History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 73

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

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The manufacturing enterprises of the township have been confined almost ex- clusively to saw-mills and grist-mills. The first saw-mill was built in 1803, one

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mile south of Mansfield, by Elihu Marvin; the second, in which Elijah Clark after- wards had an interest, was built about 1810 or 1811, on Corey creek, by John and Peter Kelts; the third, in 1812, at Lamb's Creek, by Gad Lamb and his sons, and the fourth a little later by Amos Spencer at Canoe Camp. As the township was settled up, the number of mills increased until lumbering became and remained an important industry, so long as the timber supply lasted. As lumber grew scarcer, the mills shut down, until all but two, the Spencer mill at Canoe Camp, and the Fralic mill at Lamb's Creek, have passed out of existence.

In 1805 Elihu Marvin purchased from Dorman Bloss, at Nelson, a grist-mill to turn by hand. This he hauled on an ox sled and placed under his saw-mill, south of Mansfield. It would grind five or six bushels a day. Mr. Marvin then set about getting out a frame for a better mill, but died before he could erect it. His widow sold this frame to Amos Spencer, who, in 1807, used it in erecting a grist-mill at Canoe Camp, on one of the best water powers in the county. This mill was afterwards replaced by a better one, and in 1857 a still larger mill was built. This, with the adjoining saw-mill, was destroyed by fire May 20, 1879. The present grist-mill and saw-mill, both run by water power, were built in 1883, by A. M. Spencer, a grandson of Amos Spencer, the pioneer. In 1855 Amos Bixby built a paint-mill on the site of the old Marvin saw-mill, which he operated for a number of years.

SCHOOLS AND JUSTICES.

The first school in the township was taught in 1814, at Canoe Camp, by Miss Sally Elliott, a daughter of Nathaniel Elliott. She afterwards married Daniel Rose. Among her pupils was Martin Stratton, born in 1807, and now a resident of Blossburg. She was followed by Daniel Rose, Gardiner Seaman, Asa Howe, Dr. Pliny Power and his sister, Lucy, Erastus P. Deane and Charlotte Harkness, now the wife of Col. N. A. Elliott, of Mansfield. She taught about 1835. A school house was built about 1825. In 1818 Miranda Allen, a daughter of Lieut. Jacob Allen, opened a school in a building erected and used as a dwelling by Frank Truman, a short distance south of Kelleytown. In 1835 a school house was built at Lamb's Creek. Among the early teachers in these schools were Abigail Bick- ford, Lucretia Atherton, D. P. Hotchkiss, Warren Van Valen, Elliott S. Rose, Erastus Herrington, Fidelia King and W. F. Lamb. As the township settled up, neighborhood schools were started, and later public school districts created, until there are now within the township limits sixteen public school buildings. In 1895 the revenue derived from state and county taxation, set apart for school purposes, was $4,004.10.

The first justice of the peace for Richmond township was Almon Allen, who - was commissioned January 19, 1827. The office has since been filled as follows: Thomas Dyer, 1827; David Hazzard, 1830; Daniel N. Hunt, 1832; Solon Richards, 1835; Isaac Drake, 1838; Porter Gaylord, 1840; Leander K. Spencer, 1840; re- elected, 1845, 1858; William C. Ripley, 1842; re-elected, 1859, 1864, 1872, 1877; Simeon F. Utter, 1847 ; re-elected, 1852; Apollos Pitts, 1848; re-elected, 1853; Daniel L. Sherwood, 1854; John C. Howe, 1864; Lorin Butts, 1869; James R.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Wilson, 1869; H. K. Husted,1874; Alonzo M. Spencer, 1878; M. R. Goodall, 1881; re-elected, 1886, 1891 and 1896; J. F. Ripley, 1882; Curtis P. Fuller, 1887; George R. Fuller, 1892; re-elected, 1897.

CHURCHES.

In the earlier years of the township's history, before any attempt was made to organize a church, the settlers depended for religious services upon itinerant evangelists, members generally of the Methodist Episcopal or the "Old School" Bap- tist denominations. Whenever one of these put in an appearance the settlers would flock to hear him, the meetings being held in the open air or in the dwelling or barn of one of the settlers. The earliest meetings of this kind in Richmond township were held sometimes in the open air and sometimes in the barn, on the premises of Gad Lamb, the pioneer settler at Lamb's Creek. Here the pioneers listened to the earnest and, oftentimes, fiery eloquence of Kimball, Beers, Solon Stocking-who preached Mr. Lamb's funeral sermon in April, 1824-Sheardown, Cranmer, Rogers, Andrew Pickard-who married Maria Lamb, and who died in Colorado in June, 1894, aged ninety-four years-and other ministers of the de- nominations named. In 1826 Jerusha Lamb, Gad Lamb's widow, organized the first Sunday-school in the township at her home. The meetings on the Lamb place continued until the building of the school house in 1835, after which they were held there, although no regular church appears to have been organized.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lamb's Creek was organized in February, 1883, with the following members: D. L. Fralic, C. P. Fuller, J. L. Moore, Jackson Smith, H. P. Van Ness, L. A. Brewster and . W. B. Ripley. A church building, costing $1,600, was dedicated April 29, 1884. The church was in the Tioga charge until 1884, since which time it has been in the Covington charge, the same pastors serving both churches. The names of the pastors from the organization are as follows: Revs. J. W. Gamble, 1883; J. D. Requa, 1883-84; F. H. Van Keuren, 1884-87; W. M. Dubois, 1887-88; F. H. Rowley, 1890-91; D. L. Pitts, 1891-94; Cornelius Dillenbeck, 1894-95; W. B. Armington, 1895-97.

The First Church of Christ of Canoe Camp, incorporated April 4, 1884, was or- ganized as the "First Christian Church of Canoe Camp," September 24, 1849, by Rev. Theobold Miller, its first pastor. The names of the original members are as follows: Leander K., Amos, Valorus O., Alonzo M. and I. R. Spencer, Thomas, William, John and G. W. Goodall, John Churchill, J. C. Ireton, W. W. Russell, A. A. Noble, Sophia, Sarah, Jane, Mary A. and Martha Spencer, Susan and Ziba Gillet, Sophia M. and Anna M. Goodall, Cynthia Lownsbery, Jane Churchill, Louisa, Jane E. and Rachel Noble, Lois M. Cleveland and Lavina A. Cass. Rev. I. R. Spencer served this church as pastor for twenty years. He was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Headley, who remained until 1884, since which time the church has been served by Revs. J. O. Cutts, 1884-87; M. S. Blain, 1891; U. A. White, 1891-96, and Leon J. Reynolds, the present pastor. A store building, previously purchased, was dedicated as a church May 19, 1851, and was used until 1880, when the present building, representing an ontlay of $2,000, was erected. This church now numbers 130 members. There are about fifty pupils in the Sunday-school, of which M. R. Goodall is the superintendent.

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RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.

CEMETERIES.

The early settlers buried their dead near their homes, where they could watch over and care for the graves. It was in this way that the private graveyards, to be found in almost every section of the township, were established. In them reposed the remains of the early pioneers, until the removal of the bodies to Mansfield and other cemeteries. In a few instances, however, the old graves have remained un- disturbed. Among the oldest of these early graveyards is the one at Lamb's Creek, containing the remains of members of the Lamb, Ripley, Shaw and other pioneer fam- ilies; the Ripley burying ground on the old Philip S. Ripley place-given by the will of Philip S. Ripley to Richmond township, and the graveyard on Lamb's creek, near the place of W. B. Ripley. In the cemetery at Canoe Camp are found the graves of members of the Spencer, Cass, Lownsbery, Gillet, Rowley and Stratton families. The oldest gravestone in this cemetery marks the grave of Francis Upton Spen- cer, who died in 1813, and who, it is said, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The tombstones over the graves of Nathan and Anna Rowley, contains the following in- scription: "They were the first settlers in Larabee's Point in Shoreham, Vermont, at the close of the Revolutionary War." A cemetery in the Whitteker neighborhood, near the Covington township line, contains the graves of members of the Whitteker, Jaquish, Phelps, Woodward and other families. A cemetery on the old Wells- boro and Mansfield post road, near the Charleston township line, contains the graves of members of the Benedict and other families, early settlers in the western part of Richmond and eastern part of Charleston townships.

VILLAGES.

Lamb's Creek is situated near the northern line of the township, where the stream of the same name enters into the Tioga river. Both stream and village were named for Gad Lamb, the pioneer, the date of whose settlement, as well as that of other pioneers, is given in a preceding portion of this chapter. In 1812 Mr. Lamb and his sons built a saw-mill, the third in the township, on the east bank of the river just below the present bridge. This mill, owned at the time by Hoard & Beach, was purchased about 1858 by Michael Fralic. In 1869 a flood took the dam away. In 1870 Mr. Fralic's sons, Daniel L. and M. H., who succeeded him in 1866, and who compose the present firm of Fralic Brothers, built a new mill on the opposite bank of the river, which is run by steam, and has a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber a day. A school house was built in 1835, replaced after the late war by the present building. A grocery store was started in 1854, by P. Davis, and a post- office established in 1867, E. R. Haight being the first postmaster. His successors have been Linus Thayer, D. Porter Shaw and D. L. Fralic, the present incumbent, the office being in charge of his assistant, Mrs. Jennie Day, who also runs a general store in connection therewith. The only other store in the place is that of Francis Flower, born in 1811, and one of the oldest men engaged in active business in the county. D. B. Lamb has been the station ticket agent since the railroad passed into the hands of the "Erie." His sister, Maria Lamb, born in 1818, has, for over twenty years, carried the mail to and from the trains, with unvarying promptness, and in all kinds of weather.

Canoe Camp is situated two miles south of the railway station in Mansfield, at

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

the confluence of Canoe Camp creek and the Tioga river. It marks the point to which the Williamson road was completed in 1792, and its name is said to owe its origin to the fact that on the approach of winter the force engaged in road build- ing embarked in canoes and floated down the river to Painted Post, New York. As already related, Gad Lamb and his son, Daniel, stopped here, in 1797, long enough to plant the camp clearing in corn and potatoes, but did not purchase the land. The first actual settler was Amos Spencer, who located in 1806, and by deed bearing date March 1, 1809, became possessed of the land on which the village of Canoe Camp stands. The previous owners were Thomas Barber and Oliver Jennings. Here Mr. Spencer built a grist and saw-mill at the ripples on the river. These mills, replaced by larger and more modern ones, are owned and operated by his grand- son, A. M. Spencer. A postoffice was established in 1821 and Amos Spencer became the first postmaster. A few years later the postoffice was removed to Mansfield. It was re-established in April, 1868, with T. J. Jeliff as postmaster. His successors have been M. A. Cass, F. M. Gillet and A. D. Gillet, the present incumbent, who was appointed February 12, 1890. A hotel was carried on in the village for a number of years, the first landlord being L. K. Spencer. Among his successors were Ed- ward Gordon and John C. Bennett. Before the building of the railroad Alexander Hall used to carry the mail over the Williamson road to and from Williamsport. One of the earliest schools in the township was taught here in 1814 and 1815 by Miss Sallie Elliott. A school has been maintained here ever since. The Church of Christ, the only "Disciple" or "Christian" church in the township, was organized here, September 24, 1849, by Rev. Theobold Miller. The manufacturing enter- prises of the place are confined to the Spencer mills, already referred to, and to the Canoe Camp Full Cream Cheese Factory, established in May, 1895, by F. E. Zim- mer, who also operates a similar factory at East Charleston. The Canoe Camp factory uses the milk of 300 cows daily, and produces from 700 to 800 pounds of cheese per day. It is in charge of J. H. Mosher. The plant cost $2,000. There are two general stores in the place, one carried on by A. W. Gillet, and the other by A. D. Gillet, who is also the station agent and postmaster. His store is in the depot building. The oldest living resident of the place is Isaac Lowns- bery, born in 1811, who has lived there since 1818. The barn on his place was built in 1827.

Mardin is the name of a postoffice in the western part of the township, on the "Old Post Road." It was established in 1879. O. M. Patchen, the first post- master, held the office until June 21, 1883, when H. N. Spear, the present in- cumbent, was appointed.

CHAPTER XLIX.

MANSFIELD BOROUGH.

LOCATION AND SURROUNDINGS-EARLY SETTLERS AND ENTERPRISES-BOROUGH OR- GANIZATION AND OFFICIALS-FIRE DEPARTMENT-POSTMASTERS, PHYSICIANS AND LAWYERS-HOTELS-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-MANSFIELD CLASSICAL SEMINARY-THE MANSFIELD STATE NORMAL SCHOOL-THE SOLDIERS' ORPHAN HOME-BUSINESS COLLEGES-LATER INDUSTRIES AND ENTERPRISES-NEWSPAPERS-CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES-SOCIETIES.

ITHE borough of Mansfield is situated east of the geographical center of Rich- mond township. Its area embraces a little more than two square miles, lies principally on the east side of the Tioga river, and is traversed throughout its entire length by the Tioga railroad. Corey creek enters the borough from the east, north of the center, flows northwest, and empties into the Tioga river near the northwest corner of the borough area. Though somewhat broken north of Corey creek, and along the sides of the river valley, the borough site is, as a whole, comparatively level, and is well drained and healthful. The altitude, railroad level, is 1,140 feet above the sea. The population, in 1890, was 1,762.

The site of the borough is one of the most beautiful spots in the Tioga valley. The boldness and ruggedness of the hills, on either side of the narrow gap through which the river flows into Tioga township, are here toned down to gentler slopes, permitting them to be cultivated, from base to summit, and giving to the scene a varied beauty that attracts and enchants the beholder. The valley, for miles up and down the river, and the uplands, that stretch away on either side, abound in well-cultivated farms, and are dotted with sightly farm homes, the abodes of thrift, comfort and culture, while the borough itself, with its well-built business center, its sightly normal school buildings, and its many handsome private residences, gives outward evidences of progress and pros- perity.

EARLY SETTLERS AND ENTERPRISES.

Benjamin Corey, the first white man to settle within the borough limits, came early in 1797, and lived, with his wife and children, in a bark hut on the east side of the Tioga river, west of the present railroad bridge over Corey creek, which stream was named after him. In the fall he built a log house, Daniel and Harry Lamb, then living at Lamb's Creek, assisting at the raising. Corey's wife died, and he took her remains in a canoe to the mouth of the Cowanesque, and buried them. He soon afterwards removed to Angelica, New York.

Henry Daniels, a surveyor, and Edward Gobin, a deputy surveyor, under the Pennsylvania title, came about 1802 and occupied the Corey cabin. One morn- ing, as Gobin opened the door of the cabin, he was shot through the back and

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

hips, by some one concealed behind a pine stump, on the opposite side of the river. It was supposed that the bullet was intended for Daniels, and that the shooting was done by a Connecticut claimant. A surgeon, brought by Harry Lamb, from Newtown, now Elmira, New York, dressed Gobin's wound. He re- covered, and afterwards moved to Northumberland county.

The first persons, however, to permanently settle within the borough limits, were John, Peter and Jacob Kelts, who, with their father, came from the Mohawk valley, New York, in 1804 or 1805, and occupied the Corey cabin. Jacob was afterwards kicked by a horse and killed. John married Abigail Button, and built a house on a knoll, southwest of the present cemetery. Here, in 1814, Sobrine Kelts, who resides just south of the borough limits, was born. He is the oldest living person born in the borough. Peter, who was a carpenter, built a frame house, the first one here, about 1810 or 1812. It stood near the site after- wards occupied by the Mart King factory. He married Sally, a daughter of Major Elijah Putnam, January 1, 1818, and became a resident of Covington town- ship. Ebenezer Burley, a Revolutionary soldier, came in 1808, and settled north of Corey creek, east of the Williamson road. Dr. Stillman Cannon, the first physician, came in 1813, remained two years, and lived in one of the Kelts' houses. Alpheus Button came in 1815, and built a house near the entrance to Smythe Park. Daniel Holden, the pioneer merchant, came from Albany, New York, in 1819, and located at Canoe Camp. In 1820 he removed to Mansfield, and settled on 200 acres of land, now forming a portion of the properties of D. H. Pitts and P. V. Van Ness. In 1822 he began merchandising in a small way. In 1824 he erected the residence, on the west side of Main street, now occupied by P. V. Van Ness. It is the oldest building in the borough. In 1826 he built, across the road from his residence, the first store in Mansfield. Here he carried on business until his death, September 4, 1830. His son, John A. Holden, born in 1821, is the oldest person born in, and now a resident of, the borough. In 1822 Almon . Allen, a son of Lieut. Jacob Allen, then residing in the township, came here from Cummington, Massachusetts. His brother-in-law, Solon Richards, came about the same time. In 1824 they built a woolen factory, near the northwest corner of Smythe Park, which they afterwards sold to Isaac Drake, who, with his sons, John and Peter, carried it on for many years. It was twice destroyed by fire. This factory ceased operations before 1860, and the building, since removed, is now occupied by the planing-mill, sash and door factory, of Edward Doane & Company.

About the year 1824, Asa Mann, a native of Rhode Island, who, as early as 1804, had settled in the township, below the borough, purchased from John and Peter Kelts 200 acres of land, the greater part of which is now occupied by the borough business center. In the same year, he cleared some thirty acres of this land, which soon became known as "Mann's field." A year or two later, when he laid out his land in town lots, this name attached itself to the village, which, with the passing years, has become the prosperous and progressive borough of to-day. Mr. Mann built a distillery on the site afterwards occupied by the Spencer photograph gallery, and, about 1830, erected a saw-mill near the old woolen-mill. A house, built in 1827 or 1828, on the southwest corner of Main

Josiph Provis

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MANSFIELD BOROUGH.

and Wellsboro streets, by Barrett Clark, was occupied, for a time, by Asa Mann, as a hotel, previous to its purchase by Col. Samuel Hunt, in 1828. Asa Mann and his son, William B. Mann, had a store from 1832 or 1833 to 1839, on the site of the building now occupied by Rose Brothers. In the last-named year Asa Mann removed to Peru, Illinois, where he died July 8, 1843, aged sixty-one years.

About 1824, also, Chandler Mann came here from Otsego county, New York, and built a tannery-said to have been the first in the county-on the west side of Main street, near Corey creek. Hezekiah Gaylord, a native of Connecticut, came in 1822 and located at Kelleytown. In 1824 he moved to Mansfield. Dr. Dexter Parkhurst is credited with coming the same year. In 1825 his brother, Joel Parkhurst, afterwards a prominent business man of Elkland, came from New Hampshire, and kept a few goods for sale in an upper room of the doctor's house. He remained but a few months. Benjamin Peterson, the first representative of the negro race here, came about the same time and lived with Dr. Parkhurst. Col. Samuel Hunt came from Lebanon, Madison county, New York, in 1828, and opened a hotel in the building, on the corner of Main and Wellsboro streets, erected , by Barrett Clark. He became a well known and popular landlord. His daughter, Mrs. Gurdon Fuller, who was born in 1820, is now a resident of Mansfield.

Oliver Whittaker, who had previously conducted a store for Daniel Holden, in Sylvania, came in 1831, and lived in a house on the northeast corner of Main and Wellsboro streets. Lorin Butts came from Lawrenceville in 1833, and settled in the southern part of the borough, on the place where his daughter, Miss Byrissa B. Butts, now resides. Rodney C. Shaw, a son of Joshua Shaw, a pioneer settler at Lamb's Creek, moved here in 1835. His widow, born in 1808, the oldest per- son living in the borough, occupies the old home at the northern end of Main street. Apollos Pitts, father of D. H., John F. and the late Aaron M. Pitts, came here from Sullivan township in 1837, and became prominent as a merchant. The late Philip Williams, of the banking house of Ross & Williams, came the same year. Capt. Ezra Davis settled here in 1838, and in 1840 built the brick tannery, now carried on by C. S. Kingsley. Abram Shuart, the blacksmith, also came in 1838. E. W. Hazard, the first lawyer, and Benjamin M. Bailey, afterwards promi- nent as a merchant, located here in 1840. Benjamin Gitchell, who had previously lived in Charleston township, and had served as sheriff of the county, built the first brick house here in 1841. It is still standing on the west side of South Main street.

In 1842 Dr. Joseph P. Morris, a man destined to do much for the progress and prosperity of Mansfield, came here from Blossburg, having previously pur- chased, from James R. Wilson, for $12,000, 1,100 acres of land-the Asa Mann property. After residing here until 1846, Dr. Morris removed to Wellsboro, where he remained until 1852, when he returned to Mansfield, and, in 1857, had the greater part of his land, lying east of the river, plotted into town lots. Oliver H. Phelps came here in 1843, and in 1850 built a hotel, on the west side of Main street, south of Corey creek. Amos Bixby came in 1844, and in 1845, with Edward Faulkner, Gurdon Fuller and John A. Holden, built a number of canal boats for use on the Erie canal. Joseph S. Hoard came in 1844, and Lyman Beach, with whom he was for a number of years associated in business, in 1845. Mart

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

King, who for several years carried on a furniture factory, came from Washing- ton county, New York, in 1845. L. H. Elliott and his sons, Dr. Charles V. and Simon B. Elliott, came in 1847-48; William Hollands, the harness maker, in 1850; Dr. William M. Barden, the first homeopathic physician, in 1852; Henry Allen, the well known lawyer, and the first burgess, in 1854; A. J. Ross, one of the founders of the banking house of Ross & Williams, in 1855, and Clark W. Bailey, for many years identified with the milling and mercantile business of the borough, in 1857.

The foregoing names are those of the men most prominently identified with the history of Mansfield previous to its incorporation as a borough. To them belongs the credit of its early upbuilding. They changed the site on which it stands from a dense wilderness to a thrifty and progressive village, and paved the way for the greater achievements of more recent years. All, except a few, who came in the later decades, have passed away, leaving behind them a record of honesty, integrity, sobriety and untiring industry. Mansfield, the village of yes- terday, the borough of to-day, stands as a lasting monument to their memory, and is a fitting testimonial to their earnest, honorable and useful lives.

BOROUGH ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIALS.

On November 28, 1856, a petition was filed in the court of quarter sessions of Tioga county, asking for the incorporation of Mansfield as a borough, and de- fining its proposed boundaries. The petition was favorably acted upon, and an election ordered to take place March 27, 1857, at the house of O. H. Phelps. At this election the following-named persons were chosen as the first officers of the borough: Henry Allen, burgess; P. Gaylord, L. H. Elliott, J. M. Cassels, H. Davis and M. Kelley, councilmen. The first meeting of the council was held April 3, 1857, and S. B. Elliott elected secretary, and H. Davis, treasurer, of the borough. Following are the names of those who have filled the office of burgess since 1857: John A. Holden, 1858; S. B. Elliott, 1859; Mart King, 1860-61; A. J. Ross, 1862; Philip Williams, 1863; Mart King, 1864; W. D. Lang, 1865; Henry Allen, 1866; J. T. Streit, 1867; H. B. Middaugh, 1868; W. Hollands, 1869- 70; H. B. Middaugh, 1871; J. S. Murdough, 1872-73; Mart King, 1874-75; D. H. Pitts, 1876; C. H. Verrill, 1877; W. Hollands, 1878; D. H. Pitts, 1879; E. Blackwell, 1880; C. V. Elliott, M. D., 1881; T. H. Bailey, 1882-83; H. E. Met- calf, 1884; D. H. Pitts, 1885; T. H. Bailey, 1886-87-88-89; H. E. Metcalf, 1890-91; C. S. Kingsley, 1892; W. D. Husted, 1893; J. M. Barden, M. D., 1894; F. E. Van Keuren, 1895-96, and J. S. Shepard, elected in 1897.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 73

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