History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 80

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

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J. H. Bailey

625

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

Jacob Jones, Blossburg; Daniel Innes, Canton; Hamilton B. Humes, Jersey Shore, and John Van Dyke*, Canton. The governor of the State, judges of the several courts of record of the Commonwealth, inspectors of mines and members of the legislature are ex-officio visitors. The institution is maintained and supported by legislative appropriations.

CHAPTER LIV. HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-MINERAL WEALTH-STREAMS-RAIL- ROADS-POPULATION-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-MORRIS RUN MINES AND RAIL- ROAD-COAL MINING COMPANIES-THE VILLAGE OF MORRIS RUN-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-SOCIETIES.

H AMILTON township was created December 5, 1871, its territory being taken from Bloss and Ward townships. It is one of the smaller townships of the county and contains about fifteen square miles. Its surface is broken and for the most part mountainous, and was originally covered with a heavy forest growth. The pine and hemlock have been nearly all cut away, while a large amount of hard- wood timber is annually used for props, etc., in the coal mines. The elevation ranges from 1,360 to 1,800 feet above the sea level. Nearly the entire area of the township is underlaid with coal, iron ore and fire clay. Of the coal, three veins, the Seymour, Bloss and Bear Run, are workable. The township is well watered, the principal stream being the Tioga river, which flows in a north westerly direction through the southern half, receiving Carpenter run, which flows from the south, and Morris run, which flows from the northwest. The valley of the Tioga is traversed by the Fall Brook railroad, and that of Morris run by the Morris Run railroad. The lands of the Morris Run Coal Mining Com- pany occupy nearly the entire area of the township, the portion devoted to agriculture being very limited. With the exception of some twenty-five or thirty families at Cummings' mills, near the southeast corner of the Blossburg borough limits; a few families at Aylesworth mill, near the mouth of Taylor run, and a small settlement of Polish families in the northern part of the township, the popu- lation is confined to the village of Morris Run. In 1880 the census returns showed 2,060 inhabitants, and in 1890, 2,375.

The office of justice of the peace has been filled as follows: W. S. Nearing, elected in 1872; W. L. Richards, 1872; Nathan Church, 1877; Samuel Woodhouse, 1877; re-elected in 1882, 1887, 1892 and 1897.

626

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

MORRIS RUN MINES AND RAILROAD.

In 1832 when Richard C. Taylor made a geographical survey of the region in and around Blossburg, he discovered the existence of several coal veins in the valley of Morris run, a small mountain stream which rises in the northeastern part of Ham- ilton township, flows southwest, and empties into the Tioga river near the southeast corner of the Blossburg borough limits. It was named in honor of Hon. Samuel W. Morris, a pioneer settler of Wellsboro, prominently identified with the construc- tion of the Corning and Blossburg railroad. In 1852 explorations, with a view to opening up new coal mines, were carried on in the valley of this stream, under the direction of the Tioga Improvement Company, with the result that coal of a superior quality and in paying quantities was discovered near its headwaters, about two and a half miles east of Blossburg. Steps were immediately taken to mine and market the coal. In order to do this it became necessary to build a line of railroad from Blossburg, along the valley of the Tioga river, to Morris run, and up the valley of that stream to the coal openings. This road was surveyed during the same year by Col. Pharon Jarrett, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, assisted by Humphries Brewer and J. Livingstone, and completed in October, 1853. It is four miles in length, and rises from an elevation above tidewater of 1,348 feet at Blossburg to 1,687 feet at Morris Run. It is now operated as a part of the "Erie" system.

COAL MINING COMPANIES.

The Morris Run mines were opened in 1853 and were operated until 1862 by the Tioga Improvement Company, during which time there were mined 323,174 tons of coal. John Young was the first mining superintendent of the company, and James Brown, Peter Cameron, Jr., and Henry J. Landrus weighmasters. The office of the company was located at Blossburg, and that of the superintendent occupied a log building at Morris Run. Alfred Jones was appointed general sales agent at Corning, New York, and also a paymaster of the company.

From 1862 to 1864 the mines were operated under lease by the Salt Company of Onondaga county, New York, with business office at Syracuse. Maj. T. B. Anderson was appointed mercantile agent, and the business of the company carried on more extensively than before. Stores, offices, chutes and an increased number of dwellings were erected. During this period, and later, under the Morris Run' Coal Company, John J. Davis was employed in exploring and developing the mines. He opened the East and Salt Lake drifts, advocated and adopted the T rail for mine tramways, and was the first to introduce mules in the mines.

In 1864 the Salt Company was succeeded by the Morris Run Coal Company. This company was chartered October 3, 1864, with $200,000 capital, and consisted of S. P. Haskin, president; John F. Dee, treasurer, who, with L. Gleason and Thomas T. Davis, all of Onondaga county, New York, formed the board of directors. The company's offices were located at Blossburg, with a business office at Syracuse, New York. W. S. Nearing, at first employed as civil and mining engineer, was before the close of the year given full control as superintendent. This position he has filled with marked ability for thirty-two years. Every improvement or appliance tending to facilitate the working of the mines or promote the health and safety of the miners, that has stood the test of successful operation, has been adopted by him,

627

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

and the mines under his charge are reputed to be among the best ventilated and the best managed in the State.

In 1877 the Morris Run Coal Company was succeeded by the Morris Run Coal Mining Company. This company wisely retained the old employes, almost with- out exception, and many of them are still in its service. Promotions have come to those who have proved themselves faithful and capable. Patrick F. O'Donnell, cashier and paymaster of the company, has held that position since March, 1868, and has disbursed millions of dollars. In the office with him are his son, John F. O'Donnell, book-keeper, and William Tipton, time-keeper. William O'Donnell, another son, is the freight and ticket agent of the company. Thomas V. Keefe, the telegraph operator and shipping clerk, worked in the mines as a boy, and has reached his present position by successive promotions. James C. Hadley, mining foreman, is an old employe. Michael Driscoll, foreman of the Jones mine, has been employed in Morris Run since the opening of the mines, coming from Bloss- burg in 1854. Campbell Haddow, foreman of the "Lake" or "New" mine, has been in the company's employ over twenty years. The weighmasters are John Palmer, at the Jones mine, and John Hayes, one of the oldest employes of the com- pany, at the "Lake" or "New" mine. Henry Hollands held the position of weigh- master at Blossburg from May 18, 1863, to his death, November 28, 1895. His successor is Frank H. Stratton. Homer C. Treat, the outside foreman, has charge of the saw-mill and of the force employed in the woods getting out logs, tan bark and timber for mine props. The saw-mill has a capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber a day.

The Jones mine is ventilated by a twenty-foot exhausting fan, driven by steam. The "New" mine is ventilated by shafts. Coal from the Jones mine is conveyed to the chutes in mine cars hauled by an endless wire rope or cable; the cars in the "New" mine are hauled by mules to the main drift, and then by mine locomotives to the chutes. During 1894 there were 709 men employed by the company, 522 of whom were miners. The average number of days worked by each man during the year was 1382, and the total amount of coal mined 209,861 tons. The mining and timber lands of the company embrace about 7,000 acres, and are situated in Hamilton, Ward, Union, Bloss and Covington townships.

The Tioga and Morris Run Telegraph Company was chartered September 23, 1879, the incorporators being W. S. Nearing, Morris Run; A. J. Owen, Fall Brook; Anton Hardt, Alonzo H. Gorton and George R. Bowen. The line built by this company runs from Tioga Junction to Morris Run and Fall Brook, and is for the use principally of the Morris Run and Fall Brook Coal Companies.

THE VILLAGE OF MORRIS RUN.

As a preparation for the working of the mines and the building up about them of a mining village, sixteen log houses were erected in 1853, the first occupants of which were Joseph and Henry Mitchell, James R. Cameron, Joseph Hughes, Frank Smith, Samuel Vickers, John Nailor, William Kelley, Andrew Baird, William R. Gilmour, William Bland, Dennis Mooney, John Kelley and James Brown. An office building for the superintendent and a store building were soon afterward erected, as were also coal chutes, switches, etc.

628

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

After the Morris Run Coal Company assumed control of the mines the village grew rapidly. Churches and lodges were organized and schools established, and large accessions to the mining population were received from Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland. In 1874 there were 2,350 inhabitants, occupying 356 dwellings. The present business interests include a general store, owned by George A. Magee, and managed by M. Tucker, agent. It is patronized by employes of the company, and the amount of business done each year is very large. Abernathy & Company run the meat market and also a wholesale liquor store.

A postoffice was established soon after the opening of the mines, the first post- master being John James, Jr. His successors have been R. C. Bailey, Stephen Bowen, T. G. Dallman, Philip Williams and Lewis Nearing.

The resident physicians are Dr. H. E. Caldwell and Dr. J. H. Keily, each of whom carries on a drug store in connection with his practice. Among the pre- decessors of Drs. Caldwell and Keily were Dr. William Caldwell, who came in 1867 and remained until 1891; Dr. Charles Drake, Dr. Nathan Ingram, Dr. Griffin, Dr. W. W. Williams, Dr. Smythe, Dr. Henry Kilbourn and Dr. M. L. Bacon.

The Hamilton House, erected in 1864, is the only hotel. The first landlord was Frederick Caldwell, succeeded by David Wetzel, Capt. R. C. Bailey, George W. Phillips, Stephen Bowen, T. G. Dallman and Niel Munro.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

There are two public school buildings in Morris Run. Five teachers are em- ployed, and the schools hold a creditable rank among those of the county. A public school is also maintained at Cummings' mill. The children of the Polish families in the northern part of the township attend a school erected in 1895 just across the Covington township line, but on the Morris Run Coal Mining Company's land. There is also in Morris Run a parochial school, conducted by Rev. S. Siedlecki, pastor of the Polish Roman Catholic church. In this school both the Polish and English languages are taught.

The Presbyterian Church of Morris Run was organized July 5, 1856, with the following membership: Alexander and Jean Pollock, James and Marion Brown, Andrew and Catherine Baird, John and Janet Dunsmore, William and Jane Gil- mour, William and Catherine Watchman, John and Elizabeth Baird, James Mor- rison, Mrs. Mary Young and Mrs. Mary Rodolph. Alexander Pollock was chosen elder; William Gilmour, deaeon, and James Brown, clerk. Rev. Sidney Mills was the aeting pastor. This church maintained its organization until 1859. On May 11, 1864, after a lapse of about five years, the First Presbyterian church in Morris Run was organized with twenty-one members, most of whom belonged to the church organized in 1856. This church continued as an organized society until 1877, when, owing to the removal of the greater part of its membership to Arnot, it passed out of existence. The last entry in the session book is dated August 26, 1877.

The Welsh Baptist Church was organized in the year 1864. The first pastor was Rev. J. R. Harris, the deacons John M. Jenkins and William S. Edwards. A church building was completed and dedicated in August, 1873. It is a neat and attractive edifice, capable of seating 400 persons, and represents an outlay of $3,500. The church has had no pastor for several years.

629

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

The Primitive Methodist Church is the successor of a Welsh congregation organized in 1864. The present organization was effected about 1869. The build- ing was erected in 1866, and, with repairs and improvements, has cost about $2,400. The names of the pastors who have served this church are as follows: Revs. Thomas Bateman, Mr. Sniffin, John Acornly, D. Savage, John Mason, John Atkinson, Thomas Mckay, S. Hancock, W. Gratton and T. M. Phillips, who has had charge since June, 1894. Thomas P. Cornish is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The church numbers thirty members, and the Sunday-school has an average attend- ance of ninety pupils.

The First Welsh Congregation of Morris Run was organized about 1864, and was regularly chartered, under the above name, January 29, 1867, the trustees being David Jones, John E. Jones and David Davis. Rev. Philip Peregrine, of Bloss- burg, was the first pastor. Rev. F. Tilo Evans, also of Blossburg, served this church for a number of years. Removals weakened its membership, who being unable to support a pastor, have for several years worshiped with the church in Blossburg.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was organized December 31, 1882, when the following officers were elected: Rev. P. J. Murphy, chairman; P. F. O'Donnell, treasurer; Thomas V. Keefe, secretary, and Daniel Fogarty, Philip Haily, David Hays, P. F. O'Donnell, Thomas V. Keefe and Rev. P. J. Murphy, building com- mittee. A neat building, costing $1,500-the Morris Run Coal Mining Com- pany contributing the lumber-was erected, and was opened for service on Christmas day, 1883. This church is served by the pastor of St. Andrew's Roman Catholic church, Blossburg, in which charge it has been since its organization. There is connected with this church a branch of the Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevo- lent Association, with a large membership.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Polish) was organized in 1892. Its mem- bership consists of about 150 families, with seventy children in the Sunday-school. The church building, a commodious frame edifice, cost $4,000. This church is under the charge of the pastor of the Polish Catholic church in Blossburg.

The Swedish Lutheran Church was organized in 1888. It holds services in a neat edifice, erected at a cost of $600. There are about one hundred members in the church, and thirty-five pupils in the Sunday-school, of which Albert Swenson is the superintendent. Although this church has had no regular pastor, its pulpit has been supplied by students from the Lutheran college at Rock Island, Illinois Rev. O. A. Johnson, a student of this college, has been serving the church for the past year.

The Morris Run Baptist Church was organized August 20, 1896, with twenty- two members, and was admitted into the Tioga Baptist Association, September 3, 1896. This society worships in the old Welsh Baptist church building, and is in charge of Rev. J. A. Klucker, pastor of the church at Blossburg.

SOCIETIES.

The societies of Morris Run are an important factor in promoting social and fraternal feeling among the diverse nationalities that make up its population. The pioneer society is Morris Run Lodge, No. 698, I. O. O. F. It was instituted January 22, 1870, with forty-one members, and has now nearly 100. Louisa Lodge, No.

630

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

105, D. of R., was organized May 14, 1875. After flourishing for several years it surrendered its charter, but was revived in 1895. Tioga Lodge, No. 304, K. of P., was organized June 22, 1871, with twenty-four charter members, since increased to 150. Caradog Ap Bran, No. 11, Adran F., a Welsh social and benevolent organi- zation, known as "Ivorites," was organized May 14, 1872. A few years ago it was merged with the lodge at Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, by reason of removals and decreased membership. Morris Run Lodge, No. 109, I. O. G. T., was organized June 27, 1888. It now numbers twenty members. Division No. 3, A. O. H., was organized August 25, 1889, and has now upwards of sixty members.

CHAPTER LV.

WARD TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-REDUCTION OF AREA-DRAINAGE-POPULATION-JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-EARLY SETTLERS -- MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES, CEMETERIES AND SOCIETIES.

W ARD township, named in honor of C. L. Ward, of Towanda, Pennsylvania, was organized in February, 1852, and was taken from Sullivan and Union town- ships. In August, 1864, its area was diminished by the creation of Fall Brook bor- ough. It is bounded on the north by Sullivan township; on the east by Bradford county; on the south by Union township, and on the west by Hamilton and Coving- ton townships. It is an upland township, lying for the most part along the sum- mit and in the valleys of the Armenia mountain, through which flow the Tioga river and its headwater branches. These are Fellows' creek, Highbank creek, Brandy run and Little Falls creek, which flow from the north; and Rathbone creek, which flows from the east, and South creek, from the south. Joiner's creek, which flows through the southeastern part of the township, is a branch of South creek. The river itself passes through the township from northeast to southwest. A large portion of the surface of Ward is underlaid with semi-bituminous coal, similar in kind and quality to that mined in Fall Brook and Morris Run, and known as Bloss- burg coal. These deposits have not yet been developed. When the township was first settled its area was nearly all covered by a heavy growth of timber. The greater part of this has been manufactured into lumber.

Though containing a larger portion of unimproved land than most of the other townships of the county, Ward has many well-improved and well-cultivated farms. It has grown slowly but steadily. In 1870 there were 285 inhabitants; in 1880, 327, and in 1890, 442.

631

WARD TOWNSHIP.

The following named persons have served as justices of the peace since the formation of the township: Erastus Kiff, 1853; re-elected, 1858 and 1865; Zalmon Gregory, 1853; James D. Hill, 1858; James Heron, 1863; L. C. Shepard, 1864; William R. Lyon, 1865; re-elected, 1870; Tracy O. Hollis, 1870; re-elected, 1876 and 1881; George N. Beardsley, 1875; Wallace Chase, 1881; re-elected, 1886 and 1891; A. A. Griswold, 1884, and C. H. Smith, 1897.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settlement in the township was made on Armenia mountain, near the head of Fellows' creek, along the Sullivan township line. Here Russell Rose, a native of Connecticut, and an officer on Washington's staff during the Revolu- tionary War, located in 1807. It is said that a number of others from the New England states settled in the same neighborhood, but, discovering soon afterward that better land lay in the valleys, abandoned their locations, Russell Rose removing to Sullivan township. This portion of Ward township now bears the name of the "Old Possessions."

No further attempts at settlement appear to have been made until after 1830. Among the earliest settlers were William and Matthias McIntosh, who settled in McIntosh Hollow, in the northeastern part of the township, about 1835. In this year, also, Andrew Kniffin settled on the place now occupied by his grandson, Daniel Kniffin. About 1839 Erastus Kiff settled on Rathbone creek, in the eastern part of the township. Among other early settlers were Walter Dewey, Samuel Beach, John Purvis, William R. Lyon, J. W. Fletcher, Daniel Hagar, Phineas B. Fields, W. B. Gates and Roswell Joiner, all of whom came between 1840 and 1850. When the first assessment of the township was made in 1853, there were forty-two resident taxables.

MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES.

A saw-mill was erected about 1853, on the Tioga river, in McIntosh Hollow, by William McIntosh, and was operated by himself and M. E. McIntosh for nearly fifteen years. It was afterwards operated by McIntosh & Kinch and McIntosh & Thomas. The next mill was erected, about 1855, by John M. and Erastus Kiff, on Rathbone creek, in the eastern part of the township. They carried it on until about 1870, when Warren Whiteman took it and ran it for several years. About 1863 W. R. Lyon built a saw-mill near the mouth of Rathbone creek. The mill, within a few years, became the property of Wallace Chase and was run by him and those associated with him up to 1890. A number of other mills were established in different parts of the township and operated as long as the timber supply lasted. The present enter- prises consist of the steam saw-mill of G. M. Coons, near the head of Joiner's creek, and the acid factory of Beardsley Brothers & Rhoads, near Chase's Mills.

SCHOOLS.

The pioneer school house of the township, a log structure, was erected, between 1845 and 1850, in McIntosh Hollow. One of the earliest teachers was Mary Welch. Susannah Bascom, now the widow of John M. Kiff, taught about 1854. Other early teachers in the township were Electa Lyon, Elizabeth Coovert, Eliza Ann

632

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Taber, Adelia Denmark and Amoretta Kiff, now Mrs. John E. Rolloson. A num- ber of the early schools were taught in private houses. There are now four schools in the township, in which school is maintained six months in the year.

CHURCHES, CEMETERIES AND SOCIETIES.

During the earlier years of the township's history religious services were held in private dwellings and school houses. The first services were held by Rev. John Spaulding. He was followed by other itinerant ministers, who visited the town- ship from time to time. A Baptist church was organized in the winter of 1879-80, and for several years held regular services. Deaths and removals, however, de- pleted its numbers, and those who are left now attend the churches in Canton and Alba.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ward Township was chartered May 31, 1881. It was the outgrowth of a class started several years before, and organ- ized with twelve members. In 1882 a house of worship, costing $1,200, was erected in the eastern part of the township. This church now numbers thirty-five mem- bers, is in the Canton charge and has been served by the pastors of the church in Canton, Bradford county. It maintains a Sunday-school of forty-five pupils, with Wilson Hill as superintendent.

The Cemeteries of this township are unincorporated. They are all early burial places. One is located in McIntosh Hollow, another in the Kniffin neighborhood and a third near the Red school house. Many of the residents of the township bury their dead in the cemetery at Canton.

Ward Grange, No. 900, P. of H., was first organized October 2, 1875, and re- organized March 2, 1883. It owns and meets in a hall building, erected in 1883, near the Segar school, in the eastern part of the township. It has now forty-five members, embracing the leading farmers of that section, and it is one of the strong and prosperous granges of the county.

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· CHAPTER LVI.

FALL BROOK BOROUGH.

LOCATION AND SURROUNDINGS-THE FALL BROOK COAL COMPANY-ITS ORGANIZA- TION AND HISTORY -BOROUGH ORGANIZATION AND OFFICIALS-SCHOOLS- CHURCHES-SOCIETIES. -

[THE borough of Fall Brook is situated about six miles east of Blossburg, on Fall brook, formerly called Fall creek, one of the headwater tributaries of the Tioga river. The altitude, railroad level, is 1,842 feet above tidewater. The land embraced within the borough limits, as well as several thousand acres in Ward and Union townships, is owned by the Fall Brook Coal Company, whose principal busi- ness is the mining and shipping of coal. A limited number of men are employed in the saw-mill, manufacturing lumber, and in the woods, in getting out logs and tan bark. The Fall Brook railway, owned and operated by the company, connects at Blossburg with the Tioga branch of the "Erie." By a traffic arrangement with the latter company, the Fall Brook Coal Company is enabled to ship its coal to Corn- . ing, New York, and other distributing points.

From the opening of the mines in December, 1859, to 1873, the population of Fall Brook increased rapidly, and in 1872 was estimated at 2,300. Strikes, financial depression, and the transfer of a large number of miners and their families to Antrim and Clermont, have reduced the number of working miners to 125, and the popula- tion to about 700. Though of different nationalities originally, the miners are, with few exceptions, American citizens, and they and their families form a homo- geneous, sociable, order-loving and law-abiding community. The population for each decade since the borough was organized, as shown by the census returns, is as follows: 1870, 1,390; 1880, 860, and 1890, 825,

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 80

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