USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
In 1838 James P. Magill established a Democratic pa- per called the Eagle. It was ably conducted and well supported for several years, when its publication was dis- continued. The motto at its head was, " That country is the most prosperous where labor commands the greatest re- ward."-James Buchanan. " The Union rests upon the Constitution and its Compromises." The material of the office was used by R. Jenkins to start its political succes- sor, the Democrat, in 1858. In December 1861 the office was burned, and for several months no Democratic paper was issued in Wellsboro.
In April 1862 R. Jenkins procured new material and commenced the publication of the Banner. In a short time it was sold to a company at Tioga and removed to that village. But it did not long remain there, for in 1864 Theodore Wright, of Lock Haven, Clinton county, a candidate for Congress, purchased it, brought it back to Wellsboro, and gave it over into the hands of the Dem- ocratic county committee, who engaged Prof. Marinus N. Allen to edit and publish a Democratic paper. The paper was continued only about a year. In 1866 C. C. Keeler took hold of the concern and published The Herald of the Union. After a year he was succeeded by Charles G. Williams, an accomplished writer, who chang- ed the name back to the Democrat. Mr. Williams pub- lished the paper until the fall of 1869, when Mr. Jenkins again became the publisher, and he continued so until July 1873, when the property passed into the hands of Ferguson & Schlick, who issued the paper about a year. In November 1874 the Wellsboro Gasette, made up from materials of the old office of the Democrat and of the job office of Dr. Robert Roy, conimenced its career, published by F. G. Churchill, who during the exciting times of the trial of Cosgrove and others, the Wellsboro Bank robbers, issued a spicy daily; commencing Wed- nesday morning December 2nd 1874 and ending Decem- ber 12th 1874. Mr. Churchill continued the publication of the Wellsboro weekly Gasette until 1876, when he as- sociated with him S. N. Havens, and it was thus con- tinued until 1878, when Mr. Churchill sold out his inter- est to Mr. Havens and accepted the tender by General
153
JOURNALISM AT WELLSBORO-SECRET SOCIETIES.
William P. Schell of a position in the auditor general's department at Harrisburg. Mr. Havens subsequently associated with him Frank Conevery, and put in a steam power press and a large amount of jobbing type ete. The Gazette was published by Havens & Conevery until November 1881, when Mr. Havens sold his interest to Mr. Huntington, and the business is now carried on by Huntington & Conevery.
In 1846 William C. Webb published a "Free Soil " paper entitled the Banner. He afterward went west.
In 1850 William D. Bailey established the Advertiser, a Whig journal of decided ability and great typographi- cal merit. This paper was continued until 1854, when M. H. Cobb bought out the concern and changed the name of the paper, rechristening it the Agitator, the title by which it has since been known. Mr. Cobb was a very pungent and able writer, and one of the best editors Tioga county ever had. L. Bache and W. W. McDougall were partners in the business. In 1857 Mr. Cobb became sole proprietor, as well as editor. In 1859 he turned the establishment over to Hugh Young at a slight advance upon the original cost ($850), and left Wellsboro to accept a position on the staff of the New York World, a journal then just starting as a daily religious paper, but which has since been published as a political one. Mr. Young procured new type for the paper and devoted increased attention to the local col- umns, thus greatly enhancing the value of the journal. During the war the Agitator spread before the public the experience of eye witnesses on the field and in camp, and constituted a graphic history of the stirring events of the day. Mr. Cobb returned in January :863 and re- purchased the establishment, and in 1864 put in a cylin- der press. In December 1865 P. C. Van Gelder pur- chased a half interest, and the proprietors enlarged the paper to seven columns. In January 1867 it was again enlarged. On the ist of January 1870 Mr. Cobb retired and John I. Mitchell took his place as half owner. The firm of Van Gelder & Mitchell lasted a year, Mr. Mitehell retiring and Mr. Van Gelder becoming sole owner, with George W. Sears as editor. On the ist of January 1872 A. F. Barnes, of Bath, N. Y., purchased a half interest in the establishment, and an entire suit of smaller type was procured. On the Ist of September 1872 Mr. Van Gelder retired from the concern, and A. M. Roy, of Wellsboro, took the place; and since that date the Agitator has been published by the firm of Barnes & Roy. Improvements have been made from time to time, and thisis now one of the finest printing establishments in northern Pennsylvania. The Agitator is Republican in politics.
On the ist of January 1874 R. Jenkins, the former editor and publisher of the Democrat, commenced the publication of a folio sheet of five colums, mainly devoted to local news and Odd Fellowship. It was neutral in politics. He soon after abandoned the enterprise. In 1878 O. S. Webster removed from Westfield the office of the Idea, and commenced the publication of a paper at Wellsboro, christened the Tioga County Leader. It was
the organ of the Greenback party. Its publication was suspended in December ISSI.
LODGES AND SOCIETIES.
Tioga Lodge, No. 230, I. O. O. F. was organized at Wellsboro February 15th 1847, with the following offiers: Robert C. Simpson, N. G .; William Garretson, V. G .; James P. Magill, secretary; James S. Bryden, assistant secretary; James D. Booth, treasurer. After a flourish- ing existence of ten years it broke up.
In the spring of 1871 a sufficient number of the old members petitioned the Grand Lodge for a return of the charter. It was returned on the 12th of April 1871, and the lodge was reorganized by D. D. G. M. Otis G. Ger- ould, of Covington. The officers elected were: Andrew Foley, N. G .; H. W. Dartt, V. G .; N. I. Chandler, sec- retary; Joseph Riberolle, treasurer.
There are at present 125 members. The past grands in good standing are Henry W. Williams, Robert C. Simpson, Elisha J. Brown, Hiram W. Dartt, George O. Derby, N. I. Chandler, Jerome B. Potter, Moses Yale, William S. Hoagland, W. W. Webb, John Brown, Frank A. Deans, L. L. Bailey, Joseph Williams, John W. Mather, George W. Merrick and Horace B. Packer. The pres- ent offieers are: H. E. Raesly, N. G .; James Matson, V. G .; Frank A. Deans, secretary; N. I. Chandler, assist- ant secretary; Joseph Riberolle, treasurer.
Wellsboro Encampment, No. 78, I. O. O. F. was insti- tuted at Wellsboro April 10th 1848, with the following officers: John S. Williston, C. P .; James S. Bryden, H. P .; John F. Donaldson, S. W .; Edward W. Ross, J. W .; Simon H. Landis, secretary; Joseph Weaver, treasurer; L. B. Reynolds, guide. The encampment surrendered its charter about 1856 or 1857, and was reinstituted under the same charter March 27th 1873, the grand encamp- ment officers of the State being present. The officers installed were: A. Foley, C. P .; Robert C. Simpson, H. P .; E. J. Brown, S. W .; N. T. Chandler, J. W .; Hi- ram W. Dartt, secretary; Joseph Riberolle, treasurer; George O. Derby, guide.
The past chief patriarchs in good standing are Robert C. Simpson, N. T. Chandler, George O. Derby, Jerome B. Potter, Hiram W. Dartt, Andrew J. Tipple, Moses Yale, Frank A. Deans, Charles Eberenz, M. C. Potter, Ezra Benedict Young, and L. L. Bailey.
The present officers are: John W. Mather, C. P .; L. L. Bailey, H. P .; William S. Hoagland, S. W .; Richard Lownsberry, J. W .; Frank A. Deans, scribe ; Joseph Riberolle, treasurer.
Ossea Lodge, No. 317, Free and Accepted Masons was constituted January 11th 1858. The first officers were: Ebenezer Pratt, W. M .; William A. Roc, S. W .; William Roberts, J. W .; James Kimball, treasurer; Thomas B. Bryden, secretary; Robert Roy, S. D .; Angus Griffin, J. D .; Hubbard Carpenter, tiler.
The past masters now members are Robert C. Simp- son, William Roberts, Hugh Young, Massena Bullard, Henry W. Williams, John I. Mitchell, Ezra B. Young, James H. Bosard, Max Bernkopf, John Cuyle and Charles T. Kimball.
19
154
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
Tioga Chapter, No. 194, Royal Arch Masons was con- stituted August 15th 1859. The first officers were: Robert C. Simpson, H. P .; William Butler, K .; A. W. Howland, S .; William Roberts, treasurer; Thomas B. Bryden, secretary; Hubbard Carpenter, tiler.
The past high priests now members are Robert C. Simpson, William Roberts, Massena Bullard, Hugh Young, Henry W. Williams and Jerome B. Niles.
Tyadaghton Commandery, No. 28, Knights Templar was constituted June 12th 1867. The first officers were: Robert C. Simpson, E. C .; William Roberts, G .; Andrew Foley, C. G .; Mark H. Cobb, Prel .; Robert Roy, treas- urer; Thomas B. Bryden, secretary.
The Hermaic Society was organized May 11th 1869 by the young men of Wellsboro, as a debating or literary society. In the winter of that year it furnished the public a free course of home lectures, the society paying from its own fund all the necessary expenses. In 1870 it continued as a debating and literary society, holding meetings weekly and organizing what was then considered a hazardous undertaking, namely, a first-class lecture course. The citizens of Wellsboro generously came for- ward and backed the society by subscribing $1,000 as a fund to be assessed upon to cover any deficiency which might arise. But the success of the experiment far ex- ceeded the most sanguine expectation of the society, as thirteen lectures were furnished by the best talent which money could procure, and the deficit amounted to less than $50, thereby releasing its endorsers almost entirely. In 1871 the course embraced lectures or entertainments by Frederick Douglass, the Mendelssohn Club, Mary A. Livermore, George Vanderhoff, William Parsons, D. R. Locke, George William Curtis, Anna E. Dickinson and Rev. Edwin H. Chapin, D. D. The course of 1873-4 was given by home talent, and proved interesting beyond expectation. The society had a fine reference library and reading room in Bowen's block. The lecture course of 1874-5 was a brilliant one. In January 1875 ex- Governor Andrew G. Curtin, late minister to Russia, delivered an admirable lecture on that country. Other distinguished speakers graced their lecture platform during the season.
Temperance Societies .- In 1865 a division of the Sons of Temperance was organized, which was remarkably successful, reforming many who had contracted habits of intemperance. For a number of years no licensed hotel existed in Wellsboro. In 1868 the Good Templars or- ganized a society, and in a short time absorbed the or- ganization of the Sons of Temperance. A great temper- ance wave rolled over the county in 1877, termed the Murphy movement. A great mass meeting was held in Bush's. Park in Tioga, where people assembled from all parts of the county to welcome Francis Murphy, the great modern apostle of temperance.
In the evening after the meeting at Tioga, Wednesday June 27th 1877, Mr. Murphy and Luther Caldwell ad- dressed a multitude estimated at 3,500 on the public square at Wellsboro. The village had never seen a meet- ing where so much good feeling and enthusiasm pre-
vailed. From beginning to end it was a continued ova- tion to the speakers and the cause they advocated. They held a similar meeting the next evening, and as a result of the two meetings 257 names were added to the already long Murphy roll of honor. The local temperance or- ganizations kept up the meetings, which were from time to time addressed by local speakers. A great many of those who signed the "Murphy pledge " have relapsed into their old habits, while a great number have kept it inviolate. The ladies of Wellsboro now have an organi- zation, which has for its object the suppression of the traffic in alcoholic drinks as a beverage.
The Tioga County Medical Association was organized June 20th 1860, at the office of N. Packer, M. D., in Wellsboro, and at first consisted of Drs. N. Packer, R. H. Archer, C. V. Elliott, W. W. Webb, Daniel Bacon and Otis W. Gibson, son of Otis L. Gibson, who for thirty years previous had been a practitioner in Wellsboro. The organization increased its membership slowly and held its meetings occasionally. The last one was held at Mansfield, on the 19th of December 1860. After this the society was in a state of suspended animation until the 9th of September 1868, when it was reorganized at a meeting held at Tioga. It then consisted of Drs. W. W. Webb, Daniel Bacon, Robert M. Christy, R. B. Smith, T. R. Warren, H. A. Phillips and Lewis Darling jr.
At this organization new life was infused into the so- ciety, and it started off on a career of usefulness. It has continued to increase its membership and awaken a lively interest among the physicians of the county, until it now stands second to none in the State of Pennsylva- nia. There are now 36 active members, comprising the best skill and talent in the county. The society holds four sessions annually, in the months of April, June, Sep- tember and December. At these meetings topics are discussed pertaining to the treatment of diseases, and views are interchanged upon the methods best calculated to promote the science, and practice of medicine. The association is one of the best institutions in the county.
The following named physicians have acted as presi- dent of the association since its organization: R. H. Archer, 1860; Daniel Bacon, 1868, 1869; N. Packer. 1870; James Masten, 1871; W. W. Webb, 1872; C. K. Thompson, 1873, 1881; W. T. Humphrey, 1874; R. B. Smith, 1875; Lewis Darling jr., 1876; M. L. Bacon, 1877; E. G. Drake, 1878; Geo. D. Main, 1879; A. M. Loop, 1880.
THE COURTS-NOTED CRIMES AND TRIALS.
In 1806 Wellsboro was made the county seat of Tioga county. Courts were not held there however until 1813, the legal business of the county from 1804 till 1813 being transacted at Williamsport. The first prosecutions were for malicious mischief and Sabbath-breaking. The first suit in the common pleas was for ejectment; verdict for defendant, and the sheriff returned that he had taken the body of the plaintiff, on a writ to collect the cost. The country was so sparsely settled that the constable, Lorain Lamb, stated that it was difficult to find suitable persons for jurors,
155
THE WELLSBORO BANK ROBBERY-RESIDENT RAILROAD MEN.
On the night of the 16th of September 1874 a most daring and successful bank robbery was committed in Wellsboro. A band of masked men obtained an entrance into the dwelling of John I .. Robinson, president of the First National Bank of Wellsboro, whose son Eugene H. Robinson was cashier and resided with his father. The burglars secured the persons of the inmates of the house. After binding and gagging them, under the threat of death they compelled Eugene H. Robinson to produce the keys of the bank and to go there with them and un- lock its vaults, where they helped themselves to its con- tents, securing a very large sum of current funds, besides U. S. bonds and other valuables. After securing their booty the robbers left the premises leisurely and took their flight. Before daylight of the morning following the inmates managed to release themselves and give the alarm, Instant pursuit was commenced, and the fugi- tives were followed along the road leading toward El- mira.
The president and cashier of the bank at once issued a notice that their loss would not absorb over one third of their surplus fund or affect the security of depositors. This was corroborated by Chester Robinson, John R. Bowen, William Bache and H. W. Williams. No event had ever so stirred the people of Wellsboro. Every one who could render any assistance in the capture of the robbers volunteered his services or engaged in the pur. suit. A heavy reward was offered. On the following Sunday C. Cosgrove, a man with many aliases, was arrest- ed at or near Waverly, N. Y., and a man at Elmira by the name of Orson Cook; also Mike Welsh, of Waverly. A large sum of money was found in the possession of Cosgrove, together with bonds and other property, and the gold watch and chain of E. H. Robinson, the cashier. The prisoners were incarcerated in the jail at Wellsboro, and at the December term of court next following were tried. Hon. Stephen F. Wilson was the presiding judge, and his associates were D. McNaughton and L. B. Smith. J. C. Strang was then district attorney. During the trial, which lasted several days, the court-house was crowded to its utmost capacity, while crowds along the corridors and walks waited and listened attentively for the least word in relation to the progress of the cases. The dis- trict attorney was assisted in the prosecution by Henry Sherwood, J. B. Niles, and M. F. Elliott. The prisoners were defended by John I. Mitchell, L. P. Williston, John WV. Mather, and J. H. Shaw. It was 5.40 P. M. of the last day of the trial when the jury retired to prepare their verdict, and the judge gave notice that if they were ready to come in before 10 o'clock P. M. the court-house bell would be rung as a signal for the prisoners to be brought in and receive the verdict, At 6.45 a bell was heard, and a stampede was made for the court-house, through the mud and darkness; when it was ascertained that the bell heard was that of the Presbyterian church near by, calling the people to worship. A few minutes only elapsed, however, before the court-house bell was rung, and soon the court room was crowded to overflow- ing. The expected verdict of "guilty " was rendered.
Cosgrove and Cook were each convicted on three sep- arate indictments and received sentence upon them, the former to fines of $2,000 and imprisonment for sixteen years and nine months, and the latter to $2,000 fines and thirteen years and eight months imprisonment. Another of the robbers was subsequently brought to justice, confined in the penitentiary, and was pardoned out. Through him a large amount of the bonds stolen, be- longing to Silas X. Billings, was recovered. It is safe to say that no other trial in the courts of Tioga county ever created such an intense interest as that of the Wellsboro Bank robbers.
No case of capital punishment has ever occurred in the county.
On the 27th of January 1882 Floyd Whitney, of Chatham township, was arrested in Michigan and placed in the Tioga county jail at Wellsboro, to be tried in May following for the murder of William S. Stafford of Chatham township about eighteen months before. Whit- ney admitted killing Stafford with a club, but claimed that the blow was not struck with the intention of com- mitting murder.
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.
We have already alluded to the Wellsboro and Law- renceville Railroad, now run under the name of the Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim Railroad, and spoken of its completion in May 1872. Although the railroad continues on to Antrim, yet Wellsboro is in fact the end of the route for first-class passenger trains. Passengers are carried to Antrim, but they change cars at Wellsboro. The employes in charge at Wellsboro are: H. J. Eaton, station agent; L. P. Williston jr., telegraph operator; Harry Wheeler and William Sullivan, assistants; Z. W. Baker, foreman of construction. It is at Wellsboro that all trains passing northward, toward Corning, are made up. There are four trains, exclusive of the coal trains, passing over the road daily. The conductors of the passenger trains are John H. Way, who has served the company in that capacity over twenty years; Thomas Brown, who has also been employed by the Fall Brook Coal Company more than twenty years; Net Wheeler, employed seventeen or eighteen years; James Baty, who has served the company continuously eighteen years, and Harry Kreger, another old railroad man, though not so long in the Fall Brook Coal Company's service. These conductors also run between Corning and Lyons, over the Syracuse, Geneva and Corning Railway. Corning is the junction of these two lines, and the train men run alternate weeks to Wellsboro and Lyons.
The Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo enterprise has been spoken of in the general history of the county.
FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Wellsboro was very fortunate for many years so far as the destruction of property by fire was concerned, fires occurring rarely, and no great loss being sustained. But on the morning of the 23d of October 1873 a severe and disastrous fire destroyed property in the business portion
156
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
of the town to the amount of over $roo,ooo. It was probably the work of an incendiary. It originated in the store of E. H. Hastings, and spread rapidly, consuming in its course the business places of M. Watkins, E. H. Hastings, C. L. Wilcox, Charles Yahn, Van Valkenburg & Co., Mrs. Wilcox, Guttenburg, Rosenbaum & Co. and Thomas Harden, and the large hotel of B. B. Holliday, which had just been painted, refitted and refurnished; besides doing injury to others, on the opposite side of the street. The panic of 1873 had just swept over the country with its paralyzing effects, and this blow was the more discouraging to the business men, coupled with the stringency of the money market.
The citizens had only partially recovered from the shock when, on the morning of April ist 1874, another fire occurred, which was still more destructive than the first, sweeping away the entire square of buildings be- tween Crafton and Walnut streets back to Pearl street. The fire was first discovered in the store of William Wil- son, and it was not ascertained positively how it origina- ted. It was said at the time that many heard the alarm; but, it being on the Ist of April, it was thought to be a device to " fool " them, and the fire became unmanage- able before the true state of affairs was understood. The principal losers were Cobb & Bache, H. W. Williams, A. Foley, Dr. L. M. Johnson, L. A. Gardner, W. T. Math- ews, Charles Toles, M. Watkins, Nichols & Seeley, Wil- liam Wilson, L. B. Reynolds, the Nichols estate, C. J. Wheeler, C. C. Mathers, Mrs. A. J. Sofield, Guttenberg & Co., N. P. Close, J. R. Anderson, Mathers & Bodine, C. G. Osgood, Robinson & Co., W. B. Van Horn, Hark- ness & Burnett, E. H. Wood, A. L. Bodine, J. Johnson, Mrs. Hatkins, Mrs. Carey J. Etner, William Hill, Bowen & Fisher, S. B. Warriner, E. H. Hastings, William Riley, Mrs. Mary Lamb, M. M. Converse, Wheeler & Wilcox, David Carr, - Bunnell, G. W. Navle, John Grey, Seth Watkins, C. L. Wilcox, William Roberts and W. E. Pierson.
This terrible conflagration, coupled with that of only six months previous, was enough to dishearten the most courageous; but after a short time a reaction took place, and the work of rebuilding in a more substantial manner commenced, until now Main street is one of the finest business streets in any inland village in the country; it is wide and straight, and for two and a half squares the structures are almost exclusively of brick and stone.
The improvements have not been confined to Main street; but in all sections of the borough is the hand of its early development, and for that reason are not improvement seen. Elegant dwellings have been erected, old ones have been remodeled, streets have been im- proved, fair grounds have been placed in convenient and proper shape, and loving hands have beautified the last resting place of the dead. Many pleasant groves are SILAS X. BILLINGS. found in various sections of the town, where, nestled be- neath the shade of evergreens, cosy cottages are erected, protected from the blasts of winter or the burning heat of summer by the waving pine or balsam.
The losses by the great fire of 1874 at the time seemed irreparable, but scarcely a trace of its destructive course is now perceived.
The Wellsboro fire department consists of three com- panies, viz .: Lafayette Engine Company, No. 1, with 65 members; Alert Hose Company, No. 2, with 35 men; and Eureka Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, also of 35 mnen, making a total of 135 men. The department was organized February 13th 1874, and incorporated. Its first officers were: Thomas B. Bryden, chief engineer; Walter Sherwood, first assistant; Joseph Williams, second assistant; J. M. Robinson, secretary; Arthur M. Roy, treasurer. Mr. Bryden served as chief engineer until his death, March 31st 1878. M. G. Spalding, then first as- sistant engineer, acted as chief the rest of the year 1878. Joseph Williams was chief engineer for 1879; Joseph W. Brewster for 1880 and John Brown for 1881.
The officers for 1882 were: Frank A. Deans, chief engineer; Joseph W. Brewster, first assistant; David Karr, second assistant; George W. Williams, secretary; George O. Derby, treasurer. The business of the de- partment is conducted by a board of trustees, consisting of its officers and one trustee for every ten men on the respective company rolls. Meetings of the trustees are held on the second Monday night of each month, and each company has a monthly meeting.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.