History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 86

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

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dren born to George and Jeanette Mitchell. He was reared in Mifflin county, and obtained a fair education in the common schools of that locality. He remained on the homestead farm until 1839, when he entered the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and continued in the ministry up to the spring of 1884, a period of forty-five years. His first circuit was that of Carlisle in the Cumber- land valley, whence he was transferred to the Shrewsberry circuit, and.he was on the Shrewsberry and Kadorus circuits in 1842. In 1843 he was transferred to the Lewistown circuit. In 1844 he was located at Birmingham, Pennsylvania, in 1845-46 he had charge at Hollidaysburg, in 1847-48 of Bellefonte, in 1849-50 of Danville, in 1851-52 of Williamsport, in 1853 of Staunton, Virginia, in 1854-55 of the church at Columbia street station, Baltimore, and from 1856 to 1859 he was in the Northum- land district. In 1860 he was elected president of Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, and filled that position up to 1869. He made many improvements in the curriculum of the seminary, and did much towards placing that institution on a sound financial basis. In 1870 he was appointed presiding elder of the Carlisle district, which position he occupied until 1874, and then returned to Williamsport, and was pre- siding elder of this district from 1874 to 1877. In 1877 he was appointed presiding elder of Juniata district; in 1881 he was appointed pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Altoona, and one year later he sought to retire from the active ministry. He was, however, assigned to DuBoistown, and served the church in that village without pay, until his final retirement from active work in 1884; he also con- tributed and helped the church entirely out of debt. Rev. Mitchell was a delegate to the general conferences held at Buffalo, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Baltimore, and was a member of the book committee of his church from 1876 to 1880. During his min- istry he assisted in the erection of many church buildings in different parts of the State, and contributed liberally towards the Mulberry Street and the High Street churches. Mr. Mitchell was married in 1842 to Temperance, daughter of Samuel Turner, a native of New Jersey. Her mother was a Miss Kauffman. Five children are the fruits of this union, as follows: Jennie M., wife of Joshua Horner, of Bal- timore, Maryland; Maurice Janes, of the same city; John H., an attorney of Pueblo, Colorado; Maud; and Max L., an attorney of Williamsport. -

MAX L. MITCHELL was born at Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1866, while his father was president of that institution. He was edu- cated at the high schools of Huntingdon county, and graduated at the head of his class from Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1885 and from Dickinson College in 1887, with high honors. He read law with Judge Samuel Linn, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1889. In July, 1890, he was appointed clerk of the United States court, which position he still holds. He is a stanch Republican; he is the present chairman of the Republican county committee, and was elected solicitor by the Williamsport school board in 1891.

ALEXANDER SMITH was one of the prominent early settlers of Loyalsock town- ship, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, whither he came from Maryland at an early date in the history of this county. He was born in 1761, and served in the Revolu- tionary war. He married Rebecca Ackman, who was born in 1770, and coming to Lycoming county settled and cleared the farm now known as the Updegraff property. He died, June 25, 1836; his widow survived him until 1861, and died at

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the ripe old age of ninety-one years. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Jane; Alexander; Letitia, who married James Knox; Joseph W .; Rachel, who married William Updegraff; Valentine; Elizabeth, who married John Eldridge; Rebecca, who married David Showers; Maria, who married William Riddel, and Jane, born in 1814, who married William Stoltz. Jane is residing in Newberry, and is the only survivor of the family. Mr. Smith was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. For his patriotic services during the Revolution, he drew a pension from the government up to his death.

JOSEPH W. SMITH, fourth child of Alexander Smith, was born on the homestead in Loyalsock township, Lycoming county, July 29, 1797. He received a common school education, and afterwards attended the Williamsport Academy. He then engaged in teaching, and followed that vocation a number of years, finally settling on a farm. He was married in 1823 to Susan, daughter of Daniel Updegraff, one of the pioneers of Lycoming county, who came here from York county at an early day. Soon after his marriage Mr. Smith settled on a farm on the "Long Reach," which he cleared and improved. He died June 17, 1869; his widow lives on the old homestead. They were the parents of two children: Rachel, deceased wife of Samuel Jones of Williamsport, and Daniel, deceased. Mr. Smith was a Democrat, and served as register and recorder of Lycoming county one term. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, and took an active interest in the workings of that fraternity.

DANIEL SMITH was born in Newberry in 1827, and was the only son of Joseph W. and Susan Smith. He received a public school education, and afterwards engaged. in farming, which he followed up to his death. He was married in December, 1868, to Jennie, daughter of George Good, of Old Lycoming township, and immedi- ately settled upon the farm now occupied by his widow. He died there in February, 1881. He was prominent in the local councils of the Democratic party, and was also actively identified with the Grange movement. He was the father of two chil- dren: Margaret E. and Josephine M., who reside with their mother on the old homestead.

MOSES MAHAFFEY was a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Thomas Mahaffey, a native of Ireland, who entered 600 acres of land in Lycoming township, this county, and was one of its earliest settlers. Moses grew to manhood in Lycoming township and engaged in the distilling business, which he followed several years. He married Mary Reynolds, whose father, David Reynolds, came from Orange county, New York, at an early date, and was the first settler on Trout run. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Lindsey, of Williamsport; David R., deceased; Hannah, who resides upon the old homestead, and Elizabeth, wife of John Carothers, of Woodward township. Mr. Mahaffey was originally a Whig, and afterwards a Republican, and filled various township offices. He died in March, 1851; his widow survived until 1879, dying at the ripe old age of ninety-two years.

LINDSEY MAHAFFEY was born in Lycoming township, Lycoming county, August 13, 1814, and is the eldest son of Moses and Mary Mahaffey. He was educated in New York State and at the Williamsport Academy. Locating in Newberry in 1836, he engaged in the mercantile business, at which he continued about twenty-four

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years; since then he has followed farming. He is one of the original stockholders of the West Branch Bank, and is now the oldest director in that institution, having served continuously for forty-five years. In 1858 he was elected to the legislature, and served one term, being a member of several important committees. He served in the common council several years, and since 1883 he has been president of the select council. He is a member of the school board of Lycoming township, and is a member of the Brandon Park Commission. He has always voted the Whig and Republican tickets. Mr. Mahaffey was married in 1849 to Sarah Jane, daughter of Ezra Riley, of Clinton county. She died in 1867, leaving four children: D. T. : Ella. wife of Dr. Luther Otto; Boyd C., deceased in 1871, and Delos S. Mr. Mahaffey was again married, in August, 1886, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Straight, of Elmira, New York. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Newberry, in which organization he has served as trustee for many years. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for Presi- dent and is proud of having cast his vote for him. He was also the first revenue collector for his district, then composing Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, and Tioga counties, which position he finally resigned on account of the sickness of his wife, and recommended the appointment of George Bubb in his place.

MAJ. JAMES H. PERKINS was born in South New Market, Rockingham county, New Hampshire, March 13, 1803, son of Robert and Deborah (Hill) Perkins, natives of the same county, and grandson of John Perkins, of New Market, who was captain of a merchant vessel during the Revolution. His maternal grandfather, Gen. James Hill, was a native of Maine, born December 31, 1734. He was a boat builder, and served in the French and Indian war. He subsequently held the position of inspector and purchaser of timber for the navy department, and died in August, 1811. Robert and Deborah Perkins had a family of eight children, and died in 1814 and 1815, respectively. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native county, his school and farm life ending at the age of seventeen, when he began to learn the millwright's and machinist's trades in his native place. After mastering the details of the business, he followed it for several years in New Hampshire, a part of the time on his own account. In 1830 he removed to Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the erection of a calico print works. After the completion of the plant he worked in the factory as a journeyman for three years, and then became a member of the firm, under the name of Raugh, Perkins & Company, who bought the plant on time for $42,000, which they paid in four years. The firm then became Perkins & Wendell. In 1844 Mr. Perkins sold his interest to his partner and retired from business, with what was then considered a snug fortune. Finally tiring of his inactivity, he came to Williamsport in December, 1845, and early in 1846 he purchased what was then known as " The Big Water Mill," located opposite the island above the town. This mill had not been a success under its previous management, but Major Perkins went vigorously to work and soon built up a paying trade. He inaugurated a system of cash payments for labor, not in vogue in this locality at that day, and his immediate ruin was predicted by many who looked askance at such an innovation. But with sturdy determination he followed it up by raising the wages of his employes, and though it was everywhere asserted that his speedy failure would soon follow, his experience and sound business judgment

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backed by a substantial capital, finally convinced his neighbors that his course was the wisest one, and that he knew what he was doing. He operated the water mill for several years, then sold it, and erected a steam saw mill at DuBoistown, which he carried on about fourteen years.

Perceiving the necessity for a log boom in the river, Major Perkins urged its construction, but the project was not considered feasible by his contemporaries, and met with considerable opposition. With characteristic enterprise, and unflagging confidence in the scheme he advocated, he finally offered to build a boom at his own expense, if the residents of this locality would petition the legislature for a charter. This very liberal proposition was accepted, and he went to work and con- structed the first boom on the Susquehanna river, opposite Jaysburg, above Goose island, at his own expense, completing it in March, 1849. It embraced a system of sunken cribs, which proved a success and secured the entire confidence of the people. In November, 1849, a stock company was organized under the charter obtained through the persistent efforts of Major Perkins, in March, 1846, and the Susquehanna Boom Company then came into existence, and a new boom was com- pleted in 1850-51. He was the leading spirit of the company for many years, and can justly be termed the founder of that institution, to which Williamsport largely owes its growth and prosperity. He continued in active business until 1870, and then retired to enjoy the competence which his many years of successful industry had won. He is one of the few surviving pioneer lumbermen of the West Branch valley.

Major Perkins was one of the charter members of the Savings Institution of Williamsport, and served as its vice-president for two years, then became president, and has filled that positiou up to the present, a period of twenty-four years. He also has served as a member of the board of directors in the West Branch Bank since 1858. He was one of the founders of the Williamsport Hospital, and is president of the board. He assisted in organizing the Wildwood Cemetery Company, and has been one of its trustees from the beginning. His title was derived from his connection with the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, of which he was elected major in 1842, while a resident of Philadelphia. Politically he was a Whig until the demise of that party and has since been a stanch Democrat, aud served as mayor of Williamsport in 1871 and 1872. He was a member of the select council for several terms, and served as president of that body. Major Perkins was married, July 30, 1844, to Mary J., daughter of Joshua Smythe, of New Hampshire. She died, May 1, 1884, leaving no children. The Major is a member of Christ Protestant Episcopal church, and has been senior warden of that organization since 1853. He is one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Williamsport, where he has lived for nearly half a century.

GARRET TINSMAN was for thirty-six years one of the prominent and successful lumbermen of the Susquehanna valley, and throughout his business career he was always recognized as a gentleman of modest, dignified character and sterling integ- rity. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1808, and was a son of Peter and Mary (Pursel) Tinsman, natives of New Jersey. His father was a successful lumber manufacturer of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and at an early age Garret began assisting him, and thus acquired a thorough knowledge of

Lindsey Mahaffey

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the business. He afterwards engaged in lumbering and milling on the Delaware river, and at Milford, New Jersey, until 1843, when he removed his business to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and in partnership with Runyon Woolverton con- tinued operations on the Lehigh river until the spring of 1852. He then came to Williamsport, which at that period was a small village, and contained only three or four saw mills, one of them being then in course of construction by his brother Peter. Here he found plenty of opportunity for the display of his untiring energy in the development of the lumber industry, then in its infancy, and in the prosecu- tion of this work he devoted the best years of his life. As a member of the firm of Woolverton & Tinsman he erected a mill on the site of the present plant of that firm, and began a career in this city that continued up to his death with unabated success. In 1855 he purchased his brother's interest in the mill built by the latter and George W. Quinn in 1852, and for a number of years the firm of Quinn & Tins- man conducted a very successful lumber trade. Many years later he was the senior member of Tinsman & Ryan, and was connected with that firm, also with Woolver- ton & Tinsman, up to his death, December 25, 1SSS.

Mr. Tinsman was married, April 12, 1838, to Margaret S., daughter of Andrew and Annie (Sinclair) Saylor, natives of New Jersey. She was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and reared a family of four children: Peter I. and Andrew S., both deceased; Lina, wife of John R. T. Ryan, and Garret D. Mrs. Tinsman was a loving helpmate for over fifty years, and was consulted by her husband in all his business ventures, and his success was largely due to her wise foresight and willing assistance. Especially was this the case during the earlier years of their married life, and after his coming to Williamsport, when he laid the foundation of his sub- sequent success. She is spending the remaining years of her life in the old home- stead. on East Third street, surrounded by the comforts which her husband's industry provided. Mr. Tinsman was eminently successful, and accumulated through the passing years a large and valuable estate. He gave liberally of his means to charit- able. religious, and educational interests, and never refused his assistance to any worthy public enterprise. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport, and contributed generously towards the erection of the present church building. Politically he was a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and always manifested a deep interest in public affairs. Mr. Tinsman was a director in the Savings Institution, the Williamsport National Bank, and the Wildwood Cemetery Company, and was one of the organizers of the last mentioned corporation. He was one of the organizers of the Loyalsock Boom Company, and president of that com- pany in 1857. For several years he was a large stockholder in the Susquehanna Boom Company, and can safely be classed as one of the pioneer industrial architects of Williamsport's prosperity, in which city he was a leading spirit in business, social, and public circles for nearly forty years.

PETER TINSMAN is one of the few living pioneers of the lumber interests in the West Branch valley, and erected the first steam saw mill within the present limits of Williamsport. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware river, August 18, 181S, and is a brother of Garret Tinsman. He obtained in early manhood a thorough knowledge of the lumber business from his father, a successful lumber manufacturer of Hunterdon county, New Jersey. When comparatively a

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young man he left home and purchased timber lands in the vicinity of White Haven, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on which he erected a small saw mill. He carried on a successful business at that point until 1849, when he sold his plant to his brother Garret. In the summer of 1850 he visited the West Branch valley, and after several trips up Pine and Sinnemahoning creeks, exploring the valuable lands lying along those streams, he concluded to embark in the lumber business in Williamsport. On the 1st of January, 1852, he purchased from Thomas Updegraff a piece of land bordering on the river, east of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, and now owned by Mills T. Weed, and the following spring and summer Mr. Tinsman, in company with George W. Quinn, whom he had taken into partnership, erected the first steam saw mill in the town, which they had in operation in the fall of 1852. The importance of the manufacture of lumber had about this period begun to create excitement in the little village, and every man either wanted a mill or an interest in one. Several mills were being built, and negotiations for mill sites were actively prose- cuted. The years 1852 and 1853 destined Williamsport to be what it is to-day-the greatest lumber market of the East. Mr. Tinsman continued in the lumber business until 1855, when he sold his interest in his mill to Woolverton & Tinsman and went to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the retail lumber trade. He was quite successful, and remained there until 1867, when he sold his business and returned to Lycoming county. In 1873 he purchased the steam saw mill of Alexander Davidson, across the river from Williamsport, but met with the . misfortunes of the panic of that period, which wrought destruction throughout the country. He never engaged in active business thereafter. Mr. Tinsman was married in 1855, to Elizabeth H. Allen of Trout Run, Pennsylvania, and with his wife and family he still resides in Williamsport.

PETER HERDIC was born December 14, 1824, at Fort Plain, New York. His father, Henry Herdic, died when Peter was eighteen months old, the youngest of seven sons. In 1826 his mother with her family removed to Ithaca, where Peter attended school for a short time. In 1830 his mother married a second time and removed to a farm, about five miles from Ithaca. From a small boy he displayed great energy and pluck. When but ten years of age he could cut his cord of wood a day, and, in addition, would frequently walk to Ithaca, to dispose of small game in the market. At an early age he acquired the habit of never spending his wages, except for what was necessary to his existence. At the age of thirteen his stepfather died. This second bereavement seemed to necessitate a change in their family affairs, for soon after his mother sold her interest in the farm and moved to the head waters of Pipe creek, New York, where she bought fifty acres of wild land for $200, making a payment on it of $50. A log house was temporarily reuted and immediate efforts were made for clearing a patch of ground, on which a small house was erected for their own use. Here young Peter worked, clearing land, cultivating their crops, and in every way aiding his mother until he was twenty years old. Soon after he hired out to Ransom Light, who was the agent of William Ransom, the owner of a saw mill at the head of Pipe creek. He worked six weeks, and made a demand for his money, which was finally paid after threats of suit were made. He continued to add to his capital by working for various parties. In 1846,. when less than twenty-three, Mr. Herdic came with William Andress to Cogan

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House township, Lycoming county. Here they purchased a shingle mill and cleared about $740 each during the first year. In about three years Mr. Herdic had accumulated about $2, 500. He then purchased a farm of 154 acres on Lycoming creek, erected thereon a modest little house, and, December 25, 1849, he married Amanda Taylor. In 1850 he erected a steam saw mill in company with Henry Hughes, whose interest he purchased soon after, and later sold to James Woods. He realized from his lumber operations and the sale of his mill upwards of $10,000.

In 1853 he settled in Williamsport, then a town of less than 1, 700 inhabitants, and from the hour of his advent down to the close of his wonderful career, his busy brain and restless body worked and toiled both for his own and also for others' pleasure and profit. What he did, the vast operations in which he was concerned, and the turmoils through which he passed, are too well known to the people to be repeated here. During the following ten years he had purchased hundreds of acres, built houses, saw mills and other manufactories, and given the town an impetus that sent it upwards with a boom that was the wonder and the talk of everybody. His first wife died, December 6, 1856, and January 12, 1860, he married Encie E. Maynard, daughter of Judge J. W. Maynard, to whom were born two sons : Peter and Henry, both of whom are living. He induced the Philadelphia and Erie Rail'- road Company to move their passenger station to a plot of ground he gave them nearly a mile west of the old one. He built several fine houses on Fourth street, and close to the station, the Herdic House, now the Park Hotel. Blocks of buildings sprung up like magic, street railways, paving jobs, political jobs, manufactures, newspapers, gas companies, water works, banks, and stores grew up at once. Everywhere he was the busy, the mysterious, the energetic, the wonderful Peter Herdic. He was instrumental in getting a charter for the city of Williamsport. In the fall of 1869 he was elected mayor of Williamsport and he pushed many of his speculative operations with great vigor and sagacity. He acquired over 54,000 acres in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga, and Cameron counties, of which 21,000 acres are still supposed to contain valuable coal deposits. He built at his own expense Trinity Protestant Episcopal church and donated it to the society.

Mr. Herdic continued in the successful tide of his operations until the panic of 1878. When the crisis set in he threw all his energy into his business, but not- withstanding his great strength and fertility of resource, he finally went into volun- tary bankruptcy in the spring of 1878. After passing through bankruptcy the spirit of the man began to revive, and in course of time he engaged in several enter- prises which gave him active employment, and in later years he was largely interested in erecting water works at Selinsgrove, Huntingdon, Cairo, Illinois, Florida, and a few other places. Peter Herdic was a benevolent man, and there were many who sorrowfully mourned his death, which occurred February 2, 1888. His death was the result of an accident. While superintending the construction of water works at Huntingdon, he slipped on the ice and fell down an embankment, receiving a severe concussion of the head. His widow subsequently married Henry Rawle. Whatever may be said of the character of Mr. Herdic, and the methods he sometimes employed in business, it must be admitted by all that he started Williamsport on the highway of prosperity.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 86

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