History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 77

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

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The village of McIntyre, in the busiest times of coal mining, consisted of about 300 houses, one large store, a church, school house, saw mill, office, boot and shoe shop, public hall, and other buildings, together with half a dozen or more buildings at the foot of the plane. There was a good supply of water from a great spring on the summit, which was conducted through the village by pipes, and there were hydrants at the street corners. A fine public road wound up the mountain to the village.

Mining was carried on largely until about 1SS6. the output sometimes exceeding 200,000 tons annually, when the mines were found to be running low, and it was decided to cease operations and go elsewhere. The plane was dismantled, the machinery removed, the houses abandoned, and the busy popu- lation of nearly 1,500 departed. The village is now a ruin, and in a few years more. if work is not resumed, it will pass into oblivion like Astonville and Carter- ville.

Ralston, situated on Lycoming creek, at the mouth of Rock run, derives its name from Matthew C. Ralston, of Philadelphia. He was largely interested in the iron works and in the construction of the railroad to this place from Williams- port, and sacrificed his fortune in these enterprises. He was the original presi- dent of the railroad which was opened through to Ralston in 1837. William P. Farrand was the engineer, and through his visionary ideas Ralston became involved. When Ralston was laid out-though never incorporated-great expec- tations were entertained for its future success by its founder. The plot as recorded shows that its principal streets were named Maine, McIntyre, Green, Thompson, and Rock Run, with the requisite number of alleys.

Among other enterprises projected was the erection of a great hotel for sum-

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M'INTYRE TOWNSHIP.

mer visitors, as it was not expected at that time that the road would soon be built any further. The hotel was built of stone, with columns in front, and presented an imposing appearance for the time. It was named the Ralston House, and being at the terminus of the railroad, and situated in an extremely wild and secluded spot, became quite famous and was long a favorite place of resort. It still stands in stately pride, the monument of a past enterprise, and is still used for hotel purposes.

Ralston never fulfilled the rosy expectations of its founders. When the railroad was completed through to Elmira, and the McIntyre Coal Company ceased opera- tions, it came to a standstill almost, and its growth for several years past has been slow. Its leading industry now is the great tannery of J. E. Proctor, which gives employment to about 250 men-J. C. Woodworth, superintendent. About 16,000 cords of bark are ground per annum and 1,000 sides of leather are turned out daily. The town has four hotels, viz: Ralston House, Thomas Dunlop; Mountain View, P. J. Egan; Lycoming House, William Skally; Eagle Hotel, Michael Walsh. There are two justices of the peace, S. C. Myer and J. P. Walsh. The former was long the proprietor of the Ralston House. The Methodists have a church in the town and the Catholics worship in the school house. There are no other churches in the township. J. E. Proctor keeps a large company store, J. W. Kilbourn runs a general store, and there are several shops besides. At Langdon James Holmes and James Egan have stores, and W. K. Heylmun has one at Marsh Hill. At present Ralston has about 106 families, with a population of 500; also one lodge, No. 961, I. O. O. F.

The Saw Mills now operated in the township may be enumerated as follows: Peter Miller, steam, at Ralston; Charles Evans, Pleasant stream; Thomas Lundy, Pleasant stream; near Roaring Branch, a mill operated by Mr. Beardslee; and Proctor's large mill on Gray's run.

The Red Run Coal Company has recently constructed an inclined plane up the face of the mountain and a railroad to their mines, for the purpose of getting out coal. . They are operating on a large scale.

Ralston is 860 feet above tide and 241 miles north of Williamsport by railroad. Roaring Branch is 940 feet above tide.

Postoffices .- The first postoffice in McIntyre township was established May 5, 1838. It was called Oakville, and Samuel Oaks was appointed postmaster. It was changed to Ralston, December 11, 1839, and James Batchelor was appointed. His successors have been as follows: Daniel W. Canfield, appointed September 10, 1840; Peter Thompson, July 16, 1842; Clark E. Conley, August 14, 1845; John L. Scott. December 23, 1847; Charles W. Butcher, May 9, 1848; John Hepburn, July 6, 1854; Cowden Hepburn, March 10, 1858; Jennie H. Conley, October 16, 1863: Julia H. Spencer, September 16, 1868; Jennie H. Conley, April 10, 1869. She is the present incumbent.

A postoffice was opened at Langdon, January 11, 1878, and B. F. Irvin was made postmaster. His successors have been E. C. Towner, appointed November 17, 1879; F. W. Towner, June 26, 1882; John J. Holmes, December 4, 1884. He is still in office. Langdon is at the foot of the abandoned inclined plane.

The last postoffice in the township was established at Marsh Hill, December 29,

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

1884, and W. K. Heylmun was appointed postmaster. On the 28th of May, 1890, he was succeeded by Richard T. Paris, who is the present incumbent.

Schools .- There are four school houses in McIntyre township, viz: Ralston (first and second grade; the school has a principal at a salary of $60 a month and two assistants, with salaries of $50 and $40 a month; it is also supplied with a circulating library), Marsh Hill, Langdon, and Gray's Run. The statistics for 1891 show an average of eight months taught.

M'NETT TOWNSHIP.

At September sessions, 1877, H. H. McNett and others petitioned the court praying that a new township might be set off from McIntyre, because the distance residents in the eastern part of the township had to travel to attend the elections was too great. The court appointed James Thompson, Carson Clendenin, and Samuel Bodine as viewers. They reported in favor of a division, December 4, 1877, and an election was ordered to be held January 26, 1878. It resulted in 120 for division, with barely one vote in opposition, and on February 10th court ordered a new township to be erected and called McNett, after H. H. McNett, one of the peti- tioners.

McNett is the tenth in size in the county and contains an area of about 23,500 acres. By the census of 1890 the population was 619. It is bounded on the east by Bradford and Sullivan counties, on the north by Tioga county, on the west by Jackson township, and on the south by McIntyre. Its principal streams are Lycoming creek, Rock run, and Pleasant stream, all of which have several small tributaries. The source of Lycoming creek is in a morass half a mile east from Penbryn (Carpenter) station. When the railroad was built there was a pool or spring in this swamp and the water ran both to Towanda and Lycoming creeks. Hawk's switch, of the North- ern Central railroad, is built over the source of Lycoming creek.

The greater portion of McNett consists, geologically, of formations (Nos. X, XI, XII, and XIII), containing that part of the McIntyre coal basin lying west of Lycom- ing creek, which has been but little developed and shows a larger connected area of a coal basin than that on the eastern side of the creek, and is known as the Red Run coal district. Along the north edge of the township is the prolongation of a belt of Chemung fossil ore measures (VIII f), on which ore was opened and mined; while in the south part of the township formation (No. X) makes up the bulk of the area.

This township is noted for its coal, iron ore, etc. From 1837 until 1847 iron was successfully made in this region from the carbonate iron of the coal basin, which, when reworked, made good, tough bar iron, which was much in demand, and there is still some of it in use at the present day. Fire clay and good building stone also occur.

Along Lycoming creek there are some fine bottom farms; above them, on the side hills, and up the valleys of the small streams are small areas of Red Catskill (No. IX). The surface of the greater portion of the township is mountainons. The glacial moraine passed over the mountains of MeNett. There is much metamorphism of the measure along Roaring Branch and there are many good exposures for obtain- ing fossil plates and casts.

Roaring Branch .- The little town of Roaring Branch is partly in McNett town-

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M'NETT TOWNSHIP.

ship and Tioga county. The railroad station, two hotels, two stores, and the tannery of John A. Innes are in McNett. It is a lively place and its business interests are considerable. The postoffice, called Roaring Branch, serves both divisions of the town. It was established February 10, 1862, and Lloyd L. Washburn was appointed postmaster. His successors have been as follows: Charles S. Green, appointed January 19, 1863; Harvey A. Thornton, January 24, 1867; Charles S. Green, Sep- tember 21, 1869; William A. Weaver, April 24, 1883; Andrew J. Gosline, September 23, 1885; Charles Bubb, December 7, 1888. He is the present incumbent.

Penbryn .- A postoffice was established at Carpenter, November 8, 1869, and Elisha W. Sweet was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded July 25, 1888, by Eli L. McNett, who is still the incumbent. The village and station are called Pen- bryn. This is a Celtic word meaning "Head of the Mountain." It is very appro- priate, as the railroad has just made the ascent of the mountain at this point. The railroad station and store of Mr. Sweet are in Tioga county, while the other buildings are in Lycoming. At one time a hub manufactory was carried on here. Penbryn is located near where Lycoming, Tioga, and Bradford counties unite in a point or angle.

Ellenton postoffice, situated on Pleasant stream, was established in the eastern part of the township August 21, 1883, and Curtis E. Helms was appointed post- master. He was succeeded by Daniel D. Davidson, November 12, 1890, who is the present incumbent.

Chemung postoffice was established January 29, 1889, and John J. Smith was appointed postmaster. He is still in office. No other township in the county has as many postoffices as McNett. Chemung is at the head of Rock run.

Saw Mills .- At Carpenter there is a steam saw mill run by E. W. Sweet, and John Crandall & Son have one on the second fork of Rock run. Mial E. Lilley also operates one by steam on the third branch of Rock run. The lumber in this township is nearly exhausted.

Schools .- There are no churches belonging to any denomination in the town- ship. There are four school houses, however, named as follows: McIlwaine, Car- penter, Rumsey, and Pleasant Stream. The report shows seven months taught in 1891, by one male and four female teachers. The male teacher was paid $30 a month and the females $35.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLIV.

OLD LYCOMING, ANTHONY, WOODWARD, AND LYCOMING.

OLD LYCOMING .- ORGANIZATION-EARLY HISTORY-PROMINENT SETTLERS-MILLS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

ANTHONY .- ERECTION-GEOLOGY-STREAMS-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

WOODWARD .- FORMATION-QUENESHAQUE RUN-PIONEERS - MILLS - LINDEN -SCHOOLS- CHURCHES.

LYCOMING .- BOUNDARIES-GEOLOGY-FIRST SETTLERS QCIGELVILLE-PERRYVILLE-SCHOOLS . OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP.

L YCOMING, one of the original townships, now called Old Lycoming. to desig - nate it from Lycoming, a subdivision of modern creation, was erected August 22, 17S5, orer nine years before Lycoming county was formed. The petition to the Northumberland court set forth the absolute necessity that this territory should be organized "for the purposes of order and a civil state of society," and prayed the court "to erect that part between Lycoming and Pine creeks. being near fifteen miles. into one township: and from Pine creek upwards into another township," which was accordingly done, the former receiving the name of Lycoming, and the latter that of Pine creek. This territory had just been acquired from the Indians by the treaty of 1784, and it had been under Fair Play government for at least ten years.

The township officers chosen March 25, 1786, were as follows: Constable, John Johnston: overseers of the poor, Amariah Sntton and John McAdams; supervisors. William Winter and William Hammond; viewers of fences, William Jones and Samuel Sutton; assessor. Brattan Caldwell; collector of taxes, Joseph Mahaffey. In 17SS the assessor returned 21,506 acres, 182 horses, 177 cows, and thirty single men. Total valnation, £23,184; quota of State tax, £56: county tax, £24.

In its original boundaries Lycoming township extended from Lycoming creek to Pine creek, and the conrt annexed to it the lower end of Bald Eagle township. from opposite the month of Lycoming creek, and extending up the south side of the West Branch as far as opposite Pine creek, to include Nippenose valley. now in Limestone township. This was a large district for a township, but land was plenty in those days and the inhabitants were few. But the last 100 years have seen Old Lycoming divested of so much of her territory that she is now the thirty-first in size in the connty, and contains only 8.960 acres. Her boundaries are as follows: On the east, Lycoming creek; on the north, Lycoming township; on the west, . Woodward. and on the sonth, the city of Williamsport. The principal streams within her borders are Dongherty's and Bottle runs, while Lycoming creek forms her eastern line between Loyalsock township. By the census of 1890 the popula - tion was 589.

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OLD LYCOMING TOWNSHIP.

Looked at from a geological standpoint, Old Lycoming consists of formation (No. VIII) as the lowest observed-(No. VI), (Lewistown limestone, ) sinking rapidly southward, and at Lycoming creek being some 2,000 feet or more beneath the surface, where, on the west side of the creek, Genesee (VIII d) or Hamilton (VIII c) forms the first rock under the valley drift at a depth of sixty-five feet from the sur- face, and makes up about the entire area of the township, except a small part along the north line, which is supposed to be Red Catskill (No. IX).

The mineral developments in this township are meager. There are some good rock exposures, where flag and building stone might be quarried; Youngman's quarry at Newberry is extensively worked. The first fossil ore belt on the south dip passes along the north line of the township. The surface is generally rolling with some high ridges, and there are some very fine farms along Lycoming creek.

Early History .- The history of Old Lycoming commenced before Revolutionary times and will be found fully detailed in the earlier chapters of this work. New- berry, the first town laid out in this part of the county, was within its borders. and then came Jaysburg. John Sutton's trouble in getting a title for the land on which he laid out Newberry is described in Chapter XX. The names of the early settlers will be found in the enumeration lists for 1796 and 1800, given in Chapter XV. The first courts in the county were held at Jaysburg, and there the first jail was located and kept till the beginning of 1800. French Margaret's Town stood near where Jaysburg was founded, and there is where the Moravian missionaries met her in 1753.

Jaysburg had been laid out in lots soon after the county was formed, by Jacob Latcha, and strenuous efforts were made to found a town. Buildings were erected and stores and shops and a tavern were opened. In fact it was the only settle- ment at that time in this part of the county that could lay claim to being a town. And in order to give a further impetus to improvements Jacob Latcha on the 13th of August, 1796, conveyed " lot No. 133, fronting southward on Fifth street," to John Cummings and John Stewart, trustees, in consideration of 5 shillings. for the erection thereon of an "English school house." The tradition is that the school house was built, but who the first teacher was is unknown. The township enumer- ation report shows that in 1796 Robert Young, John McMachan, and Samuel Reed were "schoolmasters," and possibly they all taught at Javsburg.

Prominent Settlers .- William McMeens was a native of South Carolina. He first located in Cumberland county, near Carlisle, where he married Miss Sharen, of a distinguished Presbyterian family. They came to the West Branch valley and settled on the river opposite Lewisburg, and at the first court held in Northumber- land county (1772) he served as the constable of Turbutt township. At the end of four years (1776) they removed to " Long Reach," and settled on the river in what was afterwards Lycoming township. They were driven off at the time of the ‘ Big Runaway," and did not return until 1791. During their absence he served a short time as a captain in the Revolutionary army. He died about the close of the cent- ury and was buried in the Newberry graveyard. His family consisted of two sons, John and William, and three daughters, Margaret, Jane, and Rachel. The first married Stephen Fennes, the second, William Watson, father of Oliver Watson, and Rachel, the third, died unmarried.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

John McMIeens, first son of William, afterwards known as Colonel MIcMeens, became a man of considerable prominence. He was one of the county commission- ers in 1SOS. In 1809 he was appointed a State commissioner, with Jabez Hyde, of Luzerne county, and Samuel Hunter Wilson, of Centre county, to superintend the disbursement of an appropriation made by the legislature to improve the navigation of the Susquehanna river to the mouth. He was chosen a member of Assembly from this district in 1814 and 1818. Colonel McMIeens was a remarkable man, of great energy and untiring industry. When young his opportunities to acquire an education were limited. but on attaining manhood he took up his studies and suc- ceeded in becoming a good scholar. Governor Synder appointed him a justice of the peace and he filled the office creditably. His wife was a Miss Ritchey. They had three sons: Robert. John, and William, and four daughters: Margaret, Eliza- beth. Anna, and Rosina. Of the sons Robert became a surgeon in the United States Navy, John emigrated to California and died there, and William died here. Eliza- beth married Dr. Andrew Hepburn, of Williamsport; Anna married Dr. Massey, who died in Kansas. and Rosina and Rachel died unmarried. The date of the death of Colonel McMIeens was not discovered by the author, but it must have occurred about 1820 or 1822. He was buried at Newberry.

Thomas Mahaffey settled on the west side of Lycoming creek in 1773, and built a log cabin near what is now bridge No. 2. He was a soldier in the Revolution. During the Indian invasion of 177S his house was burned. On the restoration of peace he returned and built another house. Thomas Mahaffey was a man noted for his strength and courage. He had four sons, viz: Moses, William. John, and James, and several daughters. Moses was the father of Lindsay. David, and William Mahaffey. John was the grandfather of Sheriff Thomas Mahaffey. The descend- ants of the pioneer are numerous, and several of them reside in Williamsport.

In 1787 Dirck (now called Derick) Updegraff purchased over 500 acres of land from Clark and Dougherty. and soon afterwards located here. Mr. Updegraff at that time lived at or near York. After making his purchase he removed hither. On account of old Fair Play claims he became involved in a lawsuit which lasted six years, but he finally won and got his title. With the aid of five grown-up boys he cleared a farm which became one of the finest on the river. His barn was the largest in the county and stood for years as a monument of its builder. He pros- pered and in course of time purchased what were known as the Weir and Latcha farms, seven miles up the river. Derick Updegraff's sons were Herman. Samuel. Daniel, George, and Martin. He divided his estate among them. and many of their descendants still live in the county and city.

Mills .- The flouring mill of John Good, on Lycoming creek. was built in 179S by Thomas Caldwell. In 1833 it was purchased from his heirs by Lloyd & Oliver: and afterwards it was run by Anderson Harvey for several years. In IS5S the mill was purchased by George Good, who carried it on until 1874, when he sold out to his son. John Good, who still owns it. In 1SS6 he greatly improved the mill by introducing the roller process and other modern improvements. It is one of the oldest mills in the county. When Caldwell came over from the Culbertson mill and built it, there were few improvements in the township; and it becomes more historic, from the fact that one of the first if not the first saw mill in this part of the

Al Burrow

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ANTHONY TOWNSHIP.

county was built there, and was the beginning of the great lumber industry of Williamsport.

Churches and Schools .- There is one German Baptist church in the township, situated near Buchanan; also three school houses, viz: Bottle Run, Oak Grove, and Franklin. The report for 1891 shows six months taught by three female teachers, whose pay averaged $32.50 per month. Number of male pupils, 55; female, 61.

ANTHONY TOWNSHIP.

Anthony was erected September 7, 1844, out of territory taken from Lycoming township and named in honor of Joseph B. Anthony, then president judge of this judicial district. It is the thirty-third in size and contains an area of 8,640 acres. It is bounded on the east by Lycoming, on the north by Cogan House, on the west by Mifflin, and on the south by Woodward.

In its geological aspect it consists of Chemung (No. VIII) located in two belts across the township about one mile and a quarter wide. Alternating with these are two bands of Red Catskill (No. IX), and then the same formation occurs up the valleys of the streams and at the foot of the mountain, forming several red shale districts. Above this occurs Pocono (No. X). forming the side of the mountain, while next is observed Mauch Chunk (umbral) red shade (No. XI) forming the top of the lower part of the mountain. Pottsville conglomerate (No. XII) occupies the crest of the mountain. The upper part of this township forms part of the south escarpment of the Allegheny range, at an elevation of 1,850 to 1,900 feet above tide. Fossil iron ore of the Chemung measures has been mined quite extensively. The surface of the lower part is rolling; in the upper part are high ridges and mount- ains. The old State road, built in 1800, passes over the mountain on the eastern line of the township.

Anthony is an offspring of Old Lycoming, and its territory during the perilous period of the Indian wars belonged to the Fair Play domain, and its early history would be but a repetition of the history of those times. The names of its early settlers will be found in the enumeration of taxables made in 1796 and 1800, printed in Chapters XIV and XV. Brattan Caldwell was one of the early leading men, followed by Alexander, on the head waters of Queneshaque; John Robinson and George Herne were early settlers on Hoagland's run; Gideon and John Williamson, from Bucks county, located early on the head waters of Queneshaque.

The principal streams running through this township are Larry's creek, Quene- shaque, and Hoagland's run. The first two empty into the river and the latter into Lycoming creek. Pine run, on which Brattan Caldwell lived about a mile from its mouth, heads in this township and falls into the river. There are two saw mills, one owned by the late John Slonaker and one by C. W. Williamson. They are not far from Salladasburg.

Two Churches are found in this township-St. John's Evangelical, and the Ger- man Baptist. The latter was incorporated, February 8, 1879, (See Deed Book 4 K, page 369) under the title of the "German Baptist Church of Anthony Town- ship,"; and the following names are appended to the charter: William E. Kunkel, William S. Kiess, Jacob L. Ulmer, John Heinlen, Christopher Sheets, Jacob Ulmer, Daniel Getz, David Waltz, Conrad Waltz, Samuel F. Waltz. George Waltz, Samnel

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Ulmer, Daniel Ulmer, Abraham Kiess, William H. Ulmer, Abraham Sheets, John A. Ulmer, William Kiess, George F. Waltz, John Sheets, John Marquardt, Nicholas Marquardt, and Christopher Auch. Of these twenty-three signers seven are now deceased. The semi-centennial of this and of the Blooming Grove and Fairfield churches, all founded at the same time, was observed in Williamsport in September, IS91. These were the first German Baptist churches founded in America, and a fuller account of their origin will be found in the review of Hepburn township.

Schools .- There are five school houses, viz: Greenwood, Kiess, Stony Gap, Steam Mill, and Pine Run.

WOODWARD TOWNSHIP.

Early in 1855 petition was made to the court praying for a division of Anthony township, whereupon Charles Hepburn, Samuel Torbert, and J. S. Runyan were appointed viewers. They reported in favor of division, March 31, 1855, and on the 23d of November of the same year, the court made a decree dividing the township and directed that the new part be called Woodward, in honor of Apollos Wood- ward, of Williamsport, who was on the bench as an associate judge. It is. the twenty-sixth in size and contains an area of 9,600 acres. It is bounded on the east by Old Lycoming and the city of Williamsport, on the north by Lycoming and Anthony, on the west by Piatt, and on the south by the river. By the census of 1890 the population was 817.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 77

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