History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 89

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 89
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 89
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 89

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).

ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Court Rose of the Valley, No. 5,517, Ancient Order of Foresters was instituted December 12th, 1871, under the jurisdiction of the English High Court. December 15th, 1874, this court seceded from the High Court of England. and united with the Independent High Court of Foresters of America, and since then has been known by the name of Court Rose of the Valley, No. 8, I. O. of F. It has an endowment fund, out of which $1,000 is paid to the heirs of deceased members.

The presiding officers since 1874 have been George Faircloth, Samuel Monk, Thomas Hoskins, Charles Sar- tin, William J. Monk, George Robinson, John Harding, G. R. Smith, George Charlton and William Smerdon.

The officers for the first term of 1880 were: Charles Sartin, C. R. ; John Shields, treasurer; George Faircloth, secretary. The present number of members is 40.

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP.

N 1790 this township was one of the eleven Susquehanna townships into which old Lu- zerne county was divided. It is in the very heart of the far-famed Wyoming valley, em- bracing within its 29 square miles the most productive agricultural and mining lands in the valley. It has within its boundaries some of the most interesting localities and objects in the State.

Among the forty persons who came to the valley in 1769, under the auspices of the Susquehanna Com- pany, was Ezra Dean, Esq., whose wife was a native of Kingston, Rhode Island. From that town this one took its name. In 1796 this township included Dallas and parts of Lake and Franklin, and it then contained only roo taxable inhabitants, 78 horses and 24 head of horned cattle. The population in 1870 was 2,825, and in 1880 5,881.

In 1786 Forty Fort was a formidable rival of Wilkes- Barre for the honor and advantages of being the county seat.

In 1840 there were but eleven persons engaged in min- ing in this township, and only 273 in agriculture.

The taxable inhabitants above referred to were the following:

James Atherton, Elisha Atherton, John Allen, Joseph Brown, Oliver Biglow, Alexander Brown, William Brown, Daniel Burney, Andrew Bennett, Josephus Barber, Caleb Brundage, Samuel Breese, Laban Blanchard, Almon Church. Gilbert Carpenter, Jonathan Carver, Samuel Carver, James Carpenter, Tunis Decker, Jesse Dickerson, Benjamin Dor- ranee, John Dorrance, Nathan Denison, Christian Cornigh, Joshua Ful- Jer, Benajah Fuller, Hallet Gallop, William Gallop, Peter Grubb, John Gore, James Gardiner, Lewis Hartsoff, John Horton, Peter Hartsoff, Daniel Hoyt, William Hurlbert, Elijah Harris, Joseph Hillman, John Hinds, Stephen Hollister, Philip Jackson, John Joseph. John Keely, Samuel Landon, Nathaniel Landon, David Landon, James Lan- dou, James Love, William Little, Isaiah Lucas, Lawrence Myers, Philip Myers, Nathan Mulford, Lewis Mullison, John Montones, Isaac Montoney, Joseph Montoney, Andrew Miller, Elisha Matterson, Anning Owen, Abel Pierce, John Pierce. Joseph Pierce, Elias Pierce, Oliver Pettibone, David Perkins, Aaron Perkins, John Rosenkrans, Aaron Roberts, Benjamin Roberts, Nathan Roberts, James Rice, Sherman Smith, Daniel Spencer, Martin Smith, Luke Sweetland. Joseph Sweet- land, James Seofield, Comfort Shaw, Alexander Swartwout, Elijah Shoe- maker, Abraham Shoemaker, Adam Shafer, Peter Shafer, Frederick Shafer, Peter Shale, Henry Tuttle, John Tuttle, Joseph Tuttle, William Trucks, Isaac Tripp, Israel Underwood, Gideon Underwood, Abraham Van Gordon, Lemuel Wakely, John Wart, Ashel Fish, Benjamin Smith.

Justices of the peace have been elected as follows for the township of Kingston since the adoption of the con- stitution of 1838: Addison C. Church, 1840; Alvah C. Phillips, 1840; John Johnston, 1841; Ańson Atherton, 1845; Henry Woodhouse, 1846, 1851, 1856, 1861 and 1866; Reuben Jones, 1850 and 1855; William C. Haga- man, 1858; Milton G. Phillips, 1859; William L. Rice, 1864, 1869, 1874; John J. Jenkins, 1875; Steuben Jenkins, 1875; Eugene S. Cooper, 1879.

ANTHRACITE INTERESTS.

Long before the present mammoth breakers were dreamed of coal was mined at or near Toby eddy, near the mouth of Toby creek. A wharf was built at the mouth of the creek, and another at the mouth of Tuttle creek, for shipping coal. Israel Skeer was one of the pioneer navigators of the Susquehanna. He mined his coal at what is now Maltby, and shipped it at the wharf last mentioned.

Kingston Coal Company .- The first opening by this company in this township was made at shaft No. I in 1864, by Waterman & Beaver, and breaker No. I was built the same year and David Morgan appointed super- intendent. The opening at shaft No. 2 was made and the breaker built in 1872. In 1877 the name of the firm was changed to the present style of Kingston Coal Com- pany (limited). Daniel Edwards, the present superin-

305

COLLIERIES IN KINGSTON TOWNSHIP-THE WYOMING MONUMENT.

tendent, succeeded Mr. Morgan in 1868. He is also inside and general outside foreman. In 1878 Daniel R. Davis and Morgan D. Rosser were mine bosses, and Thomas 1 .. Morgan and M. D. Rosser outside foremen. There were employed at these two shafts 295 men and 73 boys under ground, and So men and 144 boys on the surface. There were mined in that year 235,302 tons of coal.

Maltby Colliery, at Maltby station, on the D. L. & W. Railroad, is operated by C. S. Maltby, with Oscar A. Fowler as general superintendent, Charles Smith mine boss, and A. B. Tyrell outside foreman. In 1878 this colliery employed 118 men and 11 boys under ground, and 44 men and 72 boys on the surface, and in 107 days worked produced 30,000 tons of coal.

Forty Fort Colliery, near Wyoming village is operated by the Forty Fort Coal Company; J. H. Swoyer is superin- tendent; Charles Leonard, assistant superintendent and general outside foreman; William McCulloch, inside, and Patten, outside foreman; Phillip McCabe, mine boss. In 1878 this colliery was worked 137 days, and produced 127,250 tons of coal. There were employed during the year 214 men and 48 boys under ground, and 53 men and 75 men on the surface.

The East Boston Coal Mine was opened and the breaker built in 1862. In 1878 there were employed at this mine 168 men and boys on the inside, and 97 on the outside. In 189 days 99,048 tons of coal were mined. This col- liery is operated by William G. Payne & Co. W. G. Payne is superintendent; E. F. Payne, outside and inside foreman; Thomas L. Jones, inside foreman and mine boss.

The Hutchinson Shaft and Breaker were constructed in 1871 and 1872. There were employed in 1878 192 men and boys on the inside, and go on the outside. The mine was worked only 38 days, producing 19,947 tons. This colliery is operated by Charles Hutchinson, with J. C. Hutchinson as superintendent; John Thomas is mine boss, and William McCulloch outside foreman.

The Raub Mine was opened in 1875; the breaker was built in 1878, and commenced breaking coal January roth, 1879. It is known as the Raubville breaker.

The Willow Grove Breaker is located over the hill west of Mill Hollow. This colliery is a diminutive affair compared with those operated by steam, as the breaker at this place is operated by horse power. The mine was opened in 1879 by Messrs. Lloy & Williams, who are the present owners and operators.

WYOMING.

This village, located in the northeast corner of the township, has became memorable in song and story be- cause of the battle of July 3d, 1773, which is spoken of at length in the general history of Luzerne county. Per- haps the most conspicuous feature of the village is the monument that perpetuates the record of this most mem- orable event in the history of the Wyoming valley.

The inscription on the front tablet of the monument reads as follows:

" Near this spot was fought, on the afternoon of Friday,

the 3d of July, 1778, the battle of Wyoming; in which a small body of patriotic Americans, chiefly the undisci- plined, the youthful and the aged, spared, by inefficiency, from the distant ranks of the republic, led by Colonel Zebulon Butler and Colonel Nathan Denison, with a courage that deserved success boldly met and bravely fought a combined British, tory and Indian force of thrice their number. Numericial superiority alone gave success to the invader, and wide-spread havoc, desolation and ruin marked his savage and bloody footsteps through the valley. This monument, commemorative of these events and of the actors in them, has been erected over the bodies of the slain by their descendants and others who gratefully appreciate the services and sacrifices of their patriotic ancestors."

The motto over the names of the slain is "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The names are as follows: Officers .- Lieutenant Colonel George Dorrance, Major Jonathan Waite Garrett, Captains James Bidlack, jr., Aholiab Bnek, Robert Durkee, Rezin Geer. Detrick Hewitt, William MeKarrachen, Samuel Ransom, Lazarus Stewart and James Wigton, Lieutenants A. Atherton, Aaron Gaylord, Perrin Ross. Lazarus Stewart, jr., Flavius Waterman, Stoddart Bowen, Timothy Pierce, Elijah Shoemaker, Asa Stevens and James Welles, and Ensigns Jeremiah Bigford, Silas Gore, Jonathan Otis, Asa Gore, Titus Hinman and William White.

Prirates. - Jabez Atherton, Christopher Avery, - Ackke, A. Benedict, Jabez Beers, Samuel Bigford, David Bixby, Elias Bixby, John Boyd. John Brown, Thomas Brown, Williamn Buck, Joseph Budd, Amos Bul- lock, Asa Bullock, Henry Bush, Enos Brockway, John Caldwell, Josiah Carman, Joseph Carey, Joel Church, William Cofferin, James Cofferin, Samuel Cole, Isaac Campbell, - Campbell, Robert Comstock, Kings- ley Comstock, three Cook brothers, Christopher Courtright, John Courtright, Anson Corey, Jenks Corey, Rufus Corey, Joseph Crocker, Samuel Crocker, D. Denton, Anderson Dana, Conrad Davenport, George Downing, James Devine. Levi Dunn, William Dunn. - Dutcher, Ben- jamin Fineb, Daniel Finch. John Finch, Elisha Fish, Cornelius Fitchett, Eliphalet Follett. Thomas Faxon, John Franklin, Stephen Fuller, Thomas Fuller, George Gore, - Gardner, Benjamin Hatch, William Hammond, Silas Harvey, Samuel Hutchinson, Cyprian Hebard, Levi Hieks, John Hutchins, James Hopkins, Nathaniel Howard, Elijah Inman, Israel Inman, Jamuel Jackson, Robert Jameson, Joseph Jen- nings, Henry Johnson, Joshua Landon, Daniel Lawrence, Willian Lawrence, Francis Ledyard, James Lock, Conrad Lowe. Jacob Lowe, William Lester, C. MeCartee, Nicholas Manville, Nero Matthewson. Alexander McMillan, Job Marshall, Andrew Millard, John Murphy, Robert MeIntire. Joseph Ogden, Abel Palmer, Silas Parker, William Parker, John Pierce, Henry Pencil, Noah Pettebone, jr., Jeremiah Ross, jr., Elisha Richards, William Reynolds. Elias Roberts, Timothy Rose, Abram Shaw, JJames Shaw, Joseph Shaw, Constant Searle, Abel Scely, Levi Spencer, Eleazer Sprague, Aaron Stark, Daniel Stark, Darius Spotford. James Spencer, Joseph Staples, Reuben Staples. Rufus Stevens, James Stevenson, Nailer Sweed, Ichabod Tuttle, Abram Vangorder, John Van Wie, Elihu Waters, Jonathan Weeks, Bartholomew Weeks. Philip Weeks. Peter Wheeler, Stephen Whiton, Eben Wilcox, Elihu Williams, jr., Rufus Williams, Aziba Williams, John Williams, John Ward, John Wilson, Parker Wilson, William Woodring. - Wade, Ozias Yale, Gershont Prince, colored. Killed on the approach to Wyoming- William Crooks, Miner Robbins, Benjamin Harding, Stukely Harding, James fladsall, James Hadsall, jr., Wm. Martin, Quocko, colored.

On the rear of the monument, over the door, are in- scribed the following names of the survivors:

Officers, -- Colonels Zebulon Butler and Nathan Denison, Lieutenants Daniel Gore und Timothy Howe, Ensigns Daniel Downing. Matthias Hollenback and Jabez Fish, Sergeants Phineas Spafford and -- Gates.

Privates .- John Abbott, Gideon Baldwin, Zerah Beach, Rufus Bennett, Solomon Bennett, Elisha Blackman, Nathan Carey. Samuel Carey. George Cooper, Joseph Elliott, Sammel Finch, Roswell Franklin, Hugh Forsman, Thomas Fuller, John Garrett, Samuel Gore. Lemmel Gustin. .James Green, Lebbeus Hammond, Jacob Haldeon, Elisha Harris, Ebene- zer and Williant Heberd, Richard Inman, David Inman, John danison. Henry Lickers, Joseph Morse, Thomas Neill, Josiah Pell. Phineas Pierce. Abraham Pike, John N. Skinner, Giles Sloem, Walter Spencer, Edward Spencer, Roger Searle, Gamaliel Twiesdale, Cherrick Westbrook, Eleazer West, Daniel Washburn. Prisoners taken from Wyoming -John Gardner. Daniel Carr, Samuel Carey, Daniel Wallen, Daniel Rosenkrans, Klisha' Wilcox, -- Pierce.

306

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

FOUNDING AND GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE.

As soon as peace had been assured after the Revolution settlers began to return and others to migrate hither, and about 1780 the vicinity of Wyoming began again to show signs of life. "New Troy " was the name by which the place was known up to within the memory of many living.

As early as 1780 or 1781 Benjamin Carpenter, from Connecticut, located on Abram's creek, at the lower end of the gorge where the creek breaks through the Kings- ton mountains. Here he built a grist-mill on the site of the present one, also a house, which is still standing and is occupied by Mrs. Riley. The west wing of what is now the Pollock House was built by Mr. Carpenter, and in 1829 the main part of the hotel was built by a Mr. Allen- bach. Mr. Carpenter also built the woolen factory at this place, and the Carpenter family sold it to Mr. Anibal, and he to Jacob I. Shoemaker, sen. This locality, now known as Shoemaker's Mills, was for many years known as Carpenter's Mills and Carpenter Town, which latter name it retained long after it came into the possession of the Shoemakers. In 1807 Mr. Carpenter sold out all his interests to Isaac C. Shoemaker and moved to Ohio. There was about that time an ax factory further up the creek, the foundation of which is still visible. There was a small foundry a little below the grist.mill. The grist- mill was rebuilt in 1840 by Jacob I. Shoemaker, sen., when all the improvements invented up to that time were added. Other improvements, besides steam power, have since been introduced.

In 1820 John Jones located here and engaged in the blacksmithing business, and the same year Thomas J. Halsey, M. D., located in this vicinity, where he practiced several years. Dr. John Smith was also one of the early resident physicians.

In 1802 or 1803 Mrs. Gordon, mother of James A. Gordon, Esq., of Plymouth, taught school in an old school-house on or near the corner where Laycock's Wyoming House now stands.

William Swetland, who was postmaster in 1830, was also one of the early merchants. He kept his store a little below the present residence of Payne Pettebone, Esq., on the main road from Kingston to Wyoming. John Gardner was the pioneer cabinet maker at Carpenter Town, locating there as early as 1820, in the building now occupied as a dwelling on the corner opposite the Pol- lock House, known as the "old store-house;" and he was succeeded in 1830 by Charles Barney, who still continues the business in the building adjoining. The "old store-house" was occupied as early as 1820 by Charles Tuttle, who was among the early merchants. The prop- erty is now owned Daniel Van Scoy. As late as 1830 the flat between Shoemaker's Mills and Wyoming was a dense wilderness.

At Wyoming there are now two churches (Methodist and Presbyterian), two general stores, two grocery stores, a drug store, a carriage factory, a blacksmith shop, a shovel factory, terra cotta works, the hotel of Colonel H. A. Laycock, the Luzerne county fair grounds, a two-

story school-house, a railroad depot, barber, shoe, har- ness, millinery, and other shops, and one physician, Dr. Knapp. J. B. Schooley is the present postmaster.

At Shoemaker's Mills there are a hotel, a store, black- smith, cabinet, jeweler's and shoe shops, a grist-mill and woolen manufactory. The population of the two places is about 1,000.

WYOMING M. E. CHURCH,

The Wyoming charge was originally one of the preach- ing places on the Wyoming circuit, which in 1880 em- braced within its limits Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Plains, Forty Fort, Pittston, Providence, Plymouth, Dallas, Han- over and Stoddardsville, with numerous preaching places besides these chief appointments.

Prior to 1842 there was a class in the neighborhood, worshiping in the district school-house. About 1840 the " Christians " put up a church building. It was sold by the sheriff. The purchaser sold it to the trustees of the M. E. church in 1842. In 1848 Wyoming was made a sep- arate charge (New Troy). Rev. Bostwick Hawley was appointed preacher in charge. During his pastorate the house of worship was remodeled and improved and a basement built for Sunday-schools. In 1848, under the pastorate of Rev. C. W. Giddings, a parsonage lot was bought, and a barn for the use of the pastor and sheds about 150 feet in length were constructed for the teams of the congregation. Early in 1850 the parsonage was built, Rev. C. W. Giddings being the first occupant.

On the organization of the New Troy station there were about 130 members and probationers, including Forty Fort and West Pittston. The following have been the preachers appointed here since the formation of the "New Troy " charge: 1848, 1849, Bostwick Hawley; 1849, 1850, C. W. Giddings; 1850-52, B. W. Gorham; 1852-54, Levi D. Tyron; 1854-56, George M. Peck; 1856, 1857, A. H. Schoonmaker; 1857-59, H. Browns- combe; 1859, 1860, A. Brooks.

At the conference of 1860 Kingston and Wyoming were united under the name of New Troy and Kingston circuit. In 1860 and 1861 A. Brooks and W. T. Judd were the preachers. The conference of 1861 changed the title to Wyoming and Kingston circuit. In 1861 and 1862 W. Judd was the pastor; in 1862, L. Cole. At the conference of 1864 the circuit was again divided, and this charge has since been known as Wyoming charge. The pastors since the last named have been as follows: 1864-66, John La Bar; 1866, 1867, Henry Wheeler; 1867-70, A. J. Van Cleft; 1870-72, S. W. Weiss; 1872-74, R. W. Van Schoick; 1874-77, J. C. Leacock; 1877-So, Frederick L. Heller; 1880, James C. Shelland.

The members and probationers in 1879 numbered 169; Sunday-school scholars, 203; Sunday-school teachers and officers, 26; volumes in library, 782. There was expended for the school during that year $117. The amount raised for ministerial support was $1, 170; for benevolent collections, $320.

The church is valued at $4,000, and the parsonage and sexton's house, with barn and sheds, at $3,000.

GDorrance

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD,

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH.

REV. DR. COPELAND.

Rev. David Copeland, Ph. D., D. D., was born in Braintree, Vt., De- cember 21st, 1832. His ancestors were from England, and landed in Boston in 1630. They bore an honorable part in the hardships and strug- gles incident upon the early history of this country. His father was for many years an honored Methodist minister in the Vermont Confer- ence, and three of his uncles were also ministers in the Methodist Epis- copal church. Dr. Copeland prepared for college in the Newbury Sem- inary, in Vermont, and graduated from the Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn., in 1855. Being clected principal of the Henrietta Academy, in western New York, he at once entered upon the work of teaching. Although very young and with but little experience, his ad- ministration of the affairs of the school was very successful, the num- ber of students increasing threefold in a few months. In 1857 he be- came professor of mathematics and natural science in the Falley Semi- nary, in Fulton, N. Y., and soon after married Miss Sarah Wheelock, daughter of Hon. David Wheelock, of Royalton, Vt. Feeling that it was his duty to enter upon the pastorate, he resigned his professorship in the fall of 1858, and joined the Genesee Conference. But the church demanded his services still in the teacher's chair, and he was imme- diately appointed principal of the Springville Academy, in Erie county, N. Y. Under his management the school rapidly gained a high repu- tation, and the increased patronage soon made it necessary to recon- struct and enlarge the building. At the expiration of seven years Dr. Copeland was elected president of the Hillsborough Female College, in southern Ohio, and, greatly to the regret of the friends of the academy, accepted the position. In his new field of labor he soon acquired the reputation of being a superior educator and careful disciplinarian, and the school advanced rapidly in the estimation of the people. Here, too, Dr. Copeland remained seven years, at the end of which time he was called to the principalship of the Wyoming Seminary, in Kingston, Pa. Here he had a very difficult position to fill. His predecessor, Rev. Reu- ben Nelson, D. D., had been in charge of the school for about twenty- eight years, and by his great success in building up the seminary had gained great reputation as an educator. To follow such a man was no easy matter, and many very naturally feared that the new principal would prove a failure. Soon, however, these fears gave way. Under the new administration the school fully retained its previous standing, both as to members and scholarship. Dr. Copeland has now been at the head of the school for over eight years, and he continues to have the confidence and esteciu of all who know him. Ilonors have come to him from high sonrees. Lafayette College gave him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1875, and Syracuse University and Wesleyan University the degree of Doctor of Divinity iu 1877; and recently his conference elected bim a delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THE DORRANCE FAMILY.

The first account we have of the Dorrance family in America tells us that in 1722 Rev. Samuel Dorrance, a Scotch Presbyterian, was invited to preach to the people of Voluntown, Conn., from December till the following May. He had lately arrived from Ireland : had graduated at Glasgow University in 1709, was licensed to preach in 1711 by the Presbytery of Dumbarton, and had brought with him satisfactory testi- monials of ministerial character and standing from several associations in Scotland and Ireland. He was so well liked that on the 17th of April, 1723, the people of Voluntown gave him a formal call withont a dissent- ing voice, and were to give him "£60 per year for the presentand .£50 mn species suitable to promoting his building and settling." On the 23d of October following he was duly ordained, nothwithstanding some slight opposition " because he is a stranger among ns." Beside him his brothers George and John, and Joli, jr., were then found on the church rolls. Time soon wrought a change, so that the Rev. Mr. Dorrance was

no longer " a : tranger " among his people, and he and a part of his de- scendants have lived in that town from that time to the present, while others have migrated to other parts. He is found in the ministry at Voluntown at 1260, and at that time his salary had risen to #300. In that year James Dorrance was chosen elder in his church. He died Novem- ber 12th, 175, aged ninety years. He married Elizabeth Smith Angust Ist, 1726. She died September 10th, 1750.

Those of the Dorrance family who came to Wyoming were Johu and George, sons of Rev. Samuel. John, born July 12th, 1533, died Jaunary 9th, 1804. He was never married. He was the defendant in the cele- brated test case for the title to lands at Wyoming between the Penna- mites and Yankees, known as Van Horne's Lessee vs. Dorrance, reported in 2 Dallas, 304, on which Governor Hoyt has published a very elaborate and learned brief, reviewing not ouly all the questions at issue between the parties but their conduct during its progress.

George, born March 4th, 1736, slain July 4th, 1778, was twice married. By his first wife he had Sarah Susannah, who married Samuel Tubbs, and Elizabeth, who married Dr. Seth C. Whitney February 21st, 1809.

By his second wife he had :

Robert, who served in the war against the Indians under Governor St. Clair, and was killed at St. Clair's defeat, November 4th, 1791.

Benjamin, born 1767, died August 24th, 1837. He lived at Kingston. He was the most popular man of his day ; was elected county commis- sioner, high sheriff of the county and seven times to the Legislature of the State; was the first president of the Wyoming Bank at Wilkes-Barre, the safest and most popular institution of the kind in the country. He might have enjoyed other marks of popular favor, but he refused them.

Gershom, who went back to the old home at Voluntown, where he married and had three sons and two daughters.

George Dorrance was a lieutenant colonel of the militia at. Wyoming, and as such went out with that little band of heroes who thought to drive their insolent invaders from the valley. | He was severely wounded on the field of battle while gallantly riding along the broken lines and laboring to restore the men to order and position. He was the only one of the wounded who was saved from death on the field or at. the hellish orgies of the succeeding night. His feeble condition on the next day making him a burden to his captors, they slew him and di- vided his garments and arms among them.

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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 89

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