History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 78

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

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Geologically the township consists of Lower Helderberg limestone (No. VI) in the bends of the river above Linden, but it is all concealed, with the exception of a few exposures where the roll in the measures brings it up to the surface, and dip- ping to the south at Linden. The next formation is (No. VIII) Chemung, which occupies the greater portion of the township, excepting a very narrow belt of Red Catskill (No. IX), along the line adjoining Anthony township. A number of exploi- tations for galena have been made upon Queneshaque run, but no occurrence of it has been discovered. Building and flagstone are found at quite a number of places. The surface of the township is rolling, with fine bottom farming land on the river.

The principal stream in the township is Queneshaque run, with Kulp's run as a tributary, and Pine run in its northwestern corner. The famous stream with the generally unpronounceable Indian name, Quen-is-chasch-hacki, falls into the river just east of the village of Linden. Heckewelder, the Moravain missionary, and best authority on Indian names and their meaning, says the Delaware Indians, who had a village where Linden now stands, called the "Long Reach" by this name. The "Reach" is a stretch of water in the river, several miles in length, with such a dead, sluggish current, that it can scarcely be seen to move. Hence the Indians called the West Branch Quen-ischachachgek-hanne, which word has been corrupted into Susquehanna. Zeisberger, another eminent Moravian missionary and scholar, thus defines the word: Quin, long; Quenek, length; Schasehack-ki, straight-mean- ing "long straight water." The white settlers called the creek by the Indian name for the "Long Reach," which was corrupted into "Queen-e-shock-any." It is now generally written "Queneshaque." On the Historical Map of Pennsylvania, drawn by P. W. Sheafer and published by the State Historical Society, the word is spelled Quinishahaguy.

657

WOODWARD TOWNSHIP.

Pioneers .- One of the leading and representative men within what is now the territory of Woodward during the stormy times of the Revolution and Indian inva- sion was Brattan Caldwell. He was a native of County Kildare, Ireland, and came to this country about 1770, landing at Philadelphia. The Hughes brothers had preceded him in 1769, and settled in Donegal, Lancaster county, where he joined them. Attracted by the flattering reports of the fine lands on the West Branch, they came here in 1772 and settled west of Lycoming creek. They soon discovered that the lands were in dispute and that they were outside of the Province. In the party were the Toners, McClarin, Magee, James Hughes, and Brattan Cald- well. The latter located on the Indian path on a beautiful flat east of Pine run, near where the public road crosses that stream. There he erected a cabin and made some improvements. On the breaking out of Indian troubles he abandoned the place and his cabin was burned.

In the winter of 1775 Caldwell married Miss Elcy, daughter of James Hughes. The marriage ceremony was performed at a cabin in Nippenose bottom by a justice of the peace, and the contracting parties and their friends crossed the river on the ice. The land on the south side of the river was in the Province, and a justice of Northumberland county could act there. This wedding is said to have been the first one that occurred in the settlements west of Lycoming creek, and the event was cause for a great jollification.

Being outside the jurisdiction of the Province of Pennsylvania, and therefore having no laws for their protection and guidance, the settlers organized the Fair Play system and elected three commissioners to administer local laws and see that all had "fair play." Brattan Caldwell became a leading commissioner and fre- quently served in that capacity.

At the time of the "Big Runaway" he fled with his wife to Lancaster county, where they remained until it was safe to return. After the treaty of 1784 he took out a pre-emption warrant for the land on which he had originally settled and secured 315 acres, for which he was granted a patent.

Brattan Caldwell and wife reared a family of eight children-three sons and five daughters. The sous were named James, David, and John. James lived and died on Pine run. The others went west. The daughters were named Nancy, Elizabeth, Susan. Margaret, and Mary. Elizabeth married Adam King and they went west in 1835 and settled near Indianapolis. Their descendants now reside there. Margaret married William Pearson and they settled near Cincinnati. Nancy, the eldest, remained single, and Susan died young. Mary became the wife of James Watson and they settled in Jersey Shore. Mr. Watson was one of the first store- keepers in that place. Their descendants, the Miss Watsons, are all deceased.

Caldwell, his wife, and daughter Susan all died within a short time of each other, about 1810 or 1811, of some disease like yellow fever, and are supposed to have been buried in the old cemetery on West Fourth street, Williamsport. He was an active and useful man in the community. His name occurs often on the official records after the organization of the county, as assessor, overseer of the poor, and foreman of grand juries.

One of the old settlers, a short distance west of Linden, was John Bennett. In 1797 he purchased a tract of 3262 acres of land from Dennis Toner, which had been

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

surveyed to him on a pre-emption warrant dated May 2, 1785. Soon after making the purchase he married Miss Margaret Clendenin. In 1798 he opened an inn at a house which stood at the foot of the hill a short distance from what was afterwards known as the Bennett House, sign of the "Buck," in stage coaching days. This hotel was a popular place of resort, especially for shad fishing parties at Toner's island. The militia also met here on "training days" and some lively times were witnessed. Mr. Bennett died about 1841 at an advanced age. He left two sons, William and John, and five daughters. John became sheriff of the county in 1847. Both are deceased. Of the daughters Nancy married William Mahaffey; Rebecca, Seth Rogers; Hannah, David McMicken; Margaret, Frank Carothers; Elizabeth, first, James R. Hughes, second, John Hughes, who was a relative of her first hus- band. John Bennett, married, second, Mercy Sutton, of Newberry. They had two sons and three daughters. Nearly all are deceased.

The Hughes family were older settlers than Bennett. Among others who came later were the Maffets, Griers, and Wiers. In the chapter on the Fair Play system reference will be found to the Hugheses and other early settlers, and the trials and troubles they experienced.

Mills .- Woodward has no grist mills within its borders; there are three saw mills, however. One, near Linden, is operated by John Campbell, and is also prepared to grind chop. Thomas Smith has one on Queneshaque run by steam and water, and Mr. Waltman operates a small mill near Linden, which also grinds chop.

Linden, the only village, is situated on the public road leading to Williamsport. Being on high ground a fine view of the river and the great boom is afforded, as well as that rich agricultural district on the south side of the river known as "Susque- hanna bottom." In 1832, when the canal was being built, the contractor erected a number of shanties for his laborers, and the people called it "Shanty Town." In course of time better buildings were put up and it grew into a pleasant village. A hotel was opened by Paul Brewer, who kept it for many years. Afterwards William Maffet opened another hotel, which he kept for some time. In course of time both of these hotels passed out of existence, but another one was opened, which is still kept up.

A postoffice was established April 18, 1832, and called Level Corner. It was located at the cross roads near the present residence of Marshall M. King. James Russell Barr was the first postmaster. His successors were George L. Armstrong, appointed December 17, 1832; William Maffet, June 10, 1834 (Maffet moved it to his hotel a short distance further east); Paul Brewer, January 14, 1843 (He kept a hotel in the village, and at the suggestion of John Wier, the postoffice was named Linden in 1845, a name by which it has been known up to the present time); Mar- garet E. Lyon, January 28, 1846; Andrew J. Toner, July 22, 1852; Thomas John- ston, June 3, 1853; William Bennett, Jr., September 13, 1856; Thomas Johnston, February 13, 1857; Jeremiah Donachy, December 27, 1864; Ellen Donachy, March 20, 1868; Jennie Donachy, December 21, 1869; William Bennett, May 3, 1888. He is the present incumbent.

Schools .- Woodward has six school houses, viz: Linden, Oak Grove, Pine Run, Limber Bridge, Forest Glen, and Stewart's.

Churches .- Of churches, there are two at Linden -- one Presbyterian and one

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LYCOMING TOWNSHIP.

Methodist. The former was organized in 1859, but it never has been entirely self- sustaining. The third and last church is located at "Emery's," and belongs to the Christian denomination. Near it is an old cemetery where many of the early set- tlers are buried. It is the only one in the township.

LYCOMING TOWNSHIP.

This township was formed of territory taken from Old Lycoming. April 26, 1858, a petition was read in court praying for a division of the township by a "line commencing at a point on Lycoming creek at or between Little Beauty's run and the division line of lands of John K. Hays and ' Squire Hays, on said creek." The court appointed William Fink, Thomas P. Simmons, and J. W. Milnor as viewers. They reported in favor of a new township, August 3, 1858, and an elec- tion was ordered to be held at Newberry October 12, 1858. The result was 124 votes in favor of a new township and seventy-four against. On the 2d of Decem- ber, 1858, the following decree was made by Judge Jordau: "The court directs that that part of Lycoming township between the river and the division be called Old Lycoming township, and the part between said line and Cogan House and Lewis townships be called Lycoming township."

Next to the mother township, Lycoming is the thirty-second in size, and has an area of 8,704 acres, with a population of 643 by the census of 1890. It is bounded on the east by Loyalsock and Hepburn, on the north by Lewis and Cogan House, on the west by Anthony, and on the south by Old Lycoming. It consists of Che- mung measures (No. VIII) with its subdivisions (VIII e, Portage) and (VIII f, Chemung), which cross the township in two belts about one mile and a half wide, which lie on either side of a belt of red shale. This belt of red shale and shaly sandstone is supposed to belong to Red Catskill (No. IX). Another belt of red shale lies north of Hoagland's run at the foot of the mountain, extending in some places two-thirds up the side of the mountain, with the next succeeding formation (No. X, Pocono) forming part of the south escarpment of the main Allegheny chain from north of Hoagland's run to Lycoming creek, below Crescent.

Iron ore mines were worked from 1854 to 1875 quite extensively on the farms of Isaiah Hays, Jesse Quigel, William Bowen, and J. M. McClarren. The last work- ing was about 1883. All the ore banks are good localities for fossil plates and casts. Along Lycoming creek below Cogan Station good flag and building stone may be found. A drill hole was put down at Quigelville iu 1866 some 300 feet, but making a flat hole it was abandoned.

There is a very interesting upthrow of the measures of Chemung (No. VIII) along the valley of Lycoming, on the west side, where the public road leads from the creek to the State road along Beauty's run, which consists of a number of sharp crested and knob-like hills. They may be seen very plainly just west of the line of the Northern Central railroad.

First Settlers .- The history of the early setters is blended with the history of Old Lycoming, and their names will be found in the enumeration lists of 1796 and 1800, already referred to. After the Revolutionary war the Hayses, Quigels, Groves, Knights, Adam Hale, Artley, and David Kulp settled along Hoagland's run, and Asa Conn, Jacob Rickert, Adam Han, Jacob Bower, William Blair, and

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Catharine Reed settled on Beauty's run and made improvements. In 1784 James Kyle settled on the place afterwards owned by Robert Hays.

Quigelville .- The principal streams running throngh the township are Hoag- land's run, and Big and Little Beauty's run, with Lycoming creek washing its east- ern border. Quigelville, a hamlet of about a dozen houses, is located on Hoag- land's run. It has two churches, Evangelical and Lutheran, one store by W. B. Flook, a water-power saw mill, run by Whitman & Ludwig, and postoffice. The latter was established December 4, 1886, and called Lycoming, and Joseph Moyer was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded September 9, 1889, by William B. Flook, who is the present incumbent. There is another saw mill in the township run by Henry Reighard.

Perryville, a hamlet of about ten houses, is situated on Lycoming creek. It has one general store conducted by Valentine Stiber, and a flouring mill run by L. Corter. The first mill was built by Isaiah Hays in 1831. In 1837 it was burned. He rebuilt it the next year. Mr. Hays was a remarkable man. He was born in February, 1796, on Warrior run, and died November 18, 1889, in his ninety-fourth year. He settled on Lycoming creek with his parents in 1805, and during his long life was an active, industrious man, and did much to reclaim the country and pro- mote its interests. Mr. Hays and his wife lived together sixty-four years, when she died in 1882. His father, who was named John, was nicknamed "umbrella," to distinguish him, as there was a "curly" John, and a " black" John.

Schools .- Lycoming has five school houses, named as follows: Perryville, Qnig- elville, State Road, Maple Springs, and Pleasant Hill. The 1891 report shows six months taught by three male and two female teachers, with an average pay per month of about $28. Number of male scholars, eighty-one; female, 104.

CHAPTER XLV.

MIFFLIN, PORTER, WATSON, AND PIATT.

MIFFLIN .- ERECTION-GEOLOGY-FIRST SETTLERS-THE LUMBER INDUSTRY-A PARADISE FOR HUNTERS-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

PORTER .- FORMATION-MINERAL RESOURCES-HISTORIC GROUND-THE DAVIDSON BURIAL GROUND-REMINISCENCES OF FATHER MCMURRAY-INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS.

WATSON .- ORGANIZATION-GEOLOGY-SETTLERS-THE IRON INDUSTRY-POSTOFFICES-SCHOOLS -CHURCHES.

PIATT .- BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-INDUSTRIES-POSTOFFICES-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

THIS is another of the old, original townships. It was created in 1803 by T dividing Lycoming township, which then extended from Lycoming to Pine creek. The line of division was made at Pine run, and all west of that stream was called Mifflin, after Gov. Thomas Mifflin. Its territory was very extensive, but it has been reduced from time to time by the creation of other townships, until it now

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MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

takes rank as the eighth in relative size, with an area of 30,320 acres. By the census of 1890 the population was 695. It is bounded on the east by Anthony and Cogan House, on the north by Cogan House, on the west by Cummings, Watson, and Porter, and on the south by Piatt.

Geologically Mifflin consists of a belt of Chemung rocks (No. VIII), running part way across the township below Salladasburg, which are overlaid with Catskill (No. IX). Another belt, (No. VIII), is located at the south end of the township. Both belong to the fossil iron ore measures. Next above these occurs Red Catskill, (No. IX) forming the south part of the township; and also again at the foot of the mountain spurs, which form part of the south escarpment of the main Allegheny range. Above these occur Pocono rocks (No. X), making up a great portion of the mountain face, and in some lower elevations the top of the lower benches, while uext above comes Mauch Chunk red shale (No. XI), which makes the top of some of the mountain plateaus-Puterbaugh mountain on the west, east, and northeast- while a few parts are found to contain small areas of Pottsville conglomerate (No. XII).

The fossil iron ores were mined quite extensively many years ago by the Dan- ville Iron Company below Salladasburg. The deposit was about two feet thick. Ore was also mined on Canoe run and in the face of Short mountain. The umbral iron ores occur on Puterbaugh mountain.

In the north part of the township are beds of fire clay, flagstone, and glass sand, in great abundance; and brownstone is observed along Larry's creek for some five miles almost continuously.

The surface of Mifflin township is much varied, good farm land of Chemung shales and Catskill red shales making rolling land and small valleys, while there is considerable bottom land along the valleys of the streams. In the north part of the township the land is rough and mountainous, with much that is not tillable.

The township is well watered. Larry's creek is the principal stream, with its forks, passing through it. Its main tributaries on the west are Francis run. Puter- baugh's run, Little Harbor run, Big Harbor run, and the first and second fork.

First Settlers .- In early days the territory of Mifflin belonged to the Fair Play region and was under the government of the commissioners of that organization. The early settlers were scattered along the river and their names will be found in the first enumeration lists printed in Chapters XIV and XV. A few miles back from the river it was a wild unknown wilderness. Hunters and a few dariug adventurers followed Larry's creek into the mountains, but owing to the thickets of laurel and brush which lined its banks, they found no eucouragement to settle. The first settler of whom we have any account on the creek was John Murphy. He located near what is now Millville, and there his daughter Sarah was born in 1790. She is claimed to have been the first white child born that far up the stream. He was fol- lowed by a man named Dome who located near his cabin. The latter made some improvements and in 1799 erected a small saw mill.

In later years Anthony Pepperman settled further up the creek. He came from Virginia and had a large family of boys. This was as early as 1825. They made several improvements along the creek, and in later years the elder Pepperman built a saw mill which he carried on for many years. It was located about a mile below Salladasburg.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

About 1825 John Olen and Joseph Robinson settled in the vicinity of Salladas- burg. They were genuine pioneers. Their cabins were primitive structures. Much of their time was devoted to hunting, which was their principal means of subsis- tence.

The Lumber Industry .- Mifflin township was well timbered with pine, and lum- bering was the principal occupation of the early and permanent settlers. At one time there were several large saw mills and the output of manufactured lumber amounted to many millions of feet. It was hauled by teams to the mouth of the creek and sent to market by canal boats. At present there are few saw mills in the township.

On the 2d of May, 1872, a destructive forest fire swept over a portion of this township. Two little villages, Carter and Gould, situated on Larry's creek, six miles above Salladasburg, and consisting of about a dozen houses each, were almost entirely destroyed. There were two steam saw mills at these villages. One mill, belonging to Mr. Clark, was burned; the other, owned by James Gilbert, was on fire several times, but was finally saved. Several of the occupants of the houses lost everything and barely saved their lives. A school teacher lost her trunk, clothes, jewelry, and a sum of money. Great ruin was wrought by this fire and the loss was heavy.

A Paradise for Hunters. - The mountain streams of Mifflin from the earliest times afforded fine trout fishing and the forests abounded in game. It was much fre- quented therefore by fishermen and hunters. In later years Jay Cooke, the great financier during the rebellion, secured land on the first fork of Larry's creek, erected a dam for the preservation of trout, and built a neat summer cottage. Here for several years past he has been in the habit of spending several weeks during the trouting season. Many men of note have visited him at his delightful summer retreat, and the coming of Mr. Cooke and his friends has always been regarded as an event of more than ordinary interest by the residents of that part of the township.

Churches .- The first religious meetings were held at the house of Anthony Pep- perman in the fall of 1826 by Rev. John Bowen. Mr. Pepperman was the pioneer Methodist on the creek, and for many years he served as a local preacher and exhorter. Meetings were held at his place until the completion of a school house in 1834, when it was used for that purpose. The first church was built by the Meth- odists in 1848. There are two churches in the township, viz: Frieden's and Mt. Pleasant, both Evangelical.

Schools .- Mifflin township now has seven school houses, named as follows: Chestnut Grove, Main Creek, Plank Road, Forks, Mud Run, Brick, and Frieden's. Their condition in 1891 was reported as follows: Months taught, five; teachers, five males and two' females; average wages of males, $30.50; females, $29; male scholars, 90; female, 100.

PORTER TOWNSHIP.

This township was erected May 6, 1840, out of territory taken from Mifflin, and named in honor of David R. Porter, then Governor of the State. It is the. smallest in area of all the townships in the county, being the forty-second, and con- tains 2,880 acres. The township is peculiarly located, being bounded on the east by the borough of Jersey Shore and Piatt township, on the north by Watson, on the

Jahr Philips

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PORTER TOWNSHIP.

west by Pine creek, and on the south by the river. The census of 1890 gives the township a population of 1,007. By the loss of territory in 1891 the population was greatly reduced.

Geologically, Porter consists of Lower Helderberg or Lewistown limestone (No. VII) along the river and back to the bluffs, north of the borough of Jersey Shore. The next formations are Chemung (No. VIII), l'ortage (VIII e), and Chemung (VIII f), with its accompanying fossil ore, which comprises the greater area of the north part of the township, except two narrow strips of (No. IX) Red Catskill-one about midway of the Chemung measures, and the other along the north line of the township in front of the Short mountain.

There is a remarkable development of limestone (No. VI) along Pine creek, in the quarry of John Sebring, and also in the Chemung measures along the Beech Creek railroad in the cuts below Jersey Shore, and in the cuts on the Fall Brook rail- road. Along Pine creek may be observed many interesting exposures and faults in the various subdivisions of these formations. Many interesting fossil shells and corals may be obtained at Sebring's limestone quarry (No. VI), and fossil shells and casts can be procured from different parts of (No. VIII), as well as quartz crystals and calcite. A vein of fossil iron ore crosses the upper end of the township from Canoe run.

The surface of Porter township is partly rolling, with steep, precipitous hills along Pine creek. The bottom lands along the river are valuable and the farms are fine and highly cultivated. There is no postoffice in the township, and no churches. The inhabitants receive their mail matter at Jersey Shore, and there they also worship.

Historic Ground .- The territory of Porter township is indeed historic ground. It belonged to the " forbidden territory," and was governed by a committee of three Fair Play men until 1784. Settlements were made there before the Revolutionary war. As early as 1772 William McClure made an improvement on the river about one and a half miles above Jersey Shore. He left with others at the time of the "Big Runaway " in 1778, but returned in 1784, after the treaty at Fort Stanwix. He found a squatter on his claim, but after a contest succeeded in establishing his right. The following year he sold out to his brother James and left the country. May 3, 1785, James McClure took out a pre-emption warrant for the land, a survey was made July 10, 1786, and on the 10th of April, 1787, he received a patent.

Among other early settlers may be mentioned Thomas Nichols, John McElwane, William and Jeremiah Morrison, and Richard Salmon. Tradition says that the first child born east of Pine creek was to John McElwane and wife, and they named it Ferguson. An old family by this name settled in the township early and some of the descendants still live there. James G. Ferguson, born October 9, 1808, was a man of excellent standing, and served as an associate judge from 1861 to 1866. He died, March 29, 1886. John Forster, who officiated at the first religious meeting in the first school house, lived on Long Island, opposite Jersey Shore. His father, Thomas Forster, made an improvement on the island in 1774, and, upon application, he was granted a pre-emption warrant October 15, 1785. Upon this warrant a sur- vey was made by Samuel Edminston, then deputy surveyor, the return showing the island to contain 1464 acres, and a patent was granted to him, January 9, 1792.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 78

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