USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 200
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 200
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 200
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and was in operation till 1830. In 1857 Sam- nel Burger and Abraliam Bleckler started a tan- nery on the same place where the musket fac- tory stood. It was owned and run by different parties till 1877, when it was closed and has not since been started.
Joseph Kunkle was the proprietor of the first hotel in the village, which was opened in 1849. The following persons have been proprietors of said hotel, successively : Edward Roth, Aaron Bossler, Stephen Hess, Joseph Harah, John Frantz, Edward Frantz, Stephen Boyer, Elias Smith, William Christman and Reuben Frable, the present proprietor.
A store was opened by Thomas Snyder in 1832. At present there are four stores, owned and run by J. F. Pearsol, L. K. Patrick, P. P. Schaeffer and Nelson Heffelfinger. There are two blacksmith-shops in the village, one hotel, one wheelwright-shop and one grist-mill.
The Kunkletown post-office was established in 1864, with Joseph Johnson as postmaster. He was succeeded by John Hatter, who was followed by L. K. Patrick, the present incum- bent.
The Kunkletown Cornet Band was organized in December, 1883, and consists of twenty-two pieces. The members are fully uniformed and have an appropriate band-wagon. William Roth, leader.
CHAPTER XVII.
POLK TOWNSHIP.1
AT a Court of Quarter Sessions of the peace in 1846, John Shively, Franklin Starbird and William S. Rees, commissioners appointed by the court, reported that they had divided the township of Chestnuthill into two townships, commencing mid way between Starner's Gap and the Wilkes-Barre turnpike, at the Tobyhanna township line and Pocono Mountains ; thence by a straight line passing near the Chestnuthill mceting-house until it strikes the line dividing Ross from Chestnuthill township, near the Widow Garris'. The western part was named
after James K. Polk, eleventh President of the United States, and is bounded on the east by Chestnuthill, on the south by Eldred and on the west and north by Carbon County.
Polk township is well drained by various creeks and rivulets. Little Creek, rising in the northwestern part of the township, flows south into Middle Creck, which rises in the northern part and. flows south into the Big Creek. Pocopoco Creek rises west of Middle Creek and flows parallel with it, emptying into the Big Creek, which flows in a gentle stream through the southern part of the township. The valley of Big Creek is in many places a mile and a half wide, at almost a uniform level, ex- cept the immediate channel of the stream.
The surface is hilly and the soil fertile. The highest point in the township is on the Pocono Mountain and the Carbon County line, three hundred and eighty rods north of New Me- chanicsville hotel. Well cultivated fields testify to both the fertility of the soil and the perse- vering industry of the rural population, which is principally engaged in agricultural pursuits.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS .- The territory of this township and adjoining townships was consid- crably overrun by the Indians during the early Indian wars. Upon several occasions the in- habitants were massacred by or fled before their savage enemies. They protected themselves as their numbers, and strength enabled them, by erecting forts at different points. Fort Norris was within the limits of this township.2
In 1760 the Moravians bought lands on Head's Creek, and thither transferred their In- dian converts from Bethleham. This settlement was called Wequetanc and lay on the flats nortli of Wire Creek, about a quarter of a mile north of the State road, where the present road to Effort leaves said State road.
Frederick Hoeth, baker, from Zwibrucken, emigrated in 1748 and is registered with his wife, Johanctte, among the members of the con- gregation in 1749. In 1750 he purchased seven hundred acres of land on Pocopoco Creek, in Long Valley, and removed thither with his family in 1752. On December 10, 1755, his house was stealthily visited by five Indians
2 See Chapter IV, of this work.
1 By Cicero Gearhart, Esq
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
while the family were at supper. Hoeth was killed and a woman wounded by the Indians firing a volley through the window. The rest of the family sought safety in flight and con- cealment. The Indians immediately set fire to the house, mill and stables. Mrs. Hoeth hid in the bake-house, to which fire was also applied. Enduring the heat and smoke as long as she could, the unfortunate woman ran out through the flames, and, to relieve her agony, leaped in- to the water, where she died, either from her burns or by drowning. A grown-up daughter was killed and scalped, and four other women taken as captives into the Indian country. In the affray one Indian was killed and one wounded. John Michael Hute, an apprentice in Hoeth's mill, made his escape through the tail-race and was the only survivor of the family to tell the horrible story. The mill was rebuilt and is now owned and run by Mahlon Kresge.
The early settlers of this township were chiefly Germans, and many of their descendants still reside here upon the ancestral estates. John Kunkle, a descendant of one of these families, is one of the most influential men in the township.
Natlian Serfass resides on the farm originally cleared and owned by his grandfather, John Serfass. Jacob Kresge, the oldest man living in the township, resides on his father's homestead with his grandson, who is the owner of the farm. Reuben Kresge, until recently, was the owner of the oldest property in the township, which had descended to him from his father, George Kresge. The same is now owned by William Gregory.
The precise date at which the first settlements were made cannot be obtained. A German, by the name of Philip Shupp, is said to have been the . first settler. He located about one mile west of where Salem Church now stands, cleared a small tract of land and crected a log cabin upon it. This was about the middle of last century. He had several daughters and one son. The son left tlie township before he was grown up. George Kresge married one of the daughters and took the old homestead. They had two children,-Philip and Samuel. The mother
died, and the father took a second wife, Miss Catharine Scrfass, daughter of John Scrfass. They had seven children, viz .: Thomas, James, Joel, David, Reuben, Sallie and Katie. Thomas moved at an early date to Luzerne County. James is living in Chestnuthill township. Joel is the proprietor of a hotel at Kresgeville, and the father of four children,-Charles A. (mem- ber of the firm of Berlin & Kresge), Henry, Tilghman and Emaline (intermarried with James Berlin). David died about ten years ago. He was the father of six children, viz .: Peter and Josiah (who live in Chestnuthill), Absalom (at Penn Argyl, Northampton County), Catharine (married William H. Small), Sallie (married to Melchior Silfiesc) and Elizabeth. Reu ben still lives in the township and is the father of two children,-Alfred and Catharine. Sallie is the wife of John Kunkle, and Katie was inter- married with John Gregory, of Chestnuthill township.
Among the names of the early settlers are those of Conrad Dotter, John George Kunkle, Conrad Dreisbach, John Serfass, William Kresge and others.
Conrad Dotter came from Bucks County and located at the place now called Dottersville. Many of his descendants are still living in the township.
John George Kunkle was the first settler at Kresgeville. He was a German by birth and emigrated to this country about 1740 or 1750. He had fourteen children, namely, Elizabeth (married to George Serfass), Katie (married to a Knecht), Maria (married to Solomon Christ- man), Bevy (married to John Slafer), Susan (married to John Smith), Margaret (married to John Winters), Christianna (married to Paul Beer) ; Sallie (married to George Kresge), George, Abraham, Peter, Joseph, Adam and John. John, the youngest of the family, is the only son now living in the township. He became the owner of the old homestead and lived upon it till he retired from business. He married Sallie Kresge, daughter of George Kresge, and was blessed with ten children, namely, Katie (married to Sebastian Kresge), William, James, Jacob, George, David, Sarah (married to Mahlon Serfass), Mary Ann
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MONROE COUNTY.
(married to Reuben Kunkle), Ella (married to Pierce Kresge), and Emma (married to Jerome Serfass). William and David live on farms near Kresgeville. James and Jacob compose the firm of Kunkle & Bro., at Kresgeville. George is engaged in teaching, but expects to enter the ministry in the near future. He is a graduate from Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., and the founder of Fairview Academy, at Brodheadsville, Chestnuthill township. In the years 1880 and 1881 he was principal of the public schools of Bethlehem, Pa.
Conrad Driesbach was an early settler at Kresgeville. He formed a partnership with John George Kunkle, which firm erected the first mills in that village. He had six chil- dren-five daughters and one son-namely, Elizabeth (married to Charles Shupp), Maria (married to George Hawk), Sallie (married to Philip Kresge) ; Liza (who died single), Susan (married to Frederick Shupp), and John. Sal- lie, the third daughter of Conrad Driesbach, was the mother of three children by her hus- band, Philip Kresge, son of George Kresge. Philip Kresge became the owner of his father- in-law's property. He had the first hotel in the township, and was the first postmaster at Kresgeville, which village was named after him. John, the only son and youngest child of the family, died at an early age, without issue.
John Serfass, a native of Germany, located on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Nathan Serfass. He married Susan Hone and had thirteen children, namely, John, Joseph, Adam, George, Peter, William, David, Hannalı, Sallie, Catharine, Christianna, Eliza- beth and Thomas. John and Thomas are both dead, and none of their descendants live in the township. Andrew married Christianna Ber- ger and had eight children, namely, Aaron, Joel, Charles, Ephraim, Linford, Emanuel, Elizabeth (married to John Smahle) and Fan- ny (married to Aaron Heiny.) George was the father of five children, namely, John, George, Susan (married to John Kerchner), Elizabeth (married to Amos Everitt), and Hannah (mar- ried to Peter Smith). Peter married Catharine Storm and had seven children, namely, Anna
(married to Jacob Christman), Andrew (who moved to Luzerne County), Sarah (married to Henry Hawk), Hannah (married to Lewis Hawk), Elizabeth (married to Samuel Hawk), Franklin (who moved to Northampton County) and Nathan, who lives on the old homestead, married Susan Hawk, daughter of David Hawk, and had three children, namely, Jerome, Louisa and James J. His wife having died, he was married, a second time, to Miss Fanny Fisher, by whom he had one child, namely, Francis. William lived a single life, and died a middle aged man. David married Sally Everitt and was the father of four children, namely, Henry, Barton, Solomon and Fred- erick. Hannah was married to William Kresge ; Sallie was the wife of George G. Hawk; Cath- arine was the second wife of George Kresge, and Christianna was wedded to Conrad Dries- bach ; Elizabeth married John Eshen, of North- ampton County; Thomas was married to a Miss Dotter and a few of his descendants are living in the township.
David Gregory settled on the farm now owned by his son William. He had ten chil- dren, namely, David, John, Reuben, Henry, Peter, James, William, Lydia (married to Thomas Kresge), Nellie (married to James Kresge), and Sallie (married to Jacob Kresge). John and William are the only sons still living. Reuben died in 1885. He had eight children, namely, Nathan, James, William E., Mary (who died single), Lydia (married to Levi Shupp), Elizabeth (married to Amos Shafer), Katie (married to Harry Loboch), Sallic (mar- ried to John Driesbach), and Lucinda (married to John Dorshimer.
William Kresge settled in Polk about 1765, on the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Rogers Kresge. He had eight children, viz .: Jacob, William, George, Joseph, Sallie (married to John Serfass), Elizabeth (married to John l'ouser), Susan (married to Peter Kunkel) and Hannah (married to Reuben Gregory). Jacob married Sallie Gregory, and had five children, viz. : Nathan, Reuben, Katie, Hannah (married to Charles Shafer) and Mary (who died at an early age). He is the oldest man now living in the township, having been born in 1804.
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA. -
His parents both lived to the age of eighty- eight years. He was postmaster of the Long Valley post-office from its establishment till 1864, when it was removed to Gilbert's. He kept a licensed house twenty-eight years, and was one of Polk's best landlords. William married Sallie Storm, and was the father of nine children, viz .: Andrew, Berlin, Hannah (married to Charles Serfass), Elizabeth (married to Joseph Frantz), Caroline (married to Peter Frantz), Katie (married to Cornelius Smith), Sarah (married to Cornelius Seigenfus), Susan (married to Aaron Sult) and Mary (married to Reuben Berger). George took for his wife Sallie Kunkle, and had seven children, viz .: Paul, Freeman, Monroe, Mahlon, Katie (mar- ried to George Anglemoyer), Christianna (mar- ried to Reuben Frable) and Sallie (married to Nathan Hawk). Joseph was the husband of Lucinda Andrew, by whom he had ten chil- dren, viz .: William (undertaker at Brodheads- ville), Nathan, Franklin, Charles, Maria (mar- ried to William Serfass), Hannah (married to John Nisson), Elizabeth (married to Joseph Shmale), Amanda (married to Charles Serfass), Catharine and Emma (who are still single).
The names below are taken from the assess- ment roll made in 1847 by Reuben Gregory, the first elected assessor of the township:
Samuel Antony. Dewald Fisher.
George Antony.
Michael Fisher.
Stephen Ballinger.
Conrad Frable.
Jacob Baker.
Reuben Gregory.
John Backer.
David Gregory.
Adam Bowman.
Joseph Gruber.
Martin Barthomy.
Solomon Gehoe. Aaron Heiny.
David Barger.
Melchior Getz.
George Bartolmy. Joel Serfass.
Ephraim Christman.
Charles Getz.
Daniel Bartolmy. Linford Serfass.
George Christman.
William Getz.
David Brotzman. Ephraim Serfass.
Philip Dotter.
Conrad Getz.
Joel Barger.
Reuben Serfass.
Machdahin Dotter.
John Heiny (Est.)
Charles Edmonds.
Jacob Smith.
George Dotter.
Peter S. Hawk.
David Gregory.
Joseph Smith.
George S. Hawk.
Peter Gregory. James Shafer.
Henry Dotter.
George Hawk.
John Kivler. Melchior Getz.
Daniel Dotter.
George C. Hawk.
Henry Laufer.
Charles Getz.
Joseph Moyer.
William Getz.
Philip C. Dotter. John Doe.
Conrad Hawk.
Abraham Fisher.
Edward Hawk.
Lawrence Fisher.
William Heimbach.
Jacob Kresge.
Philip Kresge.
John B. Serfass.
George Kunkle. John Kunkle.
John W. Serfass.
Thomas Serfass.
Peter G. Kunkle.
Joel Kresge.
John L. Serfass. John Swartz.
William Kresge. Lewis Switzgable.
George Kresge.
Peter G. Shupp.
Henry Keiper.
Frederick Shupp.
Joseph Kresge.
Lawrence Serfass.
Peter Kunkle.
Philip Sehman.
Peter S. Kunkle.
Peter Shupp.
George Kresge, Sr.
Henry Serfass.
Charles Kunkle.
Daniel Snyder (Est.)
Adamn Laufer.
Samuel Serfass.
Philip Moyer.
Aaron Serfass.
John Meches.
Henry Shupp (Est.)
William Moyer.
Abraham Smith.
Frederick Miller.
William Serfass & Co.
Frederick Kerchner.
John Serfass, Sr.
John Roof.
Charles Shupp.
James Reily.
Peter Serfass (Est.)
Thomas Roth.
William Smail.
John Rishel.
Joseph Serfass.
Samuel Starner.
Aaron Shupp.
Tenants.
Peter Andrew. . Jonas Serfass.
Edward Barger. .
Michael Starner.
Frantz Brotz. Ephraim Shaffer.
Michael Bartolmy.
- James Shafer. James Serfass.
Jacob Christman. Jacob Serfass.
Cornelius Dotter.
Michael Snyder.
Conrad Getz. Peter Shupp.
Isaac Gruber.
Adam Serfass.
Jacob Keiper.
John Serfass.
John Keiper.
Israel Switz.
Peter Lamb.
John Tacharias.
Philip Moyer.
Charles Tacharias.
Henry Neff.
Reuben Tacharias.
Jacob Starner.
Single Men.
Joel Barlin.
Michael Bleyer. Jacob Shaffer.
Jacob Dotter. John Dotter.
George G. Hawk.
Peter Hawk. Isaac Varkle.
George Dorshimer.
Michael Hawk.
Charles Hawk.
Tobias Meckes.
The toils and hardships of all these first set- tlers were almost incredible. Their first dwell- ings were hastily built, and of the simplest
John S. Fisher.
Daniel Christman.
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MONROE COUNTY.
architecture. Ofttimes they were compelled to encamp under trees and use bread made of flour mingled with water and baked on the coals. There were times in the experience of many when a supply of even this fare would have been deemed a luxury. One of the first articles manufactured by these hardy pioneers was "pine tar," extracted from the knots of de- cayed pine-trees. The product thus obtained was put in kegs, taken to Easton, and there ex- changed for flour and other necessaries.
As a rule, they were not only men of great courage and endurance, but of sterling integrity. Their wives were also equally patterns of ex- cellence. The old saying, "His word is as good as his bond," was really true with these people. For a stranger to settle among them was a rare occurrence. Those having possession of the soil conveyed it from one heir to another and thus kept the land among their descendants. As nearly all the inhabitants were related, it was often difficult to select in the neighborhood the required number of suitable persons to serve as pall-bearers at many of the funerals.
The first settlers of this township were poor, and on account of their poor condition, it became necessary for many of them to apprentice or indenture certain of their children to their more fortunate friends or neighbors. As it may be of interest, a copy of such indenture is here in- serted which is as follows:
"This Indenture, made the 11th day of May, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, witnesseth that Jeremiah Brown and Elizabeth, his wife, doth put and bind their daughter, Mary Brown, an ap- prentice unto Joseph Large, housbandman, and Eliza- beth his wife, their heirs and assigns, to be taught to read intelligible in the english Bible, and to write so well as to keep her own accounts, and to be instructed to nitt, spinn and sew and other Housewifery reason- ably well as an apprentice ought to do, and with them as an apprentice To Dwell, Continue and serve from the Day of Date hereof unto the full end and Term of nine years and three weeks, which will be on the sixth day of June in the year of our Lord, one Thousand seven hundred and eighty; During all which Term the said apprentice, her said master and mistress well and faithfully shall serve; their secrets keep, their lawful commands gladly Do; hurt to her so Master and Mistress she shall not Do, nor wilfully suffer to be done by others. But of the same to her Power shall forthwith give Notice to her said Master
or Mistress. The goods of her said Master nor Mis- tress she shall not Imbazle or waste, nor them lend without their consent to any. At Cards, Dice or any other unlawful Game she shall not play. Taverns or Ale houses she shall not frequent, fornication shc shall not commit, matrimony she shall not contract. From the service of her said Master or Mistress she shall not at any time depart or absent herself without hier said Master and Mistresses leave. But in all Things as a good and faithful apprentice shall and will Demean and behave herself towards her said Master and Mistress and all theirs. During the said term, and the said Master and Mistress their said ap- prentice shall and will teach and instruct or cause to be taught and instructed in all things above men- tioned, and sliall and will also find and allow unto their said apprentice Meat, Drink, washing, lodging and apparel, linen as well as woolen and other neces- saries fit and convenient for such Apprentice During the said term and at her End of the said term shall Give to their said apprentice Two suits of apparel, one of which shall Be New. In witness whereof the. Parties have hereunto set their hands and seals inter- changable the day and year above written.
"Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of us,
"ELIAS HUGHES.
" RACHEL LARGE.
his " JEREMIAH BROWN. mark. her " ELIZABETH BROWN." mark.
SCHOOLS .- The first school-house in the township was built at Kresgeville, fifty or sixty years ago. The land upon which it stood was donated for that purpose by Nicholas Hawk. John S. Fisher, now cashier of the Stroudsburg Bank, was the third teacher in this house. As late as 1860 the teachers taught but reading, writing and spelling, with the rudiments of arithmetic. Inferior as these schools were, when measured by the present standard, they were sufficient for the necessities of the times.
The township is at present divided into eight school districts. Nos. 2, 3 and 8 com- prise the upper half of the township. The whole number of pupils is three hundred and thirty. The total receipts for the year ending June 4, 1885, were $1252.42 and the total ex- penditures $1215.44.
The following is a list of the school directors of the township since the erection of same :
1848 .- George G. Hawk, Reuben Gregory.
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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
1849 .- John O. Fisher, Joseph Gruber.
1850 .- Aaron Serfass, George Dotter.
1851 .- James Serfass, George Dorshimer. 1852 .- Reuben Gregory, Joseph Gruber. 1853 .- Joel Berlin, George G. Hawk.
1854 .- John S. Fisher, George Dorshimer. 1855 .- Reuben George, Daniel Saeger, Aaron Heiny.
1856 .- Edward Hawk, George S. Hawk.
1857 .- John S. Fisher, Joel Berlin.
1858 .- Reuben Gregory, G. Dorshimer, Peter Hawk.
1859 .- G. W. Kresge, Stephen Hawk.
1860 .- John S. Fisher, Daniel Saeger.
1861 .- Charles A. Fisher, Peter Dorshimer.
1862 .- Peter Gilbert, Isaac Becker.
1863 .- John O. Fisher, Daniel Saeger.
1864 .- Steward Hawk, Daniel Heiny, Peter Dor- shimer.
1865 .- Jos. Gruber, Stephen Hawk, Reuben Kresge.
1866 .- James Shafer, Gideon Hait, John Swartz.
1867 .- Samuel Anthony, John Swartz, Jos. Gruber.
1868 .- Reuben Kresge, Freeman Shupp.
1869 .- Amos Shafer, James Kunkle.
1870 .- Thomas Altemose, Stephen Hawk.
1872 .- Nathan Serfass, William Gregory.
1873 .- John Dorshimer, L. Mansfield.
1874 .- George W. Buck, Rudolph Hawk.
1875 .- Nathan Serfass, George Anglemoyer, P. S. Hawk.
1876 .- Jacob Kunkle, John Swartz.
1877 .- E. C. Davis, Daniel Martz.
1878 .- Nathan Serfass, H. C. McCormick.
1879 .- Levi Smith, Jacob Kunkle.
1880 .- William H. Serfass, George Anglemoyer. 1881 .- Freeman Kresge, Joseph D. Small.
1882 .- David Kunkle, John Dorshimer.
1883 .- Peter J. Haney, George Anglemoyer. 1884 .- N. L. Keller, R. F. Kresge.
1885 .- Timothy Everitt, John Dorshimer.
1886 .- Jacob B. Meitzler, C. A. Hoydt.
CHURCHES .- An Evangelical Church, called St. Timothy, is the only church in the township. It is situated in Dorshimer School District and was built in 1866, at a cost of about one thou- sand dollars. The first sermon in this house was preached by Rev. L. N. Worman, who was the first regular minister for the congregation.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE .- The justices of the peace since the organization of the township have been as follows :
1850. Philip Kresge. 1873. Jacob Learn.
1854. Philip Kresge. 1874. John G. Wuest.
1859. Joseph Gruber.
1879. John G. Wuest.
1862. John S. Fisher. 1881. H. C. McCormick.
1864. Joseph Gruber. 1883. Stephen Zeigenfus. 1884. James M. Berlin.
1869. Joseph Gruber.
ROADS .- The State road, running through Long Valley to Mauch Chunk, is the oldest road in the township. The road leading from Gilbert's to Kresgeville was opened nearly one hundred years ago and was at one time an In- dian trail.
VILLAGES, HOTELS AND STORES .- Kresge- ville is the largest village in the township. It is situated on the Big Creek, one mile east from the Carbon County line. In 1855 Edward Hawk discovered slate near the Carbon linc, on Big Creek, and opened a quarry. The slate was extensively manufactured into school-slates, of which it is said to have made a superior qual- ity, though it was not durable enough for roof- ing-slatc. About 1864 Henry Mcclellan, of the city of Brooklyn, started a tannery in this village and ran the same till 1873, when he made a deed of assignment to Francis A. Gale in trust for the benefit of his creditors.
The Kresgeville post-office was established about 1845, with Philip Kresge as postmaster. The village at present contains three stores, two hotels, two grist-mills, four blacksmith shops, furniture store, saddler shop, shoemaker shop.
New Mechanicsville is located at the foot of the Pocono Mountains, on the road leading from Kresgeville to White Haven. The first settle- ment atthis place was made by Beddy & Strow, who erected a saw-mill and engaged in lumber- ing. Henry Everitt was proprietor of the first hotel, which is now owned and kept by James Snyder.
Washington Store is situated on Washington Run, one mile south of Kresgeville. Merchant, Moritz Meitner.
Dottersville is a small cluster of houses two miles north from Kresgeville. It was named after Jacob Dotter, who started a hotel there in 1838.
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