History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 153

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 153
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 153
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 153

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).

Jacobus Hornbeck married a sister of Joseph Ennis, the old ferryman at Dingman's. Evart and William were his sons. Evart Hornbeck married Jane Van Auken, whose brother was shot by the Indians. He lived on the river road, in Lehman township, and is assessed with three hundred and fifty acres of improved land in 1801, which indicates that he was a farmer of some importance. His sons were Daniel, John G. and Jacob. Evart Hornbeck, a son of Jacob, is associate judge of Pike County, and a merchant at Dingman's Ferry. Margaret, Leah and Jane were the daughters of Evart Horn- beck, Sr.

Solomon Rosencrans lived on the hill and was a blacksmith and farmer. Rosencrans is said to signify " the wreath of roses," and Mr. Rosencrans was a good man for his day and generation. He married a Van Gordon, his children being James, John, Simeon, Sarah, wife of Cobus Van Gordon ; Catharine, wife of Solomon Van Etten ; and Hannah, wife of James Jagger. Hulda and Dorothea went West, Simeon Rosencrans married Mary Van Etten, and Daniel D. Rosencrans, their son, lives on the homestead. He was a commissary- sergeant in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cav- alry, Company M, during the late war. Forty soldiers made a cavalry charge, at Tierce Point, into the streets of Hagerstown, Md., just after

the battle of Gettysburg, and were all killed with the exception of fourteen, who were taken prisoners. One white horse escaped riderless and made its way to the battery. Rosencrans ran into an alley and tried to enter a barn, but seeing it was useless, surrendered. A drunken Confederate leveled his gun at him. Rosen- crans expected to be shot, and says he was never in such fear in his life as when his own gun gleamed brightly in the rebel's hands. He ex- claimed : "Just one moment ; I call myself a man, and no man that is a man and a soldier will shoot a prisoner with his own gun." A rebel major that came up drew his sword and ordered the soldier to " drop that gun or he would run him through, for," said he, "that man is a brave soldier and shall be treated as a prisoner of war."

Bernard Swartwood lived south of " Egypt Mills." His sons were John, Simeon and Leander. John lived on the homestead, and his sons were Jacob, who lives in Falls town- ship; Henry, of Pittston ; John, of Smithfield; and Bernardus, who had the homestead, which his widow and children now occupy. The Swartwoods are an old family in Lehman. Part of John Nyce's property was first surveyed to Peter Swartwood in 1774, by him conveyed to William Dunshee, by him to James Swart- wood the same year, and by him conveyed to Samuel Seely in 1794, from him to Nicholas Schoonover, and by him to John Cline in 1800, from Cline to Lodewick Lenders, in 1809 to Henry Decker, and in 1814 to John Nyce. The Swartwoudts (Blackwoods) were a Dutch family and noted for their great strength. The annals of Orange County, N. Y., and Sussex County, N. J., contain accounts of the Indian contests of this family. In the Delaware as- sessment in 1781, which then included Lehman, James, Thomas and Bernardus Swartwood are assessed. Charles Swartwood now lives on the old Brodhead place.

Peter Swartwood, who was one of the first settlers in Lehman township, afterwards moved to Wyoming, but fortunately was on a visit to Esopus at the time of the massacre. He did not return to Wyoming, but went to Cayuta Creek, in Chemung County, N. Y., where his

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former neighbors when he lived in Lehman, the Ennises, had gone before him. Mr. Swart- wood lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and his second wife lived to be ninety-seven. He had eighteen children, and there were one hun- dred and forty of his descendants living when he died. One of his sons, William Swartwood, became a major-general of militia and a mem- ber of the Assembly of New York from Che- mung County. Another son, Daniel B., was a member of the Assembly from Tompkins County, N. Y. One of the daughters, Rachel, married Jesse Barnes, son of Abram Barnes, of Lackawaxen. She is now living at Cedar Rap- ids, Iowa, aged eighty-six. Her son, Peter S. Barnes, is now register and recorder of Wayne County.

William Nyce made his first purchase in Leh- man township (then Delaware), April 29, 1779, of Isaac Van Campen, for two thousand one hundred pounds. The first piece of land con- tained sixty-three acres, and the second twenty- five acres, and is mentioned as a part of the Garret Brink estate. Jacobus Van Gordon's land lies adjoining it. July 12, 1779, he purchased two hundred acres of James Beard at sheriff's sale. May 7, 1784, he purchased forty-three acres of Hendrick C. Courtright, being part of a tract which William Ennis and John Brink purchased in 1741, and which Courtright had secured in 1745, showing that Courtright had lived there for thirty-nine years. The Courtrights were among the pioneers of Lehman. Daniel, Benjamin, Henry, Abraham and Henry Courtright, Jr., are assessed in Del- aware in 1781.

William Ennis was an old settler, and Lieu- tenant Ennis lost his life at the battle of Con- ashaugh.

The Brinks were also an old family both here in Lehman, where John Brink lived, and elsewhere in Pike. John and Benjamin Brink are assessed in Delaware in 1781.

William Nyce and his wife, Dorothy, sold two hundred and five acres of land, called Nyceburg, to Abraham Howell for tliree hun- dred pounds, September 3, 1795. This was probably a portion of his possessions in Leh- man, for his sons, William, John and George,

appear on the stage of action, and are assessed in 1800. He was of German origin, came to Lehman from. Harmony, N. J., and probably returned to that place after he married his second wife. The spot where these three sons of William Nyce, Sr., located obtained the name of Egypt Mills from the grist-mill the Nyces had built, and it is not impossible that Isaac Van Campen had a grist-mill or some other mill before William Nyce came, for Van Camp's Mill Creek is mentioned in a survey to Jacobus Van Gordon, who lived adjoining this tract, in 1784. The extraordinary price of two thousand one hundred pounds for eighty- eight acres of land, in' 1779, would seem to be a great price for land unless there was some improvement on it, but Continental money did not have a great purchasing value during those dark days nor afterwards.

" Egypt Mills". took its name from the grist- mill the Nyces built some time before 1800. Many years ago, when Pike County was almost a wilderness, this mill was one of the sole dependences of the " up river people" for bread, and particularly of those residing in and about Purdyville. These pioneer settlers had stated tinies at which to visit the mill, and would come to the place at regular intervals to purchase flour and meal, which they carried to their homes by means of pack-horses. In time they came to call this place " Egypt," from their knowledge of Bible history and the analogy between themselves and the brethren of Joseph. The mill has been rebuilt since that time and probably resembles but little the one it supplanted. A distillery once stood at or near these mills. The Nyces had a saw- mill and Captain Nyce invented the first carriage that went back by water-power in Pike County. They used to tread the carriage back previous to that.

William Nyce was assessed with a slave in 1800. He died a bachelor in 1819, his prop- erty going to his brothers, John and George, who were among the wealthiest men in Pike County at that time. They were members of the Dutch Reformed Church, and elders or members of the consistory. George Nyce's family moved away from Lehman a number of

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

years ago. Danicl, the oldest son, went to New York. Jacob died young. William worked in the Mint in Philadelphia. Hannah Nyce became the wife of Rev. Robert Pitts, a Dutch Reformed minister. She is still living, at Stroudsburg. John Nyce remained in Leh- mau, and owned the fertile wheat land which is still in the hands of his descendants. It was for this, aud similar lauds along the Delaware, that the Minsi (or Mousey) Indians so earu- cstly contested years ago. John Nyce lived to be seventy-five years old, and was a devoted Christian man. During the latter years of his life, when they had no minister, he held meet- ings in school-houses and churches. He mar- ried Lena, a daughter of John Westbrook, who lived on the flats ou the Jersey sidc. West- brook owned slaves, and gave one to his daugh- ter when she was married. Mr. Westbrook was a wealthy farmer, and gave his property to his two daughters, in cqual portions, as long as they lived, with the remainder to the one that had children.

It so happened uuder this arrangement that Mrs. Nyce got all the property. John Nyce's children were Major John W. Nyce ; Judge William H. Nyce; Mary, wife of Moses W. Coolbaugh ; James, a bachelor, who was once couuty commissioner ; Lydia, wife of Alfred Wells, of Middletown ; Catharine, wife of Dr. John Morrison, of New York ; George Nyce, who married Elizabeth, a daughter of William Place, and bought his Uncle George's farm ; and Jacob Nyce, who married Linda, a daughter of George Peters, lived on the old homestead, operated the grist-mill and kept the post-office at oue time. Both George Nyce and his brother Jacob were elders in the Reformed Church and good men.

Major John W. Nyce, the oldest son above mentioned, was born on the homestead farm at " Egypt Mills" July 23, 1794. After marriage he moved to Sandystou, just across the river in Sussex County, N. J., where he lived for many years. He later removed to Montague and re- sided there until his death, May 19, 1879. He was a farmer of quiet tastes, to whom the com- munity looked with respect, strictly moral and temperate, and in all things desired to do right.

For more than sixty years he was a member of the Reformed Church, and was ever willing to lend an assisting hand in the cause of Chris- tianity. He was the father of ten children, among them Colonel John Nyce, who entered the army as a private and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, when he was wounded iu the right arm, in consequence of which he was discharged. He re-enlisted, was a major in the Thirty-third Regiment, or Fourth " Pennsylvania Reserves," was severely wound- ed at the battle of Antietam aud lay on the battle-field all night. The ball struck his arm near the former wound, passed through his right lung and struck his spine. He was made colo- uel of a regiment, sent to North Carolina, but did not see much service, and being mustered out August, 1865, returned to Peunsylvania, where he completed his law studies at Strouds- burg with Hon. Charlton Burnett. He built a fine resideuce in Milford, opposite the court- house, and practiced law there until 1880, when he died from the effects of his wounds. He married Martha A. Allyn. His sou, John W. Nyce, is cashier of the Stock Exchange Bank iu Caldwell, Kansas. Dr. George Nyce, an- other son of John W. Nyce, is a practicing phy- sician at Muncie, Ind.

Judge William N. Nyce married Margaret Westbrook, lived in New Jersey ou the flats and had two hundred and fourteen acres of land, but engaged in the store-keeping and lumbering business, much to his detriment financially. He was twice a member of the New Jersey Legislature, and after his removal to Blooming Grove was au associate judge of Pike County. His son, Colonel John Nyce, of Haw- ley, is the oldest male member of the Nyce family uow living. He was made a colonel of militia iu a New Jersey regiment by Governor Penuiugton iu 1843. His wife is a daughter of Judge Halsey, of Sussex County, N. J. He has been an elder in the Reformed and Presby- teriau Churches for forty years. The Nyce family is one of the most prominent in the Del- aware. Valley. They were all strong Democrats, and in religion stanch members of the Dutch Reformed and Presbyteriau Churches.

Levi Ladley, an old settler in Lehman, was

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a hunter and fisherman. He built on the hill where Etta Borland now lives. John Smith, a German, came to Lehman and bought a farm of Manuel Hoover in 1798. There was an old stone house on the place at that time.

He had seven sons, two of whom-Isaac and Lodowick-settled in Lehman. Jonathan Seely built a saw-mill on Pond Run, in Lehman, at an early day. Ladley lived in one of the old saw- mill houses. Daniel Smith is the first man who attempted farming on the hills of Lehman. Henry Bunnell now owns the property. The next farmer on the hills was John D. Lawrence, who commenced on the place now occupied by Wm. D. Courtright. John Henry lived above Brisco, on the hill in 1800. Boudwine Howey lived on the place now owned by Martin Over- field, in 1800. Benjamin Imson was an early settler in the woods, in the rear of Bushkill. John Litch lived back of Egypt, on the hills ; his son William also lived and died in Leh- man. Jacob Bensley resides on the hills of Lehman, and is a farmer and hunter. He says his great-grandfather was a German, who came to Smithfield about 1750, and his grandfather, Israel Bensley, was a native of the township. He rented the tavern stand of Henry Peters, who had bought of John Heller, and kept public-house in Bushkill for a time. He mar- ried Catharine Van Why. His only son, Adam Bensley, was a farmer and lumberman in Leh- man. He married a daughter of Benjamin Imson. She had a brother, Robert Imson, who was an Indian doctor. His children were Jacob Bensley ; Sarah, the wife of J. H. Jagger; Catharine resides on the Susquehanna ; and Dan- iel, who lives in Lehman. Jacob Bensley has been a great hunter and killed many deer. The last buck he killed was only wounded by the first shot. He turned on his assailant, and being on a side-hill, gave hini a severe battle be- fore he and his dog succeeded in killing him. The deer had him down, when the dog annoyed him, and they soon worked down the hill, which afforded Bensley a chance to rise and load his gun. He then went down and shot the buck. He also had a severe fight with a panther about fifty years ago. One of Bensley's sons is commissioner of the county. John Burke,

John Titman (who had many lawsuits), John Litch and George Steward were on the hills when Bensley came.

THE HERMIT OF LEHMAN .- Probably no history of Lehman township would be com- plete without some account of Austin Sheldon, that eccentric missionary Yankee, who lived alone in the woods on the hills, two or three miles back of " Egypt Mills." He was born in Con- necticut and was one of a family of eight or ten children. There are two theories to account for his singular conduct. One was that he was agent for a book concern, unwittingly spent the money and never had the courage to return, and another that he lost his wife, for whom he sorely grieved, which drove him to a hermit's life. What- ever the cause of his eccentricities, he first ap- pcared in this State, in Canaan township, among the hills or Moosic Mountains. When the settlers encroached, he left and went to Bloom- ing Grove, where he remained a short time, and then removed to the hills of Lehman, where he purchased about seventy acres of Pike County scrub pine and scrub oak barrens, and erected a sort of cabin, where he dwelt for a number of years. Finally abandoning this cabin, he went farther into the woods, where he lived in a wretched hovel built against a rock. The roof was covered with pieces of bark, old carpet and flat stones. A large flat stone against the en- trance answered for a door, and in one corner adjoining he built a fire on the ground, having a hole in the roof above for a flue. Here he lived and suffered the rigors of this northern climate. Some writer described him in roman- tic style for the Milford paper and the New York Sun. His sister saw the account, made her way to Pike County and to the cave of her long lost brother. On sceing him in this for- lorn condition she wept bitterly, and, being a person of some means, urged his return with her. After much persuasion he finally assented and accompanied her to Connecticut. He had been absent a quarter of a century or more and his home surroundings appcared as strangely to him as did those of Rip Van Winkle after his long sleep.

Soon tiring of the comforts of civilization, he again returned to the wilds of Pike County,

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

where the majestic rocks and murmuring waterfalls ministered calm to his disquiet spirit. He was a good blacksmith, and had an anvil beside his cabin, where he made butcher knives for the neighbors. He was a great reader, par- ticularly of the Bible, advocated temperance, which he practiced himself, and became a relig- ious enthusiast towards the end of his life. He was found one cold winter day in his cabin in a stupefied state, with his face somewhat scorched

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HENRY M. LA BAR.

Henry M. La Bar died at Bushkill, Pa., in December, 1884, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. In order that the character and life- work of such a man should be properly recorded in the local annals of the period, it has been

A. M. Saban

by the fire. He was taken to Tony Heater's, where he died at an advanced age, and was buried in Delaware Cemetery about the 1st of February, 1886.

Elijah Van Auken, a hunter, lives in the backwoods of Lehman. He is now eighty-three years of age.

The schools of Lehman are Hemlock Grove, Brodhead, Schuyler's, Meadow Brook, Pine Ridge, Barn Timber and Bushkill Independent District.

deemed appropriate to publish this brief outline of his career.

He was a decendant of the old La Bar family, whose early history and identification with this locality are elsewhere recorded. His father was George La Bar, who married Sarah Jayne and occupied during his life-time the old Jayne place in Middle Smithfield. The chil- dren were Daniel, Isaac, Henry M., Charles, George, Margaret (who married Rev. S. C. Bacon, of the Methodist Episcopal Church),

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PIKE COUNTY.

Anna (who married Jacob Bush, of Middle Smithfield) and Sarah (who married Dr. P. M. Bush, of the same place).

The early life of Judge La Bar was passed in the home-place and he enjoyed only a com- mon-sehool[education. When quite young he engaged in school-teaching in Montgomery township, Sussex County, N. J., and subsequent- ly elerked in the store of Solomon Westbrook, at] Dingman's Ferry, Pike County, Pa., for

time of his death he owned about fifteen hun- dred aeres of land. He was a member for many years of the Reformed Dutch Church of Bushkill, and in politics a Democrat. He was eleeted to serve on the beneh as one of the lay judges of the county for several terms, and served his eonstitueney with fidelity and ability. On May 15, 1838, he married Elsie G., dangh- ter of Henry Peters, of Bushkill, who survives him. Few men have enjoyed a more enviable

CHARLES R. PETERS.

several years. Later on he filled a similar posi- tion in the store of William Nyee, at Bushkill, and then bought him out and the firm of Hen- ry Peters & La Bar was organized. He en gaged in trade at Bushkill for about thirty years. During the same period he followed lumbering and got out ship-timber, hoop-poles and staves for the market. In connection with Henry Peters lie also carried on the milling and store business at Marshall's Creek for a time. He acquired a large property by exercise of in- dustry, integrity and economy, and enjoyed a good reputation among his neighbors. At the

reputation in Pike County than Judge La Bar, and he has gone to his fathers with a name honored and respeeted by all.

CHARLES RIDGWAY PETERS.

Charles Ridgway Peters, born February 12, 1822, died December 2, 1867, was a grandson of Peter Peters, who emigrated to this country from Holland about the period of the Revolu- tion, in connection with two brothers, Henry and John, and landing at Philadelphia, resided for a number of years at Chestnut Hill, near

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

that city. He was a miller by trade and finally worked his way up to Easton and Stroudsburg, Pa., pursuing his vocation all the time, and closed his days in the latter place. His son Henry was born near Philadelphia in Septem- ber, 1787, and died March 2, 1857. On Janu- ary 16, 1814, he married Sarah Gunsaules, of Middle Smithfield, born July 23, 1794, and still living, and soon after bought a large lum- ber tract of Judge John Coolbaugh and Mr. Van Horn (of Easton), including most of the present site of Bushkill, Pa., and located in a humble dwelling-house thereon. For many years he engaged in lumbering and rafting, also in the milling and mercantile business at Bush- kill, of which he was the virtual founder. He was the first postmaster and the office has al- ways remained in the family. His primitive dwelling was a log-house, containing one win- dow with four window-lights, and there he established a sort of public-house for the enter- tainment of travelers, the first of its kind in the locality. The house was torn down after standing over one hundred years, and occupied a portion of the present site of the residence of Mrs. Chas. R. Peters. The public house was kept by Henry Peters for many years and was carried on by his son at a later period. He was a man of character and standing, just and exact in all his dealings and industrious and econom- ical in his habits. His children were Eliza- beth (1814-58); Elsie (1817), widow of Henry M. La Bar; Delinda P. (1819-71), who married Henry S. Mott, of Milford; Charles R. ; Maria Louisa ; Catharine Miller ; Samuel G. and Wm. Nyce. The latter two are engaged in trade at Bushkill.

Charles R. Peters engaged in farming and hotel-keeping at Bushkill during the whole of his life. He was a Democrat in politics, active in church work, but no aspirant after public place. He was generally respected and esteemed for his integrity and uprightness of character. He married, February 4, 1852, Elizabeth E., daughter of John Coolbaugli, and left three sons,-Edwin F., Harry and Van,-who reside at Bushkill. That pleasant summer-resort, with its attractive homes and picturesque surround- ings, is owned almost entirely by the descend-

ants of Henry Peters, who so early came out into what was then a wild region and identified himself with its development. The aged mother of the family is still the central figure around whom clusters much of the interest of the place.

CHAPTER X.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.

PALMYRA is one of the townships erected at the time of the organization of Wayne County, in 1798. Palmyra when first formed was bounded north by Damascus, east by the " Hilborn road," which was the west boundary of Lackawaxen, south by the township of Delaware and west by Canaan. The erection of Dyberry, in 1803, took five miles in breadth from the northern end of Palmyra, and by the formation of Pike County, in 1814, all that part of the township east of the Wallenpaupack was included in Pike and became Palmyra. That portion of Salem township lying east of the South Branch of the Wallenpaupack was assessed as Salem in Pike in 1815, but subse- quently became a part of Palmyra, together with a slice from the western part of Dela- ware township. Thus when Greene township was erected, in 1829, it was taken from Palmyra. The present township of Palmyra is bounded on the north by Lackawaxen township, on the east by Blooming Grove township, on the south by Greene township, and on the southwest by the Wallenpaupack River and the townships of Paupack and Palmyra, in Wayne County. The Wallenpaupack has a slow current through the flats and formerly retained the waters a long time. In case of a freshet or flood, the stream would attain high-water mark on the flats thirty-six hours earlier than at Wilsonville, only six miles distant on an air line. From Ledge- dale to Wilsonville, a distance of twelve miles, the stream is very sluggish. The Indians aptly named it "Deadwaters." In 1831-32 the people were stricken with fever, and but two well persons were to be found in the settlement. The inhabitants attributed the sickness to want of drainage, and asked aid from the State. An

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PIKE COUNTY.

appropriation of three thousand dollars was accordingly made to be used in straightening the stream, Enos Woodward, Otto Kimble and Moses Killam being appointed commissioners to look after the expenditure of the money. The stream was shortened about four or five miles and several large rocks removed at Wil- sonville, besides lowering the bed of the stream about two feet for one or two hundred feet near the bridge, giving the waters free vent.

The following is a list of the taxables in Palmyra township, returned by Abisha Wood- ward, assessor, in 1801 :

John Ansley.

Simon Ansley.

Alpheus Jones. Alexander Jones.

John Ansley, Jr.

John Jeans.

Joseph Ansley.

Ephraim Killam.

Elisha Ames.

Silas Killam.

David Abbott.

John Killam.

Henry Ball.

Abel Kimble.

Robert Bayham.

Hezekiah Bingham.

Ephraim Kimble.

Hezekiah Bingham, Jr. Moses Brink.

Daniel Kimble.

Stephen Bennett.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 153

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