History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 70

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

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Schools. - There are but two school houses in this township, viz: Mosquito valley and Gibson's. The latter is located on the river below Williamsport.

Churches .- There are no churches in Mosquito valley. The early German settlers were mostly Lutherans, while those living in the southwestern part are Roman Catholics and worship at the church in the adjoining township. About 1856 a Methodist chapel was erected near Remington's, but it fell into disuse and was finally burned. Latterly religious services have been held in the fine brick school house about the center of the valley.

BRADY TOWNSHIP.

This township was set off from Washington, January 31, 1855. and named after the distinguished Brady family, members of whom lived within its limits. The reviewers appointed by the court were William F. Packer and Charles D. Eldred. It is a small township, being the fortieth in size, with an area of 4,250 acres and a population of 475 by the census of 1890. Brady lies in the southern part of the county and is shaped like a triangle. It is bounded on the east by Clinton and the river, on the north by Clinton, on the west by Washington, and on the south by Union county.

Geologically the township consists of a synclinal valley, commencing with the inferior measure which here forms the rim of the valley, formation (No. V.)

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Clinton occupies the side of the mountain, while next in the folds occurs Lower Helderberg limestone (No. VI), the lowest along the stream, while the Chemung measures (No. VIII), occupy the south side of the valley, called Little White Deer, or the upper end of Black Hole valley. The limestone (No. VI) is quarried and burned for lime, and specimens of the fossil ore have been shown. A very inter- esting piece of copper matte was given to Abraham Meyer, local geologist, in 1873, which had evidently been smelted by some of the aborigines who understood the metallurgy of copper. It was about three and a half inches in diameter and was found by Enoch Fritz. The gray Oneida measures are known to contain copper in Ulster county, New York, but as no workable beds of copper have as yet been found in this county, there have been many conjectures as to where the copper ore was found from which this mass was smelted.

Some good exposures of the Chemung measure (VIII a) occur in the railroad cuts below Montgomery, where fossil casts can be obtained.

Spring creek is the only stream in the township. It sinks at Maple Hill, at what is called the Big Meadows, and then flows to the river.

Maple Hill postoffice, the only one in the township, was established August 9, 1869, and George H. Stanley was appointed postmaster. He has had the follow- ing successors: Joseph G. Myers, appointed October 1, 1873; Emerson G. Shaffer, March 22, 1878, and Charles E. Shaffer, April 2, 1889, present incumbent.

Judge Piatt .- One of the representative men of the township was William Piatt. He was born there, January 29, 1795, and died, January 6, 1876. His father, John Piatt, came from New Jersey. He was a tanner by trade and followed that business until the close of his life. William learned the trade with his father and followed it during his lifetime. When he grew to manhood he took much interest in politics. In 1830 he was elected a member of Assembly, and again in 1832 and 1833. In 1855 he was chosen an associate judge and served a full term of five years. In addition to these offices he at one time was elected county auditor, was president of the Loyalsock Turnpike Company from its organization, and president of the Uniontown Bridge Company.

Judge Piatt was married three times. His first wife was Anna, daughter of Capt. John Brady. By this marriage he had four sons and three daughters. McCall, one of the sons, now resides on the old homestead, which is one of the finest in the township. Mrs. Piatt died, April 26, 1847. His second wife was Lucy C. Oakes, whom he married in 1849. She died, September 15, 1860, and September 10, 1862, he married Sarah Oakes, a cousin to his second wife. Judge Piatt lived and died on the farm where he was born. Near the spot where their first house or log cabin was erected stands an old apple tree with decaying trunk and gnarled branches, that was planted by his father more than a hundred years ago. In 1891 it bore a fair crop, which was gathered by McCall Piatt, grandson of him who planted it. And although no such stirring events as those under the famous apple tree at Appomattox have occurred beneath its shade, it is undoubt- edly older. Indeed there is little doubt that it is the oldest tree of the kind in the county.

John Piatt, in addition to Judge Piatt, had the following children: John, Jr., father of Sheriff John Piatt; Herman, who at the time of his death was prothono-

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tary of Lycoming county; and Elizabeth, Jane, Julia Ann, and Lydia. All are deceased. Judge Piatt also had a taste for the military and he raised the first troop of horse in Lycoming county and served as captain for more than twenty years.

When Judge Piatt died he was buried in a private lot, which he had selected on a high knoll, in one of his own fields, overlooking the country for miles around. By his side are also buried several members of his own family. The outlook from his tomb is exceedingly grand-the winding river and the receding hills are seen in the distance; in the foreground appear the well tilled fields and neat buildings of the ancestral estate, while at the base of the hill is Road Hall, the old time inn, and the home of the late William Sedam.

Schools .- There are three school houses in Brady, viz: Maple Grove, Stone, and Somerset. The reports show one male and two female teachers. They are paid $34 per month, and the schools are kept open six months in the year. Eighty-four male and sixty-nine female pupils are enrolled.

Churches .- There are two churches in the township-Mount Zion, Methodist, at Maple Hill, and the "Stone Church," Lutheran. The site of the stone church is invested with much historic interest. Here the Washington township Presby- terians founded a church as early as 1795, altough is believed Rev. Hugh Morrison organized a congregation about 1787. A long line of distinguished Presbyterian clergymen officiated there, among them being Revs. Isaac Grier, Thomas Hood, William B. Montgomery, George Junkin, David Kirkpatrick, John A. Boyd, M. A. Patterson, and James Boal. In the meantime there were others who assisted. Among the most eminent, on account of his great success as an educator, was Dr. Kirkpatrick. Many pupils who attended his famous school at Milton afterwards attained distinction in life.

The original church was a log building, but just when it was erected is unknown. It stood where the stone church now stands. Tradition says that it was quaint but substantial. A second building was erected about 1830. Dissensions having arisen in the congregation, the church and ground were sold to the Germans sometime between 1830 and 1840, one of the conditions being that they keep the burial ground in good order and the graves of the Presbyterians neatly trimmed, which part of the contract has been faithfully carried out. Under the administration of Mr. Boal the idea of building a Presbyterian church at Allenwood, not far away, was conceived.

When the Germans became the owners of the site of the historic Presbyterian church, the stone church was built in 1847, under the ministry of Revs. George Parson, Lutheran, and Henry Weigand, Reformed. It was dedicated in 1848, and was used respectively by those two denominations. After the retirement of Mr. Parson it has been used solely by the Lutherans. The congregation is in a flourish- ing condition, and the stone church recently underwent extensive repairs.

The cemetery is one of the oldest in the county and contains the remains of many pioneers in White Deer valley who died before and after the Revolutionary war. The valley was settled at a very early date, as Washington township, of which Brady was a part, was erected in 1785. Many of these settlers were sturdy Scotch- Irish Presbyterians, who have left their impress on the country where they located.

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NIPPENOSE TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XL.

NIPPENOSE, LIMESTONE, SUSQUEHANNA, AND BASTRESS.

NIPPENOSE .- FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-ORIGIN OF THE NAME-THE ANTES, MOMICKEN, AND STEWART FAMILIES-INDUSTRIES-JERSEY SHORE STATION-RAILROAD EXCAVATION- NIPPONO PARK-SCHOOLS.

LIMESTONE .- FORMATION-VARIETIES OF LIMESTONE-NIPPENOSE VALLEY-FIRST SETTLERS MILLS-POSTVILLAGES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

SUSQUEHANNA .- AREA AND TOPOGRAPHY-SETTLEMENT-NISBET-SCHOOLS.

BASTRESS .- ERECTION - GEOLOGY-BASTRESS POSTOFFICE - GERMAN CATHOLIC SETTLEMENT AND CHURCH.

NIPPENOSE TOWNSHIP.

A LTHOUGH one of the oldest townships in the county, next to Muncy and Washington, Nippenose has been greatly shorn of its original territory, and now stands the twenty-eighth in size with an area of 9,280 acres. At May term of Northumberland court, held at Sunbury in 1786, it was decreed that a new town- ship should be formed out of Bald Eagle and Upper Bald Eagle, and called Nippe- nose. Bald Eagle was the original township, created in 1772.

The records show that the first township officers were: Constable, Michael Quiggle; overseers of the poor, John Carson and George Grier; supervisors, Henry Antes and John Clark. In 1791, five years after organization, the officers were: Constable, Francis Clark; overseers of the poor, Charles Stewart and Michael Quiggle; super- visors, J. Whitman and R. Crawford; viewers of fences, W. McGrady and George Brain.

The boundaries of Nippenose when first organized were thus defined:

Beginning at the mouth of Bald Eagle creek, following down the south bank of the West Branch to join Washington township, to run a south course along the line of said township to meet the boundary of Potter township.

This was a wide scope of territory, out of which townships in Lycoming, Centre, and Clinton counties have since been made. Contrasted to-day with its original dimensions, Nippenose is a small spot on the map. By the census of 1890 it had a population of 588. It is now bounded on the east by Bastress and Susquehanna, on the north by the river and Piatt, on the west by the river and Clinton county, taking in Long Island in the river east of Jersey Shore borough, and on the south by Limestone township. It is peculiarly situated, the best part of its territory on the north lying in the great ox-bow bend of the river, while the southern part is largely composed of Bald Eagle mountain, pierced by a great cañon or gorge, through which flow the waters of Antes creek, forming the outlet from Limestone township, or Nip- penose valley, as it is called.

It is difficult to explain the meaning of this peculiar name. Many writers have attempted it, but none are absolutely certain that they are correct. Some are of

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the opinion that it is a corruption of the Indian phrase, "Nippeno-wi," signifying a warm, genial, summer-like place. The valley, on account of its secluded position, surrounded by high mountains, was (and still is) a charming spot, and must have appeared to the original explorers and settlers like an Elysian field, and impressed them with the softness and beanty of the surrounding mountain scenery. Tradition has ascribed another cause for the origin of the name. It is related that an old In- dian hunter who lingered long in the valley had his nose nipped by the frost, and the early settlers called him "Nippe-nose," in consequence of this misfortune, and from that fact the name was derived. But as the Indians generally applied names. to places that were singularly appropriate and beautiful, and free from anything of a light or frivolous nature, it is more likely that the name was given to the valley on account of its soft, sylvan beauty, and it really meant a "Nippe-no-wi," or an attractive and delightful retreat.

Antes creek from time immemorial has been noted as a trout stream. It is only about three miles in length, but it carries off a large volume of water, the accumulation in Nippenose valley. There are three fish cottages on the stream, owned by Williamsport and Jersey Shore parties, where they spend a portion of their time in the trouting season and the summer months. The wild gorge is a delightful place, hemmed in by high mountains. A fine road runs through it and the railroad station is within easy distance.

Owing to the peculiarity of the face of the country, the geological study of this township is not without interest. It consists of Medina sandstone and conglomer- ates (No. IV) on the southern line, forming the mountain along the river. Next occur Clinton shales (No. V), occupying the face of the mountain along the river, at a high angle, and finely exposed in the Philadelphia and Erie railroad cuttings near Aughanbaugh's. Following this occurs Lower Helderburg limestone (No. VI), occupying some folds in the slates (No. V) but mostly concealed except in the " deep cut " of the railroad, above Antes Fort, where the workmen uncovered it. There is also an exposure of slates and shales along the bank of the river, below the bridge leading to the island, and again about one mile above.

Fossil iron ore has been mined above and below Antes creek, which is of a good quality, but is difficult of access, by reason of the amount of debris lying upon it from the superior formation.

Morgan's valley is a mountain valley in the Bald Eagle range, on the edges of Medina sandstone. It contains some settlements, but is very much secluded. A little stream of water drains this valley, which empties into Antes creek.

Settlements were made in this township at an early period in our colonial history. as the land was not in dispute. In 1769 we hear of the provincial surveyors being at work locating land for applicants. The enumeration lists for 1800, printed in Chapter XV, will tell the reader who the taxable inhabitants were at that time. Henry Clark is claimed to have been among the first to settle in the township. Sterrett lived on Long Island and was accused of " splitting rails and working on Sunday," which so incensed some of the settlers that they made complaint to the authorities.

The most prominent of the early settlers, whose name is closely interwoven with the history of colonial times, was Col. John Henry Antes. As so much has been

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said abont him and the part he bore in early days in the opening chapters of this work, it is not necessary to repeat it here. That he came probably as early as 1772 there is little donbt. His stockade fort on the promontory just below the mouth of the creek bearing his name has been described.

When Colonel Antes found himself growing old he built a brick house on the river bank, (afterwards known as "the McMicken house,") where he retired. He then invited his son-in-law, Elias P. Youngman, to remove from Mifflinburg to the old homestead at the mill. Here Mr. Youngman opened a public house and erected an oval sign bearing the words, "Nippenose Inn," which he conducted for five years, or until the death of Colonel Antes, when the whole mill property went to his son John by will, and Mr. Youngman moved to the property in Nippenose Narrows.

Colonel Antes was twice married. His first wife was Anna Maria Paulin. She died in March, 1767, leaving five children. The eldest, John Henry Antes, Jr., married Elizabeth Shoemaker. They had nine children, and the fourth, Amelia, married Elias P. Youngman. They had thirteen children, the eldest of whom is George W. Youngman, Esq., now one of the oldest members of the Williamsport bar. Caroline, the second daughter, married John M. McMinn, Esq., the well known civil engineer, who died, September 11. 1870. His widow and seven children-five sons and two daughters-survive him and are well known

Colonel Antes married as his second wife Sophia Snyder, by whom he had eight children, all of whom long since passed away. He died, May 13, 1820, at the home- stead near the mouth of Antes creek, aged eighty-three years, nine months, and five days, and was buried in the cemetery on the hill near the site of his stockade fort. No memorial stone marks his grave, nor is there one of the name of Antes now living in Nippenose township.

Settlers in the Ox-Bow .- Nippenose bottom, lying in the ox-bow bend of the river, was settled by hardy Irish Presbyterians. James McMicken came from Bucks county in 1784 and first settled on the Loyalsock. In 1799 he purchased land in Nippenose and located there. Here a homestead was founded and the "McMicken farms " became well known landmarks. He was born, December 29, 1756, and died in March, 1835. A marble slab over his grave in the Jersey Shore cemetery con- tains this inscription:

He entered into the service of his country at the commencement of the Revolution, and by his bravery and patriotism was promoted to a lieutenancy, and he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. His wife, Elizabeth, born May 17, 1757. died December 29. 1807. aged fifty years.

They had three sons: David, James, and Charles. The second never married. Charles married Jane Smith, a daughter of Hon. Isaac Smith, whose history will be found in the review of Piatt township. Descendants are living in Williamsport.

David McMicken. the eldest son, was born in Bucks county, May 12, 1779, and came with his parents to Loyalsock when a very small child. He grew to man's estate on the West Branch and became innred to the toils and privations of pioneer life. His early training and associations developed a spirit of manhood which emi- nently fitted him for the career of activity and usefulness he entered upon soon after attaining his majority.

In early life he evinced a military taste, and in 1808 Governor Mckean com-

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missioned him first lieutenant of the troop of horse attached to the Fourth regiment of State militia, First brigade of the Tenth division, composed of the counties of Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Jefferson, McKean, and Clearfield. He was commis- sioned major in 1811, and lieutenant colonel in 1814 by Governor Snyder.

Political honors now awaited him. He was appointed deputy sheriff for Lycom- ing county in 1815, and served under Sheriff Cummings. In 1819 he was nomi- nated for sheriff and elected. Soon after this he was advanced in military rank by being appointed and commissioned brigadier general of the First brigade, Ninth division, State militia, by Governor Hiester. General McMicken was sedate and dig- nified, a close observer of what was passing around him, and he proved himself a useful and representative man in the county. He died, May 4, 1857, aged seventy- eight years.

General McMicken was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of John Bennett, who was twice sheriff of the county. His second wife was Eleanor Smith, daughter of Hon. Isaac Smith, already referred to. She died, February 1, 1850, in the fifty-seventh year of her age. John B. McMicken, who died in Williamsport a few years ago, was a son by the first marriage. Like his father he also served one term as sheriff of the county. Dr. Joseph B. McMicken, who died at Mill Hall, was a son also by this marriage. The living descendants of General McMicken are now few in number, and strange as it may seem, none are now living in Nippenose.

Another family that attained much prominence also belonged to the early set- tlers. Charles Stewart, the head of the family, was born in County Donegal, Ire- land, in 1743. In 1762, when only nineteen years of age, he came to America and joined his uncle, Samuel Hunter, who lived near the present town of Dauphin, a few miles north of Harrisburg. About 1767 he married Elizabeth Hunter, his cousin, and they settled in Cumberland county on a farm he had purchased. Before the treaty of 1784, his attention was directed to the West Branch valley by the flatter- ing reports that reached him of the beauty and fertility of the land lying along the river. Having disposed of his land for Continental money, he made a journey up the river in 1783. This journey proved eventful as well as lucky. He was pleased with the beauty and richness of the land and straightway purchased 714 acres in Nippenose bottom, lying in the great ox-bow bend of the river, and extending back to the base of the mountain, which he paid for in the money he had received for his Cumberland county farm. This is wherein his journey proved lucky in two ways- first, because of the excellent quality of the land he purchased; and, secondly, his good fortune to pay for it in Continental money, for it soon afterwards became worth- less. In course of time this magnificent estate was increased by other purchases, and it steadily grew in value as the country improved.

Charles Stewart at once set to work to clear up a farm, and when he had every- thing arranged he returned for his family in 1784. He owned a few slaves which he brought with him. His wife, children, and household goods were transported np the river in a flat-boat and his stock was driven by land. Some of the descendants of his slaves live in Williamsport to-day.

Charles Stewart and wife had four sons and two daughters: Samuel, who was sheriff of Lycoming county in 1800, subsequently a member of the State legislature, and again sheriff of the county for three terms; Charles a farmer by occupation,

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who served as treasurer of Lycoming county and was a contractor on the Pennsyl- vania canal: John, who was lieutenant in the regular army. and died from the effects of a pistol-shot at Natchez, Mississippi: Mary. who married James Beard: Katie, who married John Knox. and Alexander, who was sheriff of Erie county. Pennsyl- vania, in 1800, from which place he moved to the Nippenose valley; he first mar- ried Elizabeth Hepburn, and after her death he married her sister, Matilda Hepburn, and moved to Linden, where he became a prominent farmer, and the father of two children: Charles and William. An exhaustive history of this famous family may be found in Gernerd's Now and Then, Vol. III, No. 1, 1890. Charles Stewart died September 25, 1809. aged sixty-six years. His wife followed him, March 22, 1813, aged sixty-three years. They were buried in a private lot on their farm near the river, which was used many years afterwards as a place of interment for their descendants.

Samnel Stewart. born December 4, 1770, died April 6, 1841. He married Jane West Stevenson about 1809, and she died August 19, 1849. He was in some respects the most remarkable man of his time. At the age of twenty-three he was appointed a deputy surveyor and served for two or three years. When Lycoming county was formed he was elected the first sheriff, October 16, 1795, and served three years. During the closing year of his term (1798) he sold the lands of the celebrated Robert Morris in this county for debt on executions issued in Philadel- phia. Over 100,000 acres were thus disposed of. Some of these lands lay on the Clarion river and some in Muncy township. In 1805 he was appointed treasurer, and in 1SOS he ran for the State Senate on the Federal ticket, but was defeated by Gen. John Burrows. During 1812-13 he was brigade inspector of the militia with the rank of major, and in 1814 he was elected a member of the Lower House of the legislature. He filled, meantime, a number of minor civil offices. Stewart was a giant in stature. He stood six feet four inches in height and was proportionately framed. His strength and endurance were great. He had a remarkable head and heavy eye- brows and presented a unique as well as commanding appearance. In speech he was plain, blunt, and often rough, but possessed a warm, sympathetic heart, was devoted to his friends, and noted for his hospitality.

On Sunday, December 16, 1805, he fought a duel with pistols with the celebrated John Binns. The affair grew ont of some comments by Binns in his newspaper on Stewart's public acts. The latter was greatly offended, and meeting Binns in a ball aller at Sunbury assaulted him. Binns challenged him to fight a duel according to the code. Stewart accepted, seconds were chosen, and they met in the marsh near where Montandon now stands and exchanged shots. Neither was hurt. Before proceeding to a second fire the seconds made a proposition for compromise, which was accepted, when they shook hands and parted friends. Binns in his autobiog- raphy (page 186) gives a full and impartial account of this affair, and states that he and Stewart afterwards became warm friends. This duel was the only one ever fought in the West Branch valley according to the code, and caused a great sensation at the time. It led to the passage of the act of March 31, 1806, forbid- ding dueling under severe penalties in the State.

When Samuel Stewart died he left a landed estate of S00 acres, which bordered on the river for two miles, and embraced some of the finest farms in the bottom. It

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 70

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