in 1828: Jesse Taylor, a house-painter and chair-maker by occupation. . Jacob Whitman, a tailor, and a man of much activity. . Perrin Wells, also a tailor, had a shop where G. M. Clark's place of business now is.

Edward F. Young started the first foundry at Towanda. It was operated by horse-power, and stood on the bank of the river just above State street. Spencer Goodale, in a couple of years, became the owner of the property. Mr. Young subsequently built up an extensive business at Monroeton. . George Wansey, who was an Englishman of culture and considerable landed estate, was a resident of the county- seat for several years. He was a Christian gentleman of great benev- olence. So attached was he to his native country that he never became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Mrs. Wansey was an English lady of paragon amiability. She moved with her husband to Genesee Falls, N. Y.

Additions made in 1829: Samuel Gordon, a saddler and harness- maker, was a resident of the village for several years. . Pliny Nichols was assistant county clerk, then engaged in business where the "Ward House" now stands. He died in 1832, and his widow subse- quently married Dr. Hiram Rice. . Zenus and Benjamin Thomas, cousins, and hatters by occupation, were successors to Henry Mercur. The latter, especially, was a man of remarkable natural talents. His children were exceptionally bright, and he that was familiarly known as "Little Ben Thomas" 'in Towanda, more than thirty years ago, is to-day that clear-headed gentleman, who has the general superintendency of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Much to his credit, he earned his place by his sterling integrity, perseverance, care and punctuality in busi- ness, having begun his career as a poor boy. . The Hon. Ellis Lewis was one of the prominent men of Towanda; in 1832 he was a volunteer candidate for the State Legislature, being indorsed by the Independent Democrats and National Republicans, and was elected over the regular Democratic nominee. He was a bright and able mind, and at the time of his practice at the county seat was conceded to be the ablest lawyer of the Bradford county bar. While in the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY

State Legislature he made an excellent record, and displayed superior judgment, making him so conspicuous in the State, that he was soon after chosen attorney general. Subsequently he became president judge of the several courts of Lancaster county, and in 1851 was elected to the bench of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, becoming chief justice, January 5, 1855. As a lawyer and jurist he ranked among the foremost, and leaves a bright page on the judicial history of the " Keystone State." He spent the last year of his life in Philadel- phia, where he left a fine fortune.

William Watkins was born in Windsor county, Vt., was admitted to the bar in Montpelier in 1825. In 1828 he married Almira Hulett, and soon after removed to Towanda. He gave himself immediately to the practice of his profession, never engaging in speculation, and only participating in the passing questions of the day, when he considered a moral principle to be involved. His keen perception of character and motive, and persistency of purpose, secured him, in time, a repu- tation for shrewdness as a lawyer, and the integrity of mind, that was a distinguishing trait, gave him an undisputed claim to the confidence of his clients and the respect of his neighbors and friends. Mr. Wat- kins was a man of strong convictions, and of such as did not always lead him into avenues of popularity. He identified himself with the' earliest Abolition movements in the county, when a single old colored man, familiarly known as " Black Henry," was his main ally. Years later, in the interval of which history was verifying the correctness of his sympathies, his eldest son, Lieut. Col. Guy H. Hawkins, who had early enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, fell in the fruitless charge before Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Mr. Watkins died Septem- ber 12, 1877, aged seventy-five years, in the home he inhabited nearly fifty years ; Mrs. Watkins died February 9, 1879, at the age of seventy two. Their children were two sons, Guy H. and William H., and two daughters, who married Hon. W. T. Davies, and H. L. L'Amoureaux, respectively.

Wm. T. Buttrie manufactured chairs, bedsteads, etc., for several years, and did a good business. He had his shop on the bank of the river, between State and Pine streets . . . Nathaniel Eaton, a chair- maker, was associated first with James Gillson and afterward with Chas. R. Brown . . . William Foley attended ferry for Mr. Kelly. Mrs. Foley was the village laundress, and introduced paper collars among the young men . . . Hamlet A. Kerr for two years edited and published the Bradford Settler . .. Seth W. Paine engaged in the mercantile trade until 1835, when he sold out and went to Troy, where he did an exten- sive business, which gave a great impetus to the growth of that town. Mr. Paine has been a man of much enterprise, and is yet living at Troy at an advanced age.

Capt. Nicholas Hentz, of France, landed in this country in 1816 and settled in Wilkes-Barre, and learned the tinner's trade, whence he removed to Towanda in 1830. He served as a captain in the French army under Napoleon I., in the Imperial Guard, and afterward in regiments of the line, from 1806 to the downfall of the emperor, but did not resign his commission until he accompanied his father to the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

United States. His father, Nicholas Hentz, was a member of the National Assembly of France during the Revolution of 1792, and belonged to the party of the Mountain, and was a colleague of Robes- pierre and St. Just. He was on the legislative committee, and assisted in compiling the code of laws known as the "Code Napoleon." After the death of Robespierre he was proscribed by the convention and sentenced to imprisonment for life in the castle of Ham, but lived in concealment, under the assumed name of Arnold, for a number of years, and thus eluded being captured.

Hiram Rice learned the printer's trade with J. P. Bull, and from 1833 to 1835 was editor and proprietor of the Northern Banner. He studied medicine, and removed to Rome where he practiced until the time of his demise. A son, Dr. Wm. Rice, succeeded him, and ranks high in the medical profession. Mrs. Rice is an accomplished lady, and is yet living at an advanced age. . James Warford was a wagon-maker of the village for a number of vears. In his younger days he had read all the popular tales, and took great pride in rehears- ing them to the village lads. . Nehemiah J. Keeler followed clerk- ing for a number of years in Towanda. He was married to a daugh- ter of Jesse Taylor. A. C. Steadman, for a time a resident of the borough, was a cabinet-maker by trade. . John E. Geiger, a gun- smith, came from Elmira to Towanda in 1830 and started the first regular gun shop in the town and perhaps in the county. He was a thorough and skillful workman, and continued at his trade until 1858, when he was succeeded by his son, J. V. Geiger, popularly known as " Boss Geiger," who is still engaged in the same business. Mr. Geiger purchased a desirable property in East Towanda, where he spent his closing days.

William Smalley began blacksmithing in the village in 1832; sub- sequently sold to his brother Isaac and removed to Ulster.

Lyman H. Hodges kept an "inn " in 1832, where the "Ward House " now stands. . Mark C. Arnout came as a tanner, in 1832, and finally bought out Andrew Irving. After some years he removed to Granville township and then engaged in farming. . Eli Beard began selling goods in 1833, on the corner now occupied by Stevens & Long. He finally moved to Troy and re-engaged in same business. Neely & Shoemaker came to Towanda in the same year as Beard, and kept a store where Decker Brothers now are. . George W. Miles in 1833, was engaged in watch-making and repairing.

John Savage, a hatter ; Edward Watts, a tailor; Charles Tousey, a saddler ; George A. Mix (brother of Col. Hiram), a teacher ; Thomas Shiply, a tailor; Nathan Tuttle, a shoemaker, who afterward built a hotel on the ground now occupied by the Presbyterian church.

Those who came to Towanda in 1834 were H. L. Kingsbury, painter; Daniel Miller, blacksmith ; G. H. Bunting, tailor ; Silas Noble, lawyer ; Edward Young, a native of England, and father of Prothon- otary Young, came to the village previously, and in 1839 moved to Columbia.

In 1835-36 the following names were added to the assessment list of Towanda : John C. Adams, lawyer ; Sheldon S. Bradley ; J. M.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Chilson, silversmith ; Hogan & Gantine, printers; G. H. Dalrymple, tailor ; John R. Eaton, shoemaker ; John Frost, shoemaker; Abram Good win, merchant; - Johnson, silversmith ; Dummer Lilley, printer ; John Lockwood, blacksmith ; Clement Paine, merchant ; Page & Ells- worth, merchants ; Isaac H. Ross, shoemaker (also kept hotel) ; Isaac C. Ray, barber; Jonathan R. Coolbaugh ; William B. Storm, cashier of Towanda Bank ; R. B. Stewart, merchant; Richard Wheeler, grocer ; Edward White, merchant ; David Wilmot, lawyer; Richard Wright, hatter ; Jabez Wright, hatter; George Williams, tailor.

Names added in 1837: Bottom & Scott, bridge builders; Thomas Black, shoemaker; V. H. Bruce, cabinet-maker; William E. Barton, constable ; S. S. Bailey, merchant ; Jeremiah Culp, saddler ; Edmund S. Castle, merchant ; E. S. Clark, grocer; A. M. Coe, inn-keeper ; Thomas Coombs, shoemaker; A. S. Chamberlain, commissioners' clerk; John Decker, shoemaker ; - Harkness, grocer; L. L. Hancock, shoe- maker ; James P. Kinsman ; J. P. Lawrence; Adonijah Moody, butcher ; John Morris, carpenter; James Matoon, brickmaker ; O'Grady : Amos Pennypacker, tailor; Samuel Riley, blacksmith ; Nicholas Shoemaker, of the firm of Neely & Shoemaker ; Seth Steel, barber ; Elkanan Smith, saddler ; H. H. Seely, fork-maker ; Charles Shockey, baker; Rial Taylor, blacksmith; G. H. Taylor, grocer ; Daniel Vandercook, cabinet-maker ; John Wilson, bedstead manufac- turer ; Sterling W. Wells, blacksmith ; Henry Yontz, tailor.

Names added in 1838 : E. F. Bliven, wagon-maker ; Hiram Beech, printer ; Allen S. Burnham, inn-keeper ; R. R. Carpenter, crockery merchant ; John Carman, foundryman ; Luke Gillespie ; Francis Heath, blacksmith ; J. P. Kirby & Co .; Isaac W. Loveland ; James Nestor, grocer ; Ralph Peters; G. W. Rowbaker ; George Sanderson, lawyer ; Abram Savercool ; Gilbert Seeman, tailor ; George Stein, blacksmith ; William Shephard ; Patrick Slain, grocer ; C. Sullivan, shoemaker ; O. R. Tyler, merchant ; Hugh O'Hara, grocer.

Names added in 1839; Henry Butler; John Britton, butcher ; Abram Brads, wagon-maker; Thomas Barnes; Josiah Betts, shoe- maker; M. J. Clark, contractor; William Chamberlin, silversmith ; A. F. Day, cooper ; Henry Essenwine, blacksmith ; Gabriel Eldredge, hatter; Freeman Fairchild, harness-maker; John B. Ford, tailor ; E. L. Fuller, printer ; Stephen Hathaway, shoemaker; James H. Heaton, lawyer; Harvey Jones, inn-keeper ; H. F. Kellum, clerk ; A. M. War- ner, silversmith ; Tracy & Moore, merchants ; William H. Overton ; Ziba Partridge; Samuel B. Roberts, grocer ; Charles Day, cooper.

Names added in 1840 : E. W. Baird, attorney ; Miles Carter, mer- chant ; Coryell, Heylman Co., dam-builders ; John Carter. Among the most prominent and distinguished personages who have been residents of Towanda since 1840 were the following : Hon. John LaPorte, Chris- topher L. Ward, Hon. James R. Coburn, Col. G. F. Mason, James Macfarlane, Warner H. Carnochan, Jacob Dewitt, Col. Abram Edwards, Hon. L. P. Williston, John P. Cox.

TOWANDA BOROUGH.

Towanda, the most populous town in the county, is situated on the right bank of the Susquehanna, at the eastern end of a plateau that

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

rises about 1,400 feet above the river, and extends westward to the Armenia mountains. The court house is in latitude 41º 47' north, and in longitude 25° 28' east of Washington. The altitude on Main street in front of the Public Square is 732 feet above tide. We give the following apt description in the words of another :

"The town is beautifully located, standing on the Wysox end of the bridge, it spreads itself out before the beholder like a pre-Raphael- ite picture, glowing in the sunlight and shadows. The foreground of the landscape is the broad blue mirror of the Susquehanna, and the long line of stately stores and warehouses of Main street, broken by the spires of the court-house and the Presbyterian church. While rising in terraces, peeping ont from the beautiful foliage which half conceals them, the comfortable homes and neat residences on Second, Third and Fourth streets, clinging to the hilly back-ground, recall to the mind visions of the celebrated hanging gardens of ancient Baby- lon. It is a scene of natural beauty that is rare in its combination of natural and artificial adornments-one that is rare in any country, even in our own favored land, so beautiful by nature, so adorned by human endeavor."

Esquire Means donated from his portion of the plat two lots on the corner of "Second and Spruce " (now Bridge) streets, for church pur- poses ; E. B. Gregory gave two lots on the corner of "Second and Beech " (now State) streets, for an academy ; and a subscription of several hundred dollars was taken toward defraying the expense of building the court-house and jail, as part of the consideration for locat- ing the public buildings at Towanda. The original proprietors of the town were: William Means, Thomas Overton, Shepard & Dorrance, Ebenezer B. Gregory and Harry Spalding. That portion owned by Wm. Means was from the square below South street-so called because it was the southernmost street of the plat-up to the run between Pine and Spruce, now called Bridge street; Overton and Shepard and Dor- rance owned from Means's line up to Beech, now called State street ; Gregory owned from their line to the western terminus of Maple street, whence his line diverged northeastwardly to a point near the corner of Tanner and Second streets, whence it diverged still farther eastwardly to the river at the terminus of Tanner street; Overton & Spalding owned all north of Gregory's line. From the river westward the steets were five squares in length, eight lots to the square, and were called Water (a considerable strip next the river), Front, Second, Third and Fourth streets ; from south to north they were called South, Spruce, Pine, Poplar, Beech, Maple, Lombard, Tanner, Chestnut and Walnut. As Elizabeth street (so called. after Elizabeth Means) and other streets were laid out south of South street, the name of that street has been by common consent changed to Washington street. Since the bridge over the Susquehanna was located at the eastern terminus of Spruce street, that has been known as Bridge street ; and as the State road passes westwardly through the borough and diagon- ally crosses Beech street, and was made to conform to it, it was given the name of State street.

Until the court-house was built, the courts were held at the "Red

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Tavern," and the jail was kept by Sheriff Rockwell at his residence in Monroeton. The deed for the Public Square was dated August 19, 1813, and arrangements were at once consummated for the erection of an office for the commissioners and prothonotary. Joseph Elliott con- tractor. The office was completed and occupied August 4, same year. This was a wooden building, and occupied the site of the engine house, the " fire-proof," a stone building, afterwards occupying the same ground. A couple of rooms in the old court-house were also used as offices for awhile. In 1857-58 the present prothonotary's and register's office was built. It is a fire-proof building, and cost about $7,500.

Under the date of September 30, 1813, the county commissioners give notice in the Bradford Gazette that "they are desirous of making contracts for materials for building a court-house and gaol ; and request those who have subscribed sums for the public buildings to meet them at their office in Towanda on the third day of November next." The work was begun in 1814, the commissioners hiring the masonry done by the day, and contracting with Peter Egner, of Northumberland, for the building of the superstructure. The court-house was com- pleted and occupied January 9, 1816. Among the bills audited were some for the expenses in "raising" the building, one of which was $46.50 for whisky and $4 for cider, and another, $91.82 for meals.

The building* was burned down in the great fire of 1847.

The records of the commissioners contain the following entry made by the clerk : "March 12, 1847 .- This day the greatest fire occurred in Towanda that has ever been known in this section of the country. It broke out on Main street between one and two o'clock P. M., and among other buildings the court-house and jail were burned."

An act was passed by the Legislature March 15, 1847, enabling the county to make a loan for the erection of new buildings, and a con- tract was made with Col. J. F. Means, June 25, 1847, Sidney Hayden being the sub-contractor, who fulfilled the contract. The new build- ing (the present.one) was occupied in September, 1850. Its approxi- mate cost, complete and finished for use, was $28,000. The prisoners in the jail, the same year of its completion, attempted to destroy it by fire, but were frustrated, the fire being discovered and extinguished before serious damage was done. An apprehension of a repetition of the attempt, which might prove successful, led to the construction of the present massive structure on Pine street, between Main and Second, which was erected in 1871-72 at a cost of $65,000. For strength and adaptation to the purposes of a county prison it is proba- bly not excelled in the State, and is equalled by very few similar structures It is constructed of millstone brought from Mill Stone creek. It contains a "dwelling-house," basement 30x60 feet, all two stories high. The main entrance on Pine street is a massively built archway, and the entire building presents an appearance of strength

* It stood where the prothonotary's and register's office now is, extending farther north, being lengthwise with the river. The basement was "the jail," and a couple of rooms on the first floor were also used for keeping prisoners, the balance of the fioor being occupied by the jailor. The court-room was on the second floor.

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and durability that gives a most pleasing sense of security to the resi- dents of this county.

In 1812 there were seven families in Towanda village, and, though it was the seat of justice, in 1816 the number had only increased to twelve; in 1820 the number was about thirty, and in 1830 about fifty. In Sherman Day's account of Towanda (1842) he puts the population at 912, which had increased to 1,135 in 1850, 1571 in 1860, 2,696 in 1870, 3,813 in 1880; the number now (1890) being 4,280.

The establishment of Towanda as the county seat, bringing the officers and the official business of the county hither, alone insured a gradual growth of the place. But, besides, the town has natural advantages, and has received an impetus from time to time. It will be remembered that when the commissioners agreed upon the site for the public buildings, there was no bridge across the Susquehanna, which, especially during the spring of the year, was impassable ; and that fully two-thirds of the people to be accommodated lived on the west side of the river. Moreover, two valleys -- the natural outlets, draining the greater portion of the county lying west of the river- converge gradually and terminate with the valley of the Susquehanna, midway between which the village of Meansville was situated. Before the day of roads, such goods as were consumed by the pioneers were brought up the river in boats. Lumber and shingles were about the only articles for wich money could be had. Mr. Means kept goods and trafficked with the people. Mills were early established up the Sugar and Towanda creeks; lumber cut, and in the spring floated down these streams to the river in small rafts. Roads were also built at an early day up these creeks, and Towanda became, as it is to-day, the business center of the county.

Andrew Irving's tannery, the erection of the bridge in 1832, Enos Tompkins' enterprises, the establishment of the bank, the building of the North Branch Canal, the foundry, the publication of wide-awake newspapers, and, lastly, the railroads, each gave impetus to the growth of the town in its early history. In later years, men of enterprise have furthered the interest of the town and given it new life. Fore- most among those to whom special credit is due, is M. C. Mercur, who has been the philanthropist and most zealous worker.

In 1825 the only streets opened were: Main, State, Pine Lom- bard and a portion of Second. None of these were graded, and even Main street was very uneven and hilly. At this time the greater part of the prospective town was yet wooded, no particular effort being made in public improvements until after the incorporation of the bor- ough in 1828. In 1836 marked improvements were made in grading and in opening new streets through the persistent efforts of M. C. Mercur and William Elwell. The population gradually increased, business multiplied and improvements continued. The railroad gave a new life, and the town finally outgrew the borough limits and was enlarged. Originally the borough extended from the river to Fifth street, and from about two rods south of Elizabeth street to the ravine on " Hemlock Row."

From the various assessments is made the following synopsis :

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

The merchants in Towanda in 1812 were: William Means and Harry Spalding ; in 1820 three were doing business, Gurdon Hewett having been added to the list; in 1825 the number of merchants and grocers were six; in 1831, eleven ; in 1838, nineteen ; in 1850, twenty-one; in 1860, twenty ; in 1870, forty-nine. The principal merchants that have done business in Towanda since 1860, but now out, have been : Thomas Elliott; H. S. Mercur; M. C. Mercur; J. D. Montayne ; Burton Kings- bury; Joseph Kingsbury, including books and stationery ; E. D. Mon- tanye ; E. T. Fox ; Hiram Mix ; H. C. Porter, drugs; Nathaniel N. Betts, Sidney Bailey, afterward Bailey & Nevins, groceries; O. D. Bartlett ; Hugh O'Hara, boots and shoes ; George Bunting, ready-made clothing ; Tracy & Moore, general ; Stephen Hathaway, boots and shoes ; John Wilcox, boots and shoes ; E. W. Baird ; Job Kirby, boots and shoes ; M. E. Solomon, clothing; John Beidelman; Taylor & Co., dry goods ; Patch Bros., groceries; Collins & Powell; A. M. Warner, jeweler ; Isaac Post, hardware; William A. Rockwell; J. D. Humphrey, boots and shoes; Col. J. F. Means; Wickman & Black; Ford & Ward, dry goods, George Ridgeway, grocer; Patton & Payne, drugs; Bramhall & Cowell, groceries; S. Benedict, clothing; Hall & Russell, afterward Codding & Russell, hardware; A. M. Coe, boots and shoes; Capt. James M. Gillson, jeweler; Charles Reed, drugs ; Lord & Co., hardware; Joseph Hines, furniture; L. L. Moody, boots and shoes; Kent & Bliss, dry goods. Those prominent in other business have been : John Carman, foundry- man and dealer in hardware; James Mackinson, manufacturer of furniture, dealer and undertaking ; Russell Pratt, coopering ; Mark C. Arnout, tanner; Andrew and Philip Seebich, wagon-makers and black- smiths; Henry and Adam Essenwine, blacksmithing and carriage ironing; Elkanah Smith. harness-making and saddlery; Miles Carter, confectionery.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 54

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