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 173
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 173
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 173
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532
HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.
The length of the main building is 470 feet and it covers an area of 23,800 square feet, without including several large sheds for bark, barn and hide houses. The engine used, in addition to pumping water and running the ma- chinery, supplies the Lehigh Valley Railroad with water and is the main dependence of the town in case of fire, having connections so arranged as to supply the hydrants, without loss of time, to an unlimited extent from the river. The Tunkhannock Mills, F. L. Sittser proprietor, N. Keim miller, was established in 1873-4, on the site of an older one but on a much larger scale, and additions and improvements have been and are constantly being made, as the increasing business requires. The main building is 40 by 56 feet, has three turbine water wheels, a capac- ity for grinding 400 bushels per day, contains recent and important improvements and inventions for the manu- facture of a superior article of flour, and the brand of " Tunkhannock Mills " for purity and excellence stands very high both at home and abroad. The Tunkhannock Agricultural Works, Miller & Avery proprietors, are making everything called for in their line, and make a specialty of two horse power threshing machines, thresher and cleaner combined; the "Challenge " one horse power thresher and separator; bark mill, of the Palen and Avery patent; plows, cultivators, field rollers, churn powers, for dogs and sheep, etc., etc. Attached to the foundry are a planing mill and circular and up- right saws for home and custom work, run by an engine of 15 horse power. The average number of men em- ployed is six. The Tunkhannock Marble and Granite Works, Burns & White proprietors, and dealers in Scotch and American granite, foreign and domestic marble, and everthing manufactured therefrom, was commenced in 1872 by James K. Fellows and sold by him to ex-Sheriff Comstock. Burns & White have worked up the business until it requires ten hands and the carrying of a large stock. The Tunkhannock Toy Company was organized in 1876, by S. J. Stark, John Day, C. H. Stratton, George W. Stark and S. W. Little. Their works are at the foot of Marcy lake, in the township. They employ from 12 to 20 men in turning wooden toys. The original members of the company all remain except C. H. Strat- ton. The office of the company is on Bridge street. The Wyoming National Bank, the only bank of issue in the county, was organized February 23d, and began business April 3d, 1864, with a capital of $100,000. The first officers and directors were : C. P. Miller, president ; Samuel Stark, cashier; D. D. Dewitt, teller ; George Osterhout, Jonathan Jenkins, E. Sharp, Paul Billings, T. B. Wall, J. H. Ross. C. P. Miller is still president. Samuel Stark died in December, 1879 ; D. D. Dewitt was chosen cashier in his place, and since his death in Janu - ary, 1880, his son F. W. Dewitt has been cashier. The present directors are C. P. Miller, George Osterhout, F. W. Dewitt, John Jackson, Perry Billings, F. B. Hight, John A. Sittzer and B. P. Carver. The annual meetings are held on the second Tuesday in January at the bank. The following summary of the bank's business will prove of interest : Capital stock January Ist, 1880, $100,000 ;
net surplus, $21,000 ; total dividends declared on capital since 1865, $124,250 ; total earnings since 1865, $146,- 212.43. The Banking House of F. C. Bunnell & Co. was established in 1870, by Hon. F. C. Bunnell and his father, James Bunnell. The institution meets a popular demand, and its handsome parlors are the scenes of large financial transactions. Hon. Frank C. Bunnell, the president, is still a young man. He began business life as a merchant at Russell Hill in 1863. Two years later he located here, and for some time was engaged in trade. In 1872 he was elected to Congress from this district. James Bun- nell is practically a silent partner, his age preventing his active participation. W. D. Williams has been the cashier for the past eight years.
BUSINESS CORPORATIONS.
The Tunkhannock Bridge Company was incorporated April 3d, 1835. Its first president was James Wright and treasurer Henry Stark, with Elisha Harding, jr., James Kelly, Isaac Vosburgh, Alfred Durham, D. A. Bardwell and Luman Ferry as directors.
Collecting subscriptions and obtaining State aid seem to have employed the company until 1854, when the bridge was built and accepted. It is a wooden structure of four spans resting on massive stone piers, is eight hundred and ten feet in length and about thirty in width. The gale of August 25th, 1854, destroyed the superstructure. Ex- hausted by the loss the company went into liquidation. It was reorganized the following year and the work was once more completed and accepted in November, 1857, the State becoming a stockholder to the amount of $5,000. Until 1865 the bridge was operated successfully, paying small dividends on the stock; but March 18th of that year an ice flood swept away two spans and a pier, and
once more the company sought relief in bankruptcy. In 1868 the company was again reorganized, the damages repaired, George E. Palen was elected president, and in the following year the bridge was once more ready for use and the company fixed their capital stock at $34:000, afterward increased to $52,000. In 1875 the bridge was damaged to the extent of $5,000 by an ice flood. The total cost of the structure to date has been some $45,000, The engineer's estimate of the original cost was $13,500. and the contractor, after expending that amount and sinking $5,000 of his own funds, was compelled to aban- don the enterprise.
The Tunkhannock Water Company was chartered April 22nd, 1858, with an authorized capital of $20,000. Its first officers were: Jacob Dewitt, president; F. C. Ross, treasurer; R. R. Little, secretary. Its property consisted of the water rights on the original Slocum farm one and one-fourth miles from the village, from which point pump logs with one and a half inch bore constituted the mains and were extended only to what is known as the Hill district. After a long inactivity the outstanding stock was bought in at a nominal figure, and in 1870 F. C. Ross was chosen president, and mains of froin eight to three inches diameter were laid through all of the
RESIDENCE OF J.M. FAIRCHILD, NANTICOKE LUZERNE CU, PA PROPERTY OF WILLIAM S.SHAW, EAST LEMON, WYOMING CO, PA.
RESIDENCE AND WAGON FACTORY OF. JAMES S. CARPENTER, MEHOOPANY TP., WYOMING CO., PA.
HOMESTEAD OF A.S.DANA,RES.OF ANDERSON DANA, EATON TP., WYOMING CO., PA.
RESIDENCE OF HON. F.C. BUNNELL:
BANKING HOUSE OF F. C.BUNNELL & CO Corner of Tloga and Warren Strs. Tunkhannock Wyoming Co, Pa
HOUSE AND STORE OF F.C. BUNNELL
LODGES AND ASSOCIATIONS OF TUNKHANNOCK-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 533
principal streets, supplying a population of 2,000. The total expense incurred has been $20,000.
TRITON HOSE COMPANY.
This company was organized November 16th, 1872, and December 11th of that year the following officers were elected: President, D. Bidleman; secretary, A. E. Buck; treasurer, S. J. Stark; foreman, E. G. Sampson; Ist assistant foreman, P. C. Burns; 2nd assistant foreman, A. M. Eastman. About this time the borough council bought 1,000 feet of leather hose and a carriage. The company during that winter erected at their own expense a neat and substantial building. January 20th, 1873, the company was incorporated and P. C. Burns, Hon. R. R. Little and Dr. G. E. Palen were elected trustees. C. J. Henry was then fire warden until 1875, and A. M. Eastman has been since. E. G. Sampson was foreman until 1873, then A. M. Eastman till 1875, J. R. Lott one year, and C. M. Kishpaugh since.
During the first two years of the company's existence fires were frequent, service arduous, and discipline well maintained. Since that time little active duty has been required.
SOCIETIES AND LODGES.
Temple Lodge, No. 248, F. and A. M. was instituted in pursuance of a charter dated July Ist, 1850, in the third story of the building now occupied by F. L. Sittzer, at the corner of Tioga and Turnpike streets.
The following were the first officers: John V. Smith, W. M .; Alfred Hine, S. W .; Thomas Morley, J. W. The first degree conferred was that of a fellow craft mason, upon R. R. Little, December 16th, 1850.
Meetings were held a few years in the room in which the lodge was organized; then in the third story of the building now occupied by Bogart, Degnan & Co., until the completion of the lodge hall, dedicated June 9th, 1870. The lodge has a membership of 123. The officers for 1880 were: M. J. Lull, W. M .; Edward Harding, S. W .; H. Webster Bardwell, J. W .; Frank C. Bunnell, treasurer; James W. Piatt, secretary; Rev. J. H. Weston, chaplain; J. Dewitt Smith, S. D .; Wesley D. Crawford, J. D .; Ed- gar G. Sampson, S. M. of C .; Daniel Wheelock, J. M. of C .; James B. Harding, pursuivant; A. E. Buck, tiler; trustees, Draper Billings, Riley Sickler and E. Mortimer Phillips.
The Tunkhannock Brass Band was first organized in 1852, and December 24th of that year its constitution and by-laws were adopted and signed by 16 members. James B. Harding was the first president, and G. S. Tut- ton the first leader. In 1873 the organization was char- tered as " The Tunkhannock Silver Cornet Band." The present officers are: President, John A. Harding; vice- president, J. B. Welch; secretary, B. H. Shook; treasurer and leader, G. L. Hungerford.
Tunkhannock Lodge, No. 699, I. O. of O. F. was insti- tuted February roth, 1870. The charter members num- bered 13. The first officers were: N. G., J. M. Kelly; V. G., R. C. Cook; secretary, M. H. Swainbank; assistant
secretary, James Higgs; treasurer, Joseph Shupp. The amount paid for relief is $1, 129; available assets, $1,000. Four members have died. There are now 70 members on the rolls.
Tunkhannock Lodge, No. 746, K. of If. was instituted September 14th, 1877, with ten charter members. The first officers were: P. D., W. E. Little; D., James W. Piatt; V. D., E. F. Palen; assistant D., W. W. Streeter; Rep., S. W. Isenbach; F. R., C. A. Little; T., S. F. Ma- jor; guard, H. P. Carter; sentinel, P. C. Burns. The present membership is 38.
Tunkhannock Lodge, No. 254, K. of P. was instituted June 3d, 1870, with 19 charter members. The lodge meets Friday evenings in the Dewitt block, Tioga street.
Other Organizations .- A division of Sons of Temper- ance was in operation some years, and a lodge of Good Templars was kept up until 1879. The Patriotic Sons of America also had an organization here.
CHURCHES.
PRESBYTERIAN.
In 1823 Merrit Slocum, a young Presbyterian layman of Wilkes-Barre, removed to this place, and he labored in prayer meetings and Sunday-school. Subsequently the people were visited by Presbyterian missionaries, and in 1831 they enjoyed the labors of Rev. George Printz for a few months. In 1833 Rev. James Todd labored here half the time as a missionary. In November a protracted meeting conducted by Revs. Cook, Heberton and Dor- rance added to the membership, and a Presbyterain church of 21 members was organized December 29th, 1833, by Rev. Isaac Todd and Rev. John Dorrance. Alpha Durham was appointed clerk. The church was under the Presbytery of Susquehanna. The original members were Alpha Durham, Jeremiah B. Dow, Chaun- cey Rockwell, Mrs. Rhoda Wright, Mrs. Elizabeth Mon- tanye, Mrs. Eunice Atwater, Mrs. Charity Bartholomew, Mrs. Harriet Buck, Mrs. Emmons and Miss Hannah Townsend, admitted on certificate, and Stephen Corby, John Phelps, Mrs. Affa Marcy, Mrs. Elizabeth Corby, Mrs. Sally Adams, Miss Eunice Marcy, Miss Susanna Marcy, Miss Laura Barnum, Miss Katharine Lucretia Adams, Miss Harriet Emmons and Miss Louisa Marvin, on examination.
A constitution was adopted in May, 1834, and on the 27th of December following the church was incorporated. It was for some time under the care of the Wilkes-Barre Presbytery. Among its early ministers were George Printz, Isaac Todd, John Dorrance, James L. Cole, M. Howell, B. Wall and Orrin Brown. Since 1845 the min- isters have been: Rev. Messrs. John W. Stirling, to 1849; Cornelius R. Lane and Augustus T. Dobson, from 1849 to 1871; and from the latter date to 1880, Rev. G. T. Keller, who closed his pastorate and removed to South Bend, Ind.
The first ruling elders were John M. Burtis and John Phelps; afterward Robert Clayton, Obadiah Mills, John H. Bogart, George Leighton and Stevens Dana held the
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534
HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.
office. The members of the present session are Dr. C. H. Dana, O. S. Mills, B. W. Lewis and Dr. F. D. Brewster. Ira Avery was the first deacon; his successors have bcen George Leighton, Abram Hass, J. W. Doolittle, J. G. Leighton, C. O. Dorsheimer and Cyrus D. Carms.
In 1834 the church erected a frame building, costing about $2,000. Several ternis of the county court werc held in this church before the erection of the county buildings. The corner stonc of the new church was laid on the 4th of July, 1867, and the building dedicated in the following year. It cost about $10,000. The church owes much of its prosperity to Rev. C. R. Lane, who served it faithfully nearly twenty years.
The first Sunday-school of which we have any record was organized April 19th, 1840. Ira Avery was superin- tendent and Edward Baldwin librarian. Among the teachers were Irene S. Benson, Frederick Hepburn, Jane E. Ross, Emily C. Baldwin, Michael Meylert and Edward Buck. Addison E. Buck was soon elected librarian, and he has served ever since. The school has over 100 mem- bers. B. W. Lewis is the acting superintendent.
TUNKHANNOCK M. E. CHURCH.
The M. E. church at Tunkhannock was set off from the old Springville circuit at the session of the Oneida conference held in 1843, and organized as a station Oc- tober roth of that year, Rev. H. F. Rowe being the first preacher in charge; Washington Stansbury, Peter Sharps and William H. Jenkins, class leaders, and William Shaw, Peter Sharps, P. M. Osterhout, Henry Stark and Nicholas Stevens stewards. The first quarterly conference was held November 25th, 1843."
C. E. Taylor was pastor in 1844, succeeded by P. S. Worden. The preaching places were Tunkhannock, Mount Vernon and the Shaw, Stark and Jenkins neigh- borhoods. The pews were first rented under the pastorate of Mr. Worden. In 1845 L. S. Bennett took charge; 1847, John Mulkey; 1849, H. Brownscombe; 1851, D. C. Olmstead, at which time the Wyoming Conference was formed. J. F. Wilbur, pastor in 1852 and 1853, re- ported 93 members and 45 probationers. L. D. Tay- lor succeeded Mr. Wilbur in 1854, and under his charge a revival increased the membership to 100 and pro- bationers to 80. F. S. Chubbuck, Charles Perkins, Ira D. Warren, B. B. Emory and A. H. Schoon- maker filled the pastorate up to 1862, when a re- vival added 53 to the list of probationers. Rev. Luther Peck was the next pastor and Rev. J. L. Legg became pastor in 1866; he reported a revi- val increasing the total membership to 168. Rev. S. F. Brown became pastor in 1868, followed by H. R. Clarke, D. D., who resigned during the year and was followed by Rev. J. L. Race, and he by J. R. Peck in 1874, S. W. Weiss, 1876; George Comfort, 1878; G. Murray Colville, 1879. Under the pastorate of Mr. Colville a revival in 1880 added 60 members and greatly increased the effi- ciency of the church.
The corner stone of the present church edifice was laid by Presiding Elder Olmstead October 20th, 1868, and the building was dedicated by Bishop Ames April roth, 1869. The cost was $12,500 and the indebtedness $3,200, which was raised on the day of dedication. The building is in the Gothic style, and occupies a sightly and convenient location.
During Mr. Colville's pastorate a floating debt of $300 has been raised, and a handsome parsonage costing $1,400 erected and paid for. He was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland, studied in his native city, and graduated at Wyoming Seminary. He has had charge of three pulpits prior to coming to Tunkhannock, and is a suc- cessful pulpit orator and a practical worker.
TUNKHANNOCK BAPTIST CHURCH.
Elder David Jayne, who lived between Nicholson and Glenwood at an early day, is believed to have been the first Baptist preacher. Elder Sturdevant, of Black Walnut, preached often and baptized several persons, among them Sarah Marcy McCord Whitmore in 1800. Elder John Miller supplied this point for years, baptizing a number who joined a church at Waverly until the Sec- ond Church of Eaton was constituted, in 1823, when they became members there. Elders Dimmock, Worden, Fisk and Frear preached until 1841, when Elder Post, of Montrose, commenced a series of meetings in the village, in the old school-house near the creek, as a result of which eight were baptized. November 3d, 1841, a church was organized, with the following members: Edward Buck, Cyrus Avery and wife, Eliza Hickok, Emma and Nancy Harding, Mehitable and Rachel Garrison, Sarah Frear, Martha A. Brown, Margaret Bird, James Fitzgerald and wife, Wilson Shaw, Darius Tilson, Sabra Kelly, John Gardner and wife and daughters Malvina, Phoebe and Ruth, Mehitable Vosburg, Lydia A. Tripp, Earl and Phobe Cary, Elizabeth and Sarah Jenkins, George Ross and Sarah Braiton.
The pulpit was first supplied by Elder Jonathan Mel- vin, followed by J. K. Hornish. John Duer, Levi Hamlin and Rev. William Frear supplied occasional vacancies- In January, 1867, Elder W. B. Grew held special meet- ings, when 49 were added by baptism and 17 by letter. In 1868 Rev. A. Judson Furman became pastor; Rev. James Rainey in 1871, and four years later Rev. S. F. Forgess. Since 1878 Revs. John H. Harris and John Ballantine have been the chief supplies of the pulpit. Edward Buck (deceased), Zenas E. White and A. F. Eastman have been deacons and E. Buck, Z. E. White, Henry A. Miller and John K. Slauson clerks.
School-houses, the old foundry and the court-house were the meeting places until 1867, when the edifice formerly occupied by the Presbyterian church was purchased for $1,200, $200 of which sum was a legacy from Mrs. Whit- more, who also left a bequest for the Burman missions. She was an infant nine days old when her family fled from the Indians in the valley. The church now reports 73 members.
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD,
TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH.
MAJOR H. WEBSTER BARDWELL
was born June 2nd, 1845, at the old Bardwell homestead in Tunkhannock township, Pa., and in early life re- ceived the educational advantages incident to country life.
The breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861 found him a student at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., and though but sixteen his desire to enlist and take part in defending the old flag was so intense that, despite youth, a naturally weak constitution, the advice of friends, the refusal of officials and the opposition of parents, he con- tinued his endeavors; and at last, conquering all obstacles by the force of a strong will, he was duly enrolled in the spring of 1863 in the 30th Pennsylvania infantry. Im- mediately thereafter the regiment was ordered to the front and commenced active service. But the unac- customed trials and privations were too much for the boy. August of the same year found him upon the sick list. He did not recover sufficiently for duty during his term of enlistment and, being honorably discharged, re- turned again to Wyoming Seminary.
Leaving there in 1865 Major Bardwell was given charge of the Warren and Franklin Railroad Company store at Irvington, Pa., the duties of which position he performed faithfully and honestly and to the entire satis- faction of his employers until the completion of the work, when he returned to Tunkhannock. On the 24th of December, 1866, he was married to Miss Gertie E. Jewett, daughter of Rodney Jewett, of Montrose, Pa., and the union has been blessed with a son and daughter. After marriage the major attempted to settle down upon land near the old homestead and become a farmer; but he abandoned this plan upon receiving an appointment as postmaster at Tunkhannock January 22nd, 1874, which position he still holds.
In 1870 Major Bardwell was extremely active in rais- ing a company of National Guards, he holding a sub- ordinate position therein. The company was attached to the 9th regiment National Guards, Major General E. S. Osborne commanding. Soon after the formation of the regiment Major Bardwell was appointed adjutant. This position (one far from a sinecure) his love of military life, his " push" and thorough participation in the esprit de corps enabled him to so fill as to attract the attention of the commanding officer; and during the riots in the coal regions in 1866 he was appointed major, holding the position until the reorganization of the National Guards, in 1878, when the division was mustered out of service. As an evidence of the estimation in which Major Bard- well was held by those having the best means of knowing his soldierly qualifications we quote the following para-
graph from a letter to him by Major General Osborne, conveying an honorable discharge:
" I desire in this connection to extend to you my heartfelt thanks for the energy and ability with which you have discharged your duties since you have been a member of my staff, and to assure you that I fully ap- preciate your patriotic devotion to duty under trying and disagreeable circumstances. I can only express the hope that the law-abiding citizens of the commonwealth will not soon forget your service to them at Scranton in 1871, Susquehanna Depot in 1874 and Hazleton in 1875.'
We might quote other letters of a like tenor, but deem one such testimonial-in itself a host-sufficient.
In political life Major Bardwell is a worker, hopeful, enthusiastic and pronounced in opinion. To the very core he is Republican-could not in any state of affairs be otherwise; he is seen prominently at every public gather- ing ; is a liberal giver to political efforts and does more work for the public for nothing than any other man in the community, and is always ready to shoulder the duties from which others shrink, and drive the matter in hand forward to success.
Touched with bon vivantism, Major Bardwell enjoys the good things the gods epicurean give as life passes.
As he personally enjoys, even so he wishes others to do. And this, we opine, is the chief fault of his mental organ- ization. His heart is too large and his hand too open for his own wellbeing. Yet if the proverb is true that "it is more blessed to give than receive," he must be accumulating a vast store in the hereafter and his reward will be infinitely greater than that of those who filch from honest poverty and make merchandise of the blood and bones of their fellows.
HON. F. C. BUNNELL.
Hon. Frank C. Bunnell was born in Luzerne county, Pa., March 19th, 1842, on the Susquehanna river five miles above Tunkhannock, at a place called the Neck, or Horseshoe. His father, James Bunnell, was a farmer, and Frank was early taught the art of farming summers, going to school winters. At the age of sixteen he was sent to Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., where he-re- mained until the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company B 52nd Pennsylvania volunteers. He was promoted quartermaster's sergeant of the regiment in 1862, and served in that capacity during the campaign on the peninsula, under General Mcclellan. Losing his health he was discharged April 2nd, 1863, on surgeon's certificate of disability.
In 1864 he engaged in the mercantile business at Rus- sell Hill, Pa .; afterward at Tunkhannock. In 1870 he
534 A
534 B
HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.
organized the banking house of F. C. Bunnell & Co., to which business he still gives his personal attention. He is also engaged in numerous enterprises-farming among the rest, in which he takes especial interest. He has been annually elected president of the Wyoming County Agricultural Society since its organization in 1875. He is emphatically an improvement man, and has contributed largely toward the beautifying and improvement of the borough in which he resides, as well as aiding in the pro- motion of the agricultural interest and stock breeding in his county.
In politics he is a Republican. He was a delegate to the State convention that nominated General John W. Geary for governor; also when General John F. Hart- ranft was nominated for governor. He was elected to the forty-second Congress to serve out the unexpired term of Hon. Ulysses Mercur, who was elected judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1872, and was pre- sented by Wyoming county as her choice for Congress in the years 1872, 1874, 1876 and 1878; and was urged by his friends to accept the nomination in 1880, but his own personal interests and feelings compelled him to decline the honor.
CHARLES H. DANA, M. D.
Charles H. Dana, M. D., a native of Eaton, graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1851, practiced four years in Sullivan county, N. Y., then returned to Tunk- hannock, where he has since practiced, interrupted only by two years of army service as assistant and acting sur- geon. He has been United States examining surgeon for the past fourteen years.
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