History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 108

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 108
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 108
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 108

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).

Then speedily followed the mustering of forces, and spreading the news for the purpose of arresting the criminal. Samuel Roberts, of Mount Pleasant, started off on his way to Or- ange County, to communicate the sad news to the relatives of the deceased. The body of Brooks was removed to the Belmont hotel, and Jonathan Miller, Esq., the coroner of the coull- ty, summoned twenty-four men as a jury of inquest.

Mr. Minor Mumford, who lived within sight of, and but a short distance from the tavern, had heard nothing about the matter during the evening, and had retired to his bed when he was called up to mount his horse and ride to Eho, now Thompson, a distance of over ten miles. A few men watched at different places along the road during the night, and two lads, Lemuel Ogden and Saben Tucker, kept their vigils, with loaded guns, where the felon ran into the woods. A messenger went through Canaan putting up notices of the murder. But

they were not needed, for the wretch had al- ready been arrested.

From the west side of Low Lake, Marthers had wandered on northerly, in the dense forest, and finally, aided by the tinkling of a cow-bell, found his way to the rude habitation of Mr. James Dunn, by the side of a pond bearing his name ; six miles from the turnpike, and about nine o'clock in the evening, and without any hat, having lost it when he first ran into the woods. The account which he gave of himself was that he had been chased by robbers, and had left his property and ran to save his life.

While sitting and talking he asked Dunn how far it was to Belmont or to Mott's tavern, and upon being told that it was about six miles, he sprang up from the chair, evidently, with some alarm, supposing that he had traveled double that distance from either place. This was noticed by the cannie old Scotcliman, and convinced him that his guest was a suspicious character. Mr. Dunn had five sons, three of them able young men; they retired to the chamber. Marthers was accommodated with a bed in the same room where Dunn, Sr., usually slept, but he could not sleep that night. Mar- thers was restless and tumbled about for awhile, but finally lay quiet and (at least apparently) slept. About midnight Mr. Dunn heard his dog barking very furiously ; he went quietly to a window which he raised and saw two horse- men, John Lyon and Alexander Burns. They had started from Dimock Corners, intending to make their first, which proved to be their only, call at Dunn's. They asked Dunn if a man had been, or was there. Duun beckoned to them to go to the door, when one of them said, " Do not talk so loud, he is here." Dunn let them in at the door, and at the same time his sons rushed down from the chamber. And now the atrocious homicide, in about eight or nine hours after he had perpetrated his crime, was surrounded by six able and resolute men. Re- sistance would have been useless. Escape was impossible. His pockets were searched, and it was found that he had obtained by his crime, a gold watch and a pocket-book containing various small bank-bills amounting to twenty-nine

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dollars, and specie to the amount of fifteen cents.

He confessed that he had murdered Colonel Brooks, and invited all then present to come, as he termed it, to his hanging bee.

They all stayed with their prisoner until morning, and then mounted and bound him upon a horse, and guarded by Lyon, Burns, John Dunn and one of his brothers, with loaded guns, he was taken to Belmont, and conducted into the room where the dead man lay, and said it was a very handsome corpse. With his hands and arms bound, and a rope around one of his legs, he was marched one mile to Pleasant Mount, where he was presented with a cheap hat, and the coroner, with a sufficient number of assist- ants, accommodated him with a ride to Bethany and to the county jail.

The next day (June 26th) the people from several miles around assembled at Belmont to attend the funeral of Colonel Brooks, which was conducted by the Presbyterian clergyman of Mount Pleasant.

The services were awhile delayed because no rel- ative or friend of the deceased had yet arrived from Orange County, and the clergyman was about to commence his duties when John J. Brooks, a brother of the deceased, and a friend, Hon. Robert Denniston, were seen riding down the hill from Pleasant Mount. They had finally arrived in time to attend the sad ceremony, which then proceeded, and was ended by de- positing the body of the deceased in the family cemetery of General Samuel Meredith (a Revo- lutionary hero). Let them both be remembered on decoration days.

I have always been informed, by various in- dividuals, that Colonel Brooks was, in every respect, an accomplished gentleman ; uniformly clad in the finest and neatest style, and, inas- much as those who became acquainted with him esteemed him so highly, it is evident that he must have been not only courteous, but fascin- ating.

The recognizance of witnesses for the coni- monwealth was returned by Justice Benjamin King during the month of July, and at the August term of court, Judges Scott, Woodward and Thomas presiding, on the 26th day of the

month Marthers was indicted for murder, and his trial commenced the same day and lasted four days. The lawyers engaged in the case being Benjamin A. Bidlock and N. B. Eldred for the prisoner, and Mr. Amzi Fuller for the commonwealth. On the 30th day of the month the jury rendered their verdict of guilty, and the court sentenced the prisoner to be executed on the 24th day of October following.

On the day of his execution he was taken from the jail to the front of the court-house, where brief religious services were conducted, according to the best recollection of Rev. Stephen Torrey, by Rev. Joseph Castle, the Methodist preacher at Bethany.

Robed with his shroud and cap, with the rope used on that occasion around his neck, with firm step he marched with the sheriff and his assistants to the gallows and there kneeled over his coffin while a final prayer in his behalf was made by the officiating clergyman.

From the scaffold he addressed the assemb- lage of people, comprised of both sexes and all ages, attributing his vicious conduct and de- pravity to the manner in which he had been trained when young ; charging his parents with having neglected to give him a proper moral education, but, on the contrary, as having en- couraged him to practice dishonesty and theft ; and that in the beginning of his vile career he had stolen pins and given them to his mother, who, instead of reproving and punishing him, seemed to be well pleased.

He earnestly exhorted the young people to shun the sinful life which he had led, and there- by escape the unhappy and ignominious death which he was doomed to suffer. Mr. Page says that while Marthers was talking an un- couth babbler said that before sundown his soul would be in hell. Marthers replied saying that before sundown his soul would be where no one in this world would know, or could tell anything about it. The sheriff, Joseph Miller, asked him if he had any complaint to make for unkind treatment. He replied, " No. You have treated me like a gentleman, do your duty, for I have shed innocent blood." Thic cap was then drawn over his face, then the drop, a few convulsive movements, and all was over.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

Freeman Marthers has uniformly been de- scribed as not repulsive, but, on the contrary, as rather of prepossessing appearance. He was described by the coroner as a man about five feet and six inches iu height, of florid complex- ion and stoutly built; dressed with a new super- fine broad-cloth coat, of a brown or plum color, striped vest, drab colored cashmere pantaloons, aud his shoes pumps. It may readily be be- lieved that the hat which he had lost was, of a fashion and quality, suitable to make him a well dressed man.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS .- As has already been stated the gospel was early prcached in this town. The first minister who preached herc was Elder David Jayne, who lived on the Tunkhannock. This was in July, 1795, and June 28, 1796, a Free Communion Baptist Church was organized. It was constituted of six members, viz. : Samuel Stantou, Joseph Tanner, Margaret Dix, Martha Stanton, Lydia Tanuer, Tamer and Rhoda Stearns. Since the spring of 1793 the regular aud public worship of God has been sustained. As has already been noticed, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first administered in 1797. Epaphras Thompson, from Bristol, Conn., was the first settled minister. He was a Close Com- munion Baptist, but uuited with the Free Com- muuion Church and preached to them several years. In 1806 Elijah Peck was ordained by this church as gospel minister. In 1807 Elders Thompson and Peck formed a Close Commun- ion Baptist Church, which became very numer- ous. Both of the above-mentioned churches disbanded many years siuce.

The first Methodist Society in the township was organized in 1806 in the house of Abram Cramer. (This house is yet standing-the old- est in the township.) The first Methodist min- ister was the Rev. A.mon Owen, whose circuit extended from Wilkesbarre to the Delaware River. The first house of public worship was built in 1822. All denominations cordially united in its construction. It stood on the first road, running north and south, east of this vil- lage, on land now owned by George E. Moase. It was forty-eight by twenty-four feet and was formed by building an addition twenty-four feet square to a log school-house of the same

size. It was common for people to walk seven or eight miles to attend services here. In 1830-32 the Methodist Society erected a plain and commodious house two miles east of the village, on the Bethany turnpike, on ground now included in the Methodist burying-ground. It was dedicated on the 4th of July of that year. This building was greatly improved in 1851. This church first belonged to the Salem and Canaan Circuit, and later to the Bethany and Mount Pleasant Circuit. In 1851 it was sep- arated from Bethany, and in 1865 the present edifice was erected at Pleasant Mount village, and worship in the old church was discontinued during L. C. Floyd's pastorate. In 1867 a part of the congregation withdrew and built the Methodist Episcopal Church at White's Valley. One pastor, residing iu Pleasant Mount, has always supplied both societies. The first Methodist minister who resided in the vil- lage of Pleasant Mount was Rev. J. D. Safford. He occupied the house now owned by J. H. Kennedy (the writer). Rev. R. S. Rose was. first to occupy the parsonage now standing. In 1855 the society consisted of one hundred and forty-three members, and in 1885 one hundred and twenty-five members. Reliable informa- tion in regard to pastors cannot be found pre- viously to 1843, in consequence of the loss of the old record. In that year a man by the name of Phillips was in charge; 1844, Wni. Dean; 1845-46, Charles Perkins; 1847-48, Henry Brownscomb ; 1849-50, J. D. Safford and C. L. Rice ; 1850, G. M. Peck and Charles Perkins ; 1851, G. M. Peck ; 1852, Thomas Wilcox ; 1853-54, Rodney S. Rose ; 1855-56, C. V. Arnold ; 1857-58, N. W. Everett; 1859- 60, Francis Spencer ; 1861-62, A. Brigham ; 1863-64, N. S. Dewitt; 1865, L. C. Floyd ; 1866-67, C. V. Arnold; 1868, J. Underwood ; 1869-70, J. V. Newell; 1871-72, Wm. M. Cooley ; 1873-75, G. T. Price ; 1876-78, S. H. Wright; 1879-81, S. H. Jay; 1882-84, J. B. Sweet ; 1885-86, Joseph Madison.

· A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized in Mount Pleasant, January 26, 1814, by Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury and Rev. Worthington Wright, who were laboring as missionaries of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society, the

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WAYNE COUNTY.

former being located at Harford, in Susque- hanna County, and the latter at Bethany, in Wayne County. The church was organized in the house of the late John Tiffany, sixteen members uniting in the organization, viz. : An- son Chittenden and Submit, his wife, James Bigelow and Mary, his wife, Polly Tanner, Mary Freeman, Lydia Tiffany, Edward Dim- mick and Esther, his wife, Ransford Smith and Chloe, his wife, Abijah Hubbell and Sally, his wife, Blackleach Burrit and Sally, his wife, and Ruth Bnckinghanı. Nine united by profession and seven by letter. In 1831 the church changed its form of government and became Presbyterian. The reason of this change does not appear in the records, but it was probably for the purpose of connecting themselves with Presbytery and thus be in sympathy with the Presbyterian Churches about them. It was at first connected with the Presbytery of Hudson, afterwards with Susquehanna, then with Mon- trose, and since the reunion of the two branches of the church and the reconstruction of the Presbyteries it has been connected with the Presbytery of Lackawanna. The church was chartered in 1831 with the following charter members :

Anson Chittenden. Henry W. Stone.

James Begee.

Jonathan Miller.

Zenas Chittenden. Abel Chittenden.

Urial Wright. Heaton Atwater.

William R. Stone.

Noah Hiscock.

Asa Smith. Jacob Eaton.

John Bigelow.

Wm. H. Chittenden.

Anson Chittenden, Jr.

The first session of the church was elected September 5, 1831, and was composed of the following members, viz. : Anson Chittenden, Esaias Wilcox, Jacob Eaton, Urial Wright, Henry W. Stone, Marshall Dimmick and Asa Smith. They were ordained by Rev. Lyman Richardson, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Joel Campbell, of Bethany ; Adam Miller, of Har- ford ; and Isaac F. Adams, of Dundaff.

The church has never failed to sustain public worship on the Sabbath, and when without a minister, the services were conducted by the members, one of whom read a printed sermon. During the most powerful revival of religion ever known in Mount Pleasant, that of 1831-

32, the meetings were conducted by the lay menibers. About forty persons were added to the communion as the fruit of this work.

For some years the church was dependent upon missionary and transient supplies, and then stated supplies ; sometimes in connection with the Bethany, and at other times with Gib- son, in Susquehanna County. Among those who preached occasionally, administering the communion, receiving members and baptizing children, we find the names of Rev. Messrs. Ebenezer Kingsbury, .Worthington Wright, Gershom Williams, E. W. Goodman, Mr. Thompson, Joel Campbell and Lyman Richard- son. The labors of the last-named individual, who supplied the church for some two or three years, were greatly blessed.

In 1833 a colony of thirty-one members went out from this to form what is now called the Uniondale Church, but the two have ever sinee been united in the support of the gospel. Rev. Henry A. Boyce was the first pastor in- stalled over these two churches. He was in- stalled July 8, 1835, and labored but a little over a year, when he was removed by death. He was succeeded by Rev. Anthony McReynolds, who was installed September 27, 1837, and remained about two years. The Rev. Daniel Higbie was the next pastor. He was installed September 23, 1841, and remained abont six years, his pastorate being a very useful one. Fifty-two were received by the church during the time, the largest number in one year being in 1842, when twenty-three were added. Rev. Samuel Whaley succeeded Mr. Higbie, com- mencing his labors in March, 1846. He was installed July 7th of the same year, and labored faithfully with the church eleven years. There were four revivals of religion during his pas- torate, and sixty-three were added to the church.

Since the resignation of Mr. Whaley there have been frequent changes of ministers. The next after him was Rev. Israel Bryant Smith, who commenced his labors in September, 1857, and remained about two years and a half. He was not installed. After him came Rev. Albert G. Beebee, who commenced his labors June 24, 1860, and was installed in August of the same year, and remained a little over two years.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Raphael Kessler commenced his labors October 19, 1862, and was installed November 15, 1865. He remained a little over four years, when he was compelled to resign on ac- count of failing health. Forty-four persons were received to the church during his minis- try, all but two upon profession.

Rev. James B. Fisher commenced his labors in May, 1867, and remained a little more than a year and a half. He was not installed. He was succeeded by Rev. Yates Hickey, who was installed October 13, 1869, but remained only nine months, and was succeeded by Rev. James W. Raynor, who commenced his labors July 17, 1870, and remained two years. He was not installed. On the Sabbath after Mr. Ray- nor closed his labors, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Adelbert J. Schlager, who was installed November 20th of the same year, and remained nearly three years. He was followed by Rev. Arthur Folsom, who labored one year, closing July 2, 1876. Rev. Joseph A. Ros- sell commenced his labors February 17, 1878, and closed May 22, 1881. He was not in- stalled. He was followed by Rev. John Lud- low Kendall, who commenced January 1, 1882, was installed May 16th of the same year, and is the present pastor of the church.

In 1830 the congregation built their first house of worship in the village. In 1848 it was furnished with a beautifully toned bell weighing nearly one thousand pounds, and in 1850 was refitted and improved. It was occu- pied until June 5, 1867, when the present edifice was completed at a cost of five thousand dollars, and was dedicated on that day.

ROMAN CATHOLIC .- Since 1830 Irish settlers have made large accessions, and now comprise at least one-third of the inhabitants of the township. In 1835 there was a Roman Catholic Church built near where the present edifice (St. Juliana) now stands. St. Juliana Roman Catholic Church was built at Rock Lake in 1866. St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church liad been built at Hill Top the year previous, and is attended once a month from Rock Lake. Both of these churches are in a flourishing condition, with a membership of at least twelve hundred persons. The following is a list of pastors since

1842 : 1842 to 1844, Rev. H. Fitzsimmons ; 1845-47, Rev. P. Pendergast ; 1848-52, Rev. J. Forbes ; 1852-53, Rev. William O'Hara, Rev. H. P. Kennedy, Rev. James Power; 1853, Very Rev. Moses Whitty ; 1854, Rev. James Power, Rev. Daniel Kelly ; 1855-56, Rev. James Shields ; 1857-64, Rev. C. A. Della Nave, first resident pastor ; 1864-71, Rev. Thomas Brehony. From January 12, 1871, to the present, Rev. J. J. Judge.

EPISCOPAL .- St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Society was organized February 11, 1862. The following were elected members of vestry : George Moase, Rodney Harmes, Isaac N. Chalker, R. W. Wheeler, William Widger, Henry F. Smith, George T. Spencer, Martin Prentiss, John Dennis, John Fitz, S. B. Page, William W. Brown. The corner-stone of the church edifice in this village was laid July 15, 1862, by Rev. Dalrymple, of Honesdale, as- sisted. by Rev. R. R. Duane, of Providence. The building was completed in 1863, at a cost of one thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars, and services were first held in it on December 25th of that year by Rev. L. M. Day, of Dundaff. The following is a list of tlie pastors wlio have been in charge of this church society : Rev. L. M. Day, Rev. Thomas Bur- rows, Rev. J. Copeland, Rev. H. C. Howard and Rev. Jolin Scott.

BAPTIST .- The Phoenix Close Communion Baptist Church was organized in 1864, and in 1865 the congregation bought the property on which the present church edifice stands, situated two miles east of Pleasant Mount village, on the old Cochecton turnpike. A building, which stood on the lot and had been used as a store, was remodeled and occupied as a church until the present churchi building was erected, in 1884. The Maple Grove Church, in the south part of the township, a branch of the Phoenix, was built 1874-77.

LUTHERAN. - In the south part of the township, along the Clinton line, there is a settlement of Germans. They are among the most prosperous and worthy people of the township. They have a German Lutheran Church, which was built upwards of twenty years ago.

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WAYNE COUNTY.

SCHOOLS .- The people of this township were the first in the county to rally to the sup- port of education. Without aid from the State, they erected sehool-houses and supported schools even in the infancy of their existence. The first school in Wayne County was tanght by Miss Lucy Stearnes in the log house of Elijah Dix in the summer of 1794. She had twelve scholars and received six shillings per week as . her wages. The first male teacher who taught in the township was John Tyler, who taught in the winter of 1799 and 1800, in a log building which had been ereeted and ocenpied by Mr. Geer, and which, being vaeant at that time, was utilized for school purposes.

Richard Perkins taught a school on the old road north of the village in 1801. The first log school-house was built near the present residence of Philo Spencer in 1798, but who first taught in it is not known. The first framed school-house was built in 1804, and was the first house eastward of Joseph Tanner's residence. The first term in it was taught by Truman Wheeler. In 1834 the first Board of School Directors was elected under the school law of that year. The officers of that board were Truman Wheeler, president ; and Wm. R. Stone, secretary. There are now sixteen dis- triets in the township, containing fourteen houses of wood, one of brick and one of stone. The average school term in 1885 was six and one-fifthi months, with an attendance of four hundred and forty-two scholars, who were schooled at a cost of $2017.39. Previously to 1869 no permanent provisions had been made in this town for a higher education than that obtained in the common schools ; but in that year E. M. Atwater, Esq., opened the school since known as the Pleasant Mount Academy, which he sustained until the spring of 1881, when it was purchased by a joint- stock company composed of citizens of this and adjoining townships. The first board of trustces, elected July 23, 1881, were Frank Spencer, president; John D. Brennan, secre- tary ; Geo. E. Moase, treasurer ; E. K. Norton, S. G. Perham, R. H. Patterson and E. M. At- water. In 1876 a three years' course of study was instituted, which comprised, in addition to

the common branches, the natural seienees, higher mathematies, physics, language, ete. Sinee tliat time ten elasses, numbering in the aggregate forty-eight members, have been grad- uated from this institution. The academy las acquired a high celebrity and is deserving of a liberal share of public patronage. The follow- ing are its principals sinee its foundation : L. G. Dimmick, Edwin Francis, Leroy Baker, Frank Tuthill, H. B. Larrabee, Geo. W. Phil- lips, J. H. Kennedy and J. E. Tiffney.

Prof. James H. Kennedy, son of Wilbur Kennedy, was born in Mount Pleasant, Octo- ber 7, 1851, and lived with his parents on the farm until he was seventeen years old, when his mother died, during which time he at- tended the distriet school in the winter, and worked on the farm in summer. He attended the Normal School at Prompton during the fall term of 1869, and during the following winter taught school in Dyberry. In the fall of 1870 he attended the school at Prompton again. He then taught in the distriet schools of Wayne and Susquehanna Counties during six winters, laboring in summer by the month on farms, or laying stone wall to receive pay by the rod, and serving as brakeman one sum- mer on the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

He then studied one year and a half under Prof. H. B. Larrabee, at the Mount Pleasant Academy, where he graduated in the spring of 1878.

From the fall of 1878 until the spring of 1881 he served in that institution as assistant and teacher of mathematies, under Prof. Geo. W. Phillips, A.M., and was then ehosen prin- cipal of that academy, which position lie held for three years. On the 6th day of May, 1884, he was elected superintendent of the public schools of his native county of Wayne.

He was married to Lizzie Belknap, July 21, 1872, who died in less than one year after that time. On the 19th day of Angust, 1879, he married Minnie Gaylord, and by her he has two daughters.

ROADS .- The first road in this township was built by private enterprise aided by State appro- priation. It extended from Pocono Point, near Stroudsburg, north to the State line: It

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

was cut through in 1788-89. It followed the route of the old "Belmont and Easton turn- pike," and was called the "North and South " road. In 1791 the settlers in this town began to open a road to Great Bend, a half-mile to a mile and a half south of the road now known as the "Cochecton and Great Bend turnpike." There was another road early made and still in use, which left the North and South road on the east side and came up by Silas Kellogg's to Captain John Tiffany's place, now owned by Milton Spencer. From this point a road was constructed westward, running north of the village to the brow of the hill, near the present residence of William Wright; then, passing down by Mr. Geer's log house, near the large spring, previously mentioned, crossed the Lack- awaxen a few rods above the residence of K. P. Winner. Another road came up in the direction of the present Bethany road, and united with the road above mentioned just before it crossed the Lackawaxen ; after crossing they separated to accommodate two taverns at the top of the hill on the North and South road, one kept by Samnel Stanton and the other by Jirah Mumford.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 108

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438