History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 160

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 160
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 160
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 160

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).

Evangelical Church .- A religious society was formed in the vicinity of Ransom by the Rev. Mr. May and Jacob Hartzlen in 1858. Services were held regularly at the house of Miss Celinda Gardner for fifteen years. In 187 1 a frame church was built on a lot donated by Sebas- tian Dersheimer. It was dedicated in 1872. The fol- lowing ministers, and in the order named, have served this church: Rev. Messrs. May, J. Hartzlen, S. Smith, S. P. Davis, H. A. Dietrick, Solomon Buck, I. M. Pines, U. F. Swengle, J. M. Price, W. M. Crawman, S. I. Sharters, P. S. Ornig, W. W. Rhoades, A. J. Hollenback and G. Burscon.

In 1867 a union Sunday-school was organized at the house of Miss Celinda Gardner. On the completion of the church the school was removed to it. The present superintendent is Peter Sutton. This denomination uses the school-house at Mountain Valley for meetings and Sunday-school.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The M. E. society at Milwaukee held services several years in the school- house, the following ministers from Newton circuit preach- ing: Rev. Samuel Griffin, White, J. M. Munger, Luther Ellis, J. D. Safford, Miner Swallow, Philip Holbrook, J. W Wilbur and John La Bar.

In the summer of 1859 the society built a framed church at a cost of $4,500, which was dedicated the fol- lowing winter by Rev. Dr. George Peck. It was re- paired in 1875, at a cost of $500.

The following is a complete list of ministers who have served this society : Revs. George Peck, D. Personeus, G. W. Leach, J. M. La Bar, I. N. Pardue, A. J. Van Cleft, Isaac Austin, S. Rose, A. Brigham, A. J. Arnold and William Shelp, the present pastor.

A Sunday-school was organized in the school-house in 1852, and removed to the church upon its completion. The superintendent is N. G. Reed.

VILLAGES.

Milwaukee is a small but very pretty village, contain- ing a Methodist Episcopal church, a school building, blacksmith and wagon shop, grist and saw-mills, a store, a post-office and a foundry.

Mrs. Ann Bedell, widow of the late Peter Bedell, of Milwaukee, was murdered in her house in June, 1876. The guilty party or parties have never been brought to justice.

Ransom Village contains two churches, two hotels, two school buildings, a saw-mill, a blacksmith shop, a store, a post-office, the depot of the Lehigh Valley railroad, and a number of fine residences. Here is also located the Pitts- ton, Jenkins and Old Forge alms-house and farm. The house is a large, substantial and commodious brick build- ing, with modern improvements for the comfort and con-

492

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

venience of both inmates and keepers. The old build- ing has been fitted up for an asylum for the insane, and a neat farm house built between the two. The present number of inmates is fifty, including ten insane, who are well cared for by the gentlemanly steward, Eli Brown. The attending physician is Dr. Rice, of Pittston.

Mountain Valley, on the road leading to Pittston and Scranton, has a new school-house, a post-office and sev- eral farm buildings.

ROARING BROOK TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed May 24th, 1871, out of the borough of Dunmore and the town- ships of Jefferson and Madison, and named from the stream passing through it. James Locklin and Joshua S. Miller were elected justices in 1871, and Thomas Hardenburgh and J. S. Miller in 1876. The population in 1880 was 769. Among the most prominent points of agricultural in- terest is the Glen Home farm of Dr. A. P. Gardner, about mile southeast of Dunning. Here can be found the most complete establishment of the kind in this part of the country. It is a romantic and enchanting spot. The cottage and farm buildings are of the latest architectural design, while the grounds are laid out with pleasant walks, and planted with peach, pear, plum and many varieties of apple trees, together with all kinds of small fruits. Dr. Gardner has a well stocked trout pond in his grounds, from which his table is supplied. His farm stock is of the best blood. The hospitality of host and hostess of Glen Home farm is most generous.

Before and after the construction of the Drinker turn- pike the township was a solitude; for there had been no settlement, and when the road was made passable the men employed on it moved along with the work. No permanent settlement was made till 1847, unless we count Barney Carey, who kept the toll gate on the turnpike about a mile below Dunning. Gilbert Dunning located at that village in 1847, and the same year John C. Dun- ning south of the steam saw-mill, where Mrs. Thomas now lives. Here he built a log house. Isaac Depew south of the village, and S. S. Welsh, W. B. Edwards and John S. Finch in the village, were the next settlers. Amasa Burns lives where Mr. Sanders located and built a log house. The pioneer framed house was that of Gil- bert Dunning. He raised the first crops in the township. The first school-house was built in 1855. It was the one known as the Forest Hill school-house, between Dun- ning and the steam saw-mill, now operated by E. Simp- son. The first store was kept by Strong & Robinson, and the next by Eugene Snyder, who also had a store at Dunning several years. The pioneer tavern was at

" Hunter Range," a mile below Dunning, at the intersec- tion of the Cobb road with the turnpike. This place was once famed for trout fishing and whisky, and was a place of resort for the early settlers on rainy days. The next tavern was built by Harrison Rhodes at Dunning. It was burned a few years ago. It stood opposite the present Railroad House. The last named hotel, at the depot, was built in 1872 or 1873 by Crockett Robinson, and is now owned and kept by Jacob Garman, who pur- chased it of Truxell, of Wilkes-Barre, in 1875. George Slote kept the hotel built by Rhodes at the time it was burned.

The first postmaster at Dunning was D. J. Peck. He was appointed in 1858 or 1859, and kept the office in the tannery office.

The first and only resident physician is Dr. A. P. Gardner, of Glen Home farm.

The first wedding was that of William Robinson and Miss Jane Dunning, and the first birth was that of Miss Ada Robinson.

The first water power saw mill is still standing at Dun- ning; it was built by Gilbert Dunning. The next was built by Peck & Stevens, farther down the stream. They sold to Dr. Throop, and the mill is now owned by Joshua Miller. The next two mills were built by Dr. Throop at Throops- ville. The first steam saw-mill was built by Dr. A. P. Gardner in 1857, a little south of Forest Hill. The first two mills on the same site were burned, and the one now standing is operated by Edward Simpson. The next steam saw-mill was built by Stout & Kreistick, on the mountain two miles southwest from Dunning; it is now owned by John Peck. The third steam saw-mill was that built by Eugene Snyder, about five miles southwest from Dunning, and now owned and operated by J. M. Rhodes.

The tannery at Dunning was built in 1857 or 1858, by L. Maynard. He subsequently sold it to Strong Rob- inson & Co., and they to Eugene Snyder. It is now in the hands of Shultz, Southwick & Co., of New York. It has a capacity of tanning 50,000 sides of leather per year.

VILLAGES.

Gilbert Dunning formerly owned all the land on which stands the village bearing his name. There are now at this place the tannery and the store of J. H. Snyder, a church (Baptist), a school-house, two hotels, the blacksmith shops of B. E. Whitman and B. Partridge, the carriage and coffin factory of W. B. Ed- wards and the planing-mill of C. C. Clay. E. W. Davis is the station agent and J. H. Snyder the postmaster .. .

Forest Hill is a hamlet about a mile south of Dunning, where is situated Forest Hill Cemetery. The first mon- ument was that of Charles Thompson, who died in March, 1875. Here is also the only grist-mill in the township. It is owned by J. M. Rhodes, and was built in 1876. Mr. Rhodes also has a saw-mill, a store and a blacksmith shop here.

493

CHURCHES OF ROARING BROOK TOWNSHIP-EARLY DAYS IN SCOTT.

CHURCHES OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Methodist Episcopal .- The first preaching in Roaring Brook was in 1853, by a Methodist minister, at the house of J. M. Stevens, about a mile below Dunning. Services were held in the school-house on the Cobb road in sum- mer, and at the house of J. M. Stevens during the winter. The first class was formed, however, in a small building at Dunning, owned by S. S. Welsh and used as a school- house. This was in 1856. William C. Robinson was appointed leader. The other members were Margaret and Jennie Robinson, and J. M., Sarah W. and Elenora A. Stevens. The class was transferred in 1857 to the Forest Hill school-house, at the south side of the Forest Hill camp ground.

The first pastor was David Davis, appointed in the spring of 1854. Rev G. A. Cure was appointed in the spring of 1880. The present class leader is J. M. Ste- vens; there are 26 members.

The Sunday-school was organized in the Forest Hill school-house in 1858, with William C. Robinson as super- intendent and 16 pupils. The present superintendent is G. A. Megarget. The total number of scholars is 45; average attendance, 35.

Baptist Church .- This church was organized March 19th, 1869, in the district school-house at Dunning, by Rev. J. C. Sherman. Eugene Snyder, Phineas Tuthill, Stephen and Elizabeth Vail, E. G. Hamilton, A. L. and M. A. Burns, R. B. Wallace, S. E. Snyder and T. Secor were the members. The church edifice and lot were do- nated by Eugene Snyder, and the building was dedicated in 1870. The furniture was provided by the ladies of the church. The church and furniture cost $2,500. The pastors since Mr. Sherman have been Revs. George C. Craft, Charles M. Fower, C. W. O. Nyce, P. S. Brewster and I. P. Fergens. The value of the church property is $2,500. The membership of the society is 30.

The first superintendent of the Sunday-school was Phineas Tuthill, who had 60 scholars. The present su- perintendent is C. C. Clay, and there are 70 pupils.

SCOTT TOWNSHIP.

COTT was formed from Greenfield in 1846, and named in honor of Hon. David Scott, one of the associate judges of Luzerne county. It had 1,132 inhabitants in 1870, and 1,263 in 1880.

This is one of the townships across which the Indians traveled from the Susquehanna to the head waters of the Delaware. One of their camping grounds was near Scott village. Evidences of their lengthy or frequent campings have been and still are found here.

The earliest and most prominent of the pioneers were Roger Orvis (1802), Micah Vail (1806), Seth Howe (1800), Daniel Wall, James Brown, Joseph Berry (1808), Elijah

Hobbs, Caleb Brown, Joseph Sackett, William Simrell, William Carey, Nathaniel Finch, Samuel Callender, Ben- jamin Wetherby, Dr. Westcott Stone and the Graves family.

Roger Orvis, from Vermont, located in 1802 at Orvis Corners. He built the pioneer log cabin in that part of the township, and made the first clearing. Micah Vail, from Orange county, N. Y., located the same year near Chapman's lake. Daniel Wall, from Rhode Island, and Elijah Hobbs, from Vermont, located near Orvis Corners. Joseph Berry, from Connecticut, located at Orvis Corners.

The first grist-mill was built of logs by Seth Howe, in 1800, at the outlet of Chapman's lake, and run by a Mr. Hickman. It had but one run of rock stones. The water was conveyed from the outlet through troughs of logs to an overshot wheel. About the same time a small saw-mill was built by William Hierlihy at Brown Hollow. After a few years it went to decay. In 1804 James Brown built a saw-mill at Brown Hollow. This also went to decay after several years' use. A Mr. Gritman had a short lived grist-mill on the same stream. In 1806 or 1808 Major Westcott Stone built grist and saw-mills on the west side of the township, where E. Stone now lives. They were destroyed by flood in 1811 or 1812. James Brown built a grist-mill at Brown Hollow, and used the same stone that Mr. Gritman had used.

In 1808 the only frame building in the township was a barn on the farm now owned by Charles Lowrey, a little north of Chapman's lake. It was built by William Sim- rell, who lived in a log house.

The pioneer school-house was an old log building near Orvis Corners, and the first frame school-house was built at Orvis Corners in 1814, near where the present one stands. The first teacher was Josiah Pell. Soon after this there was a school-house near C. Lowrey's place, known as the "Hibbard school-house." Among the other early teachers were John Sherman, Fanny Hierlihy and Harriet Mckinney.

Milbury Burget and Joseph Berry were the first con- stables.

The contracting parties to the first wedding were Joel Comstock and Nancy Cook. Esquire Roger Orvis, the pioneer justice of the peace, married them.

Up to 1807 marked trees outlined the winding paths which were the only roads. In that year Joseph Berry made two miles of the road from Orvis Corners toward Abington. In 1823 the Dundaff turnpike was built through Scott to the foot of the mountain on the Car- bondale township line.

At Carey's Corners Timothy Lomedue, who had a good sized log house on the line of travel, used to keep over night most of the travelers, and his house become known as "Lomedue's tavern." The first genuine tavern was kept by Henry Cobb, in 1815, on the Hubbard place, north of Chapman's lake. His hotel was about twelve by fourteen feet, built of logs, of course, with the (two) different apartments furnished in the best style that slab benches or log stools and beds of hemlock or spruce boughs could afford. His larder was always well sur

494

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

plied with " hog and hominy " and wild game. His barn was such as the outspreading branches of the noble forest trees furnished, as the stock was always tied under them at night. A creaking sign board bore the follow- ing inscription : "eNTurTaNeMeNT fore MaN eNd BeeST." The next tavern was kept by William Simrell, on the farm now owned by Charles Lowrey. This was also a log house, but somewhat modernized, having two apartments in the first story and three up-stairs. The getting up-stairs was done by a ladder, that the guests could pull up after them, which of course saved doors and locks.

The pioneer store was kept for several years from 1821 by George Horbiger, on the old Hubbard farm, now owned by Clark Lowrey. Another store was started in 1828, on the north township line, by George and Israel Sheldon, who were succeeded by Charles Berry. In 1830 Newel D. Green opened a store near the site of the resi- dence of Joseph Carpenter, on the Abington turnpike.

The first town meeting was held at the house of James Brown, at Brown Hollow. Subsequent ones were held at Samuel Vail's, near Orvis Corners, for several years, and they were finally transferred to the "Town Hall " at Brown Hollow.

The pioneer shoemaker, Joseph Carpenter, was followed by Graves, Sharer and others.

The pioneer physician, Westcott Stone, located in 1806 near the Abington township line, on the place now owned by Benoni Stone.

The first postmaster was Charles Berry. He lived a little south of Heart lake, on the Dundaff turnpike. He was succeeded by Wilmot Vail, and he by Daniel Vail. The office was at first called Greenfield, and subsequently "Green Grove," when it was moved to its present loca- tion, about a mile south of Brown Hollow. The present postmaster is W. W. Simrell. The earliest mail carrier, Zephaniah Knapp, father of Dr. Knapp, of Pittston, is still living.

The first property burned was the house and barn of Joseph Berry, which were totally destroyed, with their contents, in the autumn of 1813, subjecting the family to great hardship.

Melaina Mills, now a resident of this township, was the first white child born in Dundaff. She was born Novem- ber 19th, 1798. Hollister says that during the "great blow " of July, 1834, she was blown out from her house into the meadow. She says this is a mistake that it was only her bed, which hung on the fence, that was blown out into the meadow, and not herself.

Benoni Stone and Joseph Carpenter, natives of Rhode Island, came here among the early settlers. The former is aged 92, and the latter 90. Harry Vail and Earl Stone, who lived in this township in 1808, are still here. Deacon Berry, who lived here in 1808, now lives in Car- bondale city, aged 82.

There are eleven school districts in the township, with good school-houses and teachers.

Since the adoption of the State constitution in 1838 the following justices for the township of Scott have been

elected : Warren W. Smith, 1850; Marcus Leonard, Sid- ney P. Stone, 1855; Nelson Callender, 1855, 1860: John Wallace, 1860; Chester B. Wetherby, 1865; Albert Graves, 1865, 1869, 1875; John B. Nichols, 1869; W. B. Hierlihy, 1870; M. B. Vosburg, 1874.

VILLAGES.

Brown Hollow was settled about 1800. At this place there are Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches, a school-house, a hotel, a town hall, a blacksmith shop, a harness shop and a grist-mill, and about 150 inhabitants.

Green Grove contains a store and a post-office, with W. W. Simrell as postmaster.

Scott Village has a blacksmith and wagon shop, a saw- mill, a school-house, a store and a post-office.

RELIGIOUS.

Elder Bishop is believed to have been the first preacher. He was buried at Brown Hollow. Elder John Miller next labored among this people for many years, preaching his last sermon about three months before he died. He was old and feeble, and had to be carried to the meeting in his chair, in which he sat and preached the funeral ser- mon of one of his old parishioners.

The Mount Bethel Baptist Church was organized from the Abington Baptist Association June 15th, 1853. Its meeting house, at Brown Hollow, was built in 1856.

Methodism in Scott .- The first Methodist class in this township was formed in the summer of 1870, with 15 members, and A. H. Benedict as leader. The class was made a society in the spring of 1871, Rev. S. J. Austin pastor. The meetings were held in the village school- house till the completion of the church edifice. Mr. Austin was succeeded in the spring of 1873 by Rev. N. J. Hawley. The society commenced building its church in the spring of 1874, and dedicated it November 4th, 1875.

The pastors have been: Revs. S. J. Austin, 1871-73; N. J. Hawley, 1873-76; J. B. Sauter, 1876-79; William J. Hill since.

The trustees are William B. Hierlihy (president), Na- thaniel Decker (secretary), Leonard Hopfer, Harrison Hopfer, S. J .. Cook, Jerome Grosvener and A. H. Bene- dict, who is also the class leader. The membership is II4.

SPRING BROOK TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed from Covington, November 22nd, 1853. The population in 1870 was 426, and in 1880, 658.

The north half was originally owned by Dr. Hoosic and the south half by a Mr. Fisher, except 800 acres at Yostville, owned by H. W. Drinker. The first settlement was made in 1832 by Abraham Turner, on the present Evan Williams estate, near the center of the township. Bar-

495

BEGINNINGS IN SPRING BROOK TOWNSHIP-VILLAGES.

ney Carey, in 1832 or 1833, located on what is now the James Slote place. In 1833 Morgan Daniels located where William Daniels now lives, and the same year Wil- liam Thomas settled where William D. Thomas now lives, in the southeast part of the township. G. Laugher located about 1832 where he now lives, south of Spring Brook village. In 1847 G. Y. Haines came to his pres- ent place.

The pioneer saw-mill was built in 1830 by one Yeager, at the mouth of Panther creek on Spring brook. The next mill was built soon after by A. Dolph, just below the present residence of G. Y. Haines. William Dole and brother built a mill about 1845, on Spring brook, directly south of G. Y. Haines's place. There was a large busi- ness done there for a while, but finally the mills were abandoned. Edward Dolph built the fourth mill .on Spring brook, subsequently owned by Foxell brothers of Scranton

The first framed house was built by Jonathan Price, on the N. Kesler place, a little north of G. Y. Haines's. Soon after this John Longshore built a framed house where William Ward lives, on the east side of the town- ship. The next one was built by John Thomas where G. Y. Haines lives. John Edwards built the house where R. Mathews lives, which was at the time the best house in the township.

The pioneer school-house was built in 1832. It was a framed building, and stood on the site of the Calvinistic Methodist church. The first school was taught by Miss Emeline Griffin. Among the first pupils were Mary Thomas, William Daniels and Nathan Turner, who are still living. The old school-house was also used for singing school, and the first "singing master " was Wil- liam Morgan.

A tannery was built by James Parry at Rattlesnake falls in 1845. The business was abandoned in a few years and the property is now owned by Edward Dolph.

The first road was from Spring Brook village to Dale- ville, in Covington, and the next one from Spring Brook to Pittston. The first bridges were built on the Pittston road, by David Dale. He built three of them.

The earliest wedding occurred in 1835. The contract- ing parties were Morgan Pugh and Mrs. Margaret Davis. The pioneer baby was born in 1834; namely, Caleb W., son of Abraham and Mary Turner. The first death was that of Thomas Williams, who was killed by a falling

tree, on the farm now owned by William Snyder. Mor- gan Pugh was crippled by the same accident. The oldest grave yard is the one opposite James Slote's house, be- tween the Methodist Episcopal and Independent Method- ist churches.

The first postmaster was William C. Turner, who was appointed in 1860. His office was at the forks of the road, where William Davis now lives. The first mail carrier was George Swartz, who still carries the mail be- tween Moscow and this place. The railroad for trans- porting lumber, built by Sax and Hesler, up Spring brook from Moosic to near the mouth of Plank road creek, is now owned by George Carey.

The following were the justices of the peace and the years of their election previous to the township being merged in Lackawanna county: Nathan Turner, 1856, 1861; William C. Turner, 1864; Matthew Laugher, 1869; Frank Irving, 1876; George Y. Haines, 1878.

In the spring of 1880 there were 110 voters registered in this township.

HAMLETS.

Spring Brook is the oldest settlement in the township. There is here one store, kept by William Davis, who is also the postmaster. Here are three churches. The Methodist Episcopal was built in 1866. The society has . a membership of 12. The preacher is Rev. John Sweet. The Independent Methodist church was built in 1869. The membership of the society numbers 39. The minis- ter is the Rev. Mr. Evans. The Calvinistic Methodist church is, like the others, a wooden building, and was built in 1871. The society numbers 12 members. The present pastor is Rev. William R. Matthews. The first man who held religious services in this township .was Rev. Evan Evans, an Independent Methodist clergy- man, who came here in 1830 or 1832. There are at this place about 100 inhabitants.

At Maple Lake there are a steam saw-mill, a black- smith shop, a school-house, and about 75 inhabitants.

Yostville, on the east border of the township, was settled in 1870, when Yost, Pile & Co. built a steam saw- mill, a store and several dwellings. Joshua Yost now owns the property. A post-office was established here in 1876, and Joshna Yost has always been postmaster. Quite a large lumbering business is done here by Joshua Yost & Son, most of the lumber being delivered on cars at Moscow, on the D., L. and W. Railroad.

€

WYOMING COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

RELICS OF AN EARLIER RACE-ORGANIZATION OF WYOM- ING COUNTY-OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES.

LONG the Susquehanna and its tributaries, within the present territory of Wyoming county, evidences are found of the former existence of Indian towns at different points. These evidences consist of the relics which are discovered in abundance at these places, not alone of weapons and hunting implements, but of such simple domestic utensils and ornaments of shell and terra cotta as were in use among the pre-Columbian Indians. In some of these localities such relics. are so abundant as to attract the attention of casual observers, and considerable collections of them have been made. Had these places been examined by a practiced archae- ologist before they were many times disturbed by the plow, the size, form and even the age of these villages might have been determined with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Gradually, however, all traces of the people who formerly inhabited these regions are becoming fainter, and as time goes on they will be wholly oblit- erated.

The county of Wyoming was formed out of the north- ern part of Luzerne, by an act of Assembly approved April 4th, 1842. When the petition for its organization was presented to the Legislature the petitioners asked that it might be called Putnam-the name of one of the certified townships in the county. Through the influence of a member from Luzerne county the name Wyoming was substituted for Putnam, and thus the act passed. Henry Colt, of Luzerne county, George Mack, of Colum- bia county, and John Boyle, of Susquehanna county, were by the act appointed commissioners to survey and mark the boundary lines of the county. By a supplemen- tary act, approved June 28th the same year, the present boundaries were established, and it was ordered that three commissioners be appointed by the governor to

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 160

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