History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 62

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 62
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 62
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 62

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).

On Tuesday evening, May 16, 1871, at about a quarter of eight o'clock, as the row of build- ings from Reed's Arcade on the south to the lateral basin of the canal on the north were, as usual, thronged with customers, fire was dis- covered in the rear of the second story of Aaron Cummings' building. It spread rapidly and, although the engines were soon on the ground, caused a damage of over one hundred thousand dollars. The sufferers were Judge Isaiah Snyder (the best and largest store in town), on building

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WAYNE COUNTY.

and goods, to the amount of $48,000; R. J. Menner & Co , on stock, $8000; Miss Lavina Dimmick, on building, $2000; A. Cummings, on building and goods, $5000; Knopp & Jenkins, on build- ing and stock, $14,000 ; Gilbert Knapp, $8000; W. W. Weston & Co., $10,000; W. W. Wes- ton, personally, $10,000; F. H. Rockwell, on household furniture, $2000 ; Salmon & Dele- zenne, $1500 ; Freeman, Barents & Co., $1750, and numerous others in smaller amounts.

On December 12, 1871, occurred another fire which destroyed the Commercial Block, a hand- some brick structure, erected two years before by W. B. Holmes, upon the east side of Main Street, nearly opposite the Delaware and Hud- son Company's offices. The origin of the fire was unknown. Mr. Holmes' loss was approxi- mately twenty-one thousand dollars, one-third of which was upon the building and two-thirds upon liis stock of groceries. J. M. Bauman, who owned one-half of the block, lost about seven thousand dollars, and Hartley & Rogers, who kept a hardware-store in that portion of the block, suffered to the extent of twelve thou- sand dollars or thereabouts, which was nearly covered by insurance. Durland & Torrey were heavy sufferers from damage by fire, water and removal. Dr. Brady's drug-store was also con- sumed, and a number of other business men ex- perienced minor losses, the aggregate probably reaching fifty thousand dollars. The damage to Jadwin & Terrill's building, and the loss entailed by their forced removal, amounted to twenty-five hundred dollars.

A most destructive blaze swept a portion of the business district on the 8th of January, 1875, wlien fifteen buildings were left in ruins, twenty business firms or individuals burned out, and nearly or quite two hundred thousand dollars damage caused. This time the fire had its origin in what was known as the "Old Throop Building," owned by S. G. Throop, of Strouds- burg, and occupied by William Seeman, jeweler. It had evidently been communicated to the floor by a defective stove, and although it had assumed an apparently small headway when discovered at half-past two in the morning, by people returning from an entertainment at the Casino Club-rooms, it was not so easily put out

as they thought it could be, but, on the contrary, got beyond control and very quickly wrapped the whole building in flames. The building stood on the east side of Main Street, adjoining the lateral canal basin, and nearly opposite the Herald office. The fire spread from it through the entire block, burning everything as far south as Sixth Street. The fire companies were promptly on hand, but were greatly crippled by lack of water. The principal losses (most of them wholly or partly insured) were as fol- lows : S. G. Throop, building, $1500; Mrs. John Sheffler, millinery, etc., $1200; William Seeman, jewelry, etc., $10,500 ; W. J. Katz & Co., merchandise, $9000; F. Dittrich, building, $8000, hats, caps and furs, $3000, furniture, $1600; Hartung & Morrish, meat market, $1000; Isaiah Snyder, building, $12,000, stock, $38,000; M. B. Bennett, building, occupied by Baker & Bennett, $3000; J. Bloomingdale, dry-goods, $3000; Freeman Bros., building, occupied by Freeman, Barents & Co., $2500; Freeman, Barents & Co., cloth- ing, trunks, etc., $8000; William Weiss, groceries, building, $4000, stock $3500, furni- ture, etc., $3000 ; Mrs. Powell, building, occu- pied by S. Levi, $2500 ; S. Levi, clothing, etc., $4000; Mrs. Edward Taeubner, Casino build- ing, $4000; Casino Club, $1000; Isaac Schloauker, clothing, $1000; Samuel Bros., clothing, building, $3000, stock, $7000; Mrs. Frankel, furniture, etc., $2000; Isaac R. Schenck, groceries, building, $2000, stock, $4000; James Matthews, harness, building, $3000, stock, $2000; Thomas Coyne, estate, brick hotel, $15,000, stock and furniture, $3000. There were many others who suffered smaller losses, quite a number of them being owners of property upon the west side of the street, where the buildings were in some cases badly scorched, glass broken, etc.

The Snyder building, on Front Street, oppo- site Jadwin's drug-store, owned by Mrs. Julia Snyder, formerly of the borough, but more re- cently of Harrisburg, was burned on the even- ing of September 1, 1882. Bunnell & Dem- ing, who had the store on the ground-floor of the building, and also storage-rooms above, lost a large proportion of their stock, which was

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

valued at about twenty thousand dollars, on which there was nine thousand dollars insur- ance. The Grand Army Post, which had rooms in the building, lost everything in them. The fire originated from the explosion of a lamp. It was at least the third fire on this site.

Several fires, less destructive than these, have occurred in the borough, and on March 11, 1885, there was another of extensive character, which, originating in a saloon north of the Fos- ter Block, on Front Street, swept away several stores and caused large losses.

THE POST-OFFICE. -- The post-office in Honesdale was established in 1828, previous to which time the few early settlers of the village received their mail at Bethany.

Following is the succession of postmasters, with approximate dates of appointment :

Charles Forbes. April, 1828

Thomas T. Hayes. February, 1833

Jos. B. Walton June, 1838

Wm. F. Rogers. June, 1841

T. H. R. Tracy October, 1842

John A. Gustin. June, 1849

John Y. Sherwood. May, 1853

H. B. Beardslee December, 1858

Isaiah Snyder. August, 1859

Marshall Wheeler .January, 1861

Ralph L. Briggs. May, 1861

Robert A. Smith. January, 1862

F. B. Penniman, Jr. .February, 1870

Robert A. Smith. .September, 1870

H. J. Tarbell

March 2, 1883

BANKING.

THE HONESDALE BANK .- The Honesdale Bank was incorporated by an act of the Legis- lature of Pennsylvania, passed March 18, 1836. The act provided that the amount of the capi- tal stock should be one hundred thousand dol- lars, in shares of fifty dollars each, to be dis- posed of by auction, at not less than par, to the highest bidder, but no purchaser to be allowed to take more than twenty shares, or one thousand dollars, on one bid ; the entire capital to be paid in before commencing busi- mess and the bank to pay to the State a bonus of five thousand dollars, and at least eight per cent. on all dividends declared.

The number of directors was fixed at thir- teen. The records of the bank show that it

was organized for business in November, 1836, by the election of Richard L. Seely, Isaac P. Foster, Zenas H. Russell, Joseph B. Walton, John Torrey, A. D. Williams, Thomas T. Hayes, Ephraim W. Hamlin, Edward Mills, Daniel P. Kirtland, Alexander H. Farnham, Joseph Benjamin and John Roosa as directors.

These gentlemen were all annually re-elected and continued to serve as directors until No- vember, 1844, with the following exceptions :

At the clection in November, 1838, Thomas Fuller was elected in the place of John Roosa, and, as E. W. Hamlin had been elected to the Legislature, and was thereby ineligible as a di- rector, Butler Hamlin was elected in his stead ; but, in November, 1840, E. W. Hamlin was again elected in place of Butler Hamlin. Upon the organization of the board Richard L. Seely was chosen president, and John Neal, of the Moyamensing Bank, Philadelphia, was appoint- ed cashier. The first meeting of the board of directors, after being fully organized, was December 24, 1836, and Thursday morning of each week was designated as the time for sub- sequent regular meetings ; and Ebenezer Kings- bury was appointed notary. January 17, 1839, Stephen D. Ward was appointed clerk. Octo- ber 31, 1842, John Neal resigned as cashier and Stephen D. Ward was appointed in his stead.

On the 8th of April, 1843, an act of the Legislature was passed, rendering directors (ex- cept the president) who had served four years successively ineligible to a re-election until after being " out " one year.

The precise object of the law does not ap- pear, but the rigidity with which it was ob- served indicates the very high regard that was felt toward the " combined wisdom at Harris- burg," even in those days.

The records of the bank do not show that any election for directors was held in November, 1843, but it was allowed to go by default and the old board continued to serve. In November, 1844, however, that the majesty of the law might be vindicated (and a legislative committee avoided), a new board was duly elected, consisting of Richard L. Seely, Ezra Hand, Stephen Torrey, Albert H. Russell, Gaylord Russell, Josiah

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WAYNE COUNTY.

Foster, Butler Hamlin, Amzi Fuller, Henry M. Fuller, William H. Foster, N. B. El- dred, Joseph B. Walton, Jr., and J. C. Gunn.

These gentlemen immediately qualified, and, at their first meeting, adopted a resolution re- questing the members of the old board to meet with them regularly to advise in relation to the business of the bank, and that the president and cashier be a committee to make discounts.

The year of " onting " having expired, in November, 1845, a new board was elected, as follows : Richard L. Seely, Zenas H. Russell, Isaac P. Foster, E. W. Hamlin, John Torrey, Daniel P. Kirtland, Ezra Hand, Joseph B. Walton, George F. Knapp, Jeremiah C. Gunn, Amzi Fuller, Daniel Blandin and Jos. Benjamin.

November, 1846, the above were all re-elect- ed, and in March, 1847, the legislative restriction as to the re-election of old directors was repealed so far as related to the Honesdale Bank.

November 26, 1846, Ezra Hand tendered his resignation as director, which was accepted, and T. H. R. Tracy was chosen by the board to fill the vacancy.

November, 1847, the above directors were re-elected, with the exception of Henry M. Fuller in place of Amzi Fuller, deceased, and Ezra Hand in place of Daniel Blandin.

November, 1848, the old board were all re-elected, and also in November, 1849, with the exception that James Archbald was chosen in place of Joseph B. Walton, deceased.

April 5, 1849, the Legislature passed an aet extending the charter fifteen years from the expiration of the present charter, and requiring the bank to pay a further bonus of two per cent. (two thousand dollars) to the State treasurer, and not to become a law until accepted by the stockholders.

December 27, 1849, the stockholders re- solved to accept the charter.

January 17, 1850, a plan and specifications for a new banking-house and cashier's residence were reported, and the proposition of Colonel Richard. L. Seely to erect it for six thousand five hundred dollars was accepted. Messrs. Z. H. Russell, Isaac P. Foster, Thomas H. R. Tracy and the cashier were appointed a build- ing committee.

November 18, 1850, the old board were all re-elected. January 2, 1851, the board held their first meeting in the new banking- house.

This was the same one now occupied ; prior to this they had occupied the building now owned and occupied by Dr. Charles Brady, and the banking-room was the small front-room of that building.

November 17, 1851, the following were elected directors for the ensuing year : R. L. Seely, Isaac P. Foster, Zenas H. Russell, John Torrey, Daniel Blandin, D. P. Kirtland, Ezra Hand, W. H. Foster, Gaylord Russell, Butler Hamlin, George F. Knapp, Joseph Benjamin and Jeremiah C. Gunn.

At theelection November 13, 1852, R. L. Seely, I. P. Foster, John Torrey, Z. H. Russell, D. P. Kirtland, J. Benjamin, J. C. Gunn, Thomas Sweet, R. F. Lord, Daniel Blandin, Nicholas Overfield, Edward O. Hamlin and Henry M. Fuller were elected directors. November 21, 1853, the old board were re-elected, and Novem- ber 20,1854, they were all re-elected, with the following exceptions : Samuel E. Dimmick in place of Joseph Benjamin, William H. Foster in place of Nicholas Warfield, Stephen Torrey in place of Henry M. Fuller and Ephraim W. Hamlin in place of Edward O. Hamlin.

For the past three years Ephraim W. Ham- lin, having been elected to the State Senate, had been ineligible as a director.

March 16, 1855, an act was passed author- izing (by a vote of the stockholders) an increase of capital to $200,000, subject to a bonus to the State of $2000, and at a stockholders' meeting April 5, 1855, it was resolved to so increase the eapital ; but at a subsequent meeting, held May 1, 1855, it was " resolved to inerease the capital only $50,000 at this time."

November 19, 1855, the old board were re-elected for the ensuing year, and November 17, 1856, the old board were all re-clected, with the exception of Gaylord Russell in place of Stephen Torrey.

September 25, 1857, the board was advised that the Philadelphia banks had all suspended speeie payments, involving the suspension of the other banks in the State, and unanimously re-

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

solved not to suspend as long as the New York City banks did not suspend.

They were enabled to do this from the fact that their principal reserve balance was kept in New York, and their Philadelphia account was comparatively small, while nearly all of the banks of this State kept their balances in Phila- delphia, and of course were obliged to suspend with Philadelphia.

October 13 and 14, 1857, the New York City banks were obliged to suspend, but the records of the bank do not show that any further action was taken by the boards in regard to the matter, or that any demand was made upon them for specie that was not honored, and if they did not formally suspend after the suspension of the New York banks, it was simply because no demand was made to afford any occasion for suspension. At the elections held November 16, 1857, and November 15, 1858, the old board were re-elected.

November 21, 1859, the following persons were elected directors for the ensuing year, viz. : R. L. Seeley, Z. H. Russell, John Torrey, D. P. Kirtland, R. F. Lord, J. P. Foster, J. C. Gunn, S. E. Dimmick, E. W. Hamlin, W. H. Foster, Daniel Blandin, Franklin A. Seely and Gaylord Russell. November 19, 1860, and November 18, 1861, all of the above were re-elected.

The Bank's War Record .- The threatening clouds which had been gathering in darkness and power in our horizon at length burst with fury over Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861, and the surrender of the garrison on the 13th of April excited a strong patriotic feeling throughout the North, with a determination to put down the Rebellion.

The Legislature of Pennsylvania being then in session, on the 13th of April passed a war bill, appropriating half a million of dollars for the purpose of equipping the militia of the State, and the Governor soon after called for volunteers.

April 20, 1861, a public meeting of the citizens of Honesdale was held at Liberty Hall, in response to this call, and a finance commit- tee was appointed, of which S. D. Ward was made treasurer, to receive and disburse funds contributed for the support of the families of

those who should volunteer. At the next meet- ing of the board after the citizens' meeting, the following appears upon the records of the bank :

" April 25, 1861, it was unanimously resolved that the Honesdale Bank hereby subscribe one thousand dollars to the fund now being raised in Wayne County for assistance to the families of those of our fellow- citizens who shall volunteer from this county for their country's defense,-the amount to be paid to S. D. Ward, treasurer of the Finance Committee, ap- pointed at a public meeting held on the 20th inst."

June 20, 1861, an application was laid before the board from the State treasurer, requesting a subscription to the State War Loan, and on motion,-

" Resolved, That the cashier be and is hereby in- structed to take five thousand dollars of said loan."

August 7, 1862, the board met to consider the proposition of advancing funds, not exceed- ing ten thousand dollars, to pay a bounty of fifty dollars to each person who should volun- tecr to make up the quota of Wayne County in the twenty-one regiments of volunteers required of Pennsylvania, under the recent call of the President of the United States, as specified in the proclamation of the Governor of the State, and as the county commissioners of Wayne County proposed to issue to those who would advance the funds for that purpose bonds or certificates of indebtedness bearing six per cent. interest, in the name of the county, subject, however, to the same being legalized by the Legislature, it was on motion unanimously

" Resolved, That the Honesdale Bank hereby agrees to subscribe and pay to the Treasurer appointed by the Commissioners to receipt and pay out said fund, an amount which shall be equal to what all of the citizens of Wayne County shall, in their individual capacity, subscribe and pay to said Treasurer towards said fund."

. August 13, 1863, the cashier was authorized to forward one thousand five hundred dollars to the committee of the banks of Philadelphia for the purpose of paying the militia of the State, called out by the Governor to repel invasion.

In addition to the foregoing the bank was a liberal subscriber to all of the government loans from the time the first loan was offered to the public to the final closing out of the "four per cents.," and for the placing of these bonds

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WAYNE COUNTY.

(the four per cent.) in the hands of the people it was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury a government agent.

COLONEL RICHARD LEWIS SEELY, one of the organizers and the first president of the Hones- dale Bank, was a son of Dr. John W. Seely and grandson of Colonel Sylvanus Seely (of whom notice appears elsewhere). He was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1796. About 1803 his father and family removed to Holland, near Warren, Trumbull Co., O. When a young man he was commissioned colonel in the Ohio militia, and so received the title by which he was so well known through his life.

In June, 1824, he first came to Wayne

RICHARD LEWIS SEELY.

County, Pennsylvania, to look after property of his recently deceased grandfather, and in August, 1825, he came again to Wayne County and settled upon that property, at what was then known as "Seely's Mills," now Seelyville. He was married, August 17, 1828, to Maria, daughter of Major Jason Torrey, of whom a sketch has been already given.

He was a man of great energy of character and public spirit. He exerted himself to the ntmost to foster such enterprises as would tend to develop the resources and promote the prosperity and growth of the community. (This will appear from the history of Seelyville, as found in this volume.) Without ability to interest himself financially in the construction of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, which so greatly served in an early day to open up this

region, his willing heart, ready hand and per- sonal influence did much to facilitate the pro- gress of this work. He was prominent in the movement which resulted in the chartering of the Honesdale Bank in 1836, and as president of that bank, from its organization until his death, contributed largely toward fixing the safe, conservative, financial policy which carried it safely through all business crises, and gave it an established and almost national reputation. He took an active part in the organization of the Honesdale Academy (chartered in 1838), the property of which was subsequently donated to the borough for public school purposes.

March 7, 1832, he was commissioned justice of the peace by Governor Wolf, and continued in that office for several years. He united with the Presbyterian Church October 11, 1829, and was chosen ruling elder in that church October 15, 1842, which office he held during the remainder of his life.

In the spring of 1847 he removed from See- lyville to the borough of Honesdale, where he continued to reside until his death, Dec. 8, 1863.

December 8, 1863, the bank sustained a great loss in the death of Colonel Richard L. Seely, who had been its only president since its organi- zation, in 1836, and on the 31st of December, 1863, Zenas H. Russell wasunanimously elected president, and John Torrey was unanimously elected vice-president in place of Mr. Russell.

March 17, 1864, the cashier laid before the board the voluntary resignation of Horace C. Hand, teller of the bank (after a service as clerk and teller of nearly sixteen years), to take effect March 31st, to enable him to enter into active business.

THE HONESDALE NATIONAL BANK .- On the 10th of November, 1864, pursuant to pre- vious legal notice, the stockholders of the Hones- dale Bank convened at the banking-house to consider whether it was advisable to convert the Honesdale Bank into a National Banking Association under the general banking laws of the United States. It was unanimously resolved to make the change, and on the 1st day of De- ceniber, 1864, the stockholders and directors of the Honesdale Bank unanimously adopted the articles of association and organization certificate

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WAYNE, PIKE, AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

of " The Honesdale National Bank," with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars, with authority to increase the same to not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, under the provision of the 10th Section of the National Bank Act.

The articles of association also provided that the following persons, directors of the Honcsdale Bank, should be the directors of " The Hones- dale National Bank : "

to commence business, was received, bearing date December 24, 1864, and it was unanimously resolved by the board that " as Monday will be observed as a legal holiday, the Honesdale National Bank will commence business on Tuesday, January 3, 1865."

On the 10th of January, 1865, an election for directors of the Honesdale National Bank was held, at which all of the old directors were elected except Daniel Blandin, who was succeeded by

John Jandy

Zenas H. Russell, John Torrey, Isaac P. Foster, Jeremiah C. Gunn, Ephraim W. Hamlin, Wm. H. Foster, Daniel P. Kirtland, Daniel Blandin, Samuel E. Dimmick, Franklin A. Seely, Henry M. Seely.

At a meeting of the board of directors of the Honesdale Bank, held December 29, 1864, the certificate of the Comptroller of the Currency, authorizing " The Honesdale National Bank "

Joseph Benjamin, and at a meeting of the new board, held January 12, 1865, it was unani- mously resolved to increase the capital stock of said bank from one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to three hundred thousand dollars, and that a stock dividend of thirty-three and one- third per cent., or fifty thousand dollars of said increase, be made to the present stockholders.

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WAYNE COUNTY.

July 6, 1865, Coe F. Young and Edwin F. Torrey were appointed directors to fill the vacancies occasioned by the resignation of Jos. Benjamin and Franklin A. Seely.

January 9, 1866, the following persons were elected directors for the ensuing year :

Zenas H. Russell, John Torrey, Isaac P. Foster, Jeremiah C. Gunn, Ephraim W. Ham- lin, Daniel P. Kirtland, Wm. H. Foster, Henry M. Seely, Samuel E. Dimmick, Coe F. Young, Edwin F. Torrey, and were continued by re- election as directors during the year 1874, when a vacancy was occasioned by the death of Daniel P. Kirtland, which was filled on August 6, 1874, by the appointment of Henry Z. Russell.

January 14, 1875, the old board was re- elected, with Henry Z. Russell in place of D. P. Kirtland.

On the 14th of October, 1875, another vacancy was occasioncd in the board by the death of the Hon. Samuel E. Dimmick, in Harrisburg, while attending to his duties as attorney-gen- eral of Pennsylvania.

This vacancy was not filled until the annual election, January 11, 1876, when the other members of the board were re-elected, and Mr. Elias Stanton in place of Hon. Sam'l E. Dimmick.

November 18, 1876, another vacancy oc- curred in the death of Isaac P. Foster, who had been connected with the bank ever since its or- ganization, and which vacancy, instead of filling, the stockholders, at their annual meeting, Jan- uary 9, 1877, so amended the by-law as to make the board of directors consist of ten stockholders instead of eleven, and at the annual election, held that day the ten surviving directors were re-elected.

January 10, 1878, the old board were re-elect- ed, but as Zenas H. Russell, on account of failing health, and John Torrey, on account of impaired hearing, both declined re-election to the office of president and vice-president re- spectively, on motion, Coe F. Young was unanimously elected president and Henry M. Seely vice-president.

May 11, 1878, another vacancy in the board was occasioned by the death of Zenas H. Rus- sell, who had been connected with the manage- ment as a director since its first organization, in

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 62

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