History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

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

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Hoytville is the name of a village which adjoins Morris on the southwest, and like it lies in the valley of Babb's creek. The beginning of its history dates to the fall of 1880, when Hoyt Brothers, of New York, purchased a large body of land, heavily timbered with hemlock, lying on both sides of Babb's creek, with a view to the es- tablishment of a steam tannery. A site was selected and operations begun in Feb- ruary, 1880. The grinding of bark and the tanning of leather was begun in Septem- ber, 1881, but the mammoth plant, which was named the Brunswick Tannery, was not completed and in full operation before January 1, 1882. At the time of its comple- tion it was the largest steam tannery in the world. It is devoted to the production of non-acid hemlock-tanned sole leather, and has a capacity of 1,000 sides per day. When running with a full force-inside and out-it affords employment for over

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300 hands. To provide homes for its employes the company erected nearly 100 dwellings and a boarding house. It also erected a store, a steam saw-mill, a planing- mill, a feed-mill and blacksmith and carpenters' shops. The tannery was run by Hoyt Brothers until May 1, 1893, since which time it has been operated by the Union Tan- ning Company. The tannery is in charge of A. R. Spicer, superintendent. The fore- men are George W. Darby, E. L. Kingsbury and W. L. English. In 1882 Hoyt Brothers joined with the Blossburg Coal and Mining Company in building a line of railroad, known as the Arnot and Pine Creek railroad-from Arnot to Hoytville-its present terminus, thus enabling not only the owners of the tannery to ship its product to market, but giving the village of Morris the advantage of railroad facilities. The company store was managed by an agent until 1893, since which time the business has been carried on by Darby & Frutiger, the firm consisting of S. D. Darby and John Frutiger. A postoffice was established in January, 1893, and named Hoytville. The office of postmaster has been held by O. F. Taylor, S. S. Van Etten, A. R. Spicer and John Frutiger, the present incumbent.

Lorenton is the name of a postoffice on the Lycoming county line, almost due south from Morris. It was established in July, 1891. The postmaster is Hiram G. Mattoon, who also keeps a general store. A grange hall is located here.

CHAPTER XLI.

DUNCAN TOWNSHIP.

DERIVATION OF NAME-ORGANIZATION-AREA-BOUNDARIES-ALTITUDE-POPULA- TION-JUSTICES-THE FALL BROOK COAL COMPANY-THE VILLAGE OF ANTRIM -- HOTELS - POSTMASTERS - SCHOOLS - PHYSICIANS - SOCIETIES - CHURCHES- VILLAGES. .

D UNCAN township, named in honor of Duncan S. Magee, was organized in De- cember, 1873, and was taken from Delmar, Charleston and Morris townships. It is one of the smaller townships in the county, and contains between twenty and twenty-five square miles. Delmar and Charleston townships bound it on the north, Bloss and Morris on the east and south, and Morris and Delmar on the west. Its lands are nearly all owned by the the Fall Brook Coal Company, its population, except a few families living on farms and in the village of Summit, in the northern part, being confined to the mining town of Antrim. Its area, the greater portion of which is underlaid with semi-bituminous coal, is rugged and mountainous, the elevation at Antrim being 1,672 feet and that at Summit 1,862 feet above tidewater. In 1880

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the township had 1,791 inhabitants, and in 1890, 2,449. The following named per- sons have served as justices of the peace of the township since its organization: Isaac S. Marshall, 1874; William Clark, 1874; David W. Jenkins, 1879; James W. Donaldson, 1883; John Hammond, 1884; George W. Balfour, 1884; re-elected, 1896; J. A. Vandegrift, 1888; Eleazer Jones, 1889; re-elected, 1894.

THE FALL BROOK COAL COMPANY.

The preliminary investigations which led to the opening of the coal mines at Antrim were begun in May, 1866, by Thomas Farrer and John Smith, two experi- enced explorers and woodsmen, in the employ of the Fall Brook Coal Company, at Fall Brook. Their explorations, which were continued during the year, were carried on in the mountain regions near the headwaters of Wilson creek, on lands owned by William Bache, and resulted in the finding of coal in what they believed to be paying quantities. Their favorable report led to the securing of the land by Duncan S. Magee and Humphries Brewer for the Fall Brook Coal Company, and to the building of a log house for the use of the explorers, while engaged in further explorations, which were continued during 1867-68, with such successful and gratifying results that it was determined to build a line of railroad from Lawrenceville to the new coal field.

On April 4, 1867, the Lawrenceville and Wellsboro Railroad Company was incor- porated, with Humphries Brewer, of Fall Brook, president, and James Heron, also of Fall Brook, secretary and treasurer. A preliminary survey was begun under Mr. Brewer's direction, September 23, 1867, by Anton Hardt, civil engineer. Mr. Brewer died December 25, 1867, and was succeeded as president by Hon. Henry Sherwood, of Wellsboro, who filled that position until the completion of the road from Law- renceville to Wellsboro-a distance of twenty-four miles-in May, 1872. On October 28, of the same year, it was completed to Antrim, the new mining town on Wilson creek, the contractors for the entire line being Gen. James Ward & Company, of Towanda, Pennsylvania.

Duncan S. Magee died in the spring of 1869, and was succeeded as superin- tendent of the Fall Brook Coal Company by Gen. George J. Magee, under whose direction the survey and location of the railroad was completed, a steam saw-mill erected and the work of opening up the mines and providing houses for the miners. begun and carried forward until everything was in readiness for the mining and shipment of coal, which was begun upon the completion of the railroad. During 1872: the product of the mines amounted to 11,366 tons. Since then mining has been carried on continuously, hundreds of thousands of tons of coal being mined and shipped annually, furnishing employment for a large number of miners and work- men and profitable traffic for the railway leading from the mines to Lawrenceville. Within the past few years there has been a marked falling off in production and a con- sequent reduction in the number of employes, owing principally to the opening up. of new mines in Clearfield county, where the coal is more easily and more cheaply mined.

William Howell, the resident manager of this company, has filled that position since 1882, for eight years previous to which he was the paymaster. James Pollock has filled the position of mining superintendent since 1883. His son, Alexander

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Pollock, and Morgan Davis are mine foremen, E. S. Harrower is outside foreman, and C. E. Burgess chute foreman. The store is in charge of William Howell, Jr., with W. W. Forest buyer and D. M. Edwards book-keeper. O. E. Crediford fills the position of station agent and is also postmaster, while the steam saw-mill is in charge of A. C. Dudgeon.

THE VILLAGE OF ANTRIM.

Antrim is situated in the southwestern part of the township, near the head- waters of Wilson creek, and its history dates from the building of the Lawrenceville and Wellsboro railroad and the opening of the coal mines by the Fall Brook Coal Company. In 1868, while the explorations of Thomas Farrer and his party were in progress, the site of the village was visited by Duncan S. Magee, Hon. Daniel E. Howell, of Bath, New York; Gen. George J. Magee, John Lang and Charles Craw- ford, of Watkins, New York; Hon. Charles C. B. Walker and A. H. Gorton, of Corning, New York; John Magee, Jr., S. S. Ellsworth, of Penn Yan, and Anton Hardt, John Smith and B. F. Cummings, of Fall Brook. The purpose of their visit was to note the progress of the work and to christen the village. The party accord- ingly gathered round one of the springs nearby, while Duncan S. Magee, after dip- ping a glassfull of water from its crystal depth, named the new village "Antrim" in honor of the County Antrim, Ireland, "the native land of the Magees." The name was duly recorded after the observance of appropriate ceremonies.

In December, 1867, Titus Drainsfield, who is still living in the village, moved into the log house previously erected for the explorers. About the same time, Thomas Gaffney, the first mining superintendent, located at the foot of the moun- tain. A small building erected for a blacksmith-shop, for the purpose of repairing the tools of the explorers, was soon afterwards occupied by Solomon Rosenkrans. These three men and their families constituted the pioneers of the place. Most of the early miners who followed them came from Fall Brook, where they had been in the employ of the company.

During 1870, Drift No. 1, the opening of which is in the southeastern part of the village, was put in under the direction of Thomas Gaffney. A steam saw-mill- the boilers for which were drawn overland on sleighs from Tioga-was completed early in 1871, and was destroyed by fire in July, 1872. It was replaced by a portable mill. On January 1, 1871, there were ten dwellings in the village. In April, 1871, Thomas Farrer moved his family from Fall Brook, and was followed in November by John Hinman, the first postmaster and store agent. In January, 1872, David Cooper, master carpenter, took charge of the erection of tenements and chutes, and Isaac S. Marshall succeeded Mr. Hinman as store agent, the latter devoting his time to his duties as paymaster, etc. On October 28, 1872, the railroad was completed, the first train arriving in the village being hauled by engine No. 1, Joseph Boyle en- gineer. John Wilson was the conductor.

A hotel building was erected by the company, the first landlord being D. D. Holliday. This building, which stood near the railroad depot, was burned in 1882, Andrew K. Fletcher being landlord at the time. The present Antrim Hotel was erected the same year. The landlords have been James E. Fish and John F. Dwyer. Mr. Dwyer took charge in 1888, and has proven a genial and popular landlord.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

A postoffice, named Antrim, was established soon after the completion of the railroad, in October, 1872, the first postmaster being Thomas Farrer. His successors have been A. J. Pollock and O. E. Crediford, who was appointed August 4, 1890. The office is in the railway station, Mr. Crediford also filling the position of station agent. A daily mail is received by rail from Wellsboro and from Morris by stage.

The first school in Antrim was established temporarily in a tenement house, Miss Ella Cooper and Miss Mary Hinman being the early teachers. After the or- ganization of the township, a school building was erected and used until 1880 when the present three-room building was completed. Night schools were also established for those who were compelled to work during the day. A district school was erected at Summit for the accommodation of pupils living in the northern part of the town- ship. School is maintained at Antrim an average of nine, and at Summit an average of six months in the year.

Among the early resident physicians were Dr. Egbert George and Dr. E. G. Drake. The profession is now represented by Dr. W. D. Burke and Dr. J. J. Van Wert.

The following named secret societies have lodges in Antrim: Duncan Lodge, No. 968, I. O. O. F., which was instituted December 23, 1879, and now has 119 mem- bers; Division No. 2, A. O. H., organized October 28, 1888, and a K. of P. lodge with a large membership, the lodge at Morris having recently been merged with it.

CHURCHES.

Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church dates the beginning of its history from a service held in the school house in Antrim July 24, 1872, by Rev. Charles Breck, D. D., rector of St. Paul's church, Wellsboro. At the close of the service a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a church. Dr. Breck presided and John Hin- man acted as secretary. The organization was effected and a vestry elected. The early services were held in the paymaster's office, John Hinman acting as lay reader. Sermons were read by Isaac S. Marshall and Dr. E. George. On April 26, 1873, John Magee, Jr., died, and in his will it was provided that the sum of $50,000 be expended by his executors in erecting five Episcopal churches, in compliance with which the present handsome edifice, costing $13,000, was built. The corner stone was laid in July, 1880, and the building completed in 1881. It was consecrated June 6, 1882. Rev. Charles Breck, who established the mission, was the first rector. In August, 1874, Rev. John London, took charge. In 1875 Rev. Charles Breck again became rector. In November, 1872, Rev. R. Lansberger became the first resident rector. His successors have been Revs. Percy Clinton Webber, Enos J. Balsley, W. L. Wood- ruff, George Rogers, J. U. Graf, Lawrence Buckley Thomas, D. D., and Alexander Renshaw DeWitt. On November 11, 1894, Rev. Dr. Thomas again took charge. He is also the rector of St. Andrews' church, Tioga. There are now ninety members in this church, which maintains a Sunday-school of 125 pupils, of which James B. Howell is superintendent.

St. John's Catholic Church is the outgrowth of monthly services held soon after the opening of the mines, by Rev. John Wynne and Rev. J. C. McDermott, of Blossburg. A church edifice was erected in 1877. Since 1890, during the pastorate of Rev. M. J. Manly, the church has been frescoed, a bell purchased and put in place

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and other improvements made, the whole involving an outlay of $3,000. St. John's is one of the mission churches of St. Peter's parish, Wellsboro, and has been served by the pastors of that church. A good Sunday-school is maintained, of which Matthew Donlan is superintendent and Miss Sadie Nash assistant. The Polish members of this church are served by Rev. Father Lopanski.

The Baptist Church of Antrim was organized February 20, 1873, with about twenty members. Meetings were held in the school house until 1884 when a house of worship costing $1,500 was erected. The first pastor, Rev. G. P. Watrous, re- mained one year, after which until 1881, when Rev. R. J. Thomas took charge, the church was without a regular pastor. In 1883 he was succeeded by Rev. William Young, who has continued to serve until the present time. He is also the pastor of the church in Morris township. The church now numbers forty-six members. There are sixty-one pupils in the Sunday-school, of which Ira N. Grinnell is the superintendent.

The Swedish Baptist Church of Antrim was organized August 30, 1886, with about fifteen members. Rev. Karl Molin, the first pastor, remained until 1890. In 1892 Rev. C. E. Duohon took charge, remaining one year. In 1894 the church dis- banded, its members uniting with the English church.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Lebanon Church was organized November 6, 1879, and has now a membership of 200. A church building was erected in 1882, and repaired and renovated in 1892. The property is now valued at $3,500. The following named ministers have served as pastors of this church: Revs. P. A. Bergquist, 1881-82; A. Kinett, 1883-84; E. J. Nordin, 1888-89; C. J. A. Holmgren, 1893-95, and Rev. A. J. Beausang, the present pastor, who took charge in 1896.

The Presbyterian Church of Antrim was organized September 24, 1887, with twelve members by Rev. A. C. Shaw, D. D. The church worships in the building originally used by the Congregational society, now no longer in existence. It has been recently repaired and improved. Rev. E. Rawson preached for the society during 1887. Rev. T. G. Jones, a Congregationalist minister, preached from November, 1880, until November, 1890. Rev. David Craft, also pastor of the church in Lawrenceville, took charge in 1891 and has continued up to the present. This church now numbers thirty-three members, with a Sunday-school of thirty-five pupils, of which James Pollock is the superintendent.

VILLAGES.

Brownlee Postoffice, or Summit, as the name of the station is called, is situated near the northern line of the township. The postoffice was established here in September, 1888. John Bradley, the first postmaster, held the office until June, 1889, when N. W. Hallock, the present incumbent, was appointed. The works of the Antrim Sand Company are located here. This company was incorporated March 21, 1888, for the purpose of manufacturing sand for glass making and for use on locomotive engines, from sand rock. The incorporators were John W. Bailey, president; Isaac P. Borden, vice-president; Robert J. Borden, secretary and treasurer, and Robert Brownlee, superintendent. The product of the works is shipped to Corning and other points.

CHAPTER XLII. TIOGA TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION - REDUCTIONS OF AREA-PHYSICAL FEATURES - STREAMS - POPU- LATION-PIONEER SETTLERS - EARLY ENTERPRISES - SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES- CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES-VILLAGES AND POSTOFFICES.

I N the year 1797 the territory now embraced within the limits of Tioga county, then a part of Lycoming county, was erected into a township, named Tioga. The act of the legislature of March 26, 1804, erected this township into a separate county, consisting of one township, also named Tioga. The act of April 3, 1804, made the township a separate election district, and provided that "the electors thereof shall hold their elections at the house now occupied by Thomas Berry, in said township." In 1805 the township of Delmar was organized, and was constituted a new election district by an act of the legislature, approved April 11, 1807, which provided that "the electors thereof shall hold their elections at the house of Joshua Emlin." This division gave Delmar three-fifths of the territory of the county, on the west, and Tioga two-fifths, on the east. In February, 1815, Covington township was taken from Tioga. It embraced the present township of Richmond, and all the southeastern part of the county. In September, 1815, the township of Jackson, also taken from Tioga, was created. It comprised a portion of the present town- ship of Rutland, and of the northeastern part of the county. In 1816 Lawrence township, taken from the northern portion of Tioga, and eastern part of Elkland, was created. By these several reductions of its original area, Tioga township was established within its present limits.

It is bounded on the north by Lawrence township, on the east by Jackson and Rutland, on the south by Richmond, and on the west by Middlebury and Farm- ington. It is nearly square, being about six and three-quarters miles from east to west and six miles from north to south, and contains about forty square miles. It is one of the hilly townships of the county. The hills, especially in the southern part, are bold and rugged, and the valleys, except those of Crooked creek and the Tioga river, below Tioga borough, narrow and restricted. The cultivable area is somewhat limited by reason of this rugged conformation, but Tioga is, nevertheless, a good agricultural township. Its upland and valley soils are fertile and fruitful, the latter being especially adapted to the cultivation of tobacco, the production of which has greatly increased within the past few years. The township is well watered, its principal stream being the Tioga river, which flows centrally through it from south to north. Mill creek, which enters the township near the south- eastern corner, flows northwest and unites with the Tioga two miles above Tioga borough. Crooked creek pursues a winding course through the western part of the

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township, and empties into the Tioga at the northern end of Tioga borough. A half mile lower down it receives the waters of Bear creek, while Mitchell's creek, which drains the northeastern quarter of the township, unites with the Tioga half a mile south of the Lawrence township line. Each of these streams receive smaller runs or branches, which add to the picturesqueness and diversity of the scenery and contribute to the productiveness and fertility of the soil.

In population and wealth the township has grown steadily, and among its citizenship are many well-to-do farmers who owe their prosperity to intelligent and well-directed industry. Not a few are direct descendants of the first settlers, and live on the land taken up and cleared by their grandparents or great-grandparents a century ago. It has taken the industry of three generations to subdue forests, clear fields of stones and stumps and rear the comfortable homes and needful farm buildings that greet the eye on every hand. The transformation has been gradual, but the results achieved have made the township the abiding place of a people known to be earnest, industrious, progressive and prosperous. In 1840 the town- ship contained 791 inhabitants; in 1870, 1,074; 1880, 1,258; 1890, 1,424.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

The first settlers within the township boundaries were Jesse Losey and the Roberts family-mention of whom is made in the chapter devoted to Tioga borough. Following them came Thomas and Richard Mitchell, who settled at Mitchell's Creek as early as 1792. Edsell Mitchell, oldest son of Richard, was born here August 27, 1793, and was reputed to be the first white child born in Tioga county .* Robert, another brother, came a few years later. The Mitchells were from Orange county, New Jersey. Benajah Ives-mention of whom is made in the Tioga borough chapter -came into the county about 1794. A year later he was followed by his three brothers, Timothy, Titus and John, and by his uncle, also named John. Timothy settled at the mouth of Mill creek, John, the nephew, on what was afterwards known as the Lyman Adams place, while "Uncle John" located within the borough limits. Titus does not appear to have made a location. A few years later he removed to the Cowanesque valley and became a pioneer settler in Brookfield town- ship, where his descendants still reside. Rufus Adams, who settled on the Tioga river, above Mitchell's Creek, came as early as 1794. Jacob Kiphart and his family came from Lycoming county, over the Williamson road, in 1794 or 1795. His son, Jacob, born, according to his reckoning, November 29, 1779, at Pine Grove, Berks county, Pennsylvania, lived to the remarkable age of 104 years, and his sister, Betsey, to be nearly 100 years old. Among those who also came here in 1794 or 1795, but whose residence was of a temporary character, were a Mr. Carter and his son, William, and Job Squires, Asa Stiles and a Mr. Reed. George Prekay, "a very singular and eccentric man," and supposed to have been a native of Holland, came in 1796, and settled on the west bank of the Tioga river, below Jacob Kiphart. He built a rude hut on the east bank of Bear creek, and had a cave in a knoll near by, in which he slept. He was well educated, and read the English and German languages, but would never disclose his parentage or the place of his birth. He

* It is now known that two daughters and a son were born to Samuel Baker at his cabin home on the site of Lawrenceville prior to 1794.

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died in 1812, at the house of Jacob Prutsman. It has been surmised, from certain relics found among his effects, that he was a member of a noble, if not a royal, family.

Nathan Niles came from Connecticut in September, 1796, and settled on the spot where his grandson, Van Buren Daily, now lives, a short distance below the mouth of Mill creek. His grandson, Augustus E. Niles, lives on a portion of the old homestead. Colin Van Camp, who came about the same time or soon after, settled on a part of the Crozier tract, and erected a house on the spot where the residence of D. L. Aiken now stands. Elijah Burley, a preacher, was here prior to 1800, and lived in a log house at the head of the "Cove." Aaron Gillet came with his parents from Towanda, Pennsylvania, in 1797, when nine years old. They set- tled at the mouth of Mill creek, where they built a small distillery and a grist-mill, the latter being the first in the county. It was shortly afterwards carried away by a flood. The family then moved to Cherry Flats. Their descendants now live in Richmond and Covington townships. Nicholas Prutsman, the ancestor of the Prutsman family in this county, came here in 1802 from South Smithfield town- ship, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and settled on what was afterwards known as the DePui farm, on the Tioga river. He was followed in 1804 by his sons, Jacob, Nicholas and Adam. Peggy Boher, a widow, and her daughter, Eleanor, came before Nicholas Prutsman. The mother's name appears upon the assessment list for 1800. John Gordon came into Lawrence township previous to 1803, and purchased quite a large body of land. He subsequently removed to Tioga town- ship and for several years kept a wayside inn on the west side of the "Cove." Maj. William Rathbone, a brother-in-law of John Gordon, came about the same time. Maj. William Bentley came here from Chemung county, New York, in April, 1806, and settled on the Crozier tract, north of Colin Van Camp, near Mitchell's Creek. Elijah DePui was here previous to April 14, 1806, on which date his son, Thomas, was born. He settled on the Tioga river, just below Nicholas Prutsman, a portion of whose claim he bought. Capt. Lyman Adams arrived in Tioga from Tinmouth, Rutland county, Vermont, July 4, 1804, lived for awhile in a house of Dr. Wil- lard's, and then moved to what afterwards became known as the Lyman Adams farm. John Daily came into the county in 1811, locating first at Beecher's Island. On Christmas eve, 1813, he married Violetta, a daughter of Nathan Niles, Sr., and the following spring settled on the old Nathan Niles homestead, where his son, Van Buren Daily, now lives. Col. Ambrose Millard came from Saratoga county, New York, to Beecher's Island, in 1810, and in 1812 moved into Tioga township, and bought the Rathbone place. He was prominent in the early business and political history of the county. Ira McAllister came into the township with Am- brose Millard. The other settlers, previous to 1820, were Roland Hall, who came about 1815; Ebenezer Ferry and his sons, Charles and Chauncey, and Samuel Tharp and John S. Allen, who were here before 1819.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

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