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 138

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 138
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 138
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 138
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 138

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).

Keating Cemetery Association was organized in September, 1886, with Hiram Bridges, John Bundy, Eleazer Dingee, E. A. Whitney and E. Farnuss, trustees. . . . . A tent of the K. O. T. M. was organized at Keating Summit in April, 1887, with the following named officers: G. M. Page, F. Zingley, F. Joslin, L. Fessenden, A. Bielowski, F. N. White, J. S. Wells, W. Patterson, F. Minard, D. C. Rima, J. J. Hamilton and J. Dempsey. .... The Yeomans saw-mill, located at the Big Tressel, about three miles below Forest House, toward Emporium, belonging to Wallace Yeomans, was discovered to be on fire April 24, 1889. An engine appeared in time to haul away eight cars of loaded lumber, but two loaded cars of lumber and loaded cars of wood were burned; also about 350,000 feet of manufactured lumber and 2,000,000 feet of logs were totally consumed. .. . At Odin is the Odin Supply Company's gen- eral store. . . . The Sinnemahoning Valley Railroad, or the Goodyear road, was completed to Austin, nine miles from Forest House, November 1, 1885, and the hauling of logs to the Avery mill, G. D. Brigg's two mills and Goodyear's mill commenced.

The officers of the township, elected in February, 1890, are as follows: Justice of the peace, G. C. Lewis; supervisor. Conrad Chestain; constable, D. J. Smith; overseer of the poor, O. L. Hall; collector, George Walfanger; treasurer, Herbert A. Avery; auditors, F. A. Grover. N. C. Sterm; town clerk, E. A. Whitney; school directors, Frank Klein, Austin Crosby; judge of election, A. E. Williams; inspectors of election, O. L. Hall, N. C. Sterm.

HOMER TOWNSHIP.

Homer township, between Keating and Summit townships, looks only one way-southward. Sinnemahoning's East Fork and First Fork find their sources just north in Eulalia, south of Coudersport, and flow south. Catskill formations claim a reservation here, and scarcely permit the other modest rocks to outerop.

There were forty-five tax-payers in 1853, while in 1889 there were 108 tax- payers, assessed $73,705. The population in 1880 was 189, and, in 1888, 54 Re- publicans, 24 Democrats, 4 Prohibitionists and 1 United Labor represented 415 inhabitants. Homer township was assessed by John Baker in 1845. The resident tax-payers were George and J. H. Ayers, John Baker, Thomas Booth. Nathan Dingman, Jonathan Edgecomb, Sol Foster, David and Dennis Hall, Chester Prouty & Son, Elijah Pronty, Asylum Peters (a colored man), John Palmer, Isaac Rees, Alvin Rennells, Benjamin Rennells, O. Strong, George

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

W. Strong, Charles Wykoff. John Nelson, A. W. Lathrop and Thomas Gear- hart. Homer was settled in 1838 by Snow and Foster, followed by Dennis Hall, A. W. Lathrop and the Crosbys. At Inez are the general stores of L. H. Cobb and the grocery store of E. Hachet. The part taken by the citizens in the civil and military affairs of the district is noticed in the general history.

The township officers chosen in February, 1890, are as follows; Justice of the peace, Frank Williams; constable, Eli Glaspy; supervisor, H. M. Case; town clerk, J. P. Gates; treasurer, Frantz Kleasa; overseer of the poor. W. H. Crosby; collector, J. E. Earle; auditor, Hiram Gates; judge of elec- tion, G. F. Younglove; inspectors of election, J. E. Earle, O. H. Crosby ; school directors, J. P. Gates, Charles Edwards.

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.

Summit township, however well it deserves its title, has a successful rival in Allegheny. From its high lands flow feeders for the Sinnemahoning, the Allegheny and Pine Creek. Here is the pretentious canon of Mill creek, and here also is the happy farmer who looks out, when the spring or fall rains are pouring, to see the drops select a course to pursue to the Chesapeake or the Mississippi. The township is an immense platean, cut deeply in the center by the East Fork of the Sinnemahoning. In the northwest, by Miller's creek, and in the northeast, by the heads of West Branch, Catskill and Pocono sand . stone, conglom and other rocks are not wanting.

In 1880 the population was 202, while in 1888-89 there were fifty-seven tax-pavers, assessed at $107.879; 27 Republican, 7 Democrat, 1 Prohibition and 1 Union Labor votes were cast, representing only 180 inhabitants. Sum- mit township in 1855 claimed the following named tax-payers: Alfred Ayers, Geo. Ayers, Alonzo Reed, McDonnell & Jakway, O. McDonnell, Mathias Reed, Wash. Haskins, J. M. Floyd, Silas Nelson, John Lyman, James Nelson, J. M. Bassett, Ira Nelson, A. J. Maxwell, John S. Barto, W. C. Cook, Mason Nel- son, Merrick Jackson, Thomas Gearhart and David Burley. Ayers' Hill is in the northwest corner of the township. In the southwest part is Borie post- office, and about the center is the village of Prouty.

The officers chosen in 1890 are as follows: Supervisor, Leroy Haskins; constable, A. O. Reed; collector, A. O. Reed; treasurer, Peter Card; auditor, C. P. Ayers; judge of election, Martin Watson; inspectors of election, F. A. Ayers, William Bonawitz; school directors, O. J. Jackson, Charles Reed, N. D. Ayers; assessor, Lester Watson; justice of the peace, O. J. Jackson; town- ship clerk, O. Jackson.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVII.

OSWAYO TOWNSHIP.

GEOLOGIC FORMATION-POPULATION AND TAXABLES-THE FIRST SETTLER-PRI- VATIONS OF THE EARLY RESIDENTS-STORES AND SCHOOLS-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES-CHURCHES-SOCIETIES-ANTE-TANNERY DAYS-ELEVEN MILE AND OSWAYO-THE TANNING INTEREST, ETC -ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

O SWAYO TOWNSHIP, called Chester in 1828, bounded north by the New York State line, in its geological conformation, is half Chemung and half Catskill. Eleven Mile creek runs southwest along the margin of the Chemung country, while the head forks of the Oswayo belong to the southeast corner, flowing through the Pocono and Catskill hills. Near Oswayo village are the interesting boulders from the adjoining hills or some unknown region. Tribu- taries of the Eleven mile and New York streams heading here, afford advanta- ges in addition to those otherwise given to the northern half of Oswayo.

The population of the township and villages in 1880 was 883. In 1888 there were 169 Republican, sixty-seven Democratic, seven Prohibition and eleven Union Labor votes cast, representing 1,270 inhabitants. The number of tax-payers in 1889 was 306, and assessed value, $77,226. The population of Oswayo village in 1880 was 321, while now it is estimated at about 500. The resident tax-payers in 1834-35 were Geo. R. and Wm. Barber, Sheldon Brad- ley (died after the war), Noah Crittenden (died fifteen years ago), Chauncey (died in Wisconsin) and Thomas (died here) Kenyon, R. Nelson (assessor, died in Allegheny township). Thomas Peabody, Matthew Standish, Wm. Shattuck (now living in Hebron), Osias Parks, Langhton Wilcox (died in Hebron town- ship) and John Wells (died in March, 1869). Twenty years later we find here Dexter, Landee & Chace (saw-mill owners, where is now the tannery), Wm. Dalrymple (steam saw-mill burned in 1888, and new one built by son), B. D. Dolbee's, C. C. Kenyon's, Thomas Kenyon's, L. P. Relt's (steam), S. P. Lyman's (steam), John Wells' and Wm. L. Shattuck's saw-mills. Noah Crittenden's mill was erected in 1845, and G. W. Tyler's grist-mill in 1855. The latter is still in existence southeast of the village.

Thomas Peabody, one of the two first settlers (Wm. Shattuck being the other), was compelled to go six miles, to Allen's house in Clara township, for fire to light his own hearthstone. On returning he gave the cinders to his children to build the fire; then went to hunt up the cows, and on returning found that the fine "went out;" starting on his second trip to Allen's, he "got there," and procuring some kindling marched back, this time insuring success by setting on fire many pieces of dry wood on his trail. This Thomas Peabody was the first settler of the village. in 1829, as well as of the township. His log-house on the south side of the creek, in the village, fell to decay in the " forties:" the homes of W. W. Crittenden and Mrs. Richmond stand on or near the site. John Wells came in the latter part of 1829 or early in 1830, and purchased a log-house from one of the Barbers. He resided there until 1868. in a frame house which he built immediately after settlement. Before he established his ashery, he had to make the terrible journey to Jersey Shore.

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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

On another occasion he and his son, Walter, went on horseback, each taking a bushel and one half of wheat to mill at Beanville, but found the mill machin- ery broken. During the night a heavy snow-storm set in, but undaunted they proceeded to Wellsville, where they failed to have the grist ground, and pro- ceeding to Scio the same day they were successful, and after three days of severe travel returned to their home. In 1834 Sheldon Bradley had a hotel here. George Jones, who came with his parents in the " forties," is said to have killed the largest bear known in this section, in 1855. He heard the bear tak- ing his preliminary winter snore, and killed him.

A log school-house occupied the site of William McDougall's store at Os- wayo, about 1840, but was removed before 1849-perhaps in 1847-to make way for this store building-the first mercantile house at Oswayo. John Wells, who settled a half mile above the village, had a potash factory, and the prod- uet of this ashery he would haul to Rochester to exchange for groceries. The groceries he would haul to his home, and there sell to the people. Mr. Walter Wells has two of the kettles, one of which is used in the sugar-bush and one on the farm. C. H. Simmons opened a store after McDougall; then C. H. Simmons and Walter Wells; next Kenyon, Graves and Wilkinson, about 1858, and during the war Joel Haskins established the grocery now carried on by L. M. Smith. S. R. Minor was postmaster in 1852, followed by C. H. Simmons in 1857. Dr. H. H. Munson was appointed in 1864; Walter Wells, in 1868; Amasa Carmer, in 1885, and Walter Wells, in 1889. Prior to 1854 a frame school-building near the old Wells homestead, on the southwest corner of the Thomas Kenyon farm, took the place of a small frame building which is now part of the Kenyon home. A fourth school-house (frame) was erected in the fall of 1861, on the side-hill above the village, on Eleven Mile road, which is now a dwelling house, the property of Walter Wells, occupied by the black- smith. Charles Dezeuter. The Oswayo graded school building was erected in 1866, by the district. This building was opened by Reil Cobb, and continued by J. C. Wilkinson. The building was burned in February, 1876. The com- mon school was also presided over by the lady to whom Mr. Cobb was subse- quently married. During Mr. Wilkinson's term he had no aid. In 1876 the present school building was erected, and opened by J. C. Wilkinson that win . ter. A. Howe and wife, Ernest Wells and Miss Myrtle Wells have also pre- sided here, while Mr. Wilkinson taught for eight terms.

Walter Wells, in his reminiscences of Oswayo, is inclined to think that the Seventh Day Baptists were the first regular preachers; Hiram Burdick, W. J. Gillette and others were among the preachers. The Baptists organized a building society in 1877, and had the frame of a church-house complete, when. for want of funds, the building was abandoned. The frame was re- modeled by Reynolds Bros., and now forms part of the building occupied by Hiram Cheeseboro. Rev. Mr. Hart was the preacher at this time. Prior to 1834 a Mr. Avery preached Baptist doctrine here. The Methodist class dates back many years. The land, on which the Methodist Church of Os- wayo was built, was leased May 23, 1859, by Noah Crittenden to the trustees, H. H. Lyman, Joel Haskins. C. H. Simmons, Samuel Everett, J. C. Wilkinson and Franklin Gale, and the building commenced that year. The Catholic congregation proposes to erect a large church during the year 1890. The members now worship in one or other of their residences.

In 1851 a Good Templars lodge was established at Oswayo. Among the members were A. B. Wood, C. H. Simmons, Mrs. L. D. Estes, Mrs. Woods and others. This lodge is said to have been in active existence when the Prohibitory special aet was passed. Since that date two or three other lodges

1103

HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

of the same character have been organized. In recent years the W. C. T. U. was established in this section, and Mrs. Sarah M. Wells is president of the county association.

A. W. Estes Post, No. 125, G. A. R., was mustered in February 17, 1881, with the following named members: John E. Lee, 9th N. Y. Art. ; J. A. Peckham, 154th N. Y. ; E. E. Clark, 28th N. Y .; John F. Morse ( Morss) 146th N. Y. ; J. B. Stewart, 46th Pa. ; W. Fessenden, 210th Pa. ; J. H. Stillson, 24th V. R. Pa. ; Geo. V. Markham, 46th Pa. ; James Rowlee, 190th Pa .; T. Crittenden, 210th Pa .; John Davis, 12th N. Y. Cav. ; Horace Brizzee, 210th Pa. ; A. D. Ames, Ist N. Y. D. ; Maj. R. Dibble, 53d Pa .; Chauncey Brown, 23d N. Y .; G. R. Wilber, 149th Pa. ; R. Densmore, 106th Pa .; Geo. Brizzee, 210th Pa. ; V. R. Kenyon, 46th Pa. ; G. F. Rowlee, 210th Pa. ; W. M. Earle, 46th Pa. ; H. H. Cheeseboro, 46th Pa. : R. H. Smith, 149th Pa. ; A. S. Lyman, 12th N. Y .. G. Crouch, 76th Pa. ; Levi Robbins, 210th Pa. ; W. W. Dwight, 46th Pa. ; G. M. Estes, 149th Pa. ; R. N. Nichols, 8th N. Y. ; A. A. Goff, 12th N. Y. ; E. H. Estes, 71st N. Y .; J. T. Rathbone, 46th Pa .; John B. Grom, 53d Pa .; Nathan Hill, 130th N. Y .; G. W. Bradley, 46th Pa., and Square Estes, 210th Pa. John E. Lee was the first commander, followed by A. S. Lyman, L. D. Estes, Geo. V. Markham, C. J. Tubbs, J. C. Wilkinson, J. F. Morse and the present commander, C. A. Estes. John F. Morse was first adjutant, succeeded, in 1882, by J. C. Wilkinson, who has served continuously except in 1887, when C. J. Tubbs filled the position. Of the ninety members enrolled, three died and seventeen were dropped. The hall is in the Estes building.

Women's Relief Corps, No. 22, was chartered October 17, 1885, with Mrs. S. L. Rowlee, president; Miss Clara E. Estes, secretary; Mrs. Mary E. Earle, Emily A. Estes, Mary A. Wilber, Rachel Davis, Laura A. Tubbs, Nettie C. Tubbs, Mary F. Wilkinson, Sally Colegrove, Eliza Crittenden and Clarissa A. Estes. Mrs. John Davis is the present president, and Mrs. M. A. Wilbur, secretary.

The village of ante-tannery days comprised C. A. Pinneo's steam saw-mill, G. W. Tyler's saw and shingle mills, W. Dexter's shingle mill, the Oswayo Hotel, the general stores of S. Beebe, W. Wells and W. McDougall; the grocery store of J. Haskins; the offices of Dr. W. H. Turner and Attorney W. B. Graves; the wagon shops of W. Colgrove, H. Snath, W. G. Graves, W. M. Wilber, and the dwellings of the persons named with those of A. Moore, Mrs. West, L. Shaw, H. York, N. Crittenden, Mrs. Thadkee, H. Lord, J. C. Wilkinson, Dr. N. H. Munoop, E. Head and D. Moyer. The Methodist church at the west end, and the school-house at the north end. The village has ad- vanced considerably since that time, the MeGonigal House has been established and dwelling after dwelling erected. Walter Wells and J. J. Lapham & Co. are general merchants; John F. Morse, hardware dealer; C. J. Tubbs, furni- ture dealer; L. M. Smith and A. W. Carmer, grocers. The Lee House is con- ducted by S. E. Crittenden.

The Oswayo Tannery was established twelve years ago by Sorenberg & Gray, receiving from about thirty persons in the village about $3,000 bonus. In 1879 they sold their interests to P. H. Costello & Co., and on the removal of the new proprietors to Costello, they sold to Lapham & Co., the present owners. The land for a site was donated by Thomas Crittenden. The tan- nery gives direct employment to fifty men, exclusive of teamsters employed in hauling raw and manufactured material to and from Ceres. There are between 7,000 and 8,000 cords of bark used annually, and the capacity is said to be 2,500,000 sides of leather. In 1879 the employee's homes were

1104

HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

built by P. H. Costello & Co., and now belong to the present owners . . . . Eleven Mile post-office was established in March. 1857, at Stephen Potter's toll-gate on the plank road, with Potter as master. The office is now near Oswayo, with A. Butterfield, master .... Eleven Mile Cemetery Association was organized in June, 1888, with twenty-five members, of whom G. F. Rowlee, Dean Healy and O. M. Kemp, were trustees. . . . Chrystal, the site of the Dalrymple mills (burned in ISSS), was established as a post office with J. J. Rathbun, post- master.

The township officers chosen in February, 1889, are the following: Constable, John Davis; supervisor, George V. Markham; treasurer, L. M. Smith; col- lector. John Davis; town clerk, S. Beebe; auditor, James T. Lockwood; over- seer of the poor, W. W. Crittenden; school directors, Bela Kemp, Ed. Car- mer: judge of election, D. W. D. Estes; inspectors of election, F. F. Good, Frank Drake.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP.

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP IN 1828-SOME EARLY RESIDENTS-ITS GROWTH- FIRST CHURCH, ETC .- ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890-VILLAGE OF COSTELLO.

YLVANIA TOWNSHIP, north of Wharton and east of Portage, finds the Sinnemahoning increasing in size among its grim forests. Above and at Costello, the First fork, the South fork and Freeman's fork of this creek flow together. The county is rich in material for the student of natural history, while the borough of Austin and town of Costello afford subject to the student of enterprise and progress. North of Costello the huge boulders, farther away the red shale, and in the northeast corner, gray shale and gray sandstone, and the regular dip of the rocks northwest and southwest from the centre, make the township a book which the student must walk to read. The population in 1880 was 214. In 1888 there were 59 Republican, 61 Democrat and 16 United Labor votes cast, representing 680 inhabitants, while in 1889 the number of taxpayers was 211, and value of property $82,415. This township was as- sessed in 1857-58 by A. C. Scovill, who found here E. O. Austin, Andrew, William and Chester Burleson, John Brownlee, Thomas, Hugh and Ben. Booth, Joseph Baker. William Carson, Washington Clinton, McReady Earl, Eli, James and John Glaspy, T. Gearhart, Joe Hall. William and Pardon Haskin, . Franklin and Beaty Holliday. C. W. Ives, William and T. M. Keeler, Henry Knickerbocker. James Logue. A. G. Olmsted, Lewis Payne, Chester and Eli- jah Prouty, James, Isaac and C. C. Rees, A. C. Scovill. T. L. Tulle, John Vanatter. Charles and Isaac Wykoff and R. H. Young. William Carson with others moved upon the upper Sinnemahoning in 1836. He was a mill-wright and built a small log grist-mill above the mouth of Freeman's run, at the up- per end of the Costello tannery. in Sylvania. The old mill (a block or log build- ing) was in existence until recent years. The Webb colony, referred to in the history of Costello, settled here in 1835-36.

In 1838 Eli Rees and John Glaspy moved from Philadelphia into the forest,

1107

HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

what is now the township of Sylvania, near the forks of the First fork of the Sinnemahoning, at the place now known as Rees Settlement. They came into the country by the way of Jersey Shore, and, as there were no roads after leaving the turnpike, they were obliged to chop their way through the woods. Their nearest neighbor, John Nelson, lived five miles south, and in the other direc- tion George Ayers, on Ayers' Hill, was their nearest neighbor, nine miles dis- tant. The children of Eli Rees were: Sons -- Eli, Jr., Columbus. James, Isaac, Thomas and Miller; daughters-Mary Ann (Mrs. John Glaspy), and Hannah (Mrs. Corry). The children of John Glaspy were James, Edward, Miller, Eli, Elizabeth (Mrs. Wheeler) and Mary (Mrs. Logue). Eli Rees, Jr., while county treasurer, was accidentally shot and killed by D. D. Reed, in 1859. Eli Rees, Sr., came here as an agent for the Webb lands, receiving for himself 400 acres. He laid out a village plot where the tannery town of Costello now stands. Every man who bought a farm received the deed of a village lot. Farms were sold and the land brought under cultivation. but the village re- fused to grow until many years after, when manufacturing interests gave it a push. Within two or three years after the arrival of Rees and Glaspy, Ches- ter Prouty came into the country. The first blacksmith was Isaac Rees. He is still living at the advanced age of seventy-seven years.

Those passing the estate of Columbus C. Rees, to whom we are indebted for much useful information, will notice a large pine standing in one corner of the lot in which his house is built, near the creek. This Mr. Rees set ont when he was a boy, first in the garden, but at his father's suggestion he trans- planted it to its present position. Benj. Berfield informs us that at this time his father was living down the stream; remembers his father camping out with two Indians, where the camp-meeting ground is now, while hunting, and also remembers lying awake, when a small boy, until 1 o'clock in the morning, listening for the report of his father's gun, who was lying in wait for a bear that had killed his sheep. The bear when brought in tipped the scales at 400 pounds.

In 1835 the first church was organized in Sylvania, Methodist Episcopal in creed. Rev. Butt and Rev. Gregg preached alternately once every four weeks at the house of Eli Rees, Sr. But the first prayer meeting was held two years before by Isaac Rees, in William Crosby's log-house, near where the church stands now. Soon after this preachers came and held services in the house of Widow Hamilton, and formed a class of six or seven members. Isaac Rees was appointed class leader, and used to walk eight miles on Sunday to meet with his class. Isaac Rees learned the gunsmith's trade in West Philadel- phia, but on coming to the colony he became a blacksmith. The first school- house in Sylvania township was built by David Wilson for the land owner, Samuel Webb, in 1838. Isaac Rees taught the first school. The first grist- mill in Sylvania was built by William Carson for Samuel Webb, in 1839. There was no hotel until 1861, when one was opened by William Burleson.

The officers elected in 1890 are as follows: Supervisor, George Morse; town clerk, E. E. Curtis; treasurer, A. D. Jorden; constable, John F. Cadden; auditor, R. F. Martin; collector, John F. Cadden; school directors, J. M. Rees, A. J. Burleson, J. F. Cadden; judge of election, H. N. Rees; inspectors of election, Edward Bailey, Harry Peck; overseer of the poor. Ed. Glaspy.

Costello is named in honor of the enterprising leather manufacturer, P. H. Costello. Prior to 1880 he and a brother brought the old tannery at Oswayo into the front rank of leather factories, and coming here that year built up another great industry in the wilderness, which gives employment to over 250 men directly, and many more indirectly.

1108

HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.

The first settlement at the mouth of Freeman's run was made in 1835-36 by the weaver, William Carson and wife, Scotch-Irish people and members of Quaker Webb's Upper Sinnemahoning colony. The Carson cabin was given the name "The Saint's Rest," and the grist-mill (a little log affair) " The Set tlers' Hope." This mill stood, until recently, at the upper end of the great tannery grounds, while the race forms part of the water-supply system of the tannery. This mill was built by Carson for Webb, the only one of many of his proposed manufacturing industries brought into existence. In 1837 he had a town, Sylvania, surveyed on the site of the present town of Costello, and a short time afterward a small log building was erected to point out the center of settlement as well as for school purposes. Grounds for cemetery purposes were also set apart at that time.

In 1878 P. C. and P. H. Costello directed their attention to this part of Potter county, and decided upon selling the old Oswayo tannery, which they had already made a great industry, and establishing their works on the Upper Sinnemahoning. They purchased the Pratt lands together with the William and Chester Burleson's farm and R. G. Stewart's farm. On the site of the Burleson and Stewart lands, the Sylvania of 1837, the work of erecting tan- nery buildings was entered upon in 1880, and in the summer of 1881 the first hides were put in. and a yard 1,000x90 feet completed in every particular. The buildings were considered adequate to meet the requirements of trade for a number of years, but within a short time they proved too limited.

There are now three yards or vat buildings equaling one building 190x1200 feet, containing 900 vats 8x10 feet square and 5} feet deep. To get an idea of the size of such a building, compare it with the court-house in Coudersport, it being more that forty-two times larger. The two beam houses are equal to a, building 115x160 feet, equal to three and a half such buildings. The hide house is 127x171 feet, or four such buildings. The scouring and oiling room is 76x136 feet, or twice as large. The dry house, finishing and shipping rooms are 42x730 feet, and four stories in height, which, on the ground, nearly equals a building six times as large as the court-house. Viewing it in this manner an idea can be obtained of the immense structure in Costello. This latter building has a capacity of drying and finishing 1,200 sides of leather a day. It is heated throughout with steam; has two elevators each of 6,000 pounds hoisting capacity ; is equipped with a two-foot guage railroad track, laid with fifteen-pound steel rails, which aggregate over a mile in length. The leach house is 50x372 feet, and contains forty-eight round leaches, each of thirteen cords capacity. There are six bark mills in operation. The steam bank con- sists of ten boilers, capable of producing 900 horse-power, running eight engines located in different parts of the works, equalling in all 550 horse- power. The water for the yard is supplied by an artesian well. It is gaseous, burning freely for a moment when a match is applied. There are consumed in this establishment 32,000 cords of bark annually, mainly supplied by the Goodyears. The spent bark is mostly burned in the boiler arches; indeed they are constructed to consume as much as possible. There are yearly put out for market 265,000 sides of sole leather, equal to over 6,000,000 pounds, or 3,000 tons, about one half of which is sold for exportation, a large percentage of the balance being consumed in home markets. All leather is consigned to their New York house, where it is sold. The water works for protection from fires is very complete and admirable, aad the force of workmen well drilled. Steam heat is used throughout, and the whole lighted by electricity. There are eighty houses occupied by employes, together with a large boarding house; also a general repair shop, machine shop, blacksmith and wagon shop, saw-

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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