USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne County [Pa.] > Part 17
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
CHAPTER XXI. TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
T THIS township was set off from Canaan, in 1808, that of Sterling was taken therefrom in 1815, and the Wallenpaupack was made the dividing line, leav- ing it bounded north by South Canaan and Cherry Ridge, east by Palmyra, south by Sterling, and west
261
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
by Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county. The north part of Salem has lately been erected into a new township, called Lake, but it is more convenient to de- scribe it as it was after the separation of Sterling. In 1799, there were but four settlers in Salem at the most, namely, Moses Dolph, Edward London, Elisha Potter, and Joseph Wheatcraft. Soon after, how- ever, we find the names of William Dayton, Samuel Hartford, and James Hartford among old papers. Moses Dolph lived at Little Meadows. According to the accounts given by the old settlers in Paupack, a man, by the name of Strong, first built here, in 1770. Soon after the battle at Wyoming, he, with some others, had a desperate fight with the Indians at this place. Strong and his family were all massacred, and Jacob Stanton was the only white man that escaped. He fled, and notified the settlers upon the Paupack of their danger. Late in the fall of 1779, Stanton came back to the place and found that the Indians had burned down the house. He dug a grave, and gathered up the bones of the whites and Indians, and, placing them together, raised a mound over them. My father, Seth Goodrich, who afterwards owned the place, would never allow the mound to be disturbed. There was a very old orchard there which must have been planted by the Indians, as Little Meadows had been a favorite rendezvous for their hunting parties. Jacob Stanton built a house and moved his wife and family to Little Meadows, in 1780, or in 1781, where, during his life, he kept a public
262
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
house, and was succeeded in the same business until 1801, by his son-in-law, Moses Dolph, who then sold the possession to Dr. Lewis Collins. He, in his turn, in 1803, sold the same to Seth Goodrich, who lived on the place during his life. He kept a house of en- tertainment for many years, but he never took a license to sell intoxicating liquors.
Edward London took up four hundred acres at Sa- lem cross-roads, now Hamlinton, and built a log-house near where Clearwater's tavern now stands, and, in 1804, sold out his possessions to Charles Goodrich, Sen., who built a new log-house above a large spring, about twenty rods east of Salem Corners. The log- house, built by London, was some years afterwards used as a school-house, and a man, by the name of Benedict, was the teacher. Charles Goodrich, Sen., died at Salem Corners. Charles, Jabez, and Enos were his sons. His daughters were as follows: Anna, who married Gideon Curtis; Mary, who married Jas. Huttze; Lucy, who married Ellery Crandall; and Laura, who married Henry Matthews, all of whom are dead. Elisha Potter, who was a weaver by trade, settled on the old road from Paupack to Capouse, on a creek, which was named after him. He was really in Luzerne county, although for many years assessed in Salem. Joseph Wheatcraft settled near Hollister- ville. He was from Maryland, and late in life his family removed to Ohio. William Dayton located about a half a mile east of the Five Mile creek, on the right hand side of the road leading from Little
263
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
Meadows to Purdytown. He married Arseneth Wright, and was the "Old Grimes," of his day.
"His heart was open as the day, And all his feelings true, His hair was some inclined to gray, He wore it in a cue."
Samuel Hartford located about one mile east of Little Meadows. He had two daughters, Betsey, who married Aaron Gillet, Esq., and is yet living in the township, and Philena, who married a Methodist min- ister named Kendall, and has been dead many years. In or about 1825, Mr. Hartford started the first card- ing-mill in Salem, in the hollow east of Salem Corners. James Hartford, a brother of Samuel Hartford, al- though taxed in Palmyra, really lived in Salem on the north of the Purdytown road and half a mile from William Dayton. He used to make his scantily-clad children go to school every day a distance of three miles, but they were among the brightest scholars in the town.
Betwen 1799 and 1803, seventeen new settlers ar- rived and took up lands and built huts or houses ac- cording to their ability. They came from Connecticut via Newburg and Carpenter's Point, below Port Jer- vis, on to Milford, thence by the way of Shohola, Blooming Grove, and Palmyra, to Major Ansley's, and finally through the Seven Mile swamp to Little Mead- OWS. In alphabetical order they were as follows:
Ephraim Bidwell was a soldier during the Revolu- tionary war, was present at the battle at Monmouth,
264
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
suffered at Camptown, N. J., and participated in the last battle at Yorktown. He was an enthusiastic ad- mirer of Washington, and denied the charge that the General was cold and distant; on the contrary, "The General," he said, "often came among his soldiers, cordially shook hands with them, and conversed freely with them about their sufferings and grievances." Some of his grandsons fell in the late war, and others of his grandchildren are living in the town. His sons were Luther, Jabez, William, Orrin, and Ashbel. His daughters were Prudence, Lucy, and Rachel. Pru- dence married a man by the name of Samuel Pease. Being a great trapper he skinned a wolf that he found dead in a trap and threw the skin around his neck, where were some sores which absorbed a deadly virus from the skin and he died with the horrors of hydro- phobia.
Josiah Curtis settled half a mile or more west of Salem Corners on the east and west road. His sons were Gideon, Fitch H., and Edward. Gideon Curtis, a farmer, was for many years a noted supervisor of the town. Fitch H. Curtis and Edward Curtis were excellent workmen as carpenters and joiners. He had three daughters, one the wife of Edmund Nicholson, one the wife of Amasa Jones, and one named Morilla, who died unmarried and bequeathed the most of her property to the Presbyterian church in Salem.
Harris Hamlin settled in 1802, two miles west of the Corners. He was a brickmaker by trade, and he built the first frame house in the town. His sons
265
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
were as follows: 1st. Oliver Hamlin, who kept a store many years and a public house at Hamlinton. From thence he removed to Bethany and traded awhile, and then to Honesdale, and there continued as a merchant during his life; he was a county commis- sioner three years and associate judge five years; 2d, Harris Hamlin, Jr., a farmer, who is yet living near Hollisterville; 3d, Ephraim W. Hamlin, who, in early life removed to Bethany, where he is yet living. He was many years county treasurer, then a State Repre- sentative and afterward State Senator. 4th, Butler Hamlin, who when a young man, commenced as a mer- chant at Salem Corners, (since called Hamlinton in honor of the family,) and by strict attention to busi- ness acquired a competence. In 1861 he was elected associate judge of the county and served out his time, since which he has rejected all proffered nominations for office.
Harris Hamlin, Sen., had five daughters; of these, Sarah, now aged ninety years, married John Bonham, and Philena married Volney Cortright, and both are living. Catharine, the wife of Horace Lee, Ruey, wife of Daniel Baldwin, and Amanda, wife of John Andrews, are all dead.
David Hale took up the place afterward owned by Abisha Peet. It was claimed that Hale's wife made fifty pounds of sugar one spring and boiled down all of the sap in a tea-kettle and a frying-pan.
Timothy Hollister settled on the road from Little Meadows to Jonestown, cleared up a good farm, sold it, and in his old age moved to Michigan, being a loser
34
266
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
by leaving his first home. He had two sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead.
Asa Jones, generally called Deacon Jones, had a large family, all of whom are dead, excepting his daughter, widow Polly Hollister, who is the oldest of the family, and is now ninety-two years of age. His sons were Asa Jones, Jr., Amasa Jones, and Joel Jones. The family need no eulogy.
Salmon Jones, a brother of the Deacon, was elected sheriff in 1816 and removed to Bethany. He had a respectable family, all of which are gone to the grave.
Jesse Morgan and George Morgan, his son, first be- gan on Morgan Hill, but having some difficulty about the land, they removed to Canaan township. George Morgan died in that township within the past year, aged ninety-seven years.
Michael Mitchell began about 1802, and then re- moved to Providence, Luzerne county, finally return- ing to Salem. He was an ingenions mechanic, mason, carpenter, shoemaker, school-master, and music-teacher. In later years he taught all to sing that could learn the old minor-keyed fugue tunes. One of them was "Whitestown," which his choir used to sing with strong, natural voices to the appropriate words:
"Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they; He bids the oppressed and poor repair, And build them towns and cities there. They sow their fields, their trees they plant, Whose yearly fruit supplies their want; Their race grows up from fruitful stocks, Their wealth increases with their flocks."
267
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
Aside from his other qualifications, Mr. Mitchell was an expert mathematician ; indeed he was no botch at anything he undertook. He died in January, 1855, aged eighty years, and his wife died in February, 1867, in the ninety-second year of her age. They have three sons living, namely, Jairus Mitchell, living near Hol- listerville, well known as the manufacturer of Mitch- ell's rakes, John P. Mitchell, who lives on Potter's creek, above Hollisterville, and owns a valuable farm and saw-mill, and Shepherd Mitchell, who is unmar- ried and lives near his brothers.
Elizur Miller settled north of Timothy Hollister on the Jonestown road. He was the father of Joseph, Jesse, Ashbel, and Hervey Miller. Joseph Miller built the court-house in Bethany in 1816, and was twice elected sheriff of the county. Jesse Miller lived and died near the old homestead. Ashbel Miller clear- ed up a farm near Rollisonville, then removed to Burnt Ridge, south of his first farm, lived there several years and cleared up a farm which he finally sold to Thomas Bortree and moved West. Hervey Miller settled in Canaan.
Francis Nicholson, a Revolutionary soldier, who located immediately west of Josiah Curtis, died soon af- ter he settled in the township. He left a widow and a large family of children, of whom were Jonathan Nicholson, who had seven sons in the late war, and Edmund Nicholson, who married a daughter of Josiah Curtis, and lived one mile south-west of Salem Cor- ners. One of his sons fell in the late war.
268
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Zenas Nicholson was a carpenter and mill-wright. He lived on the old homestead until about 1830, when he removed to Hamlinton. He died of epilepsy. He had six sons and three daughters. His sons were H. W. Nicholson and G. Byron Nicholson, late attorneys at law, deceased; Lyman Nicholson, lieutenant in the late war and who was killed at Gettysburg; Seth G. Nicholson, farmer in Sterling; Milton Nicholson, and Oscar Nicholson, of Luzerne county.
Ambrose Nicholson, one of the original family, re- moved a few years ago to Nebraska. Henry Heermans married Fanny Nicholson, and Solomon Purdy also married one of the daughters. Jeremiah Osgood, who was a Revolutionary soldier and was afterwards pen- sioned by the government, took up land one mile north of Hamlinton. He died at the age of ninety-nine years. His sons were Jeremiah, Daniel, and Joseph. The latter is a physician yet practicing in the town, and is the only survivor of the family. Lydia, the only daughter, married Ebenezer Cobb.
Theodore Woodbridge, about 1803, took up twelve hundred acres of land, moved his family into the town, and built a house of hewn logs one mile east of Ham- linton. He was the wealthiest man in the place. He was a major in the Revolutionary war, belonged to the order of "The Cincinnati," and was often visited by officers of distinction. He built the first saw-mill in the town at the outlet of the Bidwell pond, which mill was soon afterwards burnt down ; he then built a grist-mill and saw-mill on a branch of the Panpack,
269
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
half a mile east of Salem Corners, as it was then call- ed. He was active in every good work that would benefit the community. He established a small library for the benefit of the young people, furnishing most of the books himself. He held several offices in the county, but was indifferent to the emoluments of office. He had two sons and two daughters. They were well educated before they came into the county.
Ashbel Woodbridge was a good and competent school-teacher and taught several years in the school- house near his home. After many years he removed to Falls township, Luzerne county, and taught in their schools to a very advanced age. William Woodbridge married Almira, the only daughter of John Weston, and remained many years on the old homestead. Anna, the oldest daughter, was a noble woman; she married Clement Paine, a wealthy merchant of Tioga. Laura married a Presbyterian clergyman named Bas- com. Rev. William Woodbridge, Sen., a Presbyte- rian minister, a graduate of Yale College, the chief author of Woodbridge's geography, and who had passed most of his life as a teacher in high schools, came and lived three or four years with his nephew, William Woodbridge, after the death of his brother, Major Woodbridge, who died in or about 1815. Rev. William Woodbridge, while in Salem, passed his time in preaching and giving instruction in geography and astronomy to classes of young people. He said that the Major came to the Beech woods because he had not the means of keeping up that style of living ex-
270
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
pected of him in Connecticut. The old Woodbridge farm is now owned by T. J. Watson. Joseph Wood- bridge was a relative of Major Woodbridge. He took up four hundred acres of land. He had a large family, all of whom, excepting one son living on the old farm, are in the grave. He was a very competent inan, had a good library of books, and was the first justice of the peace in the town. He died in the very meridian of life.
Nathan Wright settled one mile south of Salem Corners about 1803. He came by the encouragement of Major Woodbridge, who, knowing him to be a good blacksmith, said the settlers must have a blacksmith, and could not do without one, as, in those days, the plowshares were all made out of wrought iron and steel. Mr. Wright worked at his trade during his life-time. He had four sons, namely, Miles, a farmer who was never married; Abel, who was married, died recently, leaving a family; Moses, who married, but left no family; and Sanford, who is unmarried and yet living. There were four of his daughters as follows: Anna, Lucina, and Ruth, were married in the town; Polly, the oldest of the girls, died un- married.
The settling of the sons of the pioneers above de- scribed added materially to the advance of the wealth and population of the town, but there was only a small incoming of new settlers between 1805 and 1825.
John Weston. Though we remember him well, we are unable to state the exact time of his settlement,
271
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
but it was near 1809. He married the widow of Francis Nicholson, deceased. His oldest son, Luther Weston, cleared up a large farm west of Joseph Woodbridge, Esq. He married Leury, a daughter of Deacon Asa Jones, and after her death widow Sally Hewitt. Although a lame man, he acquired a com-
He removed to Hamlinton, petency by farming. where he lived many years, and there died, an honor- ed and worthy man. Another son was Elijah Wes- ton, who married a daughter of Major Torrey. Both are dead. Their son, Edward Weston, Esq., a noted civil engineer in the employ of the Delaware & Hud- son Canal & Railroad Company, resides at Provi- dence, Pa. William Woodbridge married Almira, the only daughter of John Weston.
Amos Polly, who lived in Jonestown in 1815, was the second justice of the peace in the town, which of- fice he held until 1839. His wife was a sister of the late Joseph Headley, of Prompton. For many years Esquire Polly resided at Hamlinton, and Dr. Hiram Blois married Sophia, his daughter.
Henry Avery, who was from near New London, Connecticut, came to the county about 1812. He had doubled Cape Horn eight times, and to escape the perils of the sea, (having on his last voyage been shipwrecked,) he came to the Beech woods. He was a man of reading and deep reflection, and, at the re- quest of his neighbors, held the office of justice of the peace for many years. A few years since he died, One daughter, widow Almira
aged ninety-five years.
272
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Wetherit, his oldest child, now living in Salem, alone remains of his family. Others say that there are two of the family living in the State of New York.
Bethnel Jones, father of Ebenezer R. Jones, who was twice commissioner of the county, took up land at one time occupied by Eliphalet Flint. Before Mr. Jones died, he and his son, Ebenezer, had cleared up and improved an excellent farm. Many years ago one of the old gentleman's sons came from Connecti- cut, his father's native home, on a visit. Supposing that there would be rare sport in hunting deer, he went with his brother, Ebenezer, to the woods, shot at a deer, which fell; he eagerly jumped upon the deer to eut its throat, but the struggling animal struck the knife with his hind foot, changing its direction, and causing the knife to sever the femoral artery of the young man's left leg. He fell over and died in a few minutes.
John Andrews, about 1813, took up a farm east of Harris Hamlin's first farm. He had four sons; Adriel, the oldest, is living, aged ninety-two years; John, Charles, and David are dead. Anson Goodrich mar- ried Eunice, his only daughter, who was an excellent woman. She died, leaving a family of ten children, most of whom are living.
The following named persons settled before 1823:
John Glossenden settled north-east of Anson Good- rich, took up one hundred and sixteen acres of land, cleared up a good farm, and lived there during his life. Robert Glossenden, a son of his, was born there.
273
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
Aaron Gillett was from Connecticut, and first be- gan by teaching school in the town. He married a daughter of Samuel Hartford, and he and his wife are both living.
Edmund Hartford lived on the north side of the Paupack below Luther Weston's, and owned a grist-mill, which was built by Ephraim Bidwell, Ashbel Wood- bridge, and William Hollister on the Sterling side of the creek. Hartford probably bought the mill of Hollister. Mr. Hartford was always considered honest, an excellent quality in a miller.
Amasa Hollister, a blacksmith, began about 1815. His sons were Alpheus, Alanson, Amasa, Wesley, and John F. Alpheus and Alanson built a saw-mill and grist-mill and made many other improvements. John F. Hollister lives at Plano, Illinois. Amasa and Wesley went South. There were two daughters; Ursula, now a widow living in Illinois, married Mar- cus Stewart, and Daphne married Hiram Brown, who went West.
Henry Heermans began first upon the place last owned by Harris Hamlin, Sen., and then he removed to Salem Corners, which place was in part built up by him. He was elected constable in the spring of 1818, and, at November sessions, 1818, he was licensed to keep a public house, which, with a store, he managed for several years. He was a stirring business man. In 1829 he disposed of his property at Salem Corners and removed to Providence, Pa.
Samuel Morgan bought the farm first taken up by
35
274
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
his uncle, Jesse Morgan, and called Morgan hill. He was a shrewd man and a good farmer. He so much resembled Ben. Butler that had they been dressed alike it would have been hard to tell them apart. His daughter, Mary Morgan, now owns the old home- stead. Halsey Morgan, one of his sons, remains in the town, but his other children have removed.
Aaron Morgan, a brother of Samuel, bought and improved land north of his brother. Subsequently he bought of Charles Goodrich, Sen., the north-east sec- tion of the old London lot, at Hamlinton, containing one hundred and twenty acres, and exchanged his northern farm with Hammond Fowler for the George Lee farm lying east of his purchase of Charles Good- rich. Aaron Morgan's old farm is now owned by A. R. Jones, which farm adjoins the one of that ingen- ious orchardist and gardener, T. W. Quintin. Mr. Morgan built the large stone dwelling-house at Ham- linton and, upon his death, bequeathed all his property equally to his four daughters.
Dr. Asa Hamlin, who originally was from Con- nectient, came to Salem about 1814. He was the first settled physician ; before his time Dr. Collins, of Cherry Ridge, or Dr. Mahony, of Bethany, was called in cases of great extremity. Dr. Hamlin bought or rented a tavern-stand of Henry Heermans and kept tavern several years at Hamlinton, and was succeeded by Jeffrey Wells. Dr. Hamlin had three sons and one daughter. He took great pains to educate his children. His oldest son, William E. Hamlin, mar-
275
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
ried a daughter of David Noble and has been a promi- nent merchant at Nobletown from his youth up. The other sons removed to western Pennsylvania and have been popular men in the Legislature. The only daugh- ter, Eliza, married James Noble, of Nobletown, both of whom are living.
John Roosa, Esq., bought the corner where Dr. Hamlin kept tavern, and was licensed at April sessions, 1826. He had previously kept a popular tavern in Damascus. No reasonable man could find any fault with the house kept by Mr. Roosa. After eight or ten years, he sold out to John Nash, and removed to Orange county. He was the father of Dr. Isaac Roosa, George D. Roosa, and, also, of Charles P. Roosa, who kept a store in Hamlinton several years. Catharine, the only daughter, married Anson Northum, a merchant.
Jonathan B. Watrous came to Salem when young. He was known to be the best boot and shoe maker to be found. He married a daughter of Joseph Moore, Sen. He is one of the oldest men in the town.
Joseph Moore, Sen., was originally from Connecti- cut. He had three children by his first wife, namely, Joseph Moore, Jr., who married Rebecca, daughter of Seth Goodrich; Abigail, wife of George Goodrich ; and Matilda, wife of J. B. Watrous.
Edward Moore bought the farm first owned by Har- ris Hamlin. Dr. Joseph S. Moore, a son of Edward Moore, died many years ago. Horace Moore, another son, lives in Jonestown and owns the best farm in the
276
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
neighborhood. Walter Moore lives adjoining the old farm of his father, and Lucy Moore lives on the home- stead.
John Raymond, who married a daughter of Thomas Spangenberg, Esq., and who was a soldier in the war of 1812 and is now pensioned, lived and traded as a merchant several years in Hamlinton. He is now living in Scranton.
John Buckingham, about 1818, settled on the farm now owned by John Pelton, and then removed to South Canaan, where he lived the rest of his days. By trade he was a calker and worked much at Hones- dale upon canal-boats. Ambrose Buckingham, a brother, bought land and cleared up a good farm near the line between Salem and Paupack (really in Pau- pack). He was father of Emma May Buckingham, the authoress. Asa Johnson married a sister of said Buckingham; Harvey Miller married one, and Jas. Carr another. The family, as we have elsewhere sta- ted, were from Saybrook, Conn. The Peet family settled on the old Samuel Hartford farm. There were Charles, a shoemaker, and Daniel and Abisha, farmers. Moses Wright married one of the daugh- ters, and Albert Stocker another. Stocker lived on and owned the Isaac Hewitt place, east of Little Meadows, which his family now own.
Dr. Erastus Wright, from Massachusetts, com- menced the practice of medicine, at Hamlinton, about 1823, and continued there during his life. He mar- ried Lydia, a daughter of Pliny Muzzy, of Clinton,
277
TOWNSHIPS-SALEM.
and had two daughters, Mary and Frances. Mary married Rev. A. R. Raymond, and Frances, Mr. Cook.
Salem is less broken by hills than any other town- ship. The soil produces good crops of corn, rye, oats, and buckwheat, but it is best adapted to the raising of grass. The Wallenpaupack and its tributaries af- ford abundant water-power. Jones pond is the larg- est sheet of water in the county, and the Bidwell pond is also large. The Cobb pond is smaller, and the Marsh pond the most diminutive. The first settlers located on the old north and south and east and west roads. In 1821, there was not a house on the road from Little Meadows to the Paupack, a distance of seven miles. Fifty years ago the whole region east of the Five Mile creek, with little exception, was an un- broken wilderness. Rollisonville takes its name from John, Asa, and Nathaniel Rollison, who first began there.
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.