History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 74

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

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

others. It is difficult to explain the cause of these holes or "wells" in the rocks. Probably the rocks were fractured, and as the overlying glacier melted, the water, carrying round stones, entered these fissures, and churning them for ages wore the smooth cavities resembling chambers, to a great depth. Evidences of the moraine may be seen on the road from Warrensville to Loyalsock running along the base of the mountain half a mile distant.

The fossil ore passes through the township and exposures are plain on the opposite side of the creek. There are many exposures of the Chemung along Mill creek, and some good flagging should be obtainable. The surface of the township is quite hilly and in some parts mountainous.

The First Settlers in this township were largely Quakers, attracted by the land speculations of Robert Morris, the Haineses, and others in Muncy township. Among these settlers were the Winners, Wilsons, and Marshalls. The neighborhood of their settlement is now known by the title of "Quaker Hill." They were an industrious, thrifty class of people, and the country gives evidence of their character in its appearance.

Among some of the more modern residents of Eldred may be mentioned the following: Peter Palmer, who died in 1889, having moved to Eldred in 1817 at the age of seventeen; (William W. Eck moved there from Loyalsock in 1853;) Amos Wilson, William Mansel, Joseph Winner, George Kiess, and Emanuel Kiess. J. W. Milnor, Esq., born in Bucks county, moved to Eldred when about twenty-one years old. He is now in his seventy-third year.

Streams and Mills .- Mill creek, the principal stream, has its source in the township and empties into Loyalsock about a mile above Montoursville. Its tribu- taries are Sugar Camp creek, in the northern part of the township; Caleb's creek is in the northeastern part, and Lick run, in the southern part. Miller's run, which rises in the southwestern part of the township, empties into the river east of Williamsport. In the northern part of the township David Kiess & Brother own and run a saw mill; J. W. Milnor, Sr., also has one in the same section and in the southeastern part of the township there is one run by C. D. Heim. All these mills are located on and fed by Mill creek. There are two grist mills in Warrensville: one, owned by J. K. Crawford, is run by water; the other, owned by C. M. Aderhold, has steam and water both.

Warrensville is the only village in the township. The story of the origin of its name is as follows: In 1842, when there was talk of applying for a postoffice, several persons met in the store of John Hoffman, on Mill creek, and the question of a name came up. Warrensville, in honor of General Warren, was proposed, while others suggested Livingston. A vote was taken aud Warrensville carried. The postoffice was established July 25, 1842, named Warrensville, and Samuel Tor- bert was appointed postmaster. His successors have been as follows: John Cur- ran, appointed April 30, 1844; Jonathan O. Crawford, January 18, 1845; Michael Harlacher, August 15, 1846; John Hoffman, May 9, 1848; John Aughenbaugh, September 10, 1850; Joseph W. Milnor, June 19, 1851. The office was discon- tinued October 13, 1855, re-established November 21, 1855, and Joseph W. Milnor was reappointed postmaster. Since that time his successors have been as follows: Jacob P. Hoffman, appointed April 28. 1856; Nathan B. Kimble,

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ELDRED TOWNSHIP.

May 19, 1856: Jacob P. Hoffman, April 30, 1S5S; Samnel R. Casner, July 16, 1861: Jacob P. Hoffman. August 5, 1862; John Griggs. January 12. 1863; Mark A. Champion, June 15, 1864; Thomas L. Frymire, January 25, 1883; John L. Willits, May 12. 1891. He is the present incumbent.

The land on which Warrensville stands was cleared in 1802 by Samuel Car- penter. He erected a grist and saw mill and carding machine, which were the first improvements of the kind in the settlement. They proved of great service to the early settlers. These original works have long since passed out of exis- tence. The town of Warrensville was laid out in 1841 by John Weisel, but never has been incorporated. It is pleasantly sitnated and contains two stores and one Temperance Hotel, kept by Isaac MI. Else. There is one tannery, carried on by E. W. Lundy, and two wagon maker and two blacksmith shops.

Educational .- In 1826 the first school house. of stone, was erected half a mile- east of Warrensville. Lewis P. Reeder is credited with being the first teacher. To-day there are five school houses in the township, viz: Warrensville, Christian Hill, North Eldred, Quaker Hill, and Excelsior.

Churches .- A society of Friends was organized near the present site of War- rensville about 1798, the time when a church was built at Penn's Dale. and fre- quent meetings were held there.

In 1844 a church was erected near Warrensville for the use of all denominations. and Rev. Z. M. Ellis first officiated as pastor. He continued his labors for twenty years. In 185S the Methodists erected a house which was occupied by them until 1570, when it was sold and used as a Good Templar's hall. In 1850 the Evangel- ical Methodists of Warrensville built a church, and in 1859 the German Baptists followed with one. The same houses of worship are there to-day. There is a church on "Christian Hill," near the cemetery. It is now only used for preaching funeral sermons. A Methodist congregation occupies the Quaker Hill school house- regularly for religious services.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLII.

PLUNKETT'S CREEK, LEWIS, CASCADE, AND GAMBLE.

PLUNKETT's CREEK .- DE. WILLIAM PLUNKETT-PIONEERS-INDUSTRIES -- BARBOUR'> MILLS- PROCTORVILLE-FISHING CLUES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

LEWIS .- ORIGINAL AND SUBSEQUENT LIMITS LYCOMING CREEK-MINERAL RESOURCES-PROM- INENT EARLY SETTLERS-INDUSTRIES TROUT RUX-BODINES-FIELD'S STATION-GRAY'- REX-CHURCHES SCHOOLS.

CASCADE .- FORMATION-BURNETT'S RIDGE-FIRST SETTLERS-KELLYSBURG ST. MARY'S CATH- OLIC CHURCH-SCHOOLS.

GAMBLE .- ERECTION-GEOLOGY-EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT- MANUFACTURE :- POSTOF- FICES-CHURCHES-SCHOOL>.

PLUNKETT'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.

T THIS township embraces an extremely wild and mountainous district in the east- ern part of the county. At December sessions, 1836, a petition signed by divers inhabitants of Davidson (now in Sullivan county) and Franklin townships was pre- sented to the court, praying for a new township to be "set off." because they had to travel from twelve to sixteen miles to attend the elections. and the distance was too great. The court appointed Henry Lenhart, Joseph Whitacre, and John Elliot, as viewers, but from some canse they did not attend to the duties of their appointment. At the next session of the court William Wilson, Apollos Woodward, and William F. Packer were appointed to make the division. Packer and Wilson rode up Loyal- sock and stopped at the house of John Barbour, living near the mouth of Bear creek, and opposite the month of Plunkett's creek. At his house they decided to make the division withont surveying the lines-that is, by following certain tract lines. When they had finished their work Mr. Wilson proposed to call the new township Plunk- ett, but Barbour objected to the name, saying that "Plunkett was an old tory." During the Revolution he had remained passive and was more than once suspected of disloyalty. Packer then proposed to add the word "creek," to which Wilson consented and Barbour did not object. Hence it was so named, and became a town- ship by decree of court in 1838.

Col. William Plunkett was a physician by profession and had taken an active part against the Indians in colonial times. He was often called on to dress scalped heads and other wounds of the settlers, and was a valuable man in the settlement. When Northumberland county was erected he was chosen president judge. . In con- sideration of his valuable services during the Indian wars, the Pennsylvania author- ities rewarded him by the grant of six tracts of land containing 1,97S acres. The warrants for these lands bear date November 14, 1776, and were issued in the names of William Plunkett. Benjamin Rush, Jacob Rush. William Ramsey, Samuel Finley, and Andrew Todd. They were surveyed in September, 1783. The survey com- menced on Lovalsock creek just below the mouth of Bear creek. and extended upthe

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PLUNKETT'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.

creek on both sides to the upper end of Lewis's bottom. or a mile below the mouth of Ogdon creek. Plunkett being the owner of the land covering the mouth of the creek, his name was given to it and it is thus perpetuated, for no memorial stone marks his grave at Sunbury. where he died in 1791, at the great age of abont one hundred years, totally blind, and almost forgotten. The township is typical of the man-rough and rugged. From his antograph. now in the possession of the writer. he signed his name with one t, but custom and the courts have long since been in the habit of spelling it with two it's.

The township is the fifteenth in size and has an area of 17,600 acres, with a popu- lation of 777 by the census of 1890. It is bounded on the east by Sullivan county, on the north and west by Cascade. and on the south by Upper Fairfield, Muncy, Wolf. and Shrewsbury townships. It is very irregular in shape and it is hard to define its geological characteristics in detail. The Red Catskill (No. IX) makes up the valley of Plunkett's creek, the mountain platean, and the valley at the head of its smaller tributaries. The same may be said of the valley of the main Loyalsock and Big Bear creek, all of which contain some good agricultural land; while on the other side of the Loyalsock. formations (Nos. X, XI. and XII) form high mountains, on the crests of which the lower productive coal measures (No. XIII) may be found in areas undetermined. at an elevation of 2,000 feet above tide. Formation (No. X), being from 1,200 to 1,600 feet above tide, contains the false coal measures. which, on out- crops, show small beds of coal, while above this occur the Mauch Chunk (umbral) red shales (No. XI a). in quite a wide bench.

Immediately above the mountain limestone (No. XI b) is observed about sixty to eighty feet thick, forming a bold cliff and outcropping at intervals for a distance of a mile or more. The umbral (No. XI) iron ores are found in surface specimens weighing from ten to sixty pounds, of a good quality. Good building and flagstone are abundant, and fire clays and mineral paints are likely to be found.

Glacial drift is abundant and quite prominent terraces occur along the creek. one of which is from forty to sixty feet high. The surface is very irregular, the greater portion being mountainons: while to the east of the creek. near Barbour's, is a singularly elevated, round-topped hill. in the center of the Devonian valley, looking as if it had been thrown up by some great disturbance of the earth's sur- face. The township forms part of the south escarpment of the main Allegheny range.

Loyalsock creek, one branch of which heads at Dushore and the other at Lopez. runs through the township and then washes its western boundary for some dis- tance. Its principal tributaries are Big and Little Bear creeks on the east, and Plunkett's creek on the northwest, besides a number of smaller streams.

There is a large cranberry swamp in this township, and the line separating Sullivan county from Lycoming passes through it. Capt. Thomas Lloyd, of Muncy; the well known surveyor, has run lines through it.

Pioneers .- Among the first settlers may be mentioned Louis Donelly, in 1S15. near the month of Bear creek: Charles Smith, and a man named Payne. The first settlers here found the cabin of a man named Paulhamus, who had squatted there some time between 1770 and 1776. He lived the life of a hermit. cleared a few acres of ground, and subsisted on what vegetables he could raise and game he could

626

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

kill. The place where he settled is now included in the farm of James Warn. He was undoubtedly the first man to settle in that region. Tradition says that he was a deserter from the British army, and that he was finally captured and returned to service. At all events he suddenly disappeared and never was heard of again.

Industries .- There is no grist mill within the bounds of the township. Lumber- ing has been the principal business for many years. Following are the saw mills: Weaver & Company, steam mill, at the mouth of Little Bear creek: Thomas Blair. portable mill. located on the cove: Julius Lewis, water mill, located half a mile below Bear creek, on Loyalsock: John Scaife. water mill, one mile and a half below Sandy bottom. on Loyalsock; John Day, water mill. one mile up Big Bear creek: N. C. Johnson, water mill, one-half mile above John Day's. on Big Bear creek: Watson heirs, water mill. four miles above N. C. Johnson, on Big Bear creek: William Hayes, water mill, two miles up Little Bear creek; S. B. Porter, steam mill. half a mile from the mouth of Plunkett's creek; Wilson Nevel. steam mill. four miles up Plunkett's creek.

The Rogers Woolen Mill, three miles up Big Bear creek. was an old plant. It was owned and run by Ira J. Parker, of Penn's Dale, until December 11. 1891. when it was destroyed by fire.

Thomas E. Proctor erected a large tannery at Proctorville in 156S. It is well supplied with all the necessary machinery, vats, dry honses, sweat houses. - bark mills, engine house, etc., for carrying on a very extensive business. and. together with men in the woods, gives employment to several hundred hands.

Barbour's Mills .- John Barbour, a Scotchman. was an early settler. He owned a large amount of land. The first mill in the township was built by him opposite the mouth of Plunkett's creek in 1832 for the manufacture of lumber. He was a public spirited citizen and built a school house at the mouth of Bear creek, which he donated to the township. His name is perpetuated in the little town of Bar- bour's Mills, situated between the mouth of Plunkett's and Bear creeks. It con- tains a temperance hotel. a store. and blacksmith shop. The hotel used to be kept by M. D. Wells, and for a long time it was a popular stopping place for fishermen and hunters. A postonice called Barbour's Mills was established July 19, 1839, and John Barbour was appointed postmaster. He kept the office until June 4. 1862, a period of over twenty-three years, when he was succeeded by John Harkins. The line of succession has been as follows: Bethuel Diggin. appointed June 2. 1864; Iddings Emick, July 1, 1864; Moseley D. Wells, March 24. 1565: Mary J. Fetterman. June 27. 1831: John E. Barbour. September 21, 1855; Calvin B. Bar- bour. September 20, 1SS6. He is the present incumbent.

Proctorville comprises the Proctor tannery, two stores, two blacksmith shops. one wagon shop. and a number of dwelling houses. The postoffice was established January 20, 1SS5, and called Proctor. Plunket W. Nevel was made postmaster. His successors have been John F. Bloomer. appointed August 17. 1SSS. and Pris- cilla Bryinton, April 24, 1890. present incumbent.

Fishing Clubs .- Plunkett's Creek township, on account of its dashing mountain streams of pure water, has always been a favorite place for trout-fishing. and to-day there are three companies that have chartered rights on two of its streams for the propagation and protection of fish and game. These companies have dams to pre-

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LEWIS TOWNSHIP.

vent their fish from escaping and watchmen to guard them against poachers. They also have cottages, comfortably fitted up and furnished, where they can spend the time pleasantly in warm weather.

The Ben Lomond Fish and Game Club, West Bear creek, was incorporated June 7. 1SS6, with the following members: Henry Rawle, Charles Rawle, John H. Watson, and F. E. Gleim.

The Big Bear Creek Fishing Club was incorporated July 7, 1SS7, with the fol- lowing members: Thomas Millspaugh, John H. Millspaugh, Nelson Hughes, John M. Dean, and Clinton Lloyd. Samuel Campbell and wife, through whose land the creek runs where their fishing grounds are, gave them the right, by deed, to use the premises, July 15, 1SS7.

The Dunwoody Fish and Game Club, on Big Bear creek, was chartered June 5, 1891, with the following members: George H. Rogers, Samuel Rogers, G. L. Stearns, J. A. Stearns, J. W. Hays, John G. Reading, Jr., John K. Hays. C. R. Stearns, Sarah P. Stearns, Jane H. Stearns, Clara F. Reading, and Sarah B. C. Hays.

Churches .- There are two churches in the township. The first, a Baptist, at Barbour's Mills, was erected in 1875, and dedicated on Christmas day. The second, a Methodist, is seven miles down the creek at Woliver's. The first religious exer- cises were held by a Methodist minister named Tarring, in 1836.

Schools .- The first school house was a log building near the Heisly place. not far from the mouth of Wallis run. The second, built in 183S, stood near the month of Bear creek. at Barbour's Mills. and the third was built near the mouth of Wolf run. It is claimed that Samuel McBride was the first teacher. This was in 1836. To-day there are seven school houses in the township. named as follows: Proctor (first and second grade), Barbour's Mills, Red, Factory, Styker, and Moorhart. The report for 1891 shows six months taught, with one male and six female teachers. The male teacher was paid $35 a month and the females $24.66.

LEWIS TOWNSHIP.

This township, organized in 1835, was named after Ellis Lewis, then president judge of this judicial district. Its territory was taken from Hepburn. It is the seventh in size and has an area of 30, 720 acres, with a population of 9S5 by the census of 1890.

On the 4th of May, 1846, court was petitioned to permit the annexation of a small part of Cascade township to Lewis. The line of Cascade was so irregular that the inhabitants were compelled to travel from ten to fourteen miles to the elec- tion. They resided east of Lycoming creek and were so sitnated that they had to hold their general election in Lewis and thereby incur the expense of a set of elec- tion officers to receive ten or fifteen votes. They therefore prayed to be attached to Lewis. Court appointed Henry Lenhart, Dr. Joseph M. Green, and John K. Hays, commissioners. They reported favorably and the division prayed for was ordered by the court, December 10, 1846. The records show that Furman Field paid the expenses, which amounted to $100.

Lewis is bounded on the east by Gamble and Cascade, on the north by McNett and McIntyre, on the west by Cogan House, and on the south by Lycoming and

630

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Hepburn townships. Lewis is well watered. Lycoming creek sweeps through its center from the northeast to the southwest, forming a narrow and romantic valley bounded by bold and precipitous mountains on both sides.

Lycoming creek is a stream of great historical importance. The great Sheshe- quin path, or Indian trail, passed along its banks, crossing it almost as many times as the Northern Central railroad does to-day, and in many places it is still pointed out. Over this trail many Indian expeditions moved, bent on plunder and murder: over it Conrad Weiser, the interpreter. often traveled. and later he was followed by the Moravian missionaries on their way to Onondaga, the capital of the Six Nations. The famous military expedition of Col. Thomas Hartley in 1778, when he invaded the Indian country, passed this way and widened the path greatly. The main body of the Indian forces descended this trail from the north in 1779, when the West Branch valley was devastated, Fort Muncy destroyed, Fort Freeland captured, and many white settlers carried into captivity.

The principal tributaries of Lycoming creek on the east side are Pleasant stream, sixteen miles long, Slack's run, and Clendenin's run; on the west side. Wolf run, Hagerman's run, and Gray's run. There are a few other umimportant tributaries.

Considering the geological aspect of this township. it may be said that along Lycoming creek it consists of Red Catskill (No. IX) above the bottom lands and up all the small streams that flow into it, to an elevation of about 1,650 feet; above this Pocono (No. X) occurs, reaching to near the top of the mountains, when Mauch Chunk (umbral) red shale (No. XI) occurs, above which, in places, the Pottsville conglomerate appears.

This township has considerable area of mountain plateau red shale (No. XI) lands, which have given a number of hardy German pioneers good farms, (by the use of fertilizers.) which have enabled them to raise fair crops. In Bobst mountain. in the southwest corner, is one settlement, and east of Trout run, towards Rose val- ley. is another. There is much rough, thin land on the mountains.

A fair variety of umbral iron ore (No. XI) occurs, and there is good fire clay. Building stone of an excellent quality bave been quarried for many years and hauled to Williamsport. Copper has been found in pockets in the old sandstone (No. IX) at a number of places on Lycoming creek. One mile below Tront run there was found a thin deposit of copper shale, and at one point the copper shales had been dug out, leaving a hollow in the measures, in which was found a stone implement, left probably by some of the aborigines; but the copper was too lean and thin to be of any practical value. Good building and flagstone occur at many places just above Crescent, on the farm of Charles Heylman.

The surface of the township is quite varied, being cut up by numerous streams. along some of which are fair agricultural lands. The bottom lands along the valley of Lycoming creek are quite good. A large area of the township is mountainous and forms the south escarpment of the main Allegheny chain. which, at the point where it crosses Lycoming creek, forms a remarkable crescent in the stream by the trend in the mountain chain, which gave the name many years ago to the iron and nail works located just across the creek in Hepburn township.

Prominent Early Settlers .- According to the best authority A. M. Slack was the first permanent settler in Lewis township. He squatted on what is the site of

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LEWIS TOWNSHIP.

Bodines soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and the little stream, Slack's run, takes its name from him. The land was surveyed to Isaac Penrose. The orig- inal draft, now in the possession of Samuel Bodine, Esq., is endorsed:

A draft of a tract of land situate on the east side of Lycoming creek, in Muncy township, Northumberland county, surveyed the 24th day of July, 1786. in pursuance of a warrant granted to Isaac Penrose, dated June 24, 1773. containing 182 acres, with the usual allowance of six per cent. for roads, etc. Jos. J. WALLIS, D. S.

In 1792, when Charles Williamson was preparing to cut the road through to the Genesee country, by ascending Trout run and passing over Laurel Hill, he estab- lished a depot for provisions where the village of Trout Run now stands. That there was a settlement there at that date seems certain, for Williamson says (See Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, page 253) that his party went up the Lycoming to the "house of one Kyle," who was then one of the farthest advanced settlers. From that point he sent out men to explore the route up Trout run, and return and report. By camping, breaking up, and working by slow stages, they succeeded in getting through to what is now Blossburg. What has been known for a hundred years as the "Block House," just across the Tioga county line, was built by Williamson as the first depot after leaving Trout run.

That James Kyle was an advance settler and made valuable improvements there is no doubt. In an issue of the Lycoming Gazette for March 14, 1810, he adver- tises for sale over his own name, "a valuable farm on which he lives, situate on Lycoming creek, twelve miles from Williamsport, containing 260 acres, between thirty and forty of which are cleared, with six acres of meadow, a thriving young orchard of apple trees, and a nice peach orchard. A square log house and kitchen, a good log barn, one of the best mill seats on Lycoming, on which there is a grist mill. In a word, the place is fit for almost any public business, as the great road [Williamson] leading to the State of New York passes through it."

It was this property, undoubtedly, that the Allens-as will be shown-afterwards purchased. And that Kyle was the builder of the first mill seems clear.

As the narrow valley was very wild settlers were slow to locate. A. M. Riley settled on the creek below Bodines previous to 1812. James Lusk purchased lands of Riley and located there about the same time. A Mr. Keys settled on a portion of the Penrose tract soon after, Martha Clendenin about three miles above Trout run, and John Apker on the tract originally located by Luke Morris, all from 1812 to 1814. At this time the flats along the creek were covered with a forest of heavy pines, and the underbrush consisted of an almost impenetrable jungle of vines, briars, and laurel. The great Indian trail crossed the creek at the mouth of Trout run, and as it was a stopping place for the savages, caused a settlement to be made there.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 74

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