USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 26
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Uncle Benjamin Seely, Luman Seely, J. B. Seely and has been filled with a stock of goods of from $20,000 to others were at one time chopping on the ground where E. N. Baker now has a vineyard, when a large deer came running toward them. Benjamin Seely stepped behind a tree, and as the deer was passing hit it in the head with his axe and killed it.
Before any elections were held in this township J. B. Seely, William Simmons, Amos Baker, Luman Seely and others went to Westfield to an election, and in returning were overtaken by darkness four or five miles from home in thick woods, and could not find their way. Amos Baker had a flint, a jackknife and punk; with these he obtained fire and they guided themselves with a torch of hickory bark.
ran at once into the house, got a gun, shot the bear and saved her calf.
Luman Seely went on foot at one time to Painted Post, N. Y., to buy some leather to get made up into shoes. Titus Ives's daughter Susannah went on horse- back to De Puy's mill at Tioga, taking a second horse to put the grist upon, and made the trip successfully.
MERCHANDIZING AND MILLING.
Painted Post seems to have been the point for most of the trading. A large amount of goods was bought there and brought into the township on horseback William Simmons bought his first iron kettle at Painted Post and brought it home on horseback. It was not long, how- ever, before he was in some way furnished goods by Joel Parkhurst, of Elkland, and kept them in his house for sale. For one yard of sheeting Mr. Simmons has re- ceived fifty cents or one day's chopping, and the same for calico. That seems to have been the price for some time. Mr. Simmons also furnished the settlers with the groceries they had to have, at corresponding prices, and sold other goods common in a country store. When he received money in trade it was generally paid out for . labor, and the labor was put into clearing up his farm. He cleared many an acre at fifty cents per day for labor,
per bushel. There are people living who worked a day for Mr. Simmons for a yard of calico. Mr. Simmons continued dealing in dry goods and groceries, either directly or indirectly, until his death. A Mr. Sleeper was one of the first merchants occupying his store. Jo- seph Montanye also sold goods in the same store. He was a man of fine character and an extraordinary sales- man.
Another store was built in an early day about a mile west of the Simmons store, and it has been occupied as such most of the time since it was built. It would re- quire too much space to treat of all the merchants who have sold goods in this store. Among the first were George Bacon and David Gardner. Since about 1866 it $30,000 worth, and has been owned by Wood & McBride, Wood & Stanburrough and Stanburrough & McPherson, the present proprietors. Mr. Stanburrough is said to have been the finest bookkeeper ever doing business in the township.
In the eastern part of Brookfield, for ten or twelve years, there has been a store kept by William Austin; about five years ago he erected a large building for it, and he is rapidly increasing his business.
In an early day much of the milling was done at Camp- bellstown, Painted Post and Addison. Schuyler Lewis, of Westfield, gives an account (which is attested by others as honorable and worthy as himself) of a trip to mill which
Mary, the wife of Titus Ives, once went to the calf pen took one week to a day. It was made with two yoke to feed a calf, as she was wont to do; but, no calf being of oxen, Jonathan Brown and Mr. Lewis going in com- in the pen, she looked beyond the pen and saw in the pany. They went down the Cowanesque to Lawrence- ville, from there to Bath, and three or four miles beyond brush fence the calf being carried away by a bear. She
III
EARLY HISTORY OF BROOKFIELD.
to Mill Creek. They took provisions and feed for their oxen, and at night would encamp among the wolves. This trip to mill was made for the public, the neigh- bors pretty generally being represented by a peck, half bushel or more of corn or wheat. Mr. Brown was selected to go partly on account of his being lame and unfit for manual labor. When these gentlemen returned from the far-off mill safe and sound there was as much re- joicing as when our boys in blue returned from the civil war.
John Joseph made an ox-sled and went to Addison, N. Y., a distance of twenty-five miles, to mill. There are a number of men in the town who have been to Painted Post on horseback for milling. The first mills on the Cowanesque were water-mills, and not always running. There are now grist-mills in all directions at moderate distances. The steam mill in the central part of the township for grinding coarse feed and making shingles, run by C. H. Plank, has been in operation four or five years, and is of great benefit to the inhabitants, there being many large dairies kept, and the stock generally fed ground feed in winter.
TAVERNS.
The only tavern ever built in the township was erected by William Corwin about 1853. Its chief revenue was schools, but only what we hear of in almost every back- woods place. Boys and girls were whipped a great deal more than now-a-days, and were bad in the same pro- portion.
from the sale of liquors and the rental of the ball room for traveling shows and balls. Mr. Corwin was the landlord for a few years, and after him Charles Phipps. This tavern was the headquarters for drunken brawls and fighting. It stood in the northwestern part of the township, in the center of Mink Hollow, where there were at the time two or three families, a potash factory, a store and a blacksmith shop. Notwithstanding its lo- cation one would have thought from the throng usually in attendance at parties and shows that it was quite out in the world; but if he judged from the conduct of those present he would determine at once that it was quite in the woods-even on the extreme frontier.
This house was accidentally burned, the owner, Charles Phipps, losing nearly all that he had. He removed to lowa, where he has been prosperous, and is reported as saying that his burning out in Brookfield was the greatest blessing of his life; certainly the people felt that the burning of this tavern was for the public good.
Since the destruction of this inn it has been the custom of travelers passing through the township to stop at the old Simmons homestead, where they always express themselves as finding good accommodations. This is now the only place in the township which is in any sense a public house. A. J. Simmons is following in the steps of his honored father, keeping a store and carrying on a farm of several hundred acres, and furnishing accommo- dations for travelers, although he does not advertise a public house.
PROGRESS IN EDUCATION.
on the place now owned by Adam Soper. The scholars in this first school were four Cady children, four of Mr. Joseph's children, two of Mr. Roberts's and William Simmons. Mrs. Charles Mascho, who was one of the first children who went to school, and was the daughter of John Joseph, is still living, and to her we are indebted for many of the facts in this history. Mrs. Mascho came into the township when a child and when there were only four or five families here. She has a very remarkable memory.
The first school-house was a log building, with split basswood slabs for seats and desks, and a large fireplace in one side, and was located at the foot of Nobles Hill. The Rev. Samuel Conant has the honor of having taught the first school in this wooden house in so wooden a country, not a child attending school but what must pass through woods in going and coming, at a date when not one clearing was in sight of another. Anna Van Camp taught the next school, and Luman Seely the next. It is said in a school report of Tioga county that Luman Seely taught the first school. He taught in a very early day, but there is no doubt that he was at least the fourth in the order of teachers. Daboll's arithmetic was the sole fountain of mathemattical knowledge. There are a great many comical things told in connection with these early
Miss Emma Nobles now Mrs. Hubbard . has been one of the most successful teachers of a late date. Miss Gibbs, Miss Pierce and Miss Hamblin stand in the front rank of teachers.
RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISES.
Methodist Episcopal Churches .- The first man who preached in the township was the Rev. Thomas Magee, and the Rev. Mr. Nash was the next. They were on the charge together, preaching alternate Sundays. The first church Methodist Episcopal was organized about the year 1818. The first members were Ira Baker, Amos Baker, Samuel Baker, John Joseph, William Joseph, Azel Nobles, and their wives, and Hannah Joseph, Deborah Joseph, and Curtis Cady. The first place of meeting was John Joseph's log dwelling house.
Early in the history of this church a very serious dif- ficulty occurred. It was harvest time, and very wet Winter wheat was the main crop. After most of it was cut it got wet and it was very hard to get dry. At the close of one week it cleared away and some wheat was by fine generalship got in before Sunday; but much was left out until Sunday. That being a fine drying day, but rain again threatening, in the afternoon these church folks went into their fields and gathered their grain. Charges were preferred against the guilty ones. Most of them acknowledged that they had done wrong, and said they were sorry and would do so no more. These were left in the church; but one felt that he had done nothing
The first school in Brookfield was taught by Asa Bushnell, in 1817, and was held in Curtis Cady's house, wrong, and, not being sorry, was excommunicated.
II2
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
A general good interest was kept up in religious things to the year 1836, when Rev. Nathan Fellows came into the township and held the most successful and interest- ing meetings ever held here. A good number of people now living date their religious experience from those meetings. They were held in Curtis Cady's house, and those who attended still speak of them, often with a great deal of feeling. The only fault of all those meet- ings was the neglect of all comers who used Mr. Cady's hay to pay for or return it. There are people who to this day believe that Mr. Cady never recovered from the loss he sustained at that time.
The society of Methodists held meetings from house to house and in the school-houses, and steadily increased until the great revival meetings held at the house of Cur. tis Cady, after which it was divided into two classes, one meeting in the eastern part of the township and the other in the northwestern part. The eastern society had at its head a leader by the name of William George. The western society was led by Ira Baker.
The first church edifice was built in Mink Hollow, in 1858. The frame was put up and enclosed by R. T. Leonard. The inside work was done by R. Hunt for $165, to be paid in grain, stock and subscriptions.
The trustees then were J. B. Seely, Jacob Grantier, John Simmons, Jesse Gardner, J. R. Coffin, Joseph Bow- man and Sylvenus Gardner. Application for a charter of incorporation was made to the court of quarter ses- sions by Jacob Grantier, J. R. Coffin, John Simmons, J. B. Seely, Jesse Gardner, J. P. Sleeper, James Duncan, C. L. Seely and J. E. Brown, June 9th 1859, and was ap- proved by the court September 8th following. William Haskill was preacher in charge at the time.
In 1861 and 1862 Rev. Joel H. Austin was preacher in charge. Rev. Charles Bush was the next pastor. Rev. Mr. Dillenbeck was the next in order, and in his pastor- ate occurred a great revival; many of the converts are now living. The Rev. Mr. Countryman followed Mr. Dillenbeck as pastor. Rev. C. G. Lowell was the next to take charge of the church. His brother, J. V. Low- ell, succeeded him, and is said to have been the greatest disciplinarian ever on the charge. The Rev. Mr. Blanch- ard next preached two years, and was followed by Rev. Charles Weeks, and he by Rev. Isaac Everett, who staid two years.
About this time the Mink Hollow appointment was assigned to the Westfield charge, the Troup's Creek ap- pointment to Knoxville, and the North Fork appointment to Harrison Valley. The next minister was the Rev. Mr. Transue, and he was the most successful pastor thus far. He preached nearly every evening for about six weeks, and scores were brought into the fellowship of Chris- tians.
Then followed as pastors the Rev. Mr. Roberts, one of the finest scholars and preachers who have labored here; Rev. Mr. Peck and Rev. J. Knapp. At this time the Brookfield appointment was joined to the Troupsburg charge, under the care of the Rev Jasper Kellogg, who is the present pastor.
The second church edifice of the Methodist church was built by J. G. Holmes in 1861-62. The two Method- ist societies upon the whole have been prosperous, that in the northwestern part of the township the more so. The church records have been so incompletely kept for years that many facts must be lost. The class in Mink Hollow numbers 60.
The Free- Will Baptist Church was organized in June 1840, at the house of Sheldon Atkins, where Rev. James Sherwood held meetings, which resulted in a number of conversions. John Owen and wife, Chester Seely and a sister, Sheldon Atkins and wife, A. Miller and wife, Alvira Seely and Mrs. J. G. Holmes were the original members. This society was organized by Revs. Philip White, Jesse Bennett and Isaac Hill.
A church edifice was built about the year 186r. Daniel W. Hunt, Abner L. George, Stephen Murdock, C. G. Seely and John Owens were the building commit- tee, and the church was completed in June 1861. It cost $1.500. The society is in a prosperous condition.
The regular Baptist church was organized May 25th 1848. Much of the work of organizing and establishing it was done by Rev. William G. Raymond, who was a great revivalist. The first church edifice was built by Nathan Besby, in 1859. The first meeting was held in it in June 1860. Elder Raymond was in charge of the society at the time. The original members of this society were Benjamin Cuer and wife, George Hunt, Jackson Hunt, Laura 1 .. Plank, Maria Metcalf, Elisha Hackett, Matilda Mascho, L. Plank and D. B. Fisk, the last two of whom were elected deacons.
Some of the first members are now living, although the society has gone down. No record has been kept since 1873, and the church edifice has not been occupied for years and is becoming dilapidated. Among those who have struggled to keep up the society are Spencer B. Plank, Laura Plank, A Hendrick, J. G. George and George Hunt.
Sunday-schools .- There is no Sunday-school record from a very early date. The main Sunday-schools for years have been the two Methodist Episcopal schools, one held in the western part of the township and the other in the eastern part; and one union school has been supported much of the time for years in the summer sea- son in the Free-Will Baptist church.
Some of the most successful superintendents have been N. B. Hubbard, Malcom Holmes, J. G. Holmes, S. B. Plank, Dr. Northup and S. P. Chase. Mr. Chase super- intended a Sunday-school both in the Baptist church and in the Methodist Episcopal church at Mink Hollow for years. He organized the first winter Sunday-school in Brookfield in 1874, and it has been in a thriving condi- tion each winter since. He has had charge of the first Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school nearly every year since 1865.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
The first justice of the peace was Titus Ives, and the next was Godfrey Bowman. The first election in Brook-
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113
BROOKFIELD OFFICIALS-LEADING FARMERS.
field was held at the house where R. Hunt now lives. tion-James Owen, 68; Cyrus McPeek, 67; Alfred Seely, For many years there have been two justices, one in either 3. Inspectors of election-Eugene Bonny, 58; C. C. end of the township. William Simmons was justice for Kizer 44; J. G. Thomas, 28; Chester Seely, 6. Auditor many years in the western part, as also was John Sim- -H. H. Mascho, 87; Zenas Pierce, 41. mons. The office has been held by members of that family almost continuously since a very early date. John AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. G. Holmes has been justice many years in the eastern Among those who have done most to improve live- stock and modes of farming are William Simmons, E. N. part of the township.
L. D. Seely has once been county commissioner, and Baker, A. J. Simmons, J. B. Seely, Abijah Seely, James Mr. Wakely sheriff. Captain H. B. Seely was elected Davis, C. H. Plank and Charles Mascho. Perhaps the auditor soon after the war.
first mowing machines were purchased by William Sim-
William Simmons was at one time the leading citizen mons and D. W. Nobles, about the year 1864; soon after- of the township; from a very poor boy he became the ward there were quite a number in use. E. N. Baker most wealthy citizen. He died about two years ago. His heirs are very highly respected.
The postmasters are Charles Stanburrough, William Austin, and S. B. Plank.
The vote for township officers at the last town meeting, February 21st 1882, was reported as follows in the Wells- boro Agitator:
was the first to introduce a harvester in the Hill neigh- borhood, about ten years ago; now they are in quite general use. C. H. Plank built the first feed-mill, about six years ago; he now has a shingle-mill in connection with it. J. B. Seely is noted for having the finest accom- modation for swine, poultry, etc .; he also has the best dairy arrangements. Wood & McBride built a cheese until two years ago. Last year 22 cheese were made per
Supervisors-W. G. Fitch, 81; J. G. Bowman, 60; factory about 1866, but it was not run very successfully Peter Clark, 55; D. W. Nobles, 44. Justice of the peace- M. L. Holmes, 128; W. C. Griffin, 2. Constable-F. E. day, weighing from 45 to 50 pounds each; this was in Wakely, 76; T. M. Grantier, 59. School directors-G. the best part of the season. Grain drills were first J. Davis, 113; I. P. Parker, 109. Assessor-W. J. Mon- brought into the township about a year ago. The chief tanye, 74; I. D. Seely, 65. Assistant assessors-A. Soper, 123; J. G. Owen, 120. Treasurer-G. H. Davis, 121. Town clerk-J. B. Thomas, 124. Judge of elec- business of the township is dairying, and grain growing; some farmers are raising tobacco. The township is rapidly improving in its state of cultivation.
CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP.
BY JOHN L. SEXTON JR.
T HE township of Charleston was formed from The township is one of the most productive in the county in proportion to its area. It produces wheat, the township of Delmar, in December 1820. It occupies a central position in the county, buckwheat, corn, oats, barley, hay, potatoes, tobacco and and is about five miles wide and ten miles long. It is bounded on the north by Middlebury; on the east by Richmond, Covington and Bloss; on the south by Liberty and Duncan; on the west by Delmar and Wellsboro. The post-offices in the town- ship are Charleston, Cherry Flats, Round Top and East Charleston. The villages or hamlets in the township are Cherry Flats, Whitneyville, Dartt Settlement, Dutch Settlement, Welsh Settlement, Round Top, Hill's Creek and Catlin Hollow.
most excellent fruit, while its dairy products can not easily be excelled. Fine herds of neat cattle are seen grazing in its sweet pastures, as well as choice flocks of native and foreign blooded sheep. The people are al- most exclusively devoted to agriculture, with a moderate percentage of manufacturing and mercantile pursuits. The township was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, which has been pretty generally cut down, and the business of lumbering and bark peeling is at present carried on to a limited extent. The products of the ington, Blossburg and the mining region. At the time of taking the census in 1880 the population of the township was 2, 193.
The surface is diversified, and there is a variety of soil, farm find a cash market at Wellsboro, Mansfield, Cov-
from the alluvium of the valleys to the shale of the hill tops. There are innumerable small streams rising within the township limits, some running southward and find- ing an outlet in Pine Creek, others running eastward and emptying into the Tioga River, while on the west and northwest the creeks and rivulets run toward Crooked Creek, and by that creek into the Tioga River at Tioga village.
THE FIRST ASSESSMENT
for the township after its formation was made by Nathan Niles jr., assessor; Oliver Willard, Seth Daggett and Hiram Beebe, commissioners, and David Lindsay, clerk.
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114
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
This was for the year 1821. The resident tax payers were:
A. Atherton, Caleb Austin, Rosel Bailey, Jesse Catlin, Nelson Catlin, William Catlin, Timothy Culver, Joe Cul- ver, Cyrus Catlin, Gideon Dewey, Justus Dartt, Justus Dartt jr., James G. Dartt, Daniel Denison, John Dailey, Calvin Eli, Israel Greenleaf, Benjamin Gitchell. Frederic Hilbot, David Henry, James Henry, Nathan Niles jr., James Porter jr., Thomas Prentice, Daniel Packer, Leonard Porter, John Porter, Elijah Starkweather, Peter Shumway, Heman Shumway, Vine Sagers, John Stark- weather, Adam Seeley, Thomas Sampson, Isaiah Wilson, Daniel Wilson, Moses Wheeler, Asahel Wetmore, Isaac Wheeler, Lyman Wetmore, Andrew Wetmore, Oliver Willard, Joseph Wilson, Orlando Willard, William Fanton, Cyrus Dartt, John Domnine, John Lovel, James Pettis, William Hill.
From the most reliable information to be had we learn that Caleb Austin lived near the present county poor- house; Rosel Bailey in Dartt Settlement; Jesse Catlin, Nelson Catlin and William Catlin in Catlin Hollow; Timothy and Joe Culver in what is now the Welsh Set- tlement; Gideon Dewey, Justus Dartt, Justus Dartt jr. and Cyrus Dartt in Dartt Settlement; Daniel Denison in Catlin Hollow; John Dailey in Dartt Settlement; Calvin Eli on the State road; Israel Greenleaf on Shumway Hill; Benjamin Gitchell on the State road, near the Wellsboro line; David Henry on the State road; Nathan Niles jr. near Ben Gitchell's; James Porter and Leonard Porter near Rosel Bailey, in Dartt Settlement; Thomas Porter near Shumway's; Elijah Starkweather at the foot of Shumway Hill; Peter Shumway (after whom Shumway Hill was named), Heman Shumway and Vine Sagers on or near Shumway Hill; John Starkweather at the foot of Shumway Hill; Adam Seeley on what is now known as the " Phillips farm " or Wheeler farm; Thomas Sampson at Cherry Flats; Isaiah Wilson and Daniel Wilson in Dartt Settlement; Moses Wheeler on the old Lyman farm on the State road; Asahel Wetmore, Lyman Wet- more and Andrew Wetmore on Wetmore Hill, near the Wellsboro line; Oliver Willard near Nathan Niles; Joseph Willard about a mile from Dartt Settlement; Orlando Willard near Calvin Eli's; John Lovel near the Wilsons; John Domine on the Dartt Settlement road; William Fanton on the State road; James Pettis in East Charleston, and William Hill near the Wheeler farm.
CHERRY FLATS.
Cherry Flats is a small village on the State road near the west line of the township of Covington. It contains two churches (Baptist and Methodist), a school-house, a blacksmith shop, a steam saw mill, two stores, a wagon shop, a shoe shop and abont thirty dwellings. For many years. it was a place of considerable business, being half way between Covington and Wellsboro, but of late it has rather declined in business importance.
The first settler was Timothy Culver, who gave the place the name Cherry Flats on account of there being a small flat at that place which was covered with a very luxuriant growth of cherry trees. There is a good farm- ing country surrounding it.
This place was the home of the Elliotts, Gilletts, Hark- nesses and Bacons.
Levi Elliott came to Tioga county in 1808, and located first near Covington. In 1812 he married Amy, a daughter of Aaron Gillett. Their children were: Sophia, wife of Nor- man Rockwell; Levi H .; Nathaniel A., better known as Colonel N. A. Elliott; Aaron G .; Amy G., wife of Still- man Frost; Horace, Jackson, and John W. Elliott. Levi Elliott died December 5th 1866, aged 75 years, to months and 23 days. His widow, now in her 92nd year, is in possession of all her mental and physical faculties to a remarkable degree. She is one of the surviving few who were pioneers in the settlement of Charleston and Cov- ington. Aaron Gillett, her father, came to Tioga county in 1798 and settled at Canoe Camp, and in 1812 at Cherry Flats. He died in Ohio many years ago.
Norman Rockwell was the first postmaster at Cherry Flats; the present incumbent of that office is George Saxton Parsons. The early settlers at Cherry Flats were principally of New England origin, and but few of them survive.
WELSH SETTLEMENT.
Timothy and Joseph Culver were the earliest settlers in what is now known as the Welsh Settlement. Thomas Evans and Lewis Lewis, with their families, and Miles and Peggy Harris succeeded them; in a few years came, directly from Wales, David G. Edwards, David Morris, Reese Morris and David Reese with their families; and in a short time thereafter came John Jones and John E. Jones. These latter arrived about the year 1842. In 1851 D. L. Jones settled in the Welsh Settlement. Most of those named purchased " wild lands " of the Bing- hams. Later came David Bowen, John Bowen, Joshua Bowen, John Bowen jr., Thomas Bowen and others from Blossburg.
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