History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 82

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 82

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).

During the winter of 1782 and 1783 the men returned from the army of Washing- ton, and they spent the following summer in preparing the ground for winter grains.

But they were not to reap the fruit of their labors. On March 13 and 14 occurred the greatest ice floods ever known in the Susquehanna river. There were eight or nine dwellings upon "Garrison hill," which were swept away, together with nearly all the other buildings in the place. Rev. Benjamin Bidlack was carried away with his house. After being tossed about with huge cakes of ice during the whole night he effected a landing on the lower end of Shawnee flats. This time of trouble was seized upou by Alexander Patterson, the civil magistrate of Wilkes- Barre, as a fit opportunity to dispossess the Connecticut settlers of their lands. The suffering people were driven from their homes by soldiers, and not even allowed to pass over the road leading along the river, but compelled to take the road over the mountains toward Stroudsburg and the Delaware. May 15, 1784, witnessed the departure of the suffering settlers-old men, women and children, on foot and with- out provisions for the journey. The bridges were all gone, and the road torn up by the late flood. Several of the unhappy people died in the wilderness. A poor widow of a fallen soldier, with her family of children crying for the food which she could not give them, was among the rest. One of her children died on the journey.

This cruel act aroused the sympathies of the people of Pennsylvania in favor of the settlers, and the authorities of the State directed the sheriff of Northumberland county to place them in possession of their lands. Messengers were sent to the Delaware, inviting them to return, and giving assurance of protection. Nothing daunted, they set out on their return, but on their arrival at the top of the Wilkes- Barre mountains, they halted and sent forward a committee to see how matters stood. These men were seized by Patterson, and cruelly beaten with iron ramrods. Pro- ceeding cautiously to their homes, the settlers began to make preparations to gather their crops planted in the spring. While engaged in this work they were attacked by a body of Patterson's men, on the western slope of Ross hill. A skirmish ensued, in which Elisha Garrett and Chester Pierce were killed on the side of the settlers. Now fully aroused, the settlers placed themselves under the command of John Franklin and, marching through the Shawnee country, effectually cleared the place of the tory element. This was the last serious trouble of the Plymouth settlers.

The lands of Plymouth were surveyed by the Susquehanna company into lots twenty-two rods in width, and extending back over the morntains a distance of about five miles. Thus each settler had both river flat and mountain lands. The Shawnee flats being found free from trees, all farming was done there. Each settler had his strip of land extending across the flats.

After the great flood of 1784 no fences were built on the flats, except one fence inclosing the whole tract to protect the crops from cattle. One road was used by all the farmers owning lands on the flats, and where this road left the main road a gate was erected, known as the swing gate. This was kept locked, and was opened in the early morning when the men and boys wended their way to their labors, carrying their dinners that they might spend the entire day in the labors of the

638

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

field. A large square inclosure around an area of about 1,000 square feet was erected as a pound. In this inclosure, which stood on the lands of the late Col. Ransom, at the junction of the flat road with the principal street, were placed all cattle found running at large during the day. The owners were obliged to pay a fine of about 25 cents per head to obtain their release. This was paid to the " key keeper," of whom Thomas Heath was the first, having been appointed at a meeting of the people of the town of Westmoreland, March, 2, 1774.

It was the duty of the "key keeper" to carry the keys of the church, fort, schoolhouse, pound and swing gate.

Farming was conducted in the most primitive style, no machinery being known. The winters were passed in threshing the grain and hauling it to Easton, the only market within reach of the early settlers. Benjamin Harvey, who lived in the lower end of the township, near the mouth of Harvey's creek, used the surface of a large flat rock as a threshing floor. This rock, which was one of the defences used by the settlers at "Plunkett's" battle, has been broken up and caried away. Each farmer had his plot of flax, and the cloth for the clothes of the men and boys was made at home.

The first mills were built about 1780, Robert Faulkner having erected a log grist- mill on Shupp's creek; while Benjamin Harvey in the same year built a log grist- mill and residence on Harvey's creek. The Harvey mill was occupied by Abram Tilbury, the son-in-law of Mr. Harvey. The first sawmill was also built in that year, by Hezekiah Roberts, on Ransom's creek, and in 1795 Samuel Marvin built a saw- mill on Whittlesey's creek. Philip Shupp built a gristmill on Shupp's creek, below the site of the old Faulkner mill, that Col. Wright thinks must have been built as early as 1800, and in the time of his boyhood was the principal flouring-mill in the town. The only mill now in operation in the township is the gristmill on Harvey's creek at West Nanticoke. This was built by Henry Yingst, a German from Dauphin county, for Joshua Pugh, about 1833. Mr. Yingst was the first miller employed in this mill. The mill has passed through the hands of several persons.

Previous to 1774 the settlers of Plymouth depended entirely on getting their supplies of such articles as were absolutely necessary from Wilkes-Barre or Sunbury. In this year Benjamin Harvey, Jr., established a small retail store in the log honse of his father, near the site of the present "Christian " church building. "Here, for a couple of years, he dealt in a small way in articles of absolute necessity-salt, leather, ironware, a few groceries, etc. At that time, and for many subsequent years, all articles of merchandise were transported upon the river in 'Durham boats.' Ten or twelve miles up the stream was considered a fair day's work." Until the completion of the Easton & Wilkes-Barre turnpike, in 1807, no other means of transportation was known. "After the enlistment of Mr. Harvey in the United States army his father took charge of his small stock of goods and sold them out, but the store was never replenished." From this time to 1808, a period of thirty-two years, there was no store kept in Plymouth. Joseph Wright, father of Col. Hendrick B. Wright, of Wilkes-Barre, and author of Sketches of Plymouth. came into Union township with his father, Caleb Wright, from New Jersey, in 1795. He married and settled in Plymouth, where he started a small retail store in the east room of the Wright homestead, now standing just below the limits of the present borough of Plymouth. The first sale made in this store was of a Jew's harp to Jameson Harvey, who paid a sixpence in cash. The first entry upon the books of Mr. Wright, now in the possession of his son, Col. H. B. Wright, is dated February 26, 1808, and reads: "Abraham Tilbury, Dr., to one qt. of rum, at 7-6 per gallon, £0 1s. 10}d." As only the necessaries of life were then kept, rum must have been considered essential. Mr. Harvey, who bought the Jew's harp when a boy, is now living, at the advanced age of eighty two years, and is undoubtedly the only person now living who traded at this store during the first year of its existence. The "Conestoga wagon " had been added to the means of transportation, and goods were now brought overland

639

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

from Easton as well as by water from Sunbury. All goods were brought into the valley by one or the other of these means of carriage until the opening of the canal in 1830. Rev. George Lane bought the store of Joseph Wright in 1812, and kept it nearly a year, when he entered into a partnership with Benjamin Harvey, son of Elisha Harvey. The new firm did business in a small frame building on the site of Smith's Opera House until 1816, when Mr. Lane went to Wilkes-Barre, and Mr. Harvey to Huntington. Immediately after the sale of his store to Mr. Lane, Joseph Wright entered into a partnership with Benjamin Reynolds and Joel Rogers. They opened a store in a small frame building on the east side of the road, opposite the present (1873) residence of Henderson Gaylord." This firm dissolved in October, 1814, and the business was continued by Joel Rogers & Co. up to 1816, then by Reynolds, Gaylord & Co. to December, 1818, then by Mr. Gaylord to the fall of 1824, when he entered into a ten years' partnership with the late William C. Reynolds. Gaylord & Reynolds established a branch at Kingston. From 1836 Mr. Gaylord and Draper Smith formed a partnership to 1839. From 1816 to 1827 the business stand was on the premises now occupied as a hotel by John Deane. In 1827 Mr. Gaylord built a store across the street, in which he and Mr. Smith traded till they dissolved, and Mr. Gaylord to 1856, when he retired.

About 1828 John Turner opened a store where Turner Bros. now, are. Soon after that he sold his stock to Gaylord & Reynolds. Asa Cook commenced business in the Turner store, and was soon followed by John Turner, and the establishment has been continued down to the present time either in his name or the name of his sons. Samuel Davenport and Elijah Reynolds opened a store in 1834. This firm was dissolved in 1835, and the business continued by Samuel Davenport to 1840, then by him and John B. Smith until 1850, and, for several years succeeding, by Mr. Smith. Ira Davenport opened his store in 1845. Jameson Harvey opened a store at West Nanticoke about 1843.

As the sawmill of Marvin was built in 1795, it is altogether probable that frame houses were constructed soon after, and that several were built about the same time. Of these first houses there are now standing the old red house, or Ransom home- stead, the Davenport homestead, the Widow Heath house and the Joseph Wright house. The first stone house was built by Mr. Coleman in 1806, and is now known as the "Hodge house." In digging the cellar of this house the bones of Indians were exhumed. The first coal ever burned in Plymouth for domestic purposes was burned in this house by Abijah Smith, who boarded there while working his mine. Freeman Thomas built the stone house that is now occupied by M. Garrihan in 1830. The first brick building was built by Matthias Nesbitt in 1847. This was a story-and- a-half dwelling, and was afterward burned. Samuel Davenport built a brick dwelling in 1848, and the J. B. Smith homestead was erected in 1849.

George P. Smith kept a tavern in the old red house, as did the Widow Heath in the old house now standing by the old elm tree, which was probably the first tavern in the township. Oliver Davenport kept tavern where the Hon. J. J. Shonk lives, as early as 1822. A hotel was built by Mr. Deittrich where the Eley house now stands, and was kept by several persons. This was afterward burned. Daniel Carey built a hotel about 1832, where the Harvey's Creek hotel now stands. He afterward built a large house where the canal barn now stands, which was moved in 1839, by Joseph Edwards and George Mack, to where it now stands. It is the Harvey's Creek hotel, James J. Ruch, proprietor.

Civil Government .- Plymouth, being one of the districts of the town of West- moreland, was governed by the digest of rules and regulations prepared by the Susquehanna company, under which the principal authority as to township govern- ment was vested in a board, "to be composed of three able and judicious men among such settlers." These were elected on the first Monday of December of each year, and were "to take upon them the direction of the settlement of each town, under the company, and the well ordering and the governing of the same." These

640

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

directors were required to meet on the first Monday of each month, with their peace officers, and to take into consideration the good of the people, as well as to hear and decide such disputes as might be brought before them. They were empowered to inflict punishment upon offenders, either by reproof and fine or fine and corporal punishment. The directors of all the towns were required to meet quarterly to take into consideration the good of the whole people or of any particular town; to hear the appeal of any who might think themselves aggrieved by the award of the directors of their own town, and to come to such resolutions as they might think for the general good. No appeal lay "from the doings of such quarterly meeting, or their decrees, to the Susquehanna company, save in disputes as to land."

Phineas Nash, Capt. David Marvin and J. Gaylord, elected in December, 1774; it was voted that "Plymouth, with all ye land west of Susquehanna river, south and west to the town line, be one district, by the name of Plymouth district." Sam- uel Ransom was appointed selectman; Asaph Whittlesey, collector of rates; Elisha Swift, Samuel Ransom and Benjamin Harvey, surveyors of highways; John Baker and Charles Gaylord, viewers of fences; Elisha Swift and Gideon Baldwin as list- ers, to make enrollments; Phineas Nash and Thomas Heath, as grand jurors; Tim- othy Hopkins, tithing man, and Thomas Heath, key keeper. It was "voted at this meeting that for ye present ye tree that stands northerly from Capt. Butler's house shall be ye town sign-post." March 24, 1786, it was voted " That all such houses as are within the limits of this common-field, and occupied with families, be removed out of said field by the tenth of April next, the committee to give speedy warning to any such residents and see it is put in execution, the house now occupied by the Widow Heath excepted, provided that said Widow Heath shall run a fence so as to leave her house without said field." The best authorities locate the "common-field" on the brow of Ant hill, as the old frame house still standing and occupied by Will- iam Jenkins was the property of Widow Heath. The schoolhouse, which stood on the opposite side of the road and a little below the old elm tree. was most probably the place in which all public meetings were held, and the old elm tree the sign and whipping-post of old Plymouth.

The records of the township officers of Plymouth under the Pennsylvania juris- diction extend no further back than 1828, and even these are but poorly kept. It is known however, that Joseph Wright and Henderson Gaylord, both men of signal ability, kept an eye on the business of the township and straightened many a tangled account for the township officers between the years 1807 and 1828. But the records of their work, if any were made, have all been lost. The following have been the principal township officers of Plymouth as far as can be ascertained:

Supervisors: William Hunt, 1828; John Smith, 1828; Isaac Fuller, 1829; James Nesbitt, 1829; Samuel Ransom, 1830, 1841 ; Joseph Keller, 1831, 1834-5, 1837; James Hayward, 1831; Benjamin Reynolds, 1830; Hiram Drake, 1832; Joseph L. Worthing- ton, 1832-3, 1841, 1847-9; Jared L. Baldwin, 1833; Freeman Thomas, 1834-6, 1840; Jonathan McDonald, 1836-8; Samuel Van Loon, 1838; William Ransom, 1839; Oliver Davenport, (second), 1839; John Elston, 1840; James Van Loon, 1842; Truman Atherton, 1842; Henry Sears, 1843; Samuel Coons, 1845, 1863-4; John Moyer, 1845; Caleb Atherton, 1846; Samuel Davenport, 1847; William Nesbitt, 1848; J. F. Reynolds, 1849; Ira Davenport, 1850, 1854; Benjamin Duran, 1850; Joel Gabriel, 1851; Oliver Davenport, 1852-3, 1855; Hiram Davenport, 1852-3; Benjamin Devens, 1854; Clark Davenport, 1855-61, 1861-6; George Davenport, 1856-8, 1860-2; George Hoover, 1858; Gardner Nesbitt, 1862; John Jessup, 1865-7; Thomas Harris, 1867; Joseph Jaqnish, 1868-71; Samuel Harrison, 1869-70; J. R. Linn, 1872; Henry L. Hughes, 1872; Owen. Doyle, 1873-4; Owen McDonald, 1874; Daniel Frace, 1875; William Charles, 1875; Patrick Cowell, 1876; Martin Collins, 1876; Joseph Linn, 1877; Hiram Labar, 1877; Patrick Roan, 1878; Abram Deets, 1878; William P. Evans, 1879; H. Smith, 1879.

Justices appointed: James Sutton, July 4, 1808; David Perkins, September 30,

641

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

1808; William Trux, March 30, 1809; Moses Scovel, July 12, 1809; Stephen Holl- ister, June 30, 1810; Charles Chapman, January 18, 1813; Samuel Thomas, March 20, 1816; Jacob I. Bogardus, January 9, 1817; Dr. John Smith, August 2, 1819, Benjamin Reynolds, August 17, 1820; Alva C. Phillips, November 15, 1852; John Bennett, November 1, 1825; Thomas Irwin, December 11, 1826; Reuben Holgate, November 24, 1829; James Nesbitt, December 16, 1831; Simeon F. Rogers, Decem- ber 16, 1831; Fisher Gay, December 4, 1832; J. R. Baldwin, May 27, 1833; Wat- son Baldwin, December 20, 1833; Sharp D. Lewis, April 18, 1835; J. I. Bogardus, July 15, 1836; Caleb Atherton, September 30, 1837; John P. Rice, September 30, 1837; Peter Allen, October 25, 1838; Henderson Gaylord, October 29, 1838; Addison C. Church, May 10, 1839. Elected for terms of five years: Samuel Wadhams, 1840; Ebenezer Chamberlin, 1840, 1845, 1856, 1861; Hiram Drake, 1841; John Ingham, 1845; George Brown, 1845; Samuel Davenport, 1851; Caleb Atherton, 1851; Elijah G. Wadhams, 1855. 1860, 1865; E. L. Prince, 1855; John B. Smith, 1861; Joseph Ives, 1867, 1872; John C. Jaquish, 1868; Harrison Nesbitt, 1873; James Stookey, 1875; William L. Pritchard, 1878.

West Nanticoke is a colliery town just opposite Nanticoke and connected by a bridge. It is at the mouth of Harvey creek and at the terminus of the canal. A coal breaker and large mining industry constitutes the village. A railroad depot, hotel, store and toll-gate and a large number of miners' cottages are the sur- roundings.

Grand Tunnel (Avondale) is about one mile south of the south line of Plymouth borough, a noted mining village. It is known throughout the civilized world because of the " Avondale disaster," a full account of which appears in another chapter. It is a station on the D. L. & W railroad.

Larksville P. O. (formerly Blind Town) is near the northeast line of the township; is a flourishing mining village; has one general store and several small trading places.

ROSS TOWNSHIP

Perpetuates the name of Gen. William S. Ross, who at the time of its formation, 1842, was one of the associated judges of Luzerne county. It was taken from Union and Lehman townships. While mostly upland it has one-fourth that was, many years ago, under cultivation, and to the present farms are slowly being added, some of the hill farms proving moderately productive. It has a superficial area of forty-six square miles, and would be called hilly, with some narrow valleys. As early as 1865 there were five sawmills in it, busy cutting the valuable lumber of its great forests of oak, hemlock and pine. In 1850 its population was 709; in 1870, 990; 1880, 1,053; in 1890, 1,102. The north part is mountainous and rugged, so much so that when the timber is gone there is but little to tempt men to stay longer. All the additions therefore of recent years have been to the southern portion of the township.

The first settler came in 1795-Abram Kitchen. His farm was eventually that of James Crockett.

Irish Lane postoffice carries in its name an item concerning the settlement. The prominent Irish families, Crockets, Irwins and Holmes came as immigrants to this county and cut their road to come on. This came at once to be widely known as "Broadway." When it became known that they had been given a postoffice and had to select a name the three had such a long contention about the matter that finally the gordian knot was severed by calling it Irish Lane.

Francis Irvin came in 1808. The notable thing about him was that he owned and drove the first team of horses of any of the settlers. That was a distinc- tion then about equal to owning a yacht now. Paul Wolf, who settled in the south end of the township, was here two years before. Irvin came and a reasonable yoke of lean calves was the best he could do in the way of a family tally-ho coach for his family and needs. Timothy Aaron and Jacob Meeker settled near Grassy pond in 1796, and after a stay of four years sold to G. M. Pringle and Hiram Berth.

642

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

The first settler, so far as now is known, in the township was Daniel Devore, in 1793-celebrated in the history of the county by living to be its oldest man- passing the century and four years in active farm life.

Archibald Berth, a Revolutionary soldier, who escaped from the British service, came in 1800 and lived on his farm till he died in 1820: Another Revolutionary veteran was John Wandell, who came the same year as Berth; he was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. His descendants are many still in the township. Benjamin F. Wesley was a soldier in the War of 1812; taken prisoner at Queens- town. He lived in the township till he died of old age in 1830; leaving descendants. Another soldier of the War of 1812 was Ebenezer Wilkinson.

The following is the record of the Ross township men in the late Rebellion:

Col. R. P. Crockett, Capt. James Davenport; George W. Holmes, killed; Wilson Long, Luther Dodson, I. R. Dodson, Abiel Sutliff, Andrew Sutliff, A. W. Sutliff; William Thompson, died in service; A. S. Rood, James Henry, I. M. Culver, I. P. Long, C. Rood, Almon Rood, James Rood, Henry Sutliff, D. W. Seward, J. R. Seward, S. H. Sutliff, J. Blanchard, Elijah Moon, I. B. Stevens, Wilbur Stearns, H. H. Holmes, J. M. Holmes, Isaac Naphus, Sidney Naphus, Thomas Shaw, John Shaw, Cyrus Rummage, Lewis Rummage, Jordan Wolf, Edward Mott, Lafayette Hann, William Edwards, Thomas Long, Nathaniel Wolf; W. F. White, killed; Lorenzo Ruggles, William Nagle, Wesley Hontz, Josiah Hontz; Henry White, died in service; Alonzo F. White, wounded; Aaron Phillips, Richard Morris; Charles Wesley, killed; Weston D. Millard, killed; John Rood, Silas Nevil; James Nevil, lost an arm; Jacob Nevil, killed; Webster Long, killed; Samuel P. Wandel, Samuel Montgomery; C. Moore, wounded in eye; Warren Mott, killed; George Moore, killed; Henry Kitchen, P. D. Edwards, Clark Edward, David Ross, Miles Ross, William Lewis, Abram Agnew, J. W. Davenport, William Wesley, Benjamin Wesley, Edward Wilkinson, Joseph Totten, James Congleton, Jonah Post, -- Post, Post, Zephaniah Long; Morris Hatten, wounded; Jerome Hatten; Aaron Freeman, wounded; John Freeman.

Bloomingdale was the place where was the first store, by Alvin Wilkinson in 1835. It now contains a postoffice and store; schoolhouse and church. Once had seventy-five inhabitants, sawmill and blacksmith shop.

Sweet Valley is the prominent village in the township. Josiah Ruggles was the pioneer merchant and postmaster here. The first schoolhouse was built in 1820, and Joseph Moss and Anna Turner the pioneer teachers.

SALEM TOWNSHIP

Is one of the eleven townships in which Luzerne county was divided at its forma- tion-named after Salem, Conn. The following, being the oldest authentic account of the doings of the people of the township, is taken from the records. The first entry is back in Windham, Conn., April 1, 1773, appointing Nathan Wales "ye 3d" and Ebenezer Gray, Jr., a committee "to repair to Susquehanna river and make a pitch for a township and survey and lay out the same. Thomas Gray was chosen clerk of this new township and the name of Salem was adopted. Wales and Gray discharged their duty and reported progress to a meeting of July 7, 1773; report adopted.

It was "voted that the 7th lot in the first division now laid out belong to Mr. Nathan Beach * * because he now lives on the same; and said Beach is to have an equal share with other proprietors in the remainder of the land that is undivided in said town of Salem; provided the said Beach pay his equal proportion of the cost of laying out said town and other necessary charges."

Lots 51, 52 and 53 "that are laid out in the first division " were declared "the three rights that was voted by the Susquehanna company to be laid ont in each town for the public use."

A meeting of the proprieters of Salem was held in Windham November 7, 1774, at which the following action was taken:

643

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

" Voted, That Messrs. Ebenezer'Lathrop, Jr., and Asa Edgerton be a committee to repair to and lay out the town of Salem in lots in the following manner: viz. to lay out in the best manner on the most fertile lands 106 100-acre lots; viz. two 100- acre lots to each proprietor and to each public right, and the remaining land to divide equally to every proprietor and public right; and then to make each division equal by numbering the lot, that is by putting the good and bad to the same num- ber, so as to do justice to each proprietor in the division of said township; and that Thomas Gray be collector.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 82

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