History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics, Part 137

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > McKean County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 137
USA > Pennsylvania > Potter County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 137
USA > Pennsylvania > Elk County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 137
USA > Pennsylvania > Cameron County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 137

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).

In 1860 Thompson & Wilson built a grist-mill between where the G. W. Stevens' store and residence now stand. The concern was burned in 1870. Evans & Vandensen's grist-mill on Main street, near the bridge, was built in 1885, and continued in operation until destroyed by fire in February, 1889. N. Brown has been identified with the milling industry for years. The Davis & Co. planing mill and sash, door and blind factory was organized in April, 1889, at a meeting over which H. N. Stone presided. G. B. Davis was chosen president; Lesley Stevens, secretary and treasurer; G. W. Stevens, W. L. Haskell, G. E. Stone, W. Calkins, T. A. English, A. E. Martin, and the pres- ident, directors. The capital stock is $10,000. In June the buildings were completed and machinery introduced, and, later, the railroad was extended up the Cowanesque to this new industry. The Harrison Valley Tannery was erected for Walter Horton & Co. in the fall of 1881, while near the line of

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

Tioga county, are the acid works of Parkhurst & Co. The tannery is a large concern of the character of those in Elk and MeKean counties, giving employ- ment to 55 hands, and producing over 100,000 sides of sole leather, annually. and using over 8, 000 cords of bark. There are 21 tenement houses and a large boarding house, in connection with the tannery. The Parkhurst Chemical Works were established on the Judd farm in 1880.

The business circle comprises the general stores of J. W. Stevens, built in 1876; W. L. Haskell. in 1885; B. F. Begell and C. N. Church; the clothing stores of G. W. Stevens & Son and Geo. Kettle; the drug-store of W. B. Stevens, built by Phillips, in 1877; the hardware stores of G. A. Sheldon, built by Phillips, in 1879, and Chapin & Hubbard, built in 1885; the furniture store of F. L. Harrison, and the older store and undertaking establishment of C. H. Doud, partly built in 1860 and additions in 1887; Mrs. Chrisman's, Mrs. Erways and Miss Mulligan's millinery stores; Leonard & Erway's livery; Jenning's shoe store: Miller's and Kent's barber shops; Geo. Coykendall's meat market; Heath's and Ross' blacksmith shops; the Harrison Valley House, and the Erway House. W. M. Manley's store is located near the tannery. The professions claim W. B. Brightman, an attorney; W. L. Colwell. a dentist, and the phy- sicians named in the general chapter, among whom is Dr. M. R. Pritchard.

The Methodist Church of the township, noticed hitherto, embraced the members residing in the village. The society here was incorporated March 14, 1881, with N. W. Hubbard. James Predmore, H. Harrison, C. Rawson, D. B. Whitney and W. B. Fox, trustees. Among other names on the petition were Burt. Richardson, Jacob Burtis, C. Predinore, Amos King and D. D. Chapin. From this time until the completion of the house of worship, in the summer of 1883, services were held in the Baptist Church. The Baptist Church was built about 1859-60, during the pastorate of L. S. Robinson, at a cost of $1, 500. Nelson & Sylvanus Gardner being the contractors. This was the first church building here. Elder Ben. Thomas, who came to Harrison Valley in 1851, pas- tor of the Baptist Church there for twenty years, died in February. 1888. Rev. L. V. Bovier was here in 1887.

John H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., Harrison Valley, is named after a soldier who was wounded at Cold Harbor, and died at Washington. It was organized in May, 1889, with the following named members:

J. W. Stevens, 53d P. V. A. E. Holcomb, 53d P. V.

L. J. Knight, 86th N. Y. V.

L. A. Dorland.

M. R. Swetland, 189th N. Y. V.

Fred Graham.

W. B. Fox, 53d P. V. Burr Robinson.

C. L. Stone, 189th N. Y. V.

R. S. Wright.

Stephen Edwards.

Geo. Coykendall, 53d P. V.

A. A. Swetland, 189th N. Y. V.

G. W. Parker.

H. (. Chapin.

Ambrose D. Erway, 189th N. Y.

Isaac Hurlbut 82d P. V

(. H. Hubbard, 85th N. Y.

H. N. Stone, 189th N. Y. V.

Jason Haskins, 149th P. V.

E. Tadder.

J. M. Baxter, 149th P. V.

Jerome Stetson, 9th N. Y. V.

C. H. Doud, 53d P. V.

Geo. Whitman, 53d P. V.

T. F. Holcomb, 136th P. V.

C. G. Tripp.

S. K. Stevens, 189th N. Y.

John Smith, 10th N. Y.

The Harrison Valley Aid Union, No. 522. was organized January 18. 1887. In 1889 the following named persons were members: George Smith, C. H. Doud. C. L. Donaldson, Eugene Pickett, Irvin Wright. A. E. Holcomb, R. S. Wright, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. George Smith, Mrs. Carr, C. R. Judd, Dr. Webster, Dell Doud, Roy Gustin, John White, Mrs. Jane Mattison, Mrs. Jane White, Miss Gettie Mattison, Mrs. Mosher, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Webster, Miss Edda Hunt, J. H. Harrison, Mrs. J. H. Harrison, Mrs. Kennedy, H.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

Gustin, Mrs. Pickett, Zengerin Markson, John A. Robbins, George B. Mosher, Mrs. George B. Mosher, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Webster, Mrs. Pickett.

Harrison Valley Cornet Band was organized in June, 1886, with R. W. Swetland, president and leader; W. Denson, secretary and treasurer; Frank Stevens, Dell J. Stone, Geo. E. Stone, Henry Swetland, C. Stevens, J. M. Baker, G. C. Metcalf, W. Dildine, C. E. Burt, John Schwitzer and Roy Gustin. The instruments were purchased for about $150.

VILLAGE OF MILLS.

The lumber manufacturing village of Mills, two miles west of Harrison Valley, was established by William Lawrence about fifteen years ago. The mills have been operated by a few different firms, each of whom made an im- provement, until now the old mill has disappeared in the surrounding build- ings of Stanton & Shaff. Swetland & Walters' mill was established about thirteen years ago, and has been subjected to several improvements. George Walters was killed by accident while at work in this mill, May 21. 1889. The Fallbrook Railroad Company have extended their road to Mills.

The old Hemlock House was erected by Swetland and Walters prior to the building of the mills, and is still conducted by Abner Carey . . .. The stores of Stanton & Shaff, F. P. Badgero and B. W. Harrison are at this point. ... In June, 1888, Widow Commings' house, on the road between Mills and Harrison Valley, was blown up. It appears her son, Ray, placed some dynamite car- tridges in the oven to dry, and the destruction of the house and narrow escape of his mother resulted.

Potter Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 799, was organized at Mills. May 2, 1889, with twenty members, viz .: B. W. Harrison, P. G. : L. T. Van Wie, N. G .; A. C. King, V. G .; Henry Clark, Sec. ; G. A. Walter, Treas .; P. E. Crow. Chap .; H. H. Swetland, Asst. Sec .; J. E. Leonard, warden; George Kettle, O. G .; W. A. Stickley, I. G .; C. A. Swetland, S. B .; E. Havens, S. B .; A. Coe, R. S .: F. P. Badgero, L. S .; H. G. Howe, R. S .; W. L. Howe, L. S .; H. L. Grover, Con. ; and G. A. Sheldon, L. A. Elliott and James Brown, unoffi- cial members. The number now belonging is seventy, with property valued at $400. The names of George A. Walter, who was killed May 21, 1889, and George Kettle, of the original members, are the only ones on the death roll.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XV.

HECTOR AND PIKE TOWNSHIPS.

HECTOR TOWNSHIP-ITS SURFACE, POPULATION AND TAXABLES-FIRST RE- LIGIOUS SOCIETY-EQUITABLE AID UNION-SIGNAL STATION-ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

PIKE TOWNSHIP-ITS LUMBER INTERESTS, POPULATION, ETC .- SCHOOL AND TAVERN-GALETON-ITS BUSINESS, CHURCH AND G. A. R. POST-WEST PIKE- BLUE RUN AND ITS TRAGEDY-TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY. 1890.

H "TECTOR TOWNSHIP may be called the birthplace of the Genesee Forks, which cuts its way south through the western half of the township, and passes near the west line of Chemung valley. Phoenix creek heads in the mountain, which stretches along this valley, confining it to the south and southeastern part of the township. Each creek has several feeders, generally flowing from the hills into which they have carved deep ravines. The waters of the Cowanesque rise in the northeastern corner, and flow northeast to the river. In the mountain, four miles northwest of Sunderlinville, some coal ex- ists, and also, it is said, along the tributaries of the Cowanesque; gray sandstone boulders exist along the Genesee Forks, and Catskill red-rock in the southeast corner. The population in 1880 was 958, while in 1888 there were 183 Re- publican, fifty-seven Democrat and one Prohibition votes, representing 1,205 inhabitants. There were 387 tax-payers in 1889, assessed $90,768. The resi- dent tax payers of Hector township in 1834-35 were Henry Allen, Albert Bishop, Jacob and Hiram Bump, B. G. Chamberlin, James Corsaw, Abel Dickens, John Havens & Son, Elias T. and Joseph T. Morton, Nathaniel Owen, Joshua Pierce, Matthias Persing, C. R. Skinner, Joseph Sunderlin, Benona Si- monds, Robert Tubbs, Caleb Trowbridge, Benj. Wilber, David, Benjamin, Jr., and John L. Wilber, C. R. Skinner, B. G. Chamberlin and Joe Throckmor- ton were the assessors. In 1826 David and Benjamin Wilber settled in this . section. Ten years later Joseph Sunderlin erected the first grist-mill, and about this time he was appointed first postmaster; in 1837 the first school was opened by Sally Ann Harrington, who married Chester L. Corsaw, now residing in Sweden township. In 1848 there was not even a spring wagon here. In 1839 when Mrs. Baldwin, who died in 1883, settled in Hector, there was only one active religious society there-Seventh Day Adventists, which she and her husband, David, joined.

Dr. Mattison states that the first religious society in Hector township was the Methodist Episcopal, organized by C. P. Kilbourne. The first preacher was Rev. McEllheny. This was in 1845, aud the year following Pearce and Corey built the first saw-mill in the township. In the year 1836 Joseph Sunderlin, from whom the village of Sunderlinville took its name, built the first grist-mill in Hector township. He was also the first postmaster. In 1853 Edward Hurl- but opened the first blacksmith shop. In 1855 Francis Strang opened the first store in Hector township. The first hotel in the township was the "Evergreen," built by Stephen Dickens in 1869 or 1870. The mercantile circle of Sunderville in 1889 comprised Perry Fillmore, groceries; J. L. Havens & Co., general store; James C. Mahon, groceries; J. V. Miller, general store.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

The Equitable Aid Union of Hector was organized January 6, 1887. The list of officers in the order of rank is as follows: M. H. Abbey, A. D. Redner, E. S. Worden, Lizzie Worden, Josephine Dickens, Addie Kilbourne, J. M. Swimlar, Curtis Kilbourne, D. W. Kilbourne, Charles Corey, Mrs. E. A. Reyn- olds. C. G. Dickens, J. S. Reynolds and J. A. Wilber.

In the summer of 1881 the Oswayo land stampede was caused by Henry Sherwood maintaining that unoccupied lands were State lands and open to entry in tracts of 160 acres. Joseph Persing entered 137 acres in Hector township. but finding that it was patented in 1792, withdrew.

A signal station was built in a tree in this township, in 1884, on the farm now owned by John Downey. C. P. Kilbourne, who reported its existence, did not know the purpose in view; but it has since been learned that the ob- ject was the same as that for which the look-out near Harrison Valley was erected, from which point the observer could look into Syracuse, N. Y.

The post-offices in Hector township are Sunderville, near the southeast cor- ner; Louck's Mills, on the Genesee Forks, and Hector, located to the east of the center of the township.

The township officers elected in February, 1890, are the following named: Su- pervisor, M. H. Tanner; constable, H. I. James; collector, C. P. Kilbourne; treas- urer, S. B. Miller; auditor, D. A. Sunderlin; town clerk, C. E. Dimon; overseer of the poor, J. A. Wilber; judge of election, James Parker; inspectors of election .. A. E. Skinner, John Cariel; school directors, W. E. Ferris, Frank Hurd.

PIKE TOWNSHIP.

Pike township. Between Phoenix and Pine creeks is a mountain of Pocono. sandstone, as is the divide between the waters of Pine creek and Beech Flats brook of the West branch, though limited. Here the beautiful Chemung valley, which extends through Hector, and aids in giving wealth to Tioga county, be- gins. The Genesee fork of Pine creek flows south along its western margin, uniting with Pine creek at the village of West Pike, while the last named creek flows in a southeasterly direction through the township into Tioga county.

A mile below West Pike village is the great gulch, through which a small stream enters the river, and two miles east of West Pike is the " Island Mountain." which another creek cuts off from Pocono mountain. In fact, Pine creek, which passes through West Pike, works its way eastward through the mountains to Pike Mills, where the West branch and South branch enter the main stream, having cut their way through in a similar manner. Phoenix creek rises in the Chemung valley in Hector township, and near the north line of Pike, winds through the deep gulch along the eastern township line joining Pine creek in Tioga county. Coal beds, similar to those in Ulysses town- ship, exist on the plateau northwest of Pike Mills, and north of West Pike. Along the Phoenix canon and in the ravines detached masses of conglom are found, while the west sides of the mountains are of Pocono, capped by con- glomerate. On the west side of the east fork of Whittemore's run, 2.187 feet above the ocean level, and 690 feet above the level of bank, where the run enters the West branch, veins of coal two or three feet in depth exist.

In June, 1889, a syndicate of four men, C. A. Lewis, S. E. Chrisman, H. J. Olmsted and D. L. Raymond, purchased 1,100 acres of hemlock timbered land on the east side of the Genesee Fork of Pine creek, and sold the contract to an Austin man for peeling 1,500 cords this season. Another syndicate of three men, G. C. Marion, Seth Lewis and John McEwen, of Wellsville, pur- chased another 1,100 acres, a part of the same tract. The Goodyears, too, have cast their eyes in this direction, and soon, it is said, the forests will be full of their men, and the valleys of their railroads.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

Orlo J. Hamlin, speaking of his trip to Smethport in 1826, stated that he stopped at the Phoenix Tavern on Pine creek at noon. While at dinner he heard the cry of the hounds, and, looking up the trail to a saw-mill, he beheld a man running at full speed, with a rifle in one hand and a powder horn in the other, without hat, but with a torn coat of many colors. He thought the man presented an ill omen of the new country-a shiftless, indolent hunter and thorough backwoodsman. The Pine creek valley, then, was a forbidding landscape, the flats narrow, the hills steep and high, rough and rocky, and totally unfit for cultivation.

The population in 1880 was 281, and the votes recorded in 1888 were Re- publicans 98, Democrats 99, or a total of 197, representing 985 inhabitants. The number of tax payers in 1889 is placed at 330, and the sssessed value at $79,241.

The resident tas-payers of Pike and Jackson townships in 1833-the year of organization-were David Wilber, Chauncey R. Skinner, Joseph Sunder- land, John Williams, Eli Wakeman, Robert Tubbs, Harvey and L. Allen, Wm. Babcock, John M. Sawyer, Benoni Simons, Elisha Babcock, Dan. F. Ells- worth, Wm. Ellsworth and son, Peter Knickerbocker, John Ives (saw-mill), Levi Ives, Elijah and Isaac Johnson. T. Kilbourne & Roby (saw-mill), R. Abram Kilbourne, Sam. M. Losey, Simeon Fermon, Joe Riant and Nathaniel Skinner. Dr. Mattison, writing on this section of the county, says: "In 1834 the first school was taught in Pike township by Miss Aurilla Cooledge. D. B. Martin kept the first store. Elder Sheardown was the first minister (Bap- tist, we think), who braved his way into the wilds of Pike township to preach the gospel. He was followed by Father Conant. Verbeck and Wilson were the first blacksmiths. Maj. John M. Kilbourne, to whom we are indebted for many historical items regarding Pike township, himself an old settler, writes: ' In 1832 I carried the United States mail from Wellsboro to Smethport on horseback. D. F. Ellsworth was postmaster at the mouth of Cushing creek; on this trip he was working on the road about two miles from home, up in the Nine-mile woods, and had the key with him, and changed the mail when I came up.' The first hotel kept in Pike township was opened to the public by Elijah Johnston in 1835. Of this tavern Maj. Kilbourne writes: 'It was a licensed hotel. There was not as much liquor drunk then as now, according to the population, and not half the drunkenness.' This, in a measure re- futes the statement of some, that at an early day everybody drank whiskey or rum.'

The officers of Pike township, elected in February, 1890, were: Justice of the peace, C. H. Haxton; supervisor, O. L. Blackman; treasurer, E. E. Hyer; constable, R. E. Crippen; collector, O. D. Hammond; town clerk, W. F. Hamilton; overseer of the poor, R. Eaton; judge of election, A. H. Haxton; inspectors of election, John Harmen, M. V. Prouty; school directors, D. Sutton, Jacob Kahl; auditor, J. M. Kilbourne.

Galeton, formerly known as Pike Mills, is one of the old settlements of Potter county. It slept, like Roulette, on the western border, until 1881, when W. & L. R. Gale's tannery, with a capacity of 600 sides a day, which, with R. W. Clinton & Son's steam saw mills, with a capacity of 40,000 feet per day, welcomed the advent of the A. & P. Railroad in 1884. This road was opened January 1, 1885, the first passenger coach arriving January 5, and about that time the erection of buildings and stores commenced. In No- vember, 1881, the W. &. L. R. Gale tannery was in full operation, and thirty dwelling houses were finished in the vicinity. In 1884, the large saw-mill, erected by R. W. Clinton & Co., was opened. The village has made marked

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

advances during the last half decade, and now boasts of two hotels, the general stores of H. M. Tice, A. H. Lehman and W. & L. R. Gale; E E. Hyer's drug store; S. Deiches' and A. Friedman's clothing stores; Koothe's grocery : Seltz's bakery and grocery, and Harmon's and Christiana's pool and billiard rooms. G. E. Gale was appointed postmaster in April, 1889.

The Catholic Church of Galeton is attended by Dr. Brennan, of Driftwood, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, by Mr. Peterson, of Gaines.

The Methodist society of Galeton was incorporated in June, 1888, with R. L. Clark, A. Clinton, H. M. Tice, William Gale, A. W. Clinton, H. R. Coat- right, J. M. Carpenter, E. E. Hyer, R. W. Clinton and A. G. Lyman, members. The G. A. R. Post was organized September 19, 1885, with C. O. Brown, 31st Maine; Adam Lambert, 143d New York; Joshua Phoenix, 207th Pennsyl- vania; M. V. Prouty, 4th United States Artillery; William Cole, 143d New York; Stephen Egler, 3d New York; C. Prouty, 136th Pennsylvania, and Thomas Hammond, 56th New York, members. The past commanders are C. O. Brown, William Cole, A. Lambert and John T. McNeil. Maj. J. M. Kil- bourne is now commander. William Cole, G. E. Armstrong, 1Ith New York Cavalry; J. M. Kilbourne, 45th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and M. V. Prouty, have filled the position of adjutant. The members not named above are D. C. White, A. H. Haxton, 15th New York Volunteers; J. Kassner, 104th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers; Napoleon Wright, 176th Pennsylvania Volunteers; G. S. MeKenney, 17th Pennsylvania Volunteers; William Smith, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteers; John Klein, 136th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Levis Law, 25th New York Cavalry; Cas. Beiling, Ist New York Infantry; Casper Newcomb, 17th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Robert Kelly, 179th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Adelbert Pangue, 7th New York Volunteers; George Rixford, 45th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers; Stephen Cummings, 7th Pennsylvania Volunteers: Marvin Ansley, 9th New York Cavalry; Charles Reynolds, Ist Maine Volunteers; C. N. Rossman, 2d New York Volunteers; E. O. Bennett, 89th New York Volun- teers; John Wade, 43d Pennsylvania Volunteers; Ira Warner, 143d Pennsyl- vania Volunteers; John Buchan, 33d New York Volunteers; H. M. Tice, 136th Pennsylvania Volunteers; G. M. Whittier, 188th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Frank Breiley, 151st New York Volunteers.

West Pike is the trading center of a limited but rich agricultural district. Here are the large general stores of James Ives and I. S. Baldwin. West Pike Cemetery Association was incorporated in December, 1887, with J. M. Kilbourne, F. A. Brown, Mrs. I. H. Martin and D. C. Crawford, directors.

Blue Run is situated about five miles from Gaines. It is connected with the outside world by a branch track leading off from the trestle at Gurnee Junction, where the road from the Gurnee mines joins the main track of the Addison & Pennsylvania road, and is about six miles below Sabinsville and two miles below Davis station. It is a little hamlet, located in a ravine, composed of fifteen or twenty houses and a saw-mill, owned by Waite & Atwell. The settlement sprung into existence about four years ago, when the mill was erected for the purpose of working up the pine and hemlock timber in that vicinity. At this place Frank Hancock and family resided, he being employed as a fireman at the saw-mill. Hancock was a native of Potter Brook, Potter county, and was married at Jasper, N. Y., eleven years ago, by Rev. T. V. Moore, to Miss Libbie Wygant, of Goodyear, Cameron county, this State. Five children were the result of this union: Gracie, Jason, Hannah, Susie and Willie, all under ten years of age at time we write. He murdered four of them while they were asleep, and then, after stabbing himself slightly several times, committed suicide by hanging.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI.

KEATING, HOMER AND SUMMIT TOWNSHIPS.

KEATING TOWNSINP -- GENERAL DESCRIPTION - POPULATION - ASSESSMENT - EARLY SETTLERS-SOME FIRST THINGS-BUSINESS, SOCIETIES ETC .- ELEC- TIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

HOMER TOWNSHIP-ITS PECULIAR LOCATION-TAXPAYERS IN 1845-ODIN AND INEZ-ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP-ITS GENERAL CONFORMATION-POPULATION-TAXPAYERS IN 1855-ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

K EATING TOWNSHIP has always battled with Summit for the honors of the high divide. Freeman's fork and run drain the southeast and south centre into the Sinnemahoning; Portage creek rises above Forest House and runs its devious course to the old Portage branch; Lanning's and Keating's creeks flow north into the Allegheny-all through deep ravines and heavy forests. Freeman's run rises in the great circus, the roof of which is the sky, the walls Pocono hills and the gate posts Pocono rock, carved by time.

The population of the township in 1880 was 204; the number of tax payers in 1889, 186, assessed $61,771; and the number of voters, in 1888, was 103 Republican, 82 Democrat, 3 Prohibitionist and 25 Union Labor, representing a population of 1,065.

The assessment of Keating, made in 1858 by Pliny Harris, gives the fol- lowing named resident tax-payers: John Brooks, Joseph Coates, L. F. and Eleazer Dingee, E. S. and Anrilla Finchbaugh, Jackson Grimes, Joe Halliday, Caspar and John Hofmeister, Henry Harris, Mary Harris, Pliny Harris, Sarah T. Hepler, Leonard Jewell (saw-mill), Jason Lewis, John Lathan, A. and L. Lyman, Collins Smith, Sam Story, George Turner, Silas Tolls, E. Utter and Charles Zimmers.

In 1849 Pliny Harris and Jason Lewis settled Keating township. Before this there had been a few hunters' shanties built and occupied for a short time, but no bona fide settlement until this year. Messrs. Harris and Lewis were induced to settle here by Mr. Keating's offer to sell to the first settlers fifty acres of land for $1 per acre. Homer township, which at this time embraced the section now known as Keating, opened a road four and a half miles in length for these new comers. Keating also gave a fifty-acre lot to a Mr. Jewell for building the first saw-mill. Mr. Henry Harris writes regarding this settlement: "Long before these men settled on Freeman's run the salt-works road had been built, and that noted channel dug at Seven- mile hollow (now Keating Summit) that carried part of the water from the spring now owned by Horace Avery into the Allegheny portage. There was a hunter's shanty at Seven-mile hollow where travellers occasionally stopped, when Mr. Finchbaugh built a house there, and sided it up with shingles. The place soon changed its name to Shingle House, which name it kept for some years; until there had been several additions built to the hotel, and Miles White changed its name to the present one of Forest House." Elijah S. Finchbaugh built his shingle hotel in 1856. In 1853 the first saw-mill was built by Leonard Jewell on Freeman's run. The first school was taught in

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

1857 by Miss Mary Gordnier in a little shop used for weaving. which belonged to Mr. Lewis. The first school-house was built in 1858. The first school taught in this building was conducted by Elizabeth C. Wright. The first store in the township was opened by the B., N. Y. & P. R. R. Co .. while building their road through the western portion of the town, at Keating Sum- mit. There was a Methodist class organized in Keating in 1869; but the first church organization was that of the United Brethren in Christ, in 1887. Jason Lewis was the first preacher in the township. He was a Universalist in doctrine. Eleazer Y. Dingee opened the first blacksmith shop in 1867. Miles White, referred to in another chapter, began keeping hotel at Keating Summit (Forest House P. O.), in 1864. He kept the house for ten years; H. A. Avery is now proprietor. Here in 1889 the following named were licensed to carry on business: E. B. Chace, general store; N. C. Sturm, one- pool table; D. J. Smith, one billiard and one pool table; Taggart, Hacken- berg & Co., general store; D. J. Smith, general store. Hackenberg & Thomas are now the principal merchants, M. C. Stone being manager.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320