History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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 70
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 70
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 70

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).

The Conyngham coal mine was originally in Sugarloaf, but is now in Black Creek, on the north bank of Black creek, on a tract of land surveyed in 1873 to Jolin Mc- Gowan. It never belonged to the Conyngham family. The tract was taken up by warrant in the name of J. McGowan by Tench Coxe, Esq. (grandfather of Coxe Bros. of Drifton), among other lands. Subsequently through tax sales and division, or the adjusting of the line between Northumberland and Luzerne counties, the Deringer family also claimed title to the same land. To avoid an endless litigation the Coxe and Deringer titles were thrown together, and now Coxe Bros. & Co., of Drifton, have the land under lease, and are proving the coal with a view of putting up works. The first coal was mined there by the Conyngham family while residing in the valley; hence the name. According to the best infor- mation the coal must have been opened about 1820, and a load taken away occasionally over the rough mountain.

JUSTICES.

Justices of the peace have been elected for the town- ship as follows:

William Wolf, 1849, 1856, 1862; James T. Pegg, 1849; Josiah Thomas, 1854; Henry B. Bowman, 1855; Henry Croll, 1866; Stephen Turnbach, 1868, 1873, 1878; M. L. Hutchins, 1872, 1877.

BUCK TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed from Covington in 1833, and named in honor of Samuel Buck, one of the pioneer settlers. Upon the for- mation of Lackawanna county in August, 1878, this township was divided, making the east boundary line to run from the mouth of Choke creek up that creek to a point in range with the easterly line of Bear Creek township, and thence to the southeast corner of the latter township.

The surface of Buck is very mountainous, except- ing that portion known as the great swamp, or Shades of Death, which lies between the mountains near the center of the township.

The following have been the justices for Buck, together with the years of their election: Thomas Tattershall, 1840; Elwood Buckman, 1848; Temple Hinds, 1854, 1859; Adam S. Edinger, 1858; S. M. Edwards, 1861; G. W. Williamson, 1867; J. S. Bachman, 1869.

STODDARDSVILLE.

The pioner store here was kept by John Stoddard, who also kept the first tavern, built a grist mill as early as 1816

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2.40

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

and a saw-mill ten years before, and had a blacksmith shop, wagon shop and cooper shop. Mr. Stoddard and Thomas Arnott owned the site of the village. Here there are about 75 inhabitants, a Methodist Episcopal church, a store and a post-office.

From 1835 to 1860 much business was done here. Large quantities of logs and lumber were sent down the Lehigh from this point. Here, too, the Easton and Wilkes-Barre turnpike of long ago crossed the Lehigh. During the great freshet of 1865, that swept nearly all of the old canal works out of the Lehigh, the business in- terests of this place suffered fatally.

Stoddardsville, the only village in the township, was settled by John Stoddard, of Philadelphia, John Nagle and John Simpson. Henry Drinker and his sons, Henry W. and Richard, made it their headquarters dur- ing the early surveys of their territory around the head waters of the Lehigh. From this point Mr. Drinker caused to be made the road up the Lehigh to his possessions twelve miles east. From this point also he went up the Lehigh in a canoe, employing axemen to clear the way where the trees had fallen across the stream and accumulated driftwood.

Stoddardsville M. E. Church .- As early as ISIS or 1819 the itinerant found his way to Stoddardsville and formed a society, and a church was built about 1820. Gilbert Barnes was a member of the Stoddardsville class, which was connected with the Wilkes-Barre church, and as sexton would walk over the mountains on Sunday mornings and have the church in readiness for services at the morning hour.

The preachers have been Revs. George Peck, Grace, Millard, Potts, Flannery, Quigerly, Cox, Sistray, Collo- way, George Brown, Mayer, Illman, William Morse, G. L. Staples, Joshua Lewis, two years; Baldwin, one; John F. Staples, one; J. G. Eckman, two; William Ware, one; S. F. Wright, two; Marlsbury, one; J. C. Leacock, two; J. D. Woodruff, one; D. Larish, two; Paddock, three; P. M. Mott, three; P. Houck, two; and Rev. R. C. Gill, who is closing his third year on this charge.

The membership is thirteen; value of church property $600.

The first Sunday-school superintendent was Louis Stull, sen., and the present superintendent is Robert Stull.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was taken from Sugarloaf at the August sessions of 1839. Part was annex- ed to Hazle November 30th, 1861.

Upon the banks of the streams have been and are still quite a number of mills and manufac- turing establishments, while many have gone to decay.

Mr. Samuel Benner, of Conyngham, writes us as fol- lows in regard to a tree in this township which constitutes

a noteworthy natural curiosity: "The tree is a white oak with a rock oak limb; is nearly nine feet in circumfer- ence about two feet from the ground. The limb starts about fifteen feet from the ground, and is nearly the size of the main tree. The tree stands in a field west of the main road leading from Hazleton to Drum's, near the foot of Buck mountain and about fifty-five yards from the road. Some suppose an acorn to have dropped into a rotten spot of the tree, sprouted and formed the limb; but I have it directly from Daniel Grosz (dead a number of years), who cleared the land nearly fifty years ago, that the rock oak tree had leaned against the white oak and formed the connection, and that when he chopped off the rock oak near the ground he found it so much decayed and burnt near the junction with the white oak that it broke off there, and the upper part remained attached to the white oak, where it can be seen yet."

BUTLER'S FIRST SETTLERS, MILLS, ETC,

As soon as peace was assured to settlers they began to make permanent settlements in this beautiful valley. From the very favorable reports brought back by the party of men sent out to bury the victims of the Sugar- loaf massacre, others were induced to journey to this new Eldorado.

The first settler was G. H. Reip, who came about 1782 and located on lands now owned by Joseph Woodring. He died in 1794, and was buried at the German church.

Among the pioneers was John Balliett, of Whitehall, Lehigh (then Northumberland) county, who emigrated hither in the spring of 1784 and located on what is now known as the Beisel farm, about one mile west of Drum's, and about the same distance southwest of Hughesville. The Indian trails, crossing mountains and streams, af- forded no passage for wagons, and precluded his "mov- ing " more than what he was able to carry on horseback. His children were placed in two bee-hives-typical, per -* haps, of that industry that transformed the wilderness into a smiling garden-and these were tied together and hung across the back of one of the horses. In descending Broad mountain, south of Buck mountain, on their jour- ney, the cord uniting the hives broke, and in the language of the old nursery. maid's song, "down came rockaby, baby and all." After a short gymnastic exercise in turn- ing somersaults down the mountain side, the children were again comfortably ensconced in the hives, and the party moved on their way rejoicing. Upon reaching their destination Balliett and his family improvised a rude hab- itation by setting poles around and against a tree, over which some sort of a covering was thrown to shelter them until a house could be built. Their first house, which was of logs, was in a year or two after destroyed by fire, together with all their household goods except a bed.

Balliett was soon followed to this place by others from the same county, the earliest of whom were men named Reab, Benner, Shober, Dolph, Hill, Bachelor, Spaide and others, whose descendants still live in this valley. These pioneers coveted none of the superfluities of this life, or

GEORGE HUGHES

MRS. BARBARA HUGHES

5 :41

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH

RESIDENCE of GEO. HUGHES,

GRIST MILL GEO. HUGHES, PROP. .

JUDGE GORDON PIKE N. MORELAND , TP. WYOMING CO., PA

JUDGE PAUL BILLINGS TUNKHANNOCK, TP. WYOMING CO., PA.

Elhana Kolony

ELKANAH HOLMES

ZIBA LOTT TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING CO., PA.

241

EARLY TIMES IN BUTLER-DRUM'S.

the expensive follies of the present day, but were humbly thankful for their "daily bread" and for the rough couches upon which they were wont to repose their weary limbs. As soon as they raised any crops of grain they were obliged to carry their grists on foot or horseback to Sultz's mill, on Lizard creek, one mile below the present town of Lehighton, and usually waited until the grist was ground (which was generally done during the night), and returned the following day.

Balliett's was not only the first farm settled upon, but here was the first orchard set out, the little trees being brought from his former residence on horse-back. His was also the first log house, and his is supposed to have been the first frame house built in what is now Butler township.

The pioneer saw and grist mills on the Little Nesco- peck creek, in the southwestern part of the township, were built by Redmond Conyngham. The saw-mill was built in 1809 on lands now owned by M. Beishline, and went to decay many years ago. The grist-mill was built in 1814 on the opposite side of the creek, where Silas Jacobs now lives, and is now owned by Charles Knelley.

The pioneer saw-mill on the Big Nescopeck creek, in the northeastern part of the township, was built in 1813 by Samuel Woodring, near the site now occupied by A. Straw & Son's saw-mill; and in 1820 Redmond Conyng- ham built a grist-mill on the site now occupied by Straw's saw-mill.

The pioneer carding-mill was built about 1810 at what is now Ashville, on the Little Nescopeck creek, on the Linderman property; and the first woolen-mill was built in 1835 by Philip Drum, on the Little Nescopeck, a short distance above Ashville.

The pioneer school-house, built of logs, stood near what is known as the German Church, and went to decay many years ago.

John Balliett, one of the pioneer settlers, was also the pioneer tavern keeper. He located on the farm now owned by John Beisel, west of Drum's.

Philip Woodring was the pioneer blacksmith. He located here in 1800, on the place now owned by Henry Koenig.

The first merchant in this township was Henry B. Yost. He located here in 1832, on the place now owned by D. W. Jenkins, sen. Mr. Yost was also the pioneer postmaster. The mails were received once a week, and the name of the office was East Sugarloaf. This was previous to the formation of the township of Butler. Cyrus Straw is the present postmaster and receives a daily mail.

George Hughes's saw-mill, above Straw's, was built in 1833, and is still standing. The house where William B. Doud lives, owned by Mr. Straw, was built in 1812. The first weavers here were Michael Klouse, Elias Balliett and Jacob Schauber. They all lived a little southwest of Hughesville. The oldest graveyard in this township is the one in the corner of the lot opposite the M. E. church.

DRUM'S.

The first house built here was the one in which An- drew Straw now lives. The first tavern in this place was built by George Drum, and kept as a hotel by Abram Drum in 1820, where the present hotel stands. The first store here was kept by Henry B. Yost, in 1837, where D. W. Jenkins now lives. The first shoemaker was Isaac Drum, who in 1842 had a shop in what is now the bar- room of Drum's Hotel. The first blacksmith shop was on the hill above Cyrus Straw's, on the Wilkes-Barre road. John Sheide was the blacksmith. The shop has gone to decay. There was also a shop at the four cor- ners near the Little Nescopeck, where George Krissinger lives, half a mile south of Drums. The first doctor at Drums was Samuel Beers. He lived where Silas Andrews now lives. The first school-house stood in the corner of the roads southwest of Drum's hotel. The first post- master at Drum's was Henry B. Yost. He was appointed in 1839, and kept the office opposite where George Roth's blacksmith shop now stands. The present post- master is Cyrus Straw.

At present there are at Drum's a church (Methodist Episcopal), a school-house, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop, a tailor shop, a harness shop, two stores and a hotel. The population is about 200.

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS AT DRUM'S.

The first regular preaching, that we have any account of, at what is now Drum's was in 1833 or 1834, when the Baltimore Conference of the M. E. Church commis- sioned Rev. Joseph Lee as a missionary on the old Jeansville circuit, which took in White Haven, Beaver Meadow, Mifflin and other places, including Drum's, which was on the route from White Haven to Mifflin. There was no church here then. There was one at Hughesville, a mile and a half distant, but at that "no Methodist need apply" seemed to be the senti- ment of the managers. The school-house at Drum's seemed to be. the only available place, and that was not sure; for it was said by some that "if the Meth- odists git in here once, the devil can't git 'em out." But those days of unrest and fear of the "sect" have long since passed away. Lee was one of those aggressive preachers who not only always went armed with the Bible, but for small arms and weapons of warfare used Wesley's sermons; and the feather that broke the camel's back was that he had them to sell, thereby breeding dis- sensions among the elect. After preaching by him once or twice in the school-house, the trustees of the school district became alarmed, and decided that it was "pre- judicial to the cause of the Redeemer's kingdom here on earth, and to the morals of this community, and against the wishes of the people to allow Methodist preaching in the school-house, and more especially so in the evening." James Gilmore, father of Henry Gilmore, being present, gave notice that his house was not controlled by trustees and that the Methodists could occupy it any time. Therefore for about six years the services were held alter-

242

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

nately at Gilmore's house and Mr. Hoover's house, where Andrew Straw now lives. In the summer and on extra occasions the meetings were held in James Smith's barn.

In 1840 it was decided by the congregation that it was expedient to build a union church. The church was built of wood, 32 by 41 feet, and stood in the corner of the burying ground opposite the present M. E. church. It was built by subscription or contribution, and John Strunk, the builder, was appointed to apportion to each subscriber the amount and kind of timber he must fur- nish for the building. James Gilmore's share was as follows, as per bill given him: 2 sills, 41 feet long, 8 by 10, $5.46; 3 sills, 32 feet long, 8 by 10, $6.39; 6 sills, 16 feet long, 8 by 10, $2.14; 24 joists, 10 feet long, 5 by 6, $6; total, $19.99; 9 sleepers, 25 feet. The church was dedicated in December, 1840, by Revs. J. A. Ross, E. McCollum and G. H. Day, all Methodist preachers. The first Methodist class was formed in the fall of 1840, with Henry B. Yost as leader, and among the early members were Catharine Hunt, Harriet J. Yost, James Smith, Daniel Durst and others.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. - The society worshiping in this church is merely a continuation of that worshiping in the old union church. But as the old church had served its purpose, and many repairs were necessary to make it what the congregation and the times demanded, a public meeting was held May 20th, 1870, when it was decided to build a new church. A building committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. N. W. Colborn, Cyrus Straw, A. P. Goedecke, Stephen Drum and Andrew Straw. May 19th, 1870, the com- mittee met and decided upon the site where the church now stands, known as the school-house lot, and the bal- ance of the lot was donated and deeded by George Drum to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church and their successors in office, June 11th, 1873, Jonah P. Drum and Daniel P. Raikes witnesses.

The church is of wood, of modern architecture, 34 by 56 feet, with basement, and cost $7,500. Andrew Straw was the builder. The building was commenced in June, 1873; the first public service was held in the basement February 18th, 1874, and the church was dedicated July 12th, 1874.

The following named clergymen have served in the years given as preachers on this charge, which is now composed "of , Butler, Sugarloaf and Black Creek, and known as Conyngham charge: Joseph Lee, 1833, 1834; Thomas Hill, 1833-42; James H. Brown, James Clark and G. H. Day; J. A. Ross and Thomas McClure, 1843; Revs. Messrs. Consor and Barnhart, 1844; G. H. Day, 1861; 1862, 1863, B. P. King; 1864, 1865, Josiah Forrest and J. C. Hagey; 1866, James F. Porter; 1867, Henry S. Mendenhall; 1868, 1869, James B. Cuddy, C. S. Ben- scoten, and Pemberton Bird; 1870-72, A. S. Bowman, and N. W. Colburn; 1873, J. Farron Brown and J. B. Moore; 1874, J. Horning, in place of Mr. Moore; 1875, 1876, J. Stiner; 1877-79, G. M. Larned, the present pastor. The present membership is 84; value of the church prop- erty, $8,000.

The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized May 6th, 1844, as a union Sinday-school, and is still under the same auspices. The first officers were as follows: Superintendent, James Smith; president, Isaac Drum; secretary, Henry Gilman (the only one now left of the original school); treasurer, William Harker; managers-Adam Beisel, Daniel Durst, Mrs. Beisel, Mrs. Yost, and Mrs. Hunt. A constitution and by- laws were adopted August 25th, 1844. At present the superintendent is Cyrus Straw; president, N. S. Drum; vice-president, John S. Spencer; secretary, A. A. Drum; librarian, Mary Jacobs; treasurer, Josiah Drum; mana- gers-Cyrus Straw, Henry Gilmore, John T. Spencer, Mrs. Hedian, Mrs. L. Straw, Miss E. Jacobs. The total number of scholars is 193; average attendance 95; volumes in library, 471; collections for the year for mis- sions, $33.88.

The first Presbyterian preaching in this vicinity was in 1835 or 1836, by Rev. Mr. Gaston, who came here soon after Joseph Lee. Mr. Gaston preached in the church at Hughesville; and about 1840, when the union church was built at Drum's, the Presbyterians formed a church and society, and assisted in building the union church. James Gilmore was the leading man of that de- nomination at the time. Their church was small, but they have succeeded in holding together a membership of about 20, with Henry Gilmore as their leader. Rev. Homer S. Newcomb, of Conyngham, is the pastor, occu- pying the pulpit of Trinity M. E. Church on alternate Sunday evenings, if not occupied by the pastor of Trin- ity Church.

HUGHESVILLE

has a population of about 150. The place was named in honor of George Hughes, an early settler. The old saw- mill at Hughesville was built in 1836 by H. Benner. The grist-mill at this place was built in 1853 by George Hughes, and April 22nd, 1854, commenced running as a flouring mill. The first store here was opened by Sheide & Wenner, where Dr. Hevener now lives. Henry Ben- ner was the first blacksmith; his shop stood near the saw- mill. The first shoe shop was started in 1868 by J. W. Woodring, and it is still in operation. The first tavern was opened by the present proprietor, Stephen Krehns, in 1870. There are here at present a grist mill, a store, a shoe shop, a blacksmith shop, a school-house and a church,-St. John's,-owned and occupied jointly by the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, OF HUGHESVILLE.

This church was organized December 26th, 1799, when the first meeting was held. Two organizations are worshiping in this church, the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed denominations. January 12th, 1800, a meeting of the two congregations was held, at which it was resolved to build an edifice for both church and school purposes. Public services were held in pri- vate houses until the fall of 1808, when twelve acres of land were purchased of Stephen Balliett, and

243

BUTLER AND CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIPS.

a log church was built on the bank of the Nescopeck, nearly opposite the present church. The structure was built by voluntary subscription, and was to remain a German Reformed and Lutheran church and school-house. Rev. George Mann was the pastor at the time. April 18th, 1809, Rev. Frederick W. Van de Sloat, a German Reformed preacher, visited this people, when the consistory and members of both denominations requested him to draft a constitu- tion and by-laws for the government of the congregation. The constitution and by-laws drawn by him, and sub- scribed to by members of both denominations, provided that the German language should be used exclusively in all public services except for schools, and that no ser- vices of any kind should be held in the church after dark. The subscribers to this document were John Balliett, George Drum, Philip Woodring, Jacob Speth, George Wenner, Samuel Earles, Jacob Balliett, Peter Hill, John Balliett, sen., Peter Sheide, Michael Beishline, Jacob Drumheller, Andrew Maurer, Philip Ruth, Jacob Fuse, Jacob Wenner, Henry Maurer, George Beishline and George Bitterle. The twelve acres of land purchased of Stephen Balliett included the grave yard and the lot up- on which the present church building stands. In 1825, the old church and school building having become not only superannuated but too small for church purposes, the congregation built a larger one, nearly where the present church stands, and this in turn gave place to the present beautiful edifice. January 31st, 1868, it was de- cided at a joint meeting of the congregations that a new and a larger church building was a necessity, and a build- ing committee was appointed, consisting of Jacob Thomas, Charles W. Kneeley, Simon Santee, Daniel O. Klinger and George Hughes. The ministers at this time were Rev. H. Hoffman, German Reformed, and Rev. S. S. Kline, Lutheran.

The elders at the time of building the new church were George Hughes, George Drum, Henry Beck and Michael Beishline. The deacons were John A. Kleigh, Daniel Dauber, Charles W. Knelley and Reuben Beninger. The church is of wood, 45 by 60, with basement story, and is finished throughout in the latest and most substan- tial style of architecture, costing $14,000. It was dedi- cated September 24th, 1873, by Rev. Messrs. Bauer, Kep- ner and Steinmitz. The pastors, besides those namcd, have been: Rev. John N. Seizer, in 1826; Rev. Fred- erick Croll, in 1812; Rev. John A. Foersch, 1846; Rev. H. Daniels, 1847-51. The present pastors are: John M. Clemens, German Reformed, and J. H. Neiman, Evan- gelical Lutheran, The present church officers are: Re- formed elders, George Drum and Henry Kocnig; Reformed deacons, L. Dreucher and J. Hemerly; Lutheran elders, H. Walp and F. Rifenberg; Lutheran deacons, A. Smith and William Kemp.

BUTLER MINING INTERESTS.

At No. 3 breaker, Upper Lehigh, there are 7 engines, with a total of 425 horse power. There is also one mine locomotive above ground. There are employed at this

slope 156 men and boys under ground, and 97 on the surface. Amount of coal mined in 1878 158, 148 tons.

JUSTICES OF TIME: PEACE.

The justices for this township, with the dates of their clection (which, where not otherwise mentioned, are also the dates of commission , have been as follows:

Walter B. Godfrey and Thomas Hughes, April 14th, 1840, 1845; Fillmore Santee, April 12th, 1842, and April 13th, 1847; Jacob Drum, April 13th. 1847 and 1852, April 14th, 1857; Samuel Benner, April 13th, 1852, April 14th, 1857, and 'elected. April 29th, 1862; Henry Gilmore, May 3d, 1862 (elected ), April 9th, 1867, April 10th, 1872, and (elected) March 26th, 1877; Daniel P. Rake, April 9th, 1851, and April 10th, 1872: Charles Bock (elected), March 17th, 1877.

CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP.

JONYNGHAM township, named in honor of the late Judge Conyngham of Wilkes-Barre, was set off from Hollenback in 1875.

The first and only post-office is Wapwal- lopen, Tobias Schobert postmaster. The office was established on the completion of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg railroad in 1832.

The township is thinly settled, not more than one- third of the land being improved. The population is 488. Supervisors have been elected as follows: 1876, Philip Weiss and Reuben Andreas; 1877, Isaac Mil- ler and Jeremiah Hess; 1878, Isaac Miller and Nathan Bittenbender; 1879, John Fenstermacher, jr., and Nathan Bittenbender. J. A. Kepner was elected justice in 1876 and A. D. Miller in 1879.

The first permanent settler was Martin Harter, from Northampton county, who in 1795 settled near the mouth of the Little Wapwallopen creek. He was soon followed by James McNiel, James Santee, Philip Fenstermacher, John Andreas, John Fenstermacher, Michael Weiss, Jere- miah Hess and one or two others from Lehigh and Northampton counties. The descendants of these thrifty German farmers constitute a majority of the farming population of the present.

John Fenstermacher, jr., Esq., of Wapwallopen, son of John Fenstermacher and grandson of Martin Harter, was the first white child born in Conyngham township, having been born in 1804.

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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 70

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