History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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 131
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 131
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 131

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).

His children were William, John, Edward, Thomas (2d) and Robert. William settled one- fourth mile northeast of the Bortree or East Sterling Church. His children were Charles; Mary Ann, wife of S. G. Nicholson ; Samuel Bortree, who runs the grist-mill built by his grandfather ; and Daniel. John Bortree settled one-half mile north of the East Sterling Church. Edward built a

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

Bortree Church. His children were Robert John Bortree, who settled north of Zion Church ; Richard, who lives on the homestead ; William Edward, who is on the John Clements place ; and Mary G., wife of Jabez Simons. Thomas Bortree built a house and saw-mill near his father's grist-mill, both of which have fallen to decay. He finally moved to the Ashbel Miller place, in the eastern part of Salem, on the old East and West turnpike, and kept tavern for many years. Robert settled in Greene, opposite the Robert Bortree grist-mill.

Joseph Simpson located about one mile west of Robert Bortree. His sons were William, James, Abram, Thomas, John and Daniel.

Josiah Whittaker, an Englishman, bought John Eck's place and started a store in South Sterling in 1861 and now has the post-office; his son, John J. Whittaker, was county auditor. When Robert Bortree went to Ireland to settle his brother Simon's estate, Robert and Thomas Cross, brothers of Edward Cross, returned with him. Robert settled about two miles south of Robert Bortree, his brother locating next him. Robert's children were Dilworth, Mary Jane, Ed- ward and Samuel, who died in the army. Thomas' children were Abraham and Nathan, who live in Greene ; William, Mary A., wife of Simon Dil- worth; and Sarah, wife of Nathaniel Martin, who located in Dreher.

Although the flats had been partly cleared by squatters, the title was vested in Abraham Singer, and George Schively, who rented the cleared por- tion to different persons. In 1828 twenty-two German families from Gundlesheim and Wein- garden came to Easton. Charles David Wolfe, Charles Raetz and Jacob Rohrbacher bought about two thousand acres of Singer and the widow of George Schively. In 1829 Philip Krause, Charles Raetz, John A. Raetz, Michael Beeler and Magdalene Beehn came with her sons, Adam, John and Charles. Philip Heck, Christian Fri- bilie, Charles D. Wolf, Jacob Rohrbacher, Philip Able and Christof Snyder were the original colony. Jacob Heck, George A. Wolf, C. T. Hefferle, John I. Ziegler, Frederick Meyer, John Mesnart, Peter Hebberle and John Straub came later. This constituted the German settlement of Newfound- land, or the Dutch Flats. They each built a hut on the old road which ran along the side hill. The

Newfoundland turnpike was built in 1840. It leaves the north and south below Hartford's mill, and passes southeast, then south through the flats up the south branch of the Wallenpaupack, and thence across southwest into the north and south again at Labar's. The Germans then built on the flats along the road. They all wanted a piece of the flat land and to that end the farms were sur- veyed long and narrow, running across the road. They are from seventeen to forty-eight rods wide and four hundred and eighty-two rods long. By this arrangement each one had a portion of the flat and side hill on both sides, thus bringing their houses close together along the road, which, with stores and shops, made a farmer's village. Among them were tradesmen, such as coopers, millers, tailors, shoemakers and carpenters. They were all musical. Originally Lutherans, the Moravians at Bethlehem loaned the money, bought fifty acres of land for the minister and helped them build a church. Strangers in a strange land, it is not singular that the kindness of the Moravians won them to that faith. They built a church, in 1840, of peculiar construction. It was thirty-five by forty feet, two stories high and designed for a church and dwelling for the minister. It was built of hewn timber, about six inches thick, standing about four feet apart, with cross-pieces well braced and filled in with stone and clay in the lower stories. Withed sticks in the upper story held the clay and plaster. The new church was built about 1853. Abram Brinninger gave five hundred dollars to the Moravian Society for the erection of the first edifice. Nearly all of the German immigrants belonged to the church. Rev. Chr. Trager was the first preacher, and organized the church August 13, 1837. He has been fol- lowed in the ministry by Revs. Lambert, Seidel, Simon, Ricksecker, Smith, Oehler, Praeger, Det- terer, Nagel, Neu, Rommel and Charles Moench. There are two hundred and one members, with a Sunday-school of one hundred and seventy-five members, which the pastor superintends.

When the Germans first came to the flats they lived within themselves and had little intercourse with their neighbors. An outsider admired a daugh- ter of Mr. Raetz, but the young Germans, who were jealous, caught the intruder one night as he was returning from a call on his German Dulcinea,

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and whipped him with a butternut root, for which offense six of them were fined five dollars apiece by 'Squire Lancaster. This illiberality has worn away, and the Germans have since intermarried with others. They are an industrious people, have made great improvements and their descendants have helped to populate Greene township and vi- cinity. Charles David Wolfe, one of their leaders, was not permitted to share in the triumphs of the colony. While felling trecs he was killed by an accident. His was the first grave in the German burying-ground. Mrs. Christina Wolfe found her- self a widow in a strange land with ten children, the oldest being but seventeen,

Of these children, (1) Charles D. Wolfe, Jr., married Catherine Robacker, and settled in Greene; (2) Frederick lives in Easton ; (3) Chris- tian G. Wolfe married Rebecca Long, their chil- dren being Oliver D. and Eliza, wife of J. R. Smith ; he married Narcelia Gorman for a second wife, their children being Leroy D. Wolfe, who has been of assistance to the writer in preparing this sketch ; Myra, who married Prof. J. F. Doo- ley ; Adelia, wife of John A. Kipp; and Celinda, wife of R. Bartleson ; Olin, Laura and Nellie are unmarried. (4) The fourth son was David Wolfe; then followed (5) Elizabeth, wife of James Hess ; (6) Catherine, wife of Adam Hebberling; (7) Christiana, wife of George Waltz ; (8) Louisa, wife of Henry Buzza ; and (9) Christina, of Easton,

Francis A. Oppelt came to Dreher in April, 1840, from Northampton County. He was justice of the peace for thirty years, census taker in 1850, county commissioner in anti-court-house times and a good auctioneer. His children are Angeline, who married Frederick Ehrhardt, a leading merchant on the flats, who commenced business in 1860; Caroline married Christian Lange, a store-keeper in partnership with Emier Welter, who married Mary Oppelt; Lange was also undertaker and postmaster for a number of years; Isadore Kast- ner, of Hawley, married Anna; Sarah lives in Philadelphia ; William Hebberling married Cilia ; Henry is unmarried ; and Edward lives in Greene. George L. Waltz started a store in Greene in 1866 and in 1868 commenced on the flats. After Charles died George continued the business alone. They also built a hotel on the East Branch in Grecue.

South Sterling Methodist Episcopal Church .- Mrs. Gilpin says "she remembers that William Akers and his wife and Mr. Eldridge belonged to the first class. Edward Bortree was the first class- leader and after him Richard Gilpin. Rev. Ben- jamin Kellam, Elder Dobell and Rev. Mr. Purdy were among the first preachers. Sophronus Stocking organized the first class."

The South Sterling Methodist Church was ded- icated January 1, 1857, and is thirty by forty feet, with a stone basement and class-rooms. It cost fourteen hundred dollars and is located on a little spur of the hill below Gilpin's.

The East Sterling Protestant Methodist Church was dedicated November 18, 1855. The first members were William, Edward, John and Rob- ert Bortree and John R. Gilpin.

The Albright or Evangelical Church was built about 1854. The first preacher was Rev. William Mines. The first circuit preacher was Rev. J. Hess. The constituent members were George Waltz, John Krause, Charles Wolfe, William Ro- backer, Christopher Robacker, Christopher Neck and Jacob M. Schall.

Dr. Dietz was the first physician and Dr. Fletcher Gilpin the first resident physician. Wil- liam Bortree was first postmaster at East Sterling and held the office till Polk's administration, when Charles Raetz was appointed. Afterward S. G. Nicholson, who had a store where Blankenbush now resides, received the commission, About 1856 there was a post office established on the flats, called Hopedale, Rev. Mr. Oehler being the first postmaster. Charles Tremper was made postmas- ter in 1858, as F. A. Oppelt also at Hopedale. They were so close together that Mr. Oppelt relin- quished the office and East Sterling absorbed Hopedale. When Mr. Tremper failed Mr. Oppelt took it again. In 1858 H. A. Lancaster was ap- pointed postmaster of Newfoundland and this absorbed East Sterling. Afterward C. Lange hield it for twenty-three years. F. Ehrhardt now holds the office. John Bortree sold goods from his house in 1812 and William Bortree had a store in his house in 1818.

Wallenpaupack Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 478, was organized December 18, 1852, by D. D. G. M. Jackson Woodward. The charter members were Ezekiel Ellsworth, F. A. Oppelt, C. W. Gil-

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

pin, Daniel Bortrce, Erastus Jones, Jacob Scig, John Uban, Thomas V. Kipp, Hugh Lancaster, Thomas Nevin, Ehrgood Wolfe. There are now about two hundred members. The lodge mcets every Saturday evening. They have their own quarters and three thousand five hundred dollars in money in the treasury.

Allen Megargel built a grist mill about 1825, which Isaac Megargel, his son and heir, sold to William Ehirgood in 1830, and his son Jacob Ehrgood operates the mill now.

John Haag built a steam grist-mill in 1857. L. D. Wolfe, in his sketch, in 1878, speaks of the Wolfe saw-mill and store, Lambert Frey's shop, R. L. Sieg & Co.'s and C. W. Akers' blacksmith shop. The Hopedale Hotel was then kept by J. J. Laager; it is now presided over by L. R. Smith. Drcher has five schools.

Gabriel Brown cane to Sterling (now Dreher) from Scotland in 1842 and settled two miles south of Howe's, on the North and South road. His children were George Brown, of Salem, and Thomas Brown, who lives on the homestead ; Isa- bella lived with Thomas. Thomas Thompson married Agnes and resides about one mile west of Jericho.

Owl Hoot or Angel's was first occupied by Mr. Webb, after which Mr. Sperry made butter boxes and veneering, employing a number of hands. These mills burned and Angel & Kerr now run a saw-mill. There is a post-office at Angel's on the same spot.

The Newfoundland Encampment, No. 219, I. O. of O. F., was instituted at Newfoundland, Wayne County, Pa., November 20, 1871. The following were the first officers ; C. W. Gilpin, C. P .; L. R. Smith, H. P .; C. W. Down, S. W .; H. C. Lancaster, J. W .; F. A. Oppelt, Scribe ; R. B. Dunning, Treasurer ; A. H. Roemer, I. S. ; C. W. Akers, O. S.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

TEXAS TOWNSHIP.

THE erection of Texas township out of the lower portion of Dyberry took place toward the close of the year 1837, and was brought about by the difficulty, which a scattered population, remote

from the place where business was transacted, experienced in conforming to the provisions of the new school law and the statutes relating to town- ship accounts. At the January Term of the court a petition, setting forth the inconveniences of the existing boundary lines, resulted in the constitution of Warner M. Preston, Virgil Grenell and Thomas Clark a committee of viewers instructed to report at the next term of court. They were favorable to the erection of the new township, and, after the usual delay entailed by surveying and plotting, the final order for the township of Texas was made November 23, 1837. The territory thus set off included a large portion of what is now Cherry Ridge, and its northern line divided the township of Dyberry into two nearly equal portions. Thus it remained until 1843, when the excision of Cherry Ridge took place and Texas assumed its present limits. It is now bounded on the north by Dyberry and Prompton, east by Berlin, south by Palmyra and Cherry Ridge, and west by Cherry Ridge, Canaan and Prompton. Its topog- raphy is irregular, and the valleys of the Lackawaxen and Dyberry, the streams which water it, are walled in by high hills and bold eliffs. The Lackawaxen flows southeasterly nearly through the centre of the township and at Honesdale is joined by the Dyberry, which flows from the north. The bottom lands on each stream arc rich alluvial deposits, easily cultivated and very productive. Walled up by the cliffs, and stretching away into the adjacent townships on the east, is a large plateau many fcet above the water level of the Lackawaxen. This table land is watered by several brooks that descend rapidly to the river, and form many available water-powers for saw and grist-mills, and were powerful auxil- iaries in the early settlement of the region.

The population of Texas was not large at the time of its erection, but has increased rapidly in the past two decades. The assessment taken in 1840, some two years after the township was set off, shows the following names :

Robert Arnold. Samuel Barnard.

Thomas Arnold.

Bulkley Beardslee.

Phineas Arnold. William Bate.

George Alvord. Thomas Bulermy.

Hiram Bishop. Hiram Bardslee.

Walter Beardslee. David Bunnell.

Frederick Beamer.

Charles Brink.

811

William Brownscomb.

John Harvey. Robert Hawkey.

James Robinson.

Jason Torrey.

Thomas Baker.

Jacob Scank.

David V. Twitchell.

James Blackington.

John Hazlett.

John I. Scank.

Joseph Vanco.

David Blanding.

Ira Hasserman.

Benson Swingle. Richard Vanco.

Spencer Blanding.

John Inch.

Richard Sanguine.

Thomas Van Camp.

Lyman Bronson.

Benjamin Jenkins, Jr.

Ephraim Slack.

Kesiah Woodward.

Seth Benedict.

Benjamin Jenkins, Sr.

Stephen Sharpstone.

Adiah Willson. John Woodson.

Levi Bronson.

John Jenkins.

George Spragle.

Asher Woodson.

Francis Burnes.

Asa Jenkins. Benj. Jenkins, (3d.) John Kerby.

I. D. Simpson.

Daniel Woodward.

James Bedient.

James Kerby, Jr.

Cyrus Sweet.

John Writer.

David Blowers.

David Kerby.

Abraham Swartz.

Aaron Writer.

Decius Collins.

Simeon Kimble.

Jesse Schoonover. Francis Whitaker.

Lorenzo Collins.

B. F. Kimble. Alpheus Kellogg.

Justus Scers.

Ambrose Wheeler.

John Calloway.

Jacob Kimble.

Tinson Smith. Harry Wheeler.

Robert Compton.

John Keyes.

Daniel Schoonover. Ephraim White.

Cornelius Corryelle.

Mathias Keen.

R. L. Seeley. Thomas Wilber.

Lucius Collins.

George W. Kun.

Benjamin Titsner. Putnam Williams.

Alonzo Collins.

Stephen Kimble.

Joseph Titsner.

John Westlake.

John Torrey.

Daniel West.

William Curtice.

John Law.

William Conavin.

Thomas Lindsley.

Thomas Cotweil.

Lord, Farnham & Tra-

Isaiah D. Conyne.

Asa Moon. [cey.

Zibron Case.

Hopkins Moon.

Thomas Collins.

Thomas Matthews.

Elias Drake.

Wm. P. McLaurey. David Mapes. '

John Doney.

Samuel Manchester.

Siah R. Decker. .

D. M. Mandeville.

Isaac Decker. Christopher Dailey,

John Mason. Samuel McClen.

Samuel Darling.

John C. Dunn.

William Dickey.

B. I. Dimmock. James David.

Sylvanus Osborn. William O'Brien. James Pern.

Hiram Dible.

Daniel Drake. Farnham & Clark.

William Palmer. Stephen Piper. .

Isaac P. Foster.

Foot & Knapp.

Wm. L. Gainford.

William Griffin. Jacob Gage.

Stephen W. Gennung.

John D. Graham. John H. Gill. Samuel Gasley. John R. Hoadley. Henry Heath. George Hoagland. Thomas Hamn.

George Roney.

Alfred Remer.

William Holbert.

Gaylord Russel.

Richard Henry. George W. Hall.

Thomas Reid. William Robinson.

The earliest settlement in Texas was on the Indian Orchard, a body of land in the southern part of the township which took its name from a row of one hundred apple-trees that were planted at regular distances along the river-bank and a tradition among the early settlers has it that there were ninety and nine' trees which bore sweet fruit and one only which every other year was covered with sonr apples. At this time certain ceremonies were performed by the tribe, and the dancing-ground, a large clearing on the bank, paved with flat stones, was the scene of special rites. The dancing- ground has long since disappeared and but one of the hundred trees remains to trail its gnarled and decrepit branches over the stream ; but now and then the plow-share, turning up the rich alluvium, brings to light broken flints and fragments of the rude implements with which the ground was strewn when by their fantastic dances the simple Indians invoked the aid of Manito, the great spirit, two centuries ago.

From' this old orchard one of the earliest grants to individual owners took its name, and the changes in the ownership and the circumstances that attended them form a part of the history of

I The writer would acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Thomas J. Ham, of Honcsdale, who kindly permitted the use of many valuable original notes which he had made on the history of the Indian Orchard tract.

John W. Bass.

Edward Jenkins.

William Shearer.

John W. Seeley. Abiram Winton.

David Burch.

Joseph Spangenberg.

Jolın Woodward, Jr.

William Bulton.

Charles Smith.

Robert Westlake.

Charles Clark.

Josiah Cole.

Solomon Lyman.

John P. Darling.

Owen McCue.

Harvey Manchester. Cornelius C. Neil.

Simon Plum. Emory Prescott. Jacob Plum. Hiram Plum, R. W. Powell. John Patton. Henry Phillips. James Quinley. Augustus Rogers. Jabez Rocknell. Daniel Rutan.

WAYNE COUNTY.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

several adjacent localities. Early in 1763 the complaints that poured in upon the proprietary Governors and the Assembly stimulated them to take some immediate measures for the suppression of the terrible depredations of the Indians along the entire frontier line of the State. It was ap- parent that unless something decisive was done without delay the scattered whites would be driven from their homes to escape entire annihilation at the hands of the merciless savages. It was a year of terror in all the outlying settlements of the province. Upon the unsuspecting settlers at work in their fields there broke a savage tide of slaughter which wreaked indiscriminate vengeance all along the border. The whole frontier was ablaze with the torch and musket of the savage, and in the woods for some miles on either side of the Susquelianna families with their cattle sought the safety that the towns did not afford.

Seven hundred men were immediately enlisted and sent into active service, protecting the settlers and especially defending during harvest those in the most exposed situations. Among the officers who were sent to recruit the " back inhabitants " was Colonel John Seeley, of Berks County, and this officer in the discharge of his duties became acquainted and favorably impressed with this sec- tion of the country. After the campaign, on being relieved of his command, he made applica- tion for a large tract on the frontier, pledging its early settlement from the adjoining provinces. As it was the policy of the proprictaries to en- courage the speedy development of the province at the expense of rival colonies, his application received favorable consideration, and on the 30th of July, 1765, a warrant in Colonel Secley's behalf was issued to the surveyor-general direct- ing him to survey ten thousand acres, in one or two tracts, on or near the north branch of Lack- awaxen Creek, beginning about a mile above the forks of the creek and going near the tract already surveyed to the use of the proprietaries (i.e., the Wallenpaupack Manor). It was conditional that Colonel Seeley should secure thirty families of bona fide settlers on this tract within three years, or, in the event of war or other disturbing causes, within three years after the termination of such disruption. The survey, which was made, by James Scull, was returned in February, 1769, and

all the land surrounding the tract was marked as " vacant." The northwestern corner was at a birch-tree on the hill side, a little south of "the old burying-ground," in the present borough of Honesdale. A large portion of the tract lay in the form of a square, with its southern limit a lit- tle below the old Indian Orchard, while a portion of it extended down the Lackawaxen to a point below White Mills.

Colonel Seeley did not fulfill his engagement with Governor Penn in the matter of obtaining settlers, and financial embarrassment coming upon him, in March, 1779, lic conveyed the Indian Orchard tract to Mark Bird and James Wilson in fec as tenants in common, excepting and reserving one thousand acres at the north end of the tract. Mark Bird released and conveyed his share to Judge Wilson soon after, and in due time the latter paid the purchase-money and obtained a patent. Meanwhile other creditors of Colonel Seeley had taken measures to secure their claims, and the tract was levied on by Sheriff George Graff, of Northampton County, as the property of Colonel Seeley, by virtue of an execution issued at the instance of Isaac Levan in the interest of the cstate of James Hamilton, deceased. Judge Wilson made two unsuccessful attempts to recover possession, once taking the case to the higher court.

Nearly thirty years elapsed after Penn issued the first warrant in favor of Jonas Seeley be- fore any of the land was sold in small parcels with a view to actual occupancy. When the courts were located at Bethany, in 1805, the best portions of the tract were in the possession of half a dozen individuals, either as " squatters " or under contracts from James Bell, agent for Mr. Hamilton. In 1810 Mr. Hamilton acknowledged deeds for six tracts which he had sold to Walter Kimble and others, the first-named securing the portion of the property which contained the old Indian Orchard.

Who was the first settler at the Indian Orchard is now a matter of uncertainty. Tradition has it that one of the Holberts lived on the Walter Kimble place before he went there, and David Ford and James Hough both lived in the vicinity, Ford having a cabin on the west side of the Lackawaxen, nearly opposite the old mill-site.

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WAYNE COUNTY.

Among those who came from Cochecton to the Wallenpaupack settlement were Jacob Kimble and his two sons, Abel and Walter. Jacob was then fifty-one years of age, and his boys just at- taining manhood. They came from vigorous, self- reliant Connecticut stock, and were identified with all the varying fortunes of the settlement, endur- ing manfully the incredible hardships to which the pioneers were continually subjected. Jacob was made the tithing-man of the settlement in 1775.

Stephen Kimble, his nephew, was one of the three inen who, when the news of the Wyoming massacre reached the settlement, in 1778, started, all haste, to notify the families of Benjamin Haynes, James Hough and David Ford, who lived in the vicinity of Indian Orchard and White Mills, of the catastrophe and the impending danger to the other settlements. They never reached their destination, being captured by the Indians near Paupack Falls and carried into cap- tivity, where Kimble died. Walter Kimble was a participant in the exciting events that trans- pired when the settlers attempted to return from Milford and gather their crops in 1778-79, and his adventures at that time are narrated in the history of the Wallenpaupack settlement. The Kimbles located at the Indian Orchard shortly after the close of the Revolution. At this time Ford had a cabin on the opposite side of the river, and, as he was suspected of being a Tory, was a source of terror to all the women in the neighborhood when their husbands were away from home. Ford's Eddy, which was just below his cabin, took its name from him. Walter Kimble built on what was afterwards the site of the old Beardslee house, and commenced his clearing. "Jersey " was the base of all supplies. except coarse meal and the barcst necessities of life, which were procurable from Milford and the Wal- lenpaupack and Wilsonville settlements.

When he found it necessary to go after his grist, his wife took refuge in a cave on the river- bank that is now covered by the bed of the Dela- ware and Hudson Canal, and there remained in safety until her protector returned. Besides Wal- ter, Jacob Kimble was the father of four other sons-Ephraim, Abel, Benjamin and Daniel. These located some on the Indian Orchard tract,

and some in adjacent townships, and were among the first settlers of Wayne County.

The first saw-mill at Indian Orchard was built by Walter Kimble about 1790, and was located a few rods below the cemetery. It was, of course, an up-and-down saw, and had but a very limited capacity ; nevertheless, it met the demand for lumber, and was for a number of years a profit- able investment.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 131

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