History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 45

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

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The "Big Marsh" is one of the noticeable physical features, not only of the township, but of the county. It is a level, marshy area, lying principally northeast of Stokesdale Junction, and extending to the Middlebury township line. It is claimed by those who have made the geology of this locality a study, that the original course of Marsh creek was through this marsh, and that instead of flowing toward the west, from Stokesdale Junction, as it now does, it kept on toward the north and united with Crooked creek at Middlebury Center, and thus became a feeder of the Tioga river, instead of a tributary of Pine creek. Old settlers say, that during times of high water, before the days of railroad embankments and other obstructions, the drainage of the "Big Marsh" was toward the north and the south, its waters finding an outlet into Crooked creek on the north, and Marsh creek on the south, thus constituting it a valley watershed, giving it a continuous and unbroken valley drainage in opposite directions. There are several of these valley watersheds in the county, their presence constituting a physicial peculiarity of this section of the State. It has been asserted that a dam fifty-four feet high across Pine creek, at Ansonia, would turn its waters into the Marsh creek valley, and cause them to flow-as it is contended they once did flow-into Crooked creek and the Tioga river.

The mean elevation of Delmar township is about 1,500 feet above tide water. The highest points are about 1,800 feet. The lowest, at Tiadaghton, about 900 feet. The altitude of Wellsboro, railroad level, is 1,295 feet. The township is thickly

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

settled and well cultivated, its farmers having a good market and trading point in Wellsboro, the county seat. The growth in population and material wealth has been constant. In 1880, the first census taken after the township was established within its present boundaries, showed 2,524 inhabitants, and that of 1890, 3,081.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

It is a matter of considerable difficulty to definitely determine who was the first settler in Delmar township, outside of the present limits of Wellsboro, upon the site of which Benjamin Wistar Morris settled in 1800. Within the next few years a number of gentlemen-either his relatives, friends or business acquaintances- became interested with him in the settlement and devlopment of the lands of the township, and several of them, following his example, removed hither and addressed themselves to the difficult work of establishing homes in the heart of a mountain wilderness.

Among those who may be classed as the advance guard of the army of settlers who soon found their way hither, were William Hill Wells and Gideon Wells, brothers of Mrs. Benjamin W. Morris; John Norris, David Lindsey, Alpheus Cheney, Daniel Kelsey, James Iddings, James Dixon, Richard Jackson and Rev. Caleb Boyer.

To William Hill Wells is usually accorded the credit of being the first person to attempt to clear a farm and establish a home in the township. He and his brother located in 1802 about two and one-half miles southwest from the site-in Wellsboro -- of the old Morris mansion, now occupied by the residence of W. D. Van Horn. Here they remained a few years and then removed from the township, as did also James Iddings, James Dixon, Richard Jackson and Rev. Caleb Boyer, none of whose names appear upon the assessment list of 1812.

When William Hill Wells decided to remove from the township and to return to the vicinity of Philadelphia, he gave his farm and implements to Eben and Hetty Murry, Elias and Maria Spencer and Marcus Lovett, the colored slaves, whom he had brought with him, accompanying the gift of property with the more priceless gift of their freedom and manumission. The white neighbors in time dispossessed them of their property, and to the kindness of John Norris, Eben and Hetty Murry were finally indebted for the home that sheltered them in their declining days. A number of the descendants of these slaves are now residents of Wellsboro.

John Norris, a native of England, where he was born in 1768, and a graduate of Oxford, came to America toward the close of the Eighteenth century and in 1799 located on the headwaters of the First fork of Pine creek, near the present village of Texas, in Lycoming county. In the "Historical Collections of Pennsylvania," by Sherman Day, we find the following concerning this old pioneer:

Mr. John Norris, from Philadelphia, first came about the beginning of the year 1799, to the southwestern part of the county, as an agent for Mr. Benjamin W. Morris, who owned lands in that region. He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Mordecai Jack- son, then a young lad. On Mr. Norris' arrival he erected a grist and saw mill on the waters of Little Pine creek, just within the boundary of Lycoming county. This estab- lishment was known as Morris' Mills. * * * After remaining at Morris' Mills five or six years, and inducing some half dozen settlers to immigrate, Mr. Norris removed to the vicinity of the Big Marsh, and subsequently, in 1807, to the place where he now [1843] lives, within a mile of Wellsboro.

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Soon after locating on Little Pine creek Mr. Norris leased a building in which he established a female seminary, he and his wife serving as teachers. While he was thus engaged Benjamin Wistar Morris appears to have persuaded him to undertake the work of promoting the settlement of the lands in and around Wellsboro, and as an inducement to do so deeded to him 200 acres of land adjoining "Morris' Mills" tract. Norris purchased of Morris another tract of 100 acres near the site of Stokesdale Junction, and thus became one of the earliest settlers in the township. Removing within a short time to near Wellsboro, he acquired prominence as a citizen and a public official

David Henry, whose name appears on the assessment list of 1812 as a "single freeman," settled in the northeastern part of the township. James Dickinson, whose name appears on the assessment list for 1816, settled about three miles southwest of Wellsboro. John M. and David Kilburn located between Wellsboro and Stokesdale about 1815. Mordecai M. Jackson, who was a brother-in-law of John Norris, and came with him, was a miller in Samuel W. Fisher's mill. Daniel Harvey Bacon, a prominent and well-known pioneer, settled with his family on Marsh creek, on 320 acres near the Shippen township line, in 1815.

William Eberenz, a native of Germany, came in 1817 and settled about three miles southeast of Wellsboro. Edmund Wetherbee settled between 1816 and 1818 in the Eberenz neighborhood. Allen Butler, a native of Vermont, and father of the late Rev. Selden Butler, of Deerfield township, a prominent Free Baptist min- ister, settled in 1817 near Stony Fork. William Stratton, an early court crier, located near Wellsboro before 1818. Zenas Field, a native of Massachusetts, came from Vermont in1817, and took up 154 acres of land southwest of Wellsboro. John Borden, who came about the same time, settled in the Stony Fork neighborhood. John Daily, who came about 1818, located south of the borough, near the Charleston line. Robert Francis, who was here in 1819, settled southwest of Wellsboro near Stony Fork. John Allen, Jonathan Austin, Smith Ainsworth, and Benjamin - Borden, who were all here in 1820, settled in the neighborhood of Stony Fork. Frederick Hiltbold, also here in this year, settled in the Marsh creek valley, where his descendants still reside. Levi Hardy, John McCowan, Samuel Parrish and William Warriner all settled southwest of Wellsboro. Elijah Wedge settled on the site of Stokesdale between 1818 and 1820, resided there for a number of years and then removed to Niles Valley. Amos Coolidge, who came about 1819, settled south of Wellsboro, in what is known as Coolidge Hollow.

The names given are those of the principal settlers up to 1820. During the next decade the township filled up rapidly, farms being cleared, roads opened and mills and other enterprises established. The principal settlements were in the neighborhood of Stony Fork, the vicinity of Wellsboro, and at Stokesdale Junction, where the earliest mills were established. Year by year the township increased in population, there being a corresponding increase in the area of .cleared land, until to-day it abounds in well-tilled fields and is dotted with farm houses, schools and churches all evidencing the presence of a thrifty and prosperous people.

MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES.

The pioneer enterprises of the township were a saw-mill and a grist-mill erected by Samuel W. Fisher, of Philadelphia, on Marsh creek, below Wellsboro. These

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

mills are mentioned in an advertisement of Benjamin Wistar Morris in November, 1806, and were erected in order to grind the grain of the settlers in and around Wellsboro and provide them with lumber needful in building their homes. Mordecai M. Jackson had charge of the grist-mill as early as 1816. In 1819 John Norris became the owner of these mills and ran them until 1827, when the saw-mill ceased to be operated "in consequence of decay." About 1830 Norris sold the grist-mill to Mordecai M. Jackson, who had filled the position of miller under himself and Samuel W. Fisher. He rebuilt the saw-mill and carried on both enterprises until 1847, when he sold the grist-mill, then the only one running, to John Dickinson. In 1856 Mr. Dickinson added a saw-mill, and both mills were operated by him until 1880, when they were abandoned and a steam grist-mill erected in Wellsboro, near the railway station, by himself and Alanson Spencer, who had been his miller for twenty- four years. This mill is now owned and operated by Mr. Spencer. The old grist-mill, which may still be seen near the railroad, on Marsh creek, below the borough, though often repaired, is the building erected by Samuel W. Fisher more than ninety years ago, and is probably the oldest building in the county. It is certainly the oldest landmark in Delmar township, and unless torn down or burned bids fair to round out a century before falling into entire decay.

About 1818 Samuel W. Morris erected a large grist-mill and a saw-mill on Marsh creek, near the site of Stokesdale Junction. Mordecai Moore, whose name appears on the assessment list of 1812, had charge of the grist-mill, the saw-mill being in charge of George March. The site of these mills was then known as "The Marsh," and the settlers, many of whom were sufferers from chills and fever, attributed the prevalence of these malarial diseases to Mr. Morris' mill pond. About 1828 a number of them, from the Crooked creek neighborhood, in Middlebury town- ship, as well as from the vicinity of the mill, disguised themselves as Indians, made a raid on the dam and tore it away. The remains of this old dam are still visible, and it is frequently alluded to as a "beaver dam," by those unacquainted with its origin and history. After the raid of the "Creek Indians," as they styled themselves, Mr. Morris made no further attempt to operate the mills.

In 1823 William Hoadley erected a grist-mill at Stony Fork, which he operated until 1834. Samuel Parrish erected a saw-mill at Stony Fork in 1825, which was run by himself and Zenas Parrish until 1833. In 1826 David Kilburn erected a distillery near Stokesdale, which he appears to have operated about three years. In 1830 or 1831 Allen Butler and Simeon Houghton erected a saw-mill near Stony Fork. It was run until 1841, Wellman Butler, Pharas Houghton, Jeremiah D. Houghton and Oliver Bacon being interested in it at different times. In 1841 William Eberenz erected a saw-mill on a branch of Stony Fork, about three miles southwest of Wells- boro, which he operated for nearly forty years. In 1832 Archibald Nichols & Com- pany erected a saw-mill at Round Island, on Pine creek. Within a year it was trans- ferred to Wilcox, Gates & Company, and afterwards had various owners. Among other early mill owners and operators were George Kress, who operated a saw-mill on Marsh creek near Stokesdale; Aaron Niles, Reuben Herrington, Russell Hewitt, Edwin Royce and Scoville & Osgood, who erected a mill on Pine creek, above Round Island.

DELMAR TOWNSHIP.

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SCHOOLS.

The first schools were established in Wellsboro, which early became the educa- tional center of the county. As the township was settled subscription schools were started and were maintained until the going into effect of the public school law of 1835, after which public school districts were established and school buildings erected for the accommodation of the children of the various districts. Among the early teachers were Beadle Skull, Robert Campbell, Lyman Walbridge, Erastus P. Deane and Israel Stone. There are now thirty-one schools in the township in which thirty- two teachers are employed, and school is taught on an average of seven months in the year.

CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES.

The First Baptist Church of Delmar originated in a conference held April 15, - 1837,in the Butler school house. Those participating were Samuel Parrish, Elizabeth Parrish, Cornelius Putnam, Cynderilla Putnam, Joseph Butler, Olive Butler, Thomas Horton, Anna Horton, Isaac C. Horton, Rosanna Horton and Susan Horton. Cove- nant meetings were thereafter held monthly. Among those added by letter or baptism were: Nelson Field, James Campbell, Emma M. Campbell, Abigail Horton, Sally Ann Horton, Lucinda Field, Mary Field, Elizabeth Wilcox, Simon Wilcox, Caroline Catlin, Melissa McClure, Harriet Hildreth, Lucy Ann Hildreth and Susan Lawton. The foregoing, except Olive Butler, who joined the Mormons, became mem- bers of the church, which was formally organized March 7, 1838. Several ministers of the gospel, among them Rev. Sidney Smith, had preached in this place occasionally before the organization of the conference. Soon after its organization Rev. B. R. Swick came frequently from Hector, New York, preaching and performing pastoral duties. The names of the regular pastors are as follows: Revs. Ethan A. Hadley, 1840-41; Abijah Sherwood, 1841-44; Comfort M. Beebe, 1845-50; Abijah Sherwood, 1851-54; Myron Rockwell, 1854-58; Levi Stone, 1858-60; James Van Patten, 1861- 62; Myron Rockwell, 1863-64; Philander Reynolds, 1864-65; Alexander Smith, 1867; William A. Smith, 1868-69; G. W. Remington, 1870-72; Philander Reynolds, 1872-75; James A. Boyce, 1875-85; A. B. Browe, 1887-88; Fisher Wilson, 1889; D. L. Lappeus, 1890; J. T. Bradford, 1893-94, and Philander Reynolds, 1895-96. A house of worship was erected and occupied in 1845, but was not completed and dedicated until 1851. It was used until 1894, when a new church was built one mile further south at Stony Fork. A parsonage lot was purchased and a parsonage erected in the early history of the church. It was afterwards sold and the present parsonage built in 1878. The present membership of the church is 125. A Sunday-school has been maintained almost from the beginning of the church's history. It now numbers sixty-eight pupils. Wilbur F. West is the superintendent.

Marsh Creek Baptist Church was organized December 2, 1880, and was the out- growth of a revival held by Revs. Alfred Ward and James A. Boyce in the Kennedy Run school house. The names of the original members are as follows: Manuel Skelton, George W. Mason, Charles Sanders, Charles McCaslin, Jay Munson, M. P. Kelsey, Charles Hart, Daniel Barrett, Thomas Hunt, Alfred Ward, Edward Mason, Sarah Skelton, Charlotte Mason, Mrs. Charles Sanders, Mrs. Charles McCaslin,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Nettie Barrett, Martha Kelsey, Phoebe Rolles, Esther Barrett, Helen Hunt, Emma Campbell, Clara Paine, Caroline Holiday, Lois Beeman, Eleanor Travor, Anna Hunt, Clara J. Sanders. The pastors of this church have been as follows: Revs. James A. Boyce, 1881; Alfred Ward, 1882-83; S. F. Mathews, 1884-85; no pastor, 1886-90; E. B. Cornell, 1891; J. L. Williams, 1893-94; B. M. Posten, 1895, and W. E. Braisted, 1896. In 1894 the society dedicated a neat frame house of worship costing $1,000. It is pleasantly located near the mouth of Heise run. This church now numbers twenty-seven members. There are sixty-six pupils in the Sunday- school of which Mrs. E. L. Beeman is the superintendent.

The Delmar Free Baptist Church was originally organized during the thirties as the Stony Fork Free Will Baptist church. After flourishing for a time it went down and was revived in 1843. Some years afterward another church, known as the Middle Ridge Free Will Baptist church, was organized, and continued in existence until about 1874, when it merged with the church at Stony Fork, which then took its present name. A charter was applied for and the society incorporated September 15, 1875. In 1876 the present house of worship at Draper was completed at a cost of $2,200. Among the early ministers of this church were Elder Gowner, Calvin Dodge and Selden Butler. Since 1866 the pastors have been as follows: Revs. Jacob Ingerick, 1866; Nathaniel Hart, 1868; David A. Pope, 1869; Asa Dodge, 1871; O. C. Hills, 1874; A. G. Downey, 1881; George Donnoker, 1883; O. C. Hills, 1885; Hiram Witcher, 1890. Rev. G. N. White, the present pastor, took charge in 1896, the pulpit having been vacant for several years before his coming. The church now numbers twenty-seven members, with thirty pupils in the Sunday- school, of which Mrs. Mary Lawton is the superintendent.

The Delmar and Shippen Free Baptist Church was organized April 1, 1894, with the following members: Elihu J. Dartt, Amelia Dartt, Stephen R. Campbell, Henry Darling, P. O. Darling, George Scranton, Rebecca Scranton, Walter Scranton, Samuel Scranton, W. M. Wilson and Ida Wilson. The pastor since the organization has been Rev. O. C. Hills. The church now numbers forty-eight members. There are seventy pupils in the Sunday-school of which O. J. Navil is the superintendent. In 1895 the society erected a frame house of worship, costing $1,500, in the Kennedy postoffice neighborhood.

The Coolidge Hollow Methodist Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of a class organized over forty years ago. Among the carly members were Amos Coolidge and wife, Charles Coolidge and wife, Wesley Coolidge and wife, Joshua Peet and wife, Lyman Meachan and wife, and William Coolidge and wife. Meetings were held in the school house, the society being in the Wellsboro charge until 1886, when it was placed in the Round Top charge. In November, 1892, a neat church building costing $1,100 was completed. The church now numbers twenty-five members. The Sunday-school, which is in charge of Mrs. E. Watkins, has a membership of thirty-five pupils.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Middle Ridge was organized in 1858, the original members being Elijah Phillips and wife, Philura Phillips, Jackson Kennedy and wife, Oliver Phillips and wife, Alvah Kennedy and wife and Henry Wilson and wife. The early meetings were held in the Kennedy school house. The church was first placed in the Wellsboro and in 1876 in the Delmar charge,

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and is now in the Ansonia charge. The following named ministers have served this church as pastors since 1871: Revs. O. P. Livingstone, 1871-74; J. D. Reyna, 1874-75; A. A. Kennedy, 1875-76; E. D. Rawson, 1877-78; P. M. Jerolman, 1878- 80; A. G. Cole, 1880-81; E. W. Harned, 1882-83; J. E. Russell, 1883-84; G. H. Allatt, 1884-85; W. H. Ferrell, 1885-86; C. D. Rowley, 1886-87; A. T. Percy, 1887-92; J. S. Fausey, 1892-95, and Rev. G. W. Doane, the present pastor, who took charge in October, 1895. This church was incorporated in 1881 and a church building erected in the Kennedy postoffice neighborhood. It now numbers about thirty members and maintains a Sunday-school of fifty-five pupils, of which C. C. Maynard is the superintendent.

The Dexter Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1864. Meetings were held in the school house and with the Middle Ridge church until 1894, when the present house of worship was erected at a cost of $1,500. Previous to 1876 this church was in the Wellsboro charge, since which time it has been in the Delmar and Ansonia charges and has been served by the same pastors as the church at Middle Ridge. The present membership is fifty-six, with eighty pupils in the Sunday-school, which is in charge of Mrs. George B. Mathers. There is also an Epworth League of eighty members.

Cemeteries and graveyards, owing to its extensive area, are to be found in various parts of the township. One of the oldest is the graveyard adjoining the old Baptist church building at Stony Fork. The new cemetery, a few rods south, was incorporated May 4, 1886. The only incorporated cemetery in the township beside the one at Stony Fork is the West Branch Cemetery. It was incorporated November 27, 1882. The people of that portion of the township adjacent to Wellsboro bury their dead in the cemeteries in that place.

VILLAGES AND POSTOFFICES.

Stony Fork is situated in the southern part of the township, in the Stony Fork creek valley. The first store was opened here over forty years ago by Ebenezer Sherwood, whose successors were Peter G. Walker, Guernsey & Borden, Hiram S. Hastings, J. S. Coles, M. S. Coles & Company, and J. W. Hastings. In 1869 W. F. Horton opened a drug store and has continued in business to the present. In 1885 James A. Boyce erected the building now occupied by Dort Brothers, and conducted a general store in it until the fall of 1886, having for a partner Robert Steele, to whom he sold. In 1890 Mr. Steele sold to Oren A. and William J. Dort. M. S. Coles, who carries on a general store and hotel in the northern part of the village, erected the building now occupied by him in 1883.

The village proper was laid out about thirty-five years ago by J. S. Coles, who bought the land, previously used as a farm, from Leonard Palmer. He divided it into lots and sold them to whoever desired them, either for business or residence purposes. A postoffice had, however, been established previous to the purchase of this land by Mr. Coles, the first postmaster being Hiram S. Hastings. His suc- cessors have been J. S. Coles, Elizabeth Hoadley, Charles Orr, W. F. Horton, Sylvester Houghton, M. S. Coles, C. S. Houghton, Oren A. Dort and W. D. Allen, the present incumbent, who was appointed October 1, 1895. A daily stage conveys the mail to and from Wellsboro.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

After J. S. Coles purchased the village site he erected a hotel building and carried on a hotel for a number of years. Among those who succeeded him as landlord were George W. West, Charles Walker and Edward Campbell. The present hotel building was erected in 1883 by M. S. Coles, who carries on a general store in the same building.

About 1865 John S. Fitch located in the village and began the practice of medicine, remaining until 1870. The profession is now represented by Dr. J. M. Gentry, who is the only physician in the township. He located in Stony Fork in June, 1884, and has built up a large and lucrative practice.

The Stony Fork Creamery Association was incorporated May 4, 1886, the directors being John W. Hastings, George Hildreth, James Vandegriff, W. S. Boat- man and Julius Dort. This creamery has been in operation to the present time and has done much to make Stony Fork a dairying center. It is run on the co- operative plan. A feed mill and planing mill is operated by J. W. Bartle.

A number of secret societies have their meeting place in the village. Stony Fork Lodge, No. 564, I. O. O. F., was organized in August, 1886, with thirty-two members. The present membership is 112. This lodge owns a large and well- furnished hall building adjoining the old hotel property. Marinda Lodge, D. of R., organized in 1890, also meets in this hall, as does Stony Fork Castle, No. 23, K. G. E., organized with over thirty charter members. The present membership exceeds 100. Stony Fork Grange, No. 1,033, P. of H., was chartered July 1, 1891. It owns a hall building, originally erected for a store, which was purchased in the spring of 1894 for $1,000. This grange is strong and prosperous.

Stokesdale is the name of a village, situated on Marsh creek, a mile and a half north of Wellsboro. The first settler here was Elijah Wedge, who located on the village site in 1820, resided there a number of years, and then removed to Niles Valley. The village owes its existence to the establishment of the present tannery, in 1871, by Bailey, Lowell & Company. This firm consisted of John W. Bailey, F. K. Wright, O. B. Lowell and Edward G. Schieffelin. Wright and Schieffelin were the managers. In 1880 Wright and Bailey sold out to James H. Humphrey, of New York, and the firm became Schieffelin & Company. On October 17, 1883, the Wellsboro Leather Company was incorporated with a capital of $200,000, the stock being owned as follows: George H. Danforth, New York, $99,000; Edward G. Schieffelin, Wellsboro, $100,000, and M. F. Elliott, Wellsboro, $1,000. The com- pany became the owner of the Stokesdale tannery property, including 175 acres of land and eighteen dwelling houses. On May 1, 1893, the control of the property was transferred to the Union Tanning Company, a member of the United States Leather Company, which operates a number of other sole leather tanneries in the county. This tannery, when operated to its full capacity, turns out 800 sides of sole leather a day. Edward G. Schieffelin, who has held the position of superin- tendent since 1891, is the only one of the original owners now connected with the enterprise. D. M. Lounsbury, the foreman, has been in the employ of the various owners since 1875. He also acts as station agent. A store, formerly carried on by the company, is now run by J. L. Landrus & Company. A postoffice was estab- lished here March 6, 1877. Edward G. Schieffelin, the first postmaster, held the

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 45

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454