History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 55

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

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The Towanda Bridge. By an act of the Legislature, March 24, 1831, the Governor was authorized to incorporate a company for erect- ing a bridge over the Susquehanna at Towanda. An appropriation was made, and the balance of the money necessary to complete the bridge was raised by individual subscriptions as stock. Johh Bottom, a practical bridge builder, contracted for the job, and performed the work on the same in 1832, the structure consisting of three spans. A new appropriation was made by the State, and in 1837-38 the original bridge was taken down, the piers raised, the bridge extended on the east side one span, and a towing-path added. Bottom & Scott were the contractors.

October 24, 1849, the east span of the bridge was burned, and immediately rebuilt. Again, in 1854, the same span was destroyed by fire. The river having cut around the cast end of the bridge, it was again raised seven feet in 1854-55, C. M. Mercur and Thomas Elliott being the contractors. Toll was taken until September 16, 1879, since which time the bridge has been free. The county wishing to purchase the bridge, viewers were appointed, who, in their report, which was confirmed by the court, estimated the property worth $20,000. The price was not satisfactory to the stockholders, and litigation over the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

matter is still pending. The spans of the bridge average 225 feet each, making the length 900 feet, the roof projecting ten feet farther.

The first borough officers were elected March 20, 1829: Burgess, Hiram Mix ; high constable, William Kelley ; council, J. D. Goodenough, Warren Brown, Warren Jenkins, John N. Weston, Stephen Haytt. The burgesses from 1830 to 1891 have been David F. Barstow, Samuel Huston, D. F. Barstow, Burton Kingsbury, E. S. Goodrich, Simon Kinney, D. F. Barstow, Silas Noble, W. B. Storm (three terms), Sam- uel Huston, Geo. A. Mix, Ira H. Stephens, E. D. Montanye, D. F. Barstow, Adonijah Moody, David M. Bull (two terms), Hiram Mix, William Elwell, W. A. Chamberlin, William Elwell (three terms), N. N. Betts, U. Mercur (three terms), William Elwell (two terms), C. L. Ward, B. F. Powell, James McCabe, C. S. Russell (six terms), Alex. Diven, I. B. Humphrey, A. G. Mason, Jas. Bryant (two terms), Jas. McCabe, E. T. Fox, N. N. Betts (two terms), W. H. Dodge, W. H. Jones, W. G. Alger (two terms), J. J. Spalding, F. J. Krom, C. B. Porter, Edward Frost, Isaiah McPherson, Edward Frost, W. Maxwell, C. P. Welles, I. B. Humphrey.

The present officers are: Burgess, I. B. Humphrey ; Secretary, Jos. Kingsbury ; treasurer, W. H. Dodge; council, Calvin Cranska, Edward Frost, I. B. Humphrey, John McGovern, William Maxwell, John Rahm, W. H. Smith, Geo. Decker, C. P. Welles. Chief of Police, Daniel Wilcox.

Towanda Fire Department .- Until 1837 there was no protection from fire in the borough. But in that year, a bucket brigade was organized and 100 buckets were purchased with the necessary hooks and ladders. The first engine of the village was a "rotary " named the "Alley," this was used until 1849 when it wasdeclared useless and thrown into the river. "Franklin, No. 1," was organized April 11, 1854, and had an engine. In 1868 they purchased a steam fire engine which they still use. "Naiad Engine and Ilose Company, No. 2," was instituted April 24, 1855, reorganized April 15, 1870, and incor- porated July 8, 1881. "Lin-ta Steam Fire Company, No. 3," was insti- tuted September , 28, 1857, and incorporated in 1871. The company owns a handsome three-story brick engine house on Poplar street, which, together with hose carriage, is worth $8,000. The members of this company being elderly men, they allowed a few young men to have charge of it; so it was reorganized in 1887, and in 1890 they pur- chased an elegant new hose-cart, the old one proving too heavy. " Mantua Hook and Ladder Company, No. 4," was organized in March, 1871, and reorganized in 1884. The company have rooms in the Lin-ta engine-house.

From 1853 to 1873 the total number of fires was sixty-three, and the total number of buildings destroyed, 156; from August, 1873, to April, 1886, the number of buildings burned in Towanda was eighty- one. The most disastrous fire the town ever had was March 12, 1847.

Towanda Gas Company was organized in 1870, and is a stock com- pany. It has ten miles of laid pipe. The officers are: Henry Streeter, president and treasurer ; N. N. Betts, secretary. The capital stock is $45,000.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

The Towanda Electric Light Company was organized in February, 1890, and electricity was first run through the wires April 1, same year. There are thirty-six arc lights on the streets, and 500 incan- descent lamps in operation in stores and houses. The dynamos have a capacity of running sixty arc lights. Has two " Rice" engines, each of 105 horse-power; runs three dynamos which are independent of each other. The officers are: Stanley Little, president ; Charles Welles, secretary.

The Towanda Water Works were chartered in 1879. In 1879-80 the iron pipe was laid from Patton's run to Towanda, receiving the water in a reservoir from which it is distributed throughout the town, as far back as Mechanic street, by distributing pipes. Fifty hydrants were placed at proper points. to protect the entire borough in case of fires. The water supply from Patton's run not being sufficient for the whole year, a pumping station was put in in 1881, which forces the water from the Susquehanna to the receiving reservoir at the rate of 1,200 gallons per minute. E. T. Fox was president of the company, and C. S. Scannell, superintendent.

New water works are being rapidly built for Towanda, and this will prove one of the most important of the modern additions to the borough. The water then will come through ten-inch iron pipes a distance of sixteen miles. The Eilenberger springs, which will supply the water, gush out from under a small mountain. The spring never rises or falls winter or summer, and is a very pure crystal, soft water, said to be the best in the country. It flows a steady stream of 750,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, at least enough to supply a town with several times the population of Towanda. The water is so pure that it will not even rust tin, and the section of country is free from all drain- age. The spring is located in Albany, a short distance from Ladds- burg. J. J. Griffiths is superintendent. The cost of these, the finest water privileges in northern Pennsylvania, it is estimated when com- pleted will reach nearly $200,000. Officers: J. J. Griffiths, Pres. and Supt .; N. N. Betts, Treas .; F. E. Beers, Sec.

The Towanda Bank .- This was established in 1834-35, the officers being Thomas Elliott, president ; William B. Storm, cashier ; directors, Joseph Kingsbury, Edward Overton, Hiram Mix, H. S. Mercur, L. S. Ellsworth, Judge Harry Morgan. The bank at one time, it is said, was able to command over $700,000. In 1837 Mr. Elliott resigned, and Joseph Kingsbury became president. The bank failed in 1843. C. L. Ward and Thomas Dyer were the last president and cashier.

In 1850, Hon. John Laporte, Col. G. F. Mason and B. S. Russell began a private banking business under the firm name of Laporte, Mason & Co. Mr. Russell sold out his interest about 1859, and the business was continued under the firm name of Laporte, Mason & Co. About the year 1860 Mr. Russell and J. K. Vallance began banking under the firm name of B. S. Russell & Co., and in 1863 increased their business by buying out Laporte & Mason. After Mr. Vallance's death the "company " was at different times H. S. Mercur, Ulysses Mercur and M. C. Mercur, who in 1865 succeeded to the sole propri- etorship of the business, which he continued till 1873, when meeting

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

with a loss of $1,050,000, closed his bank, after his depositors had drawn out their moneys. In 1866 G. F. Mason & Co. began doing a private banking business, which was continued until 1871, when the firm failed.

The First National Bank of Towanda .- This bank was chartered July 19, 1863, with a capital of $100,000, which in 1865 was increased to $125,000. The officers were : Gordon F. Mason, president; N. N. Betts, cashier ; directors, Joseph Powell, C. S. Russell, O. D. Bartlett, E. H. Smith, Geo. Stevens, E. W. Hale, M. E. Solomon and J. O. Frost. On Jan. 13, 1865, Mr. Mason was succeeded by E. H. Smith as pres- ident, who in turn was followed by Joseph Powell, who assumed the duties of that office January 13, 1870. Mr. C. L. Tracy succeeded Mr. Powell as president, and has held that office ever since. The new bank, erected in 1874, occupies the site of the old banking-house on Main street. The capital stock of the First National Bank is $125,000; surplus and undivided profits, $126,064.39; circulation, $28,125; deposits $761,451.08. The present board of directors are : Chas. L. Tracy, R. A. Mercur, Henry Streeter. Officers : Chas. L. Tracy, president ; N. N. Betts, cashier.

The Citizens National Bank of Towanda .- This institution was chartered June 29, 1876, and was organized with the following officers and directors; J. P. Kirby, president ; Geo. A. Guernsey, cashier ; N. C. Elsbree, M. H. Laning, J. P. Kirby, J. F. Means, P. D. Morrow, B. M. Peck, Henry Streeter, J. L. Kent, M. B. Wright, N. L. Lenheim, P. R. Ackley, directors. J. P. Kirby was succeeded by E. T. Fox as president, Dec. 18. 1876, and Mr. Guernsey by G. W. Buck, as cashier, Oct. 3, 1880. The Citizens National Bank was formely in the Mercur block, but now occupies a building of its own situated on the corner of Main and Bridge streets. The capital stock of the Citizens' National Bank is $150,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, $58,244.20 ; circula- tion, $45,000; deposits, $460,481.27. The present officers are : E. O. Macfarlane, president ; J. K. Newell, cashier ; directors, E. O. Mac- farlane, W. Dettrich and S. W. Little.

The Towanda Library .- This is the result of a young ladies' musical society, which collected a few books for their own use, and afterward decided to benefit the town by starting a public library. The library has grown from a few hundred volumes to nearly six thousand. It was established during the winter of 1879-80.

Humphrey Bros. & Tracy, Shoe Factory .- First occupied a small building near where the new one now stands. In 1882, they com- menced building the one they now occupy. It is a three-story brick building, and has all the modern improvements. The firm employ about 125 hands, and turn out over 2,000 pairs of shoes weekly. The proprietors are I. B. Humphrey, Chas. Humphrey and Chas. L. Tracy.

Dayton's Steam Gristmill is one of the most important in the county. It was first built in 1870 by G. F. Mason & Co .; he failed, and it was purchased by G. A. Dayton. It is situated on South Main street ; has three run of stone and seventeen rolls, and a daily capacity of 250 bushels of buckwheat, which is its chief output about six months in the year ; from sixteen to twenty hands are employed.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Hale's Planing Mill is situated on South Main street. It was completed in building in 1888, and makes doors, sash, blinds and general mill work ; has six saws, three planers and ninety-three horse-power en- gine; main building 60x128; boiler, engine and dry houses; employs about twenty-three men. It is the largest industry of the kind in the county. First started by L. B. Rodgers, was burned and he rebuilt in 1882, and run it until 1887, when it was burned again. Proprietors are E. W. and B. T. Hale.

Humphrey Manufacturing Company .- Building erected in 1888. The firm was composed of J. D. Humphrey, C. D. Humphrey, E. Overton and J. O. Blight. Twenty-five horse-power engine, twenty employés ; make sawmill machinery, coal breakers, etc.

Nail Works .- Proprietor, W. H. Godcharles; superintendent, Simon Kendall. Originally it was the Towanda Iron and Nail Works; founded in 1870 by a joint-stock company. Col. J. F. Means, presi- dent ; H. L. Scott, secretary and treasurer. First cost of plant, $100,000. These parties ran it three years; it was then idle until 1879, when it was leased to R. A. Bostley three years, and at expira- tion of lease they purchased the property and ran it until February 1, 1888. These three companies, combined, came into the ownership, and at once they turned it over to R. A. Bostley and W. H. Godcharles, and, since the death of Mr. Bostley, it has been in possession of Mr. Godcharles. February 4, 1891, it was destroyed by fire, being a total loss, on which, however, was a large insurance. Immediate steps to rebuild · were taken, and the work was pushed to completion in the early part of August following, when it was enlarged and greatly im- proved and in full operation, with a capacity of about 10,000 kegs of nails per month ; employs about one hundred and fifty men.

Towanda Foundry Company .- Was first started about 1875 by John Carman; from him it passed to Col. John F. Means, who after- ward associated in the concern his son ; they ran it until 1881, when it became as now named, the company being Edward Frost, L. R. Frost and M. A. Rockwell. It has 150 horse-power engine, four lathes, two planes, two drills, etc., foundry and machine shop combined. Output is saw-lath mills, and shingle mills, gang edgers, etc. Iron and brass output about 20,000 pounds annually ; employs twelve hands.

Frost's Furniture Factory .- This is on Pine and River streets ; use the same power as the foundry. It was established in 1871 on Charles street, burned in 1881, and rebuilt where it stands; employs ninety to one hundred men. Firm owns two sawmills, one in Sullivan county, at Lake Reese, the other at South Branch, in this county ; latter built. in 1880, a steam mill, capacity 20,000 feet per day ; sawing only for themselves. Their stock is exclusively wholesaled.

Toy Factory .- Originated thirty years ago in Newark, N. J., and then moved to Monroeton, this county, and ground broke for present plant in July, 1887. Has two hundred operatives ; output about $150.000 annually. Building three stories, including the main, the ware-house, paint and boiler house; 250 horse-power engine. It is a joint-stock company, and the following are the officers : President and superintendent, William H. Hawes; treasurer, N. N. Betts ;

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

secretary, John W. Mix; directors, J. O. Blight, Charles L. Tracy, E. O. Macfarlane, C. B. Porter, E. W. Hale and R. A. Mercur.

In the borough are the following business concerns : One agricul- tural implements, four banks, four bakeries, seven barbers, three bill- iard parlors, eight blacksmiths, four boarding-houses, one book binder, three books and stationery, seven boot and shoe dealers, seven boot and shoe makers, one boot and shoe manufacturer, two bottling works, one brick manufacturer, one brewery, two butter and egg dealers, one carpet-cleaning company, four carpet dealers, two carriage dealers, four carriage and wagon manufacturers, six carpenters and builders, one Chicago dressed beef business, three cigar manufacturers, six clothiers, one coach maker, seven coal dealers, twelve confectioneries, two coopers, three crockery and glassware, three dentists, three dray- men, twenty dressmakers, four druggists, ten dry-goods stores, one express agent, two dealers in flagging and building stone, two flouring mills, one florist, two foundries and machine shops, three furniture dealers, one furniture manufacturer, one gas company, six gents' fur- nishing stores, twenty grocers, two gunsmiths, one dealer in hair goods, four hardware merchants, two harness manufacturers, six dealers in hats and caps, two hay and straw dealers, two dealers in hides and pelts, one horse improvement company, two ice dealers, six insurance agents, five jewelers, four job printers, one junk dealer, forty lawyers, two laundries, one dealer in leather and findings, one library, three liquor, dealers, five livery and boarding stables, seven lumber dealers, four masons, five meat markets, four merchant tailors, seven millinery establishments, four dealers in music and musical instruments, five music teachers, six dealers in paints and oils, three painters, two pawnbrokers, three photographers, twelve physicians, three planing mills, three plumbers and gas-fitters, one produce dealer, two real estate agents, five restaurants, two dealers in sewing machines, two surveyors, four dealers in trunks and valises, two undertakers, two veterinary surgeons, two dealers in wall paper, one wood dealer, four upholsterers, one tea company, one toy manufacturer, one telegraph company, one telephone company.

Hotels .- American House, Aurora House, Barrett's Hotel, Bolan's Hotel, Bradford House, Elwell House, Griffin's Hotel, Hotel Ochs, Junction House, Seeley's Hotel, Tidd's Hotel, Walbridge Hotel, Ward House.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER L.

TROY TOWNSHIP-TROY BOROUGH.

N OAH WILSON the father of the venerable Col. Irad Wilson, of Alba, came on with his family to that place in the spring of 1803. The colonel speaks of the following individuals as being then the occu- pants of this vicinity : Elihu Smead, in a little log cabin near the present residence of Mrs. Thomas Maxwell, with a chopping of about an acre ; John Barber, with a similar cabin, and chopping near the site of Viele's steam-mill ; toward the south was a little clearing of Caleb Williams, and that of Reuben Case ; next was Samuel Case, on the Wood farm, now belonging to the estate of Edwin C. Williams; farther on was Aaron Case, where is the farm of Shepard Spalding ; and Dr. Rowley, on that now owned by Alonzo Thomas, his grandson. These sons of the forest mustered in force to cut a road through to Alba, for the passage of Noah Wilson and his family to their new home.

Uel Porter, with his father and elder brother, John, came to the Porter farm in 1813. . Hon. Reuben Wilbur settled here in 1807. He spent about six months with Esquire Nathaniel Allen, of whom he purchased about three hundred acres.

Elihu Smead and Aaron Case seem to have been at that time the only inhabitants of the village proper, the latter living in a cabin near the present residence of Mrs. George Hull. Thomas Barber lived near the site of the old "Taylor House," now owned by G. F. Viele, and Joseph Barber, near the present residence of John A. Parsons.

Upon an eminence overlooking Sugar creek, something over a mile eastward from Troy village, there stand the ruins of a building, probably one of the first framed houses built in this region. The stone wall which has long supported the ancient structure is tottering to its fall. Within, you may see the chimney of stone, with its ample fire- place. Near by are some aged Lombardy poplars, which Dr. Almerin Herrick, in his journal, now unfortunately lost, states that he assisted in setting out in the year 1818. This building was formerly the residence and tavern of Maj. Ezra Long, who came hither from Vermont, about the year 1810.

Samuel Rockwell, the father of Luther and Rufus Rockwell, occu- pied in those days a house near where H. F. Long resides. Like his son Luther, he left. nine sons grown to maturity. He afterward built and occupied a two-story house at the summit of the hill, south of the road to Troy, which was standing not many years since.

The first flouring-mill was originally erected by an individual named Ward, and afterward owned by Maj. Long. Were we able it would be a matter of curiosity to compare its machinery and dimensions (the dam being then only six feet in height) with those of what is now known as Long's mills, standing upon the original site and rebuilt by

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

H. F. Long in 1858. Another mill on a small scale was afterward built by Thos. Barber, in the glen above, near the bend in the Rock road ; some of the spars of the dam were to be seen but a few years since still projecting above the water. The carding and cloth-dressing works below Long's mills were put in operation by Samuel Conant about the year 1808. The main building, which, with the older one in its rear, was destroyed by fire in November, 1875, was built by Luther Rockwell for Clement Paine in 1840.

Elder Adriel Hebard is said to have come into this section from Vermont, about the year 1800, and occupied a house on the present site of J. G. Loveland's. The large butternut tree shading the road near the house below, is said to have been planted by him.

West of the Burlington road, about half-way between Maj. Long's and Esquire Allen's, stood the old Shad school-house, probably the earliest institution of learning, and there are those living who may remember taking their first lessons from Webster or Cobb within its humble walls. It took its name from the weather-vane, in the form of a fish, which surmounted the building.

The first board-roofed house in the township was erected by Gen. Elihu Case in 1798. The first house in the borough was built by Tim- othy Nichols, father-in-law of E. Case, in 1800. Nichols sold to Elihu Smead, who previously had resided at the foot of the mountain, on Smead creek. Elder Rich, a Baptist preacher, was the first adult interred in Glenwood Cemetery, in 1812.

One of the earliest documents connected with the progress of the place at an early period, is the following, dated November 5, 1823 :

At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of the vicinity of Lansingburgh, at the school-house, to devise or fix some plan for finishing the said school-house, thereby making it the more comfortable for our children, and we, the proprietors, the more applauded by foriners. Voted. unanimous, that we finish off the school house. Pro- cecded to sine for the purpose above-mentioned. and then voted that after the subscrip- tion is expended, to proceed in finisbing off the same, and we are bound to pay in proportion to what we have already sined. To be superintended by Almerin Herrick .. (Signed) LABAN LANDEN, Chairman.

ELIHU CASE, Secretary.

The accompanying subscription is signed by A. Herrick, Churchill Barnes and. John Dobbins, well known in the early history of the place, both acting for some time as justices of the peace; Elihu New- bery, Zoroaster Porter, Benjamin Oviatt, Isaac N. Pomeroy, Vine Baldwin, Elihu Case, Ansell Williams. Abraham Case, James Lucas, Daniel Gregory and several others. It is noticeable that there are three columns opposite the signatures : one being for number of days' work subscribed, another for number of bushels of wheat, and the third for number of feet of lumber. There is also a column for sub- scriptions in money ; but all the contributions are in the other columns. Dr. Almerin Herrick's subscription takes the lead, being eight days' work, two bushels of wheat and ten pounds of iron ; Elihu Case's sub- scription, one day's work, two hundred feet of boards, and ten pounds of iron, towards andirons; Vine Baldwin's, twenty pounds of four- penny and eightpenny nails, and twenty pounds of iron.

Vine Baldwin was the father of Thos. B. Baldwin. He then had a

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

store at this place, and for some time kept tavern in a building stand- ing where the "Troy House " now stands. . Elihu Newbery came here with a horse, saddle and bridle; for which he purchased of Elihu Smead a lot of land, about two and a half acres, including that on which his son, George N. Newbery lives, the consideration mentioned in the deed being twenty dollars per acre. . Col. Isaac N. Pome- roy and Ebenezer Pomeroy came in about 1818. They were natives of Connecticut, and for some years carried on the carding and cloth- dressing works below Long's mills. Like Dr. Herrick, they had for some time no intention of making this a permanent home. Col. Pom- eroy, in a few years, bought Conant's tavern on the corner, which was replaced by him, in 1837-38, by the " Eagle " tavern, a wooden building with lofty columns, which was destroyed by fire in 1852, A little house standing on the summit of the bill, above Samuel Pomeroy's large mansion, was for a time the residence of Col. Pomeroy after his arrival.

TROY BOROUGH.

Troy was incorporated as a borough April 11, 1845, with boundaries as follows : Beginning at a stake in the Elmira road, near the north- east corner of the bridge across Sugar creek, near D. Dobbins' house ; thence west 138 rods to an elm tree on O. P. Ballard's west line; then south 46 ° west ninetv-one perches to a stake on the north side of the Wellsborough road; then south 122° west 100 rods to a stake on Jerry Adams' land ; thence south 82° east 1053 perches to a dry maple tree on the land of Seeley Mann; thence north 40° east 140g perches to a stake on land of S. W Paine on south side of road; then north 72 ° east 85 rods to place of beginning. The first burgess was Edwin C. Oliver ; council : G. T. Redington, V. M. Long, Frederick Onwan, Layton Runyan ; clerk, A. E. Thomas; high constable, Thomas B. Baldwin ; street commissioner, Laban Bowen. In 1848 occurred a most disastrous fire, destroying every business house in the borough, except that of G. F. Redington. In 1871 the present fire- engine house was built.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 55

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