History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals, Part 56

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 56

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" The supervisors of Deerfield township for 1844 hav- ing laid no road tax, & no acc't rendered by them, there- fore the subscribers, auditors, opened no acc't with them.

" DANIEL ANGELL. " B. S. BOWEN. " JOHN KNOX."

One of the curiosities of our statute law is that town- ship auditors are ex officio fence-viewers. We extract the following report from the auditors' minutes:

5 rods over; and Nelson Steevens is to build the west or lower part 5 rods over, on ac. of difference in drawing and furnishing material to build, which will necessarily have to be drawn up hill at a further distance.

" JAMES KNOX. "JOHN HOWLAND."

Overseers of the Poor were elected by the people until the office was abolished and the duties of those officers enjoined upon the supervisors by the Legislative enact- ment of April 15th 1834. The records show an incom- plete list, as follows:

Harry B. Trowbridge, 1816; Benjamin D. Smith, 1823, 1824; Peter Falkner, 1823, 1824; Archibald Knox, 1828; Joel Crandall, 1828; George T. Frazer, 1829, 1830; John Knox, 1829; Amsa Smith, 1830; Hiram Hilbert, 1831; Hiram Freeborn, 1831; Jonathan Matteson, 1832, 1833; Emmer Bowen, 1832, 1833.

Of the proceedings of these overseers there are some memoranda, accounts, and statements. From these we cull a few samples. They will serve to illustrate the manner of managing the poor when they were by law a charge upon the township. They are as follows:

" Joseph Bennett, a pauper, delivered to George T. Frazer and John Knox, overseers of the poor of Deer- field township, by Joel Crandall, one of the overseers of the poor for last year .- 15 April 1829."

" 20 July 1829 .- The said pauper's keeping sold to David Seamans, at 75 cents per week."

" August 10 .- J. Bennett's keeping sold to Elanson Seelye for 4 shillings per week."

" Now, to wit 17 August 1829, the said Joseph Ben- nett, a pauper, refuses to be kept by the overseers of the poor; where uppon they do hereby discharge him the said Bennett trom the book of the township, & shall not Consider ourselves, as overseers of the poor of Deerfield township, bound under his former application to support him during his refusal.

" JOHN KNOX. "GEORGE T. FRAZER."

" 18 August .- Said Pauper Returned to our Charge; kept by Elanson Seelye two weeks, SI.oo (ending 24 August 1829)."

Town Clerks .- The office of town clerk was established by act of Assembly April 15th 1834. We find no men- tion of this officer in the records of Deerfield until 1843, and from that time the list is not complete. It is as fol- lows:

Martin Bowen, 1843; Allen Frazer jr., 1845; William J. Knox, 1846; David T. Billings, 1848, 1849; Eleazer S. Seely, 1850, 1851; William S. Falkner, 1852-58; Mar- tin V. Purple, 1858, 1859, 1863-73; Charles H. Gold- smith, 1862; Charles R. Howland, 1874, 1875, 1878, 1879; Herman T. Gilbert, 1876, 1877; Daniel H. Buckbee, 1880-82.

We extract the following memoranda from the entries of the first town clerk:

" Deerfield, Pa., Oct. 15, 1869 .- We the auditors of " 1843, September, friday the 15 .- this day the Mam- mouth fresh, the highest water that was ever known in Deerfield, Pa., have examined the line fence between Alonzo Lee and Nelson Steevens, and decide that A. Lee the Cownisque, did great damage in sweeping Bridges, is to build the east part or upper 72 half the fence less

fences, Lumber, Corn, potatoes &C, and washed of the

239

RECORDS OF DEERFIELD-IMPROVING THE COWANESQUE.

Banks of the River some Rods in width; much damage on Troop's Creek to dams and fences, Lumber &C.

"MARTIN BOWEN, Town Clk."

" This is the first Record that has been made of anny thing of this kind on the town Ricords." He thus con-

The approach of the Cowanesque River toward the gratulated himself upon the above deliverance. As it highway has given disquietude to the township authori- was the first, so it is the last. No subsequent clerk has ties at different times. In the supervisors' settlement for made a note of any " fresh," and scant attention has been given to the dry details of business. Except for the year 1882 there is no list of township officers re- corded, and we therefore shall not occupy any space in detailing the names of justices of the peace, assessors, constables and the members of the election board.

In the auditors' settlements there is mention of "Aaron Alba Treashury of Deerfield Town 1837-8," and from that time on some of the names of the men who have held the responsible office of treasurer might be gathered were it considered to be of sufficient interest. But we do not deem it necessary. Enough has been given to show that men of intelligence, integrity and executive ability have been at the head of affairs in Deerfield since the or- ganization of the township.

The following citizens of Deerfield have been elected to hold county offices:

County commissioners-Eddy Howland, 1809; John Knox, 1817: William Knox, 1824; Eddy Howland, 1844. High sheriff, John Knox, 1818. County treasurer, Beth- lehem Thompson, 1814. Register and recorder, George C. Bowen, 1875. County superintendent of common schools, Samuel Baker Price, 1866; Elias Horton jr., 1869. 1872.

The vote for township officers at the election early in 1882 was given as follows in one of the county papers:

The aid of the Legislature had been invoked to regulate the internal affairs of Deerfield from time to time.

April 19th 1850 it was enacted by the Legislature "that Knoxville, in the county of Tioga, shall be set apart and be separated from the township of Deerfield." All elections for Deerfield had hitherto been held in what is now Knoxville borough. After the erection of the borough that state of things was to be tolerated no longer. The Legislature was appealed to, and under the ample provisions of the constitution of 1838 the remedy was applied by the passage (February 9th 1854) of the fol-

lowing: "SEC. 11 .- That the township, general and special elections in Deerfield township, Tioga county, shall here- after be held at the house of William A. Falkner in said township."

1838 we find the following items: "By river work done by George Bulkley, 85.25; ditto by Ira Bulkley, $5; ditto by William Falkner, 83." In 1867 the river had made such inroads upon its banks along the farm of O. L. Wood, the estate of A. HI Bacon, deceased, and the farms of Elias H. and E. W. Clark, and was so threaten- ing in its course toward the farms below, that all efforts by the farmers and the township were abandoned and the Legislature was appealed to. This resulted in the pas- sage of an act March 7th 1867 "to change the bed of the Cowanesque River in the county of Tioga." Joel Parkhurst, A. M. Spencer, Chester B. Hovt, John May- nard and Charles Bulkley were appointed commissioners to examine the bed of the river near the lands of E. H. and G. W. Clark and O. L. Wood in Deerfield township; and, if a majority of them thought the bed of the river ought to be changed for the purpose of protecting these farms and the highways and bridges along the river, they were empowered to have it changed, at an expense of not more than $2,000, which was to be borne by the parties benefited.

The commissioners met, and after viewing the situa- tion decided to change the course of the river, and let the job of doing the same to Andrew Keller Bosard, of Os- ceola, for $2,000. According to the plan of the com- missioners, the contractor erected a dam across the river upon the estate of Ard Hoyt Bacon, deceased, and ex- cavated a new channel through the lands of O. L. Wood in the summer of 1867. Mr. Wood was awarded damages

Supervisors-D. H. Lee, 52; John Yarnall, 92; George W. Curran, 47. Justice of the peace-Albert Newman, 6; Caleb Short, 79. Constable-William D. Knox, 85. School directors-D. L. Van Dusen, 63; L. C. Matteson, for the land taken for the new river channel. The award 86; Aaron Butler, 28. Assessor-William Wagner, 88. further set forth that benefits would be derived from this Assistant assessors-D. L. Van Dusen, 90; Theodore Church, 62; E. H. Clark, 29; W. D. Knox, 1; J. S. Ing- ham, 1. Treasurer-W. W. Gilbert, 90. Town clerk- J. H. Buckbee, 91; D. H. Buckbee, 2. Judge of elec- tion-E. K. Weaver, 73; D. B. Costley, 17. Inspectors of election-E. D. Taft, 50; Preston Gilbert, 18; D. H. Lee, 23. Auditor-C. H. Van Dusen, 1; A. Blanchard, I. work by the estate of A. H. Bacon, deceased, E. H. and G. W. Clark, Charles Toles, Joseph Falkner, Ira Bulkley, Newton Bulkley, Abel Hoyt, Alvers Bosard, the estate of Philip Taylor, deceased, Andrew K. Bosard, the town- ship of Deerfield, and the county of Tioga. The cost of the construction was apportioned in various sums, to be paid by each of the above named parties. The county LEGISLATIVE ACTION. of Tioga resisted the claim made upon it, and was suc- cessful in the litigation which followed. The property owners named above and the township of Deerfield had to pay the cost of the improvement.

CHURCHES.

The Free- Will Baptist Church of Deerfield was organ- ized by the Rev. Samuel Wise, in March 1829, with 12 members. Some of them were Orpah Costley, Orra How - land, Laura D. Whittaker, Hannah C. Whittaker, John C. Whittaker, Electa Matteson, Anson Rowley and wife, and Enoch Coffin and wife. The society has had at times as many as 50 members. It has worshiped in the Liberty school-house, Union Academy chapel, and the present

2.40

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

school-house at Academy Corners. It has been min- a young man, and remained about five years. He worked istered to by the following pastors: part of the time at coopering, and practiced medicine when called upon. He located on the south side of the Cowanesque River, opposite Knoxville. While here he boarded with James Costley. He afterward married a Miss Inscho, and settled permanently at Lawrenceville.

1829, Rev. Maxcy Burlingame; 1830-40, Revs. John Steds, Walter Brown, Valorus Beebe, James Bignall and Hiram Bacon; 1840-50, Revs. William Mack, Calvin Dodge, and Daniel Hunt; 1850-60, Asel Aldrich and Selden Butler; 1870-80, W. M. Peck and W. M. Sargent.

A large share of the time this church has conducted a Sunday-school.

The First Baptist Church of Deerfield was organized in 1843. The society has no church edifice, and has al- ways held its meetings at school-houses. It was first known as "The Chatham and Farmington Baptist Church." The change of name was rendered necessary by a change of township lines. The society had 15 Van Dusen and wife, Chadwick Clark and wife, Hannah Mrs. Strong. Elder Bullock was the first pastor. Wal- ter Van Dusen and Philip Vincent were the first deacons. At present (1882) there are 43 members in the society, and Elihu Bowen and William Clark are the deacons. tack. Rev. Philander Reynolds, Elder Bunnel and others have ministered to this church.

The society was gathered by the Rev. Selden Butler, in September 1852. It began its organization with 14 mem- bers. Services were held in school-houses, barns and ful. He died in 1872. Aside from a few temporary re- dwelling houses until 1874, when a neat and substantial movals he spent his life here in the pursuit of his profes- church edifice was built and dedicated. The half acre sion. He was commissioned by Governor George Wolf as surgeon of the 129th regiment of the 2nd brigade 9th division Pennsylvania militia in 1834. He was also com-

of land upon which it stands was donated by Rev. Sel. den Butler. A Sunday-school has generally been con- ducted in connection with this church. This society has missioned as a justice of the peace in 1832. had as many as 40 members at one time, but at present has but 20.

John Colton Knox was born in Deerfield, at Academy Corners, in February 1817. He was the son of William

Its pastors have been as follows: 1852, Selden Butler; and Sally (Colvin) Knox. He received the rudiments of 1857, William Mack; 1870-73, W. M. Sargent; 1875, Ira his education in the old "Liberty school-house." He Leach; 1877-80, W. M. Peck; 1881,

Douscker; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He 1882, Selden Butler, who has also occupied the pulpit located at Lawrenceville, and in 1842 and 1843 edited much of the time during intervals between the ministra- the Lawrence Sentinel. His career in his profession and tions of other pastors.

Rev. Selden Butler was born in 1806, embraced re- ligion in 1819, and began to preach the gospel in Chat- is a son of James and Ann (Falkner) Knox. He remov- ham and Farmington in 1840. The country was new, and ed to Potter county when young, studied law, was there the state of society at that time such that admitted to the bar, and has since practiced in the courts at Coudersport. We have been unable to obtain any of the details of his life and career.

" As he listened to the hymn, the parson wondered If it was Yankee Doodle or Old Hundred."

But over forty years has wrought a great change, and now no more orderly community gathers in its house of worship than this in South Deerfield.

PROFESSIONAL AND LITERARY MEN.

Eddy Howland was the first practitioner of medicine. He was not educated to the profession, but exercised such skill as he possessed among the new settlers in the early part of the century. He had rare good judgment, and made few mistakes.

Dr. Simeon Power came into Deerfield in 1803, when

Jonathan Bonney came from near Horseheads, N. Y., in 1811. He had studied medicine with a practicing physician, and came into Deerfield to establish himself. He was a one-legged man. He made some removals after his first settlement, but never got so far away as to be out of reach of his patrons in Deerfield. He con- tinued in practice here during his life.

Rev. David Short settled in Deerfield in 1806, and preached the gospel in dwelling houses, barns, and school- members at its organization. Among them were Walter houses as long as he lived. He was a Baptist in belief. He came from Rhode Island. He preached all the Seelye, Mrs. Humphrey, Mrs. Treat, Mrs. Curran and funeral sermons in the township for many years.

William Knox, the pioneer, was a Methodist exhorter, and often held meetings-especially in his later years, when his health was infirm on account of a paralytic at-

Allen Frazer jr., M. D., was born at Westernville, N. Y., in 1798. He was graduated by the University of the

The Free- Will Baptist Church of Chatham, known as State of New York from the College of Physicians and the "Butler Church," is situated in Deerfield township. Surgeons of the Western District, at Utica, January 13th

1823. He came to Deerfield in 1825 and entered upon the practice of medicine, in which he was very success-

in public life is related on page 69 of this volume.

Frank W. Knox was born near Academy Corners, and

Allen Floyd Frazer was born in Deerfield, March 11th 1826. He was a son of Allen Frazer jr., M. D .; was educated in the common school and at Alfred Academy, N. Y .; graduated from the Ballston law school, and practiced law at Coudersport, Pa., and at Fox Lake, Wis. He afterward studied medicine and practiced it with success at Crestline, Ohio, where he died May 5th IS64. He contributed poetry to Graham's Magazine, and to the newspapers wherever he was located. He composed several pieces of much merit.

James Bacon was born in Deerfield, December 8th

241

THE CEMETERIES OF DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP.

1854. He is a son of Ard Hoyt and Lucinda (Murdock) Bacon. He attended common school at the Bulkley school-house, near the residence of B. E. Lewis. He was graduated in the classical course from Lafayette Col- lege in the class of 1876, and by the Columbia College Law School in the class of 1878. He entered upon the practice of his profession in the office of W. B. Williams in Jersey City, N. J., where he remained one year. In the summer of 1879 he removed to Elmira, N. Y., where he continues the practice of law in partnership with S. S. Taylor.

CEMETERIES.

" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow eell forever laid,

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

" The rude forefathers of the hamlet " are buried in the cemetery located at Loren Carpenter's farm, about half a mile east of Academy Corners. It is at present in an overgrown and neglected condition. The earliest known interment at this place is said to have been that of the body of a man belonging to a surveying party. A well preserved tradition asserts that his companions split planks out of a log, and without nails encoffined him by placing one plank on each side, one above and one below his body. They erected a headstone, upon which is still to be seen the inscription, in neatly cut characters, "C. C. J. 1800."

William Knox, the pioneer of the township, is buried in this ground in an unmarked grave.

We copy a few inscriptions:

" D. CLOSS D AUG 13 1826 .₣. 84."

" R. CLOOS D FEB THE 14 1826 .E 83."

"Israel Bulkley died Jan. 18 1828, aged 66."

"Lucy wife of Israel Bulkley died April 3d 1844. aged 76 yr. 3 mo. 11 days.

" Jesus ean make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are "

"Rev. David Short died November 25 1842, aged 68 yrs. 11 mos. 13 days."

"Sally wife of David Short died Dec. 21 1851, aged 71 yrs. 6 mos. 28 days."

" William Knox died Jan. 3 1832, aged 40 yrs. 3 mos. 23 days."

" John Knox died April 28 1867, aged 75 yrs. 4 mos. To days."

" Mary wife of John Knox died April 9 1862, aged 71 yrs. 9 mos. 14 days.

" Dear mother, in the silent hours of night. When stars around me shed their light, I think of thee and feel thy spirit near, With smile to bless and kindly words to cheer."

"Cyprian Wright died Nov. 8 1835, aged 69 yrs. 5 mos. 28 days."

"Esther wife of Cyprian Wright died May 17 1835, aged 64 yrs. 3 mos. 7 days."

"Harriet wife of Ira Bulkley died May 2 1832, aged 27 yrs. 7 mos. 22 days,"

" George Bulkley died Jan. 25 1867, aged 65 yrs. 3 mos. 27 days."

" Hiram Bulkley died June 6 1860, aged 53 years.

" Dear husband, thou art gone, we know, To mansions of the blest.

Where trials, sins and mortal woe Can ne'er disturb thy rest."

" Luther G., son of Hiram and Mindwell G. Bulkley, died Oct. 31 1862, while in defense of his country.

" Thou too must now yield To my withering breath ; Come away, gentle youth, I am Death-King Death."

" Joseph Falkner died Nov. 18 1837, aged 56 yrs. 2 mos. I day."

"Newbury Cloos died May 7 1853, aged 80 yrs. 10 mos. 20 days."

"Esther wife of Newbury Cloos died Oct. 2 1829, aged 53 yrs. 3 mos. 8 days."

"Patty P., 2nd wife of Newbury Cloos and widow of S. Reynolds, died Aug. 7 1853. aged 82 yrs. 3 mos. 23 days."

" John Howland died Dec. 13 1869, aged 66 yrs.

" He sleeps at last ; his work is done ; Tis finished, and he's gone to rest. His Saviour has now ealled him home, To dwell in regions of the blest."

" Joseph Ingham was born in the county of York, England, February 20 1797; departed this life Dec. 25 1869."

"Sacred to the memory of Ralph Bulkley, who was drowned at Post Town 22 June 1815. Aged 20 years, 6 months and 3 days."

Interments are still made in this cemetery. It is not incorporated.

About fifty years ago Daniel Cummings gave to the public an acre of ground for burial purposes. It is situ- ated on the south side of the Cowanesque River, oppo- site Knoxville. About eighty interments have been made in this ground. It is not incorporated, but is still used for burial purposes.

The South Deerfield Cemetery Association owns about half an acre of ground near the Butler church. The ground was purchased and is deeded to 19 individuals. The first interment was made in this ground in Septem- ber 1862. There are now about forty graves in the cemetery. Active measures are now / 1882) being taken to have articles of incorporation granted by the court.

MISCELLANV.

John Byers lived just west of Academy Corners. He was a blacksmith by trade, a man of good education but of intemperate habits. In 1822 he took his rifle, went into a log barn near his house, lay down upon the floor, and committed suicide by shooting himself.

In November 1850 Jesse Moffit and Thomas Stone jr. engaged in an altercation in the road in front of the pres- ent residence of William C. Wood, which resulted in the death of Moffit. Joseph Yarnall resided there at that time. He employed Stone that day to assist him in butchering Moffit had been to Knoxville and on his way home stopped at Yarnall's. The men at the butcher- ing had a runlet of whiskey, out of which all hands took

242

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

a drink. A fight ensued between Stone and Moffit, in which Stone knocked Moffit down. Moffit's head struck a stone or the frozen ground with such force that his skull was cracked, and he died the following night. Stone was convicted of manslaughter, but judgment was arrested and he was discharged because he was not present in court when the jury returned and rendered their verdict.

Seth Bronson, a laborer, who lived in a small house near the cemetery at Carpenter's, committed suicide by hanging in 1856. He had been insane for some time.

In September 1860 a band of 150 gypsies encamped three weeks on the island south of Academy Corners. These vagabonds traded horses by day and depleted cornfields and potato patches by night. In the evening their camp was merry with music and dancing. The students of Union Academy had their fortunes told by the ancient crones of the camp.

May 29th 1876 the only post-office in the present terri- tory of Deerfield was established and named " Academy Corners." Martin V. Purple was commissioned as post- master June 8th 1876, and he is the present incumbent. apart.

September 3d 1876 the Grand Army of the Republic had an encampment in the driving park at Academy Corners. It was participated in by the J. Edgar Park- hurst post, of Elkland; Alfred J. Sofield post, of Osceola; and the A. A. and G. Seely post, of Knoxville. F. G. Babcock was commander of the encampment, J. S. Ing- ham officer of the day, and G. T. Harrower adjutant. The encampment was attended by about 2,000 people and lasted two days.

As we write (September 1882) the territory of Deer- field is being invaded by the workmen of two railroad companies. The Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim Rail- road Company have their road bed graded, and are only awaiting the completion of bridges and trestles to lay down and ballast their track. Parallel to the above named road through this township runs the line of the Ad- dison and Northern Pennsylvania Railroad, which is at present being graded by as motley a crowd of laborers as were ever gathered together-Italians, Hungarians and Poles predominating. They number about 300. The two lines of railroad are from ten to thirty rods

TIOGA TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH.

BY HENRY H. GOODRICH.

HE task of writing a history of Tioga township the present century; from him were obtained all the and borough was accepted by the author as a facts that he could recall to fix as definitely as possible duty which he, or some other person similar- the time of arrival and the location of the earliest settlers ly situated, owed to his native place, and to of the valley. Ie alludesto Jacob Kiphart, and his that community with which he had been sister Betsey, widow of John Ives. Jacob was 102 years identified as boy or man for many years, having old the zoth of November 1881, and his sister Betsey even seen and known a good share of the earliest was 97 years of age the 25th day of April 1882.

settlers of the township, who were still living in his boy- hood. He has in the pursuit of his task, by careful and diligent inquiry of all the oldest remaining members of

THE TREES OF TIOGA AND THE ORIGINAL FAUNA.

The forest flora of the township was originally so the families of early settlers, endeavored to collect as largely composed of pine and hemlock timber that the faithful a record of the early settlement of the township as the lapse of scores of years has permitted their mem- ories to retain, either from personal experience or obser- general features of the hills bore a distinctively alpine appearance, while they gave in summer a cool and in winter a warm aspect, and afforded to the valley protec- vation, or as tradition handed down from father to son. tion from rough and strong winds. These two kinds of Conceiving that everything connected with the early set- timber originally comprised at least one-half of the whole, tlement of the township would be a matter of the greatest the rest being white and black oak, soft and hard maple, interest to the present generation of its citizens, either ash, birch. beech, elm, chestnut, cherry, basswood, white- young or old, as well as to the general reader and public wood, dogwood, ironwood, and along the watercourses at large-on account chiefly of that charm which age and sycamore, willow, butternut, and some few English wal- antiquity always give to things associated with the past nuts-the latter tree only found, so far as the writer knows, -he has taken the opportunity of visiting all the oldest on a small area of the flat and hill of the De Pui farm. persons living in the township, and going many miles for ' On the ridge extending from the point of Prutsman Hill an interview with the gentleman reputed the oldest per- toward Huckleberry Ridge the flowering locust tree also .son living in the county. This aged man was for many grows in considerable abundance, and it was once the years a resident of Tioga township, and he and his sister favorite shade tree planted in the village. There they are the only persons living whose settlement within its were mostly set by the hand of poor Solomon Daniels, present limits dates back beyond the commencement of and many of them remain to adorn the streets and are

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals, Part 56

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