History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 46

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

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DELMAR TOWNSHIP.

office until January 19, 1893, when the present incumbent, J. L. Landrus, was appointed.

Stokesdale Junction, situated three miles north of Wellsboro, at the "Big Marsh," is the junction of the Fall Brook and Pine Creek railways. The station was estab- lished here in 1883, upon the completion of the Pine Creek railway. Trains to and from Wellsboro connect here with trains to and from Corning and Williamsport.

Tiadaghton is the name of a railroad station in the Pine Creek valley, on the Pine Creek railway, near the southwestern corner of the township. A postoffice was established here in July, 1882, the first postmaster being Stephen Warriner. His successors have been B. H. Warriner, F. B. Osborn, H. J. Austin, and the present incumbent, Howard P. Beckwith, who was appointed in March, 1896. There are two stores in the village; the general store kept by F. B. Field & Son, and a grocery store carried on by Howard P. Beckwith, who also keeps the village hotel. A large steam saw-mill is operated by F. B. Field & Son. The Tiadaghton and Fahnastalk railroad is a line seven miles long which winds its way up the mountain, penetrating the forests in Elk township. The motive power is Shaw-gear engines, built especially for heavy grades.

Kennedy is a postoffice situated in the southwestern part of the township, near the head of Campbell run. The office was established here in 1881. O. J. Navil, the first postmaster, held the office until August, 1894, when Della Gross was appointed. She removed to Ansonia and was succeeded by Nellie Kennedy, the present incumbent. This is the meeting place of Kennedy Grange, No. 903, P. of H., which owns a hall building here and has a large membership.

Olmsville postoffice was established in 1883, at the home of S. A. Kilburn, about four and a half miles southwest of Stony Fork. He held the office until June, 1896, when J. D. Wilcox was appointed.

Knapp postoffice is situated in Broughton Hollow; on Wilson creek, in the south- eastern part of the township. Daniel Knapp, the first postmaster here, held the office until his death, when the present incumbent, Miner Benjamin, was appointed.

Delmar is the name of a postoffice five miles southwest of Wellsboro. The office was established ten years ago. S. A. Hampton held the office of postmaster until 1890, when he was succeeded by D. D. Stubbs, the present incumbent.

Draper is the name of a postoffice on Stony Fork creek about a mile and a half southwest of Stony Fork. The postoffice was established here in November, 1888. The first postmaster, E. B. Carvey, held the office until 1889, when J. N. Warriner was appointed. In February, 1895, he resigned and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Albert Osborn. A store was opened here in the fifties by William McNitt, and was afterwards kept by Simon Wilcox, who also operated a steam grist mill until it was destroyed by fire. The present store was opened in 1892 by J. N. Warriner.

Balsam is the name of a postoffice situated about three miles southwest of Wells- boro, on the Stony Fork road. The office was established in May, 1895. Lizzie Hakes, the first postmaster, held the office until June 26, 1896, when G. B. Close, the present incumbent, who also carries on a general store, was appointed. A cheese factory, which was established here about twenty years ago by A. P. Cone, is now operated by Field & Avery. Middle Ridge Grange, No. 385, P. of H., one of the

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

oldest granges in the county, owns a two-story hall building here in which meetings are held regularly. This grange is one of the strongest in the county. It was incor- porated April 18, 1881.

CHAPTER XXIV.

CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-REDUCTIONS OF AREA-BOUNDARIES-DRAINAGE-PHYSICAL CHAR- ACTERISTICS-POPULATION-THE PIONEERS-MILLS AND OTHER ENTERPRISES- SCHOOLS-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-CHURCHES-CEMETERIES-SOCIETIES-VIL- LAGES AND POSTOFFICES.

HARLESTON township was organized in December, 1820, and was taken from 0 Delmar. It originally embraced the greater portion of the area of Duncan town- ship, which was organized in December, 1873, and was taken from it, Delmar and Morris townships. In February, 1883, all that portion of its area lying east of Duncan was added to Bloss township. It is now about five and one-third miles from east to west, by ten and one-third miles from north to south, and contains about fifty-five square miles. Its boundaries are Middlebury on the north; Richmond, Covington and Bloss, on the east; Bloss and Duncan, on the south, and Delmar and Wellsboro on the west.

The drainage of the township is toward all points of the compass, the streams having their sources in marshy upland areas-with one or two exceptions-near the center of the township. Charleston creek, one of the principal streams, rises in Duncan township, pursues a winding course, first toward the north- east and then toward the northwest, through the southwestern part of the township, and enters Wellsboro's limits north of the State road. Its valley is traversed by the Wellsboro and Antrim railroad, constructed in 1872, Catlin Hollow run rises northeast of Cherry Flats and pursues a northwest course to the northwest corner of the township, when it passes into Middlebury township. It is fed by a number of small branches. Hill's creek rises near Whitney- ville and flows north into Middlebury township. Elk run rises near the southeast corner of the township, pursues a northerly course to Cherry Flats, when it turns cast into Covington township. Babb's creek rises in the Welsh settlement, southwest of Cherry Flats, and flows southeast into Duncan township. From the different courses of these streams it will be seen that the township forms a watershed between the Tioga river on the east, Babb's creek on the south, Marsh creek on the west, and Crooked creek on the north. The general surface is, therefore, considerably elevated, the average of the uplands being 1,600 to 1,800 feet above the sea level. Though

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mostly upland, the township, except in the southern part, is not rough. Much of its upland area is comparatively level, and the slopes into the valleys gentle enough to permit hill-top, hill-side and valley to be cultivated. Many of the finest farms in the county are in this township, which has enjoyed a constant and progressive growth. In 1840 it had 1,010 inhabitants; in 1870, 2,014; in 1880, 2,193, and in 1890, 1,889. The falling off in the latter year was due to the loss of territory added to Bloss township in 1883.

THE PIONEERS.

Isaiah Washburne, a native of Connecticut, came into the county before 1805 and cleared the land that now forms a part of the site of Cherry Flats. This land lies on both sides of the line between Charleston and Covington townships. A few years later he sold his clearing to Levi Elliott, who with his brother, Nathaniel, became early settlers on the village site. Timothy Culver, who, it is said, came as early as 1805, settled near Cherry Flats, and gave it its name, from a small flat, forming its site, which was then covered by a thick growth of cherry trees. Aaron Gillett was another early settler on the village site, removing from the mouth of Mill creek, Tioga township, where he had located in 1798. He remained at Cherry Flats until 1811, when he removed to Richmond township and settled permanently at Canoe Camp.

Caleb Austin, who came about 1806, located on what is now the county poor farm, near where the State road crosses the western line of the township, and enters Wellsboro. This road was opened from Towanda, Bradford county, via Covington and Cherry Flats, to Wellsboro, in 1808. Its completion greatly forwarded the early settlement of the township.

Peter Shumway came from Massachusetts in 1805, remained a year near Mans- field, and then settled on Shumway Hill, where his grandson, W. P. Shumway, still resides. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and his great-grandson, Peter E. Shumway, of Wellsboro, has in his possession a discharge signed by George Washington, show- ing that his ancestor was a "soldier in the Fourth Massachusetts regiment," and that he "faithfully served the United States six years and three months." It also recites that "the above Peter Shumway has been honored by the Badge of Merit for six years' faithful service." This is surely a priceless heirloom.

Israel Greenleaf, a Revolutionary soldier, came at the same time as Peter Shum- way and located north of him. He afterwards removed to Wellsboro and became an early hotel keeper there.

Roswell Bailey, a native of Vermont, came into the county about 1802 and located in Tioga township. About 1810 he removed to what is now known as the Dartt settlement, in Charleston township, and there became a pioneer settler. Here he engaged in farming and lumbering until his death. The tombstone over his grave in the Dartt settlement cemetery bears the following inscription:

Rozel Bailey, Killed by the upsetting Of his waggon, Oct. 24, 1840.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

At the time of his death he was engaged in hauling heavy castings for his saw- mill. The team ran away, while going down hill, upsetting the wagon and crushing him under its load. His sister, Betsey, came into the county with him, and in 1812 became the wife of Jonathan Lawrence. On February 11, 1891, being then a resident of Mansfield, she celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of her birth, and lived nearly a year longer.

Nathan Niles, Jr., a son of Nathan Niles, a pioneer of Tioga township, located on the State road, near the Delmar line, before 1810. In 1811 Col. Justus Dartt, a Revolutionary soldier, and a colonel in the Vermont militia after the Revolution, came into the township and founded what is still known as the Dartt settlement. Thomas Prentiss, who settled near Shumway Hill, and Elijah Starkweather, who settled at the foot of that hill, were all in the township before 1812, in which year Sylvester Bailey and David Greenleaf, "single freemen," were residents of the township.

The assessment list of 1816 for Delmar township, which then embraced Charles- ton, contains the names of the following taxables, residing within the limits of the latter township: Caleb Austin, Roswell Bailey, Justus Dartt, Sr., Justus Dartt, Jr., David Henry, who settled on the State road; James Henry, James J. Porter, who located in the Dartt settlement; Andrew Wetmore, who settled on Wetmore Hill, near the Delmar line, and Oliver Willard, who located on the State road. For the year 1818 the names of Calvin Brown, Daniel Parker, Leonard and John Porter, Moses Wheeler, Asahel Wetmore and Sleeman Shumway appear. Jesse, William and Nelson Catlin, who came about 1818, settled northwest of the Dartt settlement on Catlin Hollow run.

In 1819 Joel Culver was living near Cherry Flats; Gideon Dewey and John Daily in the Dartt settlement; Daniel Dennison in Catlin Hollow; Orlando Willard, Isaac Wheeler and Calvin, Eli and Benjamin Gitchell, on the State road. The names of Frederick Hiltbold, Thomas Sampson, who settled at Cherry Flats, and Vine Seagers, who settled near Shumway Hill, appear on the list of 1820.

The foregoing embraces the names of the principal settlers of the township up to its organization. Many of their descendants occupy the old homesteads, and take high rank among the thrifty, prosperous and intelligent farmers of the county.

The oldest living citizens of the township are Holman Morgan, born November 17, 1801, and Edward McInroy, born December 25, 1801. Mr. McInroy has resided in Catlin Hollow since 1837, and Mr. Morgan has been a resident of the county since 1844. He now resides in East Charleston. Miss Hannah A. Wilson, who died at her home in the township, September 12, 1896, was born near the Young school house in 1814, and was a daughter of Daniel Wilson, who settled there about 1812.

MILLS AND OTHER ENTERPRISES.

The pioneer saw-mill of the township appears to have been the one erected by Justus Dartt, between 1816 and 1818, in the Dartt settlement. This mill was built on Catlin Hollow run, and was operated by Mr. Dartt until 1829 or 1830. About 1819 Timothy Culver and Oliver Willard established a carding machine near Cherry Flats, and ran it two or three years. In 1830 or 1831 Elmer Bacon, father of Dr.

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CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP.

M. L. Bacon, of Wellsboro, and Benjamin Gitchell erected a saw-mill on Charleston creek, below Round Top: In 1837 Mr. Bacon became sole owner and operated the mill until 1846. About 1831 Roswell Bailey erected a saw-mill on Catlin Hollow run in the Dartt settlement. Mr. Bailey continued as a lumberman and mill operator until his death, heretofore referred to, October 24, 1840.

In 1827 Dr. Jacob Schieffelin purchased several thousand acres of land in the northern part of the township, on Hill's creek. Here he settled in 1828, and in 1830 he erected a saw-mill, which he ran about ten years. From this time forward mills were established rapidly in various parts of the township, and changes of ownership were frequent. Among those whose names appear on the earlier assessment lists of the township as mill owners or operators were: Philemon Culver, 1831; Watrous Seely, 1834; Erastus Smith, 1835-36; Wilson W. Bailey, 1837; R. W. Bailey, 1838-42; Asahel Culver, 1837-39; Joseph Bacchus, 1840-50; Richard I. Moon, 1838-42; Erastus Smith, 1840-47; David Smith, 1841-47; George Spratt, 1841-43; James Borst, 1842-48; William Dennison, 1843; Levi Aaron and Levi H. Elliott, 1843-48; David Morgan, 1843; Chester Partridge, 1843, and many others, among whom were Cyrus Wright and Dexter Catlin, who erected a mill on Catlin Hollow run between 1845 and 1850. In the latter year it was owned and operated by Cyrus Catlin. About 1849 or 1850 Philemon Culver erected a grist mill on Charleston creek, near the present county farm. It was operated by him for a number of years and subse- quently by Robert Brundage, Bailey & Wright, Burton Shrader and S. L. Herrington. It was destroyed by fire about 1886, and was not rebuilt.

These early saw-mills and their successors have all passed away, the forests which fed them having been cleared off years ago, and the land on which they stood reduced to cultivation. The transformation was wrought slowly but effectively, and repre- sents, in the hundreds of attractive homes that dot the hills and vales of the township; the highly cultivated farms that surround them; the schools and churches that have been established, and the rural villages that have grown up with the passing years, the patient industry and intelligent effort of four generations of an earnest, frugal and hard-working yeomanry.

SCHOOLS.

The early schools of Charleston, like those of other townships of the county, were maintained by subscription, and before the settlers were numerous enough in any one neighborhood to erect a school house, were taught in private dwellings. The earliest schools were established in the Dartt settlement and at Cherry Flats, the school buildings being log structures, replaced later by frame buildings. Perhaps no other township in the county has paid more attention to education or can boast better public school buildings than Charleston. Its school districts are small, and the pupils have shorter distances to travel than in other townships. Good teachers- usually graduates of the State Normal school at Mansfield-are employed, and fair salaries paid. There are at present twenty schools in the township, in which school is maintained six months in the year.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The following named persons have served as justices of the peace for Charleston township; Benajah H. Ives, 1825; Jacob Babb, 1826; Chauncey Alford, 1827; David

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Ellis, 1830; Joseph Aiken, 1832; John R. Ray, 1833; John F. Donaldson, 1834; Daniel Holiday, Jr., 1835; Simeon Houghton, 1836; Levi I. Nichols, 1836; Alanson E. Niles, 1840; Carlisle Atherton, 1840; Joel Culver, 1844; Isaiah Wilson, 1845; John Gibson, 1850; James Kelly, 1851; re-elected, 1856; Holman Morgan, 1856; re-elected, 1861, 1878, 1883 and 1888; Charles Close, 1861; re-elected, 1866; George W. Avery, 1866; Thomas D. Elliott, 1869; D. A. Evans, 1871; D. P. Benedict, 1873; Ira Johnston, 1882; William R. Jones, 1887; re-elected, 1892 and 1897; and C. H. Scouten, 1893.

CHURCHES.

The Charleston Baptist Church was at first a branch of the Middlebury Baptist society and was formed as such August 26, 1843. On November 3, 1843, a conference to organize a separate church met and the church was formally organized April 30, 1844, with the following named members: Almira Catlin, Mary Wilkinson, Hannah Tipple, Lewis Bacon, Clarissa Mudge, Henry Bailey, Betsey Bailey, Isaac Wheeler, Amy Ann Wheeler, Matilda Dartt, James E. Smith, Emily M. Smith, Oliver Elliott, Clarissa Dartt, George Dartt, Calvin F. Butler, Catherine Madison, Lucy Davis, Rachel Partridge, Martha Lewis, David Lewis, Jane Hart, Maria F. Marvin and Robert Burley. At the time this church was organized, Rev. J. T. Coffin was pastor of the Middlebury church, and the new church fell under his care. His successors have been: Revs. Samuel Bullock, Elder Burman, C. Beebe, 1851; Levi Stone, 1855-59; J. Ingerick, 1860-62; P. Reynolds, 1863-65; C. A. Stone, 1867-68; M. Rockwell, 1873; N. L. Reynolds, 1875; D. T. Van Doren, 1877-81; V. P. Mather, 1882-84; H. M. Wolf, Jr., 1886-88; W. H. Porter, 1890-94; B. M. Posten, 1895-96, and Will E. Braisted, who took charge June 1, 1895. The early meetings were held in the school house. About 1854 the Baptists and Methodists joined in the building of a union church, in the Dartt settlement and also in Catlin Hollow. Within the past twenty years the Dartt settlement church has become the property of the Baptists and the Catlin Hollow church of the Methodists. The Charleston Baptist Church has now about 140 members. A Sunday-school with a total membership of eighty is maintained, of which Oris Smith is superintendent.

The Old School Baptist Church, the pioneer church of Cherry Flats, was organ- ized sometime during the forties by Elder Eli Gitchell, who preached for the society over twenty years. Among the original members were Levi, Oliver and Levi H. Elliott, Norman Rockwell and members of the Ely, Wheeler and other families. When the present Baptist church building was erected this society owned a one- fourth interest in it, and held services every fourth Sunday. After a few years their membership began to be absorbed by the Regular Baptist church and soon dwindled away until the society passed out of existence.

The Regular Baptist Church of Cherry Flats was organized June 3, 1854, with the following membership: Oliver Elliott, Isaac Wheeler, Amy Ann Wheeler, Clarissa Mudge, Jane Hart, William West, Caroline A. West, C. Whittemore, Rachel Whitte- more, Edwin Whittemore, Julia A.Whittemore, Julia A. Macumber, Eveline S. Cul- ver, Ann Johnson, Levi Stone, Juliana Stone, Albert Stone, Emma A. Stone, Noah Wheeler, Thomas D. Elliott, Josephine Gillett, Mariah Gillett, Rachel Davis, Nancy

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B. Mudge, Eliza Wheeler, Beluvia Fenton, May Whittemore, Alvira Bacon, Isaac E. Rumsey, Jacob Johnson and Margaret Reese. The names of the pastors who have served this church are as follows: Revs. Levi Stone, 1855-57; M. Rockwell, 1858-59; Philander Reynolds, 1862-65; C. A. Stone, 1867-69; M. Rockwell, 1873; F. Purvis, 1874; D. T. Van Doren, 1877-81; V. P. Mather, 1882-84; H. M. Wolf, Jr., 1886-88; W. H. Porter, 1890-92; James Jones, 1893-95; T. C. Davis, 1895-96. This church has no pastor at present. A frame church building was erected in 1855, during the pastorate of Rev. Levi Stone. It is still in use, having been kept in good repair. The church now numbers seventy-three members. There are sixty-two pupils in the Sunday-school, the superintendent of which is Mrs. Emma Bowen. P. P. Bliss, afterwards famous as a singer and an evangelist, became a member of this church September 8, 1855.

The Regular Baptist Church of East Charleston was organized in 1862. It was admitted to the Tioga Baptist Association in 1867 and incorporated June 1, 1867. The following names were signed to the petition: Rev. C. A. Stone, pastor; Chester Partridge and D. P. Benedict, deacons; Thomas D. Elliott, L. H. Robbins, Jeremiah Dockstader, John J. Niel and Charles D. Ferry. Mr. Stone continued as pastor until 1870, when for three years there was no pastor. Mr. Rockwell was pastor in 1873, after which time the church seems to have died out.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Catlin Hollow was organized about 1850. Among the early members were Cyrus Catlin and wife, Joel Catlin and wife, Edward McInroy and Dexter Catlin and wife. On September 15, 1854, the "Methodist and Baptist Union House, Catlin Hollow, Charleston township," was incorporated, the incorporators being Henry Bailey, president; Dexter P. Catlin, secretary; Edward McInroy, treasurer, and Cyrus Catlin and Joel Catlin, wardens. The incorporators erected a house of worship in Catlin Hollow, which was used by the Methodists and Baptists up to about 1880, when the building and grounds became the property of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Catlin Hollow, which was incorporated May 14, 1881, the incorporators being George Borden, Wesley Saxbury and James Boyce. The building was then thoroughly repaired and refurnished. This church was for a number of years in the Wellsboro charge, and between 1855 and 1860 in the Charleston charge, and has since been served by the pastors of the church in East Charleston. It has a large membership and maintains a well attended Sunday- school.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston was the outgrowth of a class, the early members of which belonged to the church in Catlin Hollow. The society was incorporated February 13, 1857, the incorporators being Chauncey Dartt, Joseph Wilcox, Marcus Benedict, Harvey Adams and Alonzo Whitney. This church was constituted a separate charge before 1860, since which year it has been served by the following pastors: Revs. R. L. Stillwell, 1861; C. L. F. Howe, 1862; J. Shaw, 1863; C. Weeks, 1864-66; W. Statham, 1867; G. S. Transue, 1871-73; H. C. Moyer, 1874; G. W. Howland, 1875-76; J. V. Lowell, 1877 ; M. S. Kymer, 1878-79; Charles N. Patterson, 1881-82; G. W. Howland, 1883-84; A. G. Cole, 1885-86; H. J. Owen, 1887-1888; A. W. Decker, 1889-91; F. A. Peterson, 1892-95, and Rev. W. L. Clough, the present pastor, who came in 1896. Meetings were held in the school house and in the Union church in the Dartt settlement until 1877, when the present

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house of worship was erected. The pastors of this church also serve the churches in Catlin Hollow and Cherry Flats.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Round Top was organized in 1863. Up to 1886 it was in the Wellsboro charge and was served by the pastors of the Wellsboro church. In 1886 it was made a separate charge and the pulpit supplied by appoint- ment of the presiding elder until 1892, when Rev. L. A. Davis became pastor. He served until October, 1895, when Rev. Cornelius Dillenbeck, the present pastor, took charge. The early meetings were held in the school house on Shumway Hill and later in Coolidge Hollow. In 1891 a neat frame church building was erected, costing $2,000. The church now numbers ninety-five members. A Sunday-school of 118 pupils is maintained. In the summer of 1896 a parsonage, costing $700, was purchased.

Mt. Zion Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized about 1846, the early meet- ings being held in school houses. In 1861 a church building costing $1,000 was erected at Round Top. Among the ministers who have served this church have been Revs. Mr. Chapman, Stephen A. Leonard, Francis Strang, Elijah Peak, Seth. Clark, John Haverly, Warren Whitmore, Holman Morgan and Samuel Mills. The present pastor is Rev. Caradoc Jones, who is also the pastor at the county poor house. This church maintains a good Sunday-school.

The Welsh Congregation and Society of Charleston was organized in 1840. An application for a charter was filed in the court of quarter sessions, Wellsboro, Feb- ruary 20, 1849, but the charter was not granted until November 15, 1856. The original petitioners were David W. Rees, David Edwards, William Bowen, David Morris and John Morris. A small chapel was erected about 1850 and used as a place of worship until 1867, when a church building, costing $1,500, was erected on the farm of David Bowen. Among the ministers who served this church as pastors were the following: Revs. John Davis, Richard Jones, Evan Davis, Philip Peregrine. J. F. Calkins, Henry Harris, F. Tilo Evans, James Evans, Abram Jones and Caradock: Jones, who took charge in November, 1895. The present membership of the church is fifty, with about the same number in the Sunday-school, which is in charge of Fred Evans, superintendent.

The First Christian Church of Charleston was incorporated in 1872, the fol- lowing named persons being the charter trustees: Joel Culver, Alonzo Kimball, Ephriam Hart, Alanson Thompson and Jeremiah Klock. A church building was erected on the State road, a short distance east of the county farm. Services. were maintained regularly for several years. Lately, however, the society has so decreased in membership that no pastor has been employed, and no services held .. A Sunday-school is, however, still maintained.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 46

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