History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 84

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

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JOHN NORRIS, whose name occurs frequently in the early records of Tioga county, was born in England in 1768, and was educated at Oxford University. He came to this country towards the close of the Eighteenth century, and early in 1799 removed from Philadelphia, as the agent of Benjamin Wistar Morris, to the

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headwaters of the first fork of Pine creek, near the site of the present village of Texas, Lycoming county. Here he soon afterwards built a rude grist and saw-mill, which became known as "Morris' Mills." A year or two later Norris leased a build- ing which had been erected by Philip Moore, and opened a school, which was taught by himself and wife, and pupils were received from as far away as Jersey Shore and the settlements along the river. As an educational enterprise it was considered wonderful for the time and attracted wide attention. When Benjamin Wistar Morris became interested in founding Wellsboro, he seems to have secured the as- sistance of Norris in the furtherance of his scheme, and the latter soon afterwards abandoned his school and settled at the Big Marsh, from which he subsequently moved to the vicinity of the village, where he remained the balance of his days.

According to a deed on record at Williamsport (Deed Book F, p. 97) an insight is had of the causes which led to Norris' removal, and the part he afterwards bore in promoting the interests of Morris and the Pine Creek Land Company. This deed which bears date of April 23, 1804, conveys a tract of 200 acres of land from Benjamin Wistar Morris to John Norris, and recites that:

In consideration of the services to be done and performed by the said John Norris in promoting and advancing the settlement and improvement of the lands held by the said Morris and others on and adjacent to Pine Creek, he, the said B. W. Morris, conveyed in fee simple to the said John Norris, clear of all incumbrance, all that tract of land, &c. And the said Norris having fully complied with his part of the said agreement to this time and given satisfactory assurance to the said B. W. Morris, expedient and conducive to the interest and advancement of the settlement aforesaid, to convey at this time to the said John Norris the premises aforesaid, and in consideration of one dollar doth convey all that tract situated in Lycoming county, beginning at corner of General Brodhead's, at a sugar maple, containing about 200 acres, adjoined on south by lands reserved for Morris' Mills."

In the same Deed Book F, page 100, is another deed by Morris conveying a tract of 100 acres, in consideration of $400, to John Norris, called the "Marsh Tract." From the foregoing we see why Norris became interested with the founder of Wellsboro. And as a land agent he proved himself active, vigilant and trust- worthy, and became one of the leading men of his time in the settlement.

When Tioga county was organized for judicial purposes, he was appointed the first prothonotary and register and recorder, and served until 1818. He also ap- pears to have had some knowledge of surveying-probably acquired in connection with his land agency-for he served as county surveyor from 1814 to 1827, a period of thirteen years. And when Wellsboro was made a borough, in 1830, he was honored by being elected the first burgess. It should also be mentioned that he was a charter member when the act incorporating the Academy was passed, and was elected a trustee several times afterwards. By virtue of his position and social relations, John Norris was recognized as one of the leading citizens of Wellsboro, and was greatly esteemed and respected by the people.

Mr. Norris and his wife, Beulah (Jackson) Norris, had no issue. He left a will in which he made ample provision for his wife, giving her all his household furniture, books, maps and papers-also the rents and proceeds of his real estate, together with certain mortgages. To Lucy Kelsey, whose maiden name was Moore, he gave $500, to be paid after the death of his wife; to Elizabeth Niles, then under the charge of Mrs. John Dickinson, $500; to Mary P. Dickinson, who lived in his

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family when she was single and served as his secretary, $400; to Deborah Ann Archer, $400; to his brother-in-law, Mordecai M. Jackson and wife, $450. The remainder of his estate he divided among the sons and daughters of William Bache. John Norris Bache was constituted his sole executor and trustee; and it was pro- vided that in the event of his death before the business was settled up, his brother, William Bache, was to succeed him. The latter lived for years in the Norris family, but was never legally adopted. The will was dated at "Dickinson's Mill," September 16, 1848. And here Mr. Norris died, February 10, 1849, aged eighty years, ten months and eleven days. Mrs. Norris also died here, April 12, 1853, aged seventy- five years.

WILLIAM BACHE, SR., was one of the prominent early settlers of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. He was born in Bromsgrove, England, December 22, 1771, and immigrated to America in 1793. For a short time after his arrival he resided in Philadelphia, where he engaged in the business of cutting profiles. He then made a tour of the United States and the West Indies, following the same art. Returning to Philadelphia, he was married there November 28, 1811, to Miss Anna Page, and soon after they made a journey to Wellsboro to visit John Norris, who was an old acquaintance of Mr. Bache. Norris at that time was deeply interested with Benja- min Wistar Morris in founding the town, and as they were offering strong induce- ments to settlers, Mr. Bache, in 1812, decided to take up his residence there. He immediately purchased town lots, and lands in Delmar, under the easy terms which were offered, and prepared to engage in business. There being no store in the vil- lage, he put up a building and became one of the first merchants in Wellsboro. His store and dwelling stood on the southwest side of the present public square. Dealing in mercantile goods was attended with many difficulties at that time. Mr. Bache purchased his goods in Philadelphia, and they were hauled to Wellsboro in wagons overland. Uncle Eben Murry, one of the slaves of William Hill Wells, whom he had manumitted when he (Wells) left the county, was one of the teamsters.

Shrewd, sagacious, industrious and energetic, Mr. Bache prospered as a business man and steadily accumulated property. While doing a kind act in assisting a neighbor to cut a supply of fuel, a tree fell on him, whereby he lost his right arm. Through care he recovered from the accident, learned to write with his left hand, and successfully continued his business. April 10, 1822, he was appointed post- master of Wellsboro, and held the office for over twenty-three years. He was one of the original trustees mentioned in the act incorporating the Wellsboro Academy, and was a member of the committee selected to prepare a plan for the building, and for many years was identified with, and took an active interest in, the success and prosperity of the institution.

Mr. Bache and wife had six children, three sons and three daughters, viz: William, Laugher, Sarah, who married Judge Robert G. White; John N., Harriet, who married Charles Minor, of Honesdale, and Anna, who became the wife of A. P. Cone. They gave their children the advantages of education, which were liberal for the times, and they became men and women of character and position in life. Mr. Bache died July 9, 1845, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His wife, who was born at Burlington, New Jersey, November 6, 1783, died December 1, 1856.

WILLIAM BACHE, JR., was born in Wellsboro, October 26, 1812. He received his education in the schools of his native town and learned the profession of land

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surveying, in which he became quite proficient. When about the age of twenty-six years he became the agent of several large landed estates, which enabled him to acquire a vast fund of information relating to land surveys. For many years he was engaged as an active surveyor in the field, and as a dealer in farming and timbered lands.

Mr. Bache was first married December 25, 1839, to Mary Elizabeth Nichols, daughter of Archibald Nichols, and sister of the late Judge Nichols. By her he had one daughter, Sarah, who became the wife of Alfred Nichols. His wife, Mary Eliza- beth, died January 28, 1845, and in 1849 he married Adeline Robinson, sister of the late Chester and John L. Robinson. Of his two children by the second marriage but one is living, Mary Adeline, widow of William C. Kress. Mr. Bache's second wife died October 11, 1852, and he was subsequently married the third time, to Mrs. Lydia Maria Davison, daughter of Palmer Nichols. She died July 2, 1885. There was no issue by this marriage.

In looking back over his long and busy life, Mr. Bache has the proud satis- faction of realizing that he has ever been an energetic, progressive business man. From the beginning of his career of activity he has filled many minor offices of trust, and has always manifested the most generous liberality in whatever was calculated to develop the resources of his native town and county, and therefore promote their success and prosperity. He was treasurer of the Wellsboro Academy for many years; was borough treasurer; manager of the Lawrenceville and Wellsboro Plank Road Company, and the first president of the First National Bank of Wellsboro. For fully fifty years he has been a vestryman in St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church, and one of its most liberal supporters. He also took an active part in securing the building of the Lawrenceville and Wellsboro railroad, and all other public enter- prises calculated to build up the social and material interests of Wellsboro and the surrounding country. The project to supply the town with the best water that could be secured was originated by him and received his strong financial support. The Willow Hall School project also found in him its most liberal friend; while the substantial Bache Auditorium, erected in 1894, at a cost of $16,000, is a grand monu- ment to his enterprise and public spirit.

It is also a noteworthy fact that Mr. Bache has continuously resided in Wells- boro since his birth, a period of over eighty-four years, and is the oldest living citizen of the town who was born within its limits. When he first saw the light of day Wellsboro was a mere hamlet composed of rude log dwellings, while Tioga county was a comparative wilderness. His boyhood and early manhood were spent among the stirring scenes of pioneer life, and in his profession he has traversed the hills and valleys of Tioga county many times. Fortune has smiled upon him and re- warded him for his toil and industry, and he is now in the evening of his well spent life enjoying all the comforts which an abundance of this world's goods can procure. He is still quite active for one who has passed the four score milestone, and save some imperfection in his hearing, is in possession of his mental faculties, and enjoys the relation of reminiscences of bygone days. He is a thorough type of the honest, hardy, industrious and intelligent pioneers of Tioga county, and he views with delight the progress that has been made in every department of individual effort since he was a boy.

ISRAEL MERRICK, JR., was one of the prosperous and progressive pioneers of

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Tioga county. Of New England ancestry, he was born in the state of Delaware in 1790, whither his parents, Israel Merrick, Sr., and wife, had removed in search of a home. Not liking the place, and having their attention called to the inducements Morris was holding out for settlers in Wellsboro, they came here about 1805. Israel Merrick, Sr., was a tall, venerable looking man. He was married twice, and died April 30, 1844, aged seventy-eight years. He was buried in Ansonia cemetery. His second wife was a sister-in-law of Justus Dartt, of Charleston township. Isracl Merrick, Jr., had three full sisters-Margaret, who married Mordecai Moore; Mary, who married Elmer Bacon, Sr., and Rebecca, who married Daniel Kelsey. Merrick and Charles Moore took their parents to Arkansas over forty years ago, where they died. Charles Moore at one time represented a district of Arkansas in Congress. He died of cholera many years ago. His brother, Merrick Moore, was a quarter- master general in the Confederate service.

Israel Merrick, Jr., was about fifteen years of age when the family came to this county. At that time Wellsboro was mostly dense woods and a part of it a swamp. There was, however, a small clearing of about an acre in the region where John L. Robinson's house was afterwards built. An incident in the life of Mr. Merrick at that early day is worth relating. At one time he was going from the mill at the Marsh to his home in Delmar, where they first settled, driving a yoke of oxen. Get- ting belated he took refuge in an abandoned corn-crib which stood near where Mr. Robinson afterwards built his house. The only habitation near this was a rude log cabin on the side of the hill where Judge Morris afterwards built a large farm house. Before going into the crib for the night he chained his oxen outside and built a fire. During the night he, as well as the cattle, were very much frightened by the screams of a panther on what is now known as Bache's hill. The fierce animal scented game in the log hut, but the presence of the fire, which was kept brightly burning by the young man, probably deterred it from making the attack. The night thus passed by our young pioneer was a long and dreary one and the "break 'o day" was gladly welcomed. This incident will serve to show the primitive conditions which ex- isted at that time, as well as to illustrate the progress that has been made in less than ninety years.

There were no schools in the county when Israel Merrick, Jr., came here. He had, however, attained the first rudiments of an education before he left his native State; but not content with that, he used to spend long hours after the family had retired for the night in reading and studying, by the light of pine knots, such books as he could obtain. He must have been a very industrious student, for he became a man of much general information, such as is derived from books; was an excel- lent penman, a keen observer of human action, and was naturally a man of good, sound common sense. He never failed in meeting public expectations in whatever station he was placed. As commissioners' clerk for over nineteen years, he became widely known, and he commanded the respect of all with whom he came in con- tact. His clerical career commenced in 1828, and extended to 1847, when he was elected a county commissioner, which office he held three years. Mr. Merrick mar- ried Julia A. Erway, who was born December 10, 1808. Their children were: Charles, George W., and Ellis; Maria, wife of Deroy Herrington; Mary, wife of William Mathers; Anna, who married Washington Larrison; Sarah, wife of Hon. Mortimer F. Elliott, and Ellen. George W. is a prominent lawyer of Wellsboro, and

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a sketch of his life will be found in the chapter devoted to the "Bench and Bar." Mr. Merrick died March 7, 1855, aged sixty-five years, one month and ten days; his wife survived him about thirty-one years, dying March 25, 1886.

MORDECAI M. JACKSON was born at Montgomery Square, near Philadelphia, July 15, 1784. He came with his brother-in-law, John Norris, to the settlement established near the site of Texas, Lycoming county, in 1799, and known as "Morris' Mills," and in 1804 removed with his parents to Wellsboro. They became discour- aged and soon returned to the vicinity of Philadelphia. Young Jackson, how- ever, remained here with friends, grew to manhood, and became a prominent citizen of Wellsboro, where he died September 29, 1861. He married Hannah Iddings, and they had issue: Richard, who was among the first male children born in the settlement; James, Mary P., born June 25, 1814. She lived for several years in the family of John Norris and served as his amanuensis. She married John Dickinson, who was for many years one of the early merchants. He died August 25, 1873, aged fifty-eight, but his venerable widow, who has passed her four score years, still survives and is a charming and instructive conversationalist. She can relate many reminiscences of early days and distinctly remembers hearing the wolves howl at night on the hills surrounding Wellsboro. The other daughter, Deborah Ann, born in 1816, married Dr. Archer, of Maryland.

DANIEL KELSEY was one of the early representative men of Delmar township. He was a native of New Hampshire, born September 7, 1777, came to Tioga county in 1807 and settled on the old Kelsey homestead, now in the southern part of Wells- boro. He was four times married. His first wife was a daughter of John Mathers, a pioneer of Delmar. She bore him one son, John, who learned the printer's trade in early life, and then went to Wilkes-Barre and studied law. He next removed to New Orleans, whence he wrote a few letters to friends in Wellsboro, but soon after- wards made a voyage up the Mississippi river and never wrote home again. It was learned, however, that between 1840 and 1850 there was a lawyer named John Kelsey in Moniteau county, Missouri, who then occupied a seat on the bench, and the belief gained ground that he was the lost John Kelsey of Wellsboro. This belief was further strengthened by the fact that he left home under the deep dis- pleasure of his father, intending never to have any further communication with him or the family. In this declaration he exhibited the same unbending spirit that characterized his father. Daniel Kelsey's second wife was Miss Kilburn, a sister of Judge Ira Kilburn, of Lawrenceville. His third wife was Rebecca Merrick, a daughter of Israel Merrick, Sr., whom he married January 2, 1825. She became the mother of six children, as follows: Letetia, wife of John English, of Delmar; Daniel, Benjamin F. and Israel M., all deceased; Robert, a resident of Wellsboro, and Anna R., teacher in a government school at Fort Wrangle, Alaska. Mrs. Kelsey died January 16, 1846, and he married for his fourth wife Dinah Ogden. Mr. Kelsey died April 17, 1863. He was a man of marked individuality and had his own way of doing things. On January 25, 1813, he was appointed a justice of the peace for Delmar township, and held the office nearly thirty years. Many interesting reminis- cences of him have been preserved which show the character of the man. He lived on a farm not included within the original borough limits. In course of time he came to be familiarly known as "Squire Kelsey," a title he bore until the close of his life. As early as 1817 he was elected one of the trustees of Wellsboro Academy,

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and was re-elected in 1819 and 1820. In 1821, when the number of trustees was re- duced one-half, he was dropped from the list, and he was not again elected until 1826. He was twice re-elected, in 1827 and 1828. It is said that he was liberal in his religious views, leaning towards a generous toleration and opposed to bigotry. He was an industrious, thrifty farmer, close and calculating, but just in his dealings. No man ever accused him of dishonesty or of attempting to wrong his fellow-man. He was very decided in his opinions, stern and unbending with his children, and believed that the true way to prepare them for the realities of life was to teach them morality, industry and economy. Another of his peculiarities was that he was a man of one price always. If wheat, corn, oats and potatoes were scarce and the price high, the poor man could buy of him at his own price, a happy medium between high and low. If it was a year of plenty, still he had his own price, and would not reduce it if he had to keep his hay and grain over and feed his potatoes to his stock. In times of high prices it was only the poor and needy who could buy of him. No one could buy for speculation. The home farm is now occupied by the widow of his son, Benjamin F.

ROBERT KELSEY, son of Daniel and Rebecca (Merrick) Kelsey, was born in Wellsboro, June 30, 1834, and was reared to manhood on the old homestead. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, of the "Bucktail" regiment, served twenty months, and was then discharged on account of disability. He participated in the battles of Mechanicsville and Drainsville. In September, 1864, he re-enlisted in the Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served until the close of the war. Upon his return to Wellsboro he engaged in the hardware busi- ness with D. P. and William Roberts, for about a year and a half. He then settled upon a part of the homestead which he owned until 1892, when he sold it and has since been living retired. Mr. Kelsey was married November 13, 1866, to Mary E. Trull, a daughter of Robert and Sarah W. Trull. His wife died March 23, 1879, and on January 6, 1883, he married Mary Nancy Wilcox, a daughter of John H. and Sarah Wilcox. In politics, Mr. Kelsey is a Republican, and served as supervisor of Delmar in 1869. In religion, he inclines to the Adventist belief.

ALPHEUS CHENEY, one of the pioneers of Wellsboro, and the first sheriff of Tioga county, was born at Sturbridge, Massachusetts, April 27, 1769, a son of Joseph and Mercilva Cheney. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1795, and served for a short time in the United States army. In 1803 we find him employed as a book- keeper at Painted Post, New York, but in March, 1804, he removed to what is now Addison, where he was town clerk in 1805. He married Ann Eliza Bartill, and in 1808 sold his interests at Addison and removed to Wellsboro, where he purchased lots, 10, 12 and 18 on the original plot of that town. He was the first hotel-keeper within the village limits, the third county treasurer, and the first sheriff of the county. About 1825 he removed to Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

UNCLE EBEN AND AUNT HETTY MURRY .- In the sketch of William Bache, Sr., reference is made to Eben Murry, as one of the early teamsters who hauled goods from Philadelphia for him. Eben and his wife Hetty were slaves, brought here by William Hill Wells about the beginning of the century. When Mr. Wells and his family gave up the struggle to found a home in the wild region of Delmar, they manumitted their slaves and gave them their cleared land and log cabins as a re-

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ward for their faithfulness. Regarding the story of the gift of a home to these faithful colored people, one authority says:

He not only gave them the farm, with suitable farming implements and teams, but also the household furniture, which was very valuable for those times. Tradition says that their white neighbors never rested till the freedmen were dispossessed of every- thing and they were finally indebted to the kindness of John Norris for the little homes where they ended their days. They were a very superior class of colored people. Aunt Hetty, it was said, was a daughter of an African princess, and Uncle Eben was a born gentleman, most dignified and courteous in appearance and manners.

In the northeast corner of the Wellsboro Cemetery the tombstone of these two remarkable colored people may be seen. It bears these inscriptions: "Eben Murry, died May 6, 1864, aged 96. Hetty, his wife, died July 4, 1868, aged 99. Colored people sixty-four years residents of Delmar and Wellsboro, and highly respected by all."

"Uncle Eben and Aunt Hetty" had six children, two sons and four daughters. The eldest, a daughter, was born May 4, 1804, probably in Delmar, soon after their parents came from Delaware. Of the six only one now survives-"Betty Murry," as she is familiarly called. She was born in Delmar township, in March, 1816, and from her appearance bids fair to live as long as her parents. She was trained as a house servant and cook by Mrs. James Lowrey, and became very proficient. She excels as a caterer and manager at weddings and social parties, and her services are in constant demand by the best classes. Betty was present at the wedding of Dr. Joseph P. Morris to Sarah E., daughter of Judge Samuel W. Morris, in 1836, and officiated in the same capacity at the wedding of their daughter, Catherine, many years afterwards. She is intelligent and ladylike in her manners, and is greatly respected. She cared for her aged parents thirteen years, and when they died she had a marble tablet erected to preserve their names and memories. Al- though eighty-one years old she does not show her age, and is, apparently, as active and able to pursue her calling as she was forty years ago.

JAMES LOCK, who was born in New Hampshire, May 18, 1790, came to Wells- boro in 1815, attracted there no doubt by the inducements held out to settlers. At that time there were but five frame buildings in the place, the balance being log structures of the most primitive character. Mr. Lock was a silversmith, but he did not long pursue his trade, for there was no demand for his skill in that line. He was a natural mechanic, however, and soon found other business. During the building of the second court house, in 1835, he made the doors and kept the tools of the stone cutters in order. He subsequently established a gun shop, the first of the kind in the village, and manufactured a very excellent rifle. He was a successful hunter and angler. On his eighty-third anniversary, and the sixtieth of his mar- riage, the citizens of Wellsboro made him a formal call and presented him and his estimable wife with a handsome Bible as a token of respect. Mr. Lock died March 14, 1874, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 84

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