History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals, Part 46

Author: Sexton, John L., jr; Munsell, W.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: New York, Munsell
Number of Pages: 486

USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 46

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Robert C. Sebring, one of the oldest living natives of the township of Liberty and a son of Jonathan Sebring, a pioneer, was born April 5th 1819, and was educated in the township. In 1835 he was engaged as a clerk in the store of his brother John at Liberty; in 1840 his brother went to Jersey Shore and engaged in business, and Robert continued the store at Liberty, which stood on Williamson street, near where the dwelling of General Robert C. Cox now stands. He continued in the mercantile business most of the time up to 1873, when he sold out to C. A. Miller, of the present firm of C. A. Miller & Co .. and took charge of the Eagle Hotel. He remained there two years; then removed to his private residence and engaged in farming for two or three years

Freer), Ellis, Emily wife of John Kohler), James M. and Charlotte, deceased wife of William Foulkrod). He died March 30th 1862, aged 62.

Frederick Harrer was born in Germany, in 1797, and educated in his native land. In 1822 he married Miss Eve Deutchle, by whom he had nine children: Rosanna wife of George Keifer', George, Frederick (deceased), Henry deceased), Magdalena (deceased, Samuel (de- ceased), John Frederick, Daniel, and Helen (wife of Paul Kriss'. About the year 1830 he went to Liberty and with John C. Beiser purchased 500 acres of land in the eastern portion of the township from the German Lutheran Congregational Society of Philadelphia. He built a house of round logs, which was burned, and after- ward erected a hewed-log house. The 500 acres of land were equally divided with Mr. Beiser, and Mr. Harrer sold to his son 100 acres. Mr. Harrer cleared about 125 acres, planted a large orchard and erected suitable and comfortable buildings. He died December 21st 1871,

aged 74 years.

John C. Beiser, one of the pioneers of Liberty, was born in Germany, in 1805, and educated in his native country. He came to America and with Frederick Har- rer purchased 500 acres of land, which they divided equally. He was married about the year 1832 to Miss Elizabeth Page. Their children were Jacob, Mary wife of Jacob Snyder , Elizabeth | wife of Jacob Moyer), John (who died in the civil war , Frederick, and Samuel. Mrs. Beiser died about the year 1843, and about two years afterward Mr. Beiser married Mary Loudenslager. Of their seven children five are dead; and those surviving are Sarah, wife of John Frederick Harrer, of Blossburg, and Anna, wife of Albert Krise. Mr. Beiser cleared up a large farm and surrounded himself with the comforts of life. He is now residing with his son-in-law, Al- bert Krise, his wife, Mary, having died about ten years ago.

George R. Sheffer, son of John Sheffer, was born in Liberty, June 24th 1825, and educated in his native town. He was married in May 1851 to Miss Zeruah Wilson, daughter of Burdette Wilson, and their children were Valentine W. and Quintilius. His wife died in October 1855, and in 1856 he married Miss Christiana Artley. Of

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

their six children the only one surviving is Charles Wes- ley. Mr. Sheffer has been engaged in the drug and gro- cery business for the past 34 years. In the early history of Liberty goods were drawn with teams from the heads of the Seneca and Cayuga Lakes (Watkins and Ithaca). Mr. Sheffer has been school director, town clerk, etc., and was a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge from 1849 to 1871. He has been a resident of Liberty 56 years.

George Hebe was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1809, and in 1819 came to America with his step-father, Simon Sindlinger, who settled in the eastern portion of Liberty. In 1833 he married Miss Elizabeth Myrtle, of Schuylkill county, Pa., by whom he had fifteen children; nine of these are living, viz .: George W., who was a mem- ber of the 8th Pennsylvania regiment; Catharine, wife of Elliott Merrell; Sophia, wife of John Thornberger; Eliz- abeth, wife of Alonzo Miller; B. Franklin; John Henry; Ella, wife of James Fiester; Miriam, wife of J. O. Miller; and Mary Ann, wife of Peter Lauer. Mr. Hebe was a sol- dier in the Mexican war, enlisting as a private in the ist Pennsylvania regiment, under Colonel Wynkoop. He served during the war, and was promoted to a staff office. During the years 1842-44 he was colonel of the Schuyl- kill county volunteers. He has been a captain of artil- lery and a militia captain. He is now engaged in farm- ing; has 60 acres of land under improvement, a good house, a barn 50 by 50, two orchards, horses, cattle, etc. He has been supervisor and school director.

Joseph Reed was born at Sunbury, Northumberland county, in 1818, and came with his father, John Reed, into Liberty in 1821. He was educated in the schools of Liberty, and learned the trade of a mason; also the pot- tery business. In 1839 he married Miss Sarah A. Bas- tian, by whom he had twelve children. He established the pottery business in the western portion of Liberty about the year 1860, for the manufacture of brown stone ware from clay found in the immediate vicinity. He has been 61 years a resident of Liberty; is now engaged in lumbering and farming.

Isaac Werline was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, May 3d 1799. He came into Liberty township about the year 1829. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and erected one of the first tanneries in the township. His children were: Mary A. (wife of Samuel Hartman), J. J. Werline, William G., Henry (de- ceased,, Charles A., Isaac B., David R., B. F. and Catha- rine A., deceased (wife of Henry Cox, of Wellsboro). Mr. Werline came to his death by the falling of a tree while he was opening up a road leading to Trout Run by the way of Steam Valley. He was in the 53d year of his age.

John F. Hart was born in Reading, Berks county, Pa., in 1786. He was educated at Harrisburg, and learned the trade of a distiller. His wife was Hannah Keltz, sister of Peter Keltz of Covington, and adopted daughter of Mr. - Reep of Lawrenceville. Their children were: Mary Ann (wife of Ira Willson), Lany (wife of John Lloyd, George W., Henry, Charles C., John, Chester, Ira, Alfred, Susan (wife of Elijah Callihan) and

Jane Elizabeth (wife of Henry S. Archer, of Wellsboro). Mr. Hart purchased in 1824 50 acres of land in the western portion of Liberty upon which Henry Hart now resides, and commenced clearing it up. He had to cut the road in from the block house to his place. None but his cotemporaries know the hardships and privations he and other pioneers endured in those early days in the history of Liberty. He, however, persisted, and cleared up his farm, and lived to see it productive. He died January 20th 1870, in his 84th year, and his wife Oc- tober 2nd 1871, at the age of 74. They raised a large and respectable family, and were worthy pioneers.

Oliver Pearson was an old pioneer in the vicinity of Mr. Hart; but we were unable to obtain any data in relation to him.

Caleb A. Comstock was also an early settler in that vicinity, as well as a German by the name of Zimmer- man, who gave the name to the creek which passes through Nauvoo.

John Foulkrod, son of Isaac Foulkrod, was born in Liberty (then Covington township), November 22nd 1821, and educated in the schools of Liberty. He was mar- ried in 1846 to Miss Elizabeth Ostrom. Their children are: Pamelia, wife of Christian Anderson; Charles H., who married Carrie Smeltzle; Verena, wife of Charles Wilson, of Alba; and John Edmond. Mr. Foulkrod re- sides upon the homestead where his father first settled, and is engaged in the hotel business and farming. He has been a resident of Liberty 61 years.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

The first school-house in the township stood near the present residence of Charles N. Moore. The first teacher was Isaac Foulkrod. Among the old teachers were Wil- liam Gilday, D. M. Beauvier, George Roberts, - Scofield, Simeon Gilbert, Eliza Greeno, Lydia Locke, Mary Slott, James Wallace, Hiram Landon and Thomas Harkness. Among the present teachers are James G. Watts, Lina G. English, John Mathews, Messrs. Lent and Webb, Phida Beardsley, Anna Thomas, Ida Ely and Mrs. Van Order.

As we have before stated, there are twelve good framed school buildings in the township, where there are employed thirteen teachers, a number of them graduates of the State normal school at Mansfield.

The first church, called the Liberty Church, stood on the hill west of the school-house of the graded school. This was a union church, and was used by both Germans and English.

There is a union church in the northern portion of the township, near General John Sebring's, which was erected about eighteen or twenty years ago. Various denominations use it. There is a graveyard near it.

There is a German Lutheran church which accommo- dates many of the citizens of Liberty, just over the line in Lycoming county. It is constructed of brick. Among the ministers have been Revs. William Schultz, Pike Sutto, Messrs. Daniels, Studebaker, Shade, Sowers, and the present pastor, A. B. Miller.

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SOCIETIES IN LIBERTY-POST ROUTES-VOLUNTEERS IN 1861.

The German Lutheran church in the western portion of the township was erected about the year 1840. Among the early ministers there were Rev. Messrs. Schultz, Pike Sutto, Frye and Grenninger. The present pastor is Rev. A. B. Miller, and the council consists of John Fick, John Brion and Charles Hart. Near the church is a cemetery which has been used since 1837. There are now about 50 members of the church, with a Sunday-school of 35 teachers are Huling Fick, Warren Phelps, Frank Hartley, Maggie Ritter, Nettie Bradt and Mrs. Ettermark.

The present officers are: I. F. Wheeland, N. G .; B. F. Werline, V. G .; Ira M. Warriner, secretary; H. F. Bar- row, assistant secretary; John Kohler, treasurer; Marion Stewart, R. S .; H. L. Decker, I. S .; M. B. Mott, S. W .; J. E. Ostrom, O. G. The present membership is 46.

The furniture and lodge regalia are in good order. According to the report September 30th 1881 the assets of the lodge were: Cash, $591.69; regalia and furniture, $500; available accounts, $205.40; total, $1,297.09. De- cember 5th 1879 the lodge lost by fire all the regalia and lodge furniture except the desk and books, and it has since purchased new furniture and regalia. It is in a healthy and prosperous condition.

POST ROUTES AND OFFICES.

A post route was established between Williamsport and Painted Post in 1816. The mail was carried on horse- back. A few years later a stage route was established, which yearly increased in importance until the comple- tion of the Blossburg and Corning Railroad in 1840. Previous, however, to that time Benjamin R. Hall was connected with the mail route, and was succeeded by Cooley Maxwell, Magee and others. The latter was a strong firm and the route was well supplied with the best of coaches. There is at present in the township a line passing through from east to west and one from north to south.

The post-offices are: East Point, Peter W. Sheik post- master; Liberty, William Narber postmaster; Nauvoo, J. S. Childs postmaster; and Barfelden.

PATRIOTISM IN 1861.

The citizens of Liberty township have ever been dis- tinguished for their patriotism. A number of its early

settlers had seen service in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, and the " spirit of '76 " prevailed among the inhabitants. As an evidence of how quickly they responded to the call of their country in the last war, we will relate a circumstance which happened during the first call to arms:

On the 20th of April 1861, being Sunday, Major R. C. Cox, who resided in the village of Liberty, was quietly scholars. Mrs. John Hart is superintendent, and the taking his breakfast when he was interrupted by a call from Julius Sherwood, of Wellsboro, and Nelson Whit- ney, of Charleston, who informed him of the firing upon The Methodist Episcopal church has an edifice, and a large membership, with a very interesting Sunday-school. the troops at Baltimore. They then drove on to the hotel. Major Cox immediately repaired thither, and ODD FELLOWS. soon the news spread through that quiet little hamlet away up in the mountains of Tioga county. A band was Block House Lodge, No. 398, I. O. O. F. was instituted February 25th 1850. The charter was destroyed, and August 28th 1856 a new charter was issued to George Hebe, N. G .; G. W. Secrist, V. G .; I. W. Johnson, sec- retary; J. G. Albeck, assistant secretary; and Daniel Dony, treasurer. The present past grands are L. W. Johnson, W. L. Keagle, John Kohler, J. E. Ault, C. H. Nailer, G. W. Nailer, William Parker, H. F. Barrow, Da- vid Ostrom, Ira M. Warriner, J. C. Neuman, Charles D. Camp. soon called out, and with martial music aroused the whole neighborhood. The people going to church stopped to inquire the reason of the unusual demonstra- tion, and services were entirely interrupted and aban- doned. Soldiers of the war of 1812 came forth, together with militia captains, in full regimentals. A number of men volunteered, and in the afternoon Major Cox started for Wellsboro, a distance of 27 miles, where he arrived late in the night. The town was astir. A large bonfire burned in the public square, and the people were thoroughly aroused and hurrying to and fro, with bands playing.

Major Cox took a few hours' rest, and immediately commenced organizing men into companies. Two com- panies were formed on Monday, of one hundred men each; Julius Sherwood, a young lawyer, being elected captain of one company and A. E. Niles of the other.

The next day Tuesday Major Cox went to Tioga and organized a company there, with Hugh McDonough cap- tain; and the same day organized a company at Law- renceville, with Philip Holland captain. On Wednes- day he formed a company at Covington, with A. L. John- son captain, and one at Mainsburg, under Captain Henry B. Card. Each of these companies numbered one hun- dred men.

On Thursday of the same week Major Cox had at Troy 600 men, awaiting transportation to Harrisburg. After arriving at Harrisburg three companies were ac- cepted and three returned home, the quota of Pennsyl- vania being more than full. The companies retained were commanded respectively by Captains Julius Sher- wood, Hugh McDonough and A. E. Niles. Although Captain Holland's company was sent home he joined another and went into service. The soldiers from Liberty were as follows:

George M. Bastian, adjutant; W. F. Weseman, quarter- master; J. H. Schambacher, second lieutenant Company B; John H. Miller, John Burd, William Burd, Andrew Dennison, D. L. Horning, Thomas Horning, Philip Kohler, Joseph S. Childs, J. E. Smith, George Miller, John Blanchard, Henry C. Cox, J. Alexander, John Anderson, Jonathan Black, Charles Bryan, George W. Bower, A. E. Comstock, D. W. Canfield. O. Cortwright, Jacob Emick, Nicholas Fesler, Alfred Fulkerson, Cor- nelius Kimble, William King, Lewis Kraise, Jacob Link, H. F. Mackey, Charles Morris, W. S. Mackey, John

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Manaval, Jacob Ribble, Frank Sheffer, Benjamin Weist, William P. Wheeland, Charles D. Wheeland, William D. Lutz, M. S. Love, Eli Love, Samuel S. Miller, Isaac Miller, Harmon Ridge, George Reed, Ephraim Smith, Daniel Secrist, Henry Secrist, William J. Werline, John Weaver, Solomon Blanchard, Henry Veile, Samuel Keagle. The foregoing were under Colonel R. C. Cox in the 207th regiment, and in the I7Ist regiment, Major R. C. Cox, were Charles Beiter, W. L. Keagle, N. M. Levegood, William E. Clark, Nelson Fulkerson, Ellis Merrell, Joseph Brion, J. F. Bedell, Henry Brion, Daniel Brion, Ferdinand Tracey, Henry Frock, George Horn- ing, Charles D. Hart, George W. Hart, Casper Houser, Jacob Horning, Gottlieb Kraise, Jacob Kissinger, Samuel A. Kelts, William Landis, John J. Lutz, John Mathews, John Neufer, John E. Ostrom, Walter Phelps, David Plank, Wash. Sheffer, Charles Wilson and Charles Zink.

The soldiers did honorable and distinguished service, reflecting credit upon the township, county and State from which they came.

MRS. LYDIA JANE PEIRSON. [BY HENRY H. GOODRICH.]

Between the years 1825 and 1840 two ladies of Tioga county attained such celebrity in the field of literature, especially that of poetry, through their many contribu- tions to the local press, as well as to the leading periodicals of the country, as to make their names familiar, and even endeared, at least within the limits of their own county, as household words.

The elder of these two ladies, Mrs. Lydia Jane Peir- son, whose maiden name was Lydia Jane Wheeler, was born in the town of Middletown, Middlesex county, Connecticut, in the year 1802. When she was 16 years of age her parents removed with her to Madison county, N. Y., where she employed herself a portion of the time in teaching school until the year 1821, when she married Oliver Peirson, a widower of Cazenovia, 24 years her senior, and the father of five children. About the time of their marriage Mr. Peirson traded a farm near Caze- novia for a tract of 1,000 acres of wild land in the west- ern part of Liberty and the eastern part of Morris town- ship, Tioga county, Pa., and in the following year he removed with his young wife, accompanied by two of his married daughters and their husbands, to occupy this property. The country was then so much of a wilder- ness that he was obliged to cut a road nearly the whole distance from the Block House settlement, five miles, to his land, and make an old log hut, previously con- structed thereon, his temporary abode, until lumber could be drawn from Sullivan township to build a more comfortable and substantial dwelling.

It was here, under these adverse and trying circum- stances, so unlike those her youthful years had experi- enced, contending with stern fate, yet holding "sweet converse with nature and with nature's charms," that Mrs. Peirson began to write poetry, simply from that natural impulse of her mind which sought to fix in an enduring shape those thoughts and feelings that were ever welling up from out her soul and heart, that spirit and motive actuating her which she herself has best ex-

pressed in her poem entitled "Sing On," in reply to a friendly correspondent. To a spirit like hers, in the new home to which she had come, surrounded by so many sore trials, both domestic and pecuniary, life in- deed would have been a great burden had she not been inspired by an intense religious zeal and piety, which not only found expression in her daily walk and life, but were also the chief themes of all her songs and poetry, pervading them with a general spirit that bears a strong resemblance to the poems of Mrs. Hemans and Mrs. Sigourney.

Her first compositions appeared in the columns of The Pioneer, soon after its establishment at Wellsboro, in November 1820. They were: "To My Friend," " The Old Maid," "A Sigh," "To Spring," "The Critic," " The Envious Lily," "A Dirge," "Hail Columbia," " August 31st," and many other poems, which have not found a place in her two volumes entitled "Forest Leaves " and " Forest Minstrel," published in Philadel- phia in 1845 and 1846. She also contributed some prose pieces to the same paper, one entitled "Three Apple Dumplings, a Connecticut Tale," as early as March 11th 1826; one, "A Connecticut Tale," April 21st, and several others the same year.

In 1833 Mr. Peirson, who had by that time cleared a very good farm, rented it, and removed with his family to Jersey Shore, where Mrs. Peirson was permanently engaged as a contributor for the Lycoming Gazette. At the end of two years Mr. Peirson purchased a bill of merchandise on credit, returned with his family to his old home, and attempted to carry on a mercantile bus- iness, but disastrously failed, resulting finally in the sale of his farm of 400 acres, which he had retained up to that period, and which was bid off at sheriff's sale by Judge Ellis Lewis and Lawyer A. N. Parsons, and deeded to Thaddeus Stevens, in trust for Mrs. Peirson during her life, and at her death to be divided among her chil- dren.

At the time that Thaddeus Stevens, as a member of the Legislature of our State, was advocating the free school system, she wrote a short poem complimentary of both him and the system, in acknowledgment of which he sent her a $50 note, subsequently made her acquaint- ance, became the trustee of the property of herself and children, and educated one of her sons. Through his aid, and that of some kind friends in Philadelphia, she had her first volume of poems-the "Forest Leaves "- published in 1845, by Lindsay & Blakiston, Philadel- phia. The following year her second volume-the "For- est Minstrel "-the avails of which were devoted by the authoress to religious benevolence, was edited by the Rev. B. S. Schneck, of Chambersburg, and published by J. W. Moore, Philadelphia, and W. O. Hickok, Harrisburg. Each of these volumes comprises 264 pages, and they include from seventy-five to eighty compositions each. Of the longest and best sustained poems, of a high order of merit, may be mentioned "The Wandering Spirit," "Changes," "A Moonlight Dream," "Sunrise in the Forest," "Sunset in the Forest," "Ocean Melodies,"

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SETTLERS AND OFFICERS OF MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

" The White Thorn and Lennorah," and "Elijah on N. P. Willis, once a high and recognised authority in Mount Horeb," all contained in the "Forest Leaves; " | American literature and art, said of Mrs. Peirson that in and in the " Forest Minstrel" such ones as "The Three sacred and Christian themes she bore away from him the Marys," "Old Letters," "The Shipwreck," "The Battle palm. Field," "Queen Mary's Musings," etc. In 1849 and 1850 Mrs. Peirson edited the Lancaster

There is high authority for saying that some of the Intelligencer some eighteen months. In 1853 she and her husband, with two daughters and five sons of the second marriage, went to Adrian, Mich., leaving one daughter, Mrs. Emmick, on the old homestead. In this latter place she died in 1862, and she is buried at Adrian. Mr. Peirson returned to Liberty, and died at Mrs. Emmick's

compositions here mentioned, and many others of less extent contained in these two volumes, "will bear com- parison with the productions of the most popular and gifted of American poets," and that they have not been so recognized in general favor is probably owing to the fact of the secluded and humble circumstances of the house in 1865, aged S7 years. Mrs. Emmick and two author's life, and the want of those opportunities through of the sons are the only members of the family which literary merit generally wins distinction and fame. living.

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

BY JOHN L. SEXTON JR.

ORRIS township was formed in September 1824, and taken from the township of Del- judge of election, John Wilson; inspectors, J. E. Web- mar. It is bounded on the north by Del- ster, Francis Plank; town clerk, John Haggerty; audit- mar, Duncan and Charleston townships, on ors, James Blackwell, William Linck.

the east by Liberty township, on the south

The following was the vote for the present officers, as by Lycoming county, and on the west by given in the Wellsboro Agitator:

Supervisors-James Blackwell, 57; John Linck, 155;

broken with high mountains, on either side of the nu- B. F. Campbell, 55; Robert Wilson, 23.

Elk township. Its surface is uneven and merous creeks which flow through its territory. All the streams in the township flow south and ultimately empty into Pine Creek, which discharges its waters into the west branch of the Susquehanna near Jersey Shore, in Ly- coming county. This region was originally very heavily timbered with white pine, hemlock, chestnut, maple and 55; Henry Thomas, 68.

Justice of the peace-Enoch Blackwell, 123; John Haggerty, 156.

Constable-Isaac Smith, 86; E. J. Thomas, 66; A. A. Emick, 4.

School directors-G. S. Peters, 130; John Williamie,

Assessor-John Wilson, 117; A. G. Seeman, 36. Assistant assessors-Enoch Blackwell, 135; J. E. Web-

Treasurer-D. F. Linck, 93.

Town clerk-Jerry Desmond, 91.

Judge of election-J. E. Webster, 49; Francis Plank, 41. Auditor-Henry Lewis, 44; F. E. Doane, 41.

INDIAN HISTORY.

Among the settlers in this portion of the township are John Linck, Fred Heiler, Henry Miller, Fred Heiler jr., In the general history of the county we have given the John Desmond, William and Daniel Caspeare, W. H. course of the several Indian trails which pass through Leisering, John Neufer, Nicholas Emick, Frank Wood- house, James Custard, John Little, Benjamin Russell, Tioga county, and we learn from Enoch Blackwell that there were evidences of an Indian village on the site of John, Francis, William and Abram Plank, H. Guy, his present dwelling and garden. There were places George, Henry, William, Adelbert and J. Edgar Thomas, there where it was certain that wigwams were erected Calvin, Alfred and Chester Hart, Ezra and Edwin Ban- prior to the Revolutionary war. He has found arrow- field, Reuben Brion, Burdett Root, Charles Comstock, heads, pots and French hatchets, also a hatchet or small David Butters, John Haggerty and Frederick and Gotlieb Brown.

axe which has the appearance of being bronze or brass. Little collections of sandstones which had served the Indians were found upon the premises. As a further evidence of the presence of Indians at a very early period

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals, Part 46

Author: Sexton, John L., jr; Munsell, W.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: New York, Munsell Number of Pages: 486

Author: Sexton, John L., jr; Munsell, W.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: New York, Munsell
Number of Pages: 486