History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 59

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 59

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Rech Joseph Stevens, D.L.

493

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

Postmaster McClintock held the office almost thirteen years, the longest of any of the appointees in eighty-six years. Captain Potter came next, holding the office over eleven years. Thomas Calvert, Jr., held it seven years.

BANKS.

A bank was established in Jersey Shore as early as 1856. When the national banking law passed it was authorized to become a national bank, but the company disposed of their charter to George L. Sanderson, who fonnded the Williamsport National Bank in 1870. A new company, entitled the Jersey Shore Banking Com- pany, was organized in 1869, and in 1886 it was incorporated as a State bank with a capital of $60,000. It has been successfully conducted and now reports a surplus of $58,000. The officers are. as follows: Hamilton B. Humes, president; Robert A. Sebring, cashier.

INDUSTRIES.

The first tannery at the borough was established by Simpson Crawford near where Peter Bastress lived and died. Abraham Lawshe, who came in 1803, also founded an industry of this character, and purchased a small tannery previously established by Thomas Edward. It was afterwards carried on for a time by George Quiggle, his son-in-law, when it passed into the hands of Robert Sponhouse. The planing mill of Cammerer & Lambert now occupies the site of the old tannery. A. Junod also started a tannery at an early day, which, in 1830, was purchased by Bingaman & Slonaker. It was conducted by them for many years. The plant is still there but little work is now done.

A foundry and machine shop was established by W. R. Wilson & Company in 1851, and continued by them for several years. It was destroyed by fire once, but was immediately rebuilt with stone and better equipped than before. It is now owned and operated by F. & E. Trump.

In a large brick building, erected in 1838 for a distillery which failed in 1841, Delate & Cilley started a saw mill in 1858, and ran it for several years. In 1870 it passed into the hands of Wood & Childs, who enlarged the building, and fitted up a first-class steam gang mill, which they successfully conducted until the canal was abandoned in 1889, after the great flood. As there was no longer water to supply their løg pond, they were forced to remove the plant to a more eligible location up Pine creek. The industry was valuable to the town and its departure was greatly regretted.

GAS WORKS.

In 1859 gas works were established at an expense of about $10,500 by a com- pany. They are now conducted by private management.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Lodge No. 101, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1844, in a room in the third story of Allen's Hotel, on Main street. The charter members were James Gamble, Joseph B. Torbert, James S. Allen, Robert Crane, and Charles Stewart.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Jersey Shore Encampment, No. 59, I. O. O. F., meets in Odd Fellows' Hall on the first and third Thursday evenings of each month.

Canton Friendship, No. 30 of Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., meets in the same hall the second Thursday of each month for drill practice, and the fourth Thursday evening for business.

Hobah Lodge, No. 1034, I. O. O. F., was instituted at the Junction, April 14, 1892, by acting Grand Master Mendenhall, assisted by J. F. Gohl as District Deputy Grand Master. Forty candidates were present and received the initiatory and three degrees.

Lodge No. 232, A. Y. M., was instituted in 1848. John A. Gamble was the first W. M.

The first G. A. R. Post organized in Jersey Shore was without a name. It was chartered, September 19, 1867, with forty-seven members, and disbanded Septem- ber 19, 1868.

Major Keenan Post, G. A. R., organized June 26, 1883, with forty-two charter members. At the present time there are sixty members in good standing.

THE PRESS.

Jersey Shore has had a number of newspapers. The first, named the West Branch Courier, by Daniel Gotshall, came into existence January 8, 1827, and ceased about 1830.

In 1828 a humorous little sheet called The Nose appeared. It was published by William Piatt, Jr., and lived but a short time.

Alexander Hamilton started The Anti-Masonic Advocate abont 1830, and pub- lished it until the winter of 1834. It then passed into the hands of Loehr & Middleton, who discontinued it in 1835.

After the suspension of the Advocate Jersey Shore was without a paper until January, 1846. At this date The Republican was started by S. S. Seely, and he issued it until October, 1850, when the office, with much sur- rounding property, was destroyed by fire. The borough was again without a paper till June, 1851, when The Republican in an enlarged form was resuscitated by its old publisher. In September, 1851, Robert Baker became associated with Seely and the paper was continued by them until June 9, 1852. At this time Seely sold his interest to J. Sallade, and it was published by the firm of Baker & Sallade until June 9, 1854, with John F. Meginness as editor, when Sallade and Meginness retired, the former having sold his share to Baker. After this change the paper was continued for a few years by the firm of R. & F. A. Baker.

On the 29th of June, 1854, the first number of The News Letter was issued by Seely & Megiuness, and they conducted it until August 30, 1855, when Meginness retired and Seely became sole owner and publisher. December 6, 1855, James Jones became associated with Seely, but he retired from the partnership on the 18th of September, 1856. Seely continued alone for some time, when he discontinued its publication.

The National Vidette was started, May 15, 1855, by H. J. B. & L. J. Cummings, and continued by them for six months, when the senior member of the firm retired. The junior issued a few numbers, when he retired also and the paper ceased to exist.

495

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

After lying idle until the 25th of September, 1856, it was resuscitated by James Jones and published by him until May 24, 1871, when the office, with all its con- tents excepting two presses, was destroyed by fire. After this calamity the paper remained dormant until May, 1887, when it was revived by J. W. and R. H. Grier, and they have continued it to the present time as a Republican paper.

After suspending The News Letter Col. S. S. Seely remained idle for a short time. In 1860 Moore & Snyder started the Jersey Shore Herald and ran it until 1862. Bruce Coleman bought Moore's interest, and the new firm continued about a year, when Colonel Seely bought out Coleman. In a short time he pur- chased Snyder's share and became sole owner. Seely conducted the paper until September 1, 1879, when it was purchased by his son, Charles B. Seely, by whom it has been published up to the present time. In politics it is Democratic. Colonel Seely died, September 5, 1879. He was a veteran publisher and editor, and was noted for his excellence and taste as a workman.

EDUCATIONAL.

Jersey Shore has never been backward in the cause of education. A school was opened here soon after the town was laid out. The West Branch High School, opened in the old "Union Church" building in 1850, did good educational work in its palmy days. It is still used as a school building. In her common schools Jersey Shore is fully abreast of the times. The present elegant building is an ornament to the borough. It was erected in 1885 at a cost, altogether, of $14,500, and furnishes accommodations for six schools. In 1891 eight months were taught by two male and four female teachers. The principal, J. E. Myers, was paid a salary of $75 per month, and the other teachers received an average of $41.25. The total number of pupils enrolled was 416; average attendance, 366; total tax levied, $4,472.44; State appropriation, $843.63.

Among the well remembered teachers of nearly forty years ago was E. B. Parker. He was born in Philadelphia, August 3, 1824, and received the rudiments of a sound education in an excellent private school. At the age of fourteen he was placed on board the training ship North Carolina, stationed at New York, prepara- tory to entering the naval service. Taking a dislike to the rigid discipline of the navy he applied for a discharge, which was granted. He then shipped on a merchantman and made a voyage to the West Indies and China. The master, Captain Foulke, took special pains in instructing him, and as he was an apt pupil he soon acquired a good knowledge of the science of navigation. He left the sea in 1844, and in 1845 he married Eleanor M. Justis, of Philadelphia, and the same year they came to Jersey Shore and settled. In the autumn of 1845 he opened a school, and continued to teach until October 21, 1856, when he was commissioned superintend- ent of schools of Lycoming county, to fill out the term of J. W. Barrett, who had resigned. Mr. Parker was the second county superintendent. He served faithfully until June 3, 1857, when he was succeeded by Hugh Castles, and immediately resumed his profession, which he followed till within a short time of his death, October 6, 1880.

CHURCHES.

The organization of the Presbyterian church dates back to 1793. The first

496

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

pastor was Rev. Isaac Grier. Rev. Dr. Stevens, in his History of the Presbytery of Northumberland, says that Rev. John H. Grier came in 1814, and in 1815 he was installed as pastor of the Pine Creek church for half his time. In 1832 a few Presbyterians in and around Jersey Shore joined with the Baptists and built a brick meeting honse to be occupied by the two denominations jointly. It was called the "Union church." In 1844 the Presbyterian congregation bonght out the Baptist interest in the "Union church," and six years after this abandoned it for a new building in a more central locality on Main street. The old church building was converted into the " West Branch High School," a parochial institution, which was conducted for many years with varying success. After the retirement of Mr. Grier he was succeeded, July 31, 1851, by Rev. Joseph Stevens, who continued as pastor until October, 1886, a period of over thirty-five years, when he was succeeded by Rev. P. D. Kohler. This church has had but four pastors in 100 years.

Rev. John Hays Grier, who served the Jersey Shore congregation so long, was born, February 5, 178S, near Doylestown, and died, February 3, 1880, lacking but two days of being ninety-two years old. His father's name was John, and he called his son John Hays Grier. John Hays settled in Lycoming county and became sheriff in 1822. After leaving college Mr. Grier studied theology with Rev. Nathan Grier, and in 1813 he was licensed to preach by the presbytery of New Castle. When the British fleet lay in Chesapeake bay in 1814, he was among the first citizens to volunteer to assist in repelling them in case they should attempt to land.

In 1814 he started for the West via the West Branch valley. His first stop was with the Pine Creek congregation. and being without a pastor they induced him to tarry with them a few Sabbaths. He pleased them so well that the members of Pine Creek and Great Island united in a formal call for him to become their pastor. He accepted, and this became the turning point in his life. The original call, bearing date September 6, 1814, is still in existence, in the hands of his son, Dr. John H. Grier, of Jamestown, Limestone township. In the call they obligate themselves to pay him a salary of $275 per annum. All the signers, sixty-two in number, are deceased.

When Mr. Grier located as pastor he rented a farm west of Pine creek, which he tilled in connection with his church work. He supplied the Great Island pulpit (Lock Haven) for thirteen years, when he resigned in 182S, but continued as pastor of the Pine Creek (Jersey Shore) church until declining health compelled him to retire from active work. For thirty-seven years he faithfully served this church. During that time he seldom missed preaching twice on Sunday. and he performed the marriage ceremony for 615 couples.

Mr. Grier was married four times and was the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living. His first wife, Mary Maclednff, died January 19, 1831; the second, Rebecca Bailey, August 6, 1849; the third, Elcy A. Hamilton, September 19, 1861; the fourth, Mrs. Margaret Snodgrass, December 15, 1863. The first three are buried side by side in the old Pine Creek graveyard, and the last in Jersey Shore cemetery. A marble monument, beautiful in its simplicity, marks the resting place of the patriarch.

The church has a membership of about 250; Sunday school scholars. 200; superintendent, H. B. Hume.

497

BOROUGH OF JERSEY SHORE.

The Methodists were the pioneer church society in Jersey Shore. The first Sunday school was organized in 1829 by John Forster. Previous to this (1810) religious meetings had been held at a school house just outside the town, and a class was formed in 1816. In 1815 David Craft built a wagon maker shop on the west side of the canal, near Smith street, and the society purchased it in 1821 and fitted it up for "a meeting house." And in this building they worshiped until May, 1831. Rev. Menshall is supposed to have been the minister in charge. The foundation for the first regular church building was dug in 1830. For many years afterwards the place of worship was known as the "little brick church." It stood between the old wagon maker shop and Smith street. The building was about thirty-five feet square and seated 150. The membership at that time numbered about forty. When the canal was built it cut off a portion of the lot and ran so close to the side of the church as to endanger the wall, and a supporting wall had to be built. The new church was dedicated in May, 1831. Here the congregation worshiped until 1846, when they removed to the basement of the present building on Main street. The old brick church was sold to the colored people, and in 1879 it was torn down. During the year 1845 the building of the present church was begun, but it was not completed for several years. The lot was purchased from William Babb. Rev. E. M. Stevens, in his reminiscences of the church, says: "There has been some conjecture as to why it never had a steeple. One reason is that Grandfather Rich gave a certain amount toward the building, and some time after- wards in passing noticed the frame steeple, and said that if it was taken down he would double his subscription. Another, and perhaps the more probable reason, is that after the frame had been raised a storm twisted it and necessitated its removal; this necessity being increased from a failure of funds to repair and complete it." Whatever may have been the cause, the frame for the steeple lay in the loft of the building until 1858, when it was removed. Most of the timber for the frame work of the building was given by converts in a meeting held at English Centre by Maj. A. H. McHenry, and floated down Pine creek. The church gradually increased in strength and usefulness as the years passed, until to-day it is free of debt and has a membership of 275. The Sunday school is large; superintendent, Charles F. Sinex. Pastor, Rev. J. M. Johnston.

There were a few Baptists in and about Jersey Shore quite early in the century. The first baptism was in 1825. After the congregation retired from the "Union church" in 1842 they resolved to built a church of their own. In the meantime a temporary contract was made with George P. Nice to hold services in his wagon shop. From this shop the meetings were removed to Mark Slonaker's store, which was rented until a house could be built. In 1843 the work of erecting a building was com- menced, and December 25, 1844, it was dedicated by Elder Eugenio Kincaid. In casting up accounts the congregation found that it was $1,000 in debt. This debt was long a burden on the church. At length an execution was issued and the sher- iff advertised the building for sale. The execution, however, was stayed for seven years by members becoming responsible. The debt was then divided into stock payable in fourteen years, which was sold, and the proceeds to be paid to the sher- iff semi-annually. The payments were kept up three years, when they stopped, and a new levy was threatened by the sheriff. Another effort was made, and although

498

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

he debt had then reached $1,400, success crowned the labors of the workers, and July 28, 1860, it was wiped out and a small surplus left in the treasury. The church had a hard struggle, but it succeeded and is now on a permanent basis. Improve- ments have been made from time to time, and a fine bell weighing 625 pounds is suspended in the belfry. Revs. Charles Tucker and J. Green Miles were the pioneer ministers in founding the church. Sunday school scholars, 162; superin- tendent, N. B. Messimer.

The Lutheran house of worship was commenced in 1869 and dedicated January 4, 1872. This fine edifice stands more especially as a monument to the church loy- alty, liberality, and energy of John Staver. He was not only a liberal contributor, but solicited subscriptions, collected funds, superintended the building, and met the indebtedness as it occurred. During the severe storm in the summer of 1891 the fine spire was blown down, just missing the parsonage as it fell prone in the street.

Trinity Evangelical church, located at the Junction, has a membership of forty- one. Pastor, Rev. J. F. Shultz.

CEMETERY.

The fine cemetery overlooking the town from a western elevation was projected by Mark Slonaker, an enterprising gentleman of his time. It originally comprised 432 lots, which were surveyed and laid out by Maj. A. H. McHenry in 1854. In 1863 a charter was obtained and a company organized. The original plot has been enlarged by an addition on the west by Dr. Uriah Reed. Great pains have been taken by lot holders to beautify and adorn the grounds, and as the cemetery now contains many fine monuments and memorial stones, it has become a very beau- tiful" Silent city of the dead."

CHAPTER XXIX.

BOROUGH OF MONTOURSVILLE.

HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS-FIRST SETTLER-GENERAL BURROWS-HIS SUCCESSOR-HOTELS- FOUNDING OF THE TOWN-THE POSTOFFICE-BOROUGH GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRIES -- SECRET SOCIETIES-THE PRESS-EDUCATIONAL-CHURCHES-CEMETERIES.

"THE history of the Indian occupation of the ground on which Montoursville stands and the splendid Reserve to Andrew Montour is very fully given in the opening chapters of this work. The place has occupied a conspicuous position in history from the earliest times; more than a hundred years ago the famous Catharine Montour, the French half-breed, lived here. The first Moravian mission- aries visited her and were kindly received. How long it had been a place of note among the aborigines we know not. But it is with the modern history that we have

499

BOROUGH OF MONTOURSVILLE.

to deal with in this connection-the history that has been made since white people occupied the place.

There were a number of white settlers around Montoursville before the beginning of Indian troubles in 1769 and 1770. It has been shown how Andrew Montour dis- posed of his magnificent Reserve of 880 acres, and the line of title down to Mary Norris and Peter Zachary Lloyd, who became the owners of the land in 1777, and to whom the patent was issued June 17, 1785, the consideration being at the rate of " five pounds Sterling per 100 acres, with the interest thereon."

FIRST SETTLER.

John Else is credited with being the first white settler on the site of the present borough. He came here with his parents from Bucks county, (where he was born, October 27, 1797,) in 1807. His father purchased 200 acres on Mill creek, two miles above the mouth of Loyalsock, where he settled and cleared a farm. When but ten years of age John Else went to work for George Roberts, who owned 200 acres on what was then known as Spring island, lying east of Loyalsock creek and south of the canal. In modern times it has been known as the Strebeigh farm. At an early age he indentured himself for three years to William Sebring, of Williams- port, to learn the carpenter trade. After serving about half his time he suddenly left and married Mary Ann Roberts, a daughter of his former employer. He bought forty acres from his father and erected buildings thereon, but not liking the place, he purchased eight acres in what is now the borough of Montoursville, and put up a honse, which is still standing. This was the second dwelling on the south side of Main street, the other being owned by Nathaniel Burrows. John Else built the first house in Montoursville for Thomas Wallis, a blacksmith, in 1815. It stood near the site of the Central Hotel.

Mr. Else followed carpentering for many years and worked all over this section of the State from Muncy to Bellefonte. He employed a large force of men at one time and built nearly all the important buildings in Williamsport at that day, among them being the Eagle Hotel, still standing on the corner of Third and Pine streets.

Mr. and Mrs. Else had six sons and five daughters, all of whom are deceased but two sons. John Else died, December 20, 18S8, aged ninety-two years, one month, and eight days. The pall bearers at his funeral were six of his grandsons. He left behind him twenty-nine grandchildren, forty-one great-grandchildren, and one great- great-grandchild.

GENERAL BURROWS.

Gen. John Burrows purchased the land in 1812, but did not get possession until 1813. As he was one of the prominent men of the county in its very beginning, his history is important. He was born at Rahway, New Jersey, May 15, 1760, and lost his mother in infancy. His father afterwards married a widow lady and she proved an excellent stepmother. When the first mail route in America was proposed his father put in a bid. It was sent to England and he was awarded the contract to carry the mail three times a week between New York and Philadelphia-going through in one day and night and returning the next. Light boys were employed as riders. When young Burrows was thirteen years old his father ordered him to

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

take his turu at riding, and during the three years that he followed this business there never was a time that he could not have carried all the mail on his little finger!

His stepmother died and his father married the third time. When the British landed on Long Island John Burrows and his four brothers joined the Provincial forces. Two were captured and the others fled to Pennsylvania.

General Washington lay at his father's house opposite Trenton, and when he crossed the Delaware Burrows accompanied him and was present at the capture of the Hessians. After this campaign he returned home for a short time. He then joined the army at Morristown and was employed as an express rider at $40 per month. He spent the winter with the army at Valley Forge. At the battle of Monmouth his horse fell dead under him, when General Washington presented him with another. For fourteen months he was a member of Washington's household, serving as one of his express riders. He saw much service and experienced many hardships. About the close of the war he bound himself to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and when he completed his apprenticeship he came to Pennsylvania, and lived with his brother on a farm owned by his father. Soon afterwards his father sold the farm to Robert Morris, but all he ever received for it was £50. This ruined his father financially, but Morris gave him a clerkship in the treasury, which he filled until he died at the age of nearly ninety years.

In the meantime John Burrows married Jane Torbert, and in partnership with his brother rented a farm and mill which belonged to Samuel Torbert, his father-in- law. Their partnership did not prove profitable and they soon dissolved. He then engaged in farming alone near Philadelphia, but after three years found himself in debt, when he threw up his lease and went to live on a farm in Bucks county. Mis- fortune followed him. At the end of two years he was £1,000 in debt and greatly discouraged. He then worked at his trade in Northampton county for a short time, but did not better his condition. He then resolved to seek his fortune on the West Branch.

Disposing of his tools he took his wife and five children, the youngest an infant, and started for Muncy, where they had relatives living. There they arrived, April 17, 1794, with less than $8 in money, and were obliged to take up their quarters in a log cabin about sixteen feet square with another family of six children, which, with his own family of five children, and a bound boy, crowded the cabin to its utmost.

At the age of seventy-seven Mr. Burrows wrote an autobiography for his pos- terity, detailing minutely his trials, struggles, and successes. He says:

I remained in this cabin until the 15th of November, when I removed on eighteen inches of snow to a place belonging to my relative, John Hall. I was told before leaving Northampton county that distilling was a good business in a new country. I had learned distilling at my father's, and brought two small stills with me. . The snow I had moved on to Hall's farm soon went off and the weather became fine. I dug a place in the bank near a well, put up a small log still house, aud covered it with split stuff and dirt. On New Year's Day I started my stills and found the business a good one. I purchased rye for os a bushel and sold my whiskey for $1 a gallon. By the first of April I had realized £50 in cash. I was on this farm two years.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 59

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