USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 6
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At the general election in October, 1852, John Mullan, Democrat, had three hun- dred and twenty votes, and John G. Bartch, Whig, had two hundred and forty votes as candidates for county commissioner. At the presidential election in November, Franklin Pierce, Democrat, received four hundred and twenty-six votes; Winfield Scott, Whig, received one hundred and sev- enty-seven votes; Martin Van Buren, Free Soil, received fifty-nine votes.
In 1852 the first steam whistle sounded in Sullivan county. In that year Michael Meylert erected a steam sawmill at Laporte. There were many sawmills in the county, but all, hitherto, had been run by water. In 1853 the Democrats nominated for rep- resentative, James Deegan, of Cherry; for sheriff, Jacob Hoffa, of Cherry, for pro- thonotary, Thomas J. Ingham, of Laporte; for treasurer, Richard Bedford, of Forks; for commissioner, Richard Taylor, of Dav- idson; for county surveyor, William A. Mason, of Laporte; for auditor, Cornelius Cronin, of Cherry. The Whigs nominated for sheriff, Amos C. Wilbur, of Davidson; for prothonotary, no nomination; for treas- urer, no nomination; for commissioner, John Glidewell, of Davidson; for county surveyor, no nomination; for auditor. Jonathan Col- ley, of Colley. The strife was mostly on sheriff, and the Whig candidate was elected.
Wilbur had three hundred and four votes and Hoffa two hundred and eighty-six, leav- ing a majority of eighteen for Wilbur. All the rest of the Democratic ticket was elected. The borough of Laporte was es- tablished by a decree of court, in quarter session at the September term, 1853, and the first election was held November 10, 1853.
DUSHORE AGAIN.
While the controversy about the county- seat was raging, Cherry Hill and Dushore were both thriving places, and there was doubt which would take the lead. As soon as it was fully established that the county seat would not be established at Cherrytown, the advantages of Dushore as a natural center for business prevailed. Business on the hill diminished, and rapidly increased in the valley.
Hon. S. F. Headley purchased from John Dieffenbach the mill privilege at the falls, and erected a new dam, and a grist- mill and sawmill where John Dieffenbach's had been destroyed by the flood. Dr. Jackson erected a large storehouse on the opposite side of the street from the Samuel Jackson store-house, where a thriving busi- ness was conducted by J. Jackson & Sons for many years. The mercantile business established by Cornelius Cronin was con- tinued and enlarged. Prior to 1851 Henry Huffman had a tannery and tanned upper leather. He was the father of Christian Huffman. E. D. Richard had a tailor shop and advertised that he would "give 'em fits." Morris Heisz had a liquor store. John W. Stiles had a store for a short time. Hon. S. F. Headly established a store near his mills, which was conducted by Arthur Robison and Joseph Gansel. In January, 1852, it was bought by James Deegan, who continued the business for some time, and
.
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTI.
was succeeded by a Mr. Shaffer, and after- ward by John M. Heacock.
The portion of Dushore above the mills became known as Headlyville. About the year 1852, George H. Welles and F. N. Wilcox moved their store from New Albany to Dushore and erected the building now. occupied as the corner drug store. The business was carried on by them until 1856, when Nelson W. Ackley was admitted as a partner. A dwelling house was built in 1855. In 1858 Mr. Welles purchased the interest of F. N. Wilcox, and the business continued in the name of Welles, Ackley & Company, which was continued until the death of Ackley in 1869, when his brother, Perrin R. Ackley, assumed his brother's in- terest. Mr. Welles moved to Dushore in 1859 and resided there until 1864, when he returned to Wyalusing. Mr. Welles con- tinued his mercantile business at Dushore until quite recently.
Dushore borough was incorporated by the court of quarter sessions of Sullivan county in 1859. The number of votes at the first general election was forty-six. The increase in population in Dushore has been continuous and rapid. The business changes have been frequent. It is not with- in the scope of this history to follow these changes, or make a record of all the mer- cantile, manufacturing or other business enterprises which have been so numerous in the last forty years. It is now a pros- perous town of twelve hundred inhabitants.
POLITICS.
In 1854 the whole country was agitated by the Kansas-Nebraska act, and the ques- tion of extending slavery into these terri- tories became the absorbing political topic. The people of Sullivan county shared in this excitement, and as usual differed in
their opinions. The proceedings of a mass meeting held at Forksville, in August of that year, will serve to show the position taken by the Free Soil party. We copy from the report in the Sullivan County Democrat, as follows:
" At a large and enthusiastic mass meet- ing held at Forks of Loyalsock on the 16th .inst., the following officers were chosen: Henry E. Shipman, president; Benjamin Huckell, Daniel Reynolds, Henry W. Dye, Joseph Woodhead, Reuben Battin, Edward Molyneux, David N. Travis and John P. Taggart, vice-presidents; A. J. Trout and Augustus Lippincott, secretaries. The ob- ject of the meeting having been stated, Hon. David Wilmot was called upon and addressed the assembly. His speech occu- pied three hours, and was listened to with the greatest attention. It was a clear, full and accurate statement of the policy of this government in reference to slavery from the period of its organization until the present time. He showed from history, and the debates in convention which framed the constitution, that the framers of our gov- ernment never intended to recognize slavery as a national institution, and proceeded to point out the difference between their views and the views of those who claim to be peculiarly the expounders of the constitution and friends of the Union at the present day. He contrasted the opinions of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, and many other Democrats of the early days of the republic, with the present race of party Democrats, whose principles are to get office. He de- clared his willingness to adhere to every doctrine in relation to slavery laid down by Jefferson or Madison. He believed in the Democracy laid down in the Declaration of Independence, and taught by those who fought in the Revolution; but he claimed
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
no affinity with the degenerate race of office- seeking politicians who call themselves Democrats. We have no intention of giv- ing an abstract of his lengthy and statesman- like speech, as we should fall far short of doing it justice. After Mr. Wilmot had " closed T. J. Ingham presented resolutions setting forth in substance the principles of the Republican party.
"The question on the passage of the resolutions was taken by a rising vote, and the whole assembly voted for the resolutions and not one against them. An address and resolutions adopted by citizens of Colley township, fully endorsing the resolutions of the Independent Democratic meeting held in Elkland, July 4th, were then presented to the mecting and received with marks of approbation.
"On motion it was resolved that the president appoint a standing committee, to be composed of one voter from cach elec- tion district, whose duties shall be the same as are usually performed by standing com- mittees. The president appointed the fol- lowing gentlemen to be the said committee, viz .: S. H. Daddow, J. T. Stalford, Daniel Little, Levi Rogers, P. E. Armstrong, T. J. Ingham, Isaac Keller, Wheeler Green, Joseph Woodhead, Reuben Battin; T. J. Ingham, chairman.
"On motion it was resolved that three persons be appointed by the president to confer or correspond with Anti-Nebraska men in other counties of this congressional district, and after such conference and correspondence to recommend a suitable candidate to be supported by the people at the next election. The president ap- pointed Thomas J. Ingham, Levi Rogers and J. P. Taggart said committee. The thanks of the assembly were tendered to 6
Mr. Wilmot for his address, after which the meeting adjourned.
"HENRY SHIPMAN, President.
"A. J. TROUT,
"A. LIPPINCOTT, -- Secretaries."
In the same issue of the Sullivan Demo- crat, which contained the foregoing pro- ceedings, appeared the following notice:
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING.
The Democratic citizens of Sulivan county are re- quested to meet at the Forks of Loyalsock on Wednes- day, the 30th of August, at 10 o'clock A. M. The object of the meeting is to vindicate the Democratic party from the charge made against it by the Hon. David Wilmot of being the "Slavery propogandist Democracy", and of defining the true position of the party on the slavery question. The meeting is called more especially by the Democrats of the western townships, but all others are carnestly requested to attend.
The writer has made diligent search for the copy of the Democrat containing the proceedings of the mass meeting held in pursuance of the call, but has been unable to find it. It is remembered however, that able speakers were present, and took the ground that Bigler did not favor the extension of slavery, but held to the Doug- las plan of popular sovereignty.
The majority for William Bigler in the county at the next election was eighty-cight.
In the ensuing year the independent Democratic organization of Sullivan county. following the general movement of the Anti-slavery party in all of the northern states, adopted the name of Republicans, and the hitherto Whig party ceased to ex- ist as a party. The Whigs, almost without exception, were merged into the Republic- an organization.
At the general election of 1855 the Democratic ticket was :- for senator, Aaron J. Dietrick; for members of the assembly, Oliver Lathrop and John V. Smith; for
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
treasurer, Jaines Dunn; for commissioner, Samuel K. McBride; for auditor, George D. Jackson. The Republican ticket was: For senator, Andrew Gregg;for members of the assembly, Thomas J. Ingham and O. G. Hempstead; for treasurer, John S. Green; for commissioner, William Glide- well; for auditor, J. W. Hogeland. The contest was animated, and resulted as fol- lows: majority for Dietrick, seventy-three; majority for Ingham, over Smith, one one hundred and forty-nine; majority for Ing- ham over Lathrop, ninety-five, majority for Green, ninety-one; majority for McBride, one hundred and twenty-six; majority for Jackson, two hundred and eighty. In the senatorial district Andrew Gregg was elect- ed. In the assembly district Thomas J. Ing- ham and John V. Smith were elected.
THE FIRST MURDER.
In 1855 the first murder was perpetrated in this county. The trial was held at the February court, 1856. John Michael Kamm and Anna Vietengruber were indicted for the murder of John George Vietengruber. Henry Metcalf was district attorney, and A. J. Dietrick was engaged for the defense. There was evidence that John George Vie- tengruber was living with his family at Elk Lake in 1855; that John Michael Kamm was living with them; that in the summer of tliat year Vietengruber was missing, and that it was reported that he had gone away. The neighbors were suspicious that there had been foul play, but there was no evi- dence that he had been murdered. In the fall Joseph McCarty, being in the woods near the lake, observed a place which looked as if a person had been buried, but he did not investigate closely, as it was near night. The next day he took some neighbors with him and went to examine the place. They
were surprised to find that during the night the grave had been opened, and from all appearances a human body removed. They found hair, finger or toe nails, and some other indications that a decaying body had lain there. The circumstances were very strongly against Kaim and Mrs. Vietengru- ber, and they were arrested for murder and lodged in jail at Laporte. After dilligent search the body of Vietengruber could not be found.
When the trial commenced no certain evidence could be adduced that Vietengru- ber was dead. It seemed as though the de- fendant would certainly escape. The prose- cution, however, made the most of their case. They introduced testimony showing the absence of Vietengruber, the finding of a grave in the vicinity, where a body had been buried, the removal of the body in the night, and then proved that all the clothes he had still remained in the house. A young son of Vietengruber was on the stand as a witness, and the clothes of Vietengru- ber were brought to be identified, for the inspection of the jury, when Mrs. Vietengru- ber, in hysterical excitement, suddenly arose and pointing her finger at Kamm, ex- claimed: "He did it!" Instantly Kamm said in a hissing whisper, but so sharp it could be heard all over the roomn: " Hist, Anna, hist!" Then Mrs. Vietengruber be- gan to rave in a frenzied manner, and the trial had to be suspended. This occurred at five o'clock Saturday afternoon, and the court adjourned until Monday. Mrs. Vie- tengruber remained in the same condition on Monday, and the court adjourned until Tuesday. On that day the jury found that she was incapable of making her defense, and as against her, the court suspended the trial, and proceeded with the trial of Kamm.
Meanwhile Kamm had made a confes-
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
sion. He admitted he had killed Vieten- gruber, but said it was in self-defense; that Vietengruber came at him with a knife while he was chopping wood, and he struck Vie- tengruber with his axe, and that, being alarmed, he buried the body in the woods; that he was around when McCarty found the grave, that he went that night with a bed-tick, and took up the body, which he carried into the lake as far as he could, and sunk it with stones. His confession did not avail him, and the jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree.
His counsel made a motion for a new trial, to be heard at the ensuing term. When spring opened, search was made and the body of Vietengruber was found in the lake, in accordance with Kamm's confes- sion. The wound upon the head, however, did not agree with Kamm's statement. Ex- perts who examined the skull testified that he must have been struck with the axe while lying down. He was probably murdered while asleep. On the 27th of May, 1856, Kamm was sentenced to be hanged. He was executed in the jail-yard erected for the purpose on the north side of the court- house. Mrs. Vietengruber was never tried. She was allowed to run away.
POLITICS.
In 1856 the presidential election oc- curred in which James Buchanan was the Democratic candidate for president, and John C. Fremont, the Republican candidate. The people of Sullivan county were as well stirred up as any other county in the state. Public meetings of both political parties were held in nearly every schoolhouse in the county.
An act of the legislature had been passed April 22, 1856, forming a new judicial dis- trict, consisting of the counties of Columbia,
Wyoming and Sullivan. Governor Pollock appointed the Hon. Warren J. Woodward, of Luzerne connty, to be president judge. At the ensuing general election he was elected without much opposition. In later years he became a judge of the supreme court. The same year the Hon. William A. Mason and the Hon. William Smith were elected associate judges; Samuel Craft was elected sheriff; William Colley was elected prothonotary. The majority for Buchanan over Fremont was one hundred and eighty-six.
In 1857 the Democratic candidate for governor was the Hon. William F. Packer; the Republican candidate was the Hon. David Wilmot. Both candidates were from counties adjoining Sullivan, and both were well and favorably known to the pco- ple, but the election did not turn on the personal merits of the candidates. The free-soil issue was still prominent. The Democrats carried the whole ticket by an increased majority. Packer's majority over Wilmot was two hundred and twenty-seven. Walter Spencer, of Laporte, was elected county treasurer; John Dieffenbach, of Cherry, was elected county commissioner. The total vote on governor was seven hun -. dred and fifty-nine. In the presidential election of 1860 the people of Sullivan county shared alike with other sections of the country in the excitements of that cam- paign. The vote, as shown by the returns, stood as follows: For Abraham Lincoln, four hundred and twenty-nine; for Stephen A. Douglas, four hundred and ninety-seven.
THE WAR.
When the war of the Rebellion opened, the people of Sullivan county, generally speaking, without regard to party lines, de- clared in favor of the preservation of the
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Union. From the Sullivan County Demo- crat (the only newspaper published in the county) of the date of April 19, 1861, we quote the following editorial:
" Never was a greater excitement pro- duced than by the news of the assault upon Fort Sumter, and its subsequent surrender. Persons could not realize the fact that a fort so strong could be taken in so short a time without producing more mischief to those who were assailing it, and when it was announced that no one was injured by the firing, disbelief of the news was very generally expressed.
"The intelligence is substantially con- firmned by dispatches received yesterday, pub- lished in another column. We do not pre- tend to explain the apparent inconsistencies, which fuller advices may reconcile, but ac- cept the main facts as true. Fort Sumter has pulled down the proud flag which has floated so long over its walls. War, offen- sive and unprovoked, has been inaugurated by the Confederate states against the gov- ernment and people of the United States, and we must prepare for the realities.
" We have ever advocated in this paper the cause of conciliation and peace. We hoped that the spirit of sectional strife and discord might be allayed without bloodslied; and that the states could continue to move forward together under the constitution handed down by our fathers. In this we have been disappointed -- war has actually begun. Seven states are in arins and have openly proclaimed their intention to seize the capital of the United States.
"Without regard to the causes which have led to this deplorable state of affairs, it be- comes the duty of every patriot to stand by and uphold the flag of our Union. The stars and stripes, which have floated over so many battlefields and been honored in
every nation of the world, must not now be dishonored and trampled under foot upon our own soil.
"It is idle to pursue the temporizing and procrastinating policy in hopes to pre- serve the Union by conciliation alone. It has been tried, and it has failed; for every concession has only been replied to by fresh insults and renewed preparations for still greater aggressions. During the whole period that the secessionists have been de- crying coercion, they have been steadily preparing for war, and that now they have made their plans complete, they have thrown off the flimsy disguise of defensive prepara- tion, and boldly proclaimed their purpose is offensive war against the national govern- ment.
" In face of such facts as these it is crim- inal neglect of our duty any longer to delay being prepared to strike when the encounter does come, and to strike such a blow for our country as will make its enemies quail, and treason and rebellion forever hide their heads. The government should act vigor- ously, act promptly, and act for success. Thoroughly prepared for the worst emer- gency, we shall find success an easier task."
The enthusiasm of the people was in full accord with the sentiments expressed by the editor of the Democrat. A news item in the same paper said:
" Dushore, April 18, 1861 .- Three hun- dred guns were fired at this place this morn- ing in honor of Major Anderson, with a full determination to stand by the Union, and support the Constitution of the United States. The flag of our country is floating in the breeze, and long may it wave."
From the Democrat of May 10, 1861: ". A union meeting was held in Colley town- ship on Monday, April 29. William Bartly i was chosen president; Daniel Mosier and
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Henry Dieffenbach, vice-presidents; and Asa Adams, secretary. Addresses were made by William Bartley, S. V. McVey, J. T. Hested, R. Jackson, Joseph Gansel, William R. Campbell and L. D. Oden. Judging from the report sent us the meeting was very en- thusiastic and cheerful."
From the Derrocrat of May 24: "The flag that was made by the good ladies of this borough last week was hoisted from a pole opposite the residence of C. C. Finch, on Muncy street, on Saturday morning last at about 4 o'clock. The cheering was long, and particularly by the ladies. A few ap- propriate and enthusiastic remarks were made by T. J. Ingham. Esq., after which three cheers were given for the speaker, three for the fair ladies who made the flag, and three for the Union."
From the Democrat of May 31: "A beautiful flag was thrown to the breeze on a suitable staff, at the residence of John Simmons, in Davidson township, on the afternoon of the 25th, in the presence of a large number of people. A meeting was organized by the selection of O. P. Johnson, president; James Taylor and Robert Taylor, vice-presidents; addresses were delivered by John R. Neily, Peter Sones, and others. The 'Star Spangled Banner 'was sung by . the ladies, after which the meeting adjourned, amid three cheers for the Union and flag of our country."
There were similar demonstrations of the people in all parts of the county, but full reports.have not been preserved. The substantial fruits of this enthusiasm soon appeared in the enlistment of soldiers. The first prominent men who offered their serv- ices were Henry Metcalf, of Dushore, and the Hon. j. R. Jones, of Lewis' Lake. The location of Bradford county on the east, and Lycoming county at the west, drew a
number of volunteers into organizations out of the county, and for which other counties have had credit.
The first distinctive organization in Sul- livan county was a company led by Henry Metcalf, who was elected captain. This company assembled at LaPorte, on the 3d of September, 1861, and went thence to Philadelphia, where they were mustered into the Fifty-eighth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. Hon. J. R. Jones took some volunteers with him to Philadelphia, where they joined the Fifty-eighth Regi- ment, of which he was made colonel. This regiment was ordered to Norfolk, Virginia, where it remained for some time. Subse- quently it was ordered to Newbern, North Carolina, and in May, 1863, while acting as brigadier-general, he captured a large force of rebels at a place called Green Swamp. Shortly after returning to his camp near Newbern, his forces were attacked' by the Confederates, and he was shot through the breast. . His body was brought to Philadel- phia, and after lying in state in Independ- ence Hall it was taken to Roxborough, where he was buried with the honors of war, in the Leverington cemetery, where a mon- ument has been erected to his memory.
Captain Metcalf was promoted to be major on the 10th of June, 1863, and con- tinued in active service until Apr .: 5, 1864, when he resigned, to attend to important business interests at home. He died sud- denly, at Dushore, on the 23d of Decem- ber, 1864.
In the summer of 1862 enlistments were constant. Henry R. Dunham, of Laporte, and Henry S. Dieffenbach, of Dushore, were active in forming a company. The company assembled at Laporte, August 25th, and immediately went on to Harrisburg to be mustered into the United States service,
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Dunham became first lieutenant, and Dief- fenbach second lieutenant, and the company was designated as Company K, One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers. Lieutenant Dieffenbach died in the service. Lieutenat Dunham afterward became captain in another regiment and served until the end of the war, but was so broken in health that he did not long survive. James Deegan, of Cherry, and his brother, Jeremiah Deegan, also were active in forming a company, and the foriner was made captain, the latter a lieutenant. Both survived the war, but their brother, Thomas Deegan, who went with them, was killed.
It would not be just to the memory of the intelligent and patriotic young men- the very flower of the country-who en- tered the service as privates, not to record their services. They were largely composed of the best educated and most respectable young men of the county. Their numbers, however, and the impossibility of gathering all the facts is a bar to relating their achieve- ments. It is not possible to give all their names, but we give as full a list as can be now obtained, as follows:
Cherry township -- George Baumgartner, Anthony Baumgartner, Adam M. Baum- gartner, Lewis M. Zaner, E. M. Zaner, William Graul, Joseph Huffmaster, John Dunne, John Kinsley, John Hartzig, Charles Kinsley, Joseph Sick, Samuel Bahr, William Burke, John Huffmaster, Joseph T. Hested, William Scott, Jefferson Colley, Charles Arey, Hiram Kisner, Felix Timmons, Ira Bentley, John Henley, Green Henley, Daniel Prichard, John S. Dieffenbach, George W. Thrasher, Ellis Persun, John McCracken, John McCracken, Jr., Thomas McCracken, Francis Bennett, Miles Mc- Donald, John Thrall. Charles Kneller,
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