History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 162

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 162
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 162
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 162

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).

CHAPTER IV.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-WYOMING COUNTY BIBLE SO- CIETY-MILITARY COMPANIES.

BOUT 1855 was organized the Wyoming County Agricultural Society. It was not incorporat- ed, and was under a code of laws voluntarily adopted. Its first president was Elisha Sharp. The society leased and temporarily fitted up a lot of five acres, a portion of which is now the Tunkhannock cemetery; and on this ground three annual fairs were held. At these fairs creditable exhibitions were made, and the balance be- tween the receipts and expenditures was nearly even. The society ceased to exist after the third fair.

On the 30th of August, 1876, another society was or- ganized, with a perpetual charter, under the name of the Wyoming County Agricultural Society. It was organized as a stock company, under the provisions of the act of 1874. The capital stock was fixed at $2,000, in eighty shares. The corporators were Henry W. Chase, A. B. Fitch, H. W. Bardwell, F. L. Sittser, Charles M. Lee, James W. Pratt, H. P. Carter, Harvey Sickler, F. C. Bun- nell, J. W. Dinsmore, D. D. Dewitt, B. W. Lewis. The first officers were: F. C. Bunnell, president; S. J. Hard- ing, vice-president; C. M. Lee, clerk; B. W. Lewis, treas- urer; directors, Harvey Sickler, Albert Townsend, E. F. Avery, B. P. Carver, Alvin Day, H. W. Bardwell and Jonathan Jenkins.

September 25th, 1876, the society leased of S. J. Hard- ing, for a fair ground, twenty-one acres in the township of Eaton, about three-fourths of a mile from the borough of Tunkhannock. This ground was at once enclosed and fitted up, and in the latter part of October of the same

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WYOMING COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY AND MILITIA COMPANIES.

year a fair was held. The grounds have been still further improved; commodious pens and an exhibition building have been erected, a driving track and a grand stand have been constructed, and annual fairs have been held. These fairs have been sustained with increasing interest, and the exhibits have year by year increased in number and quality.

The president, vice-president and treasurer elected in 1876 have served since. James W. Piatt has been secie- tary since 1877. The present directors are Harvey Sick- ler, Albert Townsend, B. P. Carver, H. P. Carter, Jona- than Jenkins, Ziba Billings and N. J. Harding.

WYOMING COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY

This society, which had had a previous existence, was reorganized in the spring of 1864, with Ira Avery presi - dent, Samuel Stark secretary, Peter M. Osterhout treas- urer, and S. S. Kennedy agent. During 1864 an explor- ation of the county was made by the agent and the fol- lowing are the statistical results reported by him.

Sermons and addresses delivered, 54; families visited, 1,400; families found destitute of the Bible, 64; destitute families supplied by sale, 42; by gift, 16; prices of Bibles given to destitute, $9.60; Bibles sold, 227; Testaments sold, 300; total volumes distributed, 543; received for sale of books, $568.60: collections, $211.48.

There has been no canvass of the county for Bible dis- tribution since 1864. A Bible depository is kept for the society by O. B. Mills, in Tunkhannock.

VOLUNTEER MILITIA COMPANIES.

The first company of National Guard formed in Wyoming county was organized March 19th, 1871, under the name of Wyoming County Veterans. It was composed wholly of veterans of the war of 1861-65. R. W. Bannatyne, formerly captain of Company B 52nd

Pennsylvania volunteers, was chosen captain, William Brooks first lieutenant, and M. L. McNeil second lieu- tenant. The company comprised some of the best citi- zens of the county. Captain Bannatyne was promoted in October, 1871, aide de camp on the staff of General Osborne, with the rank of major. The other commis- sioned officers were promoted in regular gradation, and H. W. Bardwell was made second lieutenant. When the 9th regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania was organized this company was made a part of it. Lieu- tenant Bardwell became adjutant of the regiment, and John Broughton was made second lieutenant in his place. The company continued in existence till the reorganiza- tion of the National Guard in 1878, when it was dis- banded by a general order. By reason of the service which the veterans composing this company had seen, and its remoteness from the scene of the mining and railroad strikes and riots, the company was relied on with no distrust for the preservation of peace when the regiment was called out to suppress these riots.

The Eaton Rifles, an independent military company, was organized in May, 1871, with James B. Harding cap- tain, Samuel Fruchey first lieutenant, and N. Atherton second lieutenant. The members of the company were residents of the township of Eaton. The company was attached to the 9th division of the uniformed militia of the State, and constituted a part of a battalion under Major R. W. Bannatyne. It acquired reasonable profi- ciency in military drill. It was not called into actual ser- vice, but at the time of the Williamsport riot it was during two days kept in readiness for moving. With the Wyoming County Veterans it participated in several pa- rades and celebrations, among which was one at Wilkes- Barre, July 4th, 1872. On the organization of the 9th regiment N. G. P. this company was disbanded by a general order.

TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH HISTORIES,

WYOMING COUNTY.

BRAINTRIM TOWNSHIP.

B RAINTRIM township is among the first or- ganized within the present limits of Wyo- ming county, and formerly embraced Mes- hoppen and a portion of Washington town- ships. It is supposed to have been named after Braintree in Connecticut, whence some of the early settlers came. It had 621 inhabitants in 1870, and gained 50 before 1880.

THE PIONEER PERIOD.

Most of the early white inhabitants were migratory hunters and trappers. Occasionally patches of the rich bottom lands along the river were cleared and cultivated by the Indians or transitory white men, but only two settlements are known to have been made previous to the Revolution.

John Depew located at the mouth of Tuscarora creek before 1776 under the Pennsylvania title. His farm passed into the hands of William Hooker Smith, and was for a time occupied by his son, James Smith. Depew was a Pennamite and a tory, and was for a time a prisoner in the hands of the "Yankee " settlers in the Wyoming valley.

Frederick Vanderlip settled on Black Walnut bottom previous to the Revolution, on a large tract which he also held under the Pennsylvania title. Here he opened a tavern, which soon became a favorite stopping point. General Sullivan's army encamped here on the night of the 4th of August, 1779, on its march up the river.

No other settlements were attempted until about 1786, when immigrants, for the most part direct from Connec- ticut, began to locate along the river. Between 1786 and 1794 a dozen or more families of them had begun to hew out permanent homes in this wilderness. Prominent among the first permanent settlers were. the Keeneys, from Litchfield county, Conn. (Mark and his sons Richard and Joshua, and Thomas, a distant relative or Mark), many of whose descendants still live in the town -.

ship. Thomas Keeney, a native of Connecticut, with his family, came from New York State in the spring of 1786 and settled near Keeney's Ferry. Here he built a tem- porary shanty on the southwest bank of the river. The same season he built a comfortable log house on the op- posite bank, in Braintrim (the site of which abode was long since washed away), and the following autumn moved his family into it, thus becoming the first settle- in the township west of Skinner's Eddy. His wife and his daughter Mercy were the heroines of several courage- ous exploits. It is related that Mercy once kept a pan- ther treed near Rocky Forest, while a party of men went a mile or more for fire arms with which the beast was dispatched. Thomas Keeney and his wife returned to New York State in three or four years, leaving the place in possession of their daughter and son-in-law, Richard Keeney. Richard and Joshua Keeney came to the Wyoming valley in 1787. The following year Richard came to Braintrim, where he was married September 18th, 1788, to Mercy Keeney. He became a permanent settler on the farm which his father-in-law had com- menced to improve, and which is still in possession of some of his descendants. He early established the Keeney Ferry, which is still operated by members of the family. He was born in Connecticut, June 17th, 1762, and served in the Revolutionary war. He raised a large family, most of whom were life-long residents of Brain- trim. He died July 11th, 1831. His wife, Mercy, was born February 15th, 1770, and died March 14th, 1856, having lived on the same farm nearly 70 years. Joshua Keeney returned to Connecticut in 1789, where he mar- ried Phebe Sturdevant in February, 1790, and soon after located permanently at Black Walnut bottom, on a tract of 400 acres, where he died at an advanced age. He was a useful and influential citizen and church member. He reared eleven children and lived to see them all married and pleasantly located. Mark Keeney, the father of Richard and Joshua, a soldier in the French and Revolu- tionary wars, was born in Litchfield county, Connecti- cut, May Ist, 1740. He lived in Braintrim from about 1790 until his death, October 7th, 1804. His wife, Abigail B., died July 7th of the same year, aged 65 years.

Isaac Lacey, who has numerous descendants in Brain-

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MAKERS OF BRAINTRIM'S HISTORY.

trim, was among the pioneers. He was born in Fairfield county, Conn., April 2nd, 1754, and married Lydia Pratt, of the same place, March 11th, 1784. In 1792 he located on a farm on Lacey street, named after him. He bought the Connecticut title, but had to re-purchase of the Penn- sylvania proprietors or lose his farm. He was a weaver and spent much time at the loom, but found time to clear up and cultivate his farm with the assistance of his sons. He reared a large family, most of whom always lived in the township. He died November 2nd, 1830; his wife March 16th, 1809. His father, Ebenezer Lacey, was born in Connecticut, April 19th, 1727, and came to Brain- trim in 1794, where he died December 21st, 1807. His wife, Freelove, died March 5th, 1801, aged 74 years. Ebenezer Lacey, oldest son of Isaac Lacey, was born in Vermont, November 28th, 1788. From 1792 he lived in this township, farming and hunting. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was granted a land warrant for his services. He was also noted as a builder of "arks," the principal means of transportation in early days. He married, June 5th, 1809, Zeruah Northrup, who was born in Connecticut, April 3d, 1789, and came to Laceyville in 1807. She died March Ist, 1869. Mr. Lacey died April 24th, 1872.

Samuel Sturdevant, born in Connecticut in 1740, lo- cated in 1792 at Black Walnut, on the land previously occupied by Frederick Vanderlip, where he a few years later built a framed dwelling (splitting from pine logs the lumber for finishing it, and dressing it with his own hands), in which he resided until his death, April 19th, 1828. Samuel Sturdevant, jr., was born in Danbury, Connecticut, September 16th, 1773; came to Braintrim with his father, or about the same time, and soon after lo- cated at Skinner's Eddy, where he married a daughter of Ebenezer Skinner, about 1795. He was largely instru- mental in founding the village which soon sprang up at the eddy. He was a man of large business capacity, and during most of his life was extensively engaged in land speculating, lumbering, grist-milling and farming. He remained a resident until his death, March 4th, 1847. His five sons-John, Peter B., Liverus D., Ebenezer W. and Charles-became prominent and influential citizens of this section.

Henry B. Champin lived east of Skinner's Eddy for several years from about 1792. He was one of the first justices of the peace. Ebenezer Skinner settled at Skin- ner's in 1792, where he died October 16th, 1804, aged 7 1 years.

Benjamin Edwards came to Braintrim in 1825. He was born in Connecticut, September Ist, 1793. He taught school and afterwards spent several years in the southern States, peddling tinware, yankee clocks and notions. Soon after coming here he opened a store at Skinner's Eddy. From 1832 he spent many years at Laceyville in mercantile and other business. He was a successful business man and a respectable member of the M. E. church. He died in Laceyville, February 24th, 1876.

General Bradley Wakeman was born in Connecticut,

September 21st, 1800, and was married in 1824 to Maria Edwards. In June, 1828, he came to Skinner's Eddy and joined Benjamin Edwards, his brother-in-law, in trade. From the spring of 1832 he traded successfully at Laceyville until 1861. He was nominated by the Whigs for State representative, and associate judge. .

William Thompson was born in Bradford county, in 1812; learned the blacksmith's trade at Laceyville, and married Rebecca, daughter of Daniel P. Lacey, in 1831. He lived in Braintrim after 1854, where he died in April, 1876 He was justice of the peace many years. His widow is still living on the old homestead on Lacey street.

Levi Gregory was born in Connecticut, February 15th, 1794, and came with his parents to Susquehanna county, Pa., in his childhood. He was married January Ist, 1822, to Miranda Hayward, a native of Cazenovia, N. Y. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade. In 1839 he lo- cated on a farm on Lacey street, where he resided until his death, November 25th, 1855. He held several town- ship offices. His widow is still a resident of the town- ship.

The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Sturdevant, jr., as early as 1797, on Tuscarora creek, near its mouth. A few years later he built one on the river bank near the mouth of the creek. Another was built about 1810, near the mouth of Little Tuscarora creek. He also put up the first grist-mill, near the site of his second saw-mill, about 1819, Isaac Camp being employed as mill-wright. The site of these mills was long since washed away. This mill, containing but one run of home-made stones, accommodated the neighborhood many years.

A wool carding and cloth dressing establishment was erected on Tuscarora creek, by Peter B. Sturdevant, about 1830, and was in operation many years.

A post route was established from Wilkes-Barre to Ti- oga via Black Walnut bottom in 1803. The mail was carried on foot once in two weeks. From 1810 Conrad Teter carried the mail in coaches once a week over this route for many years. A post-office was early established at Black Walnut, and was kept by Daniel Sterling, who lived in the present township of Meshoppen. About 1822 the Skinner's Eddy post-office was established, and John Sturdevant, who then lived in the house now occu- pied by Paul Lacey, was appointed postmaster. About 1834 General B. Wakeman was appointed, and the office was removed to his store at Laceyville. Thomas Morley became postmaster in 1837, and the office was removed to Skinner's Eddy, where it has since remained. About 1841 the Laceyville post-office was established under its present name, and Thomas Parker, a merchant in com- pany with General Wakeman, was appointed the first postmaster.

Joseph Gamble opened a day-school as early as 1813, in a log dwelling nearly opposite John B. Edwards's store in Laceyville. Early schools were also kept in a log house near the site of the present grist-mill in Lacey- ville. The house had been previously occupied and probably put up by Garret Smith. The first school-house

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HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.

in the western part of the township was built about 1824, on Lacey street, near the residence of C. B. Lacey. George Gamble taught the first school here. Among other early teachers were John Sturdevant, one Carpen- ter, Anna Keeney, a Miss Smith and a Miss Graves. A school-house was erected at Skinner's Eddy about 1829, nearly opposite Leon Smith's residence. The present two-story school building, which accommodates Lacey- ville and Skinner's Eddy, was erected in 1864.

Frederick Vanderlip was the first tavern keeper in the township, keeping previous to and during the early part of the Revolution. The second tavern was opened at Skinner's Eddy previous to 1800, and was kept for several years by Wait S. Skinner. Samuel Sturdevant, jr., subsequently became proprietor, remaining until about 1830, when the house was closed to the public.

Drs. Royal Robinson and Edward Crandall located at Skinner's Eddy about 1823, and were the first resident physicians. Dr. Robinson was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., and married Fanny Fassett, of Windham. He practiced here until his death, May 27th, 1841. Dr. Crandall con- tinued here till about 1830. Among their successors were Drs. Plant, Roberts, Dimock, Jones and James.

The first death among the residents of Braintrim was that of a child named Baker, who died about 1793 or 1794, and was buried in the Lacey street cemetery, which has ever since been used as a graveyard. It now con- tain's seven acres, and is the resting place of many of the first settlers in this part of the township. The Black Walnut burying ground was begun as early as 1795. Among the first burials was that of Sarah, wife of Samuel Sturdevant. The graveyard at Skinner's Eddy was started some years later.

The first marriage was celebrated September 18th, 1788, the contracting parties being Richard and Mercy Keeney (very distantly related). The first known birth was that of Chester Keeney, their son, December 10th, 1789.

The first framed building was a dwelling built for James Smith by Elihu Hall, who was the first carpenter and joiner. The house stands opposite the Laceyville school-house.

The first preacher was Rev. Jacob Drake (Baptist), who preached occasionally at Black Walnut and other parts of the township in 1792 or soon after. Among others pre- vious to any church organization were Revs. Davis Dim- mock, Griffin, Lewis and Joel Rogers.

SKINNER'S EDDY.

Ebenezer Skinner and his son, Wait S., located just below the mouth of Tuscarora creek in 1792 or 1793, and subsequently opened a tavern. This used to be a favor- ite stopping place for raftsmen and boatmen, and soon came to be known as Skinner's Eddy. The principal part of the village originally stood on the flat near the river bank, but an unprecedented freshet in the spring of 1865 destroyed it, sweeping away twenty-five or thirty buildings. This flat was originally cleared by Samuel Sturdevant, jr, who built a saw-mill here and a grist- mill.

Benjamin Edwards was the first merchant, in 1826. In 1828 Bradley Wakeman became a partner with him. They were also engaged in the manufacture and sale of gloves and mittens to quite an extent. They remained until 1832, and were followed by John Sturdevant. Thomas Morley opened a store on the west side of the creek about 1835, and subsequently a foundry and ma- chine shop. The "Tuscarora Iron Works " was founded in 1874 by John S. Peelis, the present proprietor. In 1863 Philip Thomas built a tannery, which he operated until November 19th, 1879, when it was burned.

The village now contains two general stores, a church, a hotel and railroad station, the Tuscarora Iron Works, a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and about 100 inhab- itants.

M. E. Church at Skinner's Eddy .- Meetings were held by itinerating Methodist preachers as early as 1810, and about 1812 a class was formed at the house of Joshua Keeney at Black Walnut, and stated preaching was had for a few years.

About 1828 a class was formed at the school-house on Lacey street, composed of Simon Z. Keeney and Louisa, his wife, Charles Keeney, Thomas Morley, Clarissa Sturdevant, Betsey Smith and Mrs. Joshua Keeney. Revs. George Comfort and Vincent Coryell were the ministers on this circuit. The place of meeting was soon changed to Skinner's Eddy, being the dwelling of Major John Sturdevant, and afterward the school-house until 1838, when the present meeting house was built. Among the early preachers were Rev. Messrs. Comfort, Coryell, Bibbins, Barker, Torrey, Ellis and Lull.

LACEYVILLE,

the principal village, has three general stores, one hard- ware store, one grist and one saw-mill, three millinery stores, two jewelry shops, a hotel, a church, a planing mill, a proportionate number of mechanics' shops, three physicians and about 400 inhabitants. Braintrim was the name until the establishment of the post-office, when it received the name of Laceyville, after Henry W. Lacey, then an influential business man of the place.

Samuel Sturdevant, jr., owned and cleared the land on which the east part of the village stands, up to the street east of the hotel. One or two log houses were built before 1809. In that year Hiram Ward and his brother John located here, and the former built the first framed building, on the corner opposite B. W. Edwards's store. He soon after opened a store in it and did an ex- tensive business two or three years, when he failed and removed. From about 1829 Thomas Morley kept a store in the Ward building a few years. In 1831 Benjamin Edwards removed from the Eddy to Laceyville, where he was in trade most of the time for many years. Bradley Wakeman was in trade here for thirty-five years from 1832. Among other early merchants were Edward Mer- rit and Thomas Parker. The latter about 1848 built the store now occupied by George W. Smith. Benjamin Edwards constructed a tannery at Laceyville in 1832, the first in Braintrim. In 1837 he sold it to Isaac J. La

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CHURCHES AND LODGES OF LACEYVILLE-CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

Barre. Philip Thomas bought it and carried it on until about 1863, when it was abandoned.

Isaac J. La Barre was the first hotel keeper here, be- ginning in 1848. Soon afterward Tileson D. Spring opened the present " Kennard House," of which he was for many years proprietor.

In 1871 David Goodale and C. I. Lacey built a steam grist-mill containing three runs of stones, which is now the only one in Braintrim. In the spring of 1880 a saw-mill was annexed to the grist-mill, which is run by the same power.

Baptist Church of Laceyville .- This church was organ- ized May 24th, 1794. at the house of Samuel Sturdevant. The members were Samuel, Azor, Fear, Noah and Molly Sturdevant, Joseph and Hannah Wescott, Jedediah and Olive Coon, and Samuel Sturdevant, jr.

Samuel Sturdevant was ordained by this church Octo- ber 25th, 1794, and was its pastor until his death, April 9th, 1828. After about one year's vacancy Rev. Joseph W. Parker preached until 1833 ; then Rev. Charles A. Fox tilll 1836, and Rev. D. Dimock until October 28th, 1846, after which the church was supplied for a time by Rev. Ira G. Stoddard, when Joseph W. Parker was re- called, who served until April 23d, 1849. Since Novem- ber 23d, 1849, excepting 1869 (when Rev. John A. Ball supplied the pulpit), Rev. D. D. Gray has been pastor. Previous to 1839 church services were held principally on Lacey street in dwellings and the school-house. The present church was begun in 1839, and dedicated in 1840 by Rev. Henry Curtis, of Bethany, Pa. In 1866 the so- ciety bought the present parsonage.

As the result of a religious revival in 1843 63 members were added to the church ; in 1854, 91, and in 1870, 67. The present membership is about 190.

Laceyville Lodge I. O. O. F., No. 439 (the first in the county), was organized July 22nd, 1851, with six charter members. The same day eight others were received. Since 1863 the membership has ranged from ten to fifty- two, the present number.

The first elective officers were : T. D. Spring, N. G .; George R. Ackroyd, V. G .; Edward Merritt, secretary ; George M. Black, treasurer.

Franklin Lodge F. and A. M. received a warrant dated December 27th, 1822, and on May 29th, 1823, the lodge was constituted, with Jasper Fassett as W. M., John Ford S. W., and Isaac Lacey, jr., J. W. There were in 1824 39 members. This lodge was suspended in 1828 for non-payment of Grand Lodge dues.

April 5th, 1852, a warrant was granted to Thomas Morley as W. M., John Sturdevant as S. W., and Nathan Osburn as J. W., for the formation of a lodge "to be held at Skinner's Eddy, or within five miles of that place, and called Franklin Lodge, No. 263." This lodge was constituted June Ist, 1852, with 12 members. Walter W. Dimock was elected secretary; Hamlet Hill, treasurer ; John C. Lacey, S. D .; Isaac J. La Barre, J. D., and James M. Robinson, tiler. The lodge now meets in La- ceyville. In January, 1880, it had 65 members.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

HIS township, originally forming parts of Ab- ington, Nicholson and Tunkhannock, was settled during the first years of the present century, by families from Rhode Island. Robert Reynolds, with his sons Solomon, George and Phineas, settled about 1800 on the site of Factoryville. A numerous family of their de- scendants still reside in the village and vicinity. In the following year Stephen Capwell settled on the present William Perigo farm. He had five sons and three daughters, and many of his descendants live here. Ben- jamin Carpenter is reported to have settled in 1808, a mile and a half from the village. He left six sons and three daughters. Nearly contemporaneous was the com- ing of Elisha Madison and David Arnold. Madison settled on the top of Bunker hill. David and Preserved Taylor were pioneers of about the same date. In 1813 the first resident physician, Dr. Henry Green, came from Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y., and a year later his brother William Green, now living (1879) in hale and graceful old age in the village. Job Briggs, Gifford Mathewson and William Price came between 1813 and 1815. Hampton Moore settled on the Jones farm, half a mile above the depot, and Benjamin Green in 1817 in the village. Dr. John Wilson came prior to 1820.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 162

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