USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Nanticoke > History of Hanover Township : including Sugar Notch, Ashley, and Nanticoke boroughs : and also a history of Wyoming Valley, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania > Part 31
USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Ashley > History of Hanover Township : including Sugar Notch, Ashley, and Nanticoke boroughs : and also a history of Wyoming Valley, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania > Part 31
USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Sugar Notch > History of Hanover Township : including Sugar Notch, Ashley, and Nanticoke boroughs : and also a history of Wyoming Valley, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Coming up to the corners of old Nanticoke, the first old house on the right is the Adam Lape house on lot No. 2, second division. This still stands and belongs to the Lapes. On the left all the way to the corner were old houses, dwellings and store-houses that belonged to Col. Lee, now all torn away and replaced by fine brick and frame houses, about 1868, all on lot No. 2, second division.
Henry Rasely owned the house next to the Lape on the right. Rasely removed about 1868. The house still stands on lot No. 2, second division.
The next house on the right is at the corner. Here was a store building about 1843, then it was a dwelling, but about 1855 it was torn away and Andrew Lee and Lewis C. Paine built a brick store here. The building stands yet and is used for the Susquehanna
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Company's store. The company's office is across the street nearly on the site of Stire's store of 1840 or thereabouts; all on lot No. 2, second division.
Now to begin on the other branch of the Main Road on the Newport line, or the cross-road on the line.
The old Urquhart house still stands and is pretty well preserved but for many years it has been a tenant-house; this is on lot No. 3, second division.
On the left coming down the hill towards the corner, is the Henry George house-still occupied by the Georges, on lot No. 3, second division.
On the right at the Corners Silas Alexander's store and dwelling stood. The dwelling still stands, but the old store has been torn away and a new one-or two-of brick have been built in its place since 1874.
Still on the right the next was Charles S. Keithline's tannery and dwelling. In 1862 Xavier Wernet bought this property of . Keithline, and in 1870 built a large frame hotel here.
On the left of Main street here was the "long row." This was all burned down in 1876, and is now replaced by brick stores and two brick hotels.
On the right is the old tavern. This house still stands and is used as a hotel.
On the left was an old house lately torn down and is now re- placed by a fine large residence.
The next on the right is the old school-house with the little church on the top. This house still stands, but is much dilapitated and not used for any purpose.
On the left are two old farm-houses, and two others built by the Mills heirs for residences about 1843. They sold out and went West soon afterwards and these have been tenant farm-houses since.
Peter Mill's house is on a hillside on the right. This was a beautiful place once. His family still resides here. The Mills were once numerous, but the two children of Peter are the only ones left in Hanover or Nanticoke now; this is on lot 24, first division.
All the ground on each side of the two roads that lead from the Col. Lee house, and that from the Urquhart house and nearly up
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
to the Mill house, is covered with streets and buildings in all directions, that are occupied by a population probably numbering six thousand or more, five thousand of them within the Hanover lines, in 1885.
On the right is the Robert Robins house, on lot No. 23, first division. Robins lived there with a family of many sons and a couple of daughters, from 1837, the sons and daughters gradually marrying and leaving the parental home" until his death in 1856. Afterwards John Robins, the son, lived here, till about 1866 the whole Robins family, except one, went West. Since that it has been a tenant-farm belonging to a coal company.
The old Samuel Jameson house is next on the right. Jameson was born here in 1777 and died here in 1843. He had a family of three girls, but they all were afflicted with consumption. One alone married, had two daughters, and died. Both these daughters died young with consumption, one having married before death, Dr. Harry Hakes, but died without issue. Dr. Hakes had a new house built and resided here eight or nine years, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre. The property still belongs to Dr. Hakes, but is rented out to farmers. This is on lot 22, first division.
The James S. Lee house is on the left. After Lee's death in 1850, his family being pretty much all married, the farm was soon rented to tenant-farmers. About 1855-6 it was sold to a coal company, and the Lee's have had nothing to do with it since. This is on lots 21 and 20, first division.
The Pell house is next on the left. Samuel Pell was probably born here. He lived here until about 1862, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he died in 1873. He had four. children, all girls, all removed from the township and the farm has been let to tenant-farmers. This is on lot No. 19, first division.
The Charles Streater house, away off to the right a half mile or so on the Hogback. Streater sold it to a Mr. Cox about 1839 who resided there a few years. This was a most beautiful place, and was specially calculated for a wealthy man's country residence. Cox sold to S. P. Collings who resided here a short time, and re- turned to Wilkes-Barre. Since about 1850 it has been simply a tenant-farm and dwelling, and all its beauty has departed and gone to decay. It belongs to a coal company. This is on lot No. 18,
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
first division. On the River Road, on the left next to Pell's, there was a farm-house for the farmer of the land. That house also stands, or one in the place of it. Here is probably where a block- house stood in ancient times.
The Barnet Miller house is next on the left. Many different persons owned or lived here before the writer's recollection. Barnet Miller came and bought it about 1830. About 1853 or 1854 he died leaving numerous sons and daughters, who sold it and all re- moved-mostly to the West. This is on lot No. 17, first division.
The Peter Kocher house was on the right. He was a black- · smith, and long had a shop by the side of Holland's little railroad (from the mines in the mountain to the canal basin at the river, 2 1/2 miles long) where he died about 1855. The house still stands and is occupied as a tenant-house, and is on lot No. 16, first division.
The George Kocher house, on the left. About 1837 or 1838 Kocher, who had lived on the Back Road came here to live. Here he died a very old man about 1850. It has since been a tenant- house, and still stands. It is also on lot No. 16, first division.
The Jonathan Robins house to the right on the cross-road. This was built about 1844, but the old house still stood on the opposite side of the road, and was occupied. This was at Pruner's Mill, about 1828-9, but the mill about that time was worn out and went into ruins. Robins sold out about 1856 and went West. This is lot No. 15, first division.
The Henry Minnich house was next on the left. This was pur- chased by the father of Henry Minnich about 1810, who died here. Henry Minnich lived here and reared a large family of boys and girls, most of whom went West as soon as they became of age. Henry died in 1845. The heirs sold out and it has been a tenant-farm ever since. This is lot 13 and part of 14 in first division.
The Garringer house is next on the right. This was the Hurl- but property. John Garringer bought it in 1810, died here in 1836. He reared a large family of boys and girls. His son Charles resided here till 1854. Charles lives in Nanticoke now, a very old man, who also reared a very large family of boys and girls. The most of the Garringers have gone West. This is on lots II and 12, first division.
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
The Steele house and ferry is on the left at the river. The first known here was Joseph Steele, who kept the ferry. The house, of course, was not on the River Road, but was down at the river. He died here an old man, leaving a large family who have all gone else- where, mostly West. The house still stands and is used as a tenant- house. This is on lot 28, first division.
The "Beckey" Thomas house, on the right. She lived here to be quite old and died about 1852. She bought it in 1815. It has long since rotted down, though it was used as a tenant-house for about ten years after her death. On lot 28, first division.
. The Behee house is on the right on the cross-road. This was originally the Delano mill house. Behee bought or traded for it about 1818. Jacob Plumb lived here from about 1826 to 1829, and built a set of carding machines in the mill. The old house was replaced by a new and larger one about 1844. He died in 1846 and the widow lived here till her death, in 1868, but there was no repairing done to the mill and it soon rotted down. John Barney, a son-in-law, resided here with the widow and died here afterwards in 1881 and his wife in 1882. It now belongs to a coal company. This house.and mill was on lot No. 28, first division.
The Red Tavern is next on the left. Frederick Crisman built it and died here in 1815. Then it was kept by his son Abraham, afterwards by Geo. P. Steele, son-in-law of Abraham. It was a house of entertainment (till within the past four or five years) and was kept by many different landlords. It is on the six-rod road. It belongs to a coal company.
The Stephen Burrett house is next on the left, lower side of the cemetery. The original old house still stands. Stephen Burrett, Sr., and Stephen, Jr., both lived and died here. Stephen, Jr., was a bachelor and died here about 1851. Jacob Fritz bought the property, resided in it and died about 1870. Reuben Downing then bought it. It now belongs to a coal company. This is on lot No. 8, second division.
The Freman Thomas house, on the upper side of the church lot, was on the left. Various persons owned this pretty little cottage before Thomas. He lived there some years and died in 1847, Col. Wright says. It belonged afterwards to Barnet Miller,
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
then to Reuben Downing. About 1869 Downing had the cottage torn down and a new and larger house built.' It belongs now to a coal company. Downing removed to Wilkes-Barre in 1870.
On the cross-road leading from "the Green" to the Middle Road, off to the right at or near the foot of the hill, was Jesse Edgerton's house. He died about 1830. His widow remarried and lived here till her death. The house rotted down. The land belongs to a coal company.
The Dayton Dilley old house stood on this cross-road. Dilley reared a large family of children here and died about 1855. The land belongs to a coal company. The house rotted down.
There was another house here on this cross-road. Valentine Myers lived here and went West about 1838. Afterwards Thomas Smiley, it is believed, lived here, or in one close to it. He went . West about 1854. The house still stands; is rented as a tenant- house. The property belongs to a coal company.
The Susan Dilley house is next on the left on the River Road. This was a very old house and Susan Dilley lived here and re- mained unmarried; died here in 1879, aged ninety-one years. It belongs to a coal company. Between the church lot (cemetery) and this several house-lots have been sold and houses erected since 1870.
The John Greenawalt house is next on the right. John Greena- walt, a tailor, built this and did business here for nearly forty-five years.
The James Dilley house is next on the right. This is on the top of the hill, and one of the finest views in the valley can be had from here. Dilley reared a large family of children here and died in 1862. It belongs to a coal company, and is a tenant farm-house, the Dilleys having all left the township.
The next on the right is the Edward Inman house. Col. Edward Inman died in 1848, a very old man, and afterwards his widowed daughter, Mrs. Lovina Espy, had the old house torn down and a new one built, and resided here till her death, in 1874. Near this house the Buttonwood Shaft was sunk. The coal company built, in about 1857, a superintendent's house nearly opposite Mrs. Espy's house, and a number of double houses for miners near the foot of the hill. These are all standing and occupied by tenants.
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
Across the canal from the Col. Ed. Inman house, on the north side of the canal, were some houses besides the lock-house. Richard Gunton long resided here. He now resides in South Wilkes- Barre. Here was a road that ran up north-east to Thomas Lazarus' and from there follows the cross-road south-east to the River Road at the Buttonwood bridge. In ancient times houses were built' along this road nearly down to the mouth of Solomon's Creek. In later times a road ran down north-westwardly from Col. Inman's house across the creek at the Buttonwood Shaft, and across the canal at the lock, here intersecting the road north of the old canal, where it ended. There were, and are still, a number of houses here-tenant farm-houses.
During the working of the Buttonwood Shaft there was a store here, but that stopped when the shaft did. There is no canal here now.
The Lazarus house is off to the left on the cross-road north- west of Solomon's Creek. John Lazarus lived in the house on the north side of Solomon's Creek, west of the cross-road, at Button- wood.' He reared a very large family here, and died in 1879. The house is still occupied by some of his children. This house is on lot No. 6, first division.
Thomas Lazarus lived in the old homestead, on the east side of the cross-road, north of Solomon's Creek at Buttonwood. He also reared a large family of children and still resides here, though in a much newer house than the original homestead. This is on lot No. 5, first division.
The Asahel B. Blodgett house, south of Solomon's Creek and east of the cross-road, is on the right. This is a finely situated house, among trees, on slightly elevated and ascending ground south of Solomon's Creek at Buttonwood. Mr. Blodgett and his wife, Mary Lazarus, still reside here. This is on lot No. 5, first division.
The Sively house is next on the right. George Sively died in 1854. Fanny Stewart, his wife, the owner of this land, died here in 1855. They had only two children, Stewart Sively, who died unmarried, and Mary F. Sively, who married Benjamin F. Pfouts. Judge Pfouts died and Mrs. Pfouts resides in the old homestead-a beautiful place. .
23*
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
On the left the next house is the old Isaae Hartzell house. He reared a large family of children here, and died about 1848 or 1850. The widow still lives, in Wiseonsin. The heirs disposed of the property to G. M. Hollenbaek, and he granted it to Wm. H. Alex- ander. Alexander died about 1864 and left it to his two daughters, .who still own it. The old house still stands, but has been repaired and modernized.
The Alexander Jameson house on the left. It is not known that Jameson ever lived here within the recollection of living man, but there was, and still is, here a fine, large tenant farm-house and barn. George Learn resided many years here and died, and his son, George Learn, also resided here many years. He removed some twenty years ago to a farm of his own in Columbia County, Pa. The property belongs to Reuben Downing, and this is a tenant farm-house. A railroad now erosses the road here in place of the canal.
Across the railroad on the left, the old farm-house, long a tenant farm-house, grew old and dilapidated and was replaced by a plank house fifteen or more years ago. This was part of the es- tate of Miller Horton; it deseended to his heirs and now belongs to Reuben Downing. Here was a nursery for a few years, but it is now only a tenant farm-house.
The next is also on the left. This is the old Miller Horton house and stands on the line between Hanover and Wilkes-Barre. After the Hortons it belonged to William H. Alexander. At his death, about 1864, it deseended to his heirs, who still own it. This, of course, was partly on lot No. I, first division.
THE MIDDLE ROAD.
Commeneing on the Newport line going north-east.
The Henry Line house. It stood down in the fields to the right. Henry Line reared a large family of children and died here in 1849. His son Henry resided here till about 1865, when the heirs sold the property and it has since been a tenant farm-house. It belongs to a eoal company.
The John R. Line house. On the left is the house of John R. Line, the only son of Conrad Line. He lived here till about 1865, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre. It belongs to a coal company and is only a tenant-house.
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
The Espy house. The house of John Espy is next on the right. He died here in 1843, leaving a family of six children. The widow resided here till about 1849. The heirs sold out about 1865 and since then it has been a tenant farm-house. A new house has been built here. On this farm along the Nanticoke branch of the L. & S. railroad at the foot of the mountain stands the village of. some twenty or thirty houses, called Hanover, in Nanticoke Borough.
The Keithline house. The next on the left is John Keithline's house, built by him about 1830. He reared a large family of children here, then sold out, and, about 1865, nearly all of them went West. He died in Hanover in 1868. This is a tenant farm- house on lot No. 24, first division.
The next house on the left stands back from the Middle Road some rods. This was the residence of James Stewart first, then Marmaduke Pierce, who married his widow; afterwards it belonged to Robert Robins, and his son John lived in it for probably twenty years, and brought up a large family of children. It has been a tenant farm-house since about 1865. This is on lot No. 23, first division.
The next on the left are the Rinehimer houses. Conrad Rine- himer, the first of the name here, reared a large family and died. His son Peter built a house near by, and Conrad, another son, lived in the homestead. Peter still lives here. Conrad sold to his brother John and went West with his large family about 1853. The old houses have disappeared and new ones replaced them. Several building lots have been sold and houses built on this ground.
The next is on the right-Mrs. Ash's house. This has long been the property of John Deets, and a new house replaced the old one many years ago.
The next house is also on the right. This is John Sorber's house. He has lived here in it about forty years, brought up a large family of children, and is now a very old man.
On the right, on the brow of the hill, stood the old Bobb house. Bobb sold out and the whole family, a large one, went West to Iowa about 1838. A new part was built to this house about 1840, and is the only part now standing, the old house having rotted down and been torn away within the past twenty
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
years. It has been a tenant farm-house since about 1840, and for about thirty-five years Daniel Minnich has lived in it. It belongs to a coal company. This is on lot No. 16, first division.
Next on the right is the Holcomb house. This was formerly- previous to 1837-known as the Shafer house. Holcomb owned and lived in it from about 1837 to 1865. He sold out and went West. Since then it has been a tenant farm-house, and belongs to a coal company. This is on lot No. 15 and part of 14, first division.
The next house was on the left. Daniel Minnich built a log- house on his father's land here about 1838. It was abandoned and went to ruin in about twenty years. This was on lot No. 13 first division.
On the right, on the cross-road, but a few rods from the Middle Road, was the Askam house. He lived here a long time and reared six children. He sold out to Jacob Shafer, and the old log- house was torn down and about 1850 a frame house was built on the site of the old one. This last has been a tenant-house since about 1855. It belongs to a coal company. The Askams have all. gone away. This is on lot 12, first division.
On this same land, on the left of the Middle Road, is the house of Levi L. Nyhart. It was built in 1850, and he has resided here ever since.
The stone house on the right comes next. John Nagle had a tannery here, at the foot of the hill, about 1830 to 1835. Joseph Nyhart bought the tannery and carried it 'on from 1845 to 1855. R. R. Metcalf has some fine buildings on this tannery property now. There is a postoffice here called Askam. Wm. Rummage owned the stone house. This lot was purchased by J. M. Court- right, house lots were sold and some dozen or more buildings have been erected since 1870. This is on lot No. II, first division.
On the cross-road towards Behee's Mill were two houses be- longing to Rebecca Thomas. They have long since rotted down. George Shoemaker bought six acres of Rebecca Thomas here about 1838 and built a house that still stands as a tenant-house, Shoe- maker having sold out about 1855 and gone away from the town- ship. It belongs to a coal company.
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP. 365
On the left of the Main Road after passing the old tannery, is the Metcalf house. This seems to have been a tenant-house until about 1848, when Richard Metcalf made it his home and has re- sided there ever since. Soon after coming here to live, he tore down the old house and built a good sized frame house. The land belongs to a coal company. Several building lots were given to Mr. Metcalf's children along the road here, and they have houses erected on them.
On the right in a lane out of sight of the main road is the old Rufus Bennett house. Here was brought up a large family of children by Bennett. They are all dispersed, no one knows where. About 1838 O. Collins of Wilkes-Barre, became the owner of the property, and from that time it has been a tenant farm-house, and there is not a Bennett of this family left in the township. The old house stands yet. It belongs to a coal company.
The old house next on the left was the Wiggins' house. He was the iron maker at Nanticoke. This house was sold and left by Wiggins about 1834-never had any tenants afterwards, and rotted down in about ten years.
The next was on the left, a tenant-house of John Hoover. Hoover's residence was between the Middle and the Back Road on this same land. Hoover built himself a new house about 1846 near the old one, and died here in 1866. The old and new house both stand, and are rented as tenant farm-houses. They belong to a coal company.
North-east of the John Hoover house, and in the same hollow. between the Middle and Back Road stood a house belonging to Michael Hoover. It was old fifty years ago. Michael Hoover's family left it about 1835, and it never had tenants of any ac- count afterwards, and rotted down about 1845. It belonged to V. L. Maxwell for many years. It belongs to a coal company. The house was never rebuilt.
On the left, off the main road ten or twenty rods, is the old Edgerton house. This house still stands and is used as a tenant- house. The Edgertons long lived here, either the one or the other of them. They sold out about 1864, and removed to the West. The property belongs to a coal company. This is No. II, second division.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The Henry Hoover house was on the right opposite to the Hoover Hill school-house. It rotted down about 1850 and there are no Hoovers left in the township. The land belongs to a coal company.
On the left at the foot of the hill an old house stood-a tenant- house till about 1855, when it was torn down and two double miners' tenant-houses were built here. They still stand and are oc- cupied by miners. They belong to a coal company.
On the right is the earlier Downing house. This has been a tenant farm-house for more than fifty years. With the rest of the Downing property, it belongs to a coal company.
Across the creek and on the left is the Ruggles house. Lorenzo Ruggles reared a large family of children here. He was a black- smith and with his farming and blacksmithing made a comfortable fortune. He sold to a coal company in 1864, and removed to Wilkes-Barre. This has since been a tenant-house.
The next on the right is the later Downing house. Here Bate- man ·Downing resided more than forty years, and was a justice of the peace for about the same length of time. He sold to a coal com- pany in 1864, and in his old age removed to the West. This has been a tenant farm-house since 1864-5.
The next is on the left, the old Jacob Fisher house. Here was reared another large family of children. On the death of Fisher, his heirs sold the large body of land about 1855, which their father and themselves had accumulated and all emigrated to the West. This has since been a tenant farm-house. It now belongs to a coal company.
The next is the Samuel Burrier house on the right. He sold out about 1846 and went West. This has since been a tenant- house. It still stands, and belongs to a coal company.
On the right on the cross-road are two or three rather old houses-one was Henry Fisher's, one was Samuel Smiley's and the other owner is not remembered. These are standing yet and are occupied as tenant farm-houses. They belong to a coal company.
William Shoemaker had a house where he lived a long time, off in the fields, east of this cross-road. He removed to a house on the Middle Road about 1848, or perhaps 1850.
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HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
The next is on the left on the main road-the Simon Rine- himer house. This house first belonged to Joseph George, a tailor. Simon Rinehimer, another tailor, bought it and lived in it until his death in 1858. He left a large family of children, all but one gone West. It is a tenant-house.
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