USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 112
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. mittee of the presbytery organized the First Presby- terian Church of Plymouth. Charles Hutchinson and William Stont were elected elders, but Mr. Stont not being present, he was never ordained to the office. J. W. Eno, William Stont, Stewart Craig, Charles Hutchin- son and Robert Love were elected trustees. Rev. E. H. Snowden preached as stated supply for fifteen years. He preached here once in two weeks, alternating with North Moreland. Rev. William P. White has been pastor since July, 1870. The membership is over two hundred.
The foundation of the present church building on Church street was laid in 1866, but the building was not com- pleted until two years later. It is of wood, forty by sixty feet, with a gallery in one end, and cost $4,000. The church was dedicated June 13th, 1868, Rev. Dr. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, preaching the dedicatory sermon. Rev. N. G. Parke read the Scriptures. Rev. E. H. Snowden (as was most fitting, the erection of the edifice being mainly due to his labors) pronounced the dedication.
A Sabbath-school was early organized in the school- house at the lower end of the town. Charles Hutchin- son was the first superintendent, and Mrs. L. B. Eno assistant. There are now 200 pupils. Branches were established on Welsh hill and Boston hill, and there is one with about 50 scholars now at Avondale, under the charge of M. Garrahan.
ZION PRIMITIVE METHODIST.
This church, whose house of worship is on Church street, Plymouth, was organized early in 1871 with 12 members. The first meeting was held on Temperance hill, in a public school-house. The first minister was Rev. Francis Gray, who served first as a local preacher, as also did Revs. Henry Gray, Henry Jones and J. W. Morgan. Six months from beginning Rev. Francis Gray was engaged as preacher, and served the church until the next annual conference, which was held in May, 1872. The church recommended him as a candidate for the ministry, with a strong request that he should be ap- pointed for another year. He accepted on probation, and was restationed. Preaching was then commenced in Shupp's Hall, Main street, Plymouth, and congregations were large and attentive. Two Sunday-schools were kept up and two preaching services at Temperance hill and Plymouth. This society also established preaching service at Nanticoke, Pittston, Pleasant Valley Plains, Laurel Run, Coal Brook and Wilkes-Barre. From Ply- mouth sprang all the Primitive societies in these places, with Rev. F. Gray as minister and a staff of local preachers.
At the conference of 1873 Mr. Gray was removed to St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pa., and Revs. W. B. Beach and J. H. Acornley were appointed on the Plymouth circuit, Mr. Beach living in Plymouth. During his two years ministry the present church was built, a neat frame building, seating about 300. Rev. T. C. Beach and Rev. C. Spurr each served two years, after which Rev. Francis Gray again had charge. The church being considerably in debt, he gave his services for one year, during which time over $600 indebtedness was paid; the church is now prosperous financially and spiritually.
There are three Sunday-schools, the principal one being at Plymouth borough. There is an average attend- ance of 125 scholars. Rev. Francis Gray is the super- intendent. Rev. H. G. Russell is the present minister.
LODGE AND SOCIETY HISTORIES.
1. O. O. F.
Shawnee Lodge, No. 225, the oldest lodge of Odd Fellows in Plymouth, was organized February 15th,
361
ODD FELLOWS' AND MASONIC LODGES, PLYMOUTH.
1847, with the following officers and members: J. F. Smith, N. G .; Draper Smith, V. G .; J. F. Reynolds, sec- retary; Samuel Davenport, A. S .; Ira Davenport, trea- surer; Charles L. Farnham, Samuel Van Loon and E. Bulkeley.
The present officers are: E. H. Woods, N. G .; James Rowe, V. G .; James Lewis, secretary; James Pierce, A. S., and A. S. Davenport, treasurer.
The lodge has 75 members, and meets at Smith's Opera House on each Saturday night.
Plymouth Encampment was instituted April Ist, 1868, with the following officers and charter members: David Levi, C. P .; John J. Shonk, H. P .; John E. Halleck, S. WV .; Lewis Boughton, J. W .; Michael Shonk, scribe; S. M. Davenport, treasurer, and A. F. Levi, G.
The successive chief patriarchs have been John J. Shonk, David McDonald, Samuel Davenport, A. F. Levi, Lewis Boughton, J. S. McDonald, D. Brown, August Schnell, James McFarlane, Joseph Bodman, William F. Major, Richard Kelley, G. W. Shonk, D. L. Richards, James Trebilcock, James Pearse, James G. Wier, Stephen Stevens, Charles Jones, G. W. McKee, Joseph Sweitzer and J. J. Phillips.
The present officers are: C. A. Husche, C. P .; George P. Richards, S. W .; R. M. Evans, J. W .; J. Bachman, treasurer; A. Schnell, scribe. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Wadhams Lodge, No. 872, was instituted April 25th, 1874, with the following officers: George P. Richards, N. G .; Charles Murray, V. G .; G. W. McKee, secretary; R. H. Bursch, A. S .; Joseph Sweitzer, treasurer.
The past grands are G. P. Richards, N. G. Downes, Charles Murray, G. W. McKee, R. H. Bursch, R. C. Young, D. P. Williams, Sol Hirsch, C. B. Knapp, William Heffman, F. C. Gates, Frederick Schwartz.
The present officers are: J. W. Williams, N. G .; C. A. Kusche, V. G .; G. W. McKee, secretary; Richard Rock- weiler, A. S., and Joseph Sweitzer, treasurer. The lodge meets at Richards Hall on each Friday night, and has a membership of 51.
Elm Lodge, No. 642, was instituted October 3d, 1878, when the following officers were installed: N. G., J. W. S. McDonald; V. G., S. M. Davenport; secretary, C. F. Derby; assistant secretary, A. F. Levi; treasurer, Lewis Boughton; Rep. to grand lodge, John J. Shonk.
Elm Lodge meets in Odd Fellows' Hall, on Main street, on Wednesday evening of each week. It has a member- ship of 87, and has $1, 128 on interest, and $742 in the treasury. The following are the officers: N. G., James Bunney; V. G., Daniel E. Frantz; secretary, Robert M. Evans; assistant secretary, Richard Kelly; treasurer, Joseph Bodman; trustees -- F. Howard Armstrong, Daniel Richards and Philip Walters; Rep. to grand lodge, Jos- eph Bodman.
MASONIC.
Plymouth Lodge, No. 332, 4. Y. M. was chartered March 7th, 1859, and was duly constituted on the 27th of April following, by Sharp D. Lewis, Esq., D. D. G. M.,
in the present lodge room in the brick store building of L. C. Wadhams, Esq.
The officers installed at that time were: Robert Love, W. M .; Josiah W. Eno, S. W .; Elijah C. Wadhams, J. W .; David Levi, treasurer, and Bryce R. Blair, secretary; these five constituting the entire membership.
The officers installed December 27th, 1878, were: Enoch W. Marple, W. M .; Peter N. Garrahan, S. W .; John R. Lee, J.W .; Charles W. Jenkins, treasurer, and S. L. French, secretary. Plymouth lodge was the nucleus from which were formed the lodges at Shickshinny and Dallas. The membership December 27th, 1878, was 54. Meetings are held Tuesday evenings on or before full moon, and St. John the Evangelist's day.
Valley H. R. A. Chapter, No. 214, was chartered May : 21st, 1867, and constituted on the 8th of August follow- ing, in the Masonic Hall at Plymouth. The officers at that time installed were: Bryce R. Blair, M. E. H. P .; Elijah C. Wadhams, K. and S .; Livingston French. S .; H. W. French, treasurer; Thomas P. Macfarlane, secre- tary. The other charter members were Rev. J. G. Eck- man, Lewis Gorham and Bryce S. Blair.
The entire membership from the organization to De- cember 27th, 1878, was 68 members. The time of stated meetings is Friday evening on or before full moon of each month.
Mount Horeb Council, No. 34, R. S. E. and S. M. was constituted in the Masonic Hall, Plymouth, on the 6th of April, 1868. The original petitioners, officers and charter members were: E. C. Wadhams, T. I. G. M .; S. L. French, D. I. G. M .; Rev. J. G. Eckman; H. W. French, M. of Ex .; T. P. Macfarlane, recorder; Lewis Gorham; Bryce R. Blair, P. C. of W .; Bryce S. Blair, Rev. J. N. Pardee.
The presiding officers have been E. C. Wadhams, S. L. French, B. R. and B. S. Blair, John J. Kelchner, W. B. Poush, S. U. Shaffer, A. P. Barber, A. G. Rickard, L. W. Jones.
The present officers are: Latham W. Jones, T. I. G. M .; S. U. Shaffer, D. I. G. M .; Olin F. Harvey, P. C. of W .; C. W. Jenkins, treasurer, and S. L. French, recorder.
The total membership from the organization to Decem- 27th, 1878, was 62. The stated meetings are Friday evening on or next preceding full moon of each month.
I. O. R. M.
Lackawanna Tribe, No. no, was organized June 10th, 1869, with the following charter members: Benjamin Walton, S .; D. E. Frantz, S. S .; E. Meredith, J. S .; N. G. Dennis, P .; G. W. Patterson, C. R .; William Ely, K. W .; Jerome Hooven, E. H. Wood, F. W. Daniels, Wesley Slocum, Nelson Knapp, Jacob Hooven, John Lees and Jacob Ely.
The past sachems are D. E. Frantz, D. McDonald, E. Meredith, D. Brown, B. F. Walton, Jerome Hooven, John Lecs, E. D. Barthe, David Fox, James Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Thomas M. Reese, George Evans, George Hughey, William Hooper, John Bright, David P. Davis and George Grandison.
362
HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
The present officers are: Enos Wilks, S .; Thomas Ap- pleton, S. S .; William Bevan, J. S .; John Sprague, C. R .; Thomas M. Reese, K. W.
The membership is 4S. The tribe meets each Friday night in the Thomas building on Main street.
WASHINGTON CAMP, NO. 137, P. O. S. OF A.
This camp was organized August 24th, 1870, with 95 charter members. The first officers were: Frederick K. Kilmer, Pres .; Charles Butler, M. of F .; Irwin Shupp, R. S .; Charles Lance, F. S .; W. R. Sherman, T.
The past presidents are Frederick Kilmer, Irwin Shupp, William Nead, James H. Wier, Charles Shupp, William Robbins, Samnel Moore, I. W. Shellhamer, H. R. Afleck, J. W. Brodeau, A. Easton, Richard Dennis, Isaac B. Ford, Wheeler Van Loon, Peter Walters and Emmet Lowery.
The present officers are: Albert Bates, Pres; Frank H. Ray, V. P; William Sandor, M. of F .; H. R. Afleck, R. S; S. P. Love, T. S .; and W. G. Wandel, T. The camp has 105 members, and meets every Wednesday evening in Spy's Hall.
PLYMOUTH STAR COUNCIL, NO. 255, O. U. A. M.
was instituted March 4th, 1871, with 16 charter mem- bers. The first officers were: E. D. Barthe, C .; W. D. Fritz, V. C .; John H. Case, R. Sec .; W. F. Major, Ast. Sec .; D. E. Frantz, F. S .; D. C. Neagley, Treas.
The present (December 18th, 1879) officers are: A. B. Clewell, C .; H. R. Afleck, V. C .; James H. Perry, Sec .; John Maxwell, C. Sec .; F. H. Ray, F. S .; I. B. Fredrici, Treas .; A. B. Clewell, William Deets and H. R. Afleck, trustees.
The council has one hundred and ten members, and meets every Saturday night in Forester's Hall.
ACOLADE CONCLAVE, NO. 29, K. OF P.
Acolade Conclave was instituted December 30th, 1874, with the following members and officers: E. D. Barthe, C .; James Trebilcock, V. C .; Samuel Harris, R .; Wil- liam Trembath, H .; William Bravin, T .; Wesley Dennis, G .; D. K. Spy, Sol. Hirsch, E. Antrim, W. S. Fisher, James Oats.
The present officers are: David Fox, C .; James Smellie, V. C .; E. D. Barthe, R .; T. P. Davenport, H .; William Ratchinson, T.
The conclave has twenty-three members, and meets in Forester's Hall on the second and fourth Wednesday nights of each month. E. D. Barthe is G. R. of G. C.
CRYSTAL CASTLE, NO. 79, ANCIENT ORDER. KNIGHTS OF THE MYSTIC CHARM
was organized September 6th, 1875, with 27 charter members. The first officers were: Jon May, Chaplain; J. W. Lillhamer, C .; Alexander Ferguson, V. C .; Wil- liam Trembath, first Lieut .; James Finn, R. S .; E. M. Branch, Asst. R. S .; Benjamin Jacka, F. S .; John
Rickard, Treas. William B. Lewis has also held the office of commander.
The present officers (December, 1879,) are: Chaplain, George Stocking; Com., Daniel Reese; Vice-Com., William Hopper; first Lieut., James H. Kemp; R. S., Daniel Lewis; Asst. R. S., John Sprague; Treas., Enoch Jones.
Crystal Castle meets on each Monday evening in Richards Hall, Main street.
ST. PATRICK'S BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, NO. 162, IRISH CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT UNION.
This society was organized May 20th, 1876, with James V. Perse, Hugh F. Rutledge, John Russell and Thomas Smith charter members. The first officers were: Charles Smith, president; Hugh F. Rutledge, vice-president; James V. Perse, secretary; Daniel Dooley, treasurer.
Charles Smith has been the only president. The other officers at present are: John Russell, vice-president; James V. Perse, secretary; Daniel Dooley, treasurer. The object of the society is to visit the sick and to bury the dead. It meets on the fourth Sunday of each month, in the basement of St. Vincent's Catholic church. The membership is 54.
PLYMOUTH ST. VINCENT T. A. B. SOCIETY.
This society was organized October 12th, 1878, with 5 members. The first officers were: John F. O'Hora, pres- ident; John McGorey, V. P .; John Sweeney, R. S .; P. J. Smith, C. S .; and Christopher Savage, treasurer.
The present officers are: A. J. Lynch, president; Thomas O'Hora, V. P .; William McAvery, C. S .; David Grimes, R. S .; and James Doyl, treasurer. There is a cadet corps, consisting of about 200 boys, from seven to fifteen years of age, connected with this society. John T. O'Hora is president; James Gill, V. P .; John McNamor, secretary.
GAYLORD POST G. A. R.
This post, named after Asher Gaylord of Plymouth, who was killed at Hatcher's Run, was mustered in Octo- ber 18th, 1878, with 19 charter members. The first officers were: E. D. Barthe, P. C .; James Lewis, Sr. V. C .; H. M. Gordon, jr., V. C .; S. L. French, Adj .; Joseph Shiner, surgeon; J. Y. Wren, Q. M. Present officers are: D. W. Morris, P. C .; H. W. Carter, Adj .; J. Y. Wren, Q. M.
There are now twenty-six members. The post meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in Spy's Hall.
PLYMOUTH LODGE, NO. 1,785, K. OF H.
was instituted September 24th, 1879, by D. G. D. Fields, of Pittsburg, with 24 charter members.
The officers are: William Davis, D .; C. H. Wilson, P. D .; E. J. Achenbach, V. D .; S. U. Shaffer, R .; C. S. Nesbitt, F. R .; F. E. Spry, Ch. The lodge meets on the first Wednesday night of each month at Richards Hall.
363
PIONEERS IN ROSS-UNION SOLDIERS-PRESENT INSTITUTIONS.
ROSS TOWNSHIP.
HIS township was formed in January, 1842, from Union and Lehman, and named in honor of General William S. Ross, then one of the judges of the county. The township has an area of about forty-six square miles, and a population of 1,053, against 990 in 1870.
Justices of the peace for this township have been elected as follows: John A. Hess, 1843; Philip Callender, 1855; George A. Crocket, 1845, 1850; John Blanchard, 1850, 1855, 1860; Sylvester White, 1860; A. WV. Wilkinson, 1865; James Crockett, 1865, 1870, 1875; H. C. Harvey, 1870; Ira Rood, 2nd, 1875.
As early as 1795 Abram Kitchen, from Connecticut, located on the farm now occupied by James Crockett, on " Broadway;" made considerable improvements, in 1795 setting out an orchard, some of the trees of which are still standing.
In 1808 Francis Irvin, from Connecticut, located in the south part of the township. He had the first horse team in Ross. Paul Wolf located in the south part of Ross in 1806. Timothy, Aaron and Jacob Meeker settled west of Grassy pond about 1796, and in 1800 sold to G. M. Pringle and Hiram Berth.
Daniel Devore, who came to this township in 1793, is still living, aged one hundred and four years. Farming was his occupation while in active business.
The pioneer store was kept by Alvin Wilkinson in 1835, at Bloomingdale, and Josiah Ruggles was the pioneer merchant and first postmaster at Sweet Valley.
The first school-house was built in 1820. Joseph Moss and Anna Turner were the pioneer teachers, Mr. Moss teaching the first winter and Miss Turner the first summer school.
Years ago Mr. George A. Crockett, while plowing his garden, struck a large flat stone covering a walled-up grave, containing bones supposed to be those of an Indian. Another grave was found a few years ago, near North pond, in which were the bones of an Indian whom Mr. L. T. Myers told Nathaniel Goss that he killed. While out hunting he was chased by Indians into a swamp near North pond, shot and wounded one of them, but was captured and compelled to assist in carrying the wounded Indian to about the spot where this grave was found. One of the Indians was left in charge of Myers and the wounded man. The second night the wounded Indian died, and Myers escaped and returned to his family.
In former accounts of Indian tragedies it is reported that Philip Goss was killed near Wapwallopen by the Indians. In conversation with the Goss family, now liv. ing in Fairmount, it was learned that it was David Goss instead of Philip who was so killed, and they authorize this correction.
CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
Archibald Berth was a patriot soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, after escaping from the British service. He
settled in Ross in 1800, died in 1820, and was buried in the Arnold burying ground in Union township.
John Wandel, who located in the south part of this township about 1800, was also a soldier of the Rev- olution, and was present at the surrender of Bur- goyne. He has descendants still living in this township.
Benjamin Franklin Wesley was a volunteer soldier and sailor of the war of 1812. He was taken prisoner at Queenstown. He died in Ross in 1830, leaving a number of descendants in this township.
Ebenezer Wilkinson, late of Ross township, was one of the volunteers of the war of 1812. Some of his classmates still reside here.
As near as can be ascertained the following list com- prises the soldiers representing the town of Ross in the war of the Rebellion:
Colonel R. P. Crockett, Captain James Davenport; George W. Holmes, killed; Wilson Long, Luther Dodson, I. R. Dodson, Abiel Sutliff, Andrew Sntliff, 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. Sutlitt, J. Blauch- ard, Elijah Moon, I. B. Stevens, Wilbur Stearns, 11. H. Hohes, J. M. Holmes, Isaac Naplus, 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 Phil- lips, Richard Morris; Charles Wesley, killed ; Weston D. Millard, killed ; John Rood, Silas Nevil ; James Nevil, lost an arin ; 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, Ben- jamin Wesley, Edward Wilkinson, Joseph Totten, Jaines Congleton, Jonah Post, -- Post, - Post. Zeplanialı Long; Morris Hatten, wound- ed ; Jerome Hatten ; Aaron Freeman, wounded ; John Freeman.
INSTITUTIONS OF TO-DAY.
At Bloomville there are a store, a post-office, a school- house, an M. E. church, a saw-mill, a blacksmith shop and about 75 inhabitants. At Sweet Valley there are a store and a post-office, a "Christian " church, a black- smith shop, a saw-mill, a school-house and abont 75 in- habitants. At what is known as Broadway there are a church (" Christian"), a school-house, a shoe shop and a few dwellings.
There are in the township seven school-houses, in each of which school is kept six months in each year. Farm- ing is carried on to some extent in the south part of the township, and the most extensive farm is that of G. A. Crocker & Sons, who have over three hundred acres, on which are large apple and pear orchards, and a large vineyard.
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.
Methodism in Ross township dates back to 1796, when the itinerant who traveled the old Berwick circuit preached in a log school-house near where the Methodist Episcopal church now stands, at Bloomingdale. In 1800 a class of seven persons was formed here, with E. Wads- worth as leader, and taken into the Wyoming circuit by Rev. Ephraim Chambers, who was then traveling the cir- cuit with Rev. William Brandon. For several years there was occasional preaching by ministers of other denomi- nations. From 1820 Jonathan Nicholson was in Ross
354
HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
about six years, preaching on Sundays wherever he could find hearers.
In 1846 the Methodist Episcopal church at Blooming- dale was built. It is of wood, of modern architecture, and seats about 300.
The Muhlenburg circuit of the Methodist Episcopal church was a part of the Bloomingdale circuit until the spring of 1869, when it was set off. At the time of its organization the only church on the circuit was that at Bloomingdale. This was a good substantial frame build- ing. Rev. E. H. Yocum was the first pastor, one year from March, 1869. The circuit then embraced Bloom- ingdale church, and the Muhlenburg, Cragle Hill, Van Horn and Rock school-houses. The local preachers then were Revs. Robert Aylesworth and John Holmes. After Mr. Yocum Rev. H. B. Fortner preached two years, followed by W. M. Reilly and Rev. W. W. Reese- During the latter's pastorate, the "Oakville" church was built, at Red Rock. In 1874 and 1875 the pastor was Rev. William Moses. In 1874 a parsonage was bought half a mile northeast of Muhlenburg Corners, in Union township on the Hunlock road. After Mr. Moses, Rev. N. B. Smith preached two years. Rev. Owen Hicks, the present pastor, was appointed in March, 1878.
When this circuit was organized it embraced only four preaching places, while there are now eight, with seven classes. The preaching places are the Bloomingdale and Oakville churches, and the Marsh, Muhlenburg, Van Horn, Croop, Cragle Hill and Sorber school-houses.
The local preachers are Rev. Robert Aylesworth and Rev. E. B. Dodson; exhorter, T. F. Wolfe. The mem- bership is 200. The church property is valued at $3,000. There are seven Sunday-schools, numbering about 400 officers, teachers and scholars.
Rev. Owen Hicks, pastor as above mentioned, was born in Macham, Monmouthshire, England, in May, 1842; came to this country with his parents in 1847, and settled in the central part of Pennsylvania. He served in the Union army three years. He joined the M. E. Church when 13 years old; was licensed as an exhorter at 16; entered the traveling ministry in 1866, and preached in the South nine years. After being repeatedly mobbed by the ex-rebels, and losing his health, he was transferred to Pennsylvania in the spring of 1876.
Two " Christian" churches were built in 1870. There are Sunday-schools held in all the churches in the town- ship, besides four or five in the school-houses.
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
HIS is one of the original townships, and re- tained its name as one of the eleven town- ships into which old Luzerne county was divided in 1790. The name adopted was that of a town in Windham county, Conn., from which the early settlers came. The area re- mains the same (about twenty-nine square miles) as
in 1793, after Huntington was taken off. The popula- tion was 1,525 in 1870 and 1,448 in 1880.
We have been permitted to extract the following facts from the original records of the township. At a meeting of the Susquehanna proprietors, held April Ist, 1793, at Windham, Connecticut, Capt. Aaron Cleveland modera- tor, "Nathaniel Wales ye 3d" and Ebenezer Gray, jr., were appointed a committee "to repair to Susquehanna river and make a pitch for a township and survey and lay out the same, Mr. Wales to receive six shillings per day from the time he sets out." Thomas Gray was chosen "clerk of this town and treasurer "; and the name Salem was adopted.
" At a meeting of the proprietors of the town of Salem on Susquehanna river, legally warned and held at Wind- ham, July 7th, 1793," "the report of the doing of Messrs. Nathaniel Wales 3d and Ebenezer Gray, jr., who were appointed a committee to lay out said town of Salem, and who have laid out the same," was accepted.
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; pro- vided 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 divi- sion " were declared " the three rights that was voted by the Susquehanna company to be laid out in each town for the public use."
A meeting of the proprietors of Salem was held in Windham November 7th, 1774, at which the following action was taken:
" Voted, That Messrs. Ebenczer Lathrop, jr., and Asa Edgerton be a committee to repair to and lay out the town of Salem in lots in the fol- lowing manner : viz. to lay out in the best manner ou the most fertile lands one hundred and six one hundred acre lots; viz. two one hundred acre lots to eachi proprietor aud to each public right, and the remain- ing 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 number, so as to do justice to each proprietor in the division of said township; and that Thomas Gray be collector."
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