USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. from a period preceding its settlement to recent times, including the annals and geography of each townshipAlso a sketch of woman's work in the county for the United States sanitary commission, and a list of the soldiers of the national army furnished by many of the townships > Part 12
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More than half the western boundary of the present town- ship is the Susquehanna River, which enters the State between the twelfth and thirteenth mile-stones, its course being a little east of south ; but, from the point where it turns abruptly south- west, it enters Oakland, and the western line then follows the Lenox and Harmony Turnpike, which lies east of Drinker's Creek.
Besides the three principal streams of the township which have had mention, three branches of the Starucca, Hemlock Creek, Roaring Brook, and Pig-pen Brook, as well as the stream itself, afford fine mill sites, and traverse a great part of
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the township. The source of the Starucca,1 as also that of the Canawacta, is in Thomson, but one branch of the latter " heads" in Jackson. This stream is said to commemorate the remnant of an Indian tribe that once lingered in the vicinity. The old orthography of the word was Conewagta.
Comfort's Pond, with its islets crossed by the southern line of Harmony, is the only lake of the township.
The broad ridges forming the larger portion of the area of Harmony, are still covered with the original forests of beech and pine, and contain thousands of acres of unseated land.
Comstock's Rifts are the rapids in the Susquehanna, two miles long, just below the place where Moses Comstock settled. This was occupied after he left it by Timothy Pickering, Jr., until 1807; and was afterward owned by John Comfort, Mar- tin Lane and his heirs, by Jonathan Taylor, and is at present in the possession of Egbert Thomas.
Abner, son of Moses Comstock, was on his father's first loca- tion as late as 1800, when a road was viewed from the north line of the State, on the east side of the river down to his house, "at a fording," whence it crossed the river to join a road on the other side near the plantation of William Smith. J. B. Buck says of the years just preceding :-
" There were then no roads or wagons to ride for pleasure, or business.
"The river was used as the great highway, and the boats were canoes dug from a large tree. These, when properly constructed with the ends turned up, and properly rounded, supplied an easily propelled, but frail and unsteady craft. (Until 1819 there was not even a bridle-path on the south side of the river from Harmony to Great Bend.)"
He also adds the following incidents :-
"At the early date of which we have been speaking, the settlers were obliged to depend upon the forests very much for their supply of meat. It was a daily sight in those days ; a man, dog, and gun equipped for the forest. The chase was successful enough to answer for a dependence.
" One day Asa Comstock, with his dog, drove a large buck into the river opposite where the Presbyterian church, at Susquehanna Depot, now stands. It was not all frozen over, and the current carried the dog and deer down the stream, until they came to firm ice in the bend of the river. He laid down his gun, and, knife in hand, took the buck by the horns, thinking to cut his throat across the edge of the ice. But the animal was yet fresh, and so quick with his feet, as with a jerk to draw him into the river; and man, dog, and deer were hurried by the rushing current under the ice. There was no possibility of returning, and his only hope was in going down stream until he found an air hole or opening in the ice. If he rose to the surface the ice would stick him fast-he therefore hurried downward as deep in the water as possible until he saw light near where the bridge now stands where he escaped.
"He was a large strong man. There was no means of earning money in
1 This orthography is given, somewhat reluctantly, after consulting the best gazetteers.
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this valley except by hunting or making shingles. Money was far from being plenty-not as abundant as meat. Owing to these causes, he decided upon going into the northern portion of the State of New York to chop cord-wood for a furnace near Lake George. While there a severe snow storm kept him within doors. He, in company with many Dutch teamsters and several Indians, sat around a bar-room fire. Whiskey in those days was drank freely. The Dutch were great smokers, and upon this occasion they had nothing to do but to drink and smoke. A stout Indian present amused himself by passing around, and knocking the pipes from the mouths of the Dutch smokers. Comstock was not a habitual smoker, but witnessing the impu- dence of the Indian, he procured a pipe and tobacco and joined the circle of smoking Dutchmen. Soon the Indian struck his pipe, knocking it to the floor, when he at once arose and knocked the Indian where the pipe lay. The Indian rose full of fight, and, the landlord forbidding fighting in the house, dared C. to follow him. He followed at once, and in passing through the hall, picked up a large bear-trap and struck the Indians with it between the shoulders, killing him instantly. The other Indians ran as if for dear life.
"This was a critical time for poor Comstock. The Indians would soon be back with recruited force. He was advised to flee for his life, for no help could save him from the wrath of the Indians. One smoke had been his ruin, and would cost him his life.
" He refused to run. He resolved to stay and meet his fate like a man, for, said he, 'if I run, they will surely kill me.'
"Not long had he to wait. Soon the old Sachem, followed by fourteen warriors, was seen approaching. 'Where is the man that killed Indian ?' inquired the Sachem. All had fled but Asa Comstock-' I am the man,' he boldly replied, 'what do you want of me ?' 'You good fellow-Indian no business to break your pipe-you do right. You good fellow-come have a drink.' "
Abner Comstock afterwards removed to the vicinity of Wind- sor, N. Y. Asa, his brother, resided with their mother on a part of William Smith's " plantation," which has since been owned by Levi Westfall, and is now in Oakland. Mrs. C. lived many years, "a comfort to her children, and a welcome guest to many of her old neighbors."
In November, 1791, John Hilborn, an agent for Henry Drinker, came from Philadelphia with his wife, who rode on horseback from Stroudsburg with a child in her arms. Their settlement was permanent, at the mouth of Cascade Creek. Their daughter Mary, now Mrs. Robert McKune, was born here August, 1792, and still resides upon the same farm, with her son George, opposite the now empty house which her father built and occupied many years, and where he died, the 15th of fourth month, 1826, aged nearly eighty-five.
This building marks the site of the one which, in 1789, was so multiplied by the imagination of Mr. Stanton. A portion of the old Stockport road is still traveled along Hemlock Creek as far as Jenning's ; but, from that point it struck off directly over the hills, crossing the " head" of Pig-pen Creek, where it was within half a mile of the State line, and thence down to Hilborn's. It is now covered with timber. For many years,
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after his intellect became clouded, the unremitting labor of Jesse, the youngest son of John Hilborn, Sen., kept the road open. He had a wolf pit by the side of the road, near Pig-pen Creek.
Mr. and Mrs. Dilling, parents of Mrs. John Hilborn, were here very early, and both are buried in Harmony.
It is said the first religious meetings in Harmony were those of the Friends, at the house of John Hilborn.
If there were Presbyterians here, their services were held at the west bend of the river.
The following sketch of John Hilborn was first published in the 'Bucks County Patriot,' June, 1826, and, a little later, in the 'Register' of Montrose. Though a double l is here given to his name, it is generally omitted.
"John Hillborn was a native of Bucks County. He was brought up by his grandfather, Stephen Twining, who had a grist-mill. J. Hillborn after- wards conducted, for a number of years, a merchant mill on the Neshamony, and later, run a saw-mill at Coryell's ferry. During the war of the Revolu- tion, he was a non-combatant, being a Quaker, and was then living with his elder brother Joseph, on Brodhead's Creek, seven miles above Stroudsburg. Early in June, 1778, they apprehended danger from the Indians. being set on by the British forces at Niagara. An agreement had been made by the Hillborns with John Price, who lived seven miles above, on the north branch of the creek, that if either of them heard of any Indian disturbance, he should immediately inform the other. One morning, an old woman, living two miles above, came running to Hillborn's house, and she told them her son's family were all killed or taken, and she only was suffered to escape on account of her age. Joseph Hillborn fled with his wife across Brodhead's Creek. John, however, remembered his promise to Price, and thought, as a hunter, well knowing the woods, he could carry the information with safety. About one mile from the house was a high conical hill, which Hillborn de- termined to ascend for the purpose, if possible, of observing the motions of the Indians. In so doing, however, he did but accelerate his fate, for the In- dians had taken possession before him, and upon his advance, presented their guns at him and demanded his surrender. There was no alternative. He submitted, and they extorted from him a promise never to attempt an escape. Then they bound a burden on his back and ordered him to march. He soon discovered they had with them all the family mentioned above, except one little boy, who made so much noise, they killed and scalped him near the house.
" According to Indian customs, they traveled on the highest ground in order to keep a look-out. As they came in sight of John Price's house, the Indians closely examined Hillborn as to who lived there ? what sort of a man was he ? did he keep a gun ? was he rich ? etc. It severely exercised his mind-he was all anxiety to save Price-and he well knew if the Indians found anything misrepresented, it would be worse for all. He told them the plain truth, that Price was a poor, inoffensive man, had nothing to do with the war, but did keep a gun to support his family in meat. They held a council in Indian, and his heart was almost overcome, when he heard the Indian captain pronounce in English, 'Let them live.'
"The Indians hurried the march for fear of being pursued, and great hard- ships were encountered, especially by the women and children, in wading the many deep streams of water. Hillborn discovered that their sufferings ex- cited sympathy, but there was a great diversity in the characters or disposi- tion of the Indians. The most conspicuous and amiable among them was a
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private, a little, smart, active Mohawk. The worst of the company were white men, one of whom, Thomas Hill, conducted himself in such a manner towards the women prisoners, that the Indian captain endeavored to shame him. A pretty little girl among the prisoners used to cry for milk and more victuals, and the little Mohawk would carry her, and try to soothe her by promising her plenty of milk and good victuals when they should reach Chemung, which he afterwards fulfilled, but Thomas Hill would try to thwart the child, and show her her little brother's scalp, and almost set her distract- ed. This was not approved by the Indians.
" At Tioga Point they rested. Here all the loads that had been carried . on their backs were put into canoes and consigned to J. Hillborn to conduct to Chemung. When they reached the latter place, according to the Indian custom, all the prisoners must run the gauntlet, that is, all the Indians, young and old, stand in two rows with switches, and the prisoner must run between them-the Indians paying on according to their discretion. When J. Hill- born's turn came to run, he had suffered so much by assisting the others on the journey, his feet were so sore (as he had no shoes) he could not run. The Mohawk, seeing this, told him to sit down, and he would run for him. The Indians paid it on him more severely than on any of the others, but he prided himself on bearing it all with heroic bravery, without flinching. After the gauntlet, the Indians treated all the prisoners, as to provisions, as well as they lived themselves, and their business was to hoe corn.
"The Indians soon after held a council upon another war expedition. The Mohawk informed Hillborn that it was to be on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, and that John Montour was to be their captain. Hillborn was alarmed, as he feared that a defeat would make worse times for the prisoners, at this time treated well; and as he felt himself somewhat recruited, he formed a plan for his escape.
" A division of the American army was then at Wyoming; this he knew, for he had heard the morning and evening gun on their journey. The Indians had several good running canoes, and Hillborn resolved to take the best, while the Indians were asleep, and go down to Wyoming. As he was a good waterman, he had no doubt of getting far enough in advance before the dis- covery of the flight, to elude all pursuit. One consideration restrained him -would such conduct be right? He concluded to continue a few days longer, and consider its propriety. In the first place, he had solemnly en- gaged, to save his life, that he would never run away, and the Indians had placed full confidence in his promise; but then, it was extorted by fear. Secondly, should he, professing to be a Christian, set a bad example-what would be the sad consequence of such a deviation to his fellow-prisoners, or others hereafter, under similar circumstances ? This seriously claimed his reflection, and he found the most real peace and inward comfort of mind- come life or death-to strictly adhere to the solemn promise he had made ; and found sweeter sleep by a full resignation to his fate, than in any flatter- ing prospect of success in an attempt to escape. When Col. Brandt was sent to Chemung, in anticipation of Sullivan's expedition and attack, of which the British had warning, the little Mohawk advised Hillborn to plead his cause before him. This he did as well as he could, saying he was a Qua- ker, and that it was against his principles to fight. Brandt pretended to be- lieve him, but replied, ' You are a prisoner to the Delaware tribe, I am a Mohawk, I have not the authority.' The next morning he was ordered to be prepared to march to the fortress at Niagara. He had no shoes nor cloth- ing, except such as he was captured in. His greatest suffering was while marching barefooted forty-five miles on the beach of Seneca Lake, from which one of his feet never recovered.
" At Niagara, the Indians were paid their bounty on him as a prisoner ; he was then ordered to Quebec, which he reached by sloop and batteau, just two months after his capture. As he was a prisoner, he was to be sold to
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the highest bidder, to refund the bounty paid the Indians. His almost naked and reduced situation, when exposed to sale, was truly deplorable ; to use his own words, 'My appearance was not merchantable.' Fortunately, he fell into the hands of a veteran colonel, who had been aid to General Wolfe. This gentleman, pitying his forlorn situation, advanced money to clothe him comfortably, and, upon learning he was acquainted with the management of a gristmill, employed him in a very handsome one of his own. There Hill- born behaved so well, that in a short time, he was entrusted with the exclu- sive management of the mill, and his situation was made very comfortable. However, he became very impatient to return home, and the second winter of his residence with the worthy colonel, he asked permission to return, when the spring should open, to his country, to meet once more his relatives. The eolonel appeared to hear his request with deep concern, and offered him high wages, if he would consent to remain and attend to the mill. But nothing could induce him to stay. As soon as the navigation opened, he settled for the redemption or purchase-money, and all that had been advanced him for clothing and necessaries, and his master allowed him such wages as he pleased, for as a bought servant, Hillborn made no charge. His master made out that there were nine pounds sterling due to him, for which he paid him ten guineas and his passage to New York, and they parted in the best friendship. He had paid for his freedom by honest labor, and for the first time since his capture, had money in his pocket. After putting to sea, all went well until the captain, speaking a vessel, was informed that a French fleet was on the coast, capturing every British sail; and then he gave over his voyage to New York, and put into Halifax. Here J. Hillborn suffered many hardships, in consequence of the scarcity of provisions, and his money soon went, and he was again reduced to extreme distress. At length the commander of the garrison, in order to get rid of some hungry mouths, per- mitted Hillborn and some Yankees to take an old sloop, and endeavor to find their way to New York. After meeting with much rough weather and great hardships, they at length arrived at Sandy Hook, where Hillborn re- minded the master of the vessel of a promise to put him on shore in Jersey.
" The war was not yet ended, and as he traveled through New Jersey, his very distressed appearance rendered him an object of pity and attention from those hospitable people. As he had been starved, he ate sparingly, and found he gained strength. As he approached the Delaware, he learned that all the ferries were guarded, so that none could cross. It was midsummer, and the water was low, and he well knew the best fords, so that by wading and swimming, he was able to reach the Pennsylvania shore, and a house in Upper Makefield, where he found his venerable father, a brother and a sister. From his very emaciated condition and distressed appearance, none knew him, and he was necessitated to tell them who he was. Such a scene as fol- lowed is easier conceived than expressed. It was then two years and some days since he was captured, in all which time they had never heard whether he was dead or alive.
" The writer of the above narrative adds, that J. Hillborn communicated the facts to him 16th Juue, 1787, in sight of the scene of his capture, and states, that J. Hillborn was the first prisoner that returned from Canada, and per- haps the only one that paid for his freedom. After the peace, they were discharged, and all his fellow-prisoners returned, except one, who died at Niagara.
" Since John Hillborn lived in Harmony, that noted Thomas Hill stopped there to stay all night. Hillborn knew him and treated him well, but he did not know Hillborn. In the morning, he asked, 'What is to pay ?' John Hillborn replied, 'It is not my practice to charge an old acquaintance,' upon which Hill started, and asked, ' What acquaintance ?' J. Hillborn said, ' Thomas Hill, has thee forgot our journey from Brodhead's Creek to Che- mung ?'-and said no more."
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The sons of John Hilborn were, John, William, and Jesse. His daughters-Hannah (Mrs. Warren Bird, now dead), and Polly (Mary) now Mrs. Robert McKune of Harmony.
Joseph, brother of John Hilborn, came in 1791, and (his wife being dead) resided with him.
James Westfall came from Sussex County, New Jersey, in 1794 or 1795, and settled about one and a half miles above the mouth of the Canawacta, on the east side of the Susquehanna, on the upper end of what was afterwards known as the Picker- ing farm. His son Levi was born here in 1797. About 1800, he removed to the farm of William Smith on the west side, where Levi Westfall1 now lives.
In 1800, Col. Timothy Pickering, once Secretary of State under Washington, came to Susquehanna County to look after lands he had purchased. He found located upon them the fami- lies of Comstock, Smith, and Westfall, whose titles not being obtained from him caused their removal. Timothy Pickering, Jr., an only son, at his father's request, reluctantly consented to locate on the flat vacated by Abner Comstock, and came on from Boston, and built the first framed house in Harmony ; but he was sadly homesick, and being deprived of the society to which he was accustomed, he married a respectable young woman of the backwoods-a sister of the wife of Elder Nathaniel Lewis, the pioneer Methodist, of what is now Oakland. This step is said to have been a great disappointment to Col. P., whose ambition would have chosen for his son a bride from courtly circles. He died in 1807 in his twenty-eighth year, and his remains now rest in the cemetery near the railroad, opposite his own house. His father afterwards so far overcame his pre- judices as to come to Harmony and take the widow and his two grandchildren to his own home, then near Boston, Mass.
John Comfort came in 1808, and bought the house and farm of T. Pickering, Jr., and returned to the East. In 1809 he came to settle, only removing after about ten years, half a mile above the present viaduct. He built a saw-mill prior to 1812, near the site of the present mill of Charles Lyons; the first one it is averred in the township. He was a justice of the peace for some years, and so honest a man, that one to whom he had given a promissory note returned it to him for safe keeping.
His sons were James, Silas, and George. The last-named is now a missionary to the Omahas in Montana. Silas was a pre- siding elder of the Methodist church in Missouri nearly forty years ago; but was dismissed because he received “ nigger tes- timony." He died April 5, 1850, in his seventy-fourth year.
Since deceased.
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
Adam Swagart, a brother-in-law of John Comfort, came to the settlement two or three years after the latter.
Joseph McKune, Sr., came to Harmony about 1810, locating on the east side of the river, but in 1832 removed to Oakland. His son Robert married Mary Hilborn in 1817, and then went to Orange County, New York, where he resided several years before returning to Harmony. Upon the death of John Hil- born, Mr. McKune and family occupied his house, and continued to reside in it for thirty-five years. Robert McK. was killed while walking on the railroad track, March 4th, 1861.
The perils of travel on former roads is illustrated by an inci- dent told by David Lyons, now of Lanesboro ; but who, in 1815, resided with his father at Great Bend. Mr. William Drinker had come on, at that time, to look at lands for which he was agent, and young Lyons undertook to get him and his trunk through to Harmony, from Great Bend. After traveling about six miles in the wagon, they were obliged to remove the fore wheels, and strap the trunk to the hind ones; then jumping the horse over the logs plentifully scattered in the path, and lifting the wheels, the journey was made to a point opposite Mr. Hil- born's. Here they put two canoes together, covering them with plank, and on this frail conveyance, horse, trunk, the boy, and Mr. Drinker, passed over the river in safety.
In 1818, Martin Lane came to Harmony, and bought of John Comfort the Pickering homestead. In early times, there were seven Indian apple trees on this farm. Within a few years arrow-heads have been found here, and clay pipes have been washed out of the banks by freshets in the river.
Martin L. died in 1825, aged forty-seven. His son Jesse was appointed justice of the peace for Harmony the same year. He now resides in Wilmington, Delaware, and all the Lane family are gone.
For a long time after Mr. Lane located here, the place was known as Lanesville; but in 1829 it was changed to Lanesboro. It is three miles from the north line of the State, and was the central point of old Harmony.
As early as 1820, James Newman and Josiah Benedict lived a few miles up the Starucca.
Joel Salsbury then lived near the State line above the falls of Pig-pen Creek. These falls are fifteen feet high, and a more classic name would befit their beauty.
The number of taxables in Harmony (including Oakland) in 1820, when David Hale was tax-collector, was twenty-eight; the year previous but twenty-five; and the amount of his du- plicate, as per receipt but $51.89, at five mills on the dollar of valuation. For several years in succession, previous to this time, Jesse, oldest son of Isaac Hale, was collector. In 1819,
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one man's tax was but six cents, another's seven, and another's eight cents. The heaviest tax-payers were John Hilborn and Martin Lane, but even they paid less than nine dollars. Still, mea- ger as such sums seem beside those now demanded of property- holders, there was not wanting, at least a few years later, plenty of grumbling, as is witnessed by a political document forwarded by Mr. Hale, which was circulated for campaign effect, and in which is the following : "Year after year THOUSANDS OF DOL- LARS are wrung from the pockets of our citizens in the shape of TAXES, and what have we obtained in return ? Nothing, com- paratively speaking, NOTHING !" But all this was expected to be rectified, if the candidates then offered, viz., Horace Willis- ton, Esq., for Congress, and William Jessup for Representative, could be elected. Alas! they were defeated.
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