History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 78

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 78
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 78
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 78

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).

Alexander Lord, born in Boston on the 19th of June, 1777, came to Pennsylvania in 1809. In 1813 he was a drummer for the Wyoming volunteers when they went to the frontier. He died on the 7th of September, 1859, aged eighty-two. Of his children (Cyrus, John, Stephen, Murphy, Alexander, George, David and one daughter) only Stephen and Murphy now live in the township.

Abel Hall came from Connecticut about the same time as the Munsons, and settled on a farm near Mr. Lord's, just below what is now known as the Flat Rock school- house. The family lived there many years.

The Rodgers family came from Connecticut about the same time as the other Connecticut people. They lived many years in Franklin, and it is said that Elisha Rod- gers built the first frame house in the village of Orange, which was standing a few years ago. He and his wife Rhoda both lived to a good old age. Their son Alaman- za married a Mrs. Tyrrel. Her grave, and that of Sylva, wife of Cyrus Mann, were probably marked by the first marble tombstones in the burying ground near the church.

Elijah Brace came, it is believed, from Connecticut. He built a saw-mill and the first grist-mill in the town- ship, below the present village of Orange, on the road to Dallas. These mills were rebuilt in 1828 by Conrad Kunkle (who was the first postmaster in the township), but all traces of them are gone. Elijah Brace lived where Ira Hallock built his barn. He died in the prime of life, but his wife, whose maiden name was Susannah Burrell, lived to be old. Of their children Harvey Brace lives in the village of Orange. He and his sister Perlina are the only members of the family left in the township. Daniel Brace, a relative of Elijah's, came afterward from New York State. He died in the township. His son William (about eighty years old) is living in Franklin.

Thomas Mann was one of the early settlers, coming from New Jersey. He lived where Charles Frantz lives.

Josephus Cone (who lived near where Isaac Davenport lives), Amos Jackson, Robert Moore, Jacob Halstead, Benjamin Decker and Jonas Wood, were all old settlers.

David O. Culver about 1790 moved from near Schoo- ley's mountain, New Jersey, to the farm where he lived and died, in the northeast part of the township. The Culver family sprung from two brothers, who were among the pilgrims in the " May Flower." The father of David Culver, whose name was also David, came to l'ennsylva- nia and bought three hundred acres of land, on which his son David settled. The latter married, before coming to Pennsylvania, Eunice Osborne, of Scotch origin. They had nine children. Of these Oliver was drafted in the war of 1812, and was on his way to Lake Erie when the news of peace came. He was afterward captain of a militia company. John Culver died in 1877, in the sev- enty-fifth year of his age, on the farm where he had always lived. Lewis, the youngest son, is still living in the town- ship, being the last one of the family. Of the children of John, Mary Dale and P. A. are known as contributors to various periodicals, both in prose and verse. On the eastern part of the Culver property, while the land was yet covered with woods, there was a rude fireplace, show- ing that it had been made for the purpose of cooking, in a spot that looked as if it had been an Indian camp ground. When the land was cleared it was destroyed.

Rev. Oliver Lewis came to Pennsylvania some time after the Culvers and settled below them on the land once owned by Bebee. He was born in Connecticut, but from two years old lived in Orange county, N. Y., until he came here. He was for many years a local preacher of the M. E. church. He died a few years ago aged 77 years.

Samuel Snell, from Tioga Point, N. Y., lived many years in Franklin and died a few years ago. His eldest son, Abram V. Snell, is the present justice of the peace.

Most of the later settlers came from New York or New Jersey. The Winters family, the Badles, the Corwins, the Sewards, the Hallocks and the Durlands came from Orange county, N. Y .; the Casterlins, the Longwells and Dewitts from New Jersey. John Dewitt came with his family from New Jersey about sixty years ago, and settled in the southeastern part of the township, where his children still live. The Wintz family came from Ger- many and live near Flat Rock.

The first saw-mill, known as the Ingersoll mill, was built by Lewis Jones, of Exeter.

The first circuit preacher was George Peck.

The first blacksmith was probably Abner Jackson.

ORANGE.

The village of Orange is situated nearly in the centre of Franklin township. We have learned from some of the oldest inhabitants that its original name was Drake Town, in honor of Jacob Drake, one of the first settlers at this point. Afterward it was named Unison, the post- office being of that name. After the township of Frank- in was formed A. C. Thompson, who kept a store there, called the place Franklin Centre. It was not universally

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

known by that name: and, as there were other Franklins in the State, a new name had to be chosen. As quite a number of the families living there had come from Orange county, N. Y., it was decided to call the post-office Orange.

The place has also been afflicted with one of those foolish and whimsical names which seem to be favorites with a certain class, namely, Pinchersville, derived as follows: Almanza Rodgers kept a store there forty or fifty years ago. All kinds of produce from the farm were taken in exchange for goods, as well as shingles, ax- handles, splint-brooms, etc. As a general thing the shingles were good, but a few dishonest back woodsmen formed the habit of putting poor shingles in the inside of the bunch while all the good ones were in the outside. The merchant was cheated several times in this way, and he determined to outwit them. He got a pair of pincers so that he could pull out and examine the shingles. This became known, and the place came to be called Pinchers- ville. The merchant soon after removed to Illinois. Harley Green, from Orange county, N. Y., kept the store afterward. James Lawrence Brown, from Exeter, kept it a while. Abel C. Thompson kept the store after that; he sold out to Benjamin Saylor, from Plains, called " Uncle Ben." Benjamin Saylor generally followed mercantile pursuits, and finally sold out to James Hol- comb. Since then the store has changed hands several times; it is now kept by Henry Bodle.

The post-office has usually been kept at this store, but it is now at the store of John B. Winters, the other mer- chant of the place.

The population of Orange numbers about eighty per- sons. The village contains two stores, a hotel, school- house, a wagon shop, a harness shop, a shoe shop, and two blacksmith shops. The church stands a little above the village, on the road leading to Tunkhannock.

The first hotel was kept by Peter Hallock. After him the landlords were John Worden, Jacob Shales, Dennis Alsop, - Felton, Hiram Brace, Harvey Brace, Major Warring, Mrs. Warring, - Housenick, - Robinson. Thomas Totten, Albert Smith, Chauncey Calkins and the present proprietor D. A. La Barre.

Some twenty-five years ago there was a Good Temp- lars' lodge in the village. About nine years ago the Sons of Temperance had a lodge, but this like the other was discontinued. The Orange Band of Hope is their successor, and perhaps the most successful of all. It was founded by Mrs. Victoria Seward, some four years ago. She was an earnest worker in the cause of religion and was the means of doing much good. She died sud- denly, two years ago. She was the only daughter of Harvey Brace. A. V. Snell was the president a long time, and helped to keep the organization in a flourishing condition. The membership includes both young and old. The first physician in the place was Dr. Skeeis, who lived many years ago where the Courtrights reside. Forty or fifty years ago Dr. Brace practiced here, and after him Dr. Parker. Later came Dr. Wm. Thomson, who now lives in Northmoreland; and after him Dr.

McKee, who is now in Plymouth. The present physician is John C. Morris.

The first roads passing through the place were the one from Wyoming, over Olds hill, to Tunkhannock; the road to Northmoreland, and the one that started at the river, following Sutton creek and meeting the Wyoming road at ()lds hill. This road has been somewhat changed at several points from its first location.

SCHOOLS.

The township contains five school-houses (Dymond Hollow, Michigan, Orange, Flat Rock and Good's), and about half of the pupils at the Sutton creek school-house are from Franklin, the school-house being near the town- ship line. This school has always been one of the best as several graduates from Wyoming Seminary and other well educated people whose early education commenced here can testify. The first school within the memory of the oldest inhabitants was taught by Amarilla New- berry, where Mr. Casterlin now lives. The next was in a log house above Raub's, and was taught by Ambrose Fuller; the next in another log house opposite Brace's saw-mill, taught by a sister of Elisha Harris, of Kingston township. School was also taught by William Calkins, in a log house that stood just back of John B. Winters's store. George Ochmig, of Wyoming, also taught there. Other teachers who taught in the vicinity were, Susan Farver, afterwards the wife of Daniel Lee, of Wyoming county; Henry Osborne, James Dickinson and -- Herring.

The first house built for school purposes was a two story building, commenced about 1815, which stood where the present one in Orange now stands. During the past thirty years as many as forty school teachers have received their first instruction in Franklin.

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF FRANKLIN.

The early settlers were, like the present inhabitants, members of different churches; the Braces were Presby- terians; the Rodgerses Baptists, and the Munsons Metho- dists; and ministers of these different creeds used to preach occasionally in school-houses and private resi- dences.

Joel Rodgers and Griffin Lewis were Baptist preach- ers, though they were called Independent, as they dif- fered in some respects from their church as to forms, &c.

As there was a Presbyterian church at Northmoreland the ministers used to preach sometimes in Franklin, and ministers of the "Christian" church occasionally came. The first Sabbath-school here was organized in 1820 by the Rev. John Dorrance, a Presbyterian minister from Wilkes-Barre.

The only church ever built in the place was the M. E. church, commenced in 1835 and finished some years after. The Methodist preachers meanwhile held meet- ings in the school-house. Some of the members of the first class were Samuel Carver and wife and Walter Munson and wife. Rev. George Peck was the minister, and Samuel Carver local preacher. Jabez Carver, a brother of Samuel, used to preach, and Marmaduke

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PREACHERS IN FRANKLIN-OLDEST INHABITANTS-JUSTICES-VOLUNTEERS.

Pearce used to hold meetings. The names of different ministers of the M. E. church who have officiated as cir- cuit preachers in Franklin are: " Father" Rounds, King Elwell, McRandall and Blackman, who preached here over forty years ago; Cooper, George Porter, Boswell, Dean, "Father" Davy, John D. Safford, John Mulkey, C. E. Taylor, Chubbuck, S. S. Kennedy, A. S. Shoemaker, Bronson, Olaf Morse, S. W. Weiss, Kellog D. Perso- nens, Henry Wheeler, J. G. Eckman, P. Holbrook, J. S. Lewis, Isaac Austin, A. J. Arnold, S. E. Walworth, Wil- liam Shelp and the present minister, Isaac Austin, who was formerly on the charge. C. E. Rice was also on this circuit, and George Greenfield.

Taylor D. Swartz was on this charge in 1864, and in August of that year, when the Franklin and Exeter boys rallied to the call of their country by raising a company, he enlisted as a soldier among them, leaving his pastoral charge to be supplied by another. Being a universal fa- vorite with all, he was soon promoted chaplain of the regiment. He died of typhoid fever in March, 1865, at City Point, Virginia. His death was supposed to have been caused by his making too great exertions in build- ing a chapel in camp. His remains were taken to Mos- cow, his early home, for interment. His age was 29 years.

THE OLDEST INHABITANTS.

Among the people have died at an advanced age in Franklin, Mrs. Mary Besteder died at the house of her son-in-law, John Culver, in 1861, in her 92nd year. Her maiden name was Mary Schuyler, and she was a near relative of General Schuyler of the Revolution. She lived in New Jersey when a child, and said she remembered hearing the roar of the cannon at the battle of Princeton. She had lived through the Revolution, and died just at the time when our civil war commenced. She had lived many years in Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Mary Dymond died about five years ago, at the house of her son, Isaac Dymond, aged 105 years. She remembered many interesting events of the Revolution; among them, seeing General Washington and other great men. Her maiden name was Mary Lossing. She was born in New Jersey, but had lived many years in Penn- sylvania. These old ladies retained the powers of intel- lect until they died.

The oldest man in the township is James Hadsall, whose 94th birthday occurred on the 20th of March, 1880. He is the son of Edward Hadsall, whose father James was killed by the Indians in 1778, just a little way down Sutton creek below where Mr. Hadsall now lives. He has spent most of his life in Exeter, but has lived in Franklin about thirty years. His wife is some years his junior. They have been married more than seventy years.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The first justice of the peace was Benjamin Newberry, who came with the early settlers and located where James Casterlin now lives. The following is a list of the justices

who have been elected (the elections of 1875 and ISSo in March, the others in April):

John R. Moore, 1844, 1853; Henry B. Howell, 1845; Ira Hallock, 1849; Eli R. Hallock, 1851; Charles Dur- land, 1851, 1856; James E. Durland, 1855 ; Milton Good, 1856, 186r; Palmer Harding, 1859; Daniel Davenport, 1864; Moses D. Ketcham. 1867, 1875; A. V. Snell, 1872, 1877 ; William Chandler, 1872; Walter Bodle, 1880.

M. D. Ketcham moved to Nebraska, and Walter Bodle was elected to finish his term of office.

FRANKLIN DURING THE REBELLION.

Franklin township did her share toward putting down the Rebellion. A number of young men enlisted in the beginning of the war. There were drafts in 1862, 1863 and 1865. To prevent the draft in 1864 the township raised by subscription over $2,000, which was paid as a bounty to volunteers. There was a war tax in Franklin, which amounted to $3,000. The news of the draft of 1865 came about the time that peace was declared. The following are the names of the soldiers who went from Franklin:

Joseph Hess, Coe Durland, Samuel B. Snell, Winfield Snell, James Smith, Simeon Lewis, Jephtha Lewis, William Reisler, Richard Waters. George Waring, John Morris. Martin Anthony, John Anthony, Ruslin Ketcham, Oliver Smith, Samuel Smith, Isaac Howell, Charles Dymond, Mallery Williams, Matthew Pembleton, William Winters. Homer Ferry. Charles Hadsall, Isaac Hadsall, Adelbert Lord.

Of these soldiers Joseph Hess was killed on the day that his term of service expired. George Waring, Oliver Smith and Adelbert Lord died in the service. Mallery Williams was a while in Libby prison. Samuel B. Snell was wounded on the ist of July, 1863, at Gettysburg, by a ball which entered his cheek and remained in his head until the following Christmas morning, when in coughing the ball came out of his mouth. .

Dr. J. B. Culver enlisted in 1862 at Shickshinny, with a company that afterward formed a part of the 149th Bucktail brigade. He was taken sick and discharged, but served as a surgeon until the close of the war, when he returned to Franklin, his former home. So far as is known, all of those soldiers who returned are yet living.

John Price, of Franklin, enlisted in Wilkes-Barre in 1872, with a recruiting officer, and went out to fight the Indians. He served five years and returned to his home.

Although Franklin was in the main loyal, there were some persons who were said to be in sympathy with the Rebellion. On this supposition, perhaps, a party of that class of people from some of the other townships came into Orange and entered a hotel, and began to hur- rah for Jeff Davis. As it happened a party of loyal young men were present, among whom were Rasselas and Myron Brown, Dr. J. B. and D. O. Culver, Chandler and Mallery Williams and Calvin Dymond. These young men soon cleared the room of the friends of Jeff Davis, besides whipping two or three of them soundly. Myron Brown and Calvin Dymond especially distinguished themselves. The party left, not as they came, in defiant mood, but glad to escape without broken bones.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

HIS is one of the original townships laid out by the Susquehanna Company. It was first named Nanticoke, from the Indians who had a village on the site of Nanticoke borough. After the grant of the township was made to Captain Lazarus Stewart and his associates in 1770, under the Connecticut title, the name was changed to Hanover, which was the name of the township from whence they came, now in Dauphin county. In 1790, when the county was divided into eleven townships, the boundaries of Hanover included also what is now Wright, Denison and Foster. In 1796 this whole territory con- tained but 96 taxable inhabitants, 58 horses, III yoke of oxen and 152 cows. The population is now 2,000.

The present township contains about 28 square miles, and is one of the chief coal producing townships of the Wyoming coal fields. Nearly the whole township is owned by five great coal companies, viz. the Lehigh Navigation and Coal, Delaware, Lackawanna and Wes- tern, Wiikes-Barre Coal and Iron, New Jersey Coal and Susquehanna Coal Company.

The following is a list of the justices of the peace elected in this township under the State constitution of 1838:

Samuel Jameson, 1840; Israel Inman, 1840; John E. Inman, 1842; Samuel Pell, 1843, 1848, 1853; John Mensch, 1847; Bateman Downing, 1852; Levi L. Nyhart, 1857, 1862, 1876; John Robins, 1858; Matthias H. Petty, 1865; Francis H. Clark, 1866; Reuben Downing, 1870; John Reilly, 1872; Lewis C. Green, 1873; John Evers, 1875.

EARLY TIMES.

The first house was built by Captain Lazarus Stewart, in 1771, on the road between Buttonwood creek and the river, and north of the canal, the place known as the Alexander Jameson property. It was one and a half stories high, with an overshoot or projection all round, and loop holes on each side, so that it might be defend- ed against an enemy. The second house was built by Lieutenant Lazarus Stewart 2nd, in the same year, on the road between Buttonwood creek and the canal.

The pioneer grist-mill was built in 1783, of logs, by Mr. Delano, on the site of the Behee mill. on Sugar Notch creek, where it crosses the road leading from Plumbton to the river road near the " red tavern." This mill had but one run of stones, and, like others of that day, was a slow concern. A grist-mill was built as early as 1825 by. Richard Inman, at the foot of the falls on Solomon's creek, above Ashley. It was converted into a dwelling, and in the spring of 1850 it was carried down to the flats by high water. The mill at Nanticoke was built about 1820 by Colonel Washington Lee.

The first school-house was on what is known as " the green," on the river road, and Henry Ernhart was the first teacher.

One of the first roads through the township was the Middle road, from Wilkes-Barre to Hanover Centre and Newport. There was a road previous to this from Wilkes-Barre to the mouth of Buttonwood creek.

Lorenzo Ruggles was one of the pioneer blacksmiths. His shop was on the Middle road east of Askam. He was also a plowmaker.

The pioneer carding-mill was at Behee's, on the Sugar Notch creek, between Hanover Centre, or Askam, and the river road.

The first public burying ground was that at "the green," adjoining the Reformed church.

Among the pioneers were Comfort and Benjamin Casey. Comfort located where William O'Donnell now lives, a little north of Ashley. Benjamin settled at As- kam. They built frame houses, the first in this township.

The following is a complete list of persons against whom a tax was levied in Hanover township in 1796:

John Alden, Abraham Adams, David Adams, Edward Adgerton, Na- than Abbott, Jonas Bnss, Elisha Blackman, jr., Stephen Burrett, Gideon Burrett, Joel Burrett, Thomas Brink, Rufus Bennett, Ishmael Bennett, Frederick Crisman, Nathan Carey, William Caldwell, Elisha Delano' Richard Diely, Richard Diely, jr., George Espy, Samuel Ensign, Jacob Flanders, Jacob Fisher, Cornelius Garrettson, Andrew Gray, John Haines, Benjamin Hopkins, Jolin Hendershot. Henry Huber, Jacob Holdiner, William Hyde, Ebenezer Hibbard, Calvin Hibbard, John Hurl- bert, Naphtali Hurlbert, Christopher Hurlbert, Willis Hyde, John Jacobs, John Jacobs, jr., Edward Inman, Richard Innan, John Inman, Elijah Inman, jr., Jonathan Kellogg, Conrad Lyons or Lines, Conrad Lyons or Lines, jr., James Lesley, John Lutzey, John Lockerly, Adrian Lyons or Lines, Michael Marr, Thomas Martin, Samuel Moore, J. S. Mil- ler, Darius Preston, Josiah Pell, Benjamin Pott, Josiah Pell, jr., John Phillips, Jeremiah Roberts, John Ryan, John Robinson, David Robinson, James A. Rathbone, George Rouch, George Stewart, Edward Spencer, David Stewart, James Stewart, Doreas Stewart, Josiah Stewart, William Stewart, Daniel Sinons, Peter Steel, David Steel, Abraham Sarver, Christian Saune, Archibald Smiley, John Spencer, John Treadway, Nathaniel Warden, Abner Wade, Arthur Van Wie, Ira Winter, Ashbel Wallis and William Young. Total 91.

THE COAL INTEREST OF HANOVER.

At what date or by whom all the mines in this town- ship were opened it is impossible to state, as some of them have changed ownership so many times that all records that would furnish dates have been placed beyond our reach. However, we find in Pearce's Annals of Luzerne some items of interest, which we give. He says that in 1813 James Lee, Esq., sent one four-horse load of coal from Hanover to Germantown, and continues:

" In 1820 Colonel Washington Lee discovered coal in Hanover, on the Stewart property, which he had purchased, and in the same year he mined and sent to Baltimore 1,000 tons, which he sold at $8 per ton. In 1838 the Wyoming Company connected their lands, 500 aeres in Hanover, with the Nanticoke pool or slaek water, by a railroad two miles in length and a basin, at a cost of $22,700. They shipped their first coal in 1840, and in 1847 Colonel Hillman shipped 10,000 tons of coal from the old Blackman and Solomon's Gap, or Ross mines, to New York and Philadelphia. The shaft of the Dundee Company in this township was sunk in 1865 to the depth of 792 feet, when the Nanticoke or Mill vein is struek, which is twelve feet in thickness. It is the first vein below the surface and the sixth from the bottom. This proves the theory that the flats or low lands are underlaid with coal."

The following brief accounts of the different mines and their workings are gleaned from the report of the inspector of mines for 1878, as none later had been pub- lished at the time of writing.

Franklin colliery, near Ashley, is operated by the Franklin Coal Company, with R. R. Morgan as general superintendent, William Thomas inside foreman, and

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD,

HANOVER TOWNSHIP AND ASHLEY, NANTICOKE AND SUGAR NOTCH BOROUGHS.

GEORGE II. AURBACH. superintendent of the store of B. L. Gale, at Nanticoke, is a native of Prussia, where he was born July 24th, 1838. He served during the Rebellion in Battery If of the 1st Pennsyl- vania light artillery. Before engaging as above he was employed as a clerk.

J. H. BABCOCK was born in Newark, N. J., June 15th, 1851, and was married to Miss Annie Grilich, of Sunbury, Pa. He is a train despatcher at Ashley.

ALEXANDER BAXTER, machinist, was born in Kirkcaldy, Fiteshire, Scotland, November 16th, 1821. His wife was Miss Jane Robb, a native of the same place. Mr Baxter's residence is at Ashley, where he is em- ployed as foreman in the machine shop, and has also served as a member of the school board.

G. M. BENNETT, master ear builder, was born in Hanover township, July 23d, 1812. His wife, a native of Philadelphia, was formerly Miss Jane A. Bevan. Mr. Bennett is the grandson of Ishmael Bennett, who was an early settler in the Wyoming valley.

WILLIAM BELL, deecased, was born in Falkirk, Scotland, June 12th, 1804, and married Miss Jane Eliza Jones, of New York. He spent a part of his life in farming, and was subsequently employed by the Susque- hanna Coal Company as toll collector at Nanticoke. His death occurred October 25th, 1878.

C. R. BERRY, of Ashley, a native of Lennox, Susquehanna county, Pa., was born April 7th, 1838, and married Miss Hannah Minnich, of Sugar- loaf. Mr. Berry is a carpenter, and is foreman for the railroad company. He has served as sergeant of Company B 177th regiment, and at one time was a member of the borough council.

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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 78

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