USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 60
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
504
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Elijah Pound, jr., was the youngest son of Elijah, sr., and settled and con- siderably improved the farm that Joseph Clendenning had first cleared in part. Elijah afterward moved to the farm now occupied by William McMahon. In 1838 he and his wife Judith, with their family, removed to Monroe county, N. Y., whence they removed to Rock county, Wis., in 1847. On this farm last mentioned, on the 6th of December, 1832, a son was born to these good peo- ple, who was destined to bear an important and conspicuous part in the legis- lation of the nation at a later day. His name is Thaddeus C. Pound, for he is still living. He is now a resident of Chippewa Falls, Wis. He commenced teaching when he was fifteen years of age, attended an academy several terms, afterward taught the union school at Caledonia, Livingston county, N. Y., at- tended the Rushford Academy in Allegany county, N. Y., and went to Chip- pewa Falls, Wis., in the spring of 1856. There he began as a book-keeper, early engaged in the lumber and mercantile business, and continued to ad- vance until he became one of the foremost leaders in public enterprises. He was a member of the Assembly of Wisconsin in 1864, 1866, 1867 and 1869, and in the latter year was elected lieutenant-governor. Since 1876 he has represented, without interruption, his district in the National Congress- the Eighth. Elijah Pound, sr., lived with his son and namesake until his death, at a very advanced age. He had 1,000 acres of land, which he subdivided and sold. Asa Pound, the next brother, lived on land since occupied at dif- ferent intervals by Asa A. Bennett, Joseph Bennett, and where A. H. and D. H. Lounsbury and John McStraw now live. He sold out or exchanged for lands in Ohio with a Mr. Reeves.
Asher Pound, a cousin of those whom we have been describing, settled upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. Walling, and which had been first settled by William Shattuck, though he had never lived on it. After a brief residence in Elk, Asher Pound removed castward. William Shattuck settled on what is now the James Roy farm, and there made extensive improvements. Mr. Roy married one of his daughters. Mr. Shattuck came from the State of New York about 1833, though he had been preceded as early as 1826 by men who were active in his interests. He was a Quaker in religion, an unwavering Abolitionist in politics, with the fiery zeal in that cause that stirred Garrison, and with an ability that might have made him as prominent as Garrison, had he possessed the latter's means and audiences. He was eccentric in his ways, but his cccentricity was ever on the side of the right. He had a large family, most of whom were daughters. He had two sons, the elder of whom was drowned while in bathing at Stump Creek Eddy, and the younger, William, jr., now lives at Salamanca, N. Y. William Shattuck, sr., was called upon at various times to fill nearly all the offices within the gift of the town, such as that of school director, supervisor of highways, etc. He finally removed to a farm ncar Randolph, N. Y., where he lived to an advanced age. His widow
gas Day
505
ELK TOWNSHIP.
is still living, and at this writing is on a visit to one of her daughters beyond Chicago.
John B. Hodges lived in what is now Glade township, and had a large, well-conducted farm there. He was a man of large stature, and took a prom- inent part in town affairs. He held many town offices. He finally moved away a few years ago. He had two sons, who lived in Russellburg.
William Snyder, another early settler, lived on the farm afterward occupied by Daniel Lounsbury. He removed into what has since become Glade town- ship, and there died. John Snyder also lived in that portion of the original township of Elk, which has become Glade, and thence went west many years ago. Asa Plumb settled early near Cobham Park, where he reached a good old age and died. (For a sketch of George A. Cobham, see the history of Glade.)
A. W. S. Bidwell was a brother-in-law of Daniel Pound, and settled at an early day on the MacMahon farm, south of the residence of William MacMahon. He lived many years on this farm, started a good orchard and raised a great deal of excellent fruit. He held several important township offices. He be- longed to the Hicksite Quakers. After many years of residence in this town he removed to the East.
John Fitzwater settled on the hill above Cornplanter Run, and east of Bidwell's Settlement, where he cleared some sixty acres of land and built the first saw-mill on the site now covered by the steam mill of Lewis Ladow. Daniel Pound owned a half-interest in this mill, and each part-owner furnished his own stock of timber. Fitzwater was a very thorough man, and performed all his duties with energy and promptness. The writer of this chapter helped in the building of this mill, and operated it half the time for Daniel Pound. It was during the construction of this mill, in 1833, that occurred the memor- able natural phenomenon, the shower of stars. Fitzwater reared a large family of sons and daughters, and finally sold out his mill interests and removed to Ohio, none of his family remaining here. Thomas Fitzwater lived a little way west of his brother, on a small piece of land, but did not stay long.
James Headley settled first on fifty acres west of Benjamin Marsh's, and after making improvements traded with Peter Jackson and removed to Quaker Hill, where he died at an advanced age. Elwood Headley now owns the place left by his father. Peter Jackson did not remain in town very long- yet long enough to become distinguished locally for the fact that his two little boys treed an old bear and captured two or three of her cubs, which they took to Warren and sold. This was considered quite a feat for so small boys.
Isaac Bidwell came from the East and settled on one of the branches of Ackley Run, where the family of the late Edward Reynolds now live. Here Mr. Bidwell built a small saw-mill and an equally small but serviceable grist- mill. He had not made very extensive improvements before leaving for parts
506
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
unknown to the writer. His was the only grist-mill ever in town. Edward Reynolds got the property and made many improvements, besides rebuilding and enlarging the saw-mill, and putting in machinery for manufacturing fan- ning-mills, wash-boards, etc. He died there a few years ago.
Edson Hall bought a tract of land just west of the last above named, and erected a very respectable saw-mill, which property afterward came into the hands of his brother, Chapin Hall, of Warren. Both are long since deceased. A Mr. Davis built a saw-mill on the south branch of the run, above the Hall mill, which did a good business for those days. Both these mills are within the present limits of Pine Grove township, though at the time they were built they were in Elk. In this same tract, that was set off to Pine Grove, dwelt Joseph and Reuben Jones, brothers, who are now in Pine Grove.
Eli Northrop cleared a farm on the road leading from the old " Pound Meeting-House " to Pine Grove, by the Edson Hall saw-mill, where he died many years ago, though I believe his widow is still living. James Headley came from New Jersey and settled on a piece of land about one and one-half miles west of Benjamin Marsh's, on the Pine Grove road. After making some- thing of an improvement he traded farms with Peter Jackson, taking in ex- change a piece of land on Cornplanter Run. Many years afterward he made a visit to New Jersey on foot, and before starting applied to the writer for a supply of codfish, which, upon obtaining, he pronounced good, saying that he could save money by eating nothing but codfish and drinking nothing but water. During his later years he removed to Qaaker Hill, where he died at an advanced age, and was followed some time later by his widow, who had also reached ycars beyond the allotted number.
Daniel Lounsbury was an early settler from Wayne county, N. Y., and bought out William Snyder, on the corner of the road leading from Warren to the Allegheny River. Ile had a family of four sons and three daughters, and divided his large farm among the former. He was one of the first road com- missioners under the new road law of 1845. He lived to fullness of years and was survived several years by his widow. Daniel H. Lounsbury now lives on the west end of the old homestead, and is himself getting advanced in years. He has been honored with several township offices. He has one son and one daughter. A. H. Lounsbury lives on the south side of the corner above men- tioned, and is a highly respected citizen. Hiram A. Lounsbury occupies the old homestead proper, and sustains well the family reputation for integrity and industry. He has several children. Harlow A. Lounsbury has been dead several years. Hlis widow occupies a part of the old homestead.
Asaph A. Bennett came from Plymouth, Mass., in the thirties, and settled on a part of the Asa Pound farm, and south of Lounsbury Corners on the Warren and Olean road. He was a carpenter by trade. He and his wife have been dead for a number of years. Joseph Bennett now lives on his fath-
507
ELK TOWNSHIP.
er's farm and that of William Reeves. The old house burned some years ago. John McStraw, who satisfies the legal needs of the people hereabouts, and is a justice of the peace, lives north of Joseph Bennett. Frederick Kilburn settled near and adjoining the place of Mr. Webb. He was from Wayne county, N. Y. He and his wife have been dead many years. His one son, Allen R., now lives on the old homestead, and has recently put in a saw-mill. A. C. Marsh, who has been in town some thirty-three years, came from New York State, and settled on the Warren and Olean road on the farm originally settled by Samuel Kilburn. Albert Cargill, a peaceable and law abiding citizen, married a daughter of Calvin Webb, and settled on a part of his land.
William Roper was a native of Norfolk, England. He came to Elk in Au- gust, 1833, from Canandaigua, N. Y., and cleared a piece of land about two miles east of the Warren and Olean road. He afterward traded this tract for land where George Nobbs now lives, on the Warren and Olean road. He had two sons, James and George, the latter of whom went west, and from all ac- counts was killed. William Roper died in 1878 at the age of eighty-three years. His surviving son, James, married the eldest daughter of William S. Marsh, and now lives on the Hiram Gilman farm.
John Nobbs came from the Isle of Wight to Ontario county, N. Y., and thence to Elk in 1835. He and his wife have been dead many years. They had two sons and one daughter. George, one of the sons, still owns the old home, but lives on the old Roper place. Martin Frazer came from England and settled next east of the Nobbs farm, on the Pine Grove and Allegheny road, about four miles west of the Allegheny River. He was an eccentric and humorous man, who would have his joke on all occasions. He was very apt in his expressions. He went west a number of years ago and there died.
Owen Feany came originally from County Sligo, Ireland, to the State of New York, and, in 1854, thence to this town. He is now some ninety-one years of age, and lives near Joseph Clendenning.
Joseph Clendenning came from Managhan county, Ireland, about 1852 or 1853, and owns the farm first settled by Elijah Pound, jr. Andrew Clen- denning came from Canada and settled on the old Thomas Pound place. Na- thaniel Enos formerly lived in Niagara county, N. Y., and settled on the Shu- ler place in this township about 1830 or 1831. He built a log house and found it convenient to occupy it before he had finished his fire-place. One winter's night a panther leaped on to the roof and peered through the hole left for the chimney. The tracks were examined by the neighbors next morning. After a few years Mr. Enos removed to the place near Clendenning's; of his large family only one son, Abraham, who lives on the old place, is now in town, the others being scattered or deceased. Mr. Enos was a man of decided individ- uality. John I. Striker came from New Jersey and settled near the place after- ward occupied by Nathaniel Enos. At a later day he bought lands and a 33
508
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
saw-mill in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. Levi Learn came from New York State about 1833 or 1834, and settled west of the Striker place, where he cleared a large farm. He reared quite a family of sons and daughters, three of the former of whom are now living, viz., Lewis, Jacob, and Adam, while one daughter is the wife of Andrew Clendenning. Mr. Learn lived to be more than eighty years of age. His wife died some years previous to his demise. Lewis Learn, by purchase and operation of law, has become the owner of his father's farm and the interests of his brothers and sisters, besides the farm for- merly owned by John Striker. Jacob Learn lives near the State line, and Adam lives southeast of Clendenning's Corners.
Lewis Mintouge came to Elk from the State of New York and settled near the State line, and near the junction of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. He held several town offices in Elk, such as school director, auditor, town clerk, justice of the peace, etc. He removed to Jamestown and did not remain there long. He had one daughter, who married Edward Reynolds, and is still living.
Zenos Rice came from New York State also, and settled about one mile northeast from the saw-mill of Thomas Pound. He cleared quite a farm there and then removed to the West. Daniel Gould came from Old Galen, N. Y., in 1833, and settled near the northwest corner of Elk township. He was the father of several sons and two daughters. His youngest daughter became the wife of David Holt, brother of the writer, and is still living. Mr. Gould and his wife have been dead for a number of years. John Brokaw came from New Jersey about 1831 and built a saw-mill on the State Line Run. He did not reside within the limits of the township, though his saw-mill was within the town. Freeman Fenton owned a saw-mill on the State Line Run, below the Brokaw mill. James K. Webb also built a saw-mill on the west branch of State Line Run, though it is not very active now. Henry Brown, of Warren, built an- other saw-mill on the west branch of State Line Run and west of the Webb mill. Orren Hook built a double saw-mill a mile below Corydon on the river, which was in charge of Benjamin Marsh for a number of years, and was finally washed away by the flood of 1865.
John Holman came from Kent, England, to Rochester, N. Y., and thence to Elk township, where he bought the Daniel Pound homestead. Being of a roaming disposition, he did not stay long, but went west in quest of a fortune, and finally drifted to Oregon, where after a number of years he died. He had a large family of sons and daughters, the eldest of the latter being now Mrs. Walling. Mrs. Holman attained an age something beyond eighty years, and died. William Holman now lives on the old farm. Mrs. Walling lives on the place next south, and has been the postmistress for Germany for many years. Jacob Lash came to Elk about 1834 or 1835, and lived in different parts of the township. He finally settled permanently on the place adjoining the James Roy farm. Mr. Lash reared a large family. He was, in his younger days,
509
ELK TOWNSHIP.
one of the merriest of jolly men, but years have somewhat sobered him; he is now about seventy-seven years of age.
Jason Andrus was a very prominent man. He came from the State of New York about 1833, and settled about one mile south from John I. Striker's, on a thousand-acre tract. He made extensive improvements, and subsequently added another thousand acres to his possessions. He was a surveyor, and speculated in land to a considerable degree. He was a successful man. He took an active and a prominent part in town affairs, was at different times school director, supervisor, justice of the peace, etc. His family consisted of two sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Mrs. Owen Ladow, is now living. Mrs. Andrus died many years ago, and her husband married again. His second wife attained an advanced age, and died something more than a year ago.
George F. Dinsmoor, from the State of New York, came to Elk about 1835ยป and soon after purchased the place now owned and occupied by Jacob Mack. Mr. Dinsmoor reared a large family, and died full of years. He was frequently called upon to fill town offices, and was capable of holding any office which lay within the gift of the town. -
Lewis Ladow, from the State of New York also, married the eldest daugh- ter of Joseph Clendenning, Ist, and with his brother purchased the old Fitz- water place, and the W. S. Marsh farm. He has held several township offices, and has built a large steam saw-mill. At the mouth of Hodge Run is the most extensive saw and planing-mill in town, owned by Imel, Powers & Shank. The mill does a large business, and is connected with an extensive store. Charles Rollins came to Elk a number of years ago, and built and now operates a saw-mill on Hodge Run. R. E. Green formerly owned the Enoch Gilman farm, and now lives at Big Bend in Glade.
Peter Holt was born in the township of Billings, twelve miles from Liver- pool, Lancashire, England, on the 2d day of April, 1811. On the day of the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railroad (which he witnessed), Sep- tember 16, 1829, he, with others, took ship at Liverpool, though they did not sail for a number of days. After sailing for nearly a week their ship was dis- masted, and they were obliged to return and put in at the Cove of Cork, Ire- land, where they remasted their ship and fitted her out in new rigging. Their next attempt was beautifully successful, and they arrived at New York on the 20th of November. Thence they took a steamboat to Albany, and journeyed on to Buffalo, arriving at John McKinney's a few days previous to Christmas. Peter Holt came to Elk in 1833, and helped to put the running gear into the Fitzwater & Pound saw-mill. His first vote in this country was cast for Jack- son in 1832. He has resided in Elk ever since his arrival here, fifty-three years ago. On the 3d of September, 1834, he married Susan B. Howard. In April, 1834, he bought the Thomas Pound saw-mill. In 1850 he built a saw-mill on
510
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Cornplanter Run, which was burned about six years ago. His wife was a sister of the late Edward Howard, of Fredonia, N. Y., and came to Elk in 1831. They have had seven sons and four daughters, five sons and two daughters of whom are now living. Mrs. Holt was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., on the 19th of September, 1814. She witnessed the last leap of Sam Patch over the Genesee Falls, at Rochester, N. Y.
A Partial History of the Indians of Elk Township .- The Indian reserva- tion is about three miles south of the New York State line, on the west side of the Allegheny River, and contains nearly 1,000 acres, including two islands, called Cornplanter Islands. This reservation was a gift by the State of Penn- sylvania to John Obeal, alias Cornplanter, for meritorious services during a part of the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Cornplanter was held in great esteem by General Washington, from which the writer has read letters highly commending the invaluable services of Cornplanter. All this property is exempt from taxation of any kind. The county commissioners did at one time assess this property, but Cornplanter rebelled and resisted its collection. He appealed to the governor of the State, who sustained his position.
Cornplanter was much opposed to the education of his tribe, regarding the indoor book-training of the white people as effeminate and enervating.' Nev- ertheless, he did give his eldest son, Henry, something of an education, which that enterprising and modern-like young man improved by forging his father's name to a check. This act so enraged Cornplanter that he drove his son into Canada, and forever after disowned him. The Legislature of the State made an appropriation of $1,000 to be used among these Indians for school purposes, not more than a hundred dollars of which was to be expended in a year. Sub- sequent appropriations have increased this annuity to something like $300 a year. The Indians do not take kindly to school. They are very fond of music, and at one time had a very respectable band, besides having among them a number of good singers. They have a good church, built by the Presbyterians in and about Warren. It adds much to the appearance of their town. Some years ago the Legislature made an appropriation of several hundred dollars to be expended in the erection of a monument to the memory of Cornplanter, aud Judge S. P. Johnson was placed in the supervision and management of it. Judge Johnson has done much for the good of the Indians. They are of a peaceable disposition when not in liquor, and have made considerable advance- ment in the arts of civilization. It will be better for them, however, when they relinquish their unhappy jealousy of each other, which now disturbs all their mutual relations in religious and public affairs. Cornplanter died in February, 1836, at the great age of a hundred years or more ; at the time it was alleged and believed that his age was one hundred and fourteen years. He had three sons and three daughters, viz., llenry, Charles, and William, Polly, Esther, and Mrs. Silverheels.
5II
SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XLIII.
HISTORY OF SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township was formed from Kinzua, on the 7th of June, 1833. Its territory occupies the entire southeastern corner of Warren county, and is bounded north by Kinzua and Mead townships, east by Mckean county, south by Forest county, and west by the township of Cherry Grove. It is very regular in outline, the northern boundary being the only one that devi- ates from a straight unbroken line. The land is drained by Tionesta Creek and its tributaries, and other small streams. This township, with Mead and Cherry Grove, was originally included in the limits of Kinzua township. The first town meeting after the town was set off from Kinzua was of a most primi- tive description. There were but seven men present at the meeting, which was held on the old farm of Timothy Barnes. Their bench consisted of a bob-sled turned upside down. There were not men enough present to fill all the offices, and those who were there merely agreed upon the persons who should perform certain duties, and thus sent in their report. According to the accurate mem- ory of Erastus Barnes, the names of these seven were as follows: Timothy Barnes, and Erastus Barnes, Samuel Williamson, Stephen Taylor, John Will- iamson, John Brown, John Gilson. The only families in town at that time were those of Timothy Barnes and John Gilson.
Early Settlers .- The first tax list for Sheffield, completed in 1834, reveals the names of thirty-three property owners in the township, not more than twenty of whom were permanent residents. Several of them were mere squat- ters, who "folded their tents " and departed upon the slightest occasion, while others were men of prominence elsewhere, who in their speculative reach had taken hold of land or other property in this vicinity. The list is as follows :
James Arnett, 225 acres ; Richard Dunham, 225 acres and a saw-mill ; Timothy Barnes, 225 acres and a saw-mill ; Asahel Kidder, 225 acres ; Henry Snapp, 225 ; Melchi Snapp, 225 ; George Jones, 165 ; David Mead, 445 acres and two saw-mills; Thaddeus Mead, C. Mastin, 850 acres and a saw-mill ; John Ingoldsby (Inglesby), John Williamson, 112 acres ; Samuel Williams, on 220 acres ; Silas Lacy, 450 acres; Nathan Lacy, 650 acres and a saw-mill ; Patterson Lacy, Jeremiah Lane, 50 acres; Stephen Taylor, John Brown, Or- rin Stanton, 225 acres; Joseph Carver, Stephen Carver, John Gilson, 225 acres ; William Barton, Cabot Barlow, James Stedman, Christopher Stranger, Daniel Stranger, Lorenzo Mason, James Scott, James Gaty, Henry Snapp, jr., Archibald Tanner. The last named-whom everybody knows to have been a prominent resident of Warren-was taxed for 450 acres of land. In the above list we have not mentioned the personal property for which these persons were
512
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
assessed, deeming it sufficient to state the amount of their real possessions. Below are given a few facts concerning the more prominent of these early settlers.
James Arnett lived in the northern part of the township, as it was then constituted, a little above the present Stoneham. Arnett's Run derived its name from him. He was one of the earliest of the settlers in that part of the town. He remained there but a few years, however, before removing to the West.
Richard Dunham was one of the most prominent men ever in Sheffield township. He died on the 30th of January, 1870, aged sixty-seven years six months and twenty-two days. More particular mention is made of him in the sketch of M. B. Dunham, appearing in later pages. In May, 1832, he with his wife and infant child, in company with the now venerable Adam L. Pratt, crossed the Allegheny River at Shipman's Eddy, assisted by Mathew Morrison. The crossing was made with two large canoes lashed together, on which was a platform of boards. On this were transported the goods, while Dunham's cow and oxen swam the river behind the catamaran. The river being high, involved the party in considerable danger. On the south side of the river they met with John Inglesby, who had previously settled in the dense forests of what is now Cherry Grove township, but had become disheartened and moved out again. Dunham employed him as a guide in this wilderness. Their road lay over the top of the mountain northwest of the site of the Stoneham tannery, near which was a small log house occupied by a Mr. Brown, who had about an acre of land partly cleared. Here the party took dinner. The road has been described by Mr. Pratt as being little more than a trail, the under- brush cut off, and the logs turned to one side far enough to let a sled pass. In many places they were compelled to widen the road in order that their wagon, the first one that had been over the ground, could pass. Night over- took them at what was called the "Blacksley Chopping," about three miles southwest of the present site of the Clarendon tannery, where there was a chopping of two or three acres, without a clearing or a house. A shelter was improvised of hemlock boughs, in which the party passed a comfortable night. The next day they came to the house of Inglesby, about half a mile from the present residence of Montgomery Farnsworth, in the township of Cherry Grove. They remained there several weeks, meantime repairing an old cabin on Dunham's land, about a mile north of the Inglesby tract. In June they removed to this cabin, chopped and cleared ten acres, sowed it in wheat and had an excellent crop in the ensuing season. In 1833 Richard Dunham left his place in Cherry Grove and engaged in lumbering a short distance north of the present village of Sheffield. He was an energetic and public spirited citi- zen, through whose influence it was chiefly that the township was organized and schools started. In his later days he removed to Warren, where his wife still resides with their son, M. B. Dunham.
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.