History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 69

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 69
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 69
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 69

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).

Early in the winter of 1863 the brigade, then under General W. W. HI. Davis, was sent to the department of the south to co-operate in the naval attack on Fort Sumter. It participated under General Gihnore in the siege operations conducted on Morris Island against Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter. During the summer of 1864 a night attack was organ- ized by General Foster against Fort Johnson, in Charleston harbor. It was made in boats across the harbor. The tive boat loads of men, com- manded by General Iloyt, pushed forward and succeeded in reaching and entering the fort ; but the reinforcements did not arrive, and Gen- eral Hoyt's party became prisoners of war. They were first confined at. Macon, and then brought to Charleston jail, so that they might be under fire from Morris Island. While en route from Macon to Charleston Gen- eral Hoyt, with four other officers, escaped from the ears. After several days and nights of wearisome but fruitless efforts for liberty they were recaptured by the rebels with the aid of bloodhounds. Upon being ex- changed General Hoyt rejoined his regiment, and remained with it until the close of the war. He then returned to Wilkes-Barre and re- sumned the practice of his profession.

During the year 1867 he fulfilled the duties of additional law judge of

Itis judicial district, under appointment by Governor Geary. Ilis record on the bench was of the first order. He was able, fearless, faithful and dignified. He was for years a member of the school board, and was largely instrumental in the reorganization and improvement of the pub- lie schools of Wilkes-Barre, making them second to none in the State. He was attorney for many of the large mining and railroad corpora- tions, as well as numerous individuals. His reputation as a lawyer was second to none. His legal knowledge was not only broad and com- prehensive but accurate to the slightest detail. His arguments were concise, logical and philosophical-too much so perhaps for success before juries, but of the utmost value and importance in legal diseus- sions before the courts. He was truly learned in the law. As a eoun- selor he was pre-eminently valuable. His advice was sought after by his brethren at the bar in important and critical emergencies, and when given all who knew him knew it might be relied upon. His knowledge of the fundamental principles of the law was so thorough that the greatest respeet was always expressed by lawyers for even an "off hand " opinion on matters under discussion at the various meetings of the members of the bar. But his education and study were by no incans confined to legal matters. Mathematics in its highest branches was his favorite pursuit, while history, philosophy, science, theology and general literature were alike studied with great zeal and relish and all contributed abundantly to enriel a mind well capable of enjoying their most hidden treasures.

The training which Governor Hoyt received in early life, as farmer boy, as scholar and as teacher, always within the influence of his father's example, taught him at least the value of thoroughness and accuracy in whatever is undertaken. And it may well be stated as characteristic of the man that to whatever subjeet he has given his attention he has spared no effort to reach the very marrow of it and understand it in all its details. His library is large and extends over a very broad field of literature.

In 1875 he became chairman of the Republicau State committee and he conducted the campaigns of that and the succeeding year with success. May 15th, 1878, he was nominated by the Republian party for the position of governor of the State of Pennsylvania. It was at the time of the greatest excitement in the State on the question of the resumption of specie payments. Many believed that no one could be elected on an unqualified hard money campaign; but Hoyt, scorning all subterfuges, sounded the key note of the campaign in his first address by declaring :- " Professing to be an honest man, and the candidate of an honest party, I believe in honest money." He was elected by a very large plurality and was inaugurated January 14th, 1879. His term is for four years, lie being the first governor who in pursuance of the new constitution of 1879 serves for that term. The oath of office was adminis- tered to him by Hon. Warren J. Woodward, his former instructor and then a judge of the Supreme Court of the State. Subsequently to his election Governor Hoyt wrote for the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, "Brief of a title in the seventeen townships in the county of Luzerne; a syllabus of the controversy between Connecticut and Penn- sylvania. Printed by Lane S. Hart, Harrisburg, Pa., 1879."

He is now the most highly educated and ablest man in political life in Pennsylvania. Being positive by nature in all the habits of his mind, he is naturally positive in his political views; but in all politieal discussion he has shown that this positiveness is not a result of partisan bitterness but a conclusion from a thorough and careful study of the constitution and history of his country.

COLONEL WASHINGTON LEE.

Washington Lee was born in the city of Harrisburg, Pa., June 18th, 1786. ITis father, Andrew Lee, captain of dragoons in the army of the Revolution and one of the band celebrated in Pennsylvania history as " the Paxtang Boys," had served his country with some distinction under General Sullivan, and had even been permitted to see the interior of one of the British prison hulks in New York harbor, famous then as now as "floating hells." The captain survived the horrors which were tatal to so many of his comrades, and being finally exchanged hastened home to Paxtang, Dauphin county, Pa., to reeruit his shattered health. Before the close of the year, however, Cornwallis had surrendered. Great Britain saw the futility of her efforts to retain these col- onies, and finally, September 3d, 1783, signed with her late rebellious subjects a definitive treaty of peace. With this conclusion Captain Andrew found his occupation gone, and taking unto himself a wife, in the person of Mrs. Priscilla Stewart, the widow of James Stewart, he moved to Harrisburg, purchased a well known inn there, and prepared to cutertain the traveling public. In this house were born Washington, his brother James S. and his sister Priseilla. James, in after years, moved to Hanover township, Luzerne county, about six miles from Wilkes-Barre, where still remain some of his chil- dren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Priscilla, the sister, died at her brother's house in Hanover, at the age of nineteen, unmarried. Washington, after attending school in Harrisburg, March 20th, 1803, en- tered the law office of Mr. Fisher, a prominent practitioner of that place, and March 30, 1806, was only admitted to practice law in the courts of Dauphin county. He had determined, however, that a milf-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

tary career would be more to his taste, and he carly sought the influence of his friends to aid him in gaining a position in the army. A staunch friend of his father, Hon. Jolin Joseph Henry, was then presiding on the bench of Dauphin county, and from him he readily secured a com- meudatory letter to Henry Dearborn, the Secretary of War. By the same influence he also enlisted Hon. A. Gregy, senator from Peunsylva- nia, in his service, and May 3, 1808, he rejoiced in the receipt of his commission as second lieutenant in the army of the United States, and a letter from the war department ordering him to report at the rendez- vous at Lancaster. In compliance with this order he hastened to his post, and immediately entered upon the performance of his duties. From this date until that of his retirement from the ser- vice, eight years later, his carcer was one unbroken series of successes. He was commissioned first lieutenant of the fifth regiment of infantry April 1st, 1811. He had already served as judge advocate of the southern army under General Wade Hampton since February 19th, 1810, and con- tinued so to act until appointed assistant adjutant general June 24th, 1812. July 23d following he was commissioned captain of the eleventhi infantry and March 3d, 1813, received his majority. In June of this year he was appointed deputy paymaster general of the United States forces, and he received his commission as lieutenant colonel of the eleventh infantry January 1st, 1815. May 3d, 1816, Colonel Lee withdrew from the military service and June 16th, 1817, he married Miss Elizabeth Campbell, the daughter of an Episcopal minister, of Carlisle, Pa. The young couple immediately removed to Nanticoke, Luzerne county, where Colonel Lee had purchased a farm of about one thousand acres. Here, in a comfortable mansion erected on the cast bank of the Susquehanna, at the very foot of the valley of Wyoming, they began, passed and ended a half a century of wedded life. In December, 1867 just fifty years from the date of her first acquaintance with the old homestead, Mrs. Lee died, childless. Her husband, full of years and fee- ble in health, bore with his loneliness until May, 1869, when, at the urgent solicitation of his friends, he removed to Wilkes-Barre. Here two years later, September 10th, 1871, ready and willing, he peacefully breathed his last. His remains now rest beneath a simple shaft of granite in the churchyard of Hanover Green. Standing by his grave on the hill slope one can see with wonderful distinctness the old mansion fonr miles away, and at its fect the river, never changing. All else of the old land marks have disappeared, swallowed up in huge culm piles, or blackened beyond recognition with the dust of half a dozen collier- ies. Miners' houses crowd each other up to the very gateway of the homestead and even the old rope ferry has given place to a long, rambling covered bridge.

In person Colonel Lee was tall and of dignified presence. His gentle manners and courtly bearing greatly endeared him to all who possessed his acquaintance. His habits were of the strictest simplicity. His mind had always been of a studious character, and in the later years of his ife he found refuge from his isolation in hisacquaintance with the phi-

losophy and classics of the ancients. He was the impersonation of in- tegrity and rectitude. He preserved his faculties to the very end, and with the utmost composure saw the approach of that messenger from whose coming old and young alike shrink with drcad.

W. L. P.

ANDREW LEE.

Andrew Lee was born on the 31st day of Jannary, 1815, at the home- . stead of his grandfather, Captain Andrew Lec, situate on the east bank of the Susquehanna river, at the mouth of Nanticoke creek, about two miles above the present borough of Nanticoke, Luzerne county, Pa. lfc was the eldest of the seven children of Jaines Stewart Lee and Martha Campbell. His life has been spent in the immediate neighbor- hood of his birthplace. He carly became engaged in the operation of the coal mines on the property of Colonel Washington Lec, and subse- quently became interested in the mercantile business in Nanticoke. In 1872 he retired from an active business life and reinoved to Wilkes- Barre. In 1853, on the 23d day of January, he married Sarah Jane Buck- hout, by whom he has had three children, James Stewart, William Washington and Minnie. Mr. Lee still enjoys vigorous health notwith- standing his years. His elegant home on the corner of River and Hano- ver streets is one of the handsomest residences in Wilkes-Barre, and is marked with every evidence of a cultured taste.

Aside from those sketched in the foregoing biographies the following may be mentioned as among the well-known citizens of Wilkes-Barre:

David P. Ayars, A. M. Bailey, Charles K. Bart, C. A. Belin, Rufus J. Bell, Silas W. Bennett, F. F. Bucrmeyer, H. Burgunder, Henry C. Burrows, H. Brownscombe, H. B. Courtright, W. L. Conyngham, J. M. Crane, E. P. Darling, Alfred Darte, jr., James P. Dennis, James P. Dickson, Eugene C. Frank, C. E. Goodell, T. R. Griffith, William J. Harvey, John Hessel, J. H. Hildreth, Rev. F. B. Hodge, N. B. Houpt, D. F. Hughes, A. N. Humphreys, Andrew Hunlock, Charles P. Hunt, Frederick C. Johnson, Edwin H. Jones, C. Kidder, John I. Labagh, I. M. Leach, F. J. Leavenworth, J. Frank Lee, T. H. B. Lewis, Thomas Long, W. J. Mccullough, Rev. P. J. McManus, J. A. Merriek, P. C. Nagel, T. E. Nidecker, Rev. W. H. Olin, E. S. Osborne, W. L. Paine, charles Parrish, W. Puckcy & Brother, P. Butler Reynolds, Sheldon Reynolds, Samuel Roberts, Rev. H. Rubin, Dr. E. Shelp, George W. Shonk, C. B. Snyder, J. Stickney, H. Stoddart, S. J. Strauss, S. C. Struthers, S. B. Sturdevant, W. H. Sturdevant, Rev. W. H. Swift, John Teasdale, I. M. Thomas, Rev. T. B. Thomas, Samuel J. Tonkin, E. Troxell, F. W. Vannan, E. O. Weeks, John C. Williamson, D. Wilson, Harrison Wright, E. B. Yordy.

Ondero Lec

Washington Le0

TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH HISTORIES,

LUZERNE COUNTY.

BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was taken from Denison, April 7th, 1856, and named after a stream which rises in the northeast part and flows in a most picturesque channel through the town- ship.

The land is not adapted to agriculture, and is uncultivated. The surface is mountainous, Bald mountain, near the north border, rising 1,825 feet above the level of the Lehigh, and the Wyoming mountain, just west of Bald, showing an altitude of 1,550 feet.

The Wilkes-Barre and Easton road crosses near the center of the township, from northwest to southeast, and where it crosses the creek there is a hamlet of half a a dozen houses.

The principal productions of the township are hemlock logs and game, the supply of which is annually diminish- ing.

Eight votes were polled in this township at the fall election of 1879.

Stiles Williams was elected and commissioned justice of the peace for Bear Creek May 26th, 1856.

BLACK CREEK TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was taken from Sugarloaf, August 8th, 1848. It derives its name from a creek which flows through it.

In 1806 Barney Huntsinger, who was surveying this then wilderness, took as his pay the land where Christian Benninger now lives, near Mountain Grove railroad station. Martin Rit- tenhouse located in 18ro where his grandson Joseph Rittenhouse now lives, and the Shelhamer family soon after, farther down the stream, and over on the Nesco- peck, in the northeastern part of the town.

The old Indian trail from the Lehigh to the Susque- hanna ran down the west bank of the creek. On the farms now owned by the Smiths, a little below Ritten- house's mills, is a good spring, and here was one of the favorite camping grounds of the Indians. Their paths are still to be seen along the banks of the creek.

The first grist and saw-mills were built in 1810, by William Rittenhouse, on the farm now owned by Joseph Rittenhouse. The grist-mill had but one run of stones. There is a saw-mill on the site of the old one. The stone used in the grist-mill for grinding was brought from Reading, Pa., and now lies between the gate posts in front of William Rittenhouse's residence. The first frame houses were built by Martin Rittenhouse and Philip Shel- hamer soon after the saw-mill was put in operation.

Rittenhouse's old log house was converted into the first school-house in the township as soon as he moved into his frame house; and the first teacher was a Mr. Tripp. The old log house was soon burned, and the school was then kept near where the brown church now stands. The surviving pupils of the school are Amos Rittenhouse, William Wolf, Nancy A. Rittenhouse and Sylvester Shelhamer.

The first brick houses were built by David Shelhamer and Stephen Turnbach in 1850, Mr. Shelhamer making the brick upon his own farm in the northeastern part of the township. The first postmaster was Amos Ritten- house. He was appointed in 1856, and kept the office in the house just east of where he now lives. The mails were received once a week from Conyngham, and Joseph Rittenhouse was the first mail carrier. The office was removed to Stephen Turnbach's, and in 1872 to the railroad station at Rock Glen, or Falls Run City, the railroad station being known by the former and the post-office by the latter name.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Elias Smith, a few rods east of Rittenhouse's mill.

In 1820 there was a distillery on the farm now owned by C. Benninger, built by Huntsinger. It has now gone to decay. The first blacksmith shop in this end of the valley was John Barnes's, who was among the first settlers. He lived where Mrs. J. I. Pegg now lives. The first

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

store in this township was kept by Daniel Stiles, where Stephen Turnbach now lives. There was also a store where D. Shelhamer lives. The first tavern was about a quarter of a mile west of where the Rittenhouse mill now stands, and was kept by George Klinger. The place is now owned by the heirs of Michael Smith. The first tannery was a small concern on the farm now owned by P. Swoyer, opposite the mouth of Scotch Run creek. The first death in the township was that of Mrs. John Kittner, a daughter of Huntsinger. She died in 1818, and was buried in the old graveyard near the Lutheran church.

PRESENT BUSINESS CENTERS.

Falls Run City has a store, two taverns, a cabinet shop and 15 dwellings.

Rock Glen is a few rods above Falls Run on the same side of the creek. There is a railroad station and a post-office, with George Fry postmaster. He was ap- pointed in 1870 or 1871.

Mountain Grove, formerly Wolfton, lies on the eastern border of the township. Here are the Mountain Grove camp grounds, German Reformed church, a hotel, a school-house, railroad station and post-office. George Claas is postmaster: he was appointed in 1875.

The hamlet of Rittenhouse Mill, on Black creek near the center of the township, consists of a grist-mill, a saw- mill, a tannery run by steam, built in 1847 by James Pegg, now owned by Samuel Rouse, and several dwellings.

At Gowen, a station on the D. H. & W. Railroad, are a coal mine and breaker, a store, a post-office and about 20 dwellings.

CHURCHES OF BLACK CREEK. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This society was formed as early as 1810, at the house of John Barnes, where Mrs. J. I. Pegg now lives, half a mile west of Amos Rittenhouse's grist-mill. Methodism at that time in which is now Black Creek was quite a novelty. The first preacher to wend his way thither was the Rev. Christian Bowman, a Methodist itinerant. He came by way of the Nescopeck mountains, and made his visits once in four weeks. That none might mistake the time of his coming, he heralded his approach when on the top of the Nescopeck mountains by blowing a tin horn, whereupon the people gathered at the house of John Barnes, or that of Isaac Shelhamer. The first members of the class were: John Barnes, Isaac Shel- hamer, John Wolf, Andrew A. Wood and a Mrs. Jackson; with John Barnes as leader.

Meetings were held in houses and barns until 1831 or 1832, when a church and school-house combined was built where the Roberts school-house stands. Here the society worshiped until 1861, when the present church, standing across the road from the old one, was built, costing about $1.400. It is thirty-two by forty-four feet, of wood, and was dedicated the first Sunday in Novem- ber, 1861, by Rev. G. H. Day, the pastor.

This part of the Conyngham charge formerly belonged

to the old Sunbury circuit, together with Northumberland county, Carbon, parts of Luzerne and Wyoming, and the whole of Schuykill and Columbia counties. Among the early preachers were Rev. Messrs. Christian Bowman, Cook, Stecle, John Rhodes, E. McCollum, Joseph Lee, Bergstresser, Shepherd, Dolls, Charles Colfus and Thomas Bowman. Thomas T. Hill preached in 1833; James H. Brown, James Clark, G. H. Day and - - Wells in 1842; J. Ross and Thomas McClure in 1843; -- Consor and --- Barnhard in 1844. The pastors in more recent years have been as follows: G. H. Day, in 1861; B. P. King, 1862; Josiah Forrest and J. C. Hagey, 1864; James F. Porter, 1866; Henry S. Mendenhall, 1867; James B. Creddy, C. S. Benscotten, and Pember- ton Bird, 1868; A. S. Bowman and N. W. Colburn, 1870; J. Farran Brown and J. B. Moore, 1873. In 1874 J. Horning came in place of Mr. Moore. At this time the Jeansville circuit was divided, leaving the townships of Butler, Sugarloaf and Black Creek in one charge. In 1875 Rev. J. Stiner was stationed here, and in 1877 G. M. Larned, the present pastor. The present membership is 70. Stephen Turnbach is class leader. The present value of the church property is $1,500. The trustees are Stephen Turnbach, Peter Roberts, Perry Boone, W. G. Gregory, David Shelhamer, Martin Basbuscheck, John A. Wagner and D. W. Lauer. The Sunday-school was organized in 1834, with 30 scholars, and Uzel O. Barnes as superintendent. The present superintendent is W. G. Gregory. The total number of scholars is 115; average attendance So.

MOUNTAIN GROVE CAMP MEETING ASSOCIATION.

June 20th, 1872, at a meeting of Methodist ministers and laymen, held in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, G. M. Shoop, of Danville, reported that he had secured about twenty-eight acres of land at Mountain Grove station, on the Danville, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre railroad, which he would transfer to a camp meeting association should such an organization be effected. The following were appointed an executive committee to make the necessary arrangements for the camp meeting: Rev. S. Barnes, P. E., chairman; Rev. S. Creighton, Rev. B. P. King, Rev. E. T. Swartz, G. M. Shoop, M. Hartman, H. E. Suther- land (first secretary), J. W. Clever, J. W. Eyer.

Under the supervision of this committee the first camp-meeting was held, on the grounds of G. M. Shoop, at Mountain Grove, August 14th, 1872.

August 19th, 1872, at a meeting of the executive com- mittee and friends of the enterprise, it was resolved to organize a joint stock company to buy the grounds and improvements already made for the purpose of making the institution permanent.

The first annual meeting of the stockholders of the association was held on the camp ground August 19th, 1873. The following managers were elected for the en- suing year: M. W. Jackson, Rev. S. Barnes, Rev. S. Creighton, S. Turnbach, N. P. John, Rev. B. P. King, B. G. Welsh, Joseph Smith, A. J. Amerman, E. M. Warden and G. M. Shoop.

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CHURCHES AND MINES OF BLACK CREEK-BUCK TOWNSHIP.

On the same day the board of managers met and elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Presi- dent, Rev. S. Barnes; vice-president, E. M. Warden; sec- retary, G. M. Shoop; treasurer, N. P. John.

The amount of the capital stock has since been in- creased to $14,000, and the association has bought three acres more of ground, and improvements consisting of hotel and other buildings, and enclosed the grounds with fence. Last year the gates were closed on the Sabbath.

The present board of managers consists of G. M. Shoop, Rev. B. P. King, C. C. Sharpless, Loyd Sharpless, J. C. Brown, E. W. M. Low, M. W. Jackson, N. H. Suth- land, S. Turnbach, Rev. S. Creighton and Cyrus Straw. Officers-G. M. Shoop, president; E. W. M. Low, vice- president; C. C. Sharpless, treasurer, and Cyrus Straw, secretary.

FRIEDEN'S LUTHERAN AND GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH,

located near the Mountain Grove railroad station was built in 1830; the land, one and a half acres, was donated by Mr. Huntsinger. The two congregations continue to occupy it alternately. The present Lutheran minister is Rev. J. H. Neiman, and there are 100 members in his charge. The German Reformed minister is Rev. John M. Clemens. The church property is valued at $1,000.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The church edifice of this society was built in 1854, and is locally known as the "brown church," from the fact of its not being painted. It is half a mile west of Black creek, near the Nungesser school-house, on the road to Mountain Grove. The church property is valued at $1,000. Rev. J. Wagner, of Hazleton, is the present pastor. The present membership is 22.

GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.

This church is located in the northeast corner of the township, and known as the "Shelhamer Church," from its being near David Shelhamer's house. Rev. J. M. Clemens, of Conyngham, is the present pastor. The value of the church property is $1,200.

ALBRIGHT CHURCH.

The society known as " Albrights " is nearly or quite extinct in this township. About 1854 it built a church near the German Reformed, and the building is still standing.

MINING INTERESTS OF BLACK CREEK.

The West Lehigh coal mine is located at Gowen, on the southwest line of the township, and partly in Schuylkill county, and is owned by the West Buck Mountain Coal Company, and operated by Lewis Rothermel, with John T. Evans as superintendent. There are two engines, with a total of 80 horse power. There are 64 men and boys employed under ground and 24 on the surface. The coal mined during the year 1878 amounted to about 11,000 tons.

The Stanton mine, at the same point, is owned by Anspach, Stanton & Weightman, and operated by I. Martial Stout, with I. M. Stout as superintendent. This is a chute.

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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 69

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