USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 7
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Samuel McNeal, Jeremiah Deegan, Alfred Cole, John J. Hoffa, Charles Murnna, J. Yarrington, James Deegan, William Deegan, Henry Stahl, Jeremiah Mooney, Henry Hileman, Nathan Persun, John Mooney, George Harlocher, Thomas Deegan, Lewis Oten, Henry Dieffenbach, H. H. Hart- man; total number, fifty-three.
Colley township-Daniel V. Prichard. Lewis D. Potter, Charles Schock, C. B. Potter, John G. Graub, Ilector Prichard, Major Scouten, Lyman Brown, Taper Hun- singer, Peter Mosier, Nathan L. Brown, total number, eleven.
Davidson township-G. W. Simmons, J. N. Simmons, Daniel Phillips, A. Biggers, Peter Sones, J. W. Speary, B. C. Speary, T. Edgar, T. Glidewell, E. Gower, J. Ben- nett, T. S. Simmons, S. Wilbur, C. W. Larish, F. N. Larish, D. Larish, W. F. Lansh, Simpson S. Simmons, D. S. Sim- mons, G. W. Pennington, James Speary, D. M. Speary, William Arms, G. A. Skin- ner, C. F. Skinner, D. Taylor, C. S. Tay- lor, P. Miller, T. A. Dent, William Lorah, G. T. Phillips, William Wilson, J. Gower. E. S. Howell, B. Horn, J. J. Miller, J. Lorah, G. W. Biggers, S. Swank, C. Mar- tin, J. N. Hazzen, Asa Speary, C. Miller, E. Smith, Jacob Wilson, C. Glidewell, Jackson Phillips, J. Biggers, Washington Sheets, Nelson Johnson, total number, fifty.
Elkland township -- Jonas Bedford, Will- iam Bedford, Edmund Bedford, Henry Bed- ford, George F. Bedford, William E. Bed- ford, George Bedford, Joseph Bedford, Charles M. Boyles, Charles Webster. James H. Pardoe, Charles Grange, William Boyles, Joseph Black, Henry Grange, George W. Glidewell, John T. Caless, George N. Par- doe, William Norton, James Norton, Nich- olas Snyder, Charles Merritt, Samuel Gil- bert, George Webster, William Whitely,
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Vinson McCarty, Daniel Vargason, Albert Hess, Ferdinand Hess, Thomas Merritt, Charles King. Chester King, Henry Jeffer- son, Edward Boyles, William Huckell, Henry Molyneux, Ellis Molyneux, John C. Warburton, George W. Warburton, William Warren, John Merritt; total number, forty- one.
Fox township - Alfred Warburton, C. M. Battin, W. M. White, M. Porter, C. N. Porter, John Porter, Peter Brown, H. Y. Porter, Aaron Brown, Samuel Brown, H. D. Dickerson, Nathan Porter, D. H. Rich- ardson, U. Hoagland, Cornelius Rightmire, H. N. Hoagland, E. P. Fanning, W. P. Fanning, Sanford Fanning, Ezra Williams, Samuel Hosier, Peter Hosier, Sanford Will- iams, A. L. Shaddock, M. I. Shaddock, L. H. Shaddock, John Rundell, R. M. Wheel- er, S. D. Wheeler, Usel Wheeler, George Wheeler, John D. Wheeler, Rollin Harri- son, Isaac Harvey, Isaac Harvey, Jr., James Harvey, Jr., William Harvey, George Harvey, Alvin Heath, Daniel Porter, S. S. Connell, Philander Gilbert, John Brenchley, Chester Brenchley, Thomas Cooley, Alonzo Foster, John Backer, Benjamin Kilmer, J. M. Letts, Jethro Battin, Hiram Boughton, Hiram Woodhead, J. Warburton, Jerry Butler; total number, fifty-four.
Forks township, -William Rogers, Sam- uel Molyneux, Henry Hunsinger, Wm. Bed- ford, Henry Epler, Joel L. Molyneux, James Rinebold, George M. Pardoe, James Cor- coran, N. W. Farrell, J. C. Warburton, Solonion Hottenstine, E. R. Warburton, H. Hottenstine, George Luke, F. Luke, Will- iam Luke, M. Little, Samuel Black, Thomas Rogers, S. S. Rogers, Isaac Smith, Theo- dore P. Wilkinson, John W. Rogers, Ezra Rogers, Henry F. Black, Henry W. Bald- win, William Campbell, H. Campbell, Speaker Ostler, Amasa Baker, George W.
Little, Edward Frank, John Hottenstine, David Vough, George W. Davidson, Charles Hunsinger, Charles Shaffer, George Wanck, J. Tayne, David Frear, Joseph Kester, E. Gongler, George Neely, Daniel M. Ginley, Richard Johnson, P. W. Johnson, Lons Rinebold. Total number, forty-eight.
Hillsgrove township-E. W. Snell, B. F. Snell, William Snell, Luther C. Snell, Charles Snell, David Bryan, Samuel Bryan, Losson Bryan, Jacob Sherman, Benjamin Bryan, William Lancaster, Herman Moly- nenx, Philip Finsel, Sylvester Green, George Green, Samuel Yaw, David R. Davis, Thomas Craven. John C. Craven, Lucian Bothwell, John C. Campbell, William Camp- bell, Henry Campbell, William J. Warner, Lewis Warner, Richard McBride, William McBride, Peter Hummel, Reuben Bostwick, James Northrop, William Cox, Jack Gilson, Eli Dickerson; total number, thirty-three.
Laporte borough-Benjamin M. Dun- ham, John W. Reynolds, Samuel Conklin, John Conklin, H. R. Dunham, W. H. Craw- ford, Harvey Gregory, J. T. Brewster, W. H. D. Green, C. Homan, W. H. Small, F. Wilcox; total number, twelve.
Laporte township-Joseph C. Penning- ton, Charles W. Converse, Oliver G. King, Jacob S. Stevenson, Isaac L. Low, John J. Low, H. M. Stevenson, M. M. - Fiester, Samuel H. Buck. Isaac Sones, C. Reed, M. H. Traugh, Franklin Horn, Freeman Horn, T. J. Pennington, Andrew Glidewell, Mah- lon Whitbeck, George N. Stevenson, Ezra Zeliff; total number, nineteen .;
Shrewsbury township-George W. Craft, George W. Smith, Jr., Alfred Little, Theo- dore Taylor, A. J. Taylor, George Vieten- gruber, George Clark, David Bubb, Charles Prescott, John U. Fiester, Henry Edkin, Thomas Edkin, John Hoss, Henry Koons, William Winders, Stewart Winders, John
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
R. Jones, John W. Bennett, Henry Brown, Josiah Emery, Richard Green; total num- ber, twenty-one.
The total number, as we have it here, is three hundred and forty-two, which is al- most one-third of the highest number of votes at that time polled in Sullivan county.
There were no companies, or squads of men enlisted in Sulivan county after those already mentioned, but many persons went away, by ones, twos and threes, and enlisted in other counties. They were assigned to old regiments, where most needed, and it has been found impossible to get a complete list of them all.
When those whose age, circumstances, temperament, and enthusiasm had inclined them to enlist, had entered the service, there was still a demand for more men, which necessarily compelled a draft. The first United States draft was made in Sep- tember, 1863, Sullivan county having been exempt from the previous state draft, by having supplied her full quota of volunteers. From this government draft she was also justly entitled to exemption, having already furnished more than the number called for. The number of her volunteers in service was two hundred and seventy-seven, when the number charged against the county was only two hundred and forty-four, as shown by the report of the adjutant general, contain- ed in the legislature record of 1863. An en- rollment, however, was made. A number enlisted voluntarily before the draft, and some were drafted. The draft of March 10, 1864, reached a number of citizens in this county who promptly reported and generally mnade good soldiers. A few sent substitutes, which cost from six to seven hundred dollars each. In some instances sub- stitutes made their escape after being mus- tered into service, and in rare cases drafted
inen failed to report. There is quite a list of deserters, but not more in proportion than in the other counties of the state.
In the latter part of 1862 the criticism of the Lincoln administration in some of the city newspapers produced its effect in the country; and the citizens of Sullivan county fell into their party currents. The Democratic party of the county kept pace with the party in the state, and while as- serting their loyalty to the Union, severely condemned the administration in the con- duct of the war. A few took strong grounds in favor of peace at any price, and were so sympathetic with the south that they were called . Copperheads." There never was a time when this class had a majority of the Democrats in Sullivan county. The Demo- cratic party, however, in 1863 took a deter- mined stand against the administration of Governor Curtin, in this state, and of Pres- ident Lincoln, in the nation; and the polit- ical warfare, which had been like a truce for nearly two years, became a hot battle at the polls in 1863. .
The candidates for governor were An- drew G. Curtin, Republican, and George W. Woodward, Democrat. The result in the county was seven hundred and thirteen votes for Woodward, and three hundred and fifty-nine for Curtin; majority for Wood- ward, three hundred and fifty-four. The Democratic county ticket was all elected, as follows: For assembly, George D. Jack- son; for treasurer, Walter Spencer; for com- inissioner, Jolin F. Keeler.
The presidential election of 1864 was the most intensely embittered of any elec- tion hitherto held in the county. The po- sition taken by the Sullivan County Demo- crat is indicated by the following editorial taken from its issue of November 4, 1864: " The policy of Mr. Lincoln is the eman-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
cipation and equality of the negro, at the expense of all the rights and interests of the free white men and women of America. For the benefit of the negro, he is now pro- longing the war. For the negro, he is ad- ding millions daily to the national debt. For the negro, he is now increasing the burthensome taxation which is pressing down the people of the north. For the negro, he is now ordering quarterly con- scriptions, and dragging away from their homes and families the white men of the nation. For the negro, he is now sneering at the Union and trampling upon the con- stitution. Let white men think of these things. Let every Democrat in Sullivan county be at the polls on Tuesday next, and vote for Mcclellan and Pendleton!"
No Republican newspaper being at that time published in the county, no authentic sample of their campaign publications can be cited, but it is recollected that public meetings were held by both parties in al- most every school-house in the county, and the issues discussed before crowded audi- ences by the ablest speakers in the county on both sides. The result was for McClel- lan six hundred and seventy votes; for Lin- coln three hundred and sixty-nine votes, - majority for McClellan three hundred and one. A few days after election an incident occurred which caused considerable excite- ment in the county, and which is thusrelated in the Democrat of November 9. 1864: " On Saturday last our usually quiet town was visited for the first time, which caused no little amazement, by a troop of horsemen numbering about thirty, under command of Captain Lambert, and accompanied by Captain Silvers, a deputy provost marshal. Their mission was to arrest all drafted per- sons who had not reported, and convey them to headquarters, where their respective cases 7
are to find adjustment. They rode good horses, were well armed, and orderly in their behavior while in this place. We un- derstand that a rendezvous is to be appoint- ed at Dushore, where two hundred men are tobe stationed, and all conscripts who have not reported themselves are to be ferretted out and meet with their just dues." The men in hiding mostly escaped to the woods and no record is found of any arrests made.
P. E. ARMSTRONG PETITION.
In March, 1864, Hon. George D. Jack- son representative from Sullivan county, presented the legislature the petition of P. E. Armstrong, representing God's people worshipping at Celesta, Sullivan county, asking the passage of a resolution that the people of Celesta, Sullivan county. while conforming to the faith they profess, be con- sidered peaceable aliens, and religious wil- derness exiles from the rest of the common- wealth of Pennsylvania.
As soon as the somewhat lengthy peti- tion was read, Mr. Cochran, of Philadelphia, moved that the petition be referred to the committee on divorce. [Laughter]. Mr. Alleman: " I move to amend by providing . that it be referred to the ' fancy committee,' -the committee on federal relations." Mr. Jackson: " I move that it be referred to the committee on the judiciary general. Whatever may be thought of the people who have requested me to present this peti- tion, whatever opinion may be formed of that people from hearing that petition read, -I must say one thing: They are a sect that have come into the county of Sullivan, and have chosen a piece of land on the mountain tops. They are building a home for themselves. While I believe they are monomaniacs on this one point, they are good citizens of the county; they live sober
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
and industrious lives and while I do not be- lieve in their doctrines, I believe that they have the right, equally with the citizens of this commonwealth, to send their petitions to this house, and I hope that this memorial will be treated with respect." The petition was referred to the committee on the judic- iary general.
Mr. Armstrong, who presented the peti- tion alluded to, had some years previously laid out a village in Laporte township, be- tween the county-seat and Lewis lake, which he named Celesta. He was a believer in the second advent of Christ, and founded his belief on the prophesies in the Bible. He was a man of ability, and had studied the Scriptures with great attention. From his premises he could make a strong argu- ment in favor of his religious belief. He made a large clearing in the wilderness, put up a number of buildings, purchased print- ing materials and published a newspaper at Celesta called The Day Star of Zion. He gathered around him quite a number of those who shared his belief. He held that it was his duty to prepare the way for the second coming, and to that end he dedicated all his landed property to the Lord. He made out, and had recorded in the recorder's office, a deed which has ex- cited great attention. It was the convey- ance of a square mile of land to " Almighty God and his heirs in Jesus Messiah."
The deed, dated June 14, 1864, sets forth as its inducement that he "is taught by the inspired word of God and his Holy Spirit that his children should not claim or own any property, but should consecrate unto God all things they possess for the common good of the people who are waiting for his Son from heaven, and who are will- ing to live together in holy fellowship, rely- ing upon his word and bounty, and to the
end that his saints may be fully separate from the world and gathered together and enjoy the light and liberty which they did in the once faithful days of theocracy."
Although the legislature took no further notice of his petition, Mr. Armstrong acted on the assumption that the land conveyed was sacred ground and not within the juris- diction of state or national authorities. He, consequently, refused to pay taxes. The result was that the collector sold his sheep for personal property taxes and the county treasurer sold his land for unseated land taxes. Finding that his hope of founding an independent community could not be ac- complished, he left the place and returned with his family to Philadelphia.
The writer was intimately acquainted with Mr. Armstrong and respected him very much. He was a well educated, honest and trustworthy man and entirely sincere in his religious convictions. The land sold at treasurer's sale was purchased by his son, A. T. Armstrong, who holds it by treasurer's deed at this time.
On Thursday, October 1, 1863, the Du- shore Union, a new paper, was started at Dushore, by S. F. Lathrop. Mr. Lathrop had formerly been connected with the Sulli- van County Democrat, and had acted as clerk to the commissioners. The Dushore Union was established as an independent paper, but was strongly committed to the prosecution of the war. The paper was published about a year. It was well print- ed and ably conducted. In 1864 the publi- cation was suspended and Mr. Lathrop en- listed and went to the war.
PEACE.
When Richmond was taken, and Lee's army was captured at Appomattox, there was no telegraph line which reached Sulli-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
van county, but the news came quickly and caused great rejoicing. It was at once de- termined to have a jubilee in the court- house at Laporte. The court-house was crammed full of people-Democrats and Republicans, men and women, old and young, were in harmony, and congratula- tory speeches and cheering abounded. Before the meeting closed a rumor came that President Lincoln had been shot. It was met by incredulity and could not be verified. The next morning, however, at daylight the flag on the liberty pole was at half mast and all the people mourning.
The second paper published in Laporte was the Sullivan Free Press, which was es- tablished about October 1, 1865. The press and materials were purchased by T. J. Ing- ham; John T. Brewster, who was a practi- cal printer, became the publisher. John T. Brewster and T. J. Ingham were the edi- tors. It was Republican in politics. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Brewster purchased a press and printing materials, and contin- ued the publication of the Free Press for awhile at Laporte, and then removed to Dushore and continued it there until 1872.
June 28, 1872, a campaign newspaper was started at Laporte, called the Grant Standard. E. V. Ingham was publisher, T. J. Ingham and E. V. Ingham, editors. About the middle of October, in the same year, Mr. Ingham purchased the materials and good will of the Sullivan Free Press, then published at Dushore, from John T. Brewster, and, soon after the presidential election, the name of the Grant Standard was changed to the Press and Standard. With that name the publication was con- tinued by E. V. Ingham until 1876, when Mr. Ingham, having engaged in the mer- cantile business, discontinued it. The press and materials used for the Press and
Standard were leased to W. H. McCarty, who, in July, 1882, started a new paper, Dem- ocratic in politics, called the Democratic Sentinel. Mr. McCarty published it one year, then sold the lease and good will of the paper to James A. Gallagher, who as editor and publisher continued the publica- tion at Laporte until 1885, when he re- moved it to Dushore, and in company with Frank Boyd published it for a year, and then discontinued it.
E. V. Ingham, having retained an in- terest in the press and materials, removed them back to Laporte, where they were leased to Dr. W. B. Hill, who published the Campaign Democrat for a few months.
In February, 1878, Alfred B. Bowman opened a job-printing office at Dushore, and on the 28th of that month issued the Dushore Review, in the shape of a four- column quarto, and it continued in this form until August, 1878, when it was en- larged to a six-column quarto. Its name was thien changed to the Sullivan Review. January 5, 1881, Mr. Bowman sold his es- tablishment to E. A. Strong and William S. Holmes. Mr. Holines was a practical printer and had been foreman in the Press and Standard office. Mr. Strong was a busi- iness man and had been superintendent of common schools. They continued the partnership until June 16, 1883, when it was dissolved by the death of Mr. Holnies. Mr. Strong was sole proprietor until Septem- ber 1, 1887, when he sold it to Fred New- ell, its present editor and publisher. Mr. Newell had been foreman in the office for some time before he purchased it.
In the summer of 1882 J. W. Gould commenced a newspaper in Dushore, called the Dushore Record. It was published about three months and then removed to Towanda.
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HISTORY OF SULLI AN COUNTY.
It should be mentioned here that the publication of the Sullivan County Demo- crat was suspended soon after the death of Michael Meylert, in 1883. The press and materials were purchased by Samuel F. Colt, Jr., who established the Sullivan Re- publican at Laporte, about the middle of February, 1883. He sold it to William M. Cheney, in 1884, who continued its publi- cation until March, 1896. He then discon- tinued the newspaper, and sold the materials and good will to Victor C. Hugo. Mr. Hugo revived the name of Sullivan Democrat, and published the first number April 3, 1896. It was published for one year, and then suspended. Soon after the Sullivan Repub- lican was suspended, the Sullivan Publish- ing Company purchased a new press and materials, and established the Republican News Item at Laporte. The first number was issued in May, 1896. Charles L. Wing leased the plant and has continned as pub- lisher and editor until the present time.
The Sullivan Gazette was established by George Streby in Dusliore; the first number was issued February 16, 1887. In politics it is Democratic. It has been snc- cessful from the start, and its publication still continues by the original proprietor.
RAILROADS.
During the fall of 1851. Michael Mey- lert engaged witli prominent business men in Towanda with a view of locating the Towanda & Catawissa Railroad so as to reach the Sullivan coal fields, and make its southern terminus at Catawissa. From Mr. Meylert's previous knowledge of the country, from surveys made by him and William A. Mason, he believed a feasible route could be found, and engaged Major E. McNeil to superintend the survey. The survey was made during the month of No- I
vember, 1851, and during the following winter Mr. Meylert, who was at that time a member of the legislature, procured the passage of an act, supplementary to the original act, authorizing the building of the Towanda & Catawissa Railroad, by which a company could make such connections with other roads, and have as full authority over any part, as though they had com- pleted the whole road. This subsequently became the basis for other legislation by which the Muncy Creek Railway and that of the Sullivan & State Line, obtained their charters and had surveys of the Sullivan coal field made by Prof. P. W. Shaffer. He with Mr. William A. Mason made careful examinations of the field, but finding noth- ing but the underlying small vein re- ported adversely as to the quantity that would warrant the building of a railroad.
Bnt little was done from 1855 until about 1859, when the upper vein was dis- covered at Bernice by Myron M. Wilcox while hunting for deer, and who, assisted by George D. Jackson, opened it. George D. Jackson in connection with his father, Dr. Josiah Jackson, made purchase of Mr. Meylert of part of the coal field, and the three united in developing it. Subsequently M. C. Mercur and C. F. Wells, Jr., were induced to join them. To the perseverance and financial aid given by Mr. Mercur, and the high standing of Mr. Welles among capitalists connected with railroads, we are greatly indebted for our public improve- ments. The Sullivan & State Line Rail- road was commenced about 1867, and com- pleted to Bernice in 1871.
The Muncy Creek Railroad was char- tered, with Michael Meylert, H. R. Mehrl- ing. Robert Taylor, George Bodine and A. J. Dietrick, as body corporate for laying out and constructing the road. The object
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
was to build the road from Muncy up Muncy Creek and to Laporte, thence to connect with some other road running east. The first officers were: President, Michael Meylert; treasurer, Joshua Bowman; secre- tary, B. Morris Ellis; and superintendent, H. Mehrling.
Muncy offered little or no encourage- ment and the route was changed to Hall's as the western terminus and the work of con- struction began. The survey and beginning of work on the Muncy Creek road was made about 1866. Samuel Stevenson, assisted by B. L. Cheney, made the first survey, and their labor was followed up by William A. Mason, who acted as chief en- gineer. William A. Mason was well and favorably known by every farm-owner along the line of both roads, and became the man who, to a greater extent than any other, was referred to in all that pertains to the topography of the country. In 1867 the line had only reached three miles beyond Hughesville, or nine miles in all. The grade thus far had been very easy, and the expense very small compared to what was to come before Laporte could be reached. Hence construction work was entirely sus- pended.
In 1872 a new organization was effected. About that time the Catawissa extension of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, from Milton to Williamsport, was put through, giving the Muncy Creek railroad a west- ern outlet. This, however, did not change matters much financially, and the road did not pay. In 1881 it was sold, and the new corporation had the name changed to the Williamsport & North Branch railroad, and Mr. B. G. Welch became general manager. Work of construction was renewed and by 1886 the road was completed to Nordmont.
While the eastern terminus of the Will-
iamsport & North Branch railroad was at Nordinont, a change was made in the own- ership of the stock. John Satterfield and Henry L. Taylor, wealthy capitalists of Buf- falo, New York, became the controlling owners, and new officers were elected as fol- lows: Hon. H. C. McCormick, president; John Satterfield, vice-president; J. Henry Cochran, treasurer; S. T. McCormick, sec- retary. The railroad was completed to Sat- terfield and put in operation in the fall of 1893.
The Eaglismere railroad is a narrow gauge road from Sonestown to Eaglismere. It was constructed in 1892. The officers of the company at the time it was constructed were C. William Woddrop, president; John R. T. Ryan, vice-president; B. Harvey Welch, general manager; W. Clayton Ma- son, chief engineer. The length of the rail- road is eight miles.
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