History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 155

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

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 155
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 155
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 155

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).

The following justices of the peace for this township were elected in the years mentioned in connection with their names: Richard Drinker, 1840: Jacob Beesecker, 1840, 1845; Charles A. Havenstrite, 1845; Mahlon R. Risler, 1848; Edward Wardell, 1850, 1858, 1863, 1868, 1873; Nathaniel Whitmore, 1850; John P. Havenstrite, 1853; Allen Hodgson, 1856, 1865; David Dale, 1876.

The population of the township in 1870 was 1, 182; in 1880 it had fallen off to 881.

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCES.

In the winter of 1819 and 1820, which was a severe one, the family supplies had all to be brought from Stoddardsville (18 miles), Wilkes-Barre (30 miles), or Slo- cum Hollow (13 miles); either on hand-sleds or on men's shoulders, as it was very rarely that a team came from either of those places, and the settlers were not able to hire any conveyance. David Dale, father of Mark Dale, came near losing his life on one of those trips to Stodd- ardsville. Having gone for flour he was drawing a bag or barrel of it on a hand-sled; but not getting home when he was expected, the family, became alarmed and went to meet him. They found him about two miles from home almost overcome by fatigue, and he would have perished with cold before morning.

Another incident looks very much like a " providence." Before the raising of the first log building that Mr. Dale put up, probably the next summer, they had no meat and no way to get any; but on the morning of the raising a fawn seemingly about four or five weeks old came to where they were preparing the timbers. Not thinking of trying to kill it they drove it away, but in an hour or so it came back and would not leave them; and at the suggestion that it must have been sent to supply the lack of meat it was killed and dressed, and proved very good. So remarkably timid and wild are young deer, that Mark Dale, after sixty years' experience with wild animals, can account for the actions of the fawn on no instinct or habit of the deer kind.

About the middle of October, 1855, a little girl named Elizabeth Pembridge got lost in the woods. "Uncle Mark " Dale, of Markhampton, near Daleville, known to be familiar with the wilderness, was appealed to for aid in the search, and shouldering his trusty rifle ("Old Pre- cision " he called it) he set out. The child was traced

to the lower end of Cabin hollow, but here all traces dis- appeared; and it was only after most of the searchers had gone home, tired out, that one of the few men re- maining, impelled by an influence he could not under-" stand, and disregarding repeated calls from the others, walked directly to a spot in the neighborhood of where the most thorough search had been made, and found the missing child. Mr. Dale fired his rifle three times to announce the discovery to all interested, and the long and anxious search ended with great rejoicing.

Two or three years after this Uncle Mark led a search for a man who had wandered into the forest in a fit of insanity, and again had the pleasure of being with the successful party and announcing the glad tidings to the others through the medium of "Old Precision."

DALEVILLE.

Daleville is the principal village of the township. The first settler here was Edward Wardell, a native of York- shire, England. He located here in September, 1819, having bought 250 acres of land of H. W. Drinker, at $5 per acre. His house was of hewn logs, and stood be- tween the site of the residence of E. Wardell and the Spring Brook road.

The next settler, coming a week later, was David Dale, also from England, after whom the village was named. His log cabin stood in the rear of the hotel now kept by Lewis Jones. He bought of H. W. Drinker the land on which most of the village is situated. The next settlers were Matthew Hodson, Robert Roseman, John Fish and Frederick Raish.

The first wheat crop in this part of the township was raised by Edward Wardell and David Dale, in 1820. It was sown in the fall of 1819. The first frame house in Daleville was built in 1826 by Edward Wardell, where he now resides. The present hotel was built in 1827, by David Dale. The pioneer blacksmith in Daleville was Thomas White. His shop stood where William Dale's store now stands. The first shoemaker was George White. His shop stood directly opposite Dale's store. Mrs. Sarah Raish was the pioneer weaver. Mr. Miller's house stood on the site of Mrs. Raish's log cabin.

The pioneer merchant in this village was Mr. Dale, the present merchant. His old store was on the opposite side of the road, at the north side of the cemetery. He commenced business here in 1831. The next store was opened the same year by Levi Lillibridge, in the front room of E. Wardell's house. The first tavern at this place was opened by David Dale in 1827. The same house is now occupied by Lewis Jones as a hotel. The next tavern was one kept a few years by E. Wardell where he now lives. Amasa Hollister kept tavern where Frank Hollister now lives. In 1856 E. Wardell built the store opposite his present residence, where he was engaged in the mercantile business several years. The pioneer phy- sician hereabouts was Dr. C. Frieschkorn, who is still in practice. The first couple married in Daleville (1823) were Mr. John Dale and Miss Ellen Yates, of Philadel- phia. The next were E. Wardell, jr., and wife. The

476

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

oldest cemetery in this township is the one opposite Wil- liam Dale's store in Daleville. The land for cemetery purposes was donated by E. Wardell and D. Dale. The school-house standing opposite Dale's store was built in 1829. One was built at Turnersville in the same year. The first death in this township was that of Henry Raish in 1828. He was a son of Frederick Raish, one of the pioneer settlers, and was about eight years of age. The - pioneer school was taught in 1824 by John Fish, in his own house. Some of the surviving pupils are David, Wil- liam, Franklin and Mark Dale, and Allen, Susan and Har- riet Hodgson. The first carrier of mail from Stroudsburg to Great Bend was William Cottrell. The route was over the Drinker turnpike, and Daleville was one of the offices at which the mails were changed. David Dale was the first postmaster, and his son William Dale is the present one.

There are now at Daleville two churches (Methodist Protestant and Methodist Episcopal), the steam saw-mill of W. Dale & Sons, a school house, a hotel, the blacksmith shop of M. W. Hurley, a wagon shop, the store of William Dale & Sons, and about 150 inhabitants. There is a branch railroad from the D. L. & W. at Beck's Mills to this place. The grade is such that the cars loaded at the mills at Daleville run down by gravity to the main line, and on their return mules are the motive power.

The Methodist Episcopal society of Daleville, which is now a part of the Moscow charge, was organized in 1877, and consisted of Methodists living in that vicinity, togeth- er with several from the Methodist Protestant church in that place. D. F. Waddell, one of the latter, was ap- pointed pastor of the new organization. Since 1878 this place has been united with Moscow in pastoral relation. In 1878 a new church edifice was dedicated, Rev. Dr. Charles H. Fowler, late editor of the Christian Advocate, and Rev. L. W. Peck, presiding elder, officiating. D. F. Waddell was appointed pastor in 1877, G. M. Colville in 1878, and W. B. Westlake, the present pastor, in 1879.

TURNERSVILLE

was settled in 1826 by William Copeland, John Simpson, Owen Simpson, John Holgate and Godfrey Janes. Four of these men were turners by occupation, hence the nanie. There being a large quantity of the right kind of timber in this vicinity, inducements were offered by Henry W. Drinker, the owner of the land, mills were built, and the manufacture of all kinds of brush handles was soon commenced. George Frazee, now a resident of Turnersville, worked for H. W. Drinker on the first saw-mill built here. He is the oldest resident of the place. He was born in New Jersey, September 15th, 1792; was a private in Captain Coons's Com- pany, 16th U. S. infantry, during the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Cook's Mills. The first frame house in this place was built in 1827 by John Simpson; it is still standing.

In 1830 Rev. George Evans, of the Oneida M. E. Con- ference, made Turnersville one of his appointments. A class was formed and a church built, which is still stand-

ing, and occupied by the Methodists, with Rev. Mr. Stanley as pastor.

Turnersville is now a farming community, as the tim- ber is all gone, and nothing remains of the extensive turning business except some of the foundations upon which the mills stood.

BECK'S MILLS.

The first mill here was built in 1821, by Richard Es- bee. The old saw-mill was taken down several years ago, and the present large mills were built by Mr. Beck. There are several dwellings and about 50 inhabitants.

STAPLESVILLE

was settled in November, 1866, by J. W. Brock and Daniel Staples, who built a steam saw-mill. In July, 1867, Mr. Brock retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Staples sole proprietor. In 1873 Mr. Staples introduced improved machinery for making clothes-pins, and in 1874 he associated J. S. Brown with him in business. The firm continues to make all kinds of lumber, also 1,000 boxes of clothes-pins per week, of five gross each; 25 men are employed.

HOLGATE'S MILLS.

Cornelius Holgate, great-grandfather of the Holgate Brothers, who now operate the turning mills at this place, commenced the turning business in Roxbury, a suburb of Philadelphia, in 1775. In 1805 he transferred the business to his son, John Holgate, who in 1818 moved his brush block factory to Laurel Run (now Parsons borough), Luzerne county, and in 1826 to Turnersville. In 1841 he transferred the business to his son, Silas G. Holgate, at what is now Holgate's Mills, where the latter in turn was succeeded in 1873 by his two sons, the Holgate Brothers, who are now making all kinds of brush blocks and handles. The enterprise and thrift of this establishment are shown in the continual increase of facilities, and the extent of their orders, which far exceed the increased capacities of their mills.

FELL TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed from Carbondale township, in November, 1845, and named in honor of the late Judge Jesse Fell, who ac- quired considerable fame in the Wyoming valley in its early history. Its population in 1870 was 343, and 441 in 1880.

Peter F. Ball located here in the spring of 1818. He came from the State of New York, and settled very near the present residence of Woodbury Coil, in the northwest part of the township. Here he built the pioneer log house of this township, which was then a dense wil. derness of valuable timber. Up to 1825 the settlers were but few; nearly or quite all up to that time had located

477

PIONEER TIMES IN FELL AND GREENFIELD.

along the western border of the township, in the vicinity of Crystal creek. Among them were John Carr, Jona- than Vail, George Reynolds, John Mills, James Farris and Peter Wedeman, who located in 1825 where his son Henry Wedeman now lives.

Up to 1825 no frame buildings had been put up, ex- cept the house of George Reynolds, and that was cover- ed, sides and roof, with long white ash shingles split out.

The first framed house after 1825 was built by John Montgomery, where his son-in-law, Jackson Baker, now lives. The pioneer framed barn was built by George Reynolds in 1825, and another in the same year by Peter Wedeman, on Henry Wedeman's farm; it is still standing and in good condition.

The pioneer school-house was built (of logs) about 1820, on the creek, near Jonathan Vail's, and was known as the "Carr school-house," as it was near Carr's residence. The first frame school-house was built in 1831, on Vail's land, now belonging to the John Russel estate. The pioneer school teacher was Biah Hudson, whose descen- dants now live along the turnpike about a mile and a quarter from Carbondale. John Nelson taught in the old log shool-house in 1825; some of his pupils still living are Samuel Reynolds, Euresta Ball, now Mrs. Vail, Maria Reynolds, Henry Wedeman, George Reynolds, Sheff Reynolds, Eli Farris, Silas Farris and Deacon Finch.

The earliest grave yard was on the farm where George W. Stone now lives, known as the old Wedeman farm, on the west side of the Fall brook and Crystal lake road. The next was on the Avery place. A Rider family lived there, and the first interment was of the remains of Jon- athan Rider.

The first wedding of Fell township took place in 1827. Otis Williams and Emma Reynolds were the contracting parties.

The pioneer road was the one now leading from Dun- daff to Carbondale, known as the " old turnpike;" and the first bridge was built on the Milford and Owego turnpike, and was 150 feet long and 30 feet high.

The pioneer saw-mill was built by George Reynolds in 1824, on Fall brook, in the southwest part of the town- ship. It was destroyed by a flood, and rebuilt. The next one was also destroyed by a flood, since which there has been no mill at that place. The next mill was built in 1825, on the Lackawanna river, above G. L. Morse's tannery. There were subsequently several saw-mills built on Fall brook, and in 1862 they were all destroyed by the breaking of the reservoir dam owned by the Dela- ware and Hudson Canal Company, near the head waters of the creek.

The Lorillard tannery, in the southeast part of the township, on the Lackawanna river, about two miles from Carbondale, was built, burned and rebuilt previous to 1842, when G. L. Morss, the present proprietor, purchased the property. The tannery was burned again in 1855, and rebuilt the same year on a much larger scale than before. This is the only tannery in the township; it em- ploys from 15 to 20 men, and can tan 30,000 sides of leather annually. The only store in this township was

built by G. L. Morss in 1853, merely to accommodate his employes.

Amzi Wilson and James Ferris were elected justices in 1846; James Russell, 1851, 1856, 1862 and 1867; D. K. Morss, 1862; John W. Williams, 1872.

The Williams coal mine, on Elk creek, was opened in December, 1864, by J. W. & J. P. Williams, and the breaker was built in 1874. It has a capacity of 100 tons per day. It is run only through the winter and averages about 1,500 tons. There is one sixty horse power engine and six men are employed. John W. Williams is the superintendent. A saw-mill connected with this breaker was built in 1874, with a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day.

Elk Creek mine, on Elk creek, was opened and the -breaker built in 1873 by Clarkson & Brennan. There is in use one engine of 30 horse power. There are employed on the inside of the mine 60 men and 5 driver boys, and 13 men and 12 breaker boys on the outside. The average production of coal from January Ist, 1880, to June Ist, 1880, was roo tons per day. The outside foreman is Patrick Bridgett; inside foreman, John Killien; breaker boss, Patrick Smith; coal inspector, William Peel.

GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed from Abington in January, 1816. It embraces about 20 square miles, and had 821 inhabitants in 1880, two less than in 1870.

Among the pioneer settlers were Elijah Hobb and James Sacket, from Vermont, the latter locat- ing in the west part of the township, near where Mr. Finn now lives. Nathan and Levi Wetherby came as early as 1804 or 1805. Isaac Finch came from Orange county, N. Y., and built a log house half a mile above Carey's Corners in March, 1809. A Mr. West and Mr. Smith came the same year, a little later, and located near Carey's Corners, which was then the business part of the township. Here was opened the first store, in 1830, and the first tavern, about 1820. These buildings were of unhewn logs. The tavern was one and a half stories high, with one low room below which answered every purpose for the public, and one, a little lower, above, which accommodated the family. The floor between, as well as the roof, was made of bark. Charles Berry was the landlord; meals were procured for a York shilling (121/2 cents), and lodging was only 6 cents. Drinks were correspondingly cheap-rum 3c., gin or brandy 4c., and if sweetened only 5c .; a nip of grog 4c., and a bowl of toddy or sangaree, which would make a man happy, only I2C.

At this time most of Greenfield was an undeveloped wilderness, and no mansions better than a double log- house, with the cracks filled in with sticks and mud, had yet been built. Barns were mere hovels, thrown up more

478

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

for the enclosure of stock than for their protection against storms or for the storage of grain, as that and the hay, such as it was, were usually stacked and a few brush fastened on the top of the stack, dignified by the name of roof.

The nearest grist-mill was thirty miles away, at Slocum Hollow, now Scranton, and men had to carry their grists on their backs through the forests, guided only by marked trees.

Elijah Welch begun blacksmithing near where Tilman Carpenter's barn now stands, in the south part of the township, about 1812. He subsequently built a shop a little south and across the road from the present fine farm residence of Charles Avery. There he remained till he died. The pioneer shoemaker, Nathaniel Finch, located in 1816 on the turnpike, between the sites of the residences of H. C. Spencer and Rev. L. Williams.

The pioneer school-house in school district No. I was built in 1820, of logs, and stood opposite the site of the Free Will Baptist church. The first frame house was built in 1824, by Leonard Spencer, nearly on the site of the residence of H. C. Spencer.

Greenfield boasts the largest apple tree in Lackawanna county. It stands on the farm of John Lowrey, in the northwest part of the township, and the trunk three feet from the ground measures eight feet and three inches in circumference.

Among the oldest living inhabitants of Greenfield is Mrs. Anna Finch Spencer, who was born in 1797, and has three brothers and three sisters living whose ages aggregate 543 years. Others are Tilman Carpenter, aged 83; Mrs. Catharine Kilmer, aged 84; and Mrs. Ephan Phelps, aged 82; all in good health and of sound minds.

The following is a complete list of justices of the peace elected in this township since the adoption of the State constitution of 1838: Zephron Ferris, 1840, 1847, 1852; Marcus Leonard, 1840, 1845; Henry Coon, 1845; Wil- liam Kilmer, 1847; William B. Cramer, 1852, 1857; James Cobb, 1857, 1862; John Lee, 1862; John G. Sny- der, 1866; J. W. Sickler, 1867; Jasper Sickler, 1872; Solomon Wedeman, 1874; George W. Cramer, 1877.

CHURCHES.

The pioneer preacher was Elder John Miller, a Bap- tist missionary. He came through here in 1815, mak- ing and filling appointments, the first of which was at Levi Wetherby's barn, as the most central point and inost commodious place in which to hold services. He filled this appointment several years. Whenever the weather was too cold for services in the barn they were held at some of the pioneer cabins.

Worth Baptist Church .-- This organization has a meet- ing house on the west line of the township. The asso- ciation of the Six Principle Baptist church met at this place November 22nd, 1852, organized a church and chose Elder James Brown as pastor and Daniel Green and Tohn Worth as deacons. Trustees were also elected, and a building committee appointed to finish the meet- ing house, which had been commenced some time

previous. The meeting house was built by a stock com- pany, with shares at $to each, and each share was entitled to one vote in all business matters pertaining to the church property. It was dedicated November 7th, 1873, and cost $1,400. There were then about fifty mem- bers.

The following pastors have served this church: Elders James Brown, Joshua Baker, S. E. Miller, William A. Miller, Charles Tower, Mark Parks and Benjamin Miller. The present deacon is John Worth; church clerk, John L. Worth. The membership is 55.

The Sunday -school has an average attendance of 50 pupils. Z. Cure is the Superintendent.

" The General Six Principle Baptist Church" was or- ganized February 7th, 1872, at the meeting house known by some as Thorn Hill church. At that time there were 42 members. Their church edifice was commenced in 1854, but was not completed till 1865 or 1866. The original members were formerly connected with those at Worth church, and up to 1872 the same pastors served both churches. The present membership is 41. The pastor is Elder A. J. Harrington; church clerk, J. A. Felts.

Free- Will Baptist Church .- The following were among the early members, and probably the first: Deacon Solo- mon Finch, Joseph Avery and wife, John Avery and wife, Mrs. John Rivenburg, Laura Wedeman, Mrs. Simp- son and Sally Finch.

The church edifice was dedicated in September, 1870. Elder Halloway Clancey was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Elders Greer and Alva Fisher. The latter left in 1878. Since then there has been no pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was started by Rev. Silas Comfort, at the house of Leonard Spencer, on the site of the residence of H. C. Spencer. Among the first members were George, Albert and Richard Graves and their wives, Polly and Susan Hutchins, Samuel Hutchins and wife, Homer, Elisha and Rufus Davidson and their wives and Mr. and Mrs. P. Finn. The class was subse- quently transferred to Tompkinsville, where in 1851 the society built a neat and substantial church, with a seat- ing capacity of 200.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

LTHOUGH Jefferson township was only formed in 1836, from Providence township, its settlement dates back to 1781 or 1782, when John Somers made a clearing at the foot of Cobb's mountain, about thirty rods west of where Asa Cobb now lives. In 1784 he sold to Asa Cobb, grandfather of the present owner, who became the first permanent settler. His cabin offered hospitality to all passing between the Wyo- ming valley and Connecticut It was for many years the

479

PIONEER INSTITUTIONS OF JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

only habitation between Dunmore and the Little Med- ows, in Wayne county.

The next settler, Elisha Potter, made a clearing and a log cabin in 1795 on the Army road, near the site of the saw mill of E. S. H. & J. Cobb.

An Indian trail ran in nearly an east and west course across the township, south of Moosic lake and north- westerly to the top of Cobb's mountain, which was a place for signal fires. On this mountain was found at an early day a large quantity of implements used by the savages both in hunting and war. There was also an Indian camping ground about a mile north of J. Kizer's, near A. C. Beemer's place.

The Moosic or Cobb's mountain, interposing its gran- ite bowlders between Jefferson and the Lackawanna, has shut off all traces of coal formation, yet coal was discov- ered east of this range more than a quarter of a century ago, where an inventive genius had deposited it, having been promised a farm by the owner of the land should he find coal. He got his farm, and the capitalist and pros- pector lived long afterward to join in a hearty laugh over what at least one of the parties considered a good joke.

As late as 1830 there were but very few settlers in the township. Some had settled on the old Army road, and others at long intervals along the foot of Moosic moun- tain, as far up as Rider's gap. In 1830 Jacob Kizer lo- cated where he still lives. He was born in New Jersey, in 1800. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Emory, was also a native of New Jersey. Mr. Kizer bought land of John Spangenburg. He is a veteran hunter and the hero of numerous exciting and amusing "bear stories." Rider's gap, in the north part of the township, was named after John Rider, who located where Jonathan Swingle now lives. Joel Beers came about 1828 or 1830 and bought a place of Asa Cobb, on the Mountain road, near the Cobb road, where he lived the remainder of his days. Among the other inhabitants in 1830 we find John Swingle, Charles Potter, William Barlow, Abram Beards- ley, John Sharp, Conrad Swingle and Alonzo Collins; the last named in 1830 married Miss Abigail Spangenburg. Most of these settlers came from Orange county, N. Y.

A church was organized as early as 1825 by William Barlow, a Methodist Protestant preacher. Joseph Zuilaer, Michael Mack and Michael Henforth were among the early members.

The first saw-mill was built in 1836 by Alanson Stevens, where the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre turnpike crosses the Moosic creek. The property is now owned and operated by E. S. H. and J. Cobb. Another saw-mill was built about the same time by William Barlow, on the Mountain creek, where it crosses the Mountain road. The next was built by Jacob Kizer, east of his present residence. Mr. Kizer also had a mill at Shaver hollow. The steam and water saw-mills now owned and operated by the Kizer brothers were built originally by George Spangen- burg.

The pioneer tannery was built by Asa Cobb and M. Mckinney in 1835, near where Asa Cobb now lives. The

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, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 155

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900