History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 72

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

563

SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Mainesburg was organized in 1841, and incorporated June 14, 1842, the first trustees being Solon Richards, John Fox, Lyman Reynolds, James A. Fellows, Ebenezer Burley, Joshua Smith and James Pitts. As early as 1808, Rev. Joseph Mitchell, a Methodist Episcopal minister, while on a visit to his brother, Ensign Mitchell, preached at his home. He after- wards preached at the log school house near Allen Lane's, known as the Dewey school house. About 1810 Capt. Thomas Lewis, an exhorter of the same church, commenced holding meetings in the Diven school house. These he kept up for several years. His efforts were followed by those of Rev. Mr. Warner, who or- ganized a Methodist Episcopal class. The church was organized in 1841, after a great revival conducted by Revs. Robert T. Hancock and Charles L. Brown. The new church was placed in the Troy charge, remaining until 1854, and was served by the following ministers: J. Dodge, 1843; Charles Wright, 1844; M. Carlton, 1845; Ira Smith, 1846; William Hosmer, 1847; Nathan Fellows, 1848; A. C. Huntley, 1849-50; E. Sweet, 1851; M. H. Shurtleff, 1852, and C. Nash and E. S. Rosa, 1853. In 1854 Troy circuit was divided and the Mainesburg ap- pointments also included the State Road, Sylvania and Rutland churches. The pastors of the Mainesburg church have been Revs. F. Kent, 1854-55; Daniel Clark, 1855-57; John Powell, 1857-58; James H. Ross, 1858-60; P. T. Christian, 1860-61; E. Colson, 1861-63; R. Mackwood, 1863-66; C. L. F. Howe, 1866-68; S. G. Rhinevault, 1868-71; Isaac Everitt, 1871-74; D. E. Blaine, 1874-76; Harvey Lamkin, 1876-79; E. E. Morris, 1879-82; J. L. King, 1882-85; George Fosbinder, 1885-86; T. H. King, 1886-88; C. M. Adams, 1888-91; F. M. Warner, 1891-93; H. B. Troxel, 1893-94; H. E. Hineman, 1894-95; H. E. Hyde, 1895-97. In 1842 a neat frame building was erected as a house of worship. It was used until 1875, when the present church was built. It is of brick, with stained glass win- dows, slated roof, a fine tower and spire, and cost, with interior furnishing, $13,000. It is one of the finest churches in the county.

The State Road Methodist Episcopal Class, as at present organized, is a re- vival of a class organized about fifty years ago. In 1860 the membership was as follows: Thomas Reynolds, leader; Mary Reynolds, Anson Palmer, Mary Palmer, Gardner Hagar, Lydia E. Hagar, VanBuren Reynolds, Celestia Reynolds, George Fletcher, John D. Rumsey, Valvasa A. Rumsey, Deborah Ramsdale, Ellen Smith, Amanda Welch, Margaretta Orvis, Almeda Welch, Rosina Smith, Riley Fletcher, Alfred Wheeler, Adaline Wheeler, Isaac W. Smith, Loreta Smith, Lyman Soper, Nancy Soper, Moses Soper, Ann Soper, Levi M. Rumsey, Sophia Rumsey, Almeda Fletcher, Louisa Rumsey, Eaton Beardsley, Louisa Palmer, Fanny Smith, Rachel Gafford, Eliza Orvis, Lovisa S. Lewis, Charity Baldwin, John E. Hart and James Lyon. This class first met in the Ramsdale school house. In 1861 the place of meeting was changed to the Union church, then recently erected. After maintaining its organization for a number of years the class went down. It has been recently revived and is now in a flourishing condition. There are twenty-five members. A Union Sunday-school, with an average attendance of thirty-five pupils, is maintained, of which Lyman Reynolds is the superintendent. This class is a branch of the church at Mainesburg.

564

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

The Elk Run Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated February 2, 1864. This church was the outgrowth of a Methodist class, organized some years pre- vious at Chandlerburg, which was formally organized into a church a short time before the incorporation of the society. In 1861 the class consisted of the follow- ing named members: Lyman Reynolds, C. G. Smith, Sarah Smith, Amos Mudge, Lucy A. Mudge, Rachel Styres, Caroline Squire, Arad Smith, Margey Smith, Alexander C. Smith, M. A. Smith, Dolly Smith, Hosea Squire and Irene Squire. In the summer of 1864 a neat frame house of worship, costing $1,200, was erected. This society now numbers eighty members. There are sixty pupils and teachers in the Sunday-school, of which B. C. Smith is the superintendent. This church has been in the Mainesburg charge since its organization, and has had the same pastors as the church in Mainesburg.

The Church of Christ of Mainesburg was organized in January, 1876, and incorporated January 7, 1879. The names of the original members are as fol- lows: James E. Brown, Lucy Brown, Lovina Love, Jolin Harvey, Clara Harvey, Anna Doyen, Nellie Doyen, Loretta A. Ford, Myrtle Ford, Flora Love, William E. Dewey, Alice M. Stauffer, Ada E. Clarey, Della Reynolds, Demon Dewey, Emaretta Rumsey, Margaret Lovell, Phoebe Ashley, Sanford Dewey and Lovena H. Dewey. Rev. I. R. Spencer was the first pastor. He served two years. The names of the succeeding pastors are as follows: Revs. M. S. Blair, 1879-80; A. D. Finch, 1880-81; Cyrus Hurlbut, 1883; C. Brown, 1883; J. M. Calhoun, 1884-85; R. F. DeWitt, 1886; Charles McGennis, 1887; M. T. Manus, 1889; M. C. Frick, 1890. Since 1890 the church has been without a pastor, and regular services have not been maintained. A church edifice, costing $2,100, was erected in 1879. This society was, at one time, a strong and vigorous organization, but death, re- movals and withdrawals have greatly reduced its membership.

The Central Union Church or Congregation on the State road is the name of a corporation chartered February 17, 1860, the incorporators being Thomas Reynolds, Eleazer Orvis, B. I. Rew, Reuben Nash and Roswell Webster. In 1861 it erected a house of worship, known as the Union church, on the north side of the State road, in the eastern part of the township. This house has been used from time to time by the Methodists, Christians, Baptists and other denomina- tions for the purpose of holding religious services. It is now the meeting place of the State Road Methodist Episcopal class. Services are held here regularly by the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Mainesburg.

CEMETERIES.

The Doud Burying Ground, on the Peleg Doud place, was one of the earliest burial places in the township. Members of the Doud family were the first to be interred here.

The State Road Cemetery, opposite the State Road Baptist church, embraces about two acres of ground, and is inclosed by a neat iron fence. Interments were begun here about 1820. The remains of early settlers of the eastern and southern portions of the township lie buried here. A number of bodies were re- moved from early family burying grounds and re-interred here. The newer graves are marked by handsome marble and granite monuments.

565

SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP.

Gray's Valley Cemetery, near the old East Sullivan Baptist church building, contains the graves of many of the early settlers in the eastern part of the town- ship. It is neatly fenced and well cared for.

The Mainesburg Cemetery is situated on elevated ground in the northwestern part of the borough. This cemetery contains about two acres and was opened about 1863. It is inclosed with a good fence and the graves are well cared for. The cemetery has a number of very handsome marble and granite monu- ments. It is the burial place for the borough and vicinity.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

The secret societies now existing in Sullivan township and Mainesburg have large memberships and are prosperous. The Odd Fellows are represented by Mainesburg Lodge, No. 754, which was organized March 15, 1871. It meets in Mainesburg and has forty-two members, among whom are many of the leading citizens of the borough and township. Sullivan Grange, No. 84, and East Sullivan Grange, No. 821, represent the Patrons of Husbandry. The former was organized in February, 1873, meets in Mainesburg, and has a large membership. The latter was organized April 9, 1887. It meets at the residence of Isaac Squires, near Gray's Valley, and numbers fifty-three members. Washington Camp, No. 637, P. O. S. of A., was organized March 4, 1892, in Mainesburg. It now numbers seventy-eight members and is one of the strongest camps in the county.

BOROUGH OF MAINESBURG.

The borough of Mainesburg is situated on Corey creek, in the western part of the township, midway between its southern and northern boundaries. It was named in honor of John Maine, and was organized as a borough in March, 1859. It is on the stage route between Mansfield, in Richmond township, and Troy, Bradford county. Though one of the smaller boroughs of the county, and away from the railroad, it is a trading point of considerable importance, being in the midst of a fine agricultural section. Its schools, its churches and its secret and beneficiary societies are well attended and maintained, and its people keep in touch with the progress of the day. Its manufacturing and business interests have been somewhat crippled during recent years by fires, and by the disappear- ance of timber and the consequent cessation of lumbering operations. The town- ship around it, now being a purely agricultural one, the dependence of the borough for trade is confined to its own citizens and the farmers of the vicinity. The early settlement of the borough is given elsewhere in this chapter, as is also an account of the establishment of its early manufacturing and business enterprises. The Mainesburg postoffice was established between 1825 and 1830. John Maine, the first postmaster, held the office until about 1845. His successors have been John M. Fox, Baldwin Parkhurst, Homer J. Ripley, James Cudworth, W. P. Rose, M. F. Rose and J. H. DeWitt, the present incumbent, who was appointed in July, 1895.

Since Mainesburg was organized as a borough, the following named persons have filled the office of burgess: James Fox, 1859; Joseph Ellis, 1860; R. K. Brundage, 1861; A. Peters, 1862, 1863; John A. Ellis, 1864; A. Peters, 1865; P.

566

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

E. Kniffen, 1866; J. B. Strong, 1867; J. B. Cudworth, 1868; N. E. Calkins, 1869; S. S. Rumsey, 1870; L. B. Austin, 1871; J. B. Strong 1872 and 1873; R. G. Shelton, 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877; T. O. Doud, 1879, 1880 and 1881; J. B. Cudworth, 1882; J. B. Strong, 1883; J. N. Harvey, 1884; Lloyd Squires, 1885 and 1886; R. H. Doud, 1887; C. E. Whiting, 1888; Lloyd Squires, 1889; J. W. DeWitt, 1890; W. L. Welch, 1891 to 1893; J. Austin, 1894 to 1896, and H. E. Bartlett, elected in 1897.

The justices of the peace have been: Isaac S. Rumsey, 1859; R. K. Brundage, 1863; E. A. Fish, 1864; O. F. Richards, 1866; Augustus Redfield, 1868; D. R. Doud, 1869; L. M. Rumsey, 1870; A. M. Haight, 1875; re-elected, 1881, 1886, 1895; J. S. Woodburn, 1880; re-elected, 1885, 1890; W. A. Rumsey, 1891; E. R. Maine, 1896.

VILLAGES AND POSTOFFICES.

Sullivan Postoffice was established in 1822. Henry Rew, the first postmaster, held the office until 1828. His successor, James B. Dewey, served over twenty years, and his successor, Uriah B. Welch, ten years. C. W. Palmer, the present postmaster, was appointed April 9, 1863. Each postmaster has transacted the business of the office at his residence. The office is situated in the eastern part of the township.

Gray's Valley Postoffice was established over sixty years ago. John Gray, the first postmaster, served a number of years and was succeeded by Marcus Strange, who died in 1852. His successor, James Gray, held the office until his death in 1860, when Mrs. Hannah Strange, widow of Marcus Strange, was appointed. Her son, Joseph Strange, succeeded her, and served until 1883, when the office was discontinued.

Elk Run Postoffice was established about 1854. The first postmaster was Northrop Smith. His successors have been Cyrus Davenport, C. A. Smith and S. L. Wood, the present incumbent, who was appointed October 1, 1888. Mr. Wood also carries on a general store.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-STREAMS-MINERAL DEPOSITS-PION- EER SETTLERS-PIONEER ENTERPRISES-SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES-CHURCHES- CEMETERIES-VILLAGES.

R ICHMOND township, originally a part of Covington township, was organized in February, 1824. It is eight and one-half miles from east to west, six and one-half miles from north to south, and contains about fifty-five square miles. The surface is broken, the elevation varying from a mean of 1,150 feet in the river valley, to 1,600 and 1,800 feet in the mountainous region, north and west of Lamb's creek. With the exception of this limited area, the land of the town- ship-valley, hillside and upland-is tillable and fertile. Richmond, there- fore, ranks as one of the populous, productive and prosperous townships of the county. In 1840 it contained 742 inhabitants; in 1870, 1,558; in 1880, 1,512, and in 1890, 1,640.

Before the land was cleared and settled it was covered with a heavy forest growth of pine, hemlock, beech, maple, birch, oak, etc., nearly all of which has dis- appeared. The township is well watered. The Tioga river enters it from the south, about a mile east of the center of the southern boundary line, flows northeast to Canoe Camp, where it turns and takes a northwesterly direction to the northern boundary line, which it crosses about a mile west of the center. Its course through the township is marked by a gradually narrowing valley, which becomes a mere gap in the mountains where it passes into Tioga township. It and its tributaries drain the entire surface of the township. On the east it receives Canoe Camp creek, flowing northwest from Covington township, and Corey creek, flowing northwest from Sullivan township. On the west it receives Lamb's creek, which, with its tributaries, drains the northwestern quarter of the township. The northeastern part of the township is drained by Mill creek, which flows northwest into Tioga township, and the southwestern part by Elk run, which flows southeast into Cov- ington township.

The mineral wealth of this township consists of iron ore, plastic clays and building stone. The Mansfield ore bed, which supplied the furnace at Mansfield for many years, is situated three miles southwest of the borough, on the Wellsboro road. It is from three to four feet in thickness, contains about thirty-nine per cent. of iron, and is known as the first or upper bed. What is thought to be the same bed, shows itself two or three miles north, along Lamb's creek, and on the east side of the Tioga river, southeast of Lamb's creek, also further east on "Pickel Hill." Deposits belonging to the second bed-200 to 400 feet lower-have been found one-half mile east of the O. A. Benedict place, in the southwestern part of the township; on "Whipple Hill," southwest of Mansfield; on Mann creek, below Mans-

568

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

field; on the lands of Mrs. Sarah E. Morris and Albert Sherwood, west of the borough; on J. C. Howe's and J. B. Clark's lands, and on "Bixby Hill." A third bed, 100 to 200 feet lower than the second, crops out in the river near the northwest corner of the borough limits. Ore from other deposits has been used in the manu- facture of pig iron and mineral paint. None of these ore beds is being developed at present. Plastic clays, of fine texture, are to be found along the Tioga river and its tributaries. Good building stone is also found in various parts of the township. There are those who believe that Richmond lies within the oil and gas belt. The only thing, however, that has been done to develop either, is limited to an oil well sunk several years ago at Canoe Camp. Gas was struck and a little oil found at a depth of about 2,000 feet. The well was, however, abandoned and plugged, just when interesting developments were promised.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

The first settler in Richmond township was a man named Carter, who, about the year 1794, or soon after the opening of the Williamson road, located on what is now known as the Lannigan place, on the east side of the Tioga river, about half a mile below Lamb's Creek. Here he built two log houses and cleared about eight or ten acres of land. In the fall of 1796, or spring of 1797, he sold out to a man named White, and removed to Canaseraga Creek, in western New York. Neither Carter nor White appear to have acquired any title, beyond that of occu- pation, to the land, the first purchaser receiving a deed and becoming a perma- nent settler, being Gad Lamb, who came into the township in the summer of 1797. In the mortgage given by him January 2, 1808, to secure the unpaid portion of the purchase money, the tract is described as part of Survey No. 317, and is desig- nated as "Oakland." Lamb and his family left their native town of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, in the spring of 1797. At Towanda, Pennsylvania, where his son, Ebenezer Ripley Lamb, was born, May 27, 1797, Mr. Lamb left his family and accompanied by his son, Daniel, then seventeen years old, came to Tioga county. They first visited Canoe Camp, where they planted the old Williamson encamp- ment clearing in corn and potatoes, but did not purchase the land. Continuing down the river, they came to the Carter place, which, as already stated, Mr. Lamb bought. He next returned to Towanda for his family, leaving Daniel in charge of the place. The lad remained there alone for two weeks, with no neighbors nearer than the Nathan Niles family at the mouth of Mill creek. The settlement of Benjamin Corey, who came earlier than Lamb, is noted in the chapter devoted to Mansfield borough. The next settler was Josiah Hovey, whose name appears in the assessment list of 1800 as an innkeeper-the first in the township. He came in 1798 or 1799, and located on what is now known as the Sumner Wilson place, on the Williamson road, near the southern line of the township. The names of his sons, Simeon and Gurdon Hovey, appear on the assessment list as carpenters. Simeon, at a later date, settled on what was known afterwards as the Henry Searle place.

About 1799 or 1800 Peres Bardwell, whose name appears on the census list for 1800, located on the place afterwards owned by Asa Mann; an Englishman, named Burton, settled near Lamb's Creek, on the place occupied later by Joshua

Eng Thy FG Kerran, NY

form Buts

569

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.

Shaw; Amasa Culver, Nathan Rowley and Samuel Negley settled at Canoe Camp; David Miller and Cheney Ames, a mile south of Mansfield, and Nathan Hill and Peter Button, above Canoe Camp, near the Hoveys. Edward Gobin, who settled within the Mansfield limits, is referred to in the chapter devoted to that borough. Elihu Marvin came in 1803 and built a saw-mill-the first one in the township-one mile south of Mansfield. In 1804 Asa Mann, the founder of Mansfield, came here from Rhode Island, and settled one mile below the borough, on what was after- wards known as the James R. Wilson place. Here he kept hotel and a small stock of merchandise in a log house, replaced in 1818 by a large frame dwelling which is still standing and is used as a residence by B. H. Osgood, the occupant of the farm. It is the oldest house in the township. Reference is made to Asa Mann in the chapter devoted to Mansfield, and also to John, Peter and Jacob Ķelts, who came about 1804.

In the year 1806 Elijah Clark, his brothers, John and Loren, and his sister, Philena, came from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and Elijah settled on the place now owned by Albert Sherwood, west of the borough. His brothers and sister made their home with him until the arrival of the rest of the family in 1814. Amos Spencer, a native of Unadilla, New York, settled at Canoe Camp in 1806, built a grist-mill in 1807 and a saw-mill a few years later. Ebenezer Burley, who came in 1808, is referred to in the Mansfield borough chapter. Joshua Shaw came from Plainfield, Massachusetts, in 1810, and the following year settled at Lamb's Creek. Aaron Gillet, who first settled at Mill Creek, Tioga township, in 1797, and afterwards removed to Cherry Flats, again removed in 1811, settling on the Vedder place above Canoe Camp. During the War of 1812 he carried the mail on horse- back between Tioga and Williamsport. He rode at full speed, fresh horses being provided at each station. In 1813 Cephas Stratton came from Bradford county and settled between Mansfield and Canoe Camp. In 1814 Seth and Eleanor Clark, parents of Elijah, John, Loren and Philena Clark, heretofore mentioned, came from Vermont with their son, Justus Burr Clark, and settled below Mans- field. In 1821 Justus Burr Clark married Catherine Hart. As a part of his house-keeping outfit, he bought an iron tea-kettle of William Willard in Tioga, giving therefor three bushels of wheat; also a hand saw and some shingle nails, paying three dollars for the former and thirty cents a pound for the latter. In 1814, also, there were living at and in the vicinity of Canoe Camp, beside those mentioned, Daniel Williams, a clothier, David and Richard Miller and Daniel Rose.

The first minister of the Gospel to settle in the township was Rev. Nehemiah Hobart Ripley, father of the late Philip S. Ripley, and grandfather of Capt. Homer J. Ripley, recently county recorder. He came from Albany, New York, in 1815, and settled on Corey creek, on the place now owned by William B. Jerald. Mr. Ripley was ordained an Old School Baptist minister, but afterwards embraced the Universalist faith and became a minister of that denomination. John and Abner Cochran came from Cambridge, Vermont, in 1816, and settled at Lamb's Creek. Maj. Ebenezer Ripley came from Cooperstown, New York, in February, 1817, and also settled at Lamb's Creek. His son, William C. Ripley, was one of the pioneer teachers of Mansfield. Isaac Lownsbery, a Revolutionary soldier, settled at Canoe Camp in 1818, where his son, Isaac, born February 9, 1811, still resides.

570

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Peter Whitteker, a son-in-law of Isaac Lownsbery, came with him from Schoharie, New York. He first settled at Canoe Camp, but afterwards moved up Canoe Camp creek to the place now owned by his son, Barney Whitteker. Lieut. Jacob Allen, grandfather of the late Prof. Fordyce A. Allen, came from Cummington, Massa- . chusetts, in 1818, and settled on the place previously owned by Elijah Clark, and now owned by Albert Sherwood. He was a lieutenant in the Revolution- ary War, and aide-de-camp to his father, who was killed in the early part of that struggle. Before settling here Lieutenant Allen peddled woolen goods, etc., through this section. In 1818, also, Sumner Wilson, who came from Massa- chusetts, settled on the place previously occupied by Josiah Hovey, near the Cov- ington township line, still known as the Sumner Wilson place.

In 1820 Thomas Dyer settled on the Vedder place, above Canoe Camp, and Rob- ert Searle on the adjoining farm north. John and Martin Kelley came here in 1827 and Marcus Kelley in 1829, and settled at what is known as Kelleytown, between Mansfield and Lamb's Creek. Here John ran a cabinet-maker shop, saw-mill and store for a number of years. Daniel Sherwood, a native of Connecticut, came from Cortland county, New York, in 1830, and built a saw-mill about a half a mile below Lamb's Creek bridge. He and his sons engaged in the lumber business until 1839, when they removed to Mansfield. Andrew Sherwood, of Mansfield, a grandson of Daniel Sherwood, is well known as a geologist, and has been prominently connected with the geological surveys of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. David Dorsett came from Peekskill, New York, in June, 1830, and settled on Lamb's creek.

Michael Fralic came from Marathon, New York, and settled at Lamb's Creek in 1831. His sons, Daniel and Henry Fralic, are well-known lumbermen. Lewis Cruttenden, Tobias and Philip Lent, who settled on Lamb's creek, and Thomas Jerald, who settled on Corey creek, also came in 1831. Rev. Asa Donaldson, who held the first stated service and organized the first church in Mansfield, came to Tioga county in 1832, and lived on the Albert Sherwood place until 1837, when he moved to Illinois. Oliver Elliott, afterwards a business man of Mansfield, came into the township in 1835. About 1834-35 Marcus Benedict settled on the Wellsboro road, ncar the western line of the township. Joseph Walker and R. P. Buttles came in 1839; Levi Cooper, in 1841; Vine D. Patchen and his son, Robert M., and Robert H. Pratt and his son, Edwin, in 1842; George Slingerland, in 1844; Joseph Whipple, in 1845; James M. Ramsdell, in 1846; John Drew, in 1847; James Hoard, John Voorhees, William Powers and John Kiley in 1849.

The foregoing names are those of the more prominent settlers of the township to the close of the first half of the present century. They endured the dangers, hardships and privations of pioneer life. The farms they cleared, after years of patient toil, are now possessed by their descendants, who have replaced the rude log cabin, the log church and the log school house with homes, schools and churches, that bear eloquent witness to the thrift, industry, intelligence and mor- ality of the people of the township.

PIONEER ENTERPRISES.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 72

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