USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 25
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
and the poor. Soon, however, the " old line " temper- ance people got control of the organizations and adopted aggressive measures against liquor-sellers. This injured the popularity of the movement here and is assigned as the cause of its failure.
Blossburg Lodge, No. 167, Knights of Honor was or- ganized July 12th 1876, by C. M. Hardenburg, deputy grand dictator, with the following officers: A. J. Owen, past dictator; A. T. James, dictator; E. G. Drake, vice- dictator; L. A. Wing, assistant dictator; Daniel H. Strat- ton, chaplain; J. A. Hadley, guide; A. J. Pollock, re- porter; J. L. Davis, financial reporter; George A. Lewis, treasurer; Robert Davie, guardian; James Vaughan, sen- tinel; trustees-A. J. Owen, L. A. Wing, A. M. Ingham. Representative to grand lodge, A. J Owen; medical ex- aminer, Dr. E. G. Drake.
The dictators or presiding officers have been A. T. James, George N. Clute, E. G. Drake, J. L. Davis, Rob- ert Davie, A. M. Ingham, William Doolittle, James H. Mold, S. P. White, J. C. Horton, D. J. Kniffin, H. G. Irelan.
There have been 72 members, two of whom are dead, six suspended, and eleven withdrawn by card. The present membership is 51. The value of lodge fixtures and regalia and cash on hand is about two hundred and fifty dollars. Four thousand dollars have been paid to the widows of deceased members-$2,000 to the widow of James Vaughan, who was killed by the cars October 22nd 1878, and $2,000 to the widow of W. H. Gorton, who died September 23d 1880.
The lodge has given several excursions, notably the excursion to Hiawatha Grove, near Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., during the summer of 1880.
Its present officers are: Dictator, George A. Lewis; vice-dictator, James Lee; assistant dictator, Robert Davie; reporter, J. C. Horton; financial reporter, A. T. James; treasurer, L. W. Kiff; chaplain, J. L. Davis; guide, James H. Mold; guardian, G. C. Fuller; sentinel, S. P. White; trustees, A. M. Ingham, H. P. Erwin, F. A. Higgins; representative to grand lodge, S. P. White; alternate, A. T. James; medical examiner, Dr. N. In- gram; past representatives to grand lodge, A. J. Owen, Dr. E. G. Drake, Dr. A. M. Ingham, A. T. James, S. P. White.
The Young Men's Christian Association of Blossburg was organized November 3d 1878, under the name of " The Railway Young Men's Christian Association." It organized with about 15 charter members, principally railroad men.
Its first officers were: President, William Wallace; vice-president, Edward L. Russell; secretary, Lewis B. Manning; treasurer, Walter V. Calkins; collector, George A. Lewis. For the year beginning with November 1879, the constitution of the association having been amended to provide for an additional officer, the executive secre- tary, the following named gentlemen were chosen officers: President, E. I .. Russell; vice-president, Ira Lozier; sec- retary, E. S. Guernsey; treasurer, Thomas Evans; col- lector, T. L. Hill. At the annual meeting in November
1880 the name was changed by omitting the word "Rail- way." The officers elected at that time were: President, E. L. Russell; vice-president, Dr. E. N. Leake; execu- tive secretary, Walter V. Calkins; corresponding secre- tary, E. S. Guernsey; treasurer, Thomas Evans; collec- tor, T. L. Hill.
The officers elected in November 1881, and now in office, are: President, John Cook; vice-president, E. L. Russell; executive secretary, T. L. Hill; corresponding secretary, E. S. Guernsey; treasurer, T. J. Evans; col- lector, Walter V. Calkins.
The association now has 62 active and 21 associate members, and is in better working order than at any other time since its organization. It occupies very pleasant and neatly furnished rooms on Main street; has recently bought a fine organ, and hopes soon to be able to open a reading room and library, having already money set aside for that purpose. The association has always given liberally for the relief of the poor and sick, when it had funds. It is out of debt, believing in the "pay-as-you-go " principle, and is actively engaged in religious work for young men and others. A gospel meeting is held every Sunday afternoon, and a meeting for Bible study Wednesday evening of each week.
BLOSSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Eagle Engine Company was organized in 1869, with A. T. James as foreman, Joseph Maxwell assistant foreman, Sumner P. White treasurer, and William Shields secretary.
Mist Hose Company was organized at the same time, with J. L. Belden foreman, G. C. Fuller assistant fore- man, and J. C. Horton secretary.
The companies held their organizations until 1873, when a reorganization took place, one company assuming the name of Drake Engine Company, the Mist Hose still retaining its name. I'. Bonney became chief engi- neer.
The Drake company chose H. F. Shattuck foreman, B. A. Murray assistant foreman, and E. H. Mosher sec- retary and treasurer; and the Mist Hose chose G. C. Fuller foreman, John L. Lewis assistant, and William A. Shields president.
The officers of the Drake company elected in subse- quent years were as follows:
1874 -- F. A. Higgins, foreman; M. G. Lewis, assistant; Walter V. Calkins, secretary. 1875-M. G. Lewis, fore- man; W. H. Doolittle, assistant; W. V. Calkins, secre- tary and treasurer. 1876-The same as in 1875, except- ing Carl Spencer as secretary and J. L. Davis treasurer. 1877 and 1878-M. G. Lewis, foreman; George Heath, assistant; Henry Welch, secretary; J. L. Davis, treas- urer. 1879-S. P. White, foreman; Henry Welch, assist- ant; William Codney jr., secretary; J. L. Davis, treasu- rer. 1880-S. P. White, foreman; Harry Pitts, assistant; William Codney jr., secretary; Michael Gorman, treas- urer.
Officers of the Mist Hose Company have been elected as follows:
1874-The first board re-elected. 1875-J. L. Lewis,
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RAILROAD MEN AT BLOSSBURG -- MANUFACTORIES.
foreman; Stephen H. Hollands, assistant; W. A. Shields, president. 1876-S. H. Hollands, foreman; Matthew Mitchell, secretary. 1878-Same as the preceding year excepting John Nolen, secretary, and Matthew Mitchell, treasurer. 1879-Henry Irelan, foreman; D. J. Kniffin, assistant; M. Mitchell, treasurer; John Nolen, secretary.
ten to twenty years, and for attention to duty cannot be excelled on any road in the State. The car shop is under the supervision of Daniel H. Stratton; a large number of men are employed in building coal dumps, cabooses, house cars, passenger cars, gondolas, lumber, 1880-D. J. Kniffin, foreman; John Ely, assistant; same bark and coke cars, and repairing the same. Mr. Strat- treasurer and secretary.
H. F. Shattuck was chief engineer till 1878; since then M. G. Lewis has held the position. Philip Goldmeyer is his assistant, and Charles D. Utley is secretary of the department.
The department is composed of some of the best young men in the place, who have maintained their organiza- tions under many trying and embarrassing circumstances, the chief of which was the neglect of the council and burgess to furnish them with suitable apparatus.
RAILROAD MEN.
A. F. Gaylord, William Kerwan, I. M. Horton, P. Col- lins, K. Boehm, J. B. McCarty. William Codney, James W. Maher, William M. Butler, G. C. Fuller and George Richter; baggage masters-Michael Clohessy, J. Had- ley and M. J. Delaney; engineers-William and James Green, L. Lownsbery, F. Hebe, J. Putnam, William Wal- lace, John Evans jr., George A. Lewis, T. Trimble, D. Hovey, Sant Gaylord, R. Hughes, James Bonney, D. I .. McCarty and H. Ernest; firemen-L. S. Higgins, B. Trimble, W. Delaney, Ed. Green, Ira Lozier, M. Van Houten, T. Jones, H. Kench, J. D). Gillette, L. A. Kin- ney, R. E. Hathaway, C. H. Keagle, W. A. Hughes and WV: Neolt; station agent, B. J. Guernsey, assisted by Ed- ward Guernsey and John Gavigan; superintendent of track, E. Gavigan; foreman of construction on Arnot branch, Philip Cowley; section foreman on Morris Run branch, Philip Goldmeyer; at Blossburg, Henry Gilbert; Arnot branch, Michael Gorman; train dispatcher, Walter V. Calkins; telegraph operator, Charles D. Utley; assist- ant superintendent, Henry F. Shattuck; superintendent, L. H. Shattuck.
The last named has been in the employ of the com. pany thirty years, and has devoted his whole energies, time and talent to building up and sustaining the use- fulness and character of the road. Nothing that could insure safety and regularity in the running of trains has been neglected or overlooked on his part. He has watched with a fatherly care the interest of each stock- holder, whether he was owner of one or a hundred shares. For the past ten years he has been ably assisted in his work by his son Henry F. Shattuck, who for twenty years has been familiar with the road and its business.
Many of the employes have served the company from
ton has a lifelong experience in the business. The machine shop is in charge of P. Bonney, who has worked at the business about forty years. He looks after the entire motive power of the road, and builds and repairs locomotives. A large number of machinists, boiler makers and others are employed under the direction of Mr. Bonney. The company owns two round-houses, one of wood, the other of brick, capable of housing from 15 to 20 locomotives. The company has 22 locomotives of various sizes and power.
MANUFACTORIES.
Blossburg is the home of many whose occupations are connected with railroading. Six or seven hundred thou- sand tons of coal and coke pass through the town from Arnot, Morris Run and Fall Brook annually, and this being the point where the shops, round-houses, etc., of the Tioga Railroad Company are located, the number of railroad nien is necessarily large. It includes the following: Con- Foundry and Machine Shop of T. J. Mooers .- Mr. Mooers came to Blossburg in 1864 and purchased what was known as the old furnace property, built by Judge John H. Knapp in 1825. It had undergone many changes since 1825. There had been a furnace, a rolling-mill and a fire brick kiln; but Mr. Mooers turned his atten- tion to founding, both iron and brass. He had from ductors-F. A. Higgins, C. L. Shattuck, John Delaney, time to time increased his business as the times would warrant, and since his purchase in 1880 of the machine shop of O. F. Taylor he has upon his premises a black- smith shop, a wagon shop, a foundry and machine shop, a store house for patterns and work, and an office. He carries on a general business of foundry and machine work, manufacturing plows, stoves, car wheels, mining appliances and railroad castings both iron and brass. He employs quite a number of men, and his establish- ment is a benefit to the town.
Blossburg Saw- Mill .- In 1868 Drake & Taylor erected a very valuable saw-mill in the southern portion of the borough, on the line of the Arnot branch of the Tioga Railroad. O. F. Taylor had the immediate supervision of the business, and his boss sawyer was W. H. Cotten. March 3d 1876 the mill was destroyed by fire, causing a great loss to the proprietors. It was rebuilt in 1877 by the Blossburg Coal Company, and its capacity is now about 5,000,000 feet per annum. James H. Mold has been foreman for the past nine years. This establish- ment directly and indirectly gives employment to a large number of lumbermen, bark peelers, teamsters, and saw- yers.
Glass Manufactory .- In 1847 a factory was established in the northern portion of the village of Blossburg by William Dezang, of Geneva, N. Y., for the manufacture of window glass from the glass sandrock which abounds in such quantities in the Blossburg coal regions. He operated it for a term of years, when it passed into the hands of Webb, Fellows & Co. This firm built a num- ber of dwellings to accommodate their workmen; ten of the houses were double ones, and have since been known as the "ten buildings." O. F. Taylor and James H. Gulick operated the factory from 1860 to 1865, and it is
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
now owned by the heirs of James H. Gulick. In 1867 a co-operative company known as Hirsch, Ely & Co., con- sisting of ten members, leased the works, and they made the manufacture of glass in Blossburg a very successful business. Their combined capital was less than $10,000, yet year by year the firm continued to prosper, until now they manufacture at this point about forty thousand boxes of glass, besides some thirty thousand boxes at the Covington factory, three miles north, which they have recently purchased. At their works in Blossburg they occupy about five acres of land, on which are located the melting-room, flattening-room, pot-house, cutting- room, soda-warehouse, grinding-room, warehouse, coal and wood yard, blacksmith shop, box-making room, and a neat new office for the transaction of their business. E. H. Mosher, long connected with the firm, is their bookkeeper, Mark Hirsch shipping clerk and B. N. Mc- Coy superintendent. Their glass has a sale as far west as Detroit and Milwaukee, and south to Galveston, Texas.
The company also conducts a store, which is located in the central business portion of Blossburg and is in charge of D. H. McIntyre, assisted by Ed. Philbrick, James Kirkwood, John Ely and John Richards. The company also owns the fine brick block in which it is located. E. S. Scofield, who from the beginning was the very efficient superintendent for the company, and John B. Philbrick, who was connected with the store but was one of the original ten members of the firm of Hirsch, Ely & Co., have died within the last eighteen months.
The company employs at Blossburg about sixty men, and the factory is one of the most valuable industries of the place. Michael Ely was for many years in charge of the store at Blossburg; but has recently gone to Coving- ton to take charge of one of a similar kind there owned by the company. The present members are J. B. Hirsch, Michael Ely, Charles Robinson, Andrew Ely, William Dodds jr., the heirs of E. S. Scofield, the heirs of J. B. Philbrick and B. N. McCoy.
Blossburg Steam Planing and Feed Mill .- This estab- lishment was founded about eight years ago by L. A. Wing, its present owner. It is on the east bank of the Tioga River, near the central portion of the borough. Mr. Wing grinds corn and oats into feed, and manufac- tures doors, window sash and blinds, and planes and grooves lumber and flooring. A considerable number of men find employment at the establishment.
The Tannery of Hoyt Bros .- In 1869 A. Rumsey & Co. built here what was at that time one of the most ex- tensive tanneries in the United States. Its capacity was from 75,000 to 100,000 sides of sole leather per annum. After being conducted very successfully for several years it was sold, and finally purchased by Hoyt Bros., of No. 72 Gold street, New York, who have from time to time made improvements and added to its capacity. It gives employment to seventy-five or eighty men directly, and a large number indirectly. It is the most important indus- trial establishment in Blossburg. Its present superintend- ent, T. C. Peck, is a practical tanner and an excellent
business man. He has an able assistant in A. E. Botch- ford, who has charge of the books in the office.
OTHER LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
Banking .- A private banking institution was estab- lished in Blossburg May ist 1871, by Horace and Samuel W. Pomeroy of Troy, Pa., who associated with them W. H. Smith. The firm was known as Pomeroy Bros. & Smith. Their first banking room was in the Eagle Hotel block. The destructive fire in March 1873 destroyed their place of business. In June 1873 the present ele- gant building was constructed. The firm continued in business together until June 1880, when Mr. Smith sold his interest to Frederick E. Smith of Tioga. The firm is now Pomeroy Bros. & F. E. Smith. The business is conducted by A. Lee Smith, son of F. E., assisted by J. L. Davis. This is deemed a very reliable institution.
Blossburg Mineral Spring .- About two years ago the writer sent a quantity of the water from the Blossburg chalybeate spring to Professor Genth, State chemist for the second geological survey of Pennsylvania, and de- sired him to make an analysis of it and communicate the result. This he did and found it to contain in one gal- lon of 231 cubic inches as follows:
Silicie Acid 2.15386 grains
Sulphuric Acid. 5.64348 grains
Ferri Phosphate. 0.32738 grains
Ferri Sulphate. .31.31905 grains
Aluminum Sulphate. 6.58489 grains
Nickel Sulphate.
0.35819 grains
Cobalt Sulphate 0.05019 grains
Manganese Sulphate. 1.83367 grains
Magnesium Sulphate. 13.10151 grains
Calcium Sulphate .23.12789 grains
Lithium Sulphate. 0.11652 grains
Sodium Sulphate. 0.26646 grains
Potassium Sulphate 0.24442 grains
Sodium Chloride.
0.10128 grains
Specific gravity, 1.0033. 85.20879
This is one of the most remarkable mineral springs in existence. It is resorted to for the cure of cutaneous diseases and dyspepsia and the general toning up of the system. It is growing fast into public favor, and it now seems that the day is not far distant when suitable build- ings will be erected to accommodate the invalids who desire its waters.
Cemeteries .- There are three cemeteries in Blossburg, located in the southern portion of the borough-the Union cemetery, the Catholic cemetery and the Odd Fellows' cemetery. Large numbers are annually buried in these cemeteries from Morris Run, Fall Brook, Union, Antrim and Arnot. The grounds, although not elabor- ately laid out and embellished, are kept in good order.
The post office is located in the central portion of the borough, in a brick block belonging to the estate of the late John Martin. Alfred T. James is postmaster, assisted by Walter Leake. This is a money order office, and is quite a central distributing point for mails going north on the Tioga road and south and east to Morris Run, Fall Brook and Arnot by rail, and to Roaring Branch and Liberty by stage.
BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.
BY S. P. CHASE.
W HEN the first whites settled in Brookfield there were in the township territory two camps of Indians, of about six or eight each, who were very friendly to them. One of these bands encamped on the land now owned by J. S. Grantier, the other near Mink Hollow. his sheep in one night.
An Indian called Indian Jim assured the man that he could find the thief. He got others of his company and started in search, and at
night they returned with a mammoth panther, though lake country of New York and settled in the northern
the ground was bare at the time and it puzzled the white man to understand how his enemy could be tracked and found so readily. The panther was killed within a few rods of where the North Fork Church now stands. There was one Indian who used to hunt with the whites. Very often they would get out of lead, and a number of times were furnished by this friendly red skin, he getting his lead somewhere in the edge of Potter county, but never allowing a white man to learn by him where it was.
FIRST SETTLERS AND PIONEER EVENTS.
The first four settlers of Brookfield came about the year 1809. Bedford George, Titus Ives, Elihu Hill and Curtis Cady were the first whites who came to settle with their families. Bedford George settled on the Eddy place, near where William Austin now has his store. Titus and a cellar under the rest except where the foundation lves settled nearly a mile further up Troup's Creek, on what is now known as the Ives place, which has ever since been owned by him or his descendants. The George and Ives families were the only ones living in the east part of the township. Elihu Hill located on the land now owned by Daniel McPherson and known as the Bacon farm. In a very early day the northwestern part of the township was called Hilltown, from Elihu Hill, the first settler. Curtis Cady located further west, on a piece of land now known as the old Stryker farm.
John Joseph, the next settler, moved into the township while as yet it was one vast wilderness. A few years be- fore coming into Brookfield he moved from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to Southport, N. Y., with a small colony of settlers. Most of them only staid in Southport a few weeks and then moved up into the edge of Pennsylvania at Elkland. They staid there a few years, when Mr. Joseph, with oxen and wagon, started to emigrate further on into the woods. Leaving Elkland at daybreak he traveled far into the evening to get to Mr. Ives's, on Troup's Creek, a distance of ten miles, and staid there over night. Early the next morning he resumed his journey, and by hard traveling
through woods and over large roots hauled up for dinner at Mr. Hill's (on the Bacon farm), about 2 P. M., having come about four miles. After dinner the emigrants had about a mile to go, but before they could make that dis- tance it was dark, and they had to go to Mr. Cady's and get a torch to light them into the woods. Mr. Joseph from that time to the present there has been a good rep- resentation of Josephs in the township.
On one occasion a settler lost all settled on the farm now owned by John Dougherty, and
Ira and Amos Baker and their father came from the
part of the township. John Brown came from Delaware county, N. Y., about the same time with the Bakers, and settled near Mink Hollow. After this there were others coming and settling, some to stay and others leaving very soon. We shall have to do with those who staid and lent a helping hand in making Brookfield what it now is -one of the finest townships in the county.
Bedford George, Titus lves, Elihu Hill and Curtis Cady were the first to build log houses, which were the only dwellings built for many years. Ives put up the first framed house in the township on Troup's Creek, where the North road connects with the Troup's Creek road. Godfrey Bowman built the next-well known to this day as the Godfrey Bowman house. This house was a large one for the times, with a cellar kitchen under one half, of a mammoth stone chimney and oven took up a space about 8 by 10 feet. This building was never entirely completed, but was used as a sort of inn and occupied from the first until within a year, when it was torn down to make place for a finer house. There are more ghost stories connected with this Godfrey Bowman house than with any other in the township excepting one. Amos Baker built the third framed house, on the land now owned by Phebe A. Wood, known as the Graves farm. These three were the first built, and with only one or two years' difference in the date of building-the first of them being erected about the year 1829. The Baker house stands about equal with the Bowman house as regards ghosts, but, happily for all concerned, both have vanished and their ghost stories with them.
The first orchard was set out by Elihu Hill on the Ba- con farm. A small orchard was set out about the same time on Troup's Creek on the Eddy farm, and one near Mink Hollow, on what is now the land of A. J. Simmons.
The first road, and the only one in the township for many years, was that (a part of which is now in use, known as the North road) running from east to west near the
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
State line. The western part of this road has had some changes made in its location, but so slight that they are hardly worth mentioning.
William Simmons was the bridegroom at the first wed- ding in Brookfield. He married Miss Mary A. Brown when he was a lad of fifteen or sixteen years of age. Mr. Simmons should be classed with the very early settlers, there not being more than ten or fifteen inhabitants when he moved into the township. Soon after his marriage he moved on to a piece of land about three-fourths of a mile east from Mink Hollow. He was at an early day a very successful hunter, a merchant, farmer and speculator, and for years the leading citizen of the place.
Ransom Cady was the second man married in the township, the wedding occurring in the same house where Mr. Simmons was married, near Mink Hollow.
The first children born here were twin daughters of Curtis Cady and wife. The members of this family were kind and obliging, but they did not gain much of a place in the township, and when they left they were soon for- gotten. John Simmons, L. D. Seely and E. N. Baker were among the first persons born in the township, and they are now living here and are well-to-do farmers.
Early in the history of Brookfield people " browsed " their stock, and deer would come into the chopping and feed at night. One morning early Mr. Simmons went to took from twenty-five to forty bushels of wheat per acre ยท his chopping to see if perchance there might be a deer from it, and sold the wheat at from two to three dollars feeding. He supposed he saw one, took aim and fired; went to the spot and found his only cow shot dead.
Luman Seely had a house of logs, with no chimney, but a small place for smoke to go through the roof. William George brought hams to smoke and did smoke them in this outlet for smoke. Others had like houses. Asabel Nobles took hams to Mr. Joseph's and smoked them in the same manner. Ira Baker and his wife caught a young fawn, nursed it like a baby and reared it to some size. Mr. Baker and Uncle Simeon Lewis were plowing at one time with two yoke of oxen on the farm now owned by George Rietter, in a field about half cleared, when a large tree fell across the oxen next the plow and killed them at once.
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