USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 48
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The Free Baptist Church of Holidaytown was organized in 1888 by Rev. O. J. Moon, and the society incorporated September 2, 1889, by A. J. Dickinson, A. D. West, C. F. Sweet, George H. Rozell and Jacob Doan. It now numbers ninety mem- bers. The names of the pastors are as follows: O. J. Moon, 1888-89; H. M. Abbey, 1889; R. M. Cloud, 1893-94; J. C. Warren, 1895-96. The old house of worship, erected as a union church about 1858, and occupied for many years by the Regular Baptist society, was purchased at sheriff's sale in 1889 and is now the property of the society.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Middlebury, otherwise known as the "Shingle School House Church," was organized about fifty years ago. It has been in the Little Marsh and Farmington charges, except since 1893, when it was placed in the Keeneyville charge. Among the pastors who have served the society are Revs. Purvis, Ford, Charles Weeks, J. W. Miller, 1881-84; J. C. Stevens, 1884-86; W. M. DuBois, 1886-87; A. G. Cole, 1887-92; C. R. Morrow, 1892-93; W. R. Kenyon, 1893-94; A. Scrimshaw, 1894-95; A. T. Percy, 1895-96, and Uri Mulford, 1896-97. The society was incorporated July 7, 1884, in which year a house of worship, cost- ing $1,400, was erected.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Keeneyville, incorporated May 9, 1892, was organized as the Keeneyville charge in 1893. Previous to that time it had been in the Little Marsh and East Charleston charges, and was served by the pastors ap- pointed to those charges. The present society is the outgrowth of a class organized a number of years ago. Since it was organized as a separate charge the pastors-who have also served the churches at the Shingle school house and at Niles Valley-
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have been as follows: Revs. W. R. Kenyon, 1893-94; A. Scrimshaw, 1894-95; A. T. Percy, 1895-96, and Uri Mulford, 1896-97. A church building costing $2,200 was erected in 1892, in conjunction with Middlebury Lodge, No. 844, I. O. O. F. This church has a growing membership.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Niles Valley, incorporated October 1, 1888, is the outgrowth of a Methodist class organized in 1862 or 1863. Among the original members were Joseph E. Lyon-the first Methodist in the valley-Abram Lyon, Mary Lyon (wife of DeLong Cutter), Sarah Lyon (wife of Lorenzo Cutter), Augustus Lyon, Lydia Lyon (wife of Orlando Jones), Mrs. T. Carpenter, James H. Niles and Emily, his wife, and John Diamond. The meetings were held in the school house. In 1886-87 a church building, costing $1,200, was erected. The pas- tors since the erection of the building have been Revs. H. J. Owen, 1887-90; A. W. Decker, 1890-92; F. A. Peterson, 1892-93; W. R. Kenyon, 1893-94; A. Scrimshaw, 1894-95; A. T. Percy, 1895-96, and Uri Mulford, 1896-97. Previous to 1893 this church was in the East Charleston charge. It is now in the Keeneyville charge. There are nearly fifty members in the church and forty pupils in the Sunday-school, of which William Manning is the superintendent. There is also an Epworth League of thirty-four active members.
CEMETERIES.
The Holidaytown Cemetery Association, incorporated February 5, 1875, by Daniel Holiday, V. B. Holiday, Daniel White, Samuel H. Hays and W. W. White, own and control the old burying ground south of the village of Holidaytown. Here lies buried Jesse Losey, the first settler on the site of the borough of Tioga. He died March 12, 1844, aged 85 years. Here rest also the remains of the members of the Ives, West, Wedge, Archer, Dickinson, Holiday, Keeney and other early fami- lies. There is another burying ground on the side hill northwest of the village, in which a number of interments have been made. It is now on private property, and interments have ceased.
The Middlebury Cemetery Association, incorporated August 3, 1865, own a burial ground of one and a half acres at Hammond. The incorporators were: Daniel G., Henry A., Ezra I., George O., Martin and James M. Stevens, A. C. and Heber Cole, J. H. Westbrook, John Starkey, Chauncey LaForce, Cephas Bailey, A. A. M. Lane, Calvin Hammond, George Potter and William Chase.
The Niles Valley Cemetery Association was incorporated April 28, 1881, by Philander Niles, E. M. Niles, J. A. Fletcher, Abram Lyon and Henry Wedge. The burial ground owned by this association is situated on the hillside southeast of the village of Niles Valley. The remains of many of the early settlers of Niles Valley and Middlebury Center are buried here.
The Keeneyville Cemetery is situated west of the village of Keeneyville. It is neatly fenced and well kept, and is the resting place of many of the early settlers at Keeneyville and in the western part of the township. There is also an old neigh- boring burying ground on Losey creek, in the northwestern part of the township.
The Shingle School House Cemetery, near the Shingle school house, north of Keeneyville, is also an old burying ground. It is not incorporated.
The French Hill Cemetery Association was incorporated September 24, 1894, by
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
A. D. Shaff, S. J. Roe, N. T. French, P. D. Shaff, John Brown and James Shaff. This cemetery is situated in the northwestern part of the township at what is known as French hill.
SOCIETIES.
Middlebury Lodge, No. 844, I. O. O. F., was organized June 27, 1873, with nine members. It now has 160 members and is one of the most prosperous lodges in the county. In 1892, in connection with the Methodist Episcopal church of Keeneyville, it erected a building costing $2,200, and at the present time has $5,000 in the treasury. Middlebury Grange, No. 705, was organized May 14, 1874, with a large membership, and was incorporated August 24, 1891. It now has a membership of 135, owns a fine hall, with spacious carriage sheds and extensive grounds, and is prosperous. Niles Valley Grange, P. of H., was organized in 1889. It meets at Holidaytown and has a membership of seventy-five. Keeneyville Tent, No. 167, K. O. T. M., was organized May 3, 1893. For the past two years it has been the banner tent of the county and now numbers eighty-five members. Keeneyville Hive, No. 77, L. O. T. M., was organized April 18, 1895, and contains thirty-five members.
VILLAGES.
Holidaytown, or Crooked Creek Postoffice, is situated about a mile and a half south and east of the geographical center of the township, on Crooked creek. It was named Holidaytown for Daniel Holiday, who has resided in the village since 1832. The first settler here was Elisha White, who came in 1799 or 1800, and whose son, Daniel White, born here in 1815, is still living, his present residence being but a few rods distant from the site of the old cabin in which he was born. The first store was kept here from 1830 to 1835 by Daniel Holiday, who built a tavern in 1832, which he kept until 1857. It was burned in 1861. Another building was erected about 1870. I. P. Keeney was landlord here for three years, and was succeeded by H. P. Holiday, who closed the house as a hotel in 1892. The postoffice was established in 1829. Thomas Keeney was the first postmaster. He kept the office where his son Thomas now resides. His successors have been Benjamin Holiday, Edsell Mitchell, Ezra Potter, S. I. Holiday, John R. Redington, M. P. Kelsey, I. A. Newhall, E. C. West- brook, A. J. Smith, M. G. White, T. M. Archer, W. J. Brown and H. L. Hays, the present incumbent. Previous to S. I. Holiday's appointment the office was kept at the home of the postmaster. Since then it has been either in the hotel or one of the stores. The present merchants are H. L. Hays and M. G. White, each of whom keeps a general store. There are two church buildings-the Baptist and the Free Baptist churches-and a public school building in the village. A planing-mill, shingle-mill and wagon shop is operated by George Baker. The station of the Fall Brook Railroad Company is in charge of Van Buren B. Holiday, who has filled the position since the opening of the road in 1873. Dr. James L. Beers, the resident physician, located here in 1889, and has built up a lucrative practice.
Niles Valley is situated near the southern boundary line of the township. It is at this point that Norris creek, after flowing almost due east out of Chatham township, where it has its source, turns north. At the tannery it unites with Catlin Hollow run to form Cumberland creek, which, after flowing a short mile, unites with
John, C, Roth
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MIDDLEBURY TOWNSHIP.
Crooked creek at Middlebury Center. Just south of Niles Valley is the Big Marsh- the watershed of the valley. In times of high water, it is said, the water flows from this marsh north toward Norris brook and south toward Marsh creek. There is evi- dence going to show that this stream formerly flowed into Crooked creek and thence to the Tioga river. This matter is, however, more fully dealt with in previous chap- ters. It is said that Norris brook takes its name from a Mr. Norris, who was the first settler on the site of Niles Valley. It is more than probable, however, that it was named for John Norris, an early settler on the Big Marsh, who, in 1813, was ap- pointed prothonotary and recorder, and afterward became one of the leading men of Wellsboro. John Losinger is usually spoken of as the first actual settler on the site of the village. In 1820 when Aaron Niles came and bought his land he had a small distillery on the site of the "Old Red Store." After selling his land to Niles he moved south to the adjoining place and resumed distilling. In 1820, Erastus Niles, a brother of Aaron, and David Greenleaf settled on the village site. In 1852 there were living in and around the village, Aaron Niles, Erastus Niles, Philander Niles, Joseph E. Lyon, Samuel Wedge and John Losinger. A postoffice was established in 1859, with Jerome B. Niles as postmaster. The office has since been held by John Dimond, John Fletcher, T. D. Rouse, John Fletcher and Stephen McInroy, who was appointed in July, 1893. The first store in the village was opened in 1868 by John T. Purvis, and conducted by him until 1885, when he retired from business. The store at the tannery was opened in 1871, and is now carried on by Thomas Clarendon. Fletcher & Wedge conducted a general store for several years. George R. Adams, who has been in business six years, and C. A. Stratton, who began business in March, 1894, are the present merchants. The Niles Valley tannery and the Methodist Episcopal church are dealt with elsewhere in this chapter. John T. Purvis, who was appointed when the road was opened in 1873, is the Fall Brook Railroad Company's station agent. The Niles Valley Hotel was opened in 1860 by G. W. Lloyd, and kept by him until his death in 1870, since which time the house has been carried on by his widow.
Middlebury Center, known for many years as "Potters," is situated south of the center of the township, at the junction of Cumberland and Crooked creeks. The first settler here was Archibald Hazelett, who located about 1824. The place took the name of "Potters" from Henry H. Potter, who came in 1843, and who, for over thirty years, kept hotel on the west side of the toll road. His sons, A. W., Benjamin and G. W., also kept this hotel. It was closed in 1892, and has since been used as a family residence. Before Potter's coming, Taft Aldrich and William T. Compton kept a log tavern near the same site. In 1884 the present Starkey House was built by H. M. Lowell. Its landlords have been H. M. Lowell, W. W. Finch, William Brown, A. M. Hazelett and Henry J. Shaff, each of whom kept it one year. In 1889 John Starkey bought the property. The buildings burned May 10, 1891. The present house was built on the same site and opened in the fall by Mr. Starkey, who still owns it. The postoffice was established in 1845, the first postmaster being Henry H. Potter, who kept it continuously till 1877, except between 1857 and 1861, when Henry New, the tollgate keeper held it. Archibald Hazelett held it from 1877 to 1881; H. M. Lowell, 1881-85; Frank Starkey, 1885-93, and George F. Davis, who was appointed in September, 1893.
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
Keeneyville is situated on Crooked creek, in the western part of the township. It was named in honor of Elias Keeney, a blacksmith, who settled on the village site previous to 1835. The village is now regarded as the largest and most important one in the township, notwithstanding the disadvantage of being distant several miles from the railroad. A postoffice was established here about 1856, R. F. Wilson being the first postmaster. The following named persons have since held the office: Jesse Keeney, M. W. Staples, A. J. Smith, J. C. Roe, Levi Beck, R. G. Close and Jared Davis, who was appointed in July, 1894. The first store was started before the Civil War by Charles O. Etz. The succeeding merchants were Chase & Hymes, Silas Staples, Hugh W. Wellington, Card, Staples & Son, Richard Keeney, and M. C. Potter, 1864 to 1889. In February, 1896, there were two general stores-Close Brothers, and A. J. & M. J. Smith, and one furniture store, kept by J. W. Roe. The first hotel in the village was opened in 1860 by R. L. Wilson. His successors were W. Stevens, M. C. Potter, John Carl, W. H. Wood and Gilbert B. Owlett. Dr. J. L. Blatchley also kept hotel for a number of years. The names of the physicians who have practiced here are: Dr. Leonard, Dr. Wiley, Dr. J. L. Blatchley, who remained over twenty years; Dr. Augustus Niles, who removed to Wellsboro, in 1893, after having practiced fifteen years, and Dr. Luther N. Cloos, who read medi- cine under Dr. Niles, and who bought his residence and practice in 1893. The village is in the midst of a rich agricultural section and has grown to be an im- portant trading point. Its churches and the public school are well attended, and the different secret and beneficiary societies, which meet in the village, have a large membership and are prosperous.
Hammond is the name of a station and postoffice on Crooked creek, in the eastern part of the township. The postoffice was established here in 1873, since which time the office of postmaster has been filled by Alexander McLean, Frank Hammond, D. Carlton and W. H. Carlton, the present incumbent, who was ap- pointed in March, 1892. Mr. Carlton also carries on a general store, the only one in the place. The railroad station agent is J. E. DeGrote.
CHAPTER XXVI.
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-AREA AND BOUNDARIES-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-STREAMS AND DRAINAGE-POPULATION-EARLY SETTLERS-MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES -SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES-CHURCHES-CEMETERIES-POSTOFFICES AND POST- MASTERS.
F ARMINGTON township was created in February, 1830, and was taken from Elkland township. It is nine miles in length from east to west, has an average width of four miles and contains about thirty-six square miles. It is bounded on the north by the boroughs of Osceola, Elkland and Nelson, and a part of the township of Lawrence; on the east by Lawrence and Tioga townships; on the south by Middle- bury, and on the west by Chatham and Deerfield. Lying midway between the Cowan- esque river, on the north, and Crooked creek, on the south, this township forms a part of the watershed between the two streams. Its surface is rugged, hills and valleys alternating. With but few exceptions, however, the former are tillable from base to summit, and at least seventy-five per cent. of the area of the township is under cultivation. It is distinctively an agricultural township and one of the best in the county. The drainage is principally toward the north and east. Thorn Bottom and Cummings' creeks, which rise west of the center of the township, flow northeast into Nelson township. The valley of the former, on account of its picturesque beauty, is known as Pleasant valley. Elkhorn creek rises near Farmington Hill and flows southwest into Tioga township, uniting with Crooked creek at Tioga. A few of the smaller tributaries of Crooked creek rise in the southern part of the township and flow south into Middlebury township. The township was heavily timbered when first settled. This has been cleared away, except a few acres here and there. The pine and hemlock has been manufactured into lumber. Owing to its small streams the township has not had many saw-mills within its boundaries, and the pine and hemlock logs have, as a rule, been hauled to Osceola, Elkland, Nelson, Tioga and other milling points, and there manufactured into lumber.
The township has no villages and it is claimed for it that there has never been a license granted to sell liquor within its boundaries. It has grown slowly but pros- perously, and is in many respects the model farming township of the county. In 1840 it had 503 inhabitants; 1870, 997; 1880, 995, and 1890, 907.
EARLY SETTLERS.
It is a difficult matter to determine who was the first white man to settle within the present boundaries of Farmington township, or to definitely fix upon the year of his coming. Lemuel Cady, a carpenter and joiner, is credited with locating at Osceola about 1810. In 1812, so his living descendants say, he went into Farmington town-
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
ship, and bought 200 acres of land near what is now known as the Cady school house, but his name does not appear upon the assessment rolls of Elkland township, from which Farmington was taken, until 1817. In 1818 he returned to Osceola where he remained until 1823, when he went back to Farmington, bought a tract of land near his former location and became a permanent resident. He worked at his trade until 1839. The name of David Bryant appears on the assessment list of Delmar township for 1812, the territory of which then included Farmington, and so far as can now be learned, he appears to have been the first permanent settler. He located on the State road, on what was long known as the Bryant homestead. He was still a resident of the township in 1831, the year of its organization. The name of David C. Bryant makes its appearance on the assessment list of 1819. The name was spelled "Briant" by the assessors. The names of Ezra Cummings and Chandler W. Chamberlain, both residents of the township at its organization, appear on the assessment list of 1823, as does also that of Jacob Cummings. Martin Bowen's name is on the assessment list of 1828. In this year also appears the name of John McCallum. His descendants say he was the fifth settler in the township.
The assessment list of 1829 contains the name of William Gee, whom his descendants say came in 1824. Moses Atwood appears to have settled about 1829. James Cook came in 1830 and erected a saw-mill. Peter Moury came previous to 1831, as did also Asa Moury. It has been stated that in 1828 there were but four log cabins in the township, and that in 1830, when the first election was held, there were but eleven voters. If this be true, the township must have grown rapidly during the next year, inasmuch as the assessment list of 1831 shows sixty-five persons, who were assessed as owners of seated lands and personal property within its boundaries. Among the more prominent of these, in addition to those already named, were Ives Chamberlain, Zebediah Clark, James Works, John and Daniel Crippen, Jacob Lichenthaler, David Cummings, Job Herrick, Lockwood G. Hoyt, Freeman Place, Alva. Cummings, John C. Robb, Samuel P. Babcock, Jonathan Sobres, Nathan Bottom, Charles Carr, Randall Drake, George Stanley, William Perrigo, Johnson Butts, Henry B. Turk, Harvey Foster, Hiram Merritt, Samuel and Daniel Buckbee, and Abner Webster. Descendants of most of these pioneers are still to be found in the township. Like the early settlers in other townships of the county, they felled the forests, cleared the lands and planted homes for themselves and their descendants and lived to see the township transformed from a wilderness to a thrifty and prosperous agricultural community.
MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES.
James Cook erected a saw-mill on Elkhorn creek in 1831. In 1838 he was suceeded as owner by Ephanetus Cook, who sold to Northrop Young in 1849, who was succeeded in 1853 by Lyman Fisk. This mill was afterward changed to a steam mill and was operated until 1882, being owned at the time by A. J. Fisk. Peter Moury operated a saw-mill from 1844 to 1847. These appear to be the only saw- mills erected in the township.
The West Farmington Cheese Factory, located near the Cady school house, was erected in the spring of 1895. It is owned and operated by E. A. Bean, of Knox- ville, and has an output of 70,000 pounds of cheese annually.
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FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.
The first school was taught in the township in 1836 and was located in what is now known as the House district. Within the next few years school buildings were erected in other parts of the township. Although the public school law went into effect in 1835, the schools were supported by subscription until 1850. Ten schools are now maintained within the township, there being an average of seven months school each year. Good school buildings have been erected and a liberal policy pursued in supplying them with furniture, globes, maps, charts, etc. Com- petent teachers are employed and are paid fair wages.
The following named persons have served as justices of the peace since the organization of the township: Martin Bowen, 1831; Samuel Snow, 1831; A. M. Compton, 1834; John C. Whitaker, 1836; Richard Ellison, 1838; Chandler W. Cham- berlain, 1840, John C. Robb, 1840; Rockwell W. House, 1845; John A. Kemp, 1845; re-elected, 1850; John Peters, 1850; Seneca Horton, 1855; J. B. Redfield, 1855; Reuben T. Hall, 1858; M. D. Bosard, 1860; James Beebe, 1863; re-elected, 1868; Andrew J. Doane, 1864; A. J. Smith, 1866; J. M. Shaw, 1869; William Campbell, 1869; Aurel J. Fisk, 1874; Edgar D. Fish, 1877; re-elected; 1882; R. S. Lugg, 1879; J. H. Merritt, 1885; re-elected, 1890, 1895; Justus Leonard, 1887; re-elected, 1893.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Congregation of Farmington was organized February 10, 1844, at the house of Johnson Butts near Farmington Hill. The constituent members were Johnson and Lucy Butts, John C. Robb, Miss Prudence Crippen, Mrs. Prudence Foster, and Josiah H. and Mary Ann Foster. The elders have been Johnson Butts, Peter M. Close, John C. Robb, Harvey Foster, P. L. Butts, O. H. Blanchard and D. P. Close. Rev. S. J. Mccullough, who organized the church, was its pastor till 1848. His successors have been Revs. Thomas E. Woodcock, J. Gordon Carnahan, F. Rand, 1859; Fred Graves, 1866; S. A. Rawson, 1873; Benjamin Russell, 1880; C. B. Gillette, 1881; R. G. Williams, 1885; S. P. Gates, 1889; J. I. Campbell, 1890; John H. Elliott, 1892, and W. C. McCormack, who took charge in January, 1896. He is also pastor of the church at Tioga. A church edifice was erected in 1851 at a cost of $1,200, and has been repaired as needed. The congregation is a strong one. Services have been held with but occasional interruption since the society was organ- ized and a good Sunday-school maintained. The society was incorporated February 14, 1853, upon the petition of John Harrower, Peter M. Close, Isaiah H. Foster, Johnson Butts, John C. Robb and Leverett L. Wilson.
The Farmington Hill Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1845. The following are the names of the original members: Daniel S. Buckbee, S. P. Buckbee, Mrs. Hannah Buckbee, Miss Katie Buckbee, Mrs. John Crippen, Mr. and Mrs. H. Merritt, Mr. and Mrs. John Edgbert, Mrs. Katie Tremain, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Mulford, and H. B. Turk. The following named pastors have served this church: Revs. G. W. Terry, Mr. Grandin, A. R. Jones, Mr. Davison, E. D. Rosea, Mr. Christian, R. L. Stillwell, James Duncan, J. M. Powell, J. H. Austin, 1860-63; G. N. Packer, 1863-64; C. L. F. Howe, 1864-66; V. Brownell, 1866-67; W. M. Haskell, 1867; W. H. Rumsey, T. L. Weaver, John Van Kirk; Harvey Lamkin,
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
1873-76; C. J. Bradbury, 1876-77; G. W. Howland, 1877-79; Harvey Lamkin, 1879-81; J. W. Gamble, 1881-83; J. D. Requa, 1883-85; R. E. Thomas, 1885-86; F. A. Peterson, 1886-88; W. L. Linaberry, 1888-89; C. M. Gardner, 1889-91; D. O. Chamberlayne, 1891-92; L. P. Thurston, 1892-95; Uri Mulford, 1895-96, and D. E. Stiles, who took charge in October, 1896. The society was first organized by Daniel Buckbee, and services were held in a log school house. In 1852, during the pastorate of Rev. A. R. Jones, a church edifice was erected on Farmington Hill, at a cost of about $1,500. The society now numbers sixty-three members. There is a good Sunday-school and a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of West Farmington-also known as the Pleasant Valley Church-was organized in November, 1883, by Rev. James Scovill, pastor. The following are the names of the original members: S. C. Doane, class leader; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Teachman, Mr. and Mrs. William Van Dusen, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Cady, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Casbeer, Mrs. Charles Starr, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Seely, and Mrs. Redfield. The names of the pastors are as follows: Revs. James Scovill, 1883-85; M. D. Jackson, 1885-86; William S. Crandall, 1886-88; D. L. Pitts, 1888-90; Melvin J. Smith, 1890-91; J. W. Miller, 1891-94; A. G. Cole, 1894-96, and W. J. Wilson, who came in October, 1896. The first trustees were Rev. Charles Weeks, Simeon Cady and Aaron Baker, under whose supervision a church building costing $1,300 was erected in 1883, on land purchased from Simeon Cady. It stands in the valley of Thorn Bottom creek, in the midst of a prosperous agricultural section. There are at present fifty members in the society, which is in the Osceola charge. There are sixty pupils in the Sunday-school, of which Aaron Baker is the superintendent.
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