History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 83

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

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Buttonwood .- Jackson township has but one postoffice and it is named Button- wood. It was established August 29, 1872, and Henry Weaver, Jr., was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded, September 12, 1889, by Charles B. Halstead, at whose store it is kept, in the southwestern part of the township.

Education has not been neglected. Jackson has seven schools, viz: No. 1, Kehler district, east end; No. 2, Mountain House, foot of Lanrel Hill; No. 3, Raker district, in the center of the township; No. 4, Reed's, in the northwestern part; No. 5, Centennial, on Block House fork, near the postoffice ; No. 6, Independent, near J. Beck's ; No. 7, Zucker's, extreme northwest.

Church .- There is one church in the township. It is a good brick structure and belongs to the Lutherans. And there is but one hotel, David D. Reed proprietor, at the mouth of Pack Horse run.

COGAN HOUSE TOWNSHIP.

This township was formed out of territory taken from Jackson and Mifflin town- ships, December 6, 1843. A petition having been presented praying for a division of these two townships, the court appointed A. Taylor, Jacob Cook, and William Quinn commissioners to investigate and report. Their report being favorable, it was confirmed on the date stated above and the township was created.

As the township was organized in December, 1843, no officers were chosen until the subsequent spring election. They were as follows : Justice of the peace, Joseph Stryker; supervisors, John Aikin and G. Botts; school directors: Joseph Stryker, John Weigel, Benjamin Quimby, Paul Stryker, Charles Straub, and G. Botts.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY. .

The township is the sixth in size in the county and has an area of 39,360 acres. By the census of 1890 the population was 1,126. It is situated in the second tier from the north and is bounded as follows: On the east by Lewis and McNett, on the north by Jackson, on the west by Pine and Cummings, and on the south by Mifflin, Anthony, and Lycoming townships.

Cogan House is well watered. Its principal stream is Larry's creek, which heads on the farm of Reuben Crist, near Steam valley. It is twenty-five miles long and falls into the river east of Jersey Shore. Hoagland's run empties into Lycom- ing creek and Bear run enters Little Pine creek above English Centre. Flook's run and Pack Horse run also empty into Little Pine creek. Trout run heads in Laurel valley and enters Lycoming creek at the village of Trout Run. Wolf run falls into Lycoming creek below Trout run. The Plank Road fork of Larry's creek falls into the main stream above the borough of Salladasburg.

The township forms the south escarpment of the main Allegheny range and consists of Red Catskill (No. IX), which forms a red shale valley about twelve miles long by four miles wide, lying at a general elevation of 1,450 to 1,650 feet above tide. Next above come Pocono rocks (No. X) forming the rim around the valley and edge of the mountains, but does not give much encouragement to farmers. Next above occur considerable areas of Mauch Chunk (No. XI) red shale, upon which are quite a number of farms, most of which are of fair agricultural value. At an elevation of 1,700 to 1,800 feet above tide occurs mountain or carboniferous (umbral) limestone from sixty to seventy feet thick and some three miles long. This is the most northern extension of the great limestone formation which extends into the southern part of Tennessee and has a thickness there of 800 to 1,500 feet. Above this occurs Pottsville (seral) couglomerate (No. XII) forty to sixty feet thick, and above this is a section of the lower productive coal measure (No. XIII), containing one bed of coal three feet eight inches to four feet six inches thick, and a number of minor beds. Coal was mined on Hoagland's ruu some forty-six years ago and hauled to Crescent Iron Works.

Iron ore occurs in the (No. XI) umbral red shales. Manganese has been found as a bog ore and semi-crystallized. Copper ore has been found in some three or four localities, and one deposit of sufficient thickness to constitute a vein fifteen inches thick, with an underlying sandstone impregnated with copper. Fire clay of various qualities is observed in numerous outcrops, and mineral earth paints have been worked, affording a good red and brown. Fine building stone exists in the · township.

Cogan is a remarkably fertile valley, which it owes chiefly to the disintegration of the numerous masses of calcareous rocks (corustone marl) in which the measures in and around the valley abound. The surface is rolling in the valleys, with some portions mountainous. The State road, built in 1799, passes through the township near the old coal mines. The gorge of Hoagland's run is a true cañon, where the measures have been cut out to a depth of from 500 to 1,000 feet. The entire town- ship forms an interesting study for the geologist.

Pioneers .- The township is so named in honor of David Cogan, who was one of the first settlers on Larry's creek. This was. about 1825. He built a log house, cleared ground, and made other improvements. The location was pleasant, there

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COGAN HOUSE TOWNSHIP.

were fine groves of maple and attractive surroundings, but as there was only one settler near, he soon tired of his wilderness home and abandoned it about 1842. The place gradually fell into decay and came to be known by hunters and travelers as "Cogan's House."-Hence the name of the township. Another settler named Carter had made some improvements in the neighborhood, built a house, and planted an orchard, but when Cogan left he followed him. The latter place was afterwards known as the "Carter House."

The section of country where these pioneers attempted to found homes was noted for fine timber and the abundance of game. Old settlers on Hoagland's run used to repair to the place every spring to make maple sugar, but they often had to defend themselves against wild animals. As late as 1840 David Conn was there for that purpose, and was disturbed by the howling of wolves all night. Edward Per- sun finally became the owner of Cogan's improvement, and in course of time the letter s was dropped and it was known simply as Cogan House.

Among some of the earliest adventurers to penetrate the wilds of Cogan House in search of homes, after Cogan and Carter, might be mentioned the following: Charles Straub, Joseph Stryker, Adam Fausnaught, Benjamin Quimby, John Akin, and John Weigle. This was as early as 1842. At that time it was, indeed, a "howling wilderness," but being endowed with pluck and great endurance, they succeeded, and to-day many of their descendants may be found there.

Among the modern settlers in the township may be mentioned Abraham Meyer, the well known geologist. He was born in Philadelphia, January 9, 1835, and is a grandson of Abraham Bleyler, who served as a farrier in the Continental Army, and afterward settled in Germantown. He entered the Central high school from the Jefferson Street grammar school, and graduated with the class of 1850. In 1852 he came to Lycoming county and settled on the "'Squire Mahaffey farm." Here he remained until 1863, engaged in farming and lumbering. On the 3d of December, 1863, by order of the Secretary of War, he was assigned to the United States Signal Corps, Army of the Potomac, where he remained until the close of the war. Mr. Meyer studied geology and is well known throughout the county as a local geologist of good standing. His residence since the war has been in Cogan House township, where he has served as justice of the peace five years, and auditor and town clerk for a number of terms.

Pioneer Lumbermen .- In early times, owing to the heavy growth of pine timber, Cogan House was one of the best lumbering districts in the county, and the output of manufactured lumber during the last fifty years has been heavy. The venerable James Wood was one of the pioneer lumbermen, assisted by his son Robert. Their first mill was primitive in its construction. It consisted of a pit saw with Mr. Wood at one end and Robert at the other. This was as early as 1844, before steam and the fine water power furnished by the streams had been thought of being utilized. Mr. Wood in course of time became the owner of a fine mill and manu- factured a large amount of lumber.

The first mill run by water of which we have any account was started by Mr. Schuyler some time in 1844. Isaiah Hayes followed him in 1845, and the same year F. Whitlock started a steam mill. From that time to the present the list of those

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

who operated mills is a long one. The lumber product of this township has amounted to hundreds of millions of feet, but in the absence of statistics the exact amount can not be given. The supply of pine is about exhausted and in a few years all traces of the once busy saw mills will have disappeared.

Postoffices .- Cogan House township has five postoffices. The oldest, Perkins- ville and White Pine, was established July 6, 1854, and Harford J. Perkins appointed postmaster. He served until May 6, 1857, when the office was changed to White Pine and Cassimer Wittig was appointed. His successors have been as follows: Charles Whitehead, appointed May 2, 1881; J. R. Weigle, February 9, 1882; Robert Wood, present incumbent, July 6, 1888.

Cogan House postoffice was established December 21, 1854, and Charles Persun was appointed postmaster. He served until January 2, 1889, almost thirty-five years, when Mrs. Lora J. Maxwell was appointed to succeed him. She is the present incumbent.

Steam Valley postoffice was established August 2, 1872, and Henry Yoder was appointed postmaster. His successors served as follows: Henry F. Winder, appointed April 7, 1879; Charles H. Naylor, June 4, 1887, present incumbent.

Brookside was established December 18, 1882; Lawson O. Graham was made postmaster and is still in office.

The last postoffice was established May 26, 1892, at Buck Horn and named Steu- ben. in honor of Baron Steuben, who has descendants living in the township, and Joseph F. Reeder was appointed postmaster.

Churches .- Religious services were held in various places as early as 1846. Rev. Mr. Bellman was the first officiating minister, but no church was built until 1860, when the Methodists erected one at the Summit. To-day there are five in the town- ship, viz: Brookside, Summit, and Cogan House, known as the Centennial Chapel, all of which are Methodist Episcopal. The Union church on Wolf run is used by the Disciples and Lutherans, and the Steam Valley church is used by the Evangel- icals, Disciples, and Lutherans.

Schools .- In 1846 two school houses were built, one at Schuyler's mill, the other near Benjamin Quimby's residence. The first teachers were Lucy Doctor and Lucinda Moss. To-day there are seven school houses in the township, named as follows: Brookside, on the Plank Road fork of Larry's creek; Summit, on the main road from Larry's creek, called the " back valley road;" Beech Grove, on the " back valley road," near the headwaters of Bear creek; Cogan House, on the main road leading from Larry's creek, on Wolf run; Green Mountain, on the main road leading to Trout Run; Steam Valley, on the fork of Trout run; Buck Horn, near the Buck Horn tavern.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CITY OF WILLIAMSPORT AND BOROUGH OF SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT.

WILLIAM F. PACKER was born April 2, 1807, in Centre county, Pennsylvania, son of James and Charity (Bye) Packer, natives of Chester and Bucks county, respectively. At the age of thirteen years he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Public Inquirer at Sunbury. He subsequently completed his apprenticeship in the Patriot office at Bellefonte. He was employed as a journey- man in the office of the Pennsylvania Intelligencer at Harrisburg, from 1825 to 1827, of which Hon. Simon Cameron was one of the proprietors. He studied law at Williamsport under Joseph B. Anthony, but was never admitted to the bar. In 1827 he purchased an interest in the Lycoming Gazette, and associated himself with John Brandon in its publication. In June, 1832, he was appointed superintendent of the West Branch canal. Soon after retiring from the Lycoming Gazette in 1836, Mr. Packer, in partnership with Benjamin Parke and O. Barrett, established The Keystone, at Harrisburg. In 1839 Governor Porter appointed Mr. Packer one of the three canal commissioners of the State, and in 1842 the Governor appointed him auditor general. In 1846 he was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives from the counties of Lycoming, Clinton, and Potter, but by a mistake in carrying out the returns of a township in Clinton county, his opponent was returned as elected, and actually served the whole session before the error was discovered. Being a candidate the following year Mr. Packer was elected by a majority of over 1,500. He was chosen Speaker of the legislative body during his first term. In 1849 he was elected to the State Senate from Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, and Sul- livan counties. Mr. Packer was a delegate to the Baltimore convention in 1835 which nominated Martin Van Buren for President, and also to the Cincinnati con- vention of 1856 which nominated James Buchanan. In March, 1857, he was nominated at Harrisburg for Governor of Pennsylvania, and was elected. His administration was marked by sound judgment and great ability. He died in Williamsport, September 27, 1870. He was married December 24, 1829, to Mary WV. Vanderbilt, and to this union were born six children.

OLIVER WATSON was for many years a well known financier and banker of Will- iamsport. He was a son of William Watson, and was born November 10, 1811, on Lycoming creek, Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. His mother was a sister of Col. John McMeen, an early and prominent settler on the "Long Reach " of the West Branch, a few miles west of Williamsport. When bnt eight years old William McMeen took young Watson to live with him. In 1826 the family moved to the forks of Pine creek, where the village of Waterville now stands, and there the subject of this sketch remained until 1830, when he started

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out to make his way in the world. He entered the employ of James Stewart to learn the blacksmith's trade, served two years, and then returned to Pine creek and attended school for some time for the purpose of acquiring an education. He made such progress in his studies that he was regarded as quite a good scholar, and in 1834 he taught school for six months in a building on the farm of Henry Tomb. He was then induced by the Hous. George Crawford, John Cook, and John Gal- lagher to take charge of a school near the residence of Mr. Crawford, where he taught until 1836. Mr. Crawford advised him to study law, and acting npon the advice of his friend, he went to Williamsport and entered the office of the Hon. James Armstrong. He made rapid progress in his legal studies, and was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county in 1837. During the time he was reading law he served as clerk in the office of the county commissioners, but resigned that position in 1838 to accept the appointment of county treasurer, which office he filled in an efficient and creditable manner for three years.

In 1841 Mr. Watson entered into partnership with Hon. John W. Maynard, and the law firm of Maynard & Watson was continued for seven years, and obtained a wide celebrity. In 1848 Mr. Watson retired from the firm and associated with him A. J. Little. This firm lasted for two years, when Mr. Little retired, and Mr. Watson practiced alone until 1856. He was then elected president of the West Branch Bank, an office he held to the close of his life. Besides the many other positions he occupied, he served as president of the Market Street Bridge Company for nearly thirty years. He dealt extensively in wild lands, and at the time of his death owned several fine farms. Mr. Watson was a successful business man, an able lawyer, and a shrewd financier, and acquired through the passing years a handsome competence. For some years prior to his death he was almost totally blind, and his extensive business interests were attended to by his devoted wife.

On the 16th of November, 1843, Mr. Watson was married to Marietta, daughter of Hon. David Scott, of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, president of the first board of State canal commissioners, and president judge of Dauphin county three years, and of Luzerne county for nineteen years. Eight children were the fruits of this union, two of whom died in early childhood. The six surviving children are as follows: William S .; Jennie, of South Bethlehem, widow of Charles Rawle; Emma, of New York City, widow of Dr. Charles Jones; Oliver, of London, England; John H., of Williamsport, and Thomas, of New York City. Mr. Watson was one of the founders of Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, and filled the office of vestryman in that church for more than half a century. He was a stanch Democrat, but took no active interest in political affairs. He died at his home, immediately north of Williams- port, September 1, 1882, in the seventy-first year of his age. His aged widow is a resident of Williamsport, where she removed after the death of her husband.

TUNISON CORYELL was closely identified with the progress and development of Lycoming county for more than half a century. His aucestors were Huguenots, who immigrated from France to America in 1665, landed at Perth Amboy, and set- tled at Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where descendants of the family still live. Emanuel Coryell removed from Scotch Plains to Well's Falls, sixteen miles above Trenton, where he acquired a large amount of land and established a ferry across the Delaware river, known as Coryell's ferry. Here George Coryell, father of Tuni-

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son, was born, April 28, 1761. At the age of sixteen he entered the Revolutionary army, and served until the fall of 1780. In 1790 he married Charity Van Buskirk of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, and Tunison Coryell, the eldest of his children, was born of this union in the old ferry house, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, June 13, 1791. In 1793 George Coryell removed with his family to East Buffalo, North- umberland county (now Union), and settled on the property of Samuel Maclay. He was a carpenter, and erected many buildings in Buffalo valley, among others the old Black Horse tavern in Lewisburg. He was a captain of the Valley Troop in 1799, and was adjutant of George Weirick's regiment at Marcus Hook in 1814. He came to Lycoming county at one time, but returned to Buffalo valley, thence removed to White Deer valley, and thence to the vicinity of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he died about 1837. His wife survived him only a short period. They left four sons: Tunison; John; Joseph R., and Abraham; also several daughters, most of whom settled in Ohio and Indiana.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the Buffalo valley, and his advantages for an education were limited to the schools of pioneer days. In 1802, when but eleven years old, he carried the mail on horseback from Lewisburg to Bellefonte, for a short time. He afterwards clerked in a store at Milton, and in May, 1809, he came to Jersey Shore and clerked in the store of James Collins until the fall of 1813. In 1812 he borrowed $50 of John Bailey to start in the lumber trade, which proved a profitable speculation and was the beginning of his future pecuniary success in life. In the autumn of 1813 he located in Williamsport, and clerked in the office of Gen. John Burrows, prothonotary of Lycoming county, for several years. He was appointed register and recorder, and clerk of the orphans' court, in February, 1818, and served one term. In 1821 he purchased the Lycoming Gazette, and in two years built up the paper from 400 to 1,200 subscribers, retiring in August, 1823. He served as prothonotary of the county from January. 1824, to January, 1830, a period of six years. After retiring from this office he was engaged for some time on the public works on the North and West Branch canals, and took an active part in pushing those improvements to completion. He was one of the leading spirits in trying to get the government to build a national road through Williamsport, and also encouraged Peter A. Karthaus to construct two steamboats to ply on the Sus- quehanna and its branches. It was largely through his efforts that the Philadelphia and Erie railroad was built to Williamsport. In 1856 he was instrumental in organ- izing the Williamsport Gas Company, and for seventeen years he served as secretary, superintendent, and treasurer of the company. He was a director of the Northum- berland Bank for a short time, and took an active part in founding the West Branch Bank, of which he served as cashier.

Mr. Coryell was married, February 13, 1816, to Sarah, daughter of Gen. John Burrows of Montoursville, which union was blessed with three sons and three daughters, as follows: Jane, widow of John Gibson; John B .; George: Mary V .; Sarah, and Charles. MIrs. Gibson and John B., both of whom are residents of Will- iamsport, are the only survivors of the family. Mrs. Coryell died, March 24, 1869, after a married life of over fifty-three years. Her husband survived her more than twelve years, and died, Angust S, 1881, in the ninety-first year of his age. Mr. Coryell possessed an active and remarkably retentive memory, and a strong taste

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for the collection and preservation of local history, on which he was a recognized authority until the close of his life. His mind was a storehouse of information, and he wrote much for the local press. Through his efforts a great deal of valuable data relating to pioneer days and trials have been preserved. In the later years of his life he published a volume of over 100 pages, filled with incidents and sketches of old settlers whom he had known personally. He enjoyed a wide acquaintance with public men, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He presented a commanding personal appearance, was dignified in his manners, and sociable and kind to all. Owing to his splendid constitution and correct habits, Mr. Coryell lived to a greater age than is usually allotted to man, and few men of his time pos- sessed to a greater degree the confidence of the community in which he resided for nearly three-quarters of a century.

JOHN B. CORYELL is the only surviving son of Tunison Coryell, and was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1822. He grew to manhood in his native city, and there received a public school education. On reaching his majority he embarked in merchandising at Montoursville, was afterwards engaged in mercantile pursuits at Williamsport, has carried on the same business at St. Mary's, Elk county, for many years, and is recognized as one of the prominent and successful business men of the West Branch valley. Mr. Coryell has taken an active interest in promoting the welfare of his home. He is one of the original stockholders in the Savings Institu- tion, and has been one of its directors many years. He was also a stockholder in the Lycoming Savings Bank, and has been a director in its successor, the Lycoming National Bank, since its organization. In connection with his father he assisted in establishing the Williamsport Gas Company, and is a stockholder and director in the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. The Coryell Flint Paper Company, now managed by his sons, John G. and Bingham, owes its existence to his enter- prise and public spirit. He was one of the organizers of the Hermance Chemical Company and the Otto Chemical Company, the plants of which are located in MIc- Kean county. Mr. Coryell has always extended his aid and encouragement to every worthy project, and has given liberally of his means to the cause of religion and charity. He was married November 28, 1855, to Margaret, daughter of James Bingham of Williamsport, who has borne him three sons and one daughter, as fol- lows: James B., attorney at law; Sarah, wife of John K. Hays; John G., and Bingham, all of whom are residents of Williamsport. Mr. Coryell has been a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport since early manhood, and has been one of the most liberal supporters of that organization. He has always been an unswerving adherent of the Republican party, and is a stalwart in upholding its measures and principles.

MAHLON FISHER was born, February 8, 1810, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and died at his home in Williamsport, December 28, 1874. Before he was sixteen years old his time was spent on a farm and in attendance at the schools of his neigh- borhood. At this period of life he began to learn the carpenter's trade, with no capital but unfolded talents and his unflinching integrity. With the broad world and its busy throng before him he marched without fear or favor into the contest and commanded the respect and confidence of all who knew him. In 1834 he mar- ried Mary A. Stires, who shared with him the trials and struggles of his early life,

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 83

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