History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 166

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 166
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 166
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 166


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).


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514


HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.


swept away or ruined. In a few days the flood sub- sided.


There are now in the township three saw-mills, three shingle-mills and a grist-mill. There is also a portable steam mill being erected on Roaring run, about six miles from Forkston village, on the road to Wilkes-Barre.


ROADS, BRIDGES AND MAILS.


The first road was known as Fell's road, and extended from Wilkes-Barre to Towanda. The State road was built some years later. The first mail was carried on horseback in 1810 or 1812, and received weekly from Black Walnut. A mail route was established from Scotts- ville to Forkston in 1834, intersecting the route from Tunkhannock to Towanda. The mail was then received once each week. At present the people of Forkston re- ceive their mail daily. Richard Adams was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Hiram Hitchcock. Griffin Lott held that office sixteen or seventeen years. The present postmaster is G. M. Burgess.


The first bridge was a temporary one across the Me- hoopany creek at Forkston village, built in 1820 or there- abouts. This gave way for a covered bridge ninety feet long, built in 1828 or 1830 by Luzerne county. This was swept away by the flood of 1850, and the present bridge, a wooden structure, was completed in 1851. It is 120 feet long. There are four other county bridges in this township; namely, the one crossing Mehoopany creek at the forks, one about a mile and a half up the north branch, and two on the road leading up the south branch. Hiram Hitchcock was the contractor who built them all.


SCHOOL-HOUSES AND SCHOOLS.


The first school-house was built about 1805, on a piece of ground now owned by M. Krewson. It is said to have been a framed building. John Spaulding, then recently from Vermont, and Elihu Fassett were among the early teachers. The Burgess and Adams children were among the first scholars.


The township is now divided into five school districts, with suitable school-houses and competent instructors.


FORKSTON IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Two men named Bowman are all that can be named as having gone from this township to engage in the war of 1812. They probably perished with thousands of their countrymen.


In the great Rebellion Forkston's sons were among the first to do and die for the Union. The following are the names of some of those who engaged in that struggle:


Bennett Kasson, killed. Alfred Palmer. William Palmer, killed. Major Scoutten. Henry Krewson. Chandler Burgess. Henry June. Theodore June, died in hospital. Charles L. Finney. James I. Ames. Porter Summers, killed. George Robinson and Marvin Robinson, killed. Thomas P. Hitchcock. Jolin R. and Wesley Hitchcock, died. Harford Krewson. Henry Ernst. Orrin P. Farr. James R. Robinson. Philip Henry. Oscar R. Adams. --- Rosengrant. - Kasson.


VILLAGES IN THE TOWNSHIP.


FORKSTON village in 1844 contained only 3 houses.


It now contains the post-office, 2 stores, a hotel, a wagon shop, a shoe shop, a blacksmith shop, a harness shop, a grist-mill and about 25 dwelling houses, besides Baptist and Methodist churches. The population at the last census was 93.


Forkston Grange was organized in 1874. The first meeting was held at the residence of J. G. Spaulding. The following were the first officers: Oscar Hulbirt, master; O. B. Vose, overseer; J. G. Spaulding, secretary. The present officers are as follows: John W. Lott, master; Myron Farr, overseer; William Krall, secretary.


BELLA SYLVIA was once a flourishing little settlement. It now contains about a dozen houses. The post-office is just across the line in Sullivan county.


In 1864 coal was first discovered near Bella Sylvia. In 1877 a stock company was formed and mining begun. Four or five hundred tons of semi-anthracite coal have been obtained. The company consists of Griffin Lott, George Henning, William Robinson, Frank Robinson, A. K. Farr, Orrin Farr, J. Goodwin, John Jayne, Norman Farr and Hiram Hitchcock.


LEMON TOWNSHIP.


EMON township was formed from Nicholson and named in honor of associate judge Lemon, of this county. It had a population of 531 in 1870, engaged in farming, quarry- ing and lumbering, chiefly the latter. There are nineteen quarries, from which can be taken first class building and flagging stone.


Along most of the creeks and ponds have been found relics of Indian camping grounds, including stone arrow heads, hatchets, pestles, etc.


This township was settled before 1800 by pioneers from Orange county, N. Y., who followed Tunkhannock creek down to the mouth of Oxbow creek. Here a "pitch " was made and a settlement commenced. Among the settlers here were Mr. Reed and family, Thomas Spafford, Mr. Searles, William Fancher, John Fields, John Clarry, John Shaw and Samuel, Oliver and Eliza- beth Stark (now Mrs. Dixon). The last was nine years old when she came. here with her brothers and sister. Samuel Stark died at the age of 93. Eben Camp and Amos Ball came in 1810.


The first log house and the first block or plank house were built by Mr. Reed. The block house was made of three-inch plank, set up edgewise and locked or dove- tailed together at the corners of the building. Other houses of the same kind were built as soon as the re- quired timber could be procured, all of which soon gave way to the more modern framed houses, built by the old scribe rule. The first of these was built by Mr. Searles, where Nathan Stark now lives, and about the same time Nehemiah Shaw had one near the mouth of Oxbow creek. James Stark now lives where the third framed house was


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PIONEER INSTITUTIONS IN LEMON-CHURCHES-MEHOOPANY.


built, and another stood near where the Stark M. E. church now stands. The place where Mr. Reed first lo- cated is now the property of William S. Shaw. The first orchard was set out in 18ro by Amzi Dixon, on the farm now owned by James, Nehemiah and Nathan Stark, in the southeast corner of the township.


The pioneer school-house was built in 1821, near the site of the residence of William S. Shaw, and the first teacher was Miss Betsey Stark. Among the pioneer pupils now living are Henry and Halsted Stark, Phebe Osterhout, Mary Main, William S. Shaw, Sarah Wall, Phebe Smith, Marshall Stark, Joseph Shaw, Frank Pat- terson, Elijah Ball and Oliver Dixon. A school was taught during the summer months in the most convenient barns.


The first public road ran along the foot of the mount- ain, on the right bank of the Tunkhannock creek; the next up Oxbow and Horton's creeks, across the east side of the township. On the old Wilkes- Barre and Montrose turnpike, which crosses the west half of the township, over the" Meshoppen creek, south of J. G. Clark's, was built the first bridge of any importance in this township. The next spanned the same stream at Church's Mills.


The earliest store was that opened at East Lemon in 1860, by William S. Shaw, and now kept by W. S. Shaw and Nelson Martin. Another was started at this place in 1862 by Charles Gardner, but soon abandoned. The next was opened at Avery Station by Hazard Patterson. The " Grangers' store " at East Lemon was started in the spring of 1880.


The oldest graveyard is on the farm of William S. Shaw in the southeast part of the township. The first death on record was that of William Sweet, aged twelve years. The first accidental death was that of Horace Ball, in 1821, caused by the falling of a tree on the farm of A. B. Moss.


The first postmaster was William S. Shaw, who was appointed in 1862 and is now postmaster at East Lemon. Previous to 1862 the nearest post-office was at Tunkhan- nock, and the mail was carried from there on horseback through Lemon to points farther north. The pioneer mail carrier was Isaac Thompson. Cyrus Cooper was another early "mail rider."


The first stone quarry opened for the sale of building and flagging stone was that of Thomas Ball, in East Lemon. Mr. Reed, one of the pioneers, built the first saw-mill in 1800, or a year of two before, on the right bank of Tunkhannock creek near the site of the residence of William S. Shaw, bringing what little iron there was about it from Orange county, N. Y. This mill was built of logs and covered with hemlock bark, and was taken down about 1855. The first grist-mill was built beside the saw-mill soon after the latter was built. It had but one run of stones, which were brought from Orange county, N. Y. The old mill has been removed and a new one of first-class capacity built in its place, costing $8,000. The property is now owned by William S. Shaw. The second saw-mill was built at Church's Mills, where there are still a grist and a saw-mill. The grist-


mill on Meshoppen creek was built by J. Avery. The third saw-mill was built by a Mr. Ely on Oxbow creek, below the second falls; the fourth at the outlet of Ox- bow pond. near the site of Cyrus Shaw's. About the the same time Oliver Ball built a saw-mill on Oxbow creek, near the site of Bill's. In 1868 a flood caused by frequent and heavy rains destroyed nearly all the mill dams on Oxbow creek. In 1870 there were eight saw- mills, one of which was a steam mill in the southern part of the township. There are now five, and two grist-mills. Cyrus Shaw has a planing and lath mill in connection with his circular saw mill. W. S. Shaw built a circular saw and lath mill on Oxbow creek in 1879.


RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.


East Lemon M. E. Church .- Rev. George Landon was presiding elder in this district in 1856, and the preachers in charge about that time were Revs. H. Brownscomb and A. Griffin. In 1866 Revs. Thomas Jayne and Han- sen were in charge, and they were followed by Rev. E. F. Roberts.


In 1870 and 1871 the society built the present church edifice at East Lemon. It was dedicated October 20th, 1871, by Rev. B. I. Ives, of Auburn, N.Y. Rev. J. S. Lewis was then pastor and the membership was 31. The building committee consisted of William M. Stark, Henry Harris, William S. Shaw and Joseph Shupp. The first trustees were William S. Shaw, William M. Stark, Henry Harris, Cyrus Shaw, Joseph Shupp, Fletcher Dixon, Otis N. Stark, Lewis H. Shales and Orville Ball; and the first sexton was Henry C. Mott.


Rev. P. R. Tower was pastor from May, 1874 to May, 1876; then Rev. D. C. Barnes till May, 1879, when he was followed by Rev. A. J. Cook, the present pastor. The present trustees are William S. Shaw (president), J. R. Miller (secretary), O. N. Stark (treasurer), Cyrus Shaw, Fletcher Dixon, Lewis H. Shales and P. A. Shupp.


Stark Methodist Episcopal Church is probably the parent society in this township. It is in the same charge with the one at East Lemon and has the same preachers.


A Good Templars' Lodge was organized at East Lemon March 14th, 1867, with the following charter members: W. S. Shaw, W. C. T .; Mary E. Shaw, W. V. T .; Alonzo H. Beebe, W. Chap .; W. Marion Shaw, W. Sec .; John E. Wagner, W. A. S .; Philip Schupp, W. F. S .; James Stark, W. Treas .; Zachary Croop, W. M .; Sarah E. Stark, W. D. M .; Perry A. Stark, W. I. G .; Samuel H. Stark, W. O. G .: Oliver Ball, Sarah Billings and George Bedell.


MEHOOPANY TOWNSHIP.


N 1844 this township was formed from Wind- ham. The name is of Indian origin. Many relics of the savage occupants have been dis- covered in this township. The population of Mehoopany was 888 in 1870 and 779 in 1880. Amos York, who is believed to have been the pioneer settler, came in 1775, built a log house and


516


HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.


enclosed a considerable tract of land opposite and above the mouth of Meshoppen creek; he afterward removed to Wyalusing Elijah Phelps moved into his old log house. During the invasion in 1778 York was killed.


Joseph Biles in his "field notes " of the survey of the Susquehanna river, March 20th, 1796. noted eight " pitches," by article of agreement dated June 24th, 1776; namely, to Elijah Phelps, 3 lots; Thomas Millard, 5 lots; Amos York, 7 lots; Ichabod Phelps, 3 lots; Ben- jamin Kilbourn, 6 lots; Thomas Millard, jr., I lot. "Which said pitches begin at the mouth of the Mehoo- [any creek, and extend in a northerly course up said river as far as where the hill ends, containing 1, 200 acres." These men probably lived here at the above date; for we find Elijah Phelps, Amos York, Ichabod Phelps, Thomas Millard and Thomas Millard, jr., petitioning May 27th, 1778, the Assembly of Connecticut for an abatement of their taxes, since they had suffered much from being robbed and plundered by the Indians.


In 1791 Zephaniah Lott settled at the mouth of the Mehoopany creek, on the present Jennings estate, and Noah Phelps was the first settler whom Lott knew. Stephen Arnold lived below Noah Phelps, as did Henry Love, who came in 1795 and died in Mehoopany in 1809. Henry Love served through the Revolution, and on the last day at Yorktown, Va., was wounded in the leg. Among the other settlers before 1800 was Asa Budd, who settled on the present Jennings estate. The farm now owned and occupied by John Love was settled by Noah Phelps. In 1792 Tertullus Goff raised grain on the farm now owned by Mrs. Ellen Jennings. He sold to Calvin Wheelock, and he in 1798 to Thaddeus Prentis, and in 1819 Prentis sold to Joseph Swetland, who subsequently sold to Jennings. Thomas Ellis, Wil- liam Carney and Joseph Carney all lived below Love's prior to 1800, and John Grist, Ezekiel Pray and George Grist lived on Grist flats, in the bend of the river in the southeast part of the township. The farm now owned by L. B. Williams was settled in 1810 by Ebenezer Gay and family, who came from the Wyoming valley and in 1819 moved to the place where James Gay now lives. Franklin Gay was born on the Williams farm in 1813. The farm of John L. Hahn was settled in 1790 by John Grist, sen., and family. They came from the Wyoming valley. Isaac Doll in 1813 owned and occupied the farm now owned by Charles B. Jayne.


The first framed house was built in 1806, by William Carney, where Davis D. Jayne now lives; the next in 1818, at the village of Mehoopany-one at Mr. Kint- ner's and the other where Peter Bender now lives.


The earliest school-houses were of logs. One was near where John Love now lives and the other on Grist flats. Both have gone to decay. The oldest building now in existence ever used for a school-house is the union church, on the hill southeast from Mehoopany village. David Estell taught in this building. Among the surviving pupils are Hon. Henry Love, Almira French, David Ross and John W. Vose.


The first saw-mill was built by Zephaniah and Leonard


Lott, on the site of the one now owned by Moses S. Kint- ner. One was built about a half a mile further up that stream about the same time; it went to decay many years ago. There have been three saw-mills on the Little Mehoopany. One was built by Mr. Carney as early as 1800, on the property now owned by H. H. K. and J. French. The pioneer grist-mill was built in 1806, two or three rods above the site of the present mill on the Little Mehoopany, by William, Joseph and John Car- ney. The present one was built in 1842, by Paul B. Jen- nings, and is now owned by Joseph T. Jennings. The old mill ran many years, and was com- pletely worn out. The second grist-mill, built in 1823, is a part of the present mill of Moses S. Kintner. The earliest tannery was built on the Big Mehoopany in 1844, by Ansel and Franklin Gay; it is now owned and oper- ated by William Mileham. The next tannery, built by G. W. Smith, in or about 1857, on the Little Mehoopany, has been abandoned for tannery purposes. The pioneer carding and cloth-mill was built in 1822, by Jonathan A. Dudley and William Safford. Additions have been made, including one in 1880 for planing boards. The property is owned and operated by William Decker & Son. Charles Evans and S. W. Ellsworth, about 1840, started the first iron foundry. In 1842 Paul B. Jennings built one on the Little Mehoopany, near the Jennings grist-mill. This foundry was destroyed June 17th, 1870, by a flood which carried the engine and boiler out into the Susquehanna river; they have never been recovered. About 1856 a small foundry was started on the site of the present one. It was purchased by Ingham & Vose, who enlarged and improved it to a first-class foundry. The business is now carried on by their widows.


The first stone dwelling was built in 1840, by J. C. Allworth, in the west part of the township. Two others were built in 1850, by John L. Hahn and G. D. Smith. The only brick building is the store put up in 1866 by W. H. Barnes, at Mehoopany, and now occupied by W. B. Barnes & Co. as a general dry goods and grocery store. Iron plows were introduced about 1828 or 1829, by Eben Potter, who in 1828 started a foundry at Meshop- pen. The oldest graveyard is the one on Grist flats. The pioneer blacksmiths were on Grist flats. Philip Stranger worked there as early as 1815, and Frederick Carney in 1819-20. The first tavern was kept at Arnold's ferry as early as 1815, by Zephaniah Lott.


MEHOOPANY VILLAGE.


The site of this village was formerly the property of Elijah Phelps and Leonard Lott. The lower end of the village was owned by Lott, and the upper end by Phelps. Joseph Carney bought of Phelps and Wil- liam Whipple of Lott, and commenced selling building lots. The pioneer log tavern was kept by Joseph Car- ney for many years and stood in front of the site of the Mehoopany House. The first wagon maker here was Tillinghast Carpenter, who came in the latter part of 1816 and in 1817 built a lumber wagon and ox cart for William Carney. These were the first of their kind


GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD, MEHOOPANY TOWNSHIP.


W. H. BARNES.


William Henry Barnes was born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., January 31st, 1813, and came to Wyoming county February 12th, 1830, from Ulster county, N. Y. He began his business career in New York city, in 1827, as clerk. A few months later he went to Saugerties, N. Y., and worked as a clerk. He came to Mehoopany in 1834, where he commenced business on his own ac- count. He has been postmaster a number of years.


J. S. CARPENTER.


James S. Carpenter was born in Mehoopany, in 1824. His father came from Massachusetts in 1816, lived in Mehoopany many years and died in March, 1880, at the age of 84. His mother is still living near her son. Mr. C. is the proprietor of the carriage factory at Carpenter- ville, and has been connected with that establishment for thirty-five years. Six workmen are employed in the factory, and all styles of wagons and sleighs are made.


J. W. DENISON, M. D.


J. W. Denison, M. D., was born September 4th, 1818, in Montrose, Pa .; graduated at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1839, and commenced the practice of medicine in 1840; came to Mehoopany in 1841 and practiced medicine about thirteen years. On account of ill-health he abandoned the active practice of medicine and engaged in the drug trade, and is owner of the largest drug store in Wyoming county. Dr. Denison is noted for his generosity toward the poor. In his extensive practice no person was ever neglected on account of poverty, and in the drug busi- ness he is ever ready to help those who need help.


A. H. DOTY.


A. H. Doty was born in Vermont, in 1838, and at the age of three removed to Herkimer county, N. Y .; resided there about twenty-one years and came to Mehoopany. Mr. Doty is the proprietor of the carriage factory in Mehoopany, which was established in 1866, and of an. other at Jenningsville. Light work is made a specialty at Mehoopany, the heavier work being done at Jennings- ville. Mr. D. has been overseer of the poor and constable.


.


J. L. HAHN.


John L. Hahn, farmer, was born in Northampton county, Pa., in 1826, and with his parents in 1846 settled where he now resides, about two miles from Mehoopany village. He lived for a few years in Mehoopany village, and while there speculated somewhat in land, and was in 1856 proprietor of a blacksmith shop.


S. D. INGHAM.


Samuel D. Ingham was born in Asylum, Bradford county, Pa., in 1827. He came to Wyoming county in 1830, with his mother, who was a widow; his father, Joseph Ingham, having died in 1829. His mother, who was a Whitcomb, died in 1850. Mr. Ingham was a name- sake of Hon. S. D. Ingham, Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson. In 1868 he married his second wife, Elizabeth Vose, born in 1833 in Forkston. Mrs. Ingham was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary, and has taught school for nearly twenty-five years, mostly in Wyoming county. Mr. Ingham began business in Mehoopany in 1848, and continued until his death, May, 1877. He was postmaster and justice of the peace many years.


HON. H. LOVE.


Hon. Henry Love was born in Braintrim (now Meshop- pen), Pa., April 5th, 1811. In his younger days he was for a time a teacher, but generally followed the mercan- tile business. He has resided in Mehoopany since 1844. He was elected justice of the peace in March, that year, and held the office over twelve years, resigning to accept the office of associate judge of Wyoming county in 1836, which office he held for five years. He was county aud-


itor six years. John Love, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, and located in Wyoming county about 1796. His mother was born in Monroe county, and came to Wyoming county about 1806. His father died January 16th, 1867; his mother December 30th, 1871.


WILLIAM STEMPLES.


William Stemples was born in Monroe county, Pa., November 5th, 1825. He removed with his parents when about two years of age to Wyoming county, then a part of Luzerne. Their first residence was Russell Hill, where they remained two years. He then removed to Mehoo- pany, where he resided till the day of his death, August 3ist, 1877. He was married November 20th, 1857, to Miss Anna Love, who lived about two years after their marriage. She left a son named Henry Frank, who lived after the death of his mother nine years. June 6th, 1860, Mr. Stemples married Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Sussex county, N. J., with whom he lived happily during the remaining eighteen years of his life. Five children were born -to them, viz .: Celestia M., born April 13th, 1861; Florence F., January 21st, 1864; Carra V., October 14th, 1866; Mary E., June 22nd, 1871; Orrin, June 27th, 1873. Mr. Stemples was an able and successful farmer. By industry, economy and good management he became the owner of a good, well stocked and productive farm. He was a good example of industry for young men. At the age of 19 he became a convert to the Christian faith and immediately united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he continued a faithful and acceptable member till death. He gave liberally of his money for its support. He served the church in nearly every official capacity, being class leader, steward, trustee and Sunday- ยท school superintendent. During his last illness he was sustained by a cheerful, trusting faith and was wonder- fully patient in the midst of great suffering.


W. H. SWETLAND.


William H. Swetland, who has been justice of the peace three terms, was born in Mehoopany, in 1836. His father, Gordon Swetland, moved to Wyoming county in 1820. His great-grandfather was taken prisoner by the Indians. His mother was born in New Jersey, and his parents reside on the old homestead in Mehoopany.


T. L. VOSE.


Thomas L. Vose was born in Mehoopany. He formed a partnership with S. D. Ingham in the foundry business in 1857, which continued till his death, August 5th, 1878. He possessed great inventive genius. His wife was Hes- ter M. Myers, born in Orange county, N.Y., in 1827, who came to Mehoopany in 1832. In partnership with Mrs. S. D. Ingham she manages the foundry at Mehoopany.


EDGAR A. ADAMS was born in Forkston township, in 1854. He is station agent for the L.V. Railroad Company at Mehoopany, and is telegraph operator and postmaster.


C. F. DECKER, farmer, was born in Mehoopany town- ship, in 1842. He served in the late war in the 143d regiment Pennsylvania volunteers. He has lived on his present farm fourteen years.


WILLIAM DECKER was born in New Jersey, in 1827, and came to Mehoopany with his parents at the age of ten. He is at present the oldest carpenter in Mehoopany. His father Elijah Decker, was a native of New Jersey and a farmer. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania.


FREDERICK C. DENISON, M.D., was born in Montrose, Pa., May 7th, 1830, and located permanently in Mehoop- any in 1856, when he began the practice of medicine. He began reading medicine with the Hon. William T. Humphrey, M.D., now of Osceola, Tioga county, Pa., and graduated at the University of Michigan in March, 1856. His father, Adam Benjamin Denison, was born in Ver-


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515 A


516 B


HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.


mont, was also a physician, and practiced at an early day at Montrose, where he died in 1836. His mother, a na- tive of Connecticut, died in : 872. Dr. Denison was a school director six years, and he served in the late war.


GEORGE HENNING was born in Winderhausen, Ger- many, December 25th, 1817. He landed in New York August 22nd, 1839, and came to Mehoopany in 1841, and In 1845 married Mary Ann Bender. He soon afterward took a short western trip, but returned and settled on the farm of 370 acres where he now resides. He visited the home of his nativity, in Germany, in 1871 and 1872. He was elected county commissioner in 1869, for three years.




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