USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 4
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day of August, 1798, and Du Thouars was then only thirty-eight years old.
The first house within the limits of Dushore, was built by Theodore Phinney, near the site of Headly's mills. It was built with logs, with only one room, a big fire-place and stone chimney. Phinney was originally from Connecticut, but never lived in the house, and it was first occupied as a residence by John Stowers, before 1819. This family was so far from neighbors that Mrs. Stowers did not see one of her own sex for seven months. Stowers came from the vicinity of Towanda Creek. Soon after Stowers went there, Phinney built a saw- mill near the falls (Headley's mill site) and put the first dam in the stream at that place.
THE TURNPIKE. .
In 1806 an act was passed incorporating a company to be called the " President, Man- agers and Company of the Susquehana and Tioga Turnpike Road." The turnpike was designed to furnish a shorter route from Ber- wick to the Tioga river at Newtown, now Elmira. This company constructed a road in 1808 as far as the Loyalsock creek, and in 1810 completed it to the Haverly settle- ment. From near the Long pond it went directly to the Loyalsock, which it crossed about a mile below what is now Ringdale Station, and crossed the Little Loyalsock near what is now Sick's Mill, and continued northward to the Haverly settlement. Sup- plements to the act of 1806 were passed in 1812 and 1815. A new route was surveyed, and Andrew Shiner took the job of building the road, and got it opened as far as Birch creek in 1818. In that year Amos Ellis built a shanty on the Loyalsock, and boarded men who worked on the turnpike. He after-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
ward built a hotel at that place. John R. Lopez built a shanty and boarded men near Birch creek. At that time Samuel McNeal was on land not far from the place where the old Evangelical church was built. There Sally McNeal, the first white child in Cherry township, was born. Frederick Huffmaster was at the Phinney mill; Jacob Miller was on the land since known as the Lewis Zaner place. Ezra Payne came in the fall of 1818 or winter of 1819. He moved into a house called the " Yankee house;" built of hewn logs with two rooms, a chimney in the middle and a fire-place in each room. This house was built by John Stowers after he left the Phinney log house at the Falls. Stowers then moved away from Cherry.
On the 18th of March, 1819, Freeman Fairchild and his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Kitchen, moved into the house with Ezra Payne. Soon afterward Payne moved across the road on his farm (the same afterward owned by Daniel and Soloman Bahr), where he built the first farm house · and frame barn in that township. He also planted the first orchard. He was the first postmaster at the Cherry postoffice, and also the first justice of the peace in the township. Afterward a road was started from the turnpike on his premises, which went to Wyalusing and was known as the " Payne road." Later in the spring of 1819, Frederick Huffmaster moved to the farm where his grandson, Henry Huffmaster, has recently lived.
The public spirit of the new settlement was shown on the 4th of July, 1819, when they raised a tall cherry "Liberty-pole," from the top of which the stars and stripes were first flung to the breeze in that town- ship. Roswell Phelps read the Declaration of Independence. We have no report of
speeches, but a patriotic song was sung, which commenced:
"Come all ye gallant heroes, I'd have you lend an ear; I'll sing you a small ditty Which will your spirit cheer."
As soon as Payne left the Yankee house Fairchild leased it and there commenced the hotel business. He afterward purchased a farm and built a large frame house, long known as the Fairchild's Hotel. It was sit- uated on the ground now occupied by the house of B. M. Sylvara, on the hill south of Dushore. Freeman Fairchild and his wife were from Morris county, New Jersey, but had lived in Berwick, whence they moved to Cherry. Their children were Stephen, Harriet and Caroline, brought with them, and another son, David, born after their settlement in Cherry.
In the Fairchild tavern, for many years, weary travelers over the mountain found a welcome resting place. In 1834 Mr. Fair- child died, but his widow continued to keep the hotel until about 1851. Among the settlers who came in 1819 and 1820 were Brookins Potter, Roswell Phelps, Linas Holcomb and David E. Davis. About this time Mr. Shiner built a sawmill, and later a gristmill, at the crossing of the turnpike at Big Loyalsock, and the location was from that date known for some time as Shiner's Mills. Here was established a postoffice, and Mr. Shiner received the appointment as postmaster. A road was built making con- nection with the original road connecting Lewis's lake with the old turnpike, which became the mail route from Mount Lewis to the turnpike. On its completion John Reeser, a miller by trade, then living in Columbia county, was induced to move his family, and take charge of the mills. About 1823 Mr. Shiner contracted with his son-in- .
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
law, Amos Ellis, and sons, Evan O. and Andrew, to sell them the Shiner's Mills property.
SHINERSVILLE.
Previous to this he had commenced im- provements at a point on the turnpike aft- erward known as Shinersville. Here he laid out a village plat, on lands conveyed to him by the turnpike company, and offered vil- lage lots for sale at thirty-five dollars each. This point seems to have been one first se- lected by the settlers as the most convenient place of gathering. Here was the first burial after the settlements commenced, oc- curring during the summer of 1821, being that of William Maston, who came from Symsbury, Connecticut. Ainong those pur- chasing and improving the property were: David E. Davis, merchant, tavern-keeper and potash manufacturer, and John Mosier, blacksmith. A postoffice was here estab- lished, and Henry W. Cooper appointed postmaster. In this neighborhood we find the largest number of settlers at the time of the organization of the township. Among those who took up lands, we have the name of Samuel Thomas, who cleared the land still known as Thomas farm.
A sawmill was built by Shiner at the crossing of Birch creek at the turnpike. Jesse, John and Samuel Hicks each im- proved lands in this vicinity. John M. Kir- kendall made the first improvements on lands known as the Pendergast place. Jesse Kirkendall's name is found among the list of single freemen in the returns of 1824, and Charles Scott and Samuel Dill, who settled on lands still known by their names, caine as early as 1820. The second school- house built in the township was located here.
John R. Lopez was a sub-contractor on . the turnpike and was working near Ellis' in
1819. Later he purchased land on the turnpike north of Shinersville, where he continued to reside until his death. Lopez creek was named after him, and has given name to the present flourishing town of Lo- pez. In addition to the persons already named, Dennis Thrall, William Graifly, Caspar King, Joseph Litzenswope, Alden Potter, Nicholas Potter, William Potter, Joseph Potter, Charles Scott, Samuel Dill and John Miller were settlers before 1822. Henry Yonkin moved into the township in 1822. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1806. He purchased land and cleared a farm on a ridge south of the Little Loyalsock. The same farm was aft- erwards occupied by Peter Yonkin, his son. Henry Yonkin came to Cherry from Brier creek, Columbia county. He had seven children - Henry, John, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth (who married Henry Grai- fly) and Catharine (who married Christian Mosier). Quite a large settlement of Ger- mans gathered around Henry Yonkin, and that part of Cherry township became known as " Germany." In that settlement was . erected, about 1825, the first church in Cherry township. Henry Yonkin, Joseph Litzenswope, Dennis Thrall and William Graify were among the active men in that church-building work. It was called a Lutheran or German Reformed church, but they received assistance from Catholics in building it, and it was used for Catholic worship as occasion required. The Rev. John Miller, a young German minister, first preached there in the German language. Henry Yonkin's sons were all highly intelli- gent, industrious and thriving men, and his numerous descendants have been worthy, in- fluential citizens.
Andrew Shiner had town lots regularly laid out at the point on the turnpike north
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
of the present village of Mildred. He sold a number of these lots, and buildings enough were erected to give it the character of a village. He had purchased a good deal of land, and incurred expenses, as he stated, to the amount of seven thousand dollars. Being unable to meet his obliga- tions, he was sold out by the sheriff in 1829. He returned to Columbia county, and with his departure his village decayed. Natural causes took the center of business to Cherry Hill. Samuel Jackson, who had been em- ployed by Andrew Shiner in his business, and had married one of the latter's daugh- ters, now removed to land on the turnpike, south of Ezra Payne's, and occupied the "Yankee house," heretofore mentioned, built by John Stowers. Here he opened a store.
As soon as the turnpike was completed a coach was put upon it, and a great deal of travel went over it, especially in the spring of the year, when hundreds of rafts- men from southern New York and northern Pennsylvania were returning from their rafting trips to the lumber markets on the lower Susquehanna. The lands were found to be good, and settlers flocked in and took up farms in every direction. Among those who came early (some in 1823) were Henry Yonkin, William Graifly, Casper King, Joseph Litzleswope, Dennis Thrall, Will- iam Hartzig, John Mosier, William Darby, Frederick Barge, John Reeser, Lewis Zaner and William Colley.
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE IN CHERRY.
The first school-house in Cherry town- ship was built on Cherry Hill, near the res- idence of Daniel Bahr, in 1820, and a school was taught here the same year by Salome Tompkins, at one dollar per week and board. The next term was taught by
Roswell Phelps, from Connecticut, and the next by Alma Potter, of Huntington.
LITTLE LOYALSOCK.
After John Reeser left the Shiner mill, about 1823. he took up land along the Little Loyalsock, including a mill site about a mile below Phinney's sawmill. Here he erected a gristniill. He had sons named William, John, Daniel and Amos. His son, the Rev. William Reeser, has given to the public considerable information in re- gard to the early settlement. We quote Mr. Reeser as follows:
" A considerable source of income to our fathers in those early days was the maple-sugar product. The seasons were much better than now, and considering the crude appliances in use in the manufac- ture of sugar, the amount of the crop in pounds was very gratifying, although the prices realized were generally small. Game and fish were plenty. Deer could freq ient- ly be seen walking along the highway. For a period of about eight years wild tur- keys were very plenty. My wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Martin and who was raised on the farm now owned by Ly- man Baker, says she was frequently sent by her parents to drive the wild turkeys from the buckwheat, and sometimes the flocks were so large as to frighten her. Trout in great numbers could be found in all of our streams, and of a size, too, that would set wild the anglers of to-day. Wheat could not be raised in this country at that time. There was a plentiful growth of straw but it would not head. Corn was the same way -all stalks. and no ears. The first corn was raised on what is now known as the Lyman Baker farm. Rye and buckwheat did well. Wages in those times were small. Finally the times improved, and a
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
good workman was able to get seventy-five cents a day during haying and harvesting; . at other work fifty cents a day was consid- ered a day's wages. A day's work was from sunrise to sunset.
"We knew nothing about the eight-hour law then. A girl's wages were from fifty to. seventy-five cents per week. Very often the men were compelled to go from home to earn money with which to pay for their lands, leaving their families, as we may say, in the wilderness to shift for themselves for months at a time. The tools used by the first settlers were an axe and a hand- spike, and with the assistance of a pair of oxen the early settler was ready to com- mence his battle with the wilderness."
The Rev. William Reeser, from whom we quote, has always been a prominent man in the county and acted for three years as county commissioner. Amos Reeser, son of John Reeser, was a genial and much re- spected hotelkeeper in Dushore for many years.
William Colley, who came from Colum- bia county when a young man, in the em- ploy of Mr. Shiner, was one of the first to engage in the public business of the town- ship. He succeeded Mr. Maxwell as justice of the peace. Mr. Colley was president of the first school-board in Cherry township, and among the most active in measures connected with the organization of the county. He received the appointment as associate judge, and when a change was made, by which judges were elected, he was continued in office five years longer. He served also as prothonotary and recorder, continuing to hold important public posi- tions, either in connection with county or township, until impaired health compelled him to give up public business.
Among the early settlers in Cherry town-
ship was George Hunsinger. He had for- merly resided near Berwick, and moved to the Genesee country in New York, but finding the fever and ague prevailing there, returned and took up land near the south- western corner of the present boundary of the township, along the old turnpike. By him and his sons the first clearings were made on the ridge between the two branches of the Loyalsock. His family consisted of seven sons and two daughters, viz .: Chris- tian, George, Samuel, Charles, Jacob, Sol- oman and Barney. His daughters married Thrasliers and resided in Schuylkill county. Christian was a blacksmith by trade; Jacob moved to Lycoming county; Solo- man to Bradford; Barney to Schuylkill, and George settled in Forks township, where his father made his tiome with him until he died.
David H. Goodwin came about 1830. He was first employed as a surveyor by non- resident land-owners, and in a few years became their agent for the sale of lands. He was a well educated mnan, thoroughly alive to the importance of improving the county, and especially interested in advanc- ing its educational interests. During the winter months he was employed as a school-teacher, and sometimes taught sing- ing schools. He was active in church work, and occasionally served as a local preacher.
Joseph Bachelor settled along the turn- pike on the hill north of what is now Du- shore, but did not remain long. William Lawrence took up land on the turnpike about three-fourths of a mile north of Bach- elor's improvement. He came from Augusta township, Northumberland county. He was born in 1805, married a daughter of Horatio Ladd in 1824, and built a log house in the neighborhood. In 1825 he contract-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
ed for forty-eight acres of land at two dollars per acre, for which he obtained a deed, and five years afterward he increased the amount to one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Lawrence was one of the first commissioners of the county, and promi- nent in all its affairs until he left this county and moved to Bradford county, in 1854. His wife died in 1847, leaving one son, John H. Lawrence, who was afterward sheriff. His grandson, William J. Lawrence, is now prothonotary and re- corder.
Cornelius Harrington took up lands in the northwestern part of the township about 1828. He was from Ireland, and was after- ward joined by a number of his countrymen. The neighborhood is known as the Harring- ton district. He was an energetic man in all measures pertaining to the interests of the county, and was the first in taking active measures for the establishment of the Sul- livan county fair. So far as is now known he was the first Catholic Irishman who settled in Cherry township. Joseph Litzle- swope (father-in-law of Cornelius Harring- ton), who settled in Cherry township in 182 3, was the first German Catholic. Cornelius Harrington's son Cornelius owns the home- stead, and James is a prominent business man in Dushore.
Isaiah Bartley, who was one of the most active managers in the contest for the county seat at Cherry Hill, came into the county about 1835. He kept a store and, being a single man, boarded at the Fair- child hotel. He was of Protestant Irish descent, had an excellent education, and was a man of fine talents. He was the most efficient man at Harrisburg of all who advocated the county seat in Cherry. He afterward moved to Harrisburg and con- tinued in business there until he died.
DUSHORE.
In December, 1825, John Mosier pur- chased seventy-five acres of land, including Du-Thouars spring and clearing, and a large part of what is now Dushore. He after- ward purchased thirty-five acres more. He moved there in the spring of 1826. He was a blacksmith by trade, and earned the money to pay for his land by working as a journeyman in blacksmith shops along the river. In clearing his land, after cutting the underbrush and small timber, he trimmed the big hemlocks from the top down, and left them standing. His object was to get a partial use of the land, and he supposed that the trees would remain sound until he could build a mill and saw them into lum- ber. Mr. Mosier was generally supposed to be a German, but his certificate of naturali- zation says he renounced his allegiance to the government of Switzerland. He was a man of low stature, being about five feet and four inches in height. He died January 17, 1859.
In 1829 Mathew McDowell erected a building for a store within the lines of what is now Dushore, and stocked it with goods. He had a clerk named Henry W. Cooper, who conducted most of the business. This was the first store within the limits of Du- shore. McDowell sold out to Henry W. Cooper. How long the latter continued business there is uncertain, but he erected another building near the one purchased of McDowell. Both of these buildings were on land now owned by George H. Welles, where the store and bank building is erected. Cooper sold this property to Samuel Jack- son, who moved his family and store goods there. To make more room he erected an- other building between the two purchased', and connected them together, making one long two-story house. In this he lived and
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
kept a store and a tavern. John Mosier's blacksmith shop was on the same side of the street a little farther northeast. Mosier's dwelling house was on the other side of the street, near where the George D. Jackson homestead now stands. The place was called "Jackson Hollow " until Charles F. Welles, of Wyalusing, being a guest of Jackson, an remembering that the residence of the cele- brated French captain (Du Thouars) had been near by, suggested to Jackson that he should put the name on his sign. The sug- gestion was promptly acted upon, and Du- shore was put upon the sign. The name Du Thouars was altered to Dushore, because it was easier spoken. Although this namne was adopted by Samuel Jackson, and used by him, the old name was still used by some, and to give it authoritative sanction a pub- lic meeting was held and the name of Du- shore formally adopted.
Samuel Jackson died in January, 1840. After his death the store was continued in the same building, by William Colley, until it was disposed of to Edward Hughes. Hughes remained one or two years, when Dr. Josiah Jackson moved his family into the Samuel Jackson house and kept a store in the same building. Prior to this, and whilst Hughes was still in business, Dr. Jackson had a store up the creek, near the falls, in the house recently occupied by the late Judge Fairchild. This store was chiefly in charge of his son George D. Jackson. In 1847 John Mosier sold his blacksmith-shop lot to Cornelius Cronin, and his dwelling- house lot to Josiah Jackson. Cornelius Cronin immediately erected a building and established a store. Soon afterward Dr. Jackson built a store-house and dwelling- house on the opposite side of the street. Prior to this John Dieffenbach had acquired the old Phinney mill-site at the Falls and
had erected a sawmill and gristmill, which were destroyed by a flood in 1850. Dr. Jackson practiced as a physician, and his son, George D., was the leading man in the store.
About 1847 Dr. John M. Heacock came and practiced as a physician. He had his home and office at Mrs. Fairchild's.
FREE SCHOOLS.
Soon after the passage of the free-school law an election was held at the house of John Bahr for the election of school direct- ors, and on the 27th of September, 1834, the directors met at the school-house near Mr. Bahrs, and apportioned the length of their terms of office. The following are the names of the first directors: H. W. Coop- er, F. Huffmaster, Peter Hunsinger, Sam- uel McNeal, Jacob Hoffa and William Col- ley. At a meeting of the school board, at the house of William Colley, March 29, 1836, it was resolved that Cherry township be divided into two school districts; the inhab- itants living north of the little Loyalsock creek to have one school, and those living south of said creek to have two schools.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
Having outlined the earliest settlements in the county, we will recur to the township organizations. Shrewsbury township was originally erected by decree of court of Ly- coming county in 1803. At that time it embraced the whole of what is now Sullivan county. The name is attributed to Theophi- ius Little, as the namer, and as the Little and Bennett families came from Shrewsbury township, in Monmouth county, New Jer- sey, the name was appropriate.
Elkland township was established in 1804, but the record is imperfect. Hon. C. D. Eldred, in his reminiscences published
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
in Now and Then (Vol. II, p. 163) says: "William Benjamin, an old surveyor, was appointed by the court to run and mark the boundary lines of Shrewsbury. But this was unsatisfactory to the inhabitants of the new settlement on the Loyalsock, near where the new road ran, as it was found that a controlling portion of the voters would remain south of the Alleghany mount- ains. Accordingly, while Benjamin was engaged in running the boundary lines of Shrewsbury, the inhabitants north of the mountain engaged him to run and mark a line for the division of Shrewsbury and the erection of a new township out of the west- ern portion. It was, however, agreed later between the settlers north and south of the Alleghany that a new township should be formed, and we find on record of the next term of court two petitions filed, differing in some respects as to boundary, but each asking for a division of Shrewsbury town- ship. These two petitions are endorsed, 'granted per curium,' but as they differ in describing the boundary, which one, or can either be deemed official ?"
This difficulty was solved by an act of assembly. The records of the commis- sioner's office show that William Benjamin ran a line between the townships of Shrews- bury and Elkland in 1804. On the 28th of March, 1808, an act of assembly was passed, establishing the election district of Elkland. The place appointed for holding the election was the house of William Molyneux .. This district embraced the settlements of Forks, Hillsgrove and Fox, as well as Elklands. The whole of our present county of Sulli- van was thus embraced in these two town- ships of Shrewsbury and Elkland. The line run by William Benjamin in 1804 was probably adopted in the act of assembly, as the line between Elkland and Shrewsbury.
Cherry township was created at the May session of the court of Lycoming county in 1824. It was formed from Shrewsbury township, and comprised the northeast corner of the county. Davidson township was established by the court of quarter ses- sions of Lycoming county in 1833. It was named in honor of the Hon. Asher David- son, one of the associate judges. This ter- ritory also was taken from Shrewsbury, and extended along the south side of the county from Muncy creek to the Susquehanna and Tioga turnpike. Forks township was es- tabiished by the court of quarter sessions of Lycoming county in 1833. It took all the territory of Shrewsbury township which re- mained between Cherry and Elklands up to the northern line of the county, and a part of the eastern portion of Elkland. Fox township was established by the court of quarter sessions of Lycoming county in 1839. It was formed from Elkland, and took the northwestern corner of the county. It was named in honor of George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends.
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