USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 37
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BOROUGH OFFICERS.
The vote cast for officers of the borough on the 21st of February 1882 was reported in the Agitator as fol- lows:
Burgess-Walter Sherwood, 305; T. A. Robinson, 116. Councilmen-F. A. Johnson, 360; L. L. Bailey, 269; J. L. White, 254; D. L. Deane, 139; G. O. Derby, 136; T. A. Robinson, 31. School directors-Charles Sears, 310; M. L. Bacon, 268; P. Long, 167. Constable-E. J. Purple, 206; J. B. Wilcox, 205. Assessor-F. K. Wright, 280; J. W. Mather, 134. Assistant assessors-B. F. Kelsey, 265; J. W. Mather, 234; F. A. Deans, 159; J. E. English, 147. Judge of election-J. H. Matson, 397. Inspectors of election-John Fischler, jr., 228; William Hoagland, 158; H. B. Packer, 6. Auditor-F. W. Graves, 396.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Some of the subjects of these articles were not asso- ciated with the history of Wellsboro during the period of sketched among the " founders of the borough "; while some who have been thus mentioned are judged worthy of more extended notice before we leave this section of our work.
Silas X. Billings, son of Silas and Abbey Freeborn Billings, was born at Knoxville, Tioga county, Pa., Feb- ruary 2nd 1826. His father was an extensive lumber- man on the Cowanesque River and Pine Creek, and young Billings early became acquainted with the details of the business. His father removed to Elmira in 1840
Silas & Billings
157
SILAS X. BILLINGS-GEN. R. C. COX.
and placed Silas in the Elmira Academy, where he ac- quired a fair English education. In 1847 the young man was sent to take charge of lands owned by his father in the townships of Gaines and Elk, in the southwestern portion of the county, on Pine Creek, and Cedar and Slate Runs. A steam saw-mill was erected and taken charge of by Silas X. Billings and P. S. McNeil. The father of our subject died in Elmira, August 28th 1853. and his property was amicably divided, Silax X. being one of the administrators to settle the estate. After two years this was accomplished, and Silas X. took his share of the estate in wild lands in Tioga county, and in 1855 permanently located at Gaines, where he continued to reside until his death.
He was a man of great energy and methodical business habits, as is evidenced by his diary kept for a period of over 36 years, which is of itself a voluminous and inter- esting history. He erected mills, stores, tanneries and hotels, and added largely to his patrimony. He pur- chased large tracts of coal and timbered lands, and was eminently successful in all his undertakings. He was married January 5th 1865 to Miss Sarah M. Locke, daughter of Jesse and Lura Locke, of Wellsboro; he had no children.
His was an active and successful business life. He was prominently connected with the early struggles to obtain a charter for the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railroad, and in the face of great opposition succeeded, but did not live to see the road constructed. He was a genial companion, a true and steadfast friend, an affectionate husband and a generous and large hearted man, kind to the poor and a firm defender of the weak against the oppressions of the strong.
A few months before his death, his health failing him, he was prevailed upon by his friends to seek medical re- lief and repose. He went to New York city and con- sulted eminent physicians; on his way home, while visit- ing his sister, Mrs. McNeil, at Elmira, he was stricken with apoplexy, and remained unconscious several hours. He recovered, however, and returned to his quiet and beautiful home in Gaines, on the banks of Pine Creek. In about three weeks he was again stricken, and re- mained insensible forty-eight hours; and on the morning of October 13th 1879 he died, aged 53 years, 8 months and 11 days. His funeral was largely attended. The ser- vices were conducted by Rev. J. F. Calkins, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Wellsboro. His remains
were taken to Wellsboro for interment, where a plain but costly monument of Quincy granite, erected by his loving wife in the beautiful hillside cemetery, marks the spot where his remains repose. The gentlemen who bore him to his last resting place were Hon. H. W. Williams, Hon. J. B. Niles, John R. Bowen, Thomas Veazie, John W. Bailey and H. S. Hastings.
He was no aspirant for office, although competent to fill a high station. In politics he was a life-long Demo- crat. His death was a great public loss.
GENERAL ROBERT C. Cox.
Robert C. Cox was born in Fairfield township, Lycom- ing county, Penn., November 18th 1823. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native township. In the year 1841, when about 18 years of age, he removed to Liberty, Tioga county, and engaged in farming and lumbering. April 7th 1846 he was mar- ried to Miss Lydia Ann Wheeland. Their children are Henry C., Mary E. wife of Jacob K. Richards), and Carrie M., now at honie.
In 1843 he joined a cavalry company under Captain John Sebring, and was adjutant as long as the company remained organized, which was until the year 1857. He was then appointed brigade inspector for Tioga county. He possessed a true military spirit, and, although he was actively engaged in building saw-mills, and lumbering, still his fondness for a soldier's life would frequently dis- play itself. On the first call of his country to arms he immediately responded. Sunday morning April 20th 1861 he received the news of the perilous condition of affairs; aroused his townsmen, who soon paraded the streets with fife and drum, and immediately commenced organizing companies for the field. That afternoon he repaired to Wellsboro and organized two companies there; then one at Tioga, one at Lawrenceville, one at Coving- ton and one at Mainsburg; and by Thursday of that week he had six hundred men officered and organized at Troy, Pa., on the line of the Northern Central Railroad, ready for Harrisburg. At this time he held the rank of major and brigade inspector. In November 1862 he joined the 171st regiment, and on the 19th of that month was commissioned major. While in that regiment he was engaged in the battles of Blunt's Creek and Jacksonville, N. C., in February 1863, and at New Hope Church in March of the same year. The term of the regiment was nine months, but his country needing his services he re- mained eleven months. He returned to Tioga county and immediately commenced recruiting volunteers. September 6th 1864 he enlisted as a private, and on the 9th was commissioned colonel of the 207th regiment, and he remained in that regiment until after the close of the war. For a time Colonel Cox's regiment was stationed on the investing line before Petersburg, occupied by the army of the James; afterward he was assigned to the ninth corps Hartranft's division.
Bates, in his history of the Pennsylvania volunteers, speaks thus:
"When the enemy at dawn on the 25th of March 1865 captured Fort Steadman, Colonel Cox led his regiment promptly under arms and joined in the assault for its recovery, with four companies which he led in person. Colonel Cox dashed on, disregarding the enemy's fire, and was himself among the foremost to reach the hostile lines and recover them from the in- vaders' grasp. But even more courageous and daring was his conduct in storming and capturing the rebel works on the 2nd of April 1865, when Petersburg, after a siege of nine months, finally yielded to Union valor.
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
At 2 o'clock in the morning of that day his camp was alive, and a little after 3 he led his regiment out and formed it for the assault, just in front of Fort Sedgwick, popularly known as " Fort Hell," the left resting on the Jerusalem plank road. Opposite was the rebel Fort Ma- hone, with the equally suggestive title of " Fort Damna- tion." The works were of exceeding strength. A double line of chevaux de frise, a well strengthened picket line, a ditch, and a strong main work had to be encountered in front, while to the right and left were posts and angles, whence a devastating cross fire of artillery could sweep the ground which an attacking force must pass. In breathless silence the moment was awaited by this de- voted regiment when the trial of fortitude should come. Scarcely was so desperate a work attempted in the whole progress of the siege or during the war, and it was only equaled by the charge of Pickett's division at Gettys- burg. Finally the rocket which was to be the signal shot up into the heavens, and General Hartranft gave the order to go. Colonel Cox did not assign to his subord- inates the duty of conducting the movement; but, dis- mounted, with drawn sword, took his place in the front rank and cried, " Boys, let us do or die!" The enemy's artillery had for some time been in full play, and the booming of the cannon, the screaming and bursting of shell, and the almost hopeless work before them were enough to fill the heart with dismay; but when the order came, and the call of the leader was heard, not a soldier faltered. As they went forward men fell at every step, and all the ground over which they advanced was strewed with the dead and the dying. The axemen severed the links of the chevaux de frise and it was rapidly opened; but time was consumed, every second of which was cost- ing precious lives. From the neck of Colonel Cox bul- lets cut the hair, and his coat was riddled; but he re- mained unscathed, almost miraculously preserved, and pressing on led the survivors over the enemy's works, clearing the way at the point of the bayonet and planting his flag upon the walls of the hostile lines. Such an ex- hibition of bravery and so complete a triumph it has rarely been the lot of a soldier to know."
The loss of men was terrible. His color sergeant, George J. Horning, was killed, pierced with seven bullets; three of his color guard fell by his side; 37 of his men were killed and 140 wounded. President Lincoln upon hearing the news immediately conferred upon him the rank of brigadier-general by brevet. One week later the rebel army laid down their arms at Appomattox Court- House, and the war was over.
General Cox, having won an enviable reputation in the field and added laurels to the wreaths of our Tioga county soldiers, returned to his mountain home in Liberty, Tioga county, and resumed his business voca- tions, engaging in lumbering and mercantile pursuits. He was commissioned a major-general of the National Guard of Pennsylvania by Governor Geary, June 6th 1871, and on the 16th of April 1873 he resigned that office.
In 1869 he was elected treasurer of Tioga county by the Independent Republicans and Democrats, which office he held for three years. In 1872 he was elected prothonotary by the Republicans, and he has held the office ever since, being re-elected last fall for a full term of three years.
The general is a pleasant, agreeable and unassuming gentleman, ever attentive to duty, and from his appear-
ance one might not suspect that he possessed that martial intrepidity and enthusiasm for which he is so justly distinguished. He is held in high estimation by the citizens of Tioga county, and has a warm place in their affections.
AARON NILES.
Aaron Niles was born in Hebron, Conn., June 27th 1784. His father, Nathan Niles, had been quite largely engaged in mercantile pursuits and owned several vessels which were engaged in the coasting trade before the Revolutionary war, and during that war they were mostly captured by British cruisers. The losses of the Revolutionary war having deprived him of the bulk of his fortune, he gathered together the fragments, invested in lands in Tioga county under the Connecticut titles and with his family came to this county in 1796. Aaron Niles was then 12 years of age. The Connecticut titles proving worthless, Nathan Niles lost his investment, and was left in a new country, with nothing but a strong and courageous will, to commence the battle of life again, At that time there were only ten log dwellings in Tioga county. He first located at the mouth of Mill Creek, in the township of Tioga, about three miles south of the present village of Tioga. There were not for many years any mills where grain was ground on the river nearer than Tioga Point, or Athens, and the inhabitants of Tioga were obliged to pound their corn and other grain in a hollow stump, with a " spring pole " for a pestle, The wilderness was then inhabited by the painted savage and wild beasts of prey. Such were the lives of the early pioneers, and such were the scenes through which young Aaron Niles passed.
In June 1807 Aaron Niles was married to Miss Deb- orah Ives, daughter of Cornelius Ives of Tioga. Their children were: Clarinda, born June 12th 1808; Philander, born March 13th 1811; Erastus, born April 17th 1814; Lucinda, born August 28th 1816; Sylpha, born August 29th 1818; Irena, born August 28th 1820; Betsey, born March 13th 1822, and Russell, born August 20th 1826. All are now living, except Lucinda and Sylpha. who died in their infancy. Mrs. Deborah Niles died in 1830, and March 4th 1833 Mr. Niles married Mrs. Betsey Kilbourne, widow of John Kilbourne and a daughter of Rufus Butler, who came from Vermont about the beginning of the present century. By this marriage one son was born to him, Jerome B. Niles, September 25th 1834. The last wife of Aaron Niles died at Niles Valley, Tioga county, June 3d 1863, a little over 65 years of age, hav- ing been born May 5th 1798.
About the year 1810 Aaron Niles purchased wild land in Wellsboro, and cleared up the farm where Laugher Bache now resides. In 1820 he sold out and removed to a point now known as Niles Valley, five miles north of Wellsboro, and there he reared and educated his family, clearing up a valuable farm. He resided there until 1865, when he went to live with his youngest son, Hon. J. B. Niles, at whose house in Wellsboro he died February 22nd 1872, in the 88th year of his age.
159
J. L. ROBINSON-MINING BEGUN AT ANTRIM.
He was a man of inflexible integrity and undaunted courage; an energetic, industrious and public spirited gentleman, and a worthy pioneer, whose life and char- acter were an honor to his descendants, and whose name deserves a bright page in the history of Tioga county.
JOHN L. ROBINSON.
Mr. Robinson was a very successful merchant and John L. Robinson, son of Jesse and Abiah Robinson, lumberman, and accumulated a fine fortune. He was one was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., January 6th 1813. He was educated in the district school, and at the age of 14 he was employed as a clerk in the store of Daniel Lawrence, at Otego, Otsego county, where he remamed nearly six years. He was then in business for himself as a merchant at Nineveh, Broome county, N. Y .. about a year, and in February 1834 came to Wellsboro and engaged in mercantile and lumber business. He continued in that line, in the firm of Chester and J. L. Robinson, until the spring of 1864, when he engaged in banking. He was prominent in the establishment of the First National Bank of Wellsboro, and has been one of its officers since its organization; and he is now presi-
dent of that institution, which is one of the most reliable in the State.
In September 1832 Mr. Robinson married Miss Azubah Bowen, daughter of Hezekiah Bowen, of Hartwick, N. Y. They had seven children, three of whom are living, viz .: Jesse M. and J. F. Robinson, and Mrs. Azubah Smith, widow of the late G. D. Smith, who was killed in the civil war at the battle of South Mountain.
of the original vestrymen of the Episcopal church which was founded in Wellsboro 44 years ago, and continued in that relation until about two years since. He has done his share to promote and further every public enterprise calculated to benefit Wellsboro and the county at large. He has never aspired to political distinction, but has been emphatically a business man, giving his energy, tal- ent and time to business pursuits. His social and domes- tic relations are of the most pleasing character, and his home, presided over by the good wife whom he chose fifty years ago, is the center of comfort and refinement. Although in his 70th year he is well preserved and active in his vocation.
DUNCAN TOWNSHIP .- ANTRIM.
BY JOHN L. SEXTON JR.
GUNCAN township was formed from the town- by James Hoffman, Wilbur Patrick, John Owen, George ships of Delmar, Charleston and Morris, in Smith and Isaac Bosworth, to build in the wilderness, on December 1873. Nearly all the land in the mountain near Wilson Creek, a more substantial ren- Duncan is owned by the Fall Brook Coal dezvous for the explorers, consisting of a rude log house. Company, and the population is chiefly con- fined to the village of Antrim, where is the only post-office. Duncan is bounded on the north by the townships of Delmar and Charleston, on the east by Bloss and Morris, on the south by Morris, and on the west by Morris and Delmar. The history of the town- ship is principally confined to that of Antrim.
FIRST INHABITANTS AND ENTERPRISES.
In December 1867 Titus Drainsfield and family moved into the house or shanty recently erected for the explor- ers, and Thomas Gaffney, now mining superintendent at Antrim, located at the foot of the mountain. A rude blacksmith shop had been erected in 1867, where the tools of the explorers were kept in order, and this shop was afterward occupied by Solomon Rosenkrans and wife, the tools having been removed. These were the pioneers in the place. A road was cut out north to the settlements in Charleston township, and the roughest
Coal had been found to such an extent during the year 1867 that it was determined to erect other buildings, and a charter having been obtained for the Wellsboro and Lawrenceville Railroad, a preliminary survey was com- menced September 23d 1867 by A. Hardt, civil engineer, under the direction of H. Brewer, of Fall Brook.
In May 1866 Thomas Farrer and John Smith, em- ployes of the Fall Brook Coal Company at Fall Brook, places and swamps corduroyed with poles and logs.
commenced investigations for coal in the mountain wil- derness which then was to be found south and west of Wellsboro. They were men experienced in coal forma- tions, and good woodsmen. They carried their provis- ions with them, and erected temporary cabins beside old logs or under the trees of the forest. Their examina- tions continued during the year, and they fixed upon a During the year 1868 explorations were continued with success by Thomas Farrer and his party. During that year the place was visited by Duncan S. Magee prior to his departure for Europe, accompanied by Hon. Daniel E. Howell, of Bath, N. Y .; General George J. point where they were quite sure coal could be found in paying quantities. Arrangements were made by Duncan S. Magee and Humphries Brewer for the land, and so well were they satisfied with the reports of Farrer and Smith that they caused Benjamin J. Franklin, assisted Magee, John Lang and Charles Crawford, of Watkins,
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
N. Y .; Hon. Charles C. B. Walker and A. H. Gorton, of Corning, N. Y .; John Magee jr., S. S. Ellsworth, of Penn Yan; Anton Hardt, John Smith and R. F. Cum- mings, of Fall Brook. The object of the visit was to mark the progress of explorations and also to christen the new village. The party assembled at one of the many famous springs in the vicinity, and while thus con- vened Duncan S. Magee dipped a glass of water from the crystal fountain, and pronounced, "ANTRIM-the native land of the Magees." All present responded to the sentiment, and after due ceremonies, usual upon such occasions, the name was duly recorded. Antrim is a county in the northeast of Ireland, where the parents of the late John Magee were born; they emigrated to this State and settled in 1784 at Easton, where the late John Magee was born September 3d 1794.
Duncan S. Magee died in the spring of 1869, and the business of the Fall Brook Coal Company devolved upon General George J. Magee. Under his direction Mr. Hardt completed the survey and location of the Law- renceville and Wellsboro Railroad, and Thomas Farrer commenced the erection of a steam saw-mill at Antrim, the contract for building it being let to Ira P. Newhall. The contract for building the railroad was let to General James Ward & Co., of Towanda, Pa., who commenced the work May 12th 1870, under the general supervision of Anton Hardt, chief engineer, who located his office at first at Tioga, and was assisted by Frederick Wells and Frederick S. Barrows. Thus the construction of the railroad and the building of the town were carried on simultaneously. During 1870 Thomas Gaffney had put in drift No. I at Antrim, but not much progress could be made in building without the aid of a saw-mill. The mill was completed early in 1871 and was one of the finest in the county, being complete in all of its appliances. The boilers were drawn on sleighs from Tioga, a distance of about thirty miles.
Mr. Magee would not build more than was necessary for a lumbering town until he became satisfied that the coal was to be found in sufficient quantities to warrant further outlay. He felt safe in the work of constructing a railroad from Lawrenceville to Wellsboro, for capitalists were ready to take stock in the enterprise, and the freight and passenger receipts would be a guarantee of success. The mill would be a paying investment for lumbering purposes, situated as it was in the midst of a forest of pine, hemlock, cherry and hard wood timber, and therefore the erection of buildings for a time was limited to a lumbering basis. On the first day of January 1871 there were ten dwellings in Antrim, three of them log buildings. Thomas Farrer moved his family from Fall Brook to Antrim in April 1871, and John Hinman, also of Fall Brook, followed in November of the same year, located in a building erected for a supply store, and began his duties as paymaster and store agent. In Janu- ary 1872 David Cooper, master carpenter, came to An- trim and took charge of the erection of tenements and schutes. Isaac S. Marshal, who had acted as chief clerk in the Fall Brook Coal Company's store at Fall Brook,
about this time came and relieved Mr. Hinman of the mercantile department, enabling him to devote his whole time to the duties of paymaster, etc.
In May 1872 the railroad was completed to Wellsboro, and on the 28th day of October of the same year Engine No. 1, Joseph Boyle engineer and John Wilson conduc- tor, made its appearance at Antrim. Mr. Cooper as master mechanic had erected 75 dwellings (explorations for coal having proved satisfactory), and a set of coal schutes, with a shed from the mouth of the drift to them, 900 feet long.
In July 1872 the steam saw-mill was burned. The company immediately ordered one of Blandy Brothers' portable mills, and such diligence was exercised that in less than six weeks from the time of the fire it was in running order, making lumber at the rate of 8,000 feet per day of ten hours. This accident happened, the reader will perceive, before the railroad was completed to Antrim, and consequently the machinery had to be hauled over rough roads from Wellsboro. George Bartlett, then in charge of the lumber department, with the assistance of three ox-teams and twenty men suc- ceeded in getting the machinery to Antrim. During the year 1872 the product of the mines was 11,366 tons.
The first hotel in Antrim was kept by D. D. Holliday. and he was succeeded by Andrew K. Fletcher, the pres- ent genial landlord.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS.
In December 1873 the township of Duncan was organ- ized, and Thomas Gaffney and E. A. Tremain were ap- pointed by the court to hold the first election for town- ship officers. At the election, which was held February 17th 1874, the following officers were chosen: Super- visors, Thomas Gaffney, E. H. Tremain; justices, Isaac S. Marshal, J. Shumway; constable, W. W. Lownsberry; assessor, William E. Butts; school directors-David Cooper for six years, A. Lake six years, Dr. E. George four years, W. P. Thomas two years, Joseph Murray two years; treasurer, John Hinman; auditors-Thomas Farrer one year, George W. Rice two years, Charles G. Hinman three years; town clerk, William W. Forest; judge of election, Jeremiah Austin; inspectors, Charles Prothero, D. D. Holliday.
The officers in 1881-2 were as follows: Supervisors- Thomas Gaffney, James Ketcham; justice of the peace, David W. Jenkins; town clerk, James Gaffney; assessor, Samuel Heron; school directors-Thomas Gaffney, Wil- liam E. Webster, Patrick Lynch, John Carpenter, Wil- liam Young, Charles Burgess; judge of election, W. E. Webster; inspectors, John F. Sullivan, David W. Jen- kins; auditors, A. K. Fletcher, A. J. Pollock; constable, George English.
The vote for township officers in February 1882 was reported as follows in the Wellsboro Agitator:
Supervisors -- Thomas Gaffney, 96; James Ketcham sen., 96. Justice of the peace-James W. Donaldson, 96. Constable-George English, 84; Richard Campbell, 35; Peter Rogers, 1. School directors-Thomas Gaffney,
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