USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 77
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The soil is varied, consisting of various grades from
There were originally great forests of pine timber, which years ago gave employment to a large number of men engaged in Iumbering. The pine timber however is about all gone, and only lumbering in hemlock to a give more attention to farming than in former years. When we say that lumbering is carried on to a limited extent we mean as compared with what was done twenty- five years ago. Bennett & Dimon have a grist-mill and steam saw-mill at Niles Valley; O. B. Lowell & Co. have a steam saw-mill at Niles Valley; G. D. Keeney one at Keeneyville; Walker & Lathrop one at Hammond's; and there is a saw-mill and grist-mill at the mouth of Hill's Creek known as the Mitchell Mill, built originally by
M È September 1822, and originally contained much of the territory now embraced in the townships of Chatham and Farmington.
stored in his distillery about 2,000 bushels of corn and rye. The following spring there was a great scarcity of grain among the settlers and laborers who were clearing lands in South Deerfield and Chatham. About forty of these people entered into a conspiracy to plunder Mr. Freeborn's store in open daylight. They matured a plan, set a day, and took steps to carry out their pur- pose. Each one of the conspirators (according to the plan, was to take a grain bag across his shoulders and at a certain hour go to the storehouse of the distillery and gain admission under pretence of exchanging maple sugar
327
PIONEERS OF MIDDLEBURY-KEENEYVILLE.
Edsall Mitchell, a pioneer. A large tannery is in opera- tion at Niles Valley, and a steam barrel and stave man- ufactory at Middlebury Center.
THE FIRST TAXPAYERS.
The first assessment was made December 18th 1823,- Hiram Beebe, William Knox and Elijah Welch county commissioners, David Lindsay clerk, and Thomas Boyes assessor. The following were the taxpayers reported:
George Abbott, Eben Abbott, Joseph Brown, Allen Baldwin, Michael Clark, Abel Close, Reuben Close, Abi- jah Carpenter, Peter Combs, John Camel, Jedediah Car- penter, Ira Cady, James Dickinson, Richard Gooden, Benjamin Gooden, Calvin Gooden, Jacob Hymes, Ros- well Ives, Jacob Kiphart, Israel P. Keeney, Thomas Keeney, Benjamin Riley, Jesse Losey, Isaac Losey, Ed- sall Mitchell, James Martin, William I. Millard, Jedediah Millard, James Maxwell, Erastus Niles, David Sloat, Abr'm Stephens, Archibald Sloat, Jesse Streeter, Corne- lius Saxberry, Asa Short, Amasa Thompson, Elisha White, Henry Eaton, Thomas Boyes, Edwin Gordon, Samuel Roe, Smith Cornell, Harry Cornell.
The assessor returned to the county commissioners the names of Reuben Close and Benjamin Kelsey as being suitable persons for the office of collector.
By consulting with a number of the old settlers of the township we have been able to ascertain where a con- siderable number of the above named taxpayers resided. George Abbott lived at what is now Keeneyville; Joseph Brown, Allen Baldwin, Michael Clark, Abel Close, Reuben Close, Abijah Carpenter, Peter Combs, and John Camel in what is now Chatham township; Ira Cady on Crooked Creek near Keeneyville; James Dickinson on the hill near the Farmington township line; Richard Gooden near Thomas Keeney's on Crooked Creek; Benjamin Gooden on a farm now owned by George D. Keeney; Calvin Gooden on Crooked Creek; Jacob Hymes on Crooked Creek below Hollidaytown; Roswell Ives, Bena- jah Ives, and John Ives 2nd near Hollidaytown; Jacob Kiphart near Keeneyville (died in Blossburg, August 6th 1882, aged 102 years, 8 months and 16 days, after the sketch of his life on pages 251-2 was written); Israel P. Keeney lived near Hollidaytown, and so did Thomas Keeney; Jesse Losey, who was a Revolutionary soldier, lived near Keeneyville and is buried in a graveyard at Hollidaytown; Edsall Mitchell lived just below Holliday- town on Crooked Creek; James Martin, William I. Mil- lard, Jedediah Millard and James Maxwell near Jacob Hymes; Erastus Niles at Niles Valley; Jesse Streeter, David Sloat and Cornelius Saxberry near Keeney- ville; Asa Short at Shortsville; Amos Thompson at Thompson's Mills (he built the first " corn-cracker " on Crooked Creek); Elisha White at Hollidaytown; Thomas Boyes at Keeneyville, on the present township line be- tween Chatham and Middlebury; Edwin Gordon on Crooked Creek; Samuel Roe near Keeneyville; Smith Cornell on Crooked Creek, between Keeneyville and Middlebury Center; Harry Cornell on Crooked Creek; and Benjamin Kelsey, the collector, near Keeneyville.
The villages in Middlebury township are Hollidaytown,
whose inhabitants have recently petitioned the court of common pleas of Tioga county for a borough charter; Keeneyville, Middlebury Center, Niles Valley and Ham- mond's.
KEENEYVILLE
is situated on Crooked Creek, near the west line of the township, and has a post-office, two hotels, two stores, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a steam saw-mill, a shoe shop, a harness shop, a meat market, a school-house, a lodge of the Knights of Honor, an Odd Fellows' lodge, a physician's office and about 30 dwellings.
Elias Keeney was the first settler, and gave the name to the place. He was a blacksmith by trade.
Thomas Keeney was a Revolutionary soldier, and died at the advanced age of 98. He and his wife kept house 72 years.
George D. Keeney settled in Keeneyville about 35 years ago. His wife was Jane Drew, daughter of Deacon John Drew, of Tioga. Their children are: Florence, wife of Prof. F. A. Smith, principal of the Blossburg graded school; Agnes E .; Ida E., wife of Leroy Costley, of Deerfield; Arthur M., who married Miss Martha Wedge; Eva, wife of Elmer E. Guernsey, of Minnesota; and Burton I .. and Myrtle L. Mr. Keeney is now en- gaged in lumbering, owning a steam saw-mill and 500 acres of land. He has served three terms as justice of the peace and is now acting in a fourth term; is a mem- ber of the Baptist church of Tioga, and a member of the Knights of Honor of Keeneyville; volunteered in the ser- vice of his country during the late Rebellion when the rebels invaded Pennsylvania, and was second sergeant in Captain McDonough's company.
Church Services .- Church services are held by the Methodist and Baptist societies in the school house. A large and very flourishing union Sunday-school is also held at the school-house, under the supervision of Mrs. Niles, wife of Dr. Augustus Niles.
Keeneyville Lodge, No. 2,160, Knights of Honor was or- ganized with 18 charter members, April 10th 1880. The first officers were: Past dictator, Deruyter Avery; dicta- tor. S. Martin jr .; vice-dictator, H. J. Welteroth; assist- ant dictator, E. D. Fish; reporter, William H. Hunt; financial reporter, S. Treat; treasurer, H. J. Shuff; chap- lain, G. D. Keeney; guide, R. B. Ferry; guardian, F. M. Shuff; sentinel, Heber Close; medical examiner, Dr. Augustus Niles. One death has occurred since the or- ganization, that of Theodore Scott.
The present officers are: Past dictator, W. H. Hunt; dictator, E. D. Fish; vice-dictator, S. Treat; assistant dictator, Rufus Treat; chaplain, E. R. Burley; reporter, S. Martin jr .; financial reporter, H. J. Shuff; treasurer, W. H. Wood; guide, W. H. Hunt; guardian, Thomas Ransom; sentinel, H. Fish.
The lodge has celebrated two anniversaries. The present membership is 25. A meeting is held at Wood's Hall, Keeneyville, every alternate Saturday night.
Middlebury (Keeneyville) Lodge, No. 844, I. O. O. F .-- This lodge was organized and chartered May 21st 1873.
328
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
The first officers were: M. C. Potter, noble grand; W. E. Mr. Holliday located there there were only a few fam- Jackson, vice-grand; M. W. Staples, secretary; Solomon ilies on Crooked Creek. The history therefore of Holli- Day, treasurer. The charter members were: M. W. daytown would be largely a history of Daniel Holliday. Staples, M. C. Potter, Solomon Day, Nathan B. West, W. E. Jackson, C. D. Warner, Amasa Gee, M. L. Wilson, A. E. Stephens and R. E. Wilcox. He took great delight in hunting, killing a large number of deer, bears, and wolves, and occasionally a panther. He says that during the exciting political canvass of 1844 The past grands are M. C. Potter, W. E. Jackson, thirty-six raccoon skins were nailed upon his barn by M. W. Staples, C. J. Smith, J. W. Rose, Nathaniel his own hand, the result of his own achievements. An Bloom, Amasa Gee, G. W. Potter, M. D. West, A. E. Stephens, T. B. Hotelling, E. M. Stephens, E. H. Tre- maine, H. A. Corwin, L. T. Van Wie, W. D. Day, P. I. Johnson, A. J. West and W. M. Croft.
There have been since the organization 131 members, of whom 12 have been initiated and admitted by card. The lodge room is neatly furnished and meetings are held weekly, on Saturday evening. The lodge is out of debt and has in cash and good notes assets to the amount of $2,000. It has paid out since its organization about $2,000 for relief. It owns the hall and furniture used by it, over the store of M. C. Potter. It is in a highly pros- perous condition, and has been the means of doing much good.
The present officers are: W. M. Croft, noble grand; Lewis Green, vice-grand; C. J. Smith, secretary; M. C. Potter, treasurer.
HOLLIDAYTOWN.
Hollidaytown is a village on Crooked Creek near the northern boundary of the township. It contains a union church, a school house, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, two stores, a post-office and about thirty dwellings. The Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim Railroad passes along its eastern limits, and has a station.
Daniel Holliday, who gave the name to the village, was a son of Daniel Holliday, and was born at Elkland, Sep- tember 26th 1809. He located on Crooked Creek in 1824, and in 1830 was married to Miss Elvira Keeney, 5 o'clock P. M. Feb. 3d 1797. daughter of Thomas Keeney. She died in 1844. Their children were: B. B. Holliday, the present proprietor of the Wyckoff House, Elmira, N. Y .; Van Buren Holli- day, Milford; Delos; Darius; Helen E., wife of Porter H. Blanchard; and Hiletus P. Mr. Holliday's second wife was Ruth Keeney, by whom he had four children, viz. Viola, deceased, wife of Ira Keeney; Mary; Ada, wife of Samuel Maxwell; and Henry Magee Holliday.
erected a hotel, which he kept twenty years or more; also engaged in farming and in mercantile pursuits. His hotel in years gone by was a very famous hostelry. It was on the great thoroughfare between Tioga and Wells- boro, and he has had the honor of entertaining a large number of the most prominent gentlemen of the county. He has been justice of the peace at intervals since 1836, making in all a period of thirty years that he has served the commonwealth in that capacity. Hon. R. G. White, James Lowrey, John W. Guernsey, Henry Sherwood, C. H. Seymour, Clarendon Rathbone and many other dis- tinguished lawyers have tried suits before him. Elisha White was the first settler at Hollidaytown, and when neer life.
apple tree stood near his hotel which was known as " the deer tree," because on its branches he would suspend the deer he had killed while on his hunting excursions. But hunting did not absorb his whole attention; it was only his pastime. He was a thorough business man. He is now in his 73d year and well preserved.
Jacob Hymes was one of the oldest settlers in the northern portion of the township. His sons were Wash- ington and Oliver, and his daughters were Charlotte, wife of Sylvester Beckwith; Fidelia, who died young; Mary, Lucretia, and Martha, wife of Valentine Lewis. Mr. Hymes was a farmer. His children are all dead except Martha and Lucretia.
In the old graveyard at Hollidaytown are buried many of the old settlers, among them Jesse Losey, a Revolu- tionary soldier, who died March 12th 1844, aged 85 years 5 months and 7 days; Mary, wife of David Jay, who died November 14th 1813, aged 85 years; and the Hymeses, Iveses, Wests, Wedges, Archers, and Dickinsons.
The remains of John Reddington are buried at Holli- daytown. He was born in Connecticut, March 11th 1769, and died March 5th 1858, in the goth year of his age. His daughter, Mrs. Lorency White, showed us a printed ball ticket of very great age which reads as fol- lows:
" The managers' compliments to Mr. John Reddington and Miss Polly Stevens, and request their company at a ball at Jesse Felt's, Esquire, on Friday evening next, at
" B. SLOCUM, " P. YARRINGTON, " J. P. JOHNSON,
Managers."
Mrs. White has this carefully preserved in a scrap book as one of the souvenirs of her father's early days.
MIDDLEBURY CENTER.
At Middlebury Center there are a station of the Corning, Mr. Holliday was an enterprising and active man. He | Cowanesque and Antrim Railroad, a post-office, a store, a hotel at the station and another on the turnpike on the south side of Crooked Creek, and a stave and barrel manufactory. This is a considerable shipping point for the products of Middlebury and Chatham townships. The name of the post-office is Middlebury Center, but the place is known far and wide as "Potter's," in honor of ex-Sheriff Potter, who for many years resided here and kept a place of public enter- tainment.
Henry H. Potter was born in Rhode Island, Septem- ber 15th 1791, and died in Middlebury, March 24th 1879, in his 88th year. He had seen a great deal of pio- His father removed from Rhode Island to
MARTIN STEVENS.
RESIDENCE OF HORACE L. STEVENS, HAMMOND, TIOGA .CO.,PA.
329
HENRY H. POTTER-NILES VALLEY.
Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1804, when that portion of New York was a wilderness and many red men were in Daniel G. Stevens, above mentioned, came from Ver- mont and located in Tioga county at an early day. His that section. When the war of 18:2 came on Mr. son H. L. Stevens, born in this county, in 1847, was mar- Potter, then only 19 years of age, volunteered and served ried in 1873 to Nancy A. Bailey, a native of Vermont, under General Scott with distinction. He was thrice and has two children. married. One child, Alanson E. Potter, of Minnesota, Martin Stevens was born in Vermont, in 1801, and came to Tioga county with his parents (Martin and Polly Stevens) about 1817. They located in Tioga township, and Mr. Stevens has been a resident of the county since. He was married in 1863 to Einora Rutty, and has one was born to him by his first wife. She died, and he subsequently married Miss Abigail Maxwell, by whom he had three children-Howard H., who died in Wisconsin, it 1878; Jane, wife of A. A. McLean, of Hammond's; and Delia, wife of A. C. Cole, of Middlebury. About the child. year 1824 Mr. Potter removed from Onondaga county to Spring Mills, Allegany county, N. Y., and built the NILES VALLEY. first mill at that place, thus giving the hamlet its name. He remained there until 1827, when he came to Tioga county and kept a hotel at Lawrenceville, afterward known as "Slosson's Hotel." Soon after coming into Tioga county his second wife died, leaving four small
children. March 12th 1829 he married Melinda G. Stevens, who was a native of Vermont, a daughter of Martin Stevens and sister of the late D. G. and Ezra Stevens, of Middlebury. By his third wife, with whom he lived happily for more than half a century, he had eight children, viz., Harriet, wife of the late W. H. Cur- rier, of New Hampshire; Jerome B., late sheriff of Tioga county, and sergeant-at-arms of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, now a resident of Wellsboro and clerk of the U. S. Senate committee on commerce and naviga- tion; Angie, wife of H. E. Potter; Benjamin P., of Michi- gan; Julia A., wife of L. A. Potter; George W., Albert W., and Alice, wife of Poleman Brown, of Middlebury, mak- all together a family of 12 children, tenderly cared for by his third wife. In 1833 Mr. Potter removed to Tioga from Lawrenceville, and kept tavern in what has subse- quently been known as the "Butler Smith hotel "; and while at Tioga he took contracts for the construction of two sections of the old Corning and Blossburg Railroad, and lost heavily by the failure of the party with whom he made the contract. Mr. Potter however paid his em- ployes to the last cent. For several years thereafter he was seriously embarrassed; but by fortitude, endurance and honest dealing he succeeded in recovering from his financial troubles. He in later years looked back to those trying times with pride, in reflecting that his honor was never compromised. Those that stood by him were gratefully remembered. In 1843 he located on Crooked Creek, at " Potter's." The same year he was elected county commissioner, and in 1846 high sheriff of Tioga county. During his official term he resided in Wellsboro, and then returned to " Potter's" or Middlebury Center. His home was the center of hospitality and good cheer. He kept a hotel on the great thoroughfare and plank road, half way between Wellsboro and Tioga, and " Pot- ter's " became a famous place. He was distinguished for his great heart, kind deeds, inflexible integrity and honor. For 30 years he was the postmaster at Middlebury Center. In the person of Henry H. Potter the true pioneer was rep- resented -- frank, cordial, jovial, energetic, kind and intelli- gent. The homestead is occupied by his son A. W. Potter.
Niles Valley is a village on the line of the Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim Railroad, near the northern boundary of the township of Middlebury. It contains two stores, a hotel, a steam saw and grist-mill, a large tannery, two blacksmith shops, a depot, a post-office and quite a collection of dwellings. It derived its name from Aaron Niles, one of the first settlers of the valley, who cut the first road from H. H. Potter's to Tioga in 1822. (See his biography, page 158.)
Solomon Bennett, of Elmira, and John M. Randall, of Veteran, Chemung county, N. Y., under the firm name of Bennett & Randall, erected a steam saw-mill in 1854 and opened a store at Niles Valley. They carried on the business of lumbering very extensively. In 1868 they erected a large steam flouring-mill near the saw- mill. The business is now carried on extensively by Luther C. Bennett (son of Solomon Bennett, deceased) and Mr. Dimon, under the firm name of Bennett & Dimon.
John T. Purvis, who had formerly been engaged in lumbering on Pine Creek, located at Niles Valley in 1854. While at Pine Creek he was married to Miss Harriet E. Harrington, daughter of Reuben Harrington, one of the pioneers of that section. Mr. Purvis was a millwright by trade, and also a land surveyor. He has for many years been engaged in lumbering and mercan- tile pursuits, and has acted as sub-agent for Phelps & Dodge, locating and surveying many thousand acres on the waters of the Sinnamahoning River, as well as in Tioga county. He sold lands in 1854 on which Bennett & Randall erected their mill.
SCHOOLS.
The early settlers of Middlebury township followed the plan usually adopted in other sections of the county. Their first schools were in private houses; then they were held in log or small framed buildings, and as the country developed better school-houses were erected and furnished with modern school apparatus. In 1859 a school-house was erected which cost about $Soo. According to the report of the State superintendent of public instruction for the year ending June 6th 1881 there were in Middlebury township thirteen schools, with 206 male and 205 female scholars-total 411. The receipts from all sources to be used for school purposes were $2,390.92. The schools were kept open on an
41
330
HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
average eight months in the year. There were employed nine male and nineteen female teachers.
POST ROADS.
From ISto to 1817 a post route was operated between Wellsboro and Tioga, and the weekly mail was carried on horseback, passing through Middlebury. In 1818 a semi-weekly mail was established, which continued until 1824, when the mail began to be carried three times a week. Until the latter year no coaches had been em- ployed. They were employed for a short period during
of Lawrenceville. After the construction of the plank road in 1850 from Tioga to Wellsboro the stage ran daily between those points, and at times there was great opposition and competitive lines were in operation,
& Wellsboro railroad (now the Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim) in 1872, when the various stage lines ceased. When these lines were in the full tide of prosperity many exciting scenes transpired. The famous hostelries of Daniel Holliday and H. H. Potter, situated only about two miles distant from each other, were patronized largely by those who were passengers in the various coaches, as well as by the hundreds of travelers by private conveyances who frequented that road. For many years the road from Tioga to Wellsboro was the greatest thoroughfare in the county, and had only one route which rivaled it, namely, that of the Cowanesque Valley.
There is now only one mail route in the township where a horse is used-that from Middlebury Center to Little Marsh via Keeneyville; the railroad, running through the township from north to south, affording mail facilities.
ELECTIONS ETC.
The first election in Middlebury township was held at
the house of Benjamin Kelsey, March 19th 1824. The officers elected were: Supervisors, Reuben Close, Jacob Hymes; auditors, John Short, John Ives 2nd, Peter Combs, Thomas Keeney; constable, Jedediah Carpenter; overseers of the poor, Asa Short, John Ives 2nd. The judges of election were Thomas Keeney and James Max- well; clerks of election, Peter Combs, Benajah Ives. The elections are now held at Middlebury Station.
The last vote for township officers was reported as fol- lows in the Wellsboro Agitator:
Supervisors-A. L. White, 98; P. G. Hurlbert, 92. Con- the year 1824, and discontinued. In 1835 the route was stable-S. A. Hays, 69; C. J. Smith, So. School direc- traveled over by a stage three times a week between tors-N. Bloom, 73; H. Wedge, 95; H. L. Stevens, 80; M. C. Potter, 62; Miles Goodwin, 45. Assessor-Jared Wellsboro and Lawrenceville, touching at Middlebury, Hollidaytown, Tioga 'then called Willardsburg), Mitchell's Davis, 101; T. E. Mitchell, 49. Assistant assessors-A. Creek or Judge Bentley's, and Lawrenceville.
The Corning and Blossburg Railroad was finished in 1840, and then Tioga became the end of the route instead clerk-W. A. Mitchell, 71; L. N. Green, 77. Judge of
Mitchell, 67; P. D. Shaff, 89; J. D. Greenfield, 66. Treasurer-M. G. White, 78; A. J. Smith, 73. Town election-Tom Keeney, 70; A. M. Keeney, 83. Inspec- tors of election-T. J. Mitchell, 70; W. H. Weller, 78. Auditor-Tom Keeney, 70; G. W. Dickinson, 82.
According to the report of the secretary of internal af- which continued until the completion of the Lawenceville fairs for the year 1880, which we have hitherto spoken of
as being an underestimate, the value of all property in the township was $263,324; the value of real estate tax- able was $242,822, and the number of taxable inhabitants 534. We have no doubt that the value of real estate and personal property in the township is $750,000.
PATRIOTISM OF MIDDLEBURY.
The residents of Middlebury township have ever been distinguished for their patriotism. The bones of those who served in the war of the Revolution, the war of 1812, and the Rebellion rest within its borders. During the latter many of the sons of Middlebury went forth to battle under the command of Captain Robert B. Ferry, Captain J. J. Hammond, and other brave leaders, and won distinguished honors for themselves and the town- ship whence they went. Company A 136th regiment Pa. volunteers was largely recruited in Middlebury; and Company L 59th regiment from Middlebury, Chatham, Farmington, Osceola and the Cowanesque region gen- erally. All honor to the brave sons of Middlebury.
SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP AND MAINESBURG.
BY JOHN L. SEXTON JR.
S ULLIVAN township is bounded on the north by the township of Rutland, on the east by the county of Bradford, on the south by the township of Ward, and on the west by the townships of Covington and Richmond. Its 4 mean elevation above tide is about 1,400 feet. The soil is well adapted to the growth of corn, wheat, oats, buckwheat and the grasses. Tobacco has
been raised to some extent. The orchard products are great. Iron ore is found within its limits, but has not been mined to any great extent. The township is dis- tinguished for its fine quarries of building and flagging stone. The principal business of the people is farming, and some of the finest farms in the county are to be found within its limits. As a rule the farmers are pros- perous, with good buildings, ample agricultural machin-
331
PIONEERS IN SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP.
ery, fine horses and carriages, and all the surroundings needed to make life agreeable. Their ancestors and themselves have known the vicissitudes and hardships of pioneer life, and the present generation is enjoying the fruits of hard work and rigid economy.
The value of the taxable property in Sullivan in the year 18So was $349,389, and in Mainesburg borough $32,500, making in the township and borough an aggre- gate of $381,889. The number of taxables in the town- ship in 1881 was 363, and there were 91 in the borough, making a total of 454. The valuation of property in this township, as in all the rest of the county, is not half its real value. The property in Sullivan township and Mainesburg will closely approximate one million dollars.
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