USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101
The children of Captain Willson were Catharine Elliott, married to Charles Doane, of Aurora, Ontario, and residing there; Martha Clinger, who died
28
428
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
in 1869, unmarried ; Mark Willson, and Eliza Willson, who resides at Winona, unmarried. John I. Willson died on February 16, 1859; his wife died on the 9th of June, 1854. Both are buried in the village cemetery at Sugar Grove.
Mark Willson, only son of John I. Willson, was born in 1818. In early life he engaged in the mercantile business at Sugar Grove, and was successful as a merchant. He possessed the confidence of the community in which he resided, and was regarded as a man of strict integrity and good judgment. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace when he was only twenty- one years old, and was continued in the office by re-election for a period of twenty-five years or over. He also filled the office of postmaster several years, and was often called to fill various other local offices, which was always done with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Mr. Willson was a public-spirited citizen, and always ready and willing to aid in every public en- terprise, contributing his full share in both time and money. He did much to improve the village by the erection of buildings of his own, and by aiding and encouraging others to do the same.
Although not a member of any church organization, he was ever ready to aid in the support of all when called upon. In politics he was a Republican, and often represented his town and village in the county conventions of his party ; and while firm in his political opinions, he wasalways courteous toward those whose politics differed from his.
In 1853 he married Elizabeth T. Hallock of Milton, Ulster county, N. Y. He has four children-two sons and two daughters-all of whom are married ex- cept the youngestson, John I. Willson, who is employed in the Merchants' Bank. Disposing of his property in Sugar Grove in 1863, Mark Willson removed with his family to Hastings, Minn., and continued in the mercantile busi- ness for three years, during a part of the time filling the office of mayor of that thriving city, and in 1866 removed to Winona, Minn., where he has been since continuously successfully engaged in the banking business, and has for many years filled the position of president of the Merchants' Bank of Winona.
James Elliott, brother of Mrs. John I. Willson, was the first person buried in the village cemetery at Sugar Grove-not far from the year 1820.
John Hamilton, father of James C. Hamilton, now a respected citizen of Sugar Grove, was sheriff of Venango county before the division was effected that set off Warren county, and frequently came through this part of his dis- trict on a bridle-path. The intimate knowledge of the resources of the country which thus came to him in the performance of his official duties attracted his attention to Sugar Grove, and in 1827 he removed hither, where he married a daughter of David Brown, and where many of his descendants now reside. He was born in York county, Pa., June 22, 1782, and died October 27, 1857. Catharine, his wife, was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 13, 1789, and died September 29, 1862.
429
SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Not all of the early settlers have received mention yet, however, it being the object of the writer to give a running account of those who bore a more conspicuous part in public affairs before locating the several members of the steady and sturdy yeomanry who performed so useful a part in the settlement of the country by clearing away the forests and tilling the ground.
Some time between the years 1806 and 1816, as shown by the lists of tax- ables in the county, the population of Sugar Grove was increased by the ar- rival of Amos York, who gave to York Hill in the eastern part of the town its name ; Alexander Clantz, already mentioned; Thomas Duprey, a blacksmith, who settled on the road between Sugar Grove village and Chandler's Valley ; David Mathews, who built his dwelling on Mathew's Run, between Sugar Grove and Youngsville; Thomas Page, who established a settlement near the farm of the Dalrymple family, and James Sturdevant, at Chandler's Valley. It was also about this time that John Chandler brought his family to the val- ley which has ever since borne his name. Stephen Sweet, a carpenter and joiner, about this time settled just east of the old Falconer house, near the vil- lage of Sugar Grove. He married a daughter of John Barr and left numerous descendants in Sugar Grove, several of whom are yet residing there. He was born on the 6th of September, 1786, and died on the IIth of November, 1865. His wife, Mary, was born February 26th, 1806, and died June 13, 1863.
Between the years 1810 or 1812 and 1820 quite a number of the settlers moved away from this part of the country, probably discouraged by the ex- treme and unprofitable hardships of pioneer life. But new forces were con- tinually arriving in such numbers as to counterbalance this efflux, and at the time of the formation of the township in 1821, the population was in excess of that at any previous period. Among the new arrivals were the following :
James C. Austin, who taught winter school here for a time, and during the remainder of the year worked in the tan-yard of David Brown. At a later date he married a lady of Youngsville and removed in that direction. Nathan Abbott, who cleared a farm, still called the Abbott place, a little way west of Wrightsville. He was a good man and citizen, and died quite early. His descendants are numerous in this town now. David Allen, who married a daughter of Nathan Abbott, lived in the same neighborhood, and died there many years ago. Ezra Basset, a cooper, resided with his daughter, Mrs. Silas Hazen, at the village of Grove ; Mrs. Samuel Hall was also his daughter. He wasa very pious man. His death occurred many years ago. Samuel Hall was one of the early tavern-keepers here. He came about 1820, and lived for a short time in a small bark-roofed shanty on the site of the house now occupied by Emri Davis, while his hotel was building. This hostelry stood on the site of the present bank, and was two stories high. Hall kept tavern there many years, and died on the 2d of February, 1854, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Polly W., died on the 11th of December, 1848, aged sixty eight years.
430
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
For some time before his death Mr. Hall operated a grist and saw-mill, which he had built. Smith Burlingame, who is also mentioned in the list of taxables, was an employee of Samuel Hall.
Simon Brooks settled about this time at Chandler's Valley. Joseph Berlin was an early settler-an Englishman-right on the ground now occupied by the village of Sugar Grove. He was a farmer. He died about 1835. Cor- nelius Bassett (not related to Ezra Basset), lived thus early on the farm next west to that occupied by Joseph Berlin, towards Watt's Flats. After a few years he removed from the county. Asa Curtis was a shoemaker, and built the house just east of the village of Sugar Grove, now occupied by Charles Temple. Curtis afterward went to Warren. John Chambers came from Eng- land, it is said, with Joseph Berlin, a fellow-bachelor, and lived for a number of years with him. Chambers then married and worked his farm until he died. Randall Evans settled at Chandler's Valley and cultivated a large farm there until his death. His descendants are numerous in that part of the township now. Samuel Foster, a gunsmith and blacksmith, married a daughter of Alexander Clantz, and lived near the bridge in the village of Sugar Grove. He was a good and an active citizen, and came to his death in 1837, while acting as constable, by being thrown from a horse. Thomas Fox, a farmer, lived on the place owned by Robert Falconer, and left descendants which are yet in town. His brother David lived on Stilson Hill, and died there many years ago. Annum Gregory settled at first at Chandler's Valley, and afterwards removed to a place about a mile east of Sugar Grove village. Mrs. Putnam Bugby, of Chandler's Valley, is his daughter. Thomas Green came from Gorham, N. Y., in 1816, with Henry Catlin, and settled near Cornelius Bassett, where he died a number of years ago. His descendants reside in the same neighborhood now. Otis Green, brother of Thomas, came from the same place a few years later, and after living near his brother for some time, settled on the place just off that now owned and occupied by L. H. Pratt, where his death occurred. He was born in Massachusetts December 26, 1799, and died May 11, 1877. Silas Hazen, whose name has been before mentioned, dwelt in a house, still standing, ·opposite the residence of Emri Davis.
Hazen was a farmer and brickmaker, but did not remain in town longer than about ten years, when he removed to Michigan. Moses Harmon, grandfather of Hosea Harmon, resided in the east- ern part of the township. For information concerning this family the reader is referred to the sketch of Hosea Harmon, in later pages of this book. James and John Lowther, with two of their sisters, came from Ireland and settled in the northeastern part of the town. John married a daughter of John Hood. They were successful and industrious. Marcus Leonard, mentioned in the list, is not known to have been a freeholder here, but to have taught school in this town, and to have " boarded 'round." Isaac Lopus, a pensioner of the War of 1812, is still living in Sugar Grove, on the way to Watt's Flats. His chil-
H. Harmon
431
SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.
dren have by dint of economy and industry secured themselves a competence. Ambrose Pratt is another member of that honorable but much-abused class who earn a livelihood by teaching school. Stephen Smith was for a time a resident of the village of Sugar Grove, working the Richard Miller farm for three years. He died at Chandler's Valley. Bemsley Rowley lived about a mile and a half east of Sugar Grove village, and has descendants in town now. He died more than twenty yearsago. Abraham Strickland lived with his parents near the New York line, and died suddenly at Willson's Hotel about 1824 or 1825. Valentine Tiffany was a carpenter and joiner and lived in a house of his own construction, still standing, about one mile northwest of the village of Sugar Grove. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Hall. Mr. Tiffany removed to Michigan at a comparatively early date. Lodowick Wright was a mill- wright and the builder of Samuel Hall's mills. He lived near the home of Henry Catlin. He died on the 14th of June, 1828, in the sixty-second year of his age.
At this period, about 1820, the roads in this part of the country were in a rough, unfinished condition, mere bridle-paths. The face of the country was still covered for the most part with thick forests. Chandler's Valley had a name, but was not yet large enough to deserve the dignity of being called a village. The village of Sugar Grove was very small. There was a small, un- painted school building on the site of the present union school-house. An acre of land had been donated to the " Utica school district" (as it was called, from the number of families herein from the vicinity of Utica, N. Y.) by John Barr, for the purposes of erecting upon it a good building for school purposes. The village had until about this time been known as Brownsville, after David Brown, the name giving place to that of Sugar Grove about 1821. The inhabitants of the village during this period have been already mentioned, among the most prom- inent being David Brown, Captain Willson, Samuel Hall, John Barr, Silas Hazen, Samuel Foster, Asa Curtis ; and the nearest neighbor outside of the vil- lage was Robert Falconer. The road between Sugar Grove and Jamestown was extremely rough - at times almost impassable - and was not in a line with the present road, but lay over the hill. A few years after this the present Jamestown road was laid out by Robert Falconer, Stephen Jagger, and Hulett Lott. The principal roads hereabouts were all laid out about 1830.
Sugar Grove has a well-known inhabitant who has gone through experiences worthy of a permanent record. James G. Brookmire was born in Antrim county, near Belfast, Ireland, on the 2d of June, 1810, and was the fourth of nine children. His ancestors were inhabitants of Ulster county, Ireland, whither they had come from England, probably at a time when war and massacre had nearly depopulated that part of the country and the home government was en- couraging the immigration thereto of Protestant settlers. His father was a cotton-spinner and worked in a cotton-mill in Antrim county from about 1790
432
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
until old age compelled him to relinquish active business. The son of whom we write was apprenticed to learn the art of making calico prints, etc., at the age of fourteen years, and at the termination of his necessary seven years, and when he was of age, he removed to Philadelphia, in this country, where he landed on the 4th of July, 1831. After working two years and nine months at his chosen trade he returned to Ireland to see the girl who was waiting for him there, and whom he brought back very soon as his wife. At that time the recent destruction of the United States Bank had produced a panic in bus- iness and he felt the hard times sorely. He moved three times in as many years, the last time being to Bergen county, N. J. He soon started for Sugar Grove with his family - a wife and two children - and settled in the unbroken forest about three miles from the present village. Here he held three hundred acres nearly. The gold fever of California took hold upon him in 1850 and he sold fifty acres of his farm to aid him in reaching California. He went by public conveyance to what is now Kansas City, where he bought in with a company from Kentucky, and started into the wilderness on the 27th of June. There were then no white settlements on their way except Forts Kearney and Laramie. After the party reached Fort Kearney Mr. Brookmire resolved to break with his companions, whom he did not fancy, although to leave them was to incur great peril. They refunded, with unusual fairness, all he had paid in, and permitted him to take as company a well-trained dog. It was a fatal year-the year of an unexampled inundation of emigrants for the Far West, who were overtaken with all forms of disease, that decimated their numbers with pitiless regularity. On his route Mr. Brookmire witnessed wolves digging up the graves of those who had died and been buried in a shallow trench. He did not molest them, and was happily surprised to find that they did not seem eager to disturb him. He fell in with Indians -not the starved and half- clothed substitute for native grandeur which the government professes to pro- vide for free of cost at the present day, but the genuine, naked, rifled, mounted and painted savage. His good fortune did not desert him, however, and he was well treated by his savage hosts, in consideration of his giving them a por- tion of his ammunition. He was nearly drowned in Utah ; encountered a thunder storm on the Rocky Mountain ridge - a bolt of which tore up the ground at his feet and stunned him for a moment - and at last reached his destination, where in a few months he was doing well. At this time he heard from home of a legacy left his family from the old country, and was forced rather reluctantly to return home. He returned by way of Nicaragua to New York. Since then several other legacies have come into his possession, and he is now in more than comfortable circumstances, which he and his wife are worthy to enjoy.
Early and Present Mills .- The first mill in the present limits of Sugar Grove township was undoubtedly, as has been stated, the grist-mill of John
433
SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Hood, in the northern part of the town. The first grist-mill in the village was that built by Samuel Hall, as before stated, and which stood near the site of the present mill of G. Clark. Mr. Hall also operated a saw-mill with the same water power that impelled his grist-mill. These mills were afterward owned and operated by Joseph Langdon. The present steam mill on that site was built in 1856 at a cost of some $8,000, by S. P. Fuller, Russell Clark soon after purchasing a half interest. Another saw-mill was erected soon after 1835 below the village, and was known as Watkins's mill, from its builder, Horace Watkins. Another saw-mill stood above the village, its builder being an En- glishman named John Sellers. These were all water mills excepting that erected by S. P. Fuller ; but the diminished volume of the streams which followed the clearing of the forests have expelled them all from existence. The only tan- nery of consequence ever operated in Sugar Grove is that previously mentioned, belonging to David Brown. Samuel Hall at one time had a small distillery, but it was short lived. The grist and saw-mill now owned and operated by M. W. Curtiss and P. Davis, under the firm name of Curtiss & Davis, was built about fourteen years ago by WV. M. Haggerty and E. R. Wheelock under the style of Haggerty & Wheelock. In a few months Mr. Wheelock sold his interest to his partner. In January, 1876, Mr. Davis purchased a half interest in the business. The relation thus established continued until October, 1885, when Mr. Haggerty was superseded by Mr. Curtiss. The capacity of the grist- mill is estimated at about 400 bushels of grain a day. That of the saw-mill is stated at 3,000 feet of lumber in every ten hours. Connected with the saw- mill is also a stave and shingle-mill of good capacity. The mills are operated separately by steam, one engine for the grist-mill and the other engine running the saw, stave, and shingle-mills.
George Haupin has recently started a cider and jelly-mill in Sugar Grove village, his first supply of apples for reduction arriving September 23, 1886. Mr. Haupin has been manufacturer of cider since 1874, during which year he began the business in Freehold. He has all the appointments of a first-class mill, and will undoubtedly build up a large business.
The other manufacturing interests of Sugar Grove village are included in the carriage shop of W. W. Jones, who has been in business here about eight years, and the harness shop of J. J. Smutz, who came in June, 1883.
Early and Present Mercantile Business .- If we exclude the manufacture and sale of brick, carried on by Silas Hazen, opposite the old framed house of David Brown, the first store in town was that kept on the site of the pres- ent residence of C. F. Temple, by John Brown, brother of David Brown. The next merchant was Henry Higby, who kept store in Sugar Grove village about 1823 or 1824, and was soon followed by Charles Butler. This store was on the ground now covered by the bakery. Subsequently, in this same building were Joshua Van Duzen, Pier & Co., and George Mosher. The oldest busi-
434
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ness now in progress in town is the business of H. N. Frazine, dealer in har- nesses, etc., which was established by his father, Newton Frazine, in 1853, in the same building now occupied by the present proprietor, who succeeded the founder about fifteen years ago. Mr. Frazine carries from a thousand to twelve hundred dollars' worth of stock.
The general store of A. G. McIntyre was founded, in 1867, by C. P. Har- ris. The firm of Harris & McIntyre was formed in 1881-and the senior partner withdrew from the business in 1885. Mr. McIntyre carries a stock which he appraises at about $15,000.
Next in chronological order of establishment is the drug store of L. H. Darling, which was begun about 1869 by Dr. C. J. Phillips. Since he retired the several proprietors have been M. W. Lenox, Lenox & Smilie, George M. Burroughs, and the present owner, who succeeded Mr. Burroughs on the Ist of January, 1886.
In 1871 Theodore Van Duzen established the furniture business now under the proprietorship of his successor, M. W. Harrington, whose connection with the concern dates from 1873. Mr. Harrington carries stock valued at about $3,500.
W. H. Mix purchased the old brick store in 1872, that being then, accord- ing to his statement, the only brick building in town. From the first he dealt in drugs, groceries, boots and shoes, glassware, etc. He moved into his pres- ent quarters in 1878. He values his stock at from $6,000 to $8,000.
The firm of Smith, Wheelock & Co. began to deal in hardware, and built a store for that purpose in the summer of 1873. Successive changes since then have taken place, and now the sign reads "E. R. Wheelock & Son." Their stock is estimated at about $8,000 or $9,000.
Augustus Scott, merchant tailor at Sugar Grove village, came about twelve years ago. The tin-shop and hardware store of John Barlow was started the same year. Mr. Barlow now carries stock worth $4,000 or $5,000.
J. G., A. M. and A. D. McDonald, under the firm style of McDonald Brothers, established a general store in Sugar Grove village in 1877, and now carry stock valued at about $12,000.
Wellman Brothers & Co., drugs and general merchandise .- This estab- lishment was founded in 1881 by W. D. and D. E. Wellman, who, in the sum- mer of 1886, formed copartnership relations with the present junior member of the firm, R. S. Cummings. They have been in their present building two years at this writing. They carry about $3,000 worth of goods.
The general mercantile business now conducted in the name of Mrs. R. D. McDougal was started in 1881 by Hardin Hazeltine, her father. Her husband had charge of the store for about a year, ending in March, 1885, when the present proprietress assumed the management.
S. G. Stuart began to deal in groceries in Sugar Grove village, on the 4th of September, 1886.
435
SUGAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Physicians, Past and Present .- In the earliest days of the township med- ical aid was obtainable no nearer than Jamestown. About the year 1820 Dr. Hiram Newman came to reside in a house next to the old school-house in Sugar Grove village. His wife was a sister of Abraham Ditmars. After a brief stay here of two or three years Dr. Newman sold out to Dr. Hiram Alden, who lived about three years in the same house. His successor was Dr. Jona- than Pratt, a single man, who boarded with Henry Catlin three years and then returned to Ontario county, N. Y. Then arrived another bachelor physician, Dr. Marcus Whitman, who boarded at Willson's Hotel. Several years after- ward he was followed by Dr. Noah Weld, who lived on the edge of the village toward Jamestown. He practiced in Sugar Grove a number of years and until his death, only a few years previous to the last great war. His son, Des- cartes Weld, afterward practiced here some time, finally removing to California for his health, where he died. Dr. Samuel Rogers and Dr. C. H. Smith also practiced in Sugar Grove a number of years.
Of the physicians at present in practice in Sugar Grove village Dr. W. W. Seabury is the one of longest standing. He was born in this town on the 17th of August, 1851, and received his medical education at the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, O. He also took a degree from the Western Reserve University of Cleveland. The date of his diploma from the first-named insti- tution is February, 1875. He practiced in Sugar Grove two years under Dr. C. H. Smith (who is now in Mason City, Iowa), and since then has continued for himself.
Dr. W. D. Wellman was born in Harmony, Chautauqua county, N. Y., - February 15, 1855, and received his medical education at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, O., from which he was graduated in June, 1881. He came to Sugar Grove in the following fall.
Dr. W. M. Page received his medical education in the medical department of the Western Reserve University of Cleveland, being graduated from it on the 3d of March, 1886. In August following he settled in Sugar Grove.
Dr. Fred A. Morrell was born in Strong, Me., on the 26th of October, 1857, and obtained his professional education at the Long Island College Hos- pital in Brooklyn, N. Y., from which he was graduated in June, 1885. He practiced for some time on the resident staff of physicians of that institution, and came to Sugar Grove on the Ist of October, 1886.
The only dentist in active practice at the village of Sugar Grove is Dr. H. B. Arnold, who practiced dentistry in New York State nearly forty years, the last thirteen of which, before his arrival in Sugar Grove, were passed in James- town. He came here in the summer of 1884.
The Sugar Grove News is the only newspaper ever published in Sugar Grove, is apparently established on a sound basis, and is published by a veteran newspaper man, who " cannot remember when he couldn't set type." His father,
436
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Adolphus Fletcher, established the Jamestown Journal about 1825 or 1826. The proprietor of the News is also the founder of the Warren Mail. He was in Southern Illinois fifteen or twenty years, and came here from Washington, D. C., where he had been in the employ of the government. The News is a clean, crisp, well-edited paper, Republican in politics and interesting in matter. It dates its origin to December, 1884.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.