USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 58
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*This chapter is largely indebted to the researches of the late John F. Wolfinger, from whose contributions to the Miltonian much of the subject matter has been derived.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Susquehanna directly west of Milton in 1770 by purchase from the Proprie- taries. He built a log house on its eastern side north of the river terminus of Center street, and north and west of this residence planted an orchard of apple trees, one of the first in the county. In that rich alluvial soil the orchard flourished; the trees became large and spreading, and produced abundant harvests of white and yellow summer and autumn fruit and large red winter apples. At the same time the pioneer husbandman also cleared his land and planted crops of grain and corn. Separated by many miles of unbroken forest or winding river from the older established communities in the southeastern part of the State, he next directed his attention to the con- struction of a canoe for the transportation of his products. This was accom- plished by hollowing out a large pine log, and with this rude specimen of river craft he could take grain or peltries to the amount of about one ton down the river at each trip. The first regular river boat made here was con- structed by John Clendenin, and after that Hulings also built boats, some of them large enough to carry from eight to ten tons. About this time he transferred his residence to the eastern bank of the river at the western extremity of Broadway; there he erected a rude log cabin, in which he was licensed to keep a house of public entertainment in 1772. At some time dur- ing the Revolutionary period he went down the Susquehanna by boat to Duncan's island, near the mouth of the Juniata. Subsequently he removed to Pittsburgh and thence to Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he again found himself in the vanguard of civilization and pursued the occu- pation of boatman the remainder of his life. His descendants still reside in that county.
The lands in the southern part of the town, afterward comprised in the Farley and Cameron estates, were occupied in 1772 by Neal Davis as tenant, and a year or two later George McCandlish established his residence in the eastern part of the present borough limits. It was at his house that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1776 were elected for North- umberland county. When Andrew Straub first visited this locality the improvements made by Hulings had been burned, and there were no buildings of any kind in the immediate vicinity. There was, however, a log house of good size in process of erection and about ready for the roof, evi- dently intended as a farm house and probably built by the Black family of Sunbury, by whom that part of the town above Broadway was partly owned at that date. This house was subsequently completed, and in later years was owned by Dr. David Waldron. It stood at the corner of Broadway and Front street, and was destroyed by fire on the 4th of May, 1876.
The "Big Island," after Hulings's departure, was practically unoccupied until the Indian troubles had subsided. Its next resident was Isaac Hemrod, who combined the occupations of agriculturist and waterman; in 1782, or shortly thereafter, Bethuel Vincent, having returned from Canada, purchased
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MILTON.
the island from Hulings. When the convenience of the public required it, a ferry was established, the landing on the eastern bank being at the end of Broadway. This ferry was the principal feature of the place and almost the only evidence of civilization. While the travel was not large, there was suffi- cient to attract attention to the eligibility of the location as a town site, and this governed its selection for that purpose perhaps as much as any other consideration.
A body of land aggregating nearly three thousand acres, embracing the mouth of Limestone run and extending inland from the river a considerable distance, was secured by Turbutt Francis, one of the first justices of the county and otherwise prominent in its early history. He divided this ex- tensive tract into smaller subdivisions suitable for sale or lease to actual prospective settlers; that part embracing the site of Milton, which remained in his possession at the time of his death, was purchased by Andrew Straub and Christian Yentzer at sheriff's sale on the 1st of March, 1790, and confirmed to them by deed of June 10, 1790. The recital of this deed states that in the common pleas court of Philadelphia county at June term, 1783, "judgment was given for a certain Isaac Hazlehurst against John Conolly and Sarah his wife, late Sarah Francis, executrix, (who survived Samuel Mifflin, execu- tor,) of the testament and last will of Turbutt Francis, late of the county of Northumberland, aforesaid, deceased, in the sum of eleven hundred pounds. Of this sum two hundred fifteen pounds were derived from the sale of prop- erty by the sheriff of Philadelphia; for the remainder a writ of fieri facias was issued, September 6, 1788, directed to Martin Withington, sheriff of Northumberland county, by virtue of which this tract of two hundred acres was levied upon. On the 13th of November, 1789, it was appraised, and having been found insufficient to satisfy the debt, was accordingly sold, and purchased by Straub and Yentzer for five hundred fifty pounds. At that date it was in possession of Henry Lebo, probably as tenant; the adjoining tract on the east was owned by James Jenkins, and that on the south by Neal Davis. Yentzer was not, evidently, well satisfied with the purchase, for on the 18th of March, 1791, he disposed of his moiety to Straub for one hundred one pounds, thirteen shillings, and five pence, less than half its cost to him a year previously.
Andrew Straub, the founder of Milton, was born on his father's farm just back of the town of Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1748. In his early manhood he learned the trade of millwright. He first visited the West in April, 1784, returning to his home in the spring of the following year, and on the 1st of May, 1787, married Mary Eveline Walter. In 1790 he took up his residence at Milton and built a log house on the lot now owned by the Milton National Bank. Two years later he built a house near the intersection of Center and Filbert streets and moved his family thereto. In 1795 he completed a residence on the eastern part of his farm,
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548
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
at or near the southeast corner of Center street and Turbut avenue, and lived there until his death, August 2, 1806. He was an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and was active in promoting the growth of the town with which his name will ever be associated. He made donations of ground for, religious and educational purposes, established mills, encouraged local busi-, ness and manufacturing enterprises, and lived to see Milton a village of con -. siderable relative importance, then, as now, one of the most prosperous towns in the valley of the West Branch.
Matthew Smith, who resided on his farm a short distance above the mouth of Limestone run at the time of his death, was the eldest son of Rob- ert Smith, of Paxtang, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He served in Bou- quet's expedition, the final campaign of the French and Indian war; at the outbreak of the Revolution he organized a company of riflemen, which was assigned to Colonel Thompson's battalion and joined the Continental forces at Boston. On the 5th of September, 1775, his company was detached to Arnold's command for the expedition to Canada. Captain Smith survived the hardships of the march through the Maine woods, the disastrous assault at Quebec on the 31st of December, and the brief confinement as a prisoner of war which followed, and rejoined his regiment with the survivors of his company, but resigned his commission on the 5th of December, 1776, on account of the appointment of a junior captain to a majority. He was there- upon promoted to major in the Ninth Pennsylvania, to rank from September 27, 1776. In the spring of 1778 he was elected member of the Supreme Executive Council for Lancaster county and took his seat in that body on the 28th of May; he was elected vice-president of the State, October 11, 1779, but resigned shortly afterward. When intelligence of the fall of Fort Free- land reached Paxtang he marched to Sunbury with a volunteer company at the earliest possible moment, and commanded the five hundred milltia who endeavored to overtake the retreating invaders. On the 4th of February, 1780, he was appointed prothonotary of Northumberland county, serving in that position until September 25, 1783, and resided in the county the remainder of his life. The following obituary appeared in Kennedy's Gazette, July 30, 1794 :-
Died, the 22d instant, about sunset, at Milton, Colonel Matthew Smith, aged fifty- four years, being one of the first patriots for liberty; went to Canada in the year 1775, and suffered extremities. He was once prothonotary of Northumberland county. Was interred 23d instant, attended by a number of his friends and acquaintances, together with the volunteer company of light infantry from Milton, conducted by Major Piatt and commanded by Captain James Boyd, who, after marching about six miles to War- rior Run burying ground and shedding a tear over the old patriot's grave, deposited his remains with three well directed volleys and returned home in good order.
THE TOWN PLAT.
The original survey of the town plat was made in the month of March,
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MILTON.
1792, and extended from Ferry lane to the north side of Broadway, with its eastern limit nearly identical with the Philadelphia and Erie railroad. Three years later (1795) James Black laid out his land from Broadway to Locust; he gave to the continuation of Front street the name of Water, and to the second street the name of Front, for which its present designation, Arch, was substituted after the fire of 1880. No important additions were made to the town plat until after the opening of the railroads. In 1853 J. J. Reimen- snyder laid out "Shakespeare," and William McCleery's addition was made soon after. William F. Nagle's addition was made in 1855, J. B. Davis's in 1856, Lawson & Schreyer's in 1864, Moses Chamberlin's in 1867, William Heinen's in 1872, and various others since that date, as the increase in popu- lation and demand for building sites required. Front street, extending along the river and parallel with its course, is the main business and residence thoroughfare of the borough. The streets parallel with it, though not con- tinuous, are Elm, Arch, Filbert, Bound avenue, Cemetery avenue, Rose, and Garfield; the intersecting streets are Line, Ferry, Apple, Lower Market, Mahoning, Center, Broadway, Walnut, Upper Market, Locust, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Hepburn, and Willow. While not characterized by the degree of uniformity that would have been desirable, the plan of the town is not noticeably irregular.
INHABITANTS FROM 1804 ro 1808 .*
Bethuel Vincent, postmaster, had been taken to Canada as a prisoner of war during the Revolution; returning after an absence of three years he had considerable difficulty in finding his wife, and their first meeting was very affecting.
Ezekiel and James Sanderson were merchants; after the death of Ezekiel his brother, William, succeeded to his interest in the business.
Jared Irwin, merchant, sheriff, colonel in the war of 1812, and member of Congress, was a man of prominence in the community.
Robert McGuigan, tailor and justice of the peace, was an intelligent and highly respected gentleman, fond of discussing the topics of the day.
Arthur and Isaac McKisson were distillers; the former subsequently be- came sheriff of Lycoming county.
Arthur Patton, tobacconist, resided on Front street.
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Abram Trout, shoemaker, resided in the lower part of the town.
William and Thomas Pollock were merchants; their grandparents emi- grated from Ireland before the Revolution, and their father was born in Lykens valley, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Both entered the mercantile business under Thomas Caldwell, the former in his store at Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, the latter in his store at Newberry, Lycoming county.
*From the " Reminiscences " of Tunison Coryell, by courtesy of J. B. Coryell, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
550
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
They first engaged in business at Milton on a small scale, and were in part- nership many years.
David Rittenhouse, justice of the peace, manufacturer of surveying instruments, and repairer of watches and clocks, resided on Front street.
Jerome Egler, blacksmith, did an extensive business, employing several assistants.
John Fribley, farmer, enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most successful in this part of the county.
Christian Wood, shoemaker, resided on Front street; he was an active and zealous Methodist, and, being a performer on the fife, headed the mili- tary on training days.
Josiah Galbraith, merchant, Front street, was from Lancaster county. He was small of stature, and a gentleman of intelligence.
Alexander McEwen, merchant, Front street, subsequently became the founder of McEwensville.
J. Shunk, hatter, Front street, was a German; he made hats for both ladies and gentlemen.
Eliza Miller-" Dutch Lizzie"-kept a small stand for the sale of cakes, beer, gingerbread, etc.
Christian Holler, inn keeper and saddler, and an officer in a local cavalry company, resided on Front street below the bridge.
Moses Teas, distiller, was a man of social proclivities, dignified in man- ner, interesting in conversation, and the owner of a good library. His most intimate associates were George Eckert and George Calhoon; the trio were bachelors.
Samuel Teas, brother to Moses, was associated with him in business.
James Purviance, who was employed by Daniel Smith as steward of his farm, was an Irishman, a gentleman of old-fashioned manners, a neat pen- man, and good bookkeeper.
John Chestnut, saddler, owned a farm east of Milton.
George Calhoon, merchant, Front street, was of Irish descent, and a Presbyterian in faith. He acquired a valuable estate.
The Marr family resided in the upper part of the town near the old Epis- copal church. One of the sons, Alem, obtained a liberal education and became a lawyer.
George Lawrence, a good politician, had the reputation of being the best ball player in the region.
Jacob Seydell and brother, pump makers, supplied this part of the West Branch valley with articles of their manufacture. They were originally from Bucks county.
Low Huff, boatman, was a man of good size, powerful strength, and oblig- ing manners.
Isaac Osburn, cooper, was hale and lusty in person, and a man of industry; he made flour and whiskey barrels on an extensive scale.
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MILTON.
Peter Schwartz, stone mason, built the first stone houses and bridges in this part of the county.
Seth Iredell, merchant and miller, was an extensive dealer in grain and flour, and president of the first bank at Milton. He and his wife were Friends.
Joseph Hammond, inn keeper in the upper part of the borough, was an excellent judge of horses, and introduced improved breeds among the farmers.
Philip Housel, justice of the peace, was a watchmaker and resided on Front street.
Michael Gower, the only regular butcher of Milton, was a German of large build.
Frederick Burman, dyer, prepared woolen and cotton yarns for the ladies, who, in their leisure hours, generally engaged in knitting stockings.
Mrs. Lamperly, druggist, had formerly been a celebrated nurse at Phila- delphia.
Robert Patterson, dancing master, was one of the best violinists of his day, popular in his profession, and intelligent in conversation. He also had classes at Northumberland and other places. The first teacher of dancing in Northumberland county was a Frenchman named Blondell.
Philip Goodman, weaver and maker of weavers' reeds, was a native of Berks county, and an industrious man.
John Davidson, wheelwright, made spinning wheels, for which there was a large demand.
Guyan Arthur, stone mason, was an artisan of exceptional accuracy and skill, building his walls without line or plummet, and executing his work with precision by the eye. He was a native of Sweet, Ireland.
Mr. Kirk, stocking weaver, resided on Front street.
Christian Merkle, sawyer, had charge of Eckert's mill.
Samuel Jordan, boatman, resided on Front street.
James Miller, miller, had charge of the Milton flour mills; at a later date he removed to Jersey Shore.
Thomas Painter, son of John Painter of Chillisquaque township, was a prominent politician.
James Moodie, merchant, and dealer in grain and stock, was succeeded in business by Charles and Thomas Comly.
George, John, and Montgomery Sweney resided with their widowed mother on Front street. George and Montgomery were printers.
David Derickson, auctioneer, kept a hotel on Front street below the bridge. Henry Alward, afterward first sheriff of Columbia county, was a cele- brated horse jockey and politician.
James McCord, cabinet maker, was a native of Dauphin county and a bachelor. There was a great demand for his work, owing to its superior quality.
552
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
William Piatt, clerk, was a candidate for sheriff while a resident of Mil- ton, and defeated by only a few votes. His son became sheriff of Lycoming county.
John B. Hogan, cabinet maker, succeeded to the business of McCord. He was a son-in-law to Bethuel Vincent; during the war of 1812 he served as captain and disbursing officer.
Arthur McGowan, manufacturer of sickles, had a mill near the river.
James Hutchinson, tailor, Front street, employed several "jours" and apprentices.
Joseph Rhoads, a German by birth and son-in-law to Andrew Straub, re- sided in the lower end of the town. He derived the title of major from his connection with the militia.
John Armstrong, tanner and currier, was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, married at Oley, Berks county, and died at Milton in 1814.
TAXABLES IN 1818.
The borough of Milton was incorporated in 1817, and at the first assess- ment thereafter the following named persons were returned as subject to taxation: Guyan Arthur, James Armstrong, Joseph B. Anthony, Daniel Beck- ley, Abraham Bowman, John Bost, Jane Brady, Valentine Best, John Brady, Thomas Buskirk, Thomas Best, Valentine Bowman, Frederick Bowman, Daniel R. Bright, Hannah Buoy, Mary Brick, Frederick Brick, Barnhart Buser, John Burrows, Michael Berk, Elijah Babbitt, George Berryman, Mc- Gowan Baylicor, David S. Brown, Thomas Comly, James Crouse, George Corry, Elizabeth Crist, John Chestnut, David Campbell, Seth Christie, Levi Climpson, George Cowell, John Cowden, Daniel Clark, Thomas Campbell, James Dougal, James Dougal, John Davidson, David Derickson, Jesse Derick- son, Jonathan Egler, Daniel Eckert, George Eckert, William Cox Ellis, Henry Eckbert, Charles Fisher, John Fausnaught, Henry Frick, William Fleming, Andrew Forrest, Anthony Fox, Joseph Gibson, Adam Gundekunst, Robert Gray, Michael Gower, Joseph Gibson, Andrew Gillespie, Richard Goodman, John Herron, John Hames, Lawrence Huff, Philip Housel, Samuel Hogan, Jr., William Housel, James Hutchinson, John Hetherington, John Hougen- dobler, Mr. Hooenecker, Samuel Hepburn, Joseph Hartman, Jacob Hass, Samuel Henry, William Heding, Joseph Hunt, Hugh Harrison, John Hunt- er, John Heddings, John B. Hogan, Charles Hegins, Andrew Huston, Joseph Hartman, Samuel Jordan, Amos Jordan, William Jordan, Seth Iredell, John Jones, John Jones, Obadiah Kelly, Peter Kelchner, Benjamin King, Joseph Kerr, Margaret Kirk, William Kirk, Henry Kirk, Sr., Henry Kirk, Jr., Daniel Lutz, Peter Lambert, Joseph Lawrence, George Lawrence, John Lawrence, Solomon Ludwig, Ezekiel Lunger, Abraham Martz, Samuel Morrison, Will- iam Miller, John McKisson, James McKisson, Christian Markle, John Markle, Arthur McGowan, Mary Montgomery, Robert Moodie, Robert McGuigan,
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MILTON.
Thomas Morgan, John Miller, James Moore, Hugh Morrow, George Nagle, John Moore, John Orr, Isaac Osmond, Philip Poaps, George Poaps, William and Thomas Pollock, George Park, Robert Patterson, Joseph Penny, William Pott, William Ross, Joseph Rhodes, Peter Ruth, David Rittenhouse, John Rippel, Hannah Reese, Jacob Rouscoup, James Ramsey, Daniel Seudder, James Sherer, William Story, Joseph Straub, Samuel Schwartz, Philip Suyer, Abraham Suyer, Aaron Sutfin, Andrew Straub, James P. Sanderson, William H. Sanderson, Eleanor Sanderson, Jacob Seydell, John Schwartz, Adam Shunk, Jacob Siegfried, Mary Straub, James Stewart, Peter Schwartz, Sr., George Schwartz, John Swisher, Peter Schwartz, Jr., John Sweney, Abraham Straub, A. J. Schneider, George Surlo, George Seitsinger, Isaac Straub, George Sweney, John Taggart, Moses Teas, Abraham Trout, James Tharp, Arthur Thomas, John Teitsworth, William Tweed, Bethuel Vincent, Daniel Vincent, Jr., John Vandegrift, Daniel Welshaus, William Welshaus, William Wheel- and, George Worst, Daniel Waggoner, William Wilson, Jacob Wheeland, Michael Wheeland, Benjamin Whiteman, John J. Wills, Thomas Whitson, Christopher Woods, George Welshaus, Conrad Welshaus.
BOROUGH GOVERNMENT.
The borough of Milton was incorporated by act of the legislature, Feb- ruary 26, 1817. The first election for borough officers was held in the fol- lowing month; John Chestnut was elected burgess; Bethuel Vincent, assistant burgess; Henry Frick, high constable; Joseph Hartman, constable; David. Derickson and Daniel Beckley, supervisors; Amos Jordan, Daniel Eckert,. John Davison, Adam Gundekunst, Abraham Trout, David Rittenhouse, and William Jordan, councilmen. The following is a partial list of chief bur- gesses: 1855, P. H. Schreyer; 1856-57, A. F. Moodie; 1858, H. A. Moodie; 1859, David Waldron; 1860, Lewis G. Sticker; 1861-63, Charles Foy; 1864, Samuel A. Leidy; 1865, Robert M. Frick; 1866, Charles Hoy; 1867, Robert: Datesman; 1868-69, William H. Bogle; 1870-71, Thomas R. Hull; 1872, C. C. Straub; 1873, William H. Bogle; 1874, A. Cadwallder; 1875, L. F. Wilson; 1876, Charles H. Dougal; 1877, John J. Fausnaught; 1878-79, Spencer L. Finney; 1880, O. B. Nagle; 1881-83, H. C. Sticker; 1884-85, William H. Hackenberg; 1886-88, A. Cadwallader; 1889-90, John L. Hul -. sizer; 1891, John Jenkins. .
Proceedings for the annexation of parts of Turbut and Chillisquaque town -; ships to the borough were instituted at May term, 1889, and reached a favor- able consummation, November 7, 1889, when a decree of court was promul-> gated by which the limits of the borough were extended on every side. Five wards were formed from its territory, May 12, 1890 ..
The Fire Department had its inception in 1798. The Harmony Fire Company was incorporated on the 12th of August, 1841. The Miltonian Steam Fire Company and three hose companies constitute the present organ -.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
ized protection against the destructive element that has figured so prominently in the history of the town.
THE POSTOFFICE.
The Milton postoffice was established, January 1, 1800. The following is a list of postmasters, with the respective dates of their appointments: Samuel Hepburn, January 1, 1800; Jared Irwin, July 1, 1802; Bethuel Vin- cent, June 29, 1803; John Davison, February 22, 1822; Bethuel Vincent, July 13, 1822; William Jordan, June 23, 1829; Benjamin Morrison, May 11, 1831; Robert H. Hammond, March 6, 1832; Stephen Wilson, April 4, 1837; Leonard Stoughton, February 22, 1841; William C. Wilson, Novem- ber 21, 1844; Lyman H. Wilson, June 9, 1849; James H. McCormick, June 3, 1853; George W. Strine, March 26, 1858; George Lawrence, March 19, 1861; Willis H. Lawrence, January 7, 1864; John Peterman, March 6, 1866; Carlton B. Davis, September 21, 1866; Daniel Burnman, May 4, 1867; Mrs. Mary Eckbert, February 12, 1868; William P. Wheeland, April 21, 1869; Leander M. Morton, December 8, 1873; William H. Bogle, June 23, 1879; J. A. Logan, June 21, 1882; Allen S. Hottenstein, July 26, 1886; Robert W. Correy, June 26, 1890, took office, August 27, 1890.
FACILITIES OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
The opening of a public road on the eastern side of the West Branch was ordered at the first session of the court of quarter sessions after the organi- zation of Northumberland county. Some years elapsed before this order was carried into effect, owing to the state of the frontier, and during the inter- vening period a winding bridle-path, at no great distance from the river and subject to such changes in its course as individual preference might deter- mine, was the avenue of overland communication between the Limestone run settlements and the county seat. The public road as ultimately opened coin- cided with Front street.
River navigation contributed in an essential degree to the prosperity of the town during the period preceding the construction of the canal. Rafts, flat-boats, and other varieties of river craft were loaded at the public wharves of the port of Milton with cargoes of grain, whiskey, etc., and consigned to Columbia, Baltimore, or other river points. After the canal was opened this traffic was transferred to it; packet boats were also established, and the people of that day regarded themselves as highly favored with such facilities of rapid commuication at their command.
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