History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 62

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 62

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From Deacon John Hurlbut's diary, 1773, we extract the following:

" Afternoon, Mr. Chapman drew the plan of intervales. These intervales near the river are generally very good, being overflown frequently in winter. That quantity of these lowlands in both towns is about 5,000 acres, that is dry enough to bear English grass, to which may be added, about, of land contiguous, 3,000 acres of swamp, part of it of good kind and the rest a bad kind, being composed of willow or bog meadow; a portion is about three feet high and entirely clear of trees or bush. The timber on the best part is on ye south end-beach, elm, shagbarks, walnut, maple, ash, birch, black and white oak-but toward the middle of the town is chiefly walnut; solely white pine and hemlock on points and higher lands, but- ternut also and chestnut; the smaller growth is thorn, black, speckled and common alder, spicewood, hazel and some other small trash. Of the herbs or grass kind are mandrakes, nettles, wild grass or joint, wild oats, spikenard, balm, and a variety of other kinds of herbs. Gooseberry bushes, also, and other weeds to which low lands are incident.

491

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

"Thursday, May ye 20 .- A little wet, but warm and sunshine about 10 o'clock. This day was spent in planning the intervale lots.

"Friday, May ye 21 .- Layed out eight lots of intervale in Parkbury next adjoining those laid out, which are No. 30 to 37. At night drew 17 lots. My lot was 32.

"There is in this town five houses, about thirty men and lads and five women. The town is situate on ye side of an hummock, facing toward ye northwest, about one- half mile from ye river. The lands from ye meadow generally rise a little too high for conveniency, although in many places the ascent is very easy. The tim- ber is chiefy white pine, but in some places white oak, but not of ye best kind, and ye land is mostly too stony, but far from being ledgy, and about a mile and one-half from ye fort the intervale or river land is barked with vast, large plains, with a few yellow pine. This land is sandy, but entirely free from stone, covered with a sort of vine and wintergreen. The bark lands and hills are well watered with little brooks and springs.

"Saturday, May ye 22nd. - Bounded out a number of our lots, and my lot in particular. This day's work was very bad, for, after wading all day, came on a shower at night, and we had near four miles to travel through wet bushes.

"Sabbath day, May ye 23rd .- Attended meeting with Capt. Parke.

" The number and names of lots laid out and drawn: Elisha Gifford, 1; Abel N. Kimball, 2; Capt. Silas Park, 3; Benjamin Lathrop, 4; Kendrel Edwards, 5; Gil- bert Denton, 6; Ephraim Killam, 7; William Edwards, 8; Jonathan Haskal, 9; Capt. Silas Park, 10; Elijah Park, 11; Samuel Hallett, 12; Jepthah Killam, 13; John Westbrook, 14; Matthias Button, 15; John Ansley, 16; Capt. Zeb. Parrish, 17; Reuben Jones, 18; Deliverance Adams, 19; James Adams, 20; Elijah Witter, 21; James Dye, 22; Abner Newton, 23; Nathanell Gates, 24; Daniel Denton, 25; David Gates, 26; Isaac Parish, 27; Ezekiel Yerington, 28; Hezekiah Bingham, 29; Capt. Silas Park, 30; Lebens Lathrop, 31; John Hurlbut, 32; William Pellet, 33; John Pellett, 34; Walter Kimbal, 35; Stephen Parish, 36; Eliab Farnam, 37; Uriah Chapman, 38; Ezra Tracy, 40; Jeremiah Park, 41; Jacob Kimbal, 42; Dea- con Griswold, 43; Zadock Killam, 44; Obadiah Gore, Jr., 45.

"Monday, May ye 24th .- About 10th clock, passed Laquawack river and took my journey to Susquehanna, in company with Capt. Parish and Mr. Benajah Park, went that day to Laquanar, about - 32 miles.

"Tuesday, May ye 25th. - Visited Mr. Johnson at Chapman Mills, went to Wilk- bury fort - 3 miles. In ye afternoon went over to Capt. Gore's in Kingston, then returned to Wilgbury. Went up to Abraham's Plains. 'Again returned to ye fort. At a town meeting at night; returned to Kingston to Benedict Satterly's. Slept there that night.

" Wednesday, May ye 26th .- Went down on ye fields to Plymouth and then back to Capt. Gore's, then returned to Wilkbury again. Visited Mr. Johnson. Was with him about two hours and a half. Found him in a low disconsolate state, but look- ing like rain rid for Lackawanna fort. Came on a very black cloud of thunder and rain in ye shower reached ye fort. After ye rain rid to Rason's about two miles. Tarried there that night.

"Thursday, May ye 27th .- Came thro Capows great hill and great swamp at night; came to Hallet's ferry and so to ye fort.

"Friday, May ye 28th. - Settled my affairs at Parkbury with ye settlers.

"Saturday, May ye 29th .- Took my journey towards home; tarried that night on ye east of Delaware river, at Isaac Fenarties, in ye Minisinks.

"Sunday, May ye 30th .- Rode to Honas Deikers; breakfasted there; afternoon rid 20 miles to Owen's.

"Monday, May ye 31st. - To walking thence to North River about noon, thence up ye Fishkills to Bakers in ye Patents.

"Tuesday, June ye 1st .- Thro ye Patents kent into Litchfield to Mack Neals; these 3 days very hot and dry; especially the last."

492

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

MISCELLANEOUS MEMORANDA.

Kingston on the Susquehanna, May ye 26th, 1773.

Received of John Hurlbut ye sum of one pound, ten shillings and 3d. I say received for STEPHEN HURLBUT.

me.

1,241 14

1,255 acres and 35 rods. A streight line from ye bounds at each end of ye town of Huntington, leaveth 1,255 acres on ye east side and taketh off the town of Parkbury 569 acres. 1,255 less 569-686.

My cost of purchase and expense on ye affairs of the Western Lands. Febry ye 2nd, A. D. 1773. Purchased 12 a Susquahannah.

8 d

Right Cash.

Paid Capt. Joseph Hurlbut.

March ye 15th took a deed of gift of ye Delaware 2nd purchase and part of ye 1st purchase deed. 0

Expense .

0 18 0

For lotting out ..

For lotting out ye town of Huntington

8 0

Drawing lots. Expence.

0 5 0

March ye 15th and 16th, 1774, at a meeting in Norwich respecting ye Delaware rights. Expence 0 10 0

8 4 0

Received of Capt. Hurlbut.

0 30

Remains.

Oct., 1774, paid to my brother Stephen, for cost and expenses in sur- veying and lotting my rights in ye district of Groton Susquhanna purchase

8 1 0

0 12 0

"A Record man met Isaac M. Thomas the other day (1887), that gentleman remarking that his mother, widow of Jesse Thomas, could give the desired informa- tion in regard to the old house at the corner of Frankling and Union streets, now undergoing demolition to make room for a handsome block of residences. Mrs. Thomas was accordingly called on at her home on South Franklin street. She remarked that the old house was built about 1811 or 1812 by her father, Hon. Charles Miner, and that she and her brother, William P. Miner, founder of the Record of the Times, were born under its roof. While her father was engaged in its erection he occupied the house at the corner of Union and River streets, now occupied by Dr. Ingham. In 1817 Mr. Miner sold it to Judge Burnside, who was a distinguished jurist."

All the corners except one, that occupied many years later by Hon. Andrew Beaumont's house, were built upon. These were older than Mr. Miner's house, and the one in the southwest corner was demolished in 1862. It was called the Evans house, its owner being quite a prominent man in his day. On the northeast corner, the Stickney block, was the Palmer house, known to a later generation as the "old red house." The Palmers afterward removed to Mount Holly, and they were a large family. The Beaumont house was built years after, in the early days of the canal, and was intended by Mr. Beaumont as a warehouse for canal shipping rather than for a dwelling. This was demolished during the summer of 1892 and a block of residences erected by Col. E. B. Beaumont, son of Hon. Andrew Beau- mont.

Franklin street ended at Union seventy years ago. Above Union it was called the " green lane," and was a favorite playground for our parents and grandparents during the first decade or two of the century. There were no houses above Union except that of Capt. Bowman, now the residence of Mrs. Col. A. Bowman.

Owing to the fact that Mrs. Thomas spent most of her days away from Wilkes-

May ye 10th paid to Capt. Park for a draught of that grant.

5 0

0 3

0 0

493

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Barre, she can not tell who occupied the Miner house subsequent to Judge Burn- side, though she recollects that Joseph Le Clerc lived there in 1833.

Mrs. Thomas well remembers the consecration of the first St. Stephen's Episco- pal church, in 1823, by Bishop White. It was a great event in Wilkes-Barre, and as Mrs. Thomas had lived among Quaker influences, she (then nine years old) had never seen a surpliced clergyman before. She remembers coming to visit Wilkes- Barre at that time, and that a fellow traveler in the stage coach over the Easton pike was a gentleman who was also coming to Wilkes-Barre. The little girl and her mother did not know the gentleman, though they were curious too, because he was constant in his kindly attentions to the child. What was their surprise at afterward seeing their fellow-passenger a conspicuous figure at the church conse- cration, he being a candidate for ordination, Bishop White laying his hands upon his head with the bestowal of the apostolic blessing. Rev. Samuel Sitgreaves, for this proved to be his name, served as rector of the parish for a year. Bishop Bowman died in 1861, and his wife was a sister to the young deacon who rode across the mountains with little Miss Miner on that bright June day in 1823. The church, Mrs. Thomas says, was a low, frame building painted white, with a gable end to the street, a flight of half a dozen steps leading up to a long porch. The Presbyterian church was built a little later, and was similar to the Episcopal, except that its pul- pit was at the front while that of the Episcopal was at the farther end from the entrance.

William Penn Miner contributed the substance of the following to The Historical Record: Among the old daguerreotypes taken by C. F. Cook, just before he went to war, is one of a passenger canal-boat on its way from Laning's foundry to the river. It was built in the abandoned foundry by Capt. B. F. Welles, and floated down to the outlet lock at Nanticoke.

He thinks some of the figures in the crowd are distinguishable-the long cloak and hat of Squire Gilbert Burrowes, and the partially shaded features of Dr. C. F. Ingham. At the door of the Anheiser building, next to the Welles building, is a figure very like Anning or Urbane Dilley with his white apron on. The Bowman building across from Anheiser's was then standing, but a sign "New Clothing Store " indicated the beginning of a change. These have passed completely away. He says he well remembers the engine-room in the Butler mill; and in an old-time address by Dr. T. N. Miner, he mentions especially this mill as the evidence that the town is rapidly improving. The mill was operated by Col. John L. Butler. And Lord Butler lived in the frame house where is now the steam power of the Record office. The mill of Abram Thomas stood on the north bank of the canal, between Franklin and River streets, but like the Hillard block on Main street was ruined by the State's delay in completing the North Branch canal, upon the hopes of which they had too early builded.

In 1886 Dr. C. F. Ingham demolished an ancient landmark at the corner of Union and River streets. This house was built by Rev. Jacob Johnson, more than one hundred years old at the time, who died in the house in 1797; then occupied by J. P. Johnson, who, in 1826, sold to Arnold Colt and removed to Laurel Run, where he died in 1830. Dr. Ingham occupied the place thirty years before it was torn down and made modern improvements.

Dilton Yarrington, "the village blacksmith," deserves a place in the reminis- cences of the city of Wilkes Barre, if for nothing else than for the many communi- cations that in the latter years of his life recounting his recollections of the old times. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, October 8, 1803, and says, in 1880, he com- menced reading in 1813 the local papers and is still reading them. He says he remembers well the great eclipse of 1806, when he was two years and eight months old. [The eclipse was in 1807, so he was three years and eight months; this makes more reasonable his statement that he remembered it .- ED. ] He was aged eighty- five when he sent this communication. Speaking of the eclipse, he concludes:

494

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

"That was the first day that I knew I was in this world, and from that day during the next forty years I remember almost everything that came under my observation, but the last forty years appear like looking down a long, shady and dark road."

Wilkes-Barre eighty years ago will be seen in the following from the pen of Mr. D. Yarington: "On the last day of February, 1825, I left my home in Wilkes-Barre and walked to Dundaff. I had previously made a contract with Col. Gould Phinny to work a year for him at my trade (blacksmith). I went up the turnpike from Wilkes-Barre through Pittston to Hyde Park, and while there I looked over to Capouse (now Scranton), and I saw the residence of Maj. Ebenezer Slocum, and eight or ten tenant houses in which his workhands resided, and there were apparently ten or twelve acres of cleared land where Scranton now is. Maj. Slocum had a forge there and manufactured what was called bloomer iron, and soon after the war of 1812 I used to go up with my father to purchase iron of Mr. Slocum, my father being a blacksmith. Where Scranton now is was then a dense wilderness with the exception of the few acres around his house. I went on up the turnpike through Greenfield and arrived at the Dundaff hotel about sundown. Then I found an old Wilkes-Barre friend and his family with whom I was acquainted, Archippus Parrish, whose horses I had shod from 1818 to 1822, at which time he had moved with his family to Dundaff. He ran the hotel there for a number of years and then moved back to Wilkes-Barre. I felt perfectly at home and boarded with the family a year, and I can positively say that it was one of the happiest years of my life.

" I will now go back a few years with the occurrences of my boyhood at Wilkes- Barre. When I was ten years old (1813), my father carried on the blacksmith business. At that time there were no hardware stores in Wilkes-Barre, and no edge tools could be found in either of the four or five stores there, except now and then an old-fashioned one-bladed Barlow knife at a huge price. Such an article as a cast-iron plow or a cut nail was not known, but about the close of the war a man by the name of Francis McShane started a cut-nail machine, a very simple affair indeed, but himself and his helper (Shepard Marble, a Wilkes-Barre young man) could cut and head about twenty pounds daily; this caused a great excitement in town, hundreds of people from town and county came to see the nail factory. The price of wrought iron came down from 20 and 25 cents a pound to the price of 12} cents. Cut nails were sold at 10 cents. The three fires in my father's shop were used as follows: First, at his fire were made all the edge tools, including cradles and scythes, chopping axes and various kinds of carpenter's toole. At another fire nothing but the various kinds of wrought iron nails were made, and the third fire was kept busy at the various kinds of customer's work as it was called for. During the War of 1812 the great ship "Luzerne" was built on the river bank in front of John W. Robinson's store. I saw the launch. A thousand or more people were present. The war spirit was rampant at that time, and the people of our town expected that the noble " Luzerne" was going to assist in bringing the "flag of Great Britain " down. A few days after the launch a sufficient flood arose and the ship was manned and started down the river toward the ocean, but in passing the Falls of Conawago she ran on the rocks and lay there till the ice in the river broke up the next spring, when she was totally destroyed.

John P. Arndt was one of the stockholders-probably the largest one-in the vessel. Several others, including my father, had from $3,00 to $500 of the stock. There was great excitement in Luzerne county about those days. The war spirit prevailed to a great extent. There were two recruiting stations at Wilkes-Barre and the recruiting officers were very busy for one or two years. Business of every description was brisk, and all kinds of provisions were high-wheat, $2.50 per bushel; corn, $1.25; pork, $18 to $20 per barrel, and everything else in the line of provis- ions proportionally high."

Old houses like old people have to go: "That historic old residence corner of Franklin and Union streets, once occupied by Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson,

G.W. mitchell

497

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

is now (1888) in process of demolition to make room for the block of six private residences to occupy the same lot extending from Union street to the old canal, now L. V. railroad track. This is an old structure, so old that perhaps no one living here remembers when it was built or by whom; the frame is yet stanch and sound, but the style of architecture is too antiquated for the present generation, and more than that, land is too scarce to allow a half acre to each dwelling here in the central portion of the city.

The old frame building adjoining the Leader office is about to be removed to make room for two fine wholesale stores, though it may not be considered as among the " old landmarks," is not yet of very recent date. It was first used as a public house by Archippus Parrish, after the destruction by fire of his former hotel, which stood on the east side of the public square, about where Josiah Lewis' stores now are. The old tavern was burned on the night of February 22, about the year 1831. The sleighing was fine on that day, and there was to be a Washington's birthday ball at night. Bright fires had been kindled to warm up some of the upper rooms for the comfort of expected guests during the early evening, when at 9 o'clock a cry of fire was heard on the public square and flames were seen shooting up through the shingles of the roof, and in half an hour the old hostelry was reduced to ashes. The new building was used but a short time, before Mr. Parrish removed to another hotel, corner of the public square and East Market street, which was also destroyed by fire many years ago.

The following in substance was printed in Stewart Pearce's Annals of Luzerne as he found it printed in the Federalist of March 30, 1810. It was probably written by some local wit, under the guise of a foreigner traveling through this part of the country, and was " takin' notes i'faith to print 'em." It is not material what the motive or who it was, it is something of a picture of the village eighty-two years ago. The writer, printer and all that were animate here then, are now gathered in "the silent city." A stranger in Luzerne is the heading and then follows:

" Cloudy day-rain towards night -- 4 o'clock, came in sight of a small town- a delightful and extensive valley, sufficiently watered by Susquehanna and its tributary streams. Set this county down rich-the soil undoubtedly will reward the labors of the husbandman with an abundant harvest.

"Came down into the town (Wilkes-Barre)-found it regularly laid out-hand- some place, though too many small houses for beauty. Streets terribly muddy- almost impossible to get along. Wonder the inhabitants don't have a sidewalk, at least, so that foot-people may not have their legs pulled out by the roots.

" Came down into the street-extends north and south-two men running horses! Mud knee deep. Well, they sputter it agoing bravely; they spout it around like Mount Etna in a fit of the colic. Huzza! there goes a man and his horse heels over head-spatter, dash, souse all over in the mud-a new way of dismounting. Walked up to the center of the place-saw a meeting-house-courthouse-an academy, I guess, with one end of it fenced in-a jail probably, by the high yard fence-four public buildings, religion, justice, knowledge, and iniquity-curious compound. Wonder what old, huge, antique stone building that is with new roof and windows-contrary to Scripture-put no new cloth upon an old garment. This is the first building that bears such strong marks of antiquity, and which appears to have been too rough for the devouring jaws of time, which I have seen in America. I can find no date upon it. Went a little further-found six great, strong, robust men playing cards without any concealment. Inquired if they had any laws in this State, or, perhaps their magistrates are blind, like Justice of old. Went down to the river-a delightful bank, save the mud, which for the purpose of brevity, I wish might always be excepted when this place is mentioned hereafter. A big house on the bank-foundation all gone from one end-a little more will tumble it down the hill. Saw a man drunk-he had business on both sides of the way (there was once an insurrection in this State on account of taxing whiskey). 26

498

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Saw another man moving with great obliquity-made inquiry-found he was a candidate for sheriff. Do all sheriffs in Pennsylvania step quick two or three times and then with a long side-way stride? The river is wearing away the bank very rapidly-from appearance it seems to incline side-ways, like the man I saw just now.

"Two men rode up from the river-one horse kicked up and threw the rider head and heels in the mud-the people all flocked around just as they do to see dogs fight-made inquiry and found the man was a Methodist minister. Well, if I remember right, this sect of Christians hold to falling. I went down a little further- saw a tavern, heard a bell ring and found there was a Methodist meeting. Went and found many people there. The minister delivered a forcible, impressive, eloquent and Scriptural sermon.

"March 21 .- Rose at 6-walked out upon the bank-saw only one man up and he, from his looks, will be down before night. At 7 went to the store opposite the ferry, found all closed and silent. Walked on-saw a new white house, very handsome situation-fence all gone around it. What! a printing office! Saw another store -- found it open and doing business-good many people in it-inquire if this man does not tend his own store, of course, makes more money. Going back saw a man without a hat-his hair pointing to every quarter of heaven, his mouth open and both hands working daylight through his yet closed eyelids-hope he has a large patrimony to doze over. Returned to the tavern -- found a good many men come to get their morning charge. After breakfast walked around town; at 11 o'clock went to the academy-steeple as big as an eel basket-saw a number of great tall boys gaping and leaning against the side of the house, and stretching as if for victory.

" Went on-saw things which I shall never forget-returned to iny lodgings sick -evening pleasant-many people came in, and as they poured down the whiskey they drowned out the politics. If they should drink less, talk less, and read more, won't they understand the subject better ? Went up street-going by the courthouse heard a stamping, like that of a livery stable in fly time-made inquiry and found there was a dancing-school kept there."

The Allen Jack brick storehouse, on Main street, was erected in 1813, and the G. M. Hollenback store and dwelling on the corner of Market and River streets, in 1816.

Old Iron Mill .- That was a memorable time in Wilkes-Barre way back in 1842, when the town made a gala day of it to turn out and see the new rolling-mill start up. The canal then raged and the canal horn quickened the heartbeats of the people as the flying packet-boat, Capt. Wells commanding, would proudly come into port. A distinguished mark of a heavy man about town then was to be able to rush on board, shake familiarly the captain's hand and indulge in one of the boat's gorgeous meals for the sum of 25 cents. It is now fifty yearstoa day since that memorable day, October 1, 1842, and the whole country gathered in to see the iron mill start. There were two engines, one 100-horsepower, the other sixty, and all else was in proportion. Mr. Ellis was superintendent, and Capt. John Y. Wren, of Plymouth, had the proud satisfaction of starting one of the engines. The engines moved all right. The blast was finally turned on, but then the imperfections became palpable. The flames instead of going to the iron blew out of many crevices. The furnaces were a sad failure. They were remodeled, but it never would roll well; the rails being imperfect and badly finned and ragged all along. It was run, never to advantage, for some years and then dismantled. Capt. Wren thus speaks of his recollections of Wilkes-Barre fifty years ago: "Leaving the canal bridge toward the public square there were only green fields and blooming orchards. The two buildings that attracted the captain's eye especially were the armory of the Ninth regiment on Main, and Ely Post No. 97 building. He regards these as the two proud monumental buildings of the city. It is hardly necessary to state that Capt. Wren in the Historical Record gave the facts of the old mill.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 62

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532