History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 47

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

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CEMETERIES.

The cemeteries of Charleston, owing to its large area, are numerous. Most of them were originally family graveyards which later became places of public burial. Among the earliest of these may be mentioned the cemetery adjoining the Baptist church at Cherry Flats, where members of the Elliott and other early families lie buried; the old graveyard on the Caleb Austin place, now a part of the county farm; the old burial ground in the Dartt settlement, and the cemetery near the Methodist:

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CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP.

Episcopal church in Catlin Hollow. The incorporated cemeteries are the Shumway Hill cemetery, the East Charleston cemetery and the new cemetery in the Dartt settlement. The first was incorporated December 12, 1868; the second August 18, 1876, and the last April 11, 1881.

SOCIETIES.

The secret and benevolent societies of the township are confined to the Patrons of Husbandry and the Knights of the Maccabees, the different lodges of which have large memberships and are well attended. Charleston Valley Grange, No. 54, P. of H., is one of the oldest granges in the county. It was organized December 20, 1873, and now numbers 116 members. It meets at Round Top, in a hall building erected for its use in 1886-87 by a stock company. Aurora Grange, No. 874, P. of H., was organized March 8, 1889. It meets in the Packard building at Cherry Flats, and has nearly sixty members. Union Grange, No. 1107, P. of H., was organized March 6, 1891, with thirty-four members. In 1892 it erected a hall building in Catlin Hollow, at a cost of $800. It is prosperous and its membership is rapidly increasing. East Charleston Tent, No. 88, K. O. T. M., was organized November 17, 1893. It now has about fifty members and meets in the hall over Waldo Spear's store in East Charleston, which is also the meeting place of East Charleston Hive, No. 88, L. O. T. M. Catlin Hollow Tent, K. O. T. M., was organized March 7, 1896, with eighteen members. It meets in the Grange hall in Catlin Hollow.

VILLAGES AND POSTOFFICES.

Cherry Flats is situated on the State road, near the headwaters of Elk run, and was named by Timothy Culver, from a small flat forming part of its site, once covered with a thick growth of wild cherry. The line dividing Charleston from Covington township runs through it from north to south, a few feet east of A. J. Richards' store. The early settlement of the place has already been given. A post- office was established here about 1845. Norman Rockwell, the first postmaster, held the office until 1856, when Col. N. A. Elliott was appointed. His successors have been Abraham Johnson, Irving Harkness, G. S. Parsons, L. M. Rose, appointed in September, 1889; Albert F. Packard, April, 1892, and John C. Secor, the present incumbent, July 23, 1893. A daily mail is received by stage from Wellsboro. The first merchant was Oliver Elliott, who opened a general store in 1850, and continued in business until 1868, when he removed to Mansfield. The second store was opened in 1850 by Col. N. A. Elliott. Simeon F. Utter, William Adams, Norman Rockwell, J. W. Elliott and G. S. Parsons were among the earlier merchants. There are now two general stores in the place, one of which is kept by A. F. Packard and the other by A. J. Richards. Col. N. A. Elliott opened a hotel in 1851. In 1858 he sold it to Christopher Williams, who kept it until it burned down in 1861. It has had no successor. There are three churches in the village. The Baptist church, which is the oldest, is in Charleston township; the Methodist Episcopal and the Second Adventist across the line in Covington. The Cherry Flats Cheese Factory was established in May, 1893, by F. E. Zimmer, of East Charleston. Its patrons are residents of the eastern part of Charleston and western part of Covington townships. The average annual output is 70,000 pounds.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Whitneyville, or East Charleston postoffice, is situated in the northeastern part of the township, within a mile of the Richmond township line. One of the earliest settlers here was Asa G. Churchill, whose name with that of John Churchill appears on the assessment list of 1823. The name of Lemuel Churchill appears two years later. Tyrus Rice, another early settler in this neighborhood appears on the assess- ment list of 1838. The village, however, owes its existence to, and takes its name from, Alonzo Whitney and Capt. Nelson Whitney, who settled on its site in 1848. The father pursued farming until his death, May 1, 1881. The son, Capt. Nelson Whitney, devoted himself to farming until 1858, when he opened a general store, and soon did a business of about $20,000 a year. He also became interested in the East Charleston Cheese Factory and other enterprises. Among those who have succeeded him as merchants in the village have been Holman Morgan, John Kohler, and others. Waldo Spear, the present merchant, has been in business since 1883. A postoffice was established here about forty years ago, the first postmaster being Alonzo Whitney. Among his successors have been Elias Tipple, Miss Carrie Stone and Waldo Spear, the present incumbent, who came in 1883. A daily mail is received by stage from Mansfield. A carding machine and steam saw-mill were established over thirty years ago by Alonzo Whitney, and are now operated by Capt. Nelson Whitney.

The East Charleston Cheese Factory was established in 1863 by a stock company. It has been operated for several years past by F. E. Zimmer, who also operates factories in Cherry Flats and Canoe Camp.

The Dartt Settlement is situated on Catlin Hollow run, north of the center of the township. The pioneer settler here was Col. Justus Dartt, heretofore men- tioned. He was the first postmaster of the office which was established there nearly three-quarters of a century ago. He continued to hold the office until his death. His successors have been Cyrus Dartt, John W. Bailey, James .G. Dartt and C. B. Bean, the present incumbent. Mr. James G. Dartt, who held the office for many years, received a check for three cents, being the balance due him by the government upon final settlement. It is said to have been the smallest check ever cashed in the county. The first school in the township was taught, and the first saw-mill erected in the township was built here. The Union church, erected here about 1857 by the Methodist and Baptists, was one of the first houses of worship in the township. It is now owned by the Baptists. In the old cemetery lie the remains of Col. Justus Dartt and Roswell Bailey, as well as of other early settlers.

The Welsh Settlement is the name given to a section of the township southwest of Cherry Flats, in which a number of Welshmen and their families settled between 1840 and 1850. The earlier ones to locate were Thomas Evans, Lewis Lewis, Miles Harris, David G. Edwards, David Morris, Rees Morris, David Reese, John Jones and John E. Jones. Soon after coming they established a church in which worship has been regularly maintained to the present time. The members of this settlement enjoy a reputation for industry, thrift and honesty, and are among the most pros- perous and successful tillers of the soil in the township.

Round Top is the name of a village on Charleston creek in the southwestern part of the township. It derives its name from the peculiar shape of the roof of the first school house, which was known as the "Round Top School House." A

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MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.

postoffice was established here in 1872, the first postmaster being Samuel Morgan. His successors have been George Rabb, Charles Close, Mrs. Jane Close and E. G. Close, the present incumbent, who took charge November 29, 1889. In 1872 Samuel Morgan opened the first store in the village. He sold it, in 1873, to Charles Close. After Mr. Close's death, in 1883, his widow carried on the business. In 1888 her son, E. G. Close, became proprietor. The Wellsboro and Antrim railroad, completed in 1872, passes through the village, in which there are now two churches, a grange hall, a public school building and a cheese factory, besides a number of private residences. The Round Top Cheese Factory was established in 1865 by a stock company. It was operated by Charles Close from 1870 until his death in 1883, and by his widow until 1888, since which time it has been run by E. G. Close. It has an annual output of 60,000 pounds of cheese.

Hill's Creek is the name of a settlement on Hill's creek near the northern line of the township. The pioneer here was Dr. Jacob Schieffelin. In 1827 he pur- chased a large body of land in this section of the township, on which he located in 1828. In 1830 he built a saw-mill and for a number of years thereafter was a lead- ing lumberman. In 1863 Solomon Bennett and Ira Newhall erected a steam saw- mill here, and soon afterward sold it to Luther Bennett and George P. Card. Among the early settlers in this part of the township were Chauncey Ferry, Charles Ferry, Sr., Chester Partridge, Tilden Cruttenden, Virgil Sweet, Marcus Benedict, John Sampson, Capt. William Hill, whose name the creek bears, Thomas Kelly, James Roach, James Abernathy and Elisha Keeney.

CHAPTER XXV.

MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-REDUCTION OF AREA-PHYSICAL FEATURES-STREAMS-POPULATION -EARLY SETTLERS-EARLY AND LATER ENTERPRISES-SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES -CHURCHES-CEMETERIES-SOCIETIES-VILLAGES.

M IDDLEBURY township was created in September, 1822, and was taken from Delmar and Elkland townships. In May, 1831, a strip two miles wide from east to west was taken from it on the west and added to Chatham township. It is situated north of the center of the county, is bounded on the north by Farmington township; on the east by Tioga and Richmond townships; on the south by Charles- ton and Delmar townships, and on the west by Chatham township, and contains about forty-eight square miles. The township is rugged and mountainous. The principal stream is Crooked creek, which enters the township near the center of the

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

western boundary line; flows southeast to Middlebury Center, and there takes a northeast course, leaving the township near the northeast corner. Its branches are Cumberland creek, formed by Norris brook and Catlin Hollow run; Hill's creek, Stephen House run, Losey creek, White creek and Shingle School House run. The altitude in the Crooked creek valley ranges from about 1,100 feet at Hammond to 1,192 feet at Niles Valley, railroad grade. The mountains rise to an altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Owing to the numerous creek branches and to a gradual widening of the Crooked creek valley as it approaches the Tioga township line, a fair proportion of the area of the township is tillable. Its alluvium valley soils are very fertile and are especially adapted to the raising of tobacco, large quan- tities of which have been produced during recent years. Cereal grains, grasses and orchard fruits are also produced. The farmers of the township are, as a rule, prosperous. The township has had a steady and progressive growth. In 1840 there were 725 inhabitants; in 1870, 1,500; in 1880, 1,737, and in 1890, 1,658.

EARLY SETTLERS.

It is a difficult matter to determine who was the first white person to settle within the present boundaries of Middlebury township. The honor appears to belong to Elisha White, whose name is found on the census roll of 1800, and who came during that or the preceding year. He was a native of New England, and settled on the site of Holidaytown, where his son, Daniel White, born in 1815,-the oldest living person born in the township-still resides. Some of the immediate descendants of the old pioneers claim that Abner Kelsey settled before White, but the absence of his name from the census roll, would indicate that he did not come until later. Kelsey settled just below Middlebury Center, on Crooked creek, about where A. B. A. Briggs now resides. Roswell Ives settled on the 200 acres adjoining Elisha White on the north. John Ives, second, between Holidaytown and Middle- bury Center, and Jesse Losey on Hill's creek. The Loseys and the Ives' were pioneers in Tioga township and borough, and are mentioned in the chapters devoted to them. The years of their coming into Middlebury cannot be definitely ascer- tained, but they were among the very earliest settlers. Their names appear on the assessment list of Delmar township, which then included Middlebury, for 1812.

Richard Goodwin, a native of New Hampshire, settled two miles below Middle- bury Center in 1807, on land a portion of which is now owned by his grandson, George H. Goodwin. Thomas Keeney , a native of Hartford, Connecticut, settled in the autumn of 1815 just above Holidaytown. Elijah Wedge came into the county in 1815 and located at Stokesdale, but a few years later removed to and settled at Niles Valley. John Roe, a native of Vermont, also came in 1815, and settled on Crooked creek. Edsell Mitchell, a native of Tioga township, and reputed to be the first white child born in the county, came in 1816, and settled on the farm below Holidaytown, now occupied by his sons, Thomas E. and William A. Jacob Hymes, another early settler on Crooked creek, was in the township in 1816. John Losinger came about 1817 and is said to have been the first settler on the site of the village of Niles Valley, where he was operating a distillery two years later. Elpheus Button and James Bryant settled about 1820, in which year Aaron and Erastus Niles removed from Wellsboro and settled at Niles Valley. Aaron purchased the

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MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.

Losinger land, the latter removing to the next place south, where he continued the manufacture of whiskey. In 1820, also, Solomon Westbrook settled near the mouth of Hill's creek. In 1823 George Abbott was living on the site of Keeneyville; Isaac Losey on Losey creek, in the western part of the township, having settled there about 1818-20; Jacob Kiphart near Keeneyville; Israel P. Keeney near Holidaytown; James Martin, William I. Millard, Jedediah Millard and James Maxwell below Holidaytown; Thomas Boyes near the Chatham township line; Jesse Streeter, David Sloat and Cornelius Saxbury near Keeneyville; Amasa Thompson below Holidaytown, and Smith and Harry Cornell on Crooked creek below Holidaytown. In 1824 Sala Cole, a native of Windham, Connecticut, settled on the old Cole home- stead near Hammond, and Simon Snyder Chamberlain on Crooked creek. About 1824 Archibald Hazelett settled on the site of Middlebury Center, and between 1825 and 1830 Thomas Leete settled on Crooked creek near Hammond. In 1829 John West, a native of Massachusetts, settled on the farm owned and occupied by the late Nathan T. West near Middlebury Center. Sylvester and David Beckwith, who had previously located in Tioga, settled near the Tioga township line on Crooked creek. Here Sylvester erected, and for a number of years operated, a saw-mill. These were the principal settlers up to 1830. The farms they located upon were con- fined mainly to the Crooked creek valley. Tioga village was the nearest trading point for a number of years. Lumbering was the principal industry until the farms began to be cleared. The pioneers passed through the usual experiences and endured all the hardships of frontier life, except having to deal with a savage foe. By patient industry they laid the foundations of the prosperity now enjoyed by their descendants, besides establishing schools and churches, and doing their duty toward the upbuilding of the county.

EARLY AND LATER ENTERPRISES.

In 1820, when Aaron Niles came into the township, John Losinger had a small distillery on the site of the "Old Red Store," at Niles Valley. After selling his land to Niles, he removed to the adjoining place on the south and there resumed dis- tilling. This appears to have been the pioneer enterprise in the township. John and Fred. Losinger afterwards erected a saw-mill on Norris brook. It was run by an over-shot water-wheel. In 1854 it gave place to a steam saw-mill erected by Solomon Bennett and John M. Randall. A store was run in connection with this mill. The firm afterwards became S. Bennett & Son, and later Bennett, Diamond & Randall. A grist-mill was erected in 1868. It was destroyed by fire in 1880. The saw-mill was operated until 1888. Another early saw-mill was erected on Crooked creek, near the Tioga township line, by Sylvester Beckwith, and operated by him for a number of years. The first grist-mill in the township was built on Crooked creek, above Middlebury Center, by Amasa Thompson, about 1830, or, perhaps, earlier. About 1835 he built another mill above the mouth of Hill's creek, below Holidaytown. It was run by himself and his son, Nathaniel Thompson, for a number of years. Nathaniel Thompson sold it to T. E. Mitchell. In 1885 William T. Compton secured the property and operated the mill until his death in 1890, when he was succeeded by his son, Jesse C. Compton, the present owner. It is devoted to custom work, and is known as the "Central Mills."

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Elisha White built a saw-mill at Holidaytown over sixty years ago. It was afterwards operated by Benjamin Holiday, until about 1852. Charles and George Herrington built a grist-mill on Crooked creek, above Middlebury Center, about 1846. It was burned in 1848. About this time Joseph Lyons had a small feed-mill on his place near Niles Valley. About 1850 Arvine Clarke built the first steam saw- mill in the township, on Crooked creek, just above Hammond. From 1852 to 1860 Judge Levi I. Nichols and his son, W. A. Nichols, ran a steam saw-mill just above Middlebury Center. In 1866 Henry J. Shaff and Newbury Cloos, Jr., built a saw- mill on Losey creek, which they operated until 1894.

The Niles Valley Tannery, the leading manufacturing enterprise in the town- ship, was established in the summer of 1871 by O. B. Lowell & Company. In 1884 they were succeeded by L. H. Lappell & Company. May 1, 1893, the property was acquired by the Union Tanning Company, and is one of the series of tanneries now operated by them in the county. This tannery manufactures what is known as Union Crop sole leather, and uses about 4,000 tons of hemlock and oak bark annually. About forty men are employed. James H. Orford is the superintendent, and S. H. Orford, foreman. The store, formerly run in connection with the tannery, is now carried on by Thomas Clarendon.

The Keeneyville Cheese Factory was built in 1885 by A. J. Smith, who ran it two years. It is now operated by A. C. Close. This factory has a capacity of from 75,000 to 100,000 pounds of cheese annually.

SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.

The first school in the township was taught in a log building, which stood just south of Daniel Holiday's barn. One of the early teachers here was Calvin Cowley, known as "Black Hawk." About 1827 Amanda Hill, a daughter of Ebenezer Hill, taught a school in Edsell Mitchell's barn. A school house was afterwards built across the road from Thomas E. Mitchell's residence, in which the Baptist church was organized in 1832. This building was used for about twenty-five years. Among the teachers here were Charles Churchill, Henry Warner, Mary Ann Bentley, Nancy Otterson, Rowena Porter, John Stevens and Chester Dolph. Schools were estab- lished at an early day also at Niles Valley and Keeneyville. In June, 1889, the old school house at Keeneyville was washed away by the great flood and a new one, cost- ing $1,000, erected on higher ground to replace it. Good school buildings have also been erected at Hammond, Holidaytown, Middlebury Center, Niles Valley and other places in the township, in all of which competent teachers are employed, and the latest and best methods of instruction followed.

The office of justice of the peace of the township has been filled since its organi- zation by the following named persons: Jacob Babb, 1826; Reuben Cloos, 1827; Lucius Barto, 1827; Chauncey Alford, 1827; Martin Bowen, 1831; Samuel Snow, 1832; Jesse R. Ray, 1833; John F. Donaldson, 1834; A. M. Compton, 1834; Daniel Holiday, 1835; re-elected, 1845, 1850, 1855, 1880, 1881; Simeon Houghton, 1836; Levi I. Nichols, 1836; Stephen Babcock, 1836; John C. Whitaker, 1836; Richard Ellison, 1839; Sylvester Beckwith, 1840; Oliver Briggs, 1840; David Beckwith, 1845; Benjamin King, 1850; Willis B. Daily, 1855; George D. Keeney, 1859; re-elected, 1864, 1869, 1881, 1886, 1891; Oliver P. McClure, 1860; A. J.

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MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.

Smith, 1870; Thomas Keeney, 1871; William C. Stevens, 1874; C. J. Smith, 1876; S. I. Hayes, 1886; re-elected, 1891, 1896, and Lemuel F. Smart, 1896.

CHURCHES.

The First Baptist Church of Middlebury is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Tioga county. The first steps toward organizing it were taken at a meeting held September 4, 1830, of which Rev. Samuel Grinnell was moderator and Edsell Mitchell clerk. July 2, 1831, a meeting was held, of which Elder Grinnell was moderator, at which it was voted to invite a council to meet on the third Wednesday of August, 1831. This council met August 17, 1831, and formally organized the First Baptist Church of Middlebury. The following was the order of exercises: Prayer of recognition, by Elder Elisha Booth; charge to the church, by Elder Thomas S. Sheardown; hand of fellowship, given by Elder Platt. September 10, 1831, Edsell Mitchell was appointed clerk, and Thomas Keeney, deacon. The names of the original members, as nearly as they can be ascertained, were Elder Samuel Grinnell, and Rosanna, his wife; Thomas Keeney, Edsell Mitchell, Nancy Mitchell, Chauncey Mann, Jeremiah Churchill, Nathan Abbott, Simeon Babcock, Charles Orchard, Michael Cady, Annette Flood, Katherine Matson, Martin Flood, Matthew Hymes, Rachel Stout, Mary Keeney, Elizabeth Churchill, Sally Cady, Zilpha Losey and Patience Churchill. The meetings of the church were held in the old school house on the Mitchell place. It was not, however, until 1890, in which year the church was incorporated, during the pastorate of Rev. Fisher Wilson, that the society succeeded in erecting its own house of worship. It now has a neat frame church building, representing an outlay of $1,700. A Sunday-school was organized May 23, 1891, with a membership of fifty, of which V. W. Lewis is the superintendent. The church now has about sixty members. The following named ministers have served as pastors since its organization: Revs. Samuel Grinnell, 1831-35; W. S. Smith, 1835-36; J. T. Coffin, 1842-44; Samuel Bullock, 1845; Elder Burman, 1847-48; C. Beebe, 1851-52; Elder Smith, 1855-57; Levi Stone, 1857; Elder Marriott, 1858-59; G. P. Watrous, 1863-65; C. A. Stone, 1867-69; C. Beebe, 1870; C. K. Bunnell, 1871-72; G. P. Watrous, 1873; H. E. Ford, 1874-76; D. T. Van Doren, 1877-79; George Crocker, 1882; R. K. Hammond, 1883-84; H. M. Wolf, Jr., 1886; S. Z. Batten, 1887; Fisher Wilson, 1890-91; W. H. Porter, 1892-94; S. P. Brundage, 1895-96; A. C. Bennett, 1896-97. The first prayer meeting in the town- ship was held at the house of Edsell Mitchell. He was also superintendent of the Sunday-school for over forty years.

The Hammond Regular Baptist Church was organized at Hammond, July 31, 1894, with thirty-four members, as follows: G. L. Cole and Frank Pease, deacons; A. G. Hammond, clerk; Emmer H. Steele, treasurer; S. P. Spaulding, H. L. Stevens, Frank Hammond, C. H. Stevens, and Frank McKinney, trustees; and Martha, Amy, Keith and Callie Hammond, Daisy Hymes, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Farr, Jenny Farr, Lulu Nichols, C. G. Bailey, Mrs. Elizabeth and Mrs. C. Cutter, Arthur Cutter, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Stevens, Paul and Jenny Stevens, Mrs. Frank Pease, Morgan Pease, Mr. and Mrs. J. DeGrote, and Caroline, Emma and Louisa Root. The first pastor was Rev. W. H. Porter, who remained one year, when he was suc- ceeded by S. J. Brundage. A. C. Bennett, the present pastor, who also has charge

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

of the churches at Tioga and Holidaytown, came in the autumn of 1896. A neat house of worship was dedicated February 21, 1895. The church now numbers forty- seven members. There are fifty pupils in the Sunday-school, of which Arthur G. Hammond is the superintendent. A Young People's Christian Endeavor Society, with fifty members, was organized February 25, 1895. It is composed of the young people of the church.

The Keeneyville Free Baptist Church was organized in 1840 as the "Chatham and Middlebury Free Will Baptist Church," and was composed of the societies then existing in Chatham and Middlebury townships. In 1846 each society took a separate name, the one under consideration, being known as "Middlebury Free Will Baptist Church," until June 3, 1895, when it was incorporated as the "Keeneyville Free Baptist Church." The church was organized in Keeneyville by Elder Jesse Bennett, and among the original members were George Abbott, the first deacon, and Linda, his wife; Mrs. Reuben Stevens, Rachel Slote, Sarah Carpenter, Mrs. Hods- kiss, Peter Huntsinger and Solomon and Sophronia Huntsinger. Nathan West, who joined in 1844, was a deacon for many years. About 1848 or 1849 the place of worship was removed to the Losey Creek school house, where the society held ser- vices for about thirty years, and then returned to Keeneyville, where a neat church building, costing $1,200, was erected in 1895. Elder Jesse Bennett was the first pastor; Rev. Selden Butler was pastor for about twenty-five years. A. G. Downey served from 1882 to 1885; O. C. Hills and Wesley Ingerick each one year; William Smith and wife came in 1890, and J. C. Warren, the present pastor, in 1894. The church now numbers twenty-four members.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 47

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