History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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

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Israel Bulkley erected a flutter-wheel grist mill in 1814, the water being taken from the Cowanesque river in a race to the Island Stream. This mill site was north of the Charles Bulkley residence. It had one run of buhrs and was operated until 1829. In 1850 Robert Tubbs built a four-run grist mill near his saw-mill. Since 1871 steam power has been used during low water in the river. This mill descended to H. and J. Tubbs, sons of Robert, and has had several owners. It is now owned and operated by L. B. Cadogan.

A log distillery was built previous to 1812 by Israel Bulkley near his grist mill. He paid one dollar a bushel for corn, and whiskey was correspondingly high. He quit the business before 1816. Andrew Bozzard built a log distillery in 1816 on the highway in front of the Alvers Bosard residence, getting water from a spring on the north side of the road. He ran this distillery about six years. In 1818 George Parker built a distillery, also of logs, on the north side of the road, opposite the C. B. Hoyt residence, which he operated until 1824. It became a popular drinking resort.

A carding mill was erected in 1814 by Israel Bulkley. It was driven by the water power used at his grist mill. In connection with it he also had a fulling mill, both in charge of Henry B. Trowbridge. In 1827 Josiah Holcomb engaged in the manu- facture of wooden ware in Osceola, procuring black ash knots from the swamp and fashioning them into sugar bowls, salt dishes and whiskey kegs, some of which are still preserved in the homes of the old families. A potash manufactory was estab- lished in 1839 by Robert Tubbs. In 1841 he added a pearling oven to his works.

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He hauled the potash and pearlash to Ithaca, New York, and Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, whence they were shipped to New York and Philadelphia. He operated his works until 1843. In 1827 he began the manufacture of brick, continuing at intervals for a number of years, and in 1829 built one of the first brick houses erected in Tioga county. The mason work was done by Stephen Potter, of Potter Brook. This house is still standing, in good repair, and is used as a residence. Andrew K. Bosard began the manufacture of brick in 1848, and continued about twenty-five years, when he sold out to Henry Seely, who ceased business about 1880. A kiln of limestone was burned in 1848, on Holden brook, by Philip Taylor. The quality of the lime was poor and the enterprise abandoned. Two kilns of tar were burned in 1838 by Isaac Van Zile, who hauled his knots and pitch-pine wood from Norway Ridge. He continued the business two or three years. A few kilns of tar were also burned in 1839 by Jacob Rowley, on the farm now owned by Charles Tubbs. Char- coal was burned as early as 1810 by Israel Bulkley. Until coal came into use, it was used for blacksmithing, and charcoal pits were generally put up and burned by the blacksmiths.

The first blacksmith shop was built in 1810 by Henry Mott. In 1815 Godfrey Bowman built a small log shop, which he carried on until 1818, when he was suc- ceeded by Bela Graves, who made a specialty of cutting tools and trap springs. Bartholomew Thing opened a shop in 1822, and was succeeded by Lewis Lowell Carr, who worked at his trade here from 1824 to 1830. About 1825 George Bulkley established a shop on his farm-later a part of the Charles Bulkley farm-and carried it on until 1850. In 1828 William Barker built a shop, and carried it on until 1860, when he was succeeded by his son George. In 1850 Oliver Rice Gifford opened a shop which he carried on for many years. All these shops, except that of George Bulkley, were in the village of Osceola.

The Banking House of Morgan Seely was established in 1877 and has been successfully conducted by its founder ever since. It enjoys the reputation of being a safe and sound financial institution. On April 1, 1897, the name was changed to the Cowanesque Valley Bank, with Morgan Seely, president; Frank J. Seely, vice-president, and Ed. M. Seely, cashier.

Two attempts to discover petroleum oil at Osceola have been made, and two wells sunk, but without success. The first was made in 1865, when the Osceola Oil and Mining Company-chartered July 24, 1865-was organized with a capital stock of $500,000, the incorporators being B. F. Paxton, S. P. Wolverton, J. R. Barker and H. S. Marr, of Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, Pennsylvania. A well was drilled to the depth of 800 feet on the Charles Bulkley farm, by Joseph Barker, but no oil was found. In 1879 a stock company was formed, the officers of which were Hoyt Tubbs, president; Charles Tubbs, secretary, and Morgan Seely, treasurer. A test well was drilled by Hoyt Tubbs on the lands of Allen Seely, to a depth of 1,300 feet without striking oil. The well was then abandoned.

In 1852 Hoyt Tubbs and Truman Crandall erected a tannery on the Cowanesque river, opposite the mill pond. Mr. Crandall disposed of his interest to Lyman P. Hoyt in 1857. He conducted the business until 1860, from which time until 1864 the tannery lay idle. In the latter year Robert Hammond leased the property. In March, 1866, the building was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. In 1866

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R. Hammond & Company built the present tannery upon Holden brook in the northern part of the village of Osceola and operated it until May 1, 1893, when it passed into the control of the Union Tanning Company. The output of this tannery averages about 100 sides of sole leather a day. The superintendent is Robert Hammond, and the foreman John Duly.

In 1854 Enoch M. Steen and Eleazer Clark built a sash, blind and door fac- tory, which they operated until 1863, when they sold out to Hoyt Tubbs and V. C. Phelps. This factory was operated until 1872, when it shut down, having had various owners. In 1872 a cheese factory was established on Holden brook by William Bosard and James F. James. In 1875 it was purchased by Hoyt Tubbs and A. F. Rose, who conducted it until 1877, when it shut down.

INNS AND HOTELS.

The first "Inn" was opened in Osceola in 1812 by Nathaniel Seely. No liquor license was required in those days and the public patronized the bar as well as sought his place for the purpose of being fed and lodged. He continued in the business until 1830. In 1824 George Parker opened a house. He was succeeded in 1830 by Aaron Buck. The place was purchased by Abel Hoyt in 1835, who elosed it as a house of public entertainment. The Osceola House was built on the site of the present hotel in 1851 by Allen Seely, who kept it until 1861. He had numerous successors, among them James Atherton, Joseph Weaver, Charles Culver, John S. Seely, Stewart Daily, W. E. Cooper, Benjamin B. Barse, Charles Graham, James Martin, Eugene O. Martin, Arthur F. Bosard and Hoyt Tubbs. This house was destroyed by fire in 1870, and rebuilt in 1873, from which time until 1882 it was known as the Bosard House, when it resumed its former name. It was destroyed by fire in 1888. In December, 1891, the present Osceola House, erected by William Wildrick, was opened, with W. A. Newcomb as landlord. Since the spring of 1895 it has been kept by W. R. Colvin.

SCHOOLS.

Mary Ann Landon, the first teacher in Osceola, taught school in 1812 in an old log house upon the Island Stream, near the residence of Abel Hoyt. Among her pupils were Ira Bulkley, Hiram Bulkley, Horace Hill, Elisha Hill, Benjamin Hill, Edwin Hill, Ann Tubbs, Julia Gleason and Nelson Gleason. This was a charac- teristic, primitive, pioneer school. The children living east of Holden brook crossed that stream on a fallen tree, there being no bridges. From 1814 to 1822 an old log shop, in front of the Vine Crandall residence, was used for school pur- poses. Still later another log house west of John Tubbs' residence was fitted up for school purposes, and also one on the site of the present Methodist church. Schools were also kept in the dwelling houses of Robert Tubbs and William Barker. The Bulkley school house was erected in 1822 and was the first building erected for school purposes. It was used for twenty years. Among the early teachers in these various schools were John Hammond, 1813; Jonathan Bonney, 1814; Chester Gid- dings, 1815; Mahala Seelye, 1816; Caroline Gardner, 1817; Nathaniel Seely, 1818- 19; Martin Stevens, 1820; William F. Gardner, 1821; Amasa Smith, 1822; Elihu Hill, 1823; John Smith, 1824, and Polly Howland, 1825. In 1836 a new school house

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was built on the road leading toward Camp brook. It was burned in 1845. Here taught Andrew Keller Bosard, Robert H. Tubbs, Lavina Leonard, Elizabeth Tubbs, Mary Stull, Harriet Beebe, Edwin R. Hill and Sally Tubbs. From 1845 to 1850 school was held in old houses in the village. In 1849 a new school house was built upon Holden brook by subscription, and in 1859 the subscribers deeded it to the Osceola school district. It was used as a school house until 1869. In 1871 the present school building was erected, at a cost for the lot of $200 and for the building of $2,000. It has since been improved to meet the increasing demands of the district. From 1888 until 1896 this school was in charge of Prof. Artemas Edwards, an experienced and able educator. The present principal is Hugh Sherwood. In 1845 a school house was built by H. B. Cilley in the Brier Hill district. It was destroyed by fire in 1866 and rebuilt. In 1878, by the addition to its area of a por- tion of Deerfield township, Osceola township, as it was then, and borough, as it is now, acquired the Holden brook district and school house, a portion of Bulkley District, No. 2, and of District No. 11, then of Deerfield township.

The Osceola High School was established in December, 1860, for the purpose of affording facilities for pursuing an academic education. The enterprise was set on foot by a number of leading citizens, who subscribed the necessary money, the second and third stories of the H. & J. Tubbs block being fitted up for chapel, recitation rooms, and apartments for non-resident students. The school opened with 100 students in December, 1860. The faculty was composed of Anderson Robert Wightman, A. B., principal; Samuel R. Thayer, A. B., assistant principal; Jane A. Stanton Wightman, preceptress; Mary Abigail Stanton, assistant pre- ceptress; Prof. Isaac Gunn Hoyt, instructor in music. A large boarding house containing twenty-four rooms, known as "The Castle on the Hill," was built in 1861, and an equipment of philosophical apparatus purchased. Various changes in the faculty were made up to 1866, when the school was formally closed and was suc- ceded by a select school, taught in 1867-68 by James Huntington Bosard, and in 1869-70 by Charles C. Ward.

The Osceola School of Musical Instruction was opened in 1872 by Prof. Isaac Gunn Hoyt. It existed four years, both vocal and instrumental music being taught, and diplomas awarded those taking a full course of instructions.

BOROUGH ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIALS.

The township of Osceola was incorporated as a borough November 24, 1882, and the first election held in February, 1883. The office of burgess has been filled by the following named persons: Robert Hammond, 1883; James Tubbs, 1884; M. L. Bonham, 1885-86; Robert Hammond, 1887; Albert L. Tubbs, 1888-90; Hiram Taylor, 1891-93; C. W. Morgan, 1894-96, and D. Baxter, elected in 1897. Hon. Charles Tubbs has held the position of clerk since the organization of the borough.

During the years Osceola was a township, the folowing named persons served as justices of the peace: Isaac B. Taft, 1857; Lyman P. Hoyt, 1858; A. K Bosard, 1860; re-elected, 1865, 1871, 1875; Norman Strait, 1861; re-elected, 1866; E. E. Bosworth, 1870; C. L. Hoyt, 1872; Morgan Seely, 1876; J. W. Hammond, 1879;

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O. S. Kimball, 1880; Morgan Seely, 1882. Since its incorporation as a borough the office has been held by the following named persons: O. S. Kimball, 1885; C. R. Taylor, 1886; re-elected, 1891; L. P. Davis, 1891; James A. Rogers, 1892; Frank R. Hazlett, 1894.

A postoffice was established at Osceola February 16, 1852. The office of post- master has been filled by the following persons: Enos Slosson, appointed April 3, 1852; James Mapes, September 2, 1856; Joseph Barker, March 28, 1859; H. C. Bosworth, August 7, 1861; Edward E. Bosworth, January 6, 1871; C. H. Bosworth, April 29, 1879; L. P. Davis, May 30, 1886; Ella Strait, April 1, 1890; James A. Rodgers, July 25, 1892, and James Kelly, August 1, 1896.

PHYSICIANS.

The wife of Reuben Cook, familiarly known as "Granny Cook," though not a recognized member of the medical profession, had a large obstetrical practice during the first quarter of the present century. Her fee was invariably one pound of tea. The first regular physician, however, to locate at Osceola was Adolphus Allen, who practiced here from 1813 to 1816. Henry C. Bosworth, a native of Vernon, New York, who graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1837, located at Osceola in 1852, and continued to practice until his death, December 5, 1870. William W. Day, a homeopathist, located at Osceola in 1855, and remained until the autumn of 1867, when he removed to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In April, 1857, Dr. William T. Humphrey, a graduate of the Albany Medical College, removed from Elkland to Osceola, and still continues in the active practice of his profession. Adelbert J. Heggie, who acquired his medical education in Georgetown, D. C., and in the University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, located at Osceola in 1866, remaining about twenty years. Wilmot G. Humphrey, a son of Dr. William T. Humphrey, graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1880, and immediately began practice at Osceola. In 1890 he removed to Elkland. Charles H. Bosworth, a son of Dr. Henry C. Bosworth, entered upon the practice of medicine at Osceola, March 1, 1882, and has continued as a resident physician to the present time. Dr. T. N. Rockwell practiced here from August 1 to October 1, 1886, and then removed to Elkland. Dr. E. E. Clark, now a resident physician, began practice in Osceola in May, 1893.

CHURCHES.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Osceola, incorporated August 25, 1879, was organized sometime during the twenties, and was the outgrowth of early camp meetings to which the settlers flocked from near and far. The earliest laborer in this field appears to have been Capt. Ebenezer Taylor, who was a local preacher. His co-laborers were David Jay and Elihu Hill. Meetings were held in cabins, in barns, in school houses and in the open air. The first camp meeting was held on the river bank on the farm of George Newton Bulkley, in September, 1828, and was in charge of Rev. Parker Buell, presiding elder. Rev. Samuel Conant, Peter Sliter and others participated in this meeting. Another camp meeting was held in September, 1829, and a third one in 1835, at each of which a number of persons were converted. Presiding Elder Abel conducted the second, assisted by Revs.

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Asa Orcutt, Amos Carey and John Copeland. The third was conducted by Rev. Nathan Fellows, assisted by Rev. Darius Williams and others. From 1861 to 1868 the society worshiped in the Presbyterian church. In 1867 the society was organ- ized anew under the name of "The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Osceola." February 25, 1868, a church building, costing $3,000, was dedicated, and in 1881 a parsonage built at a cost of $1,500. The names of the ministers, so far as it has been possible to ascertain them, who have served this church are as follows: Revs. Asa Orcutt, Amos Carey, John Copeland, Caleb Kendall and I. J. B. Mckinney, 1820 to 1830; Revs. Bell, Dewey, Nathan Fellows, David Fellows, Theodore McElhany and Ralph D. Brooks, 1830 to 1840; Francis W. Conable, Milo Scott, Samuel Nichols John Abbott, J. L. S. Grandin and Henry Bascom Turk, 1840 to 1850; A. D. Edgar, Austin P. Davison, James Duncan, 1854; Samuel Nichols, 1855; R. L. Stillwell, S. P. Guernsey and Elisha Sweet, 1850 to 1860; C. L. F. Howe, 1861; C. Dillenbeck, 1862-63; William E. Pindar, 1864; O. B. Weaver, 1865-67; Isaac Everitt, 1868-70; J. H. Blades, 1871-72; G. C. Jones, 1873-74; Henry C. Moyer, 1875-77; F. M. Smith, 1878; W. D. Taylor, 1879-81; S. M. Dayton, 1882-83; D. W. Gates, 1884; C. M. Gardner, 1885-86; J. O. Jarman, 1887-90; I. K. Libby, 1891-95, and John Segwalt, who took charge in October, 1895. The church now numbers about 100 members. There are sixty-five pupils in the Sunday-school, of which A. Cadogan is the super- intendent.

CEMETERIES.

Those of the first settlers who died between 1795 and 1815 were buried on a triangular-shaped piece of ground on the west bank of Holden brook near its mouth. Rude, inscribed stones marked their resting places. These were broken down and destroyed between 1848 and 1860, during which time the site of this old burial ground was occupied as Culver & Slosson's mill yard. The land is now cultivated as a garden. Here were buried Cooper Cady's wife, a Mr. Smith, Caleb Griggs and wife, Baker Pierce, three children of Daniel Phillips, and others.

The Osceola Cemetery Association was incorporated April 21, 1876, the follow- ing named persons being the officers and incorporators: Robert Hammond, presi- dent; Russell Crandall, secretary and treasurer; and C. R. Taylor, E. E. Bosworth and George Tubbs. The grounds of this association are on the north side of the Cowanesque road, west of the village. They are inclosed with a neat and tasteful picket fence. Above the ornamental entrance gate is the inscription, "Man goeth to his long home." The first person buried within this inclosure was Abner Gleason, who died about 1812, and who was the owner of the land. In another grave lie the remains of Nathaniel P. Moody, a Revolutionary soldier and a graduate of Yale College. Here also lie the remains of Reuben Cook, the pioneer, of Sarah Cole, his wife; Reuben, his son, and Phelind, his son's wife. Here also rest the remains of members of the Taylor, Tubbs, Gleason, Bosard, Crandall and other pioneer families, whose graves are cared for and whose memories are held in veneration and esteem by their living descendants.

Holden Brook Cemetery is an inclosure of about an acre of ground, on the Philip S. Taylor farm. The first person to be buried here was Silas Overfield

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Taylor, who died in 1855, since which time the place has been free for burial pur- poses to the public.

Fairview Cemetery Association, with a capital of $3,000, was incorporated October 2, 1882, the incorporators being Albert Dearman, Knoxville; Morgan Seely, Osceola, and O. P. Babcock, Elkland. The grounds of this association adjoin those of the Osceola Cemetery Association and are tastefully laid out for burial purposes.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Osceola is the meeting place of a number of representative secret societies, all of which are well attended and prosperous. Osceola Lodge, No. 421, F. & A. M., was organized July 22, 1868, and now numbers thirty-three members. Capt. Alfred J. Sofield Post, No. 49, G. A. R., was organized January 18, 1876, and is one of the oldest posts in the county. Osceola Lodge, No. 843, K. of H., was organized January 8, 1878, and Vidette Lodge, No. 115, K. & L. of H., December 20, 1878. The former has twenty-four and the latter forty-eight members. Osceola Union, No. 219, E. A. U., was organized January 18, 1881, and Osceola Tent, No. 160, K. O. T. M., April 4, 1893. The latter now has upwards of sixty members.

CHAPTER XXIX.

NELSON BOROUGH.

ORGANIZATION-AREA AND BOUNDARIES-STREAMS-PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLERS-MANUFACTURING AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-BOROUGH ORGANIZA- TION AND OFFICIALS-PHYSICIANS-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES- SOCIETIES.

T HE borough of Nelson was created May 8, 1886, and is simply the township of Nelson incorporated into a borough. It has the same boundaries and the same area as the old township, and embraces within its limits 6,201 acres, or nearly ten square miles. It has an average length, from east to west, of three and a half miles, and an average width, from north to south, of two and three- fourths miles. It is bounded on the north by New York state, on the east by Law- rence township, on the south by Farmington township and on the west by the boroughs of Osceola and Elkland. The Cowanesque river enters it from the west, about a half mile south of the State line, pursues a winding course, slightly south- east, and passes into Lawrence township, south of the center of the eastern boundary line. A number of small branches flow into it from the north and south. Those on

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the north beginning at the west are Rathbun or Wright brook, and a stream flowing through the John Mascho farm, known as Drew creek south, and Baldwin brook north, of the State line. The little stream that flows through Nelson village is known as Cook creek, while the one that flows into the river on the C. F. Merritt farm is known as Crowl creek. On the south side of the river are two creeks, Thorn Bottom creek, which rises in Farmington township, and empties into the river above the village of Nelson, and Cummings' creek, which unites with the river near the Lawrence township line. The river valley in the western portion of the borough is level and averages over half a mile in width, above Nelson village. The eastern portion is more restricted and broken. The hills on either side are lower and less bold than those further up the valley, and are tillable, the soil being fertile and productive. The Fall Brook railway passes through the borough, following the north side of the river valley. The Addison and Pennsylvania passes through the northeastern portion and has a flag station, called Nelson, within the borough limits.

The unusual area of the borough, and the large amount of finely farming land embraced within its boundaries make it necessary to distinguish, in writing, between the country proper and the village of Nelson, or Beecher's Island, as it was formerly called. The village of Nelson, though a component of the borough, oc- cupies but a small portion of its area, and lies on both sides of the Cowanesque river, about a mile west of the Lawrence township line. It contains the borough building, two churches, a graded school building, the railroad station, the postoffice, a hotel, and had about 300 of the 540 inhabitants within the borough limits in 1890. For convenience, therefore, and to avoid confusion, it will be referred to by its old name of Beecher's Island, a name familiar to every old resident of the county.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first white person to settle within the present borough boundaries was Reuben Cook, Sr. This pioneer, mention of whom is also made in the Osceola, Deerfield and Westfield chapters, was the first white settler in the Cowanesque valley, west of Lawrenceville. He was a Revolutionary soldier and drew a pension from the State of Pennsylvania, under the following act, approved June 16, 1823, by Joseph Heister, governor:

SEC. 3. Be it enacted, etc., That the state treasurer be and he is hereby authorized and required to pay to Reuben Cook, of Tioga county, a Revolutionary soldier, on order, Forty Dollars immediately, and an annuity of Forty Dollars during life; to be paid half yearly ; to commence on the first day of January, 1823.

"In May, 1792 or 1793," says Charles Tubbs, of Osceola, "he moved into Nelson township, locating on a little flat north of the present residence of Harris T. Ryon. He lived in a bark cabin all summer, and planted an Indian girdling to corn and turnips. In the fall of that year he built a log house and lived in it three years. An Indian erected his wigwam near by, and they hunted and fished in company in the greatest friendship. The river was full of trout and it was no trouble to kill a deer. He never lived long in a place. At different times he owned valuable farms in Deerfield, Westfield, Osceola and Elkland boroughs. In 1814 he went to Marietta, Ohio, but returned to this valley in 1820, living at Osceola until he died. He pos-

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

sessed the true pioneer spirit-was always willing to sell out and move west." He was born at "Old Harford, West Division," August 25, 1747, and died at Osceola, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1829. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Cole, was born at Flat Brook, New Jersey, June, 1757, and died at Osceola, March 25, 1833. He lies buried in the cemetery at Osceola. His son, Reuben Cook, was born at Hooper's Patent, on the Susquehanna, below Owego, July 10, 1782, and died in Brookfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1881, in his one hundredth year.

The next settler appears to have been Dorman Bloss. His name is found on the census roll for 1800, as a "millwright." In 1805 he sold a hand grist-mill to Elihu Marvin, of Mansfield, who hauled it from Nelson overland on an ox sled. He did not, however, make purchase of land until January 2, 1807, when he bought a por- tion of the tract called "Retreat," now within the boundaries of the village of Nelson. He left the valley in 1818.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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