History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 58

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania > Part 58

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 Muncy Cemetery Company was incorporated by the court, January 20, 1857. The original grounds comprised about eight acres and are beautifully laid out and ornamented with trees, shrubbery, and flowers. The plot calls for 416 burial lots. The handsome cenotaph, erected in honor of Capt. John Brady, and an imposing soldiers' monument, both stand in these grounds. The cemetery has been twice enlarged since it was first laid out, the last time in 1891. The grounds now embrace upwards of seventeen acres. The present number of lots is 537, and twelve circles. The cemetery grounds contain many beautiful memorial stones, and tokens of remembrance.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP OF THE TOWN SITE-EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST MERCHANTS AND TRADES- MEN-PROMINENT RESIDENTS-OLD INNKEEPERS-BAILEY'S PERILOUS RIDE-MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION-POSTMASTERS-BANKS-INDUSTRIES-GAS WORKS-SECRET SOCIETIES- THE PRESS --- EDUCATIONAL-CHURCHES-CEMETERY.

T HE territory on which the settlement of Jersey Shore was made originally consisted of a portion of six surveys, made in pursuance of warrants issued in the mouth of May, 1785, after the treaty of Fort Stanwix. Previous to this time the land was claimed by the Indians, and remained outside of the jurisdiction of the Province. The warrants were granted to the following persons, beginning at the 28

486

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

southern part and running down the river: Jeremiah Morrison, William Morrison, Richard Skinner, Richard Salmon, Thomas Forster, and Robert Martin. The first settler, Reuben Manning, located in 1785 on the notheast part of the Thomas Forster survey, near the present residence of Col. James S. Allen. Manning was the uncle of Forster, who at that time owned and occupied Long Island, in the river opposite these surveys. They were both from Essex county, New Jersey, and from the part known at that day as the "Jersey Shore." As the settlement grew it came to be called "Jersey Shore," because Manning and Forster were Jerseymen. At first the name was applied in derision by the Irish settlers in Nippenose bottom, across the river. The place was named Waynesburg in 1805, but the title, "Jersey Shore," had obtained such notoriety that it prevailed, and when the act incorpor- ating the borough was passed it distinctly said that the place "shall be called and styled the borough of Jersey Shore." That legalized it, and by that title it has been known to the present day.

The second settler was an Irishman named Samuel Boul. He came in 1786, and located on the southeast part of the Richard Salmon survey, near where Jona- than White afterwards lived and died. Boul served as a justice of the peace for several years, and when the town was incorporated he was the first justice in the borough.

Richard Manning had two sons, Reuben and Thomas. The first child born in the settlement was Samuel Manning, son of Thomas, in 1786. About 1800 one of the Mannings laid out the land in town lots. Much of the history of the early settlers will be found in the review of Porter township. The territory on which Jersey Shore was founded originally belonged to Lycoming township, created August 22, 1785. From 1790 to 1800 settlers came in slowly. George Porter and wife located there in 1793, but Mrs. Porter dying soon after, he left the place. Jared Irwin was the first man to open a store; then came James Caldwell, and Gabriel Morrison followed with a hotel. This was an important addition to the village and gave a fresh impetus to business. Benjamin Lincover soon after opened a black- smith shop, Patrick Smith set up a tailor shop, and Leonard Smith that of a shoe- maker. Sampson Crawford established the first tannery near where Peter Bastress lived and died.

Abraham Lawshe came in 1803 and also established a tannery. He was a native of New Jersey, but learned his trade at York, Pennsylvania. Thomas Edward had established a small tannery, which Mr. Lawshe purchased. In November, 1806, he married Miss Elizabeth Bailey, by whom he had six daughters. Eleanor, one of the number, married John A. Gamble, whom she survives; Sarah married Allison White, who represented this district in the XXXVth Congress. All are deceased but Mrs. Gamble, Mrs. Quiggle, and Mrs. Bodine. His first wife dying he married, second, Miss Anna Hamilton, in 1824. The fruits of this marriage were Robert H., John, Anna A., Priscilla H., and M. Elcy. Robert and John have both represented this district in the legislature. The former resides in Jersey Shore and the latter in Williamsport. Mr. Lawshe was an elder in the Presbyterian church for many years. He was noted for his integrity, and all business entrusted to him was faith- fully attended to. For several years he held the office of justice of the peace. Mr. Lawshe was a fine looking man of commanding form and ruddy complexion. He

487

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

died, February 10, 1862, in his eighty-second year. His widow survived him a number of years, dying in 1886.

In 1805 William Miller commenced business as a jeweler, James Watson as a conveyancer, and Jonathan French as a physician. Watson married Mary, a daugh- ter of Brattan Caldwell, the celebrated Fair Play commissioner, and in addition to conveyancing he opened a store. At that time he had to haul his goods from Phil- adelphia by wagon.

In 1806 Samuel Updegraff opened a shop for the manufacture of hats, and in 1809 Richard Webb commenced the shoemaking business. Thomas Calvert was the pioneer cabinet maker. He was born in Nottingham, England, March 12, 1788; came to this country with his parents when but six years of age, and settled in Williamsport. There he learned his trade with Alexander Sloan. On complet- ing his apprenticeship he settled in Jersey Shore in 1811, and founded the business which is now successfully carried on by his sons, T. & J. G. Calvert. May 22, 1814, he married Miss Margaret Grafius, of Williamsport. They reared five sons and six daughters. Mr. Calvert lived a long and useful life, and died, May 1, 1868, aged eighty years and nineteen days.

Among the later-though classed as early-merchants, were Samuel Humes and John Durell. They were representative business men of their time and did a large trade. Later came Robert Crane, and then Muir & Stearns. All except the two latter are deceased. Mr. Stearns is now the head of a large firm in Williamsport.

Thomas Martin was the owner of a farm in the lower or central part of what is now the borough, extending from the river back upon the hills. The old home- stead stood where now stands the mansion of Mrs. John A. Gamble. He was the son of Robert Martin, who built the first hotel at Northumberland, and the owner of one of the six original tracts already referred to. In an early day he (Thomas) and three brothers moved from Northumberland to Jersey Shore, where they all lived and died. The names of the brothers were Richard, Ellis, and Peter. Thomas had three children, to wit: Charles, Lewis, and Julia A. Charles married Margaret Ramsey. After the death of her first husband she married John Fisher. Lewis married a Miss Berryhill, and Julia A. married Stephen R. Morrison.

Thomas was an excellent citizen and was greatly respected in the community. In business he entertained what were considered very peculiar views. It was his custom to fix a certain price upon the products of his farm from which he refused to vary under any circumstances. For instance, his standard price for potatoes was the fourth of a crown-about 30 cents-and when the market price was less, he would not fall, and when more, he would not rise or take more. No argument or persuasion could induce him to change. He remained firm in adhering to a princi- ple that he believed to be right. Another practice of his seemed strange to his neighbors and friends. Repeatedly during the winter he would go down to the river and cut a hole in the ice, when he would plunge into the stream and take a cold bath. This doubtless was a severe ordeal, but accounted in part, perhaps, for the robust health that he enjoyed.

He had in his family an ex-slave who was blind, named Jack. He had been liberated by the laws of Pennsylvania when slavery was done away in the State. This poor helpless servant was cared for tenderly until his frail body was laid away in the grave.

488

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Lewis, one of the sons of Thomas Martin, was born in Jersey Shore, Novem- ber 3, 1803, and died at Williamsport in May, 1886. He served as a justice of the peace at Jersey Shore for several years, and in 1845 he was elected prothonotary and removed to Williamsport. He also served as United States deputy marshal for many years. In the latter years of his life he became a noted hotel keeper, his last place of business being in the building now occupied by Alexander Beede & Com- pany, wholesale grocers, Williamsport.

Rev. William Turner claimed kinship with one of the early emigrants of Pennsylvania. It is a tradition in the family that their first ancestor, Robert Turner, came to this country with William Penn and was a member of his first council when he returned to England. At an early period he purchased a farm in Oxford township, Chester county, and there his successive descendants have been born. The old residence is still in the family and in the name. They adhere to the old English custom of retaining the old homestead in the family from generation to generation. The family were strict Presbyterians.

His father, Robert Turner, was born at the old home in Chester county, in 1762. He married Miss Nancy Carlisle, and moved to Northumberland county and resided awhile in Derry township, now Montour county. In 1794 he removed to Muncy, where he purchased a farm of 140 acres, which was part of Muncy manor and is now included in the southeast part of the borough on the east side of Main street. He was the father of nine children, to-wit: Rebecca, William, James, Mary, Moses, Jane, John, Martha, and Robert. Rebecca married James McMurray of Pine Creek. James wedded a Miss Smith of Milton. He moved to Ohio, where he died. Jane married Robert Eastman of Fort Hamilton, New York. John died in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The remainder of the children-excepting William-moved with their parents to Rising Sun, Indiana, where they married and died, excepting Robert, who moved to Iowa, where he died.

William, the subject of this sketch, was born in White Deer township, Northum- berland county-now New Columbia, Union couuty-on the 22d of November, 1787. In 1810 he became a citizen of Jersey Shore. When he came to this place it was a small village and the surrounding country was mostly a wilderness. August 19, 1812, he married Miss Matilda Adams, daughter of Matthew Adams, and niece of Hon. John Forster, then owner and resident of the island opposite the town, where the ceremony took place. He resided here for sixty-seven years and it may be said of him that during that period few persons were more respected.

He was a member of the first town council upon the organization of the borough of Jersey Shore in 1826, and he was an acting justice of the peace from about 1825 until the close of 1838, holding his commissions from Governors Shulze, Wolf, and Ritner. Being a man of great probity and excellent judgment he was intrusted with a large amount of business.

He was twice married. His first wife died in 1832. His second wife was Miss Jane J. Turner of Muncy. She died in 1882 in the eighty-second year of her age. By his first wife he had nine children, as follows: Matthew A., Robert, Mary A., John F., James, Ann C., William S., Rachel F., and Matilda J. who died in infancy. Matthew A. is a minister and member of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. On account of failing health he has held a clerkship

489

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

in the "Sixth Auditor's office of the treasury for the general postoffice department" since August 15, 1849, and for many years has had charge of the archives of the office. He married Martha J. Everett of Rockville, Maryland. Robert married Miss Elcy Snyder near Jersey Shore, and is living at Green Castle, Indiana. He has married the second time. Mary A. married John Miller of Rising Sun, Indi- ana, where she died, May 2, 1850, aged thirty-one years. John F. married Miss Harriet Knapp of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He died, November 4, 1871, in the fifty-first year of his age. James was a minister and member of the Baltimore Con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary A. Warfield of Mil- lersville, Maryland, where he died, June 2, 1865, aged forty-three years. Ann C. was married to Richard Martin of Rising Sun, Indiana, where she still resides. William S., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, is a member of the Columbia River Conference in the State of Washington. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Ann S. Cowgill of Green Castle, Indiana. The second was Miss Susan Beecher of California. He now resides at Spokane Falls, Washington. Rachel F. married John Miller of Indiana and is now living at Spokane Falls, Washington.

By his second wife he had eight children, to wit: Thomas J., Rebecca M., Martha L., Sarah E., Charlotte C., Margaret F., Joseph K., and Harriet E. None of the children are now living but Charlotte C. and Harriet E. Charlotte C. mar- ried Abraham Lozier of Aurora, Indiana, where they now reside. Harriet E. is unmarried and lives with Mr. Lozier and her sister.

Mr. Turner in 1817 became a professor of religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. Such was the confidence reposed in him during his Christian life, that he was called upon to fill all the different offices peculiar to his church, such as class leader, steward, and exhorter. For many years he was an ordained local preacher. He had his regular appointments in the surrounding country, where he formed societies that are now served by the regular ministers of the con- ference. During the last year of his life he was stricken with paralysis. From this time his health gradually declined until the inevitable hour came, when the weary wheels of life stood still. Like the servant of God of old, having "served his own generation by the will of God, he fell on sleep," December 13, 1877, aged ninety years and twenty-one days. He was buried in the old Dr. Davidson ceme- tery, where sleep the dead of his family.

Robert McGowan, Esq., is another well remembered old citizen of the borough. He was born in Milton, December 28, 1810, and came here when quite a young man, and entered the store of Samuel Humes, one of the old merchants. He was afterwards engaged in the drug business. When he retired from this he was elected a justice of the peace, which position he filled for thirty years. He retired at the close of his sixth term, declining a seventh nomination. Mr. McGowan lived in Jersey Shore for fifty-six years, and died January 18, 1888.

Among the early representative meu of the town was Solomon Bastress. He was born at Pottstown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1788, and died at Jersey Shore, May 12, 1872, in his eighty-fourth year. Before locating here in 1817, he became interested with a company in the furnace business (see review of Cummings township) on Pine Bottom run. This was before 1814. Mr. Bastress

490

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

was a weaver and dyer by trade, but soon after settling here he became a surveyor and scrivener also. He was sent to the legislature in 1827 and re-elected in 1828, 1829, and 1830, serving four years in succession. In 1846 he was chosen an associate judge and served two terms of five years each. When Susquehanna town- ship was divided in 1854, his friends insisted that the new township should be name after him, and it was done.

The oldest native resident of Jersey Shore is John Hill Maffett, born about 1815. The oldest man is Francis T. Carpenter, born May 21, 1802, at Marshalton, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He came to Lycoming county iu 1829 and located at the iron works on Pine creek. Previous to coming here Mr. Carpenter spent several years in Philadelphia, and in 1813 he remembers two illuminations of that city. One was for Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and the second was for Harrison's victory over the British and Indians in the battle of the Thames, when Tecumseh was killed. July 25, 1825, Lafayette visited the Brandywine battlefield, which was near the home of Mr. Carpenter. There was a large number of people present to greet him, many of whom came a long distance. Mr. Carpenter joined the procession near Chadd's Ford, and rode near enough to the distinguished visitor to see him indicate points of interest, and pause at the spot where he was wounded.

Mr. Carpenter has been a resident of the county for over sixty years, and has witnessed great changes in every department of human effort. He retired from active business many years ago, and now at the ripe age of ninety, he is spending the evening of his life in peace, tenderly cared for by his daughters.

OLD INNKEEPERS.

Among the old innkeepers, after Gabriel Morrison, the first, came James Shearer, Leonard Pfoutz, Thomas Turk, and Donnelly. Turk kept the stone house in 1840, which was built by the Mcclintocks. It was also kept by Samuel Carothers and Daniel Reighard.

William Babb, born at Bennington, Vermont, in 1794, came to Williamsport with Stephen Winchester about 1820. He built the house at the southwest corner of Main and Thompson streets, which he kept as a tavern until within a few years of his death, July 18, 1852. He had two sons and four daughters. George, one of the sons, studied law, but died when a young man; William T. became a physician, entered the navy as a surgeon, aud became prominent. He died in 1863. Of the daughters, Lucy married Thomas Cummings, and was the mother of the gallant young officer, Lieutenant Cummings of the navy, who was killed at Port Hudson; Harriet married Robert McGowan and died in 1839; Catharine became the wife of James Wilson, and still survives; Sarah Jane married Rev. Mr. Evans, a Lutheran minister.

Stephen Winchester, who came with William Babb, was about the same age. He taught school for several years and then became a storekeeper. He served as a justice of the peace for one term. In 1837 he was a contractor on the Tide Water canal. It was his fortune about this time to draw a prize of $300 in a lottery, which gave him some prominence. Mr. Winchester was a tall, fine looking man, and bore a striking resemblance to Henry Clay. He died, August 8, 1853, in his sixtieth year, leaving several sons, but none of them now reside here.

491

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

Among the more modern innkeepers, none are better remembered than Samuel G. Allen. He was born in Boston August 9, 1806; learned the trade of a wheel- wright, which he followed for several years. When William P. Farrand was operat- ing at Farrandsville, (now Clinton county,) Mr. Allen came out as a skilled mechanic in 1831. When the enterprise failed in 1836 Mr. Allen came to Jersey Shore and purchased a property of James Caldwell and started a hotel, which he called the Franklin House. He conducted it very successfully until 1848, when he sold out to Frank Carothers. In a few years he was succeeded by Cook and Shaw; after them came George F. Stone. During his administration it was burned, and a fine brick block now occupies its site. In early days the stage stopped at the Franklin House, and as it was noted for good cheer and good fare, it became popu- lar among travelers. Mr. Allen engaged in the mercantile business in 1848. He also served as postmaster. He died August 20, 1857.

BAILEY'S PERILOUS RIDE.

In February, 1832, Joseph Bailey, who lived on the island, had a thrilling adventure. The ice on the river was suddenly broken up by a freshet. Bailey had a flat-boat tied near the lower end of the island, and while endeavoring to better secure it, the pressure of the ice broke the mooring and boat and man were carried down the stream. The situation was perilous, but there was no way of escaping to the shore. His brother, Robert S. Bailey, and others, followed on the shore mounted on horses to encourage him. Williamsport was passed in the night, and although scores of people were on the lookout, they could render no aid. The craft dashed through the "race ground rapids" below Loyalsock, safely passed the breach in Muncy dam, and continued down the river. Friends preceded him to Milton, and when his craft hove in sight hundreds lined the river bridge. As he was about to pass under, a rope was thrown to him, which he caught and was drawn up and saved. His ride was a perilous one, and he almost perished with cold, having been afloat from early in the afternoon until 9 o'clock the next morning.

MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION.

The act of March 15, 1826, incorporating the borough, defined the southern line as beginning at the lane near and below the farm house of the late John Pfoutz, in Porter township; then westward by said lane, crossing the canal near the public bridge, 388 perches back from the river, and including the late Jacob W. Pfoutz, the Jersey Shore cemetery, the residence of the late Peter Bastress, and continuing northerly to, at, or near, Nice's lane; thence by the same southeasterly to the river; thence up the same to the point of beginning. The provisions of the act incorporat- ing the borough of Williamsport (March 21, 1806) were extended to the borough of Jersey Shore.

At the session of 1828 an act was passed, and approved February 16th, annex- ing the property of John Bailey, known by the name of "Long Island," to the borough. Some years afterwards it was detached and annexed to Nippenose township.

By an act of Assembly passed in 1831 the boundary lines were circumscribed to merely include the part then built up. This boundary extended along and . down the river from Junod's alley to the culvert and greatly reduced the territory included

492

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

within the original lines. Porter township was taken from Mifflin by decree made at May term, 1840, and in 1854 a part of Porter was annexed to the borough of Jersey Shore by act approved May 6, 1854, and the boundary lines were corrected by a re-survey on the 7th of July, 1862, by A. H. McHenry and E. B. Parker.

In 1885 fifty-seven acres on the northwestern side of the borough were annexed, extending from near the old tannery to the Dunkel House. The last and largest addition was made by decree of June 10, 1891. It embraced an area of 465 acres, and took in the cemetery, the railroad station, machine shops, and the village which had grown up around it called the Junction. By this annexation a population of 600 was added to the borough, making the total population about 2,500. The borough is divided into three wards, with three councilmen to each ward. The principal streets running north and south are named Water, Main, Broadway, and Wilson. Those running east and west are named Seminary, Allegheuy, Smith, Thompson, Locust, Arch, Cemetery, and Nelson. Jersey Shore is supplied with water pumped from the river to a reservoir on an elevation to the southwest, whence it is distrib- uted by mains through the town.

The first election for borough officers was held in 1826 and resulted as follows: Burgess, Solomon Bastress; council: John Slonaker, Andrew Ferguson, John Fisher, William Turner, Thomas Calvert, Abraham Lawshe; clerk, James Watson. From the election of Mr. Bastress as burgess in 1827 up to 1834, no records can be found to show who served as chief executive officer for those seven years. After that year the burgesses were: 1835-36, James Wilson; 1837-40, James Gamble; 1841, C. S. Baird; 1842-43, C. M. Laporte; 1844, C. Donaldson; 1845-46, S. G. Allen; 1847, record missing; 1848-49, Robert Crane; 1850-51, record missing; 1852-53, Huston Hepburn; 1854-55, Robert McGowan; 1856, Huston Hepburn; 1857, John B. Carothers; 1858, Thomas Waddle; 1859, W. N. Wilson; 1860-61, John B. Carothers; 1862-63, J. H. Allen; 1864, John B. Carothers; 1865-67, John S. Tomb; 1868, H. B. Humes; 1869, James Williamson; 1870, Thomas Wad- dle; 1871, Thomas McCurdy; 1872, James L. Barclay; 1873, P. D. Bricker; 1874-75, G. Brenneman; 1876, P. D. Bricker; 1877, Thomas McCurdy; 1878, George Ramsdell; 1879-81, H. B. Humes; 1882-S3, J. L. Barclay; 1884, W. L. Levegood; 1885, J. S. Childs; 1886, Thomas Calvert; 1887-88, J. E. Nice; 1889, W. L. Levegood; 1890, Dr. G. H. Cline; 1891, Joseph Wood; 1892, Henry. D. Seely.

POSTMASTERS.

A postoffice was established at Jersey Shore, April 1, 1806, and Thomas Mc- Clintock appointed postmaster. His long line of successors has been as follows: Samuel Donnel, appointed March 8, 1819; Matthew McReynolds, April 22, 1823; Samuel Humes, November 17, 1828; Stephen Winchester, February 8, 1833; Will- iam Babb, May 21, 1837; Joseph B. Torbert, April 2, 1844; Samuel Maffett, October 11, 1845; James S. Allen, December 30, 1847; Samuel G. Allen, May 17, 1848; Solomon Gudykunst, November 13, 1849; Robert Baker, December 16, 1852; Thomas Calvert, Jr., December 13, 1855; Thomas Stevenson, December 15, 1862; James Jones, September 30, 1864; Abraham S. Crist, August 29, 1866; James Jones, April 2, 1869; Robert Grier, June 5, 1871; Jone E. Potter, October 13, 1876; Charles H. Pott, December 21, 1887; William K. Fiester, January 7, 1892.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 58

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650