History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 95

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 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 95

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).

Eben H. Clark located on the McLaury place, at Clark's Corners, in 1842. He married Maria G. Williams, and his children were Maria J. (wife of Jeff. I. King, of Honesdale), Perry A. (who was elected sheriff of Wayne County in 1877), Susan S. (wife of John S. Eno, of Brewsters, N. Y.), E. H. Clark (the present sheriff of Wayne County) and Emily E. (wife of William M. Sandercock, of Honesdale). The elder Mr. Clark was for many years a well-known hotel-keeper of Cherry Ridge.

Thomas Jordan, who died in October, 1868, aged sixty-seven, was born in England and came to this country in 1828, settling in Cherry Ridge on the place which still bears his name. He was prominently identified with the inter- ests of the township, and is a conspicuous figure in its early history.

Mrs. Catherine Cowling was also an early settler. She was born in the parish of St. Issey, England, and came to this country with her first husband, Thomas Matthes, locating in Cherry Ridge. After his death she married Thomas Cowling, who had come to this country about the time she did.

Samuel Darling, who lived to be ninety-one years old, was one of the early residents of this township and occupied the farm that afterward passed into the possession of the Schencks. Mr. Darling died in 1858, leaving a number of children, most of whom have removed from the county.

The following names appear on the assessment list of 1847, the third taken after the crection of the township :

Francis Bonear.

Lewis Leonard.

Isaac Bonear. Moore.

Oliver P. Brierly.

William Batz.

Robert Brown.

Charles McStrow.

Thomas Bonear.

James Murray.

William P. Burch.

John McGuire.

Samuel Booton.

Hugh Murray.

Horace Belknoff. Edward Murray.

Joseph Belknoff.

Domine McDonald. .

Richard Butcher.

Isaac M. Moore.

Richard Burk.

John McCaffery.

Patrick Brod. -- McCortz.

Lorenzo Collins.

Wm. R. McLeary.

Michael Collins.

Willard Maynard.

Theron Collins.

John Moon.

Lucius Collins.

- - Murphy.

Thomas Caligor.

Susan McLean.

Lewis Crocker.

Johu Murphy.

Arthur Collins.

Chris. McCormick.

William Conway.

John O. Sullivan.

Michael Collins.

Phelo Porter.

Oristos Collins.

John L. Phelps.

Decius Collins.

Alvin Purdy.

Danicl Cortor.

John Magran.

Michael Courtney.

Edward Magran.

Patrick Clark.

Simon H. Plum.

Aaron Curtis.

Samuel Berton.

Eben H. Clark.

Robert James.

Edward Doncher.

Apollos Schenck.

Donald Dorlin.

Henry V. Schenck.

Anson Doboner.

Stephen Shorster.

Wilmot Driscol.

Abraham A. Striker.

Peter Decker.

John Silapont.

Thomas Dolond.

William Silapont.

Elias Drake.

John J. Schenck.

Samuel Darling.

Caleb Schenck.

John P. Darling.

Daniel Smith.

Martin Edgerton.

Joseph Swingle.

Daniel Edgar.

Jacob Schenck.

John Gramp.

Isaac R. Schenck.

Charles Gramp.

David Trull.

Henry Gramp.

John Torrey.

Detrick Gredlin.

William Upright.

John R. Hoadley.

Joseph Varcoe.

John Harvey.

Thomas Vancomp.

John Harsh.

Richard Varcoe.

Thomas Hard.

Nathan F. Vancomp.

Milo Hoff.

Willard West.

Thomas Host. Charles A. Washburn.

George W. Hobbs. Abiram Winton.

Thomas Hasset.

Daniel Woodward.

Jacob S. Kimble.

Charles Wilson.

David Kirby.

John Writer.

William Kirby. John Kirby. Jonas Kirby.

Isaac Writer.

Benjamin N. Writer.

Asher Woodward.

David Kenner.

Isaac S. White.

Sylvester Knowlton. John Wagner.

William Reap.

Frederick Wagner.

David Reap.

Matthew Writer.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

John Lockwood. Edmond Reap.

Adiah Wilson. Thomas Wilson.

Thomas B. Lindsay.

ROADS, TOWNS AND POST-OFFICES .- None of the first roads in this township were regu- larly laid out, and many of them were made by enlarging old trails. One of the first went from the Stryker place, past Enos Woodward's to See- lyville and Bethany. This is supposed to have been the road that Colonel Sylvanus Seely made when he moved his family to Seelyville, in 1805. The Salem and Bethany Road crossed Middle Creek near Middle Valley, and joined the road to Bethany. There was still another road that went from the Stryker place to Ste- phen Kimble's mill, at Traceyville. This crossed the Milford and Owego pike, near Mrs. Mor- gan's. Still another went from the Purdy set- tlement to Stryker's, Schencks', Waymart and the Moosic Mountain. None of thesc were ever surveyed, and most of them were vacated as soon as the county roads were put through.

When the stages on the Milford and Owego pike commenced to run, a post-office was estab- lished at the Darling farm. This was about 1824, and Thomas Lindsey was the first post- master. He served until 1838-39, when Wil- liam R. McLaury succeeded him, and the office was moved to Clark's Corners. Major Mc- Laury was in office until 1842-43, when Eben H. Clark was appointed. Dr. A. B. Sloan came in about 1849, and a year later Lewis S. Collins bought out the store and became postmaster. He continued until 1857, when John J. Schenck was appointed, and served until 1875. William Sandercock, the present incumbent, then went into office, and appointed Perry A. Clark his deputy.

The post-office at Middle Valley was estab- lished in 1856, and Lyman Loomis was the first postmaster. He served until 1860, when Lewis S. Collins came in, and remained in charge of the office for eight years. He was succeeded by L. A. Robinson, who served until 1883, when William Box, the present postmaster, was ap- pointed. Both these offices are reached by a daily mail, which is carried in the Hamlinton stage.

any record is that kept by Daniel Davis, though when he first commenced to keep a public-house there were so few roads, and fewer travellers, that his place was hardly a tavern in more than name. Apollos Davis succeeded him, and Thomas Lindsey and Major McLaury also had taverns. As soon as the stages commenced run- ning, almost every house along the road kept travellers, and many of them had regular licenses.

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH .- About the beginning of the present century Abraham I. Stryker built. the first saw-mill in Cherry Ridge township. It was on the stream that has since been known by the builder's name, and was located opposite where Isaac Bonear now lives. The second mill in the township was built and constructed by Dr. Lewis Collins, on the farm where Perry A. Clark now lives. He intended to dig a ditch from Cajaw Pond and make it empty into the Stryker Brook, but 'the owners of the pond re- fused to let him have the water. The mill was then moved to Rining's place. In the year 1800 Daniel Davis made the first leather ever manu- facturcd in Wayne County. He had but one vat, and the quantity produced was very small, though much sought after by the settlers, who pronounced it of excellent quality. Subsequent- ly several others tanned a little, with indifferent success, and, until 1850, the business amounted to nothing. In that year L. A. Robinson came from New York and started a tannery at Mid- dle Valley, which soon grew to be the largest in the State at that time. It was a three-hundred- and-sixty-five-vat plant, and employed from eighty to a hundred men. The annual disburse- ment for wages was about one hundred thousand dollars, and from six to eight thousand cords of bark were consumed. George Robinson, the father of L. A., came into the business soon after it started, and the style of the firm was L. A. Robinson & Co. In April, 1871, thie establish- ment, which at this time was the largest in Northeastern Pennsylvania, was burned, togeth- er with ten thousand sides of leather, entailing a loss of fifty thousand dollars, covered by in- surance. The tannery was re-built and ran un- til 1883, when the supply of bark in the sur-

One of the earliest taverns of which there is [ rounding country was found to be nearly ex-

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WAYNE COUNTY.

hausted, and the works were closed. In 1885 the property was sold to Michael Stahl. It was again burned in 1884.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES .- The first school in Cherry Ridge was a little log building within thirty rods of the residence of H. V. Schenck. Mr. Huntington Collins states that he can re- member it quite distinctly. Nancy Ainsley was the first teacher, and was employed there about 1810. She was succeeded by Betsy Bircher, and a year later Robert Beardslee took charge. Oristus Collins and Joel Ames were also em- ployed there. At present the township con- tains a number of good common schools, all of which are well equipped and largely attended ; that of Middle Valley was one of the most flourishing in this section until the tannery elosed.

About 1812 Elder William Purdy came from Paupack with his rifle on his shoulder to hold the first religious meeting at A. I. Stryker's. After this he used to come quite frequently, and the meetings were held at Dr. Collins' and other houses in the neighborhood. Later there was regular preaching at the school house, and among those who supplied the pulpit were Dr. Avery, Rev. Abel Barker and others. As the town- ship grew more prosperous the question of a church edifice was agitated with good effect. In 1849 a subscription was started by Lucius Col- lins, and three hundred and twenty-four dollars were raised. The old paper, now in the pos- session of Lewis S. Collins, Esq., contains the following names :

Lucius Collins. E. H. Clark.

Henry V. Schenck.

Isaac M. Moore.

Thomas J. Lindsey.

Benjamin N. Rider.

Charles Wilson. Isaac B. Rider.

David Kenner. Andrew Anderson.

Thomas Bonear. Jacob Kimble.

Lorenzo Collins. Michael Collins.

H. L. Collins. Decius Collins.

Stephen Sharpsteen. Danicl D. Woodward. Antus Collins. Albert Burgess.

Theron Collins.

The amount of these subscriptions which were from the residents of the township was one hundred and ninety-seven dollars. To this amount one hundred and twenty-seven dollars was added by residents of Honesdale, who were

Horace Tracey.

J. S. Bassett.

John F. Lord. J. C. Gunn.

Charles P. Waller. William Reed.

John McIntosh.

Isaiah Snyder.

William F. Wood.

Hand & Kirtland.

Hiram Blois.

Mr. Moore.

Earl Wheeler.

R. F. Lord.

William H. Dimmick.

S. D. Ward.

John Kelly.

M. Wallace.

G. H. Russell.

Stephen Torrey.

Farnham Bros. A. Field.

Adonijah Strong.

John H. Crandall.

Thomas H. R. Tracey.

William Shouse,

Cornelius Hornbeck. (Wilsonville).

Richard L. Seely.

This Union Church, owned by the Presby- terians and Methodists, was erected in 1849, at a cost of above $550. The church, since that time, has undergone some repairs and has been enlarged. There is no debt upon the church property. For several years it has been used exclusively by the Methodists.

Cherry Ridge Circuit of the M. E. Church was organized in July, 1852. The first pastorwas Mar- cus Carrier. There were three appointments, Cherry Ridge, Cherry Valley and Middle Creek. The pastors in order sinee the organization of the circuit have been Marcus Carrier, Charles White, Joseph Madison, Charles Smith, Alosi Johnson, William Sillsby, N. S. Reynolds, I. T. Walker, Cromwell Pierce, David Williams, Stephen Cramp, Richard Varcoe, J. H. Taylor, Olmstead, George M. Peck, J. L. Wells, J. B. Sweet, A. C. Olver and R. M. Pascoe.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

DR. LEWIS COLLINS.

Dr. Lewis Collins (1753-1818) a native of Litehfield, Conn., settled in Salem, Wayne County, in 1800, where he resided until 1804, when he bought two hundred acres of land in Cherry Ridge township, of Edward Tilghman, of Philadelphia, and rode on horseback the en- tire distance to make a bargain for the land and get his deed. He had bought out the right of Enos Woodward, the " squatter " on this land, previously. He erected a barn on the property in 1812, now standing in 1886, and during the

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

remainder of his life made some other improve- ments, and cleared off a portion of the land. He was buried in Paupack graveyard, having died in that vicinity, caused by a cold, in conse- quence of falling through a bridge with his horse and getting wet, while on one of his pro- fessional trips attending patients. A further sketch of his life may be found in the medical chapter of this volume. His first wife, Ruth Root, died in Connecticut, leaving one son,

ship; Abner (1795-1875, a farmer, who re- sided in Lake township; Alonzo, born 1796, resided in Luzerne County Pa. ; Philena (1798- 1855), the wife of Dr. Virgil Dibol, resided in Ohio when she died; Lucius (1799-1875) ; Decius (1801-1870), a farmer in Salem ; Hunt- ington, born in 1803, a millwright, has followed that business throughout this part of the State, and has built over two hundred saw-mills; he resides on the homestead ; Theron, (1805-1870)

Fucius Colline

Augustus Collins (1790-1829) who was a far- mer, and died at Bethany. His second wife, Louisa (1763-1858) a daughter of Oliver Huntington, was a native of Lebanon, Conn. His children by this marriage were,-Oristus (1792-1884) a lawyer, who practiced his pro- fession at Wilkesbarre, was for one term pre- sident law judge of Lancaster County, Pa., and died at Rye, N. Y .; Lorenzo (1794-1878), a farmer, lived and died in Cherry Ridge town-

was a farmer in Cherry Ridge ; Aretus, born in 1808, was a wheelwright, and died in the same township.

Lucius Collins, sixth son of Dr. Collins, mar- ried, in 1825, Sophia (1800-1866), daughter of John Sasman, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, who settled in Dyberry township in 1819. He began keeping house after his mar- riage in Bethany, where he served as constable, was elected sheriff of Wayne County in 1831,

573

WAYNE COUNTY.

served one term and was re-elected to a second term in 1837. In 1840 he purchased the home- stead property in Cherry Ridge township of his brother Oristus, and that year built the present residence. In 1841 he removed there with his family, and made the old homestead farm his residence until his death. Both himself and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Bethany, and after their removal to Cherry Ridge, he gave the ground upon which a Union Church by the Presbyterians and Metho- dists was erected, and continued to encourage and support religious work all his life. Hc was a man highly esteemed by his fellow-citi- zens, for his good judgment, integrity and un- impeachable character, in all the relations in life.

His only child who reached mature years is Lewis S. Collins, a man well known in Wayne County. He was educated at the old Beech Woods Academy, at Wilkesbarre and at Hones- dale. He was always fond of mathematics, early gave his attention to the study of survey- ing and took instruction from Charles A. Col- lins, of Wilkesbarre, a graduate of Williams College. He succeeded to the homestead by purchase in 1866, where he has since resided. He has surveyed throughout Wayne County for thirty years, was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Eldred, book-keeper for L. A. Robertson & Co., tanners, at Middle Valley for six years, was elected county surveyor of Wayne in 1853, re- elected in 1874 and holds the office in 1886. He was elected a justice of the peace of his township in 1875, and by re-election has held the office since, a period of eleven years. He has an adopted sister, Fannie J. Bennet, but was never married.

JOHN R. HOADLEY

Was born in what is now South Canaan township, October 21, 1817. His father, John Price Hoadley, and Wareham Day, a brother- in-law of John Price, came from Branford, New Haven County, Conn., about 1810 and settled in Canaan township, Wayne County, Pa., and soon after this Abraham Hoadley, the grandfather, and his wife, Olive Price, also

settled there from the same place, and they made their journey the entire distance on horseback.

Abraham Hoadley lived to be somne seventy- five years old, but the death of his wife occurred several years earlier. Their children were John Price, Lucretia (was the wife of Wareham Day), Abbey, Charlotte, Miles and Louisa (who first married Mr. Forbes, and after his death a Mr. Weed.

John Price Hoadley died in 1822, aged about thirty years. His wife, Sarah Rogers, survived him, sold the farm upon which they had settled and, on account of ill health, engaged in milli- nery business near Waymart, which she carried on for several years. She died in Canaan township in 1843.

John R. Hoadley was their only child, and was but five years old at his father's death. On account of the ill health of his mother and the embarrassed condition of matters at his father's death, as soon as possible, he was obliged to care for himself. At the age of fourteen he be- gan life for himself, and determined that if energy and industry, with his best judgment, would be a means of success, he would serve every honorable end to carve out a fortune for himself.

He received four dollars per month from William Sampson for his first season's work on the farm, and the same fall went to live with his wife's grandfather, Silas Hoadley, in the same township. The following spring he en- gaged with Luther Hoadley, son of Silas, to work for him until he should reach his majori- ty, for one hundred dollars and a suit of clothes. He was let off from this bargain a little before the end of the time, but with full pay, and for two years he worked in a turning factory in Cherry Ridge. When he felt he could do this work for himself he, in 1841, started a turning- factory of his own at what is now " Hoadley Station," on the new road of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, which he carried on until 1847. About this time this company located and built their Gravity Road from Hawley to Pittston. . For one year Mr. Hoadley assisted their engineer in locating the railroad, and in this work he showed such interest and calcula- tion that the company engaged him to look after

574

WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

the saw-mills and lumber business located on Middle Creek. He superintended the lumber interests of their four saw-mills, one of which was located at " Hoadley Station," for some ten years or over, when the company gave him general superintendance over all their timber lands, comprising several thousand acres in Wayne County, which place he has filled since to the entire satisfaction of the company. In 1861 he purchased of the company seventy-one

of the peace in 1859 and served three terms of five years each, when he declined the office. In 1884 he was again chosen to fill this office, which he now holds, in 1886. Although not identified as a member of any church, he is a liberal contributor to religious interests, and has ever sought to promote the best welfare of the community. He married, in 1845, Laura, eld- est daughter of Luther Hoadley (died in 1872) and Sophia Sampson (who died in 1877,

John Pi Handling

acres of land, upon a part of which "Hoadley , aged eighty-two years). She was born in Ca- Station " is built, and in 1866 erected his pres- ent residence. Mr. Hoadley is a man of cor- rect habits, good judgment and sterling charac- teristics, and while he has been a resident of Cherry Ridge township he has been called upon to serve the people in an official capacity for many years, and has filled the office of school director, overseer of the poor, and on the board of election. He was first elected justice

naan township, where her parents resided, in November, 1823. Luther Hoadley was the son of Silas Hoadley, who also came from New Haven County, Conn., and were among the early settlers of old Canaan township. The other children of Luther and Sophia Hoadley were Ann (was the wife of Baldwin Lee, of Canaan township), James B. (a farmer in the same place) and Harriet (was the wife of Dun-

575

WAYNE COUNTY.

can Cameron, of Carbondale). The two sisters, Ann and Harriet, are both dead. John R. Hoadley and wife have no children.

PERRY A. CLARK.

His paternal grandfather, Clark, (after whom he was named) resided near Jewett City, New London County, Conn., and was a farmer. For a short time he resided in Dutchess County, N. Y., but returned to his old home-

Thomas J. Lindsey, died in Honesdale, and two sons served in the war of 1812. Another son-Eben Harris Clark, (1810-1879) a na- tive of Dutchess County, N. Y., while a young man came to Greenfield, Pa., in 1832, and the same year married Maria E. Williams (1810- 1862) who was born near Jewett City, Conn. She had come to Dundaff, Pa., to live with her sister Mrs. Thomas J. Read. Her father was Captain Williams who followed the sea and

Perry Helark

stead where he died about 1825 at the age of | commanded a ship. He died on the sea. seventy-five years.

He served in the Revolutionary war, and was in the Colonial army when the British took New London. His old gun or musket used when he was a soldier, fighting for the inde- pendence of the Colonies, is a relic of the past, and is owned by the subject of this sketch-his grandson. One daughter, Mrs. Reuben Brown, died in Cherry Ridge township; another, Mrs.

Shortly after his marriage he sold his farm and removed to Carbondale where he remained until September, 1842, when he settled in Cherry Ridge township, at what is now Clark's Corners. Here he rented the hotel for a few years and then purchased the property together with thirty acres of land. At this time this hotel, or inn as they were called in the early days, was a regular stopping place on the old

576

WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA

stage turnpike from Milford, Pa., to Owego, N. Y., and where several stages changed every day, and replaced the weary steeds with a fresh relay of horses.

Mr. Clark enlarged his hotel, added one hundred and twenty acres of land to his first purchase, making one hundred and fifty in all and kept a public house until his hotel was burned in June, 1877. He was a man well read in public matters, a staunch member of the Democratic party, and for most of the time he was officially identified with Cherry Ridge township as its supervisor, school-di- rector or held other official place. He was hospitable as a landlord, esteemed as a citizen, and conducted all his business upon the prin- ciple of integrity and justice. He married for his second wife Julia Cole, widow of the late Mr. Fanning, who survives him and resides at Worcester, Mass. His children are :- Maria J., born November 17, 1840, wife of Fred'k I. Keen, a liveryman at Honesdale ; Perry A .; Susan S., born August 31, 1843, wife of John S. Eno, superintendent of the Borden Milk Condensing factory of Putnam County, N. Y .; Eben Harris, Jr., born November 6, 1845, elected sheriff of Wayne County in 1882, served one term, and deputy sheriff in 1885; Emily E., born July 4, 1850, wife of William M. Sandercock, in the lumber business at Hones- dale.

Perry A. Clark, eldest son of Eben Harris and Maria E. Clark was born at Carbondale, Pa., April 2, 1842. He was educated in the district school at home, at the Normal school at Prompton, and at the Honesdale Academy, and for four winter terms was a teacher. While at school in Prompton he was drafted as a nine months man, in the first state draft, but being under age, did not leave home, but in the fall of 1864, being drafted for one year he ob- tained a substitute who went to the front in his place. Mr. Clark succeeded to the home- stead property by purchase from his father, and built his present pleasant farm residence in 1878. For nine years in succession he was deputy under the following sheriffs: R. S. Dorin, John R. Ross, and E. M. Spencer, and in the fall of 1876 he was elected sheriff of

Wayne County and served one term, when he returned to the homestead, and until 1886-the time of writing this sketch-has been engaged in improving his farm. He has been some- what active in political matters, and besides be- ing identified with the deputy and sheriff's office for twelve years, he has served his township as assessor, clerk and collector.

He married May 6, 1880, Annie Eliza, widow of the late Rev. Stephen T. Cramp, a Methodist clergyman. She was born at Rye, England, February 25, 1843, and was the daughter of James Oliver, a saddler and brush- maker. Her parents died when she was young. She came to this country in 1865, and was first married on October 2, of that year. She has one child, Stephanie L. Cramp, by her first husband, and by her second marriage, one daughter, Amy E. Clark.

CHAPTER XIX.

CLINTON.1

THE surface of this township is moderately uneven, divided into two valleys running north and south, the western being the one through which the old Belmont and Easton Turnpike used to run, now kept up simply as a township road. The Moosic range practically bounds the western portion or line of the township, though its extreme limit lies along what is now Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties (for- merly Luzerne, up to the line of Susquehanna County). The Moosic range is underlaid with deposits of coal of good quality.2 The old " coal road " laid out by Thomas Meredith, who owned large tracts of coal land all along the western base of the Moosic, is still in exist- tence. This road was built by " bees," the neighbors all turning out to assist. This is the

1 By H. P. Haight, Esq.

2 The writer places on record the prediction that coal will yet be found on the eastern slope, and mines be opened which will be worked as successfully as those on the west- [ ern slope at " Forest City."

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 95

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