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 21

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 21
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 21
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 21
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 21

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 1880 eight large brick buildings, including the Riddell House, aud 500 frame buildings were erected; the swamp was reclaimed and a number of new streets laid out.

Col. A. K. McClure, of the Philadelphia Times, visited Bradford in May, 1883. In his description of the city, he says: "The houses as a rule are pitched together like a winter camp, with here and there a solid brick edifice to mock the make-shift structures around it. The oil exchange is a beautiful building, and looks as if it was expected that oil gambling would continue,

even after the day of doom, regardless of the shifting of oil centers. * * * Oil is just now on a boom. Everybody talks oil, and the visitor must talk oil or endure the unconcealed pity of all around him. Oil had struck somewhere

about $1.12 on Tuesday. * * * They sold oil by the million of barrels, without a speck in sight, and with only a small percentage of margin money to give substance to the hazard. Five million barrels, and even more, are sold

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

in a day, and speculators make one day to lose the next. * *

* The one thing that the people of this great center of oildom pride themselves upon is their hospitality. They are, as a community, a broad gauge, manly, generous people, with little affection and much merit."

The first public observation of Decoration Day at Bradford was that of May, 1876. On May 13 a subscription list (now in possession of F. S. Johnson) was circulated, and thirty persons paid $2 each to aid in defraying expenses. The first subscribers were Ezra Holmes, E. F. Clark, John McGill, Joseph A. Hughsto, E. J. Carew, George Wright & Co., G. A. Berry, A. L. Hughes, J. E. Butts, Jr., J. Moorhouse, H. J. Pemberton, D. E. Matteson, J. H. Norris, Ed. Dolan, A. DeGolier, J. K. Haffey, C. S. Whitney, L. C. Blakes- lee, G. D. H. Crooker, J. Amm, P. T. Kennedy, P. M. Fuller, F. W. Davis, L. Emery, Jr., A. B. Walker, P. L. Webster, E. Parsons, Bell Bros., F. S. Johnson and J. C. Jackson. The oration was delivered by R. C. Beach, on the public square, and the cenotaph erected there.

Fires .- The Bradford House, valued at $10,000, and one of the first buildings there under the rule of progress, was burned May 30, 1868. The oil fire, one mile from the center, of June 13, 1876, arose from lightning setting fire to the gas from the Olmsted Well No. 1, on the Sandford farm. It communicated with the McKean county pipe line tank, then with the P. C. L. & P. Com- pany's tank, P. T. Kennedy's mill, Prentiss & Co.'s tanks, Jackson & Walk- er's well and tank, J. B. Farrel's well, forty empty wooden car tanks of Pren- tiss & Co., and Riley's dwelling, the total loss being placed at $90,000.

The fire of November 15 and 16, 1878, destroyed forty buildings, great and small, including the Riddell House, the machine shops and foundry of Bo- vaird & Seyfang, the planing-mills and tank shop of Stewart, the United States Express Company's building, besides numerous stores, saloons, board- ing houses, and shops of every description. The area burned over extended from Boylston street on the north through and across Main street to Corydon street on the south, easterly to the Erie railway track, and west on Main street to Osgood's dwelling house on the north side and Burgess' green grocery on the south side. The total loss was placed at $150,000. The following list embraces the names of owners of destroyed buildings in the order of location on Main street, looking east along that street: Fred Schutt's, where the fire was stopped, still standing; Hogan & McCartey's unfinished building; Dila- berto's barber shop; Keystone clothing store; Boyd & Dickson, drugs; Cor- bierre & Benson, billiards; cigar store and Brunswick saloon; Theatre Comique, where the fire originated; Union House; United States Express office; George S. Stewart, planing-mill; office, occupied by Williams & Cushman, vit- rified stone flues; Sanborn & Co.'s news room; Tinker's hardware store; Pierce House; Riddell House; Lockwood & Haggerty, bakery and confection- ery; Osgood & Howard's, occupied by Misses Rogers, millinery; Osgood, owner, Mrs. Clark, occupant, boarding house (damaged, but fire stopped); Thompson & Co., feed and flour; Riddell House laundry; Johnson's, Ryder's Shaw's and Mrs. Wentworth's boarding houses; Palmer's dwelling and grocery ; Wallace Lawkes', scorched and damaged, but fire stopped; Kennedy's build- ing (Brady, tenant); Newell's building; Bradley's oil well rig; Whitney & Wheeler's oil well rig and tank; Bovaird & Seyfang's boiler shop, damaged, bnt fire stopped; Seyfang & Bovaird's machine shop. consumed; planing mill, George S. Stewart; Oyster Bay, Pete Heaton; Bradford Ice Company's store room, ice melted; House that Jack built; Bell Mahone's house; Bradley's oil and well rig, tank and two old buildings; the union and elevated railway depots were scorched, but saved. The fire did not cross the Erie track.

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

The fire of April 3, 1880, originated in the Sawyer House, in the room oc- cupied by James Wilson, who was burned to death. Four acres of buildings were destroyed, the total loss being over $100,000. The following list of losses is taken from the Era's report of the fire: On the south side of Main street, R. G. Wright & Co.'s grocery store, where the fire terminated on the west: loss on stock, $6,000; on building. $1,000; insurance, $4,500. John C. Holmes, wholesale liquors and cigars; loss. $9,000; no insurance; owner of building un- known; loss, about $3,000. Sawyer Bros.' saloon and restaurant; loss on building and stock, $2,500; no insurance. Applebee & Rogers, grocers; loss on building and stock, $8,500; insurance, $4,300. Titusville House, T. Mc- Goldrick; loss on building, $5,000; insurance, $2,500. Harvey Hill; loss on furniture, $500; insured. Academy of Music, John Nelson; loss, $18,000; no insurance. Philadelphia Oyster House, Irving Campbell, proprietor; loss, $1,500; no insurance. R. Michael, clothing, Academy building; loss on stock, $1,700; no insurance. Owney Williams, billiard room; loss, $200; insured; building owned by John H Shaver; loss, $2,000. Rush building; loss, $3,000: occupied by P. Hanlan, saloon; loss, $500. Stephen O'Leary . hotel; loss on building, $2,000; insurance, $450; on stock, $400; insured; occupied by Luther & Draper; loss, $600; no insurauce. Thomas Bradley, building; loss, $1,000; fully insured; occupied by G. H. Dewitt, saloon; loss, $300; no in- surance; goods partly saved. Italian fruit stand; goods partly saved. L. E. Dunton, watchmaker; loss, $200; goods partly saved. Billy Howard and Billy Rose, saloon; stock mostly saved; loss, about $100. Barber shop; stock damaged by moving. Greenewald Bros., clothing; damage, $700; fully in- sured. A. Mayer & Co., liquors and cigars; damage by moving, $300; in- sured. Folwell & Mott, druggists; loss on building. $1,250; insurance, $500; on stock and fixtures, $550; no insurance. Whitlock, liquors; loss, $100.

On the north side of Main street considerable damage was done by the in- tense heat and removal of goods. James Casey, liquors, $100; insured. Mc- Carty, billiards, $100; insured. N. Lazarus, saloon, $70; insured. Borchert, Daggett & Co., $100; fully insured. T. Bradley, express office, $150; in- sured. A. & G. Hochstetter, loss, $50; insured. Daniel Clark, $150; in- sured. Nick Weiss, loss, $50; insured. On Webster street, behind the Academy of Music, was Judge Newell's building and office, totally destroyed; loss, $1,500; fully insured. Bullis, meat market, loss on building and stock, $1,000; no insurance, as far as could be learned. J. W. Ruble, Washington House; loss on building, stock and fixtures, 82,000; insurance, $600. Mrs. P. McNamara, Corry House; loss on building and furniture, $2,000; insur- ance, $1,500. Amos Williams, Williams House; loss, $2,500; no insurance. Traveler's Home, owned by Whitman & Trainer; loss on building, $800; fur- niture, $200; no insurance; saved part of contents. Parker House, Lewis & Davie, proprietors; damaged by fire, $2,000; $1,000 on furniture; insured. McBean, from Tonawanda, N. Y. (old Frew House), in charge of C. A. Dur- fee; damage, $250; insured. Jamestown Bottling Works, damage, $150; in- sured.

The fire of May 31, 1880, originated in Wheeler's rig, in rear of the Parker House. Hostetter's building, occupied by R. G. Wright & Co. as a storehouse, and the rig, were destroyed, and other buildings were damaged.

The central office of the United Pipe Lines was destroyed by fire June 22, 1882, the loss being placed at $20,000. The fire of December, 1882, destroyed Habenrig's store on Mechanic street and public square, the Ho- tel La Pierre, the Hotel Florence, and Irvin's livery stable.

The fire of June 19, 1884, destroyed the Burt House and three adjoining

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

buildings. . . . The burning of Mrs. Charles Reibley's bakery and hotel occurred July 11, 1884, when Mrs. Reibley, her two children and a Swedish girl were burned to death. A few months before Mr. Reibley was drowned in the Al- legheny at Carrollton .... The fire of December 19, 20, 1886, destroyed five buildings on Kennedy street. . . . The fire of January 11, 1889, destroyed the Palace Hotel nearly opposite the Riddell House, burning out P. P. Bate- man, MeEvoy Bros., A. F. Moore, Samuel Ames, J. Krienson, Ardizone Bros., J. B. Fox, A. Lino, I. Marks and others in the Durfey & Walshe buildings, and damaged the Greenwald Bros.' stock.

A number of small fires are recorded, many of them occasioned by light- ning, such as that which destroyed Park & Hazzard's rig. The great oil fires are recorded in the sketches of Foster and Keating townships, while a few be- longing to this township are noted as follows: The glycerine explosion of Sep- tember 15, 1878, on the farm of Jared Curtis, near Bradford, and opposite Toad Hollow, resulted in the destruction of the MeIntyre Torpedo Company's magazine and the death of N. B. Pulver, A. P. Higgins, C. Page and J. B. Burkholder .... The oil fire of July 14, 15, 1880, at Custer City, Lewis run and Coleville, caused by lightning, resulted in the burning of a 30,000-barrel tank belonging to the Acme Oil Company, and the destruction of three N. P. L. oil tanks at Custer City and other property in the Minard run neighborhood . The Custer City fire of December 16, 1881, destroyed seven buildings, including the Straight House then conducted by William Dean.

The Bradford fire of November, 1889, originated in the Stewart building on Main street. The Bradford Stone Company lost $1,000; L. L. Higgins, $6,000; F. N. Merrian, $400, and George S. Stewart, $4,500. Insurance reduces the total loss to a few thousand dollars.

The fire of January 19, 1890, destroyed the Protestant Episcopal church building on Chatauqua place. The fire was assisted in its rapid progress by the Christmas evergreen trimmings, which had become dry and had not been removed since the services for which they had been put up to commemorate, and the flames thus reached the steeple, which afforded them an excellent draft. It was the universal remark that a fire was never seen to spread with so much rapidity and burn so fiercely as did this one. .. . The fire of Feb- ruary 19, 1890, originated at 118 Pleasant street, destroying the houses of John Hutchinson and Myers, and damaging that of James Gleason. The fire- men worked like heroes to save the property, but their work was made slow and difficult by too much mud and too little water . . . . McAmbley's lumber mill was totally destroyed by fire February 26, 1890, entailing a loss of $6,000.

Municipal Affairs. - Bradford borough was incorporated February 26, 1873, and the first election held the last Friday in March. P. T. Kennedy was chosen burgess; P. L. Webster, assistant burgess; F. W. Davis, E. Parsons, J. Moorehouse, J. H. Matteson and A. T. Stone, councilmen; G. D. H. Crooker and James Broder, justices; W. Lord, constable; G. D. H. Crooker with R. W. Davis and S. Emery, assessors; A. C. Switzer and P. Woodward, poor- masters; J. W. Hilton, A. DeGolier and G. D. H. Crooker, auditors; J. H. Matteson, H. S. Baker, P. T. Kennedy, W. J. Morrow, J. Moorehouse and E. D. Foster, school directors, and J. Moorehouse, treasurer. F. W. Davis was appointed clerk. A. DeGolier, John A. Evans and Loyal Ward were elected justices prior to 1878.

Borough elections were held February 17, 1874, when the following votes were recorded: Burgess: P. L. Webster, 33; P. T. Kennedy, 17, and A. K. Johnson, 2. Councilmen: A. DeGolier, 35; E. Parsons, 44; P. Woodward, 42; J. Moorehouse, 39; J. W. Morrow, 38; J. R. Pomeroy, 38, and Con.

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Lane, 32. There were eleven other candidates, who received from one to nine votes. The school directors elected were E. D. Foster and P. L. Webster. Mrs. J. Colby and five other candidates received a nominal vote. In 1875 J. W. Brennan, A. C. Switzer and A. DeGolier were elected directors, the latter being succeeded, in 1876, by A. T. Lane and E. A. VanScoy. The council centennial year comprised P. L. Webster, C. J. Lane, J. A. Evans, F. W. Davis, A. C. Switzer and J. W. Brennan. A. DeGolier was chosen assessor; M. W. Wagner, anditor; W. Lord and P. Woodward, poor-masters; Samuel Emery, constable; Con. Lane, inspector, and P. Woodward, judge of elections. A. DeGolier was appointed clerk.

The burgess' office has been since filled by the following named citizens: J. W. Brennan, 1875; P. T. Kennedy, 1876; J. H. Norris, 1877; J. M. Fuller, 1878. In February, 1879, the first city election was held. James Broder received 483 votes and P. T. Kennedy 222 for mayor; Will F. Jordan received a large majority for mayor in 1881; James Broder, 1883; P. M. Shannon, 1885; R. A. Dempsey, 1887; Edward McSweeney, 1889, and Loyal Ward, 1890, for three years. The assistant burgesses elected annually up to 1877 are named af follows: T. J. Melvin, 1875; P. L. Webster, 1876; H. Friedenburg, 1877.

In 1879 R. P. Miller was appointed clerk, serving until April 30, 1883, when James A. Lindsey was elected by the council, and has since held the office, except for nine months in 1887, when S. M. Decker filled the position.

In 1875 G. A. Crooker was treasurer; in 1876, C. J. Lane, succeeded in July by J. W. Brennan; F. S. Johnson, in 1877; L. G. Peck, in 1878. Treas- urer Critchlow was elected in 1880.

In February, 1882, City Treasurer Critchlow was arrested on the charge of embezzlement, but on the 23d was discharged on common bail. On the 25th F. W. Davis was appointed treasurer ... . In May. 1879, Messrs. Daggett, McElroy and Logan were elected by council members of the first city board of health .... In January, 1880, C. D. Webster was chosen city engineer. Build- ings for the Johnson and Era Hose Companies were authorized, the Whitney Hose Company having been hitherto supplied with a building. The bondsmen of R. J. McMath, absconding collector, asked for the appointment of a collector for balance of taxes. and G. W. Moorehouse was appointed.

The officers of the city elected in February, 1890, are as follows: Mayor, Loyal Ward (R.), who received 804 votes against 689 recorded for Gardner: city treasurer, R. T. Lain (R.); city controller, M. Albert (R.); city assessors, N. J. Stanton (R.), George P. Booth (R.), E. A. Boyne (R.).

Select Council-J. L. Andrews (R.), John P. Zane (R. ), Matt Ruddy (D. ). I. G. Howe (R.), C. R. Harrington (R.). Republicans, four; Democrats, one.

Common Council-F. A. Moore (R.), Felix Steinberger (D.), L. E. Ham- sher (R.), W. K. Laney (R.), E. Quigley (D.), Bert McAllister (R.). W. C. Kennedy (R.), S. D. Weaver (R.), Thomas A. Flynn (R.), T. W. Roberts (R.). Republicans, eight; Democrats, two.

School Controllers-C. A. Durfey (D.), W. O. Neely (D.), J. T. Jones (R.). W. R. Weaver (R.), H. H. Adsit (R.), A. M. Mayer (D.), W. A. Booth (R.), A. Miller (R.), Samuel Huff (R. ), M. D. Harris (R.).

Constables-Thomas Osborne (D.), George R. Gibbons (R.), Thomas Fen- nerty (D.), C. A. Spreeter (R.), W. W. Tadder (R.).

The vote by wards is recorded as follows:

First Ward, First Precinct-Select council: Andrews (R.), 77; O'Donnell (D.), 66. Common council: Steinberger (D.), 84; Moore (R.), 80; Ruble (D.), 65; Hawkins (R.), 53. School controller: Durfey (D.), 77; Neely (D.), 71.

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Constable, Osborne (D.), 91; Hayes (Ind.), 51. Assessor: Osborne, 89; Brin- ton (R.), 50. Judge of election: P. Fragner (R.), 78; G. W. McMullen (D.), 46. Inspector of election: C. M. Hendrickson (R.), 68.

First Ward, Second Precinct-Select council: Andrews (R.), 139; O'Don- nell (D.), 97. Common council: Steinberger (D.), 158; Ruble (D.), 135; Moore (R.), 124; Hawkins (R.), 4. School controller: Durfey (D.), four years, 180: Neely (D.), two years, 148; Greenewald (R.), 30. Constable: Os- borne (D.), 151; Hayes (Ind. ), 94. Assessor: Osborne (D.), 151; Brinton (R.), 80. Judge of election: P. H. Gallagher (D.), 152; H. K. Welch (R.), 58. Inspector of election: T. F. Mayer, 158; C. A. Dickinson, 55.

Second Ward-Select council: Zane (R.), 201; Sondheim (D.), 89. Com- mon council: L. E. Hamsher (R.), 210; W. K. Laney (R.), 211. School con- troller: J. T. Jones (R.), 210; W. R. Weaver (R.), 210. Constable: Gibbons (R.), 206. County assessor: Thomas (R.), 275. Judge of election: John R. Zook (R. ), 206; B. F. Smith (D.), 84. Inspector of election: W. B. Chapman (R.), 204; J. H. Dibble (D.), 84.

Third Ward-Select council: Ruddy (D.), 206; Hockenberry (R.), 111. Com- mon council: Quigley (D.), 162; McAllister (R.), 159; Coffey (D.), 158; Lucas, 151. School controller: Adsit (R.), 214; Mayer (Ind. ), 163; Hager (D.), 129; Wilcox (D.), 71. Constable: Fennerty (D.), 207; McMahon (R.), 107. County assessor: Fennerty (D.), 191; Blair (R.), 124. Judge of election: M. W. Chaffee (D.), 174; George Duffey (R.), 145. Inspector : Clarence Merrow (D.), 175; C .. Hill (R.), 142.

Fourth Ward-Select council: Howe (R.), 187; Flynn (D.), 100. Com- mon council: Kennedy (R.), 283; Weaver (R.), 131; Scott (D.), 59. School controller: Booth (R.), four years, 288; Miller (R.), two years, 217; Davis (D.), two years, 71. Constable: Spreetor (R.), 288. County assessor : Haggerty (R.), 215; Robbins (D.), 71. Judge of election: W. F. Robinson (R.), 288. In- spector of election: N. J. Loveless (R.), 219; Frank Costello (D.). 71.

Fifth Ward-Select council: Harrington (R.), 127; Rusch (D.), 65. Com- mon council: Flynn (R.), 429; Roberts (R.), 112; Murray (D.), 87; Brooks (D.), 52. School controllers: Huff (R.), two years, 121; Harris (R.), four years, 118; Walker (D.), four years, 75; Mallick (D.), two years, 70. Con- stable: Tadder (R.), 117; Harrigan (D.), 70. County assessor: Gowdy (R.), 122. Judge of election: William Maginn (R.), 122; J. W. Slattery (D.). 70. Inspector of election: John B. Pierson (R.), 120; W. Enches (D.), 72.

City Finances. - Prior to 1887 there were two valuations of taxable prop- erty in the city, one for city purposes and one for county purposes. The val- uation for county purposes was at least one-third, and often one-half, less than the valuation for city purposes. But it happened that the supreme court in 1886 declared the act of 1875 (the act under which two assessments were permissible) unconstitutional. This made it necessary to fall back to the county valuation as a basis for the city assessment in 1887, which brought the valuation down from $1,500,000 to $1,000,000.

The bonded indebtedness of the city, December 31, 1888, as shown in Mayor Dempsey's address, is as follows:

Bonds issued December 1, 1881, to purchase old water-works, due December 1. 1891, $3,500; purchased by sinking fund commissioners, $1,000; leaving a balance outstanding of, $2,500; cash in treasury. $1,157.04, which leaves a balance of $1,342.96 to be raised in three years, or $447.65 this year, together with interest on $3,500 amounting to $210, making a total of $657.65.

Bonds issued May 1, 1883, for the erection of the city building and funding the float- ing debt, $17,900; purchased for benefit sinking fund, $1,900; leaving a balance outstand- ing of $16,000; cash in treasury, $6,431.37, which leaves a balance of $9,568.63 to be taken

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

care of in four years, or $2,376.99 this year with interest on $17.900, amounting to $1,074, making a total this year for principal and interest of $3,450.99.

Bonds issued December 1, 1883, for building new water works, due December 1, 1893, $20,000; purchased for benefit sinking fund, $8,000; balance outstanding, $12,000. Amount in treasury to be credited to payment of these bonds. $2,857.88, which leaves a balance to be paid in five years of $9,142.12 or $1.828.42 to provide for the incoming year. Bonds issued December 1, 1883, due December 1, 1898. Amount of bonds. $20,000; cash in treasury, $2,381.20, leaving a balance to be paid in ten years of $17,618.80; in order to liquidate this we will have to raise this year $1, 761.88.

Bonds issned December 1, 1883, due December 1, 1903. Amount of bonds, $25.000; · cash in treasury to apply, $1,984.33; amonnt to be raised in fifteen years, $23,015.67; amount required to be raised this year, $1,534.37.

Total to be provided for this year.

Bonds dne December 1, 1891, $657.65; bonds due May 1, 1893, $3,450.99; water bonds due December 1, 1893, $1,828.42; water bonds dne December 1, 1898, $1.761.88; water bonds due December 1, 1903, $1,534.37; interest on water bonds, $3,900; all showing a total of $13,133.31.

The total assets of the city on Jannary 1, 1889, were estimated at $141,885.27, of which the water-works were said to be worth $102,000; the city building, $8,000, and fire department houses and outfits, $5,200.

The municipal act of May, 1887, was declared unconstitutional in 1888, and some difficulty in managing the affairs of the city ensued: but the act of 1889 remedied this, and in April, 1890, the city officers chosen in Febru- ary, under this act, assumed their duties.

Police Department. - The oldest police record dates back to 1879 when Thomas Murphy was chief, with Abel Edick, Nelson Morrell. John C. McCrea, S. H. Emmerson and Thomas McDonough, policemen. In 1880 John C. McCrea took Chief Murphy's place, and William Quirk and William McAn- drews were added to the force. In July, J. D. Fiscns, J. W. Riley and S. W. Truck were added. On the 21st of this month no less than fifty-one arrests were made within houses of prostitution. The old officers may be said to have continued in service until 1887, when John Wilson, Cummings, and Bent and Hills were appointed, and Ed. Ronan came in later, vice Wilson. In 1887 N. J. Stanton succeeded John C. McCrea as chief, and he was succeeded in April, 1889, by Thomas E. McCrea, chief, who along with William Rohne, Matthew Donahue and P. H. Donnelly form the present police force. The police docket, which was opened December 17, 1888, was filled up January 28, 1890. It contains 500 pages and represents about 1,500 arrests.

In years now gone forever the position of the police officer was no sinecure. Desperate men and even women came here at intervals. Even the obsequious Chinaman got into trouble in those days. In June, 1880, Wah Lee delivered a bundle of laundry goods to some girls on the island, who refused to pay him. He battled for repossession, but was driven to retreat, after leaving marks of his visit on the faces of the girls. Charged with assault, he was brought before Justice MeClure, and after a ludicrous attempt to defend himself, was re- manded for trial, and subsequently was punished.

The first murder ever recorded at Bradford was that of Maj. Ashton, a col- ored man, August 23, 1883, George Gordon, another colored man, being charged with the murder.

Fire Department. - A movement to organize* a hose company resulted in the formation of the F. S. Johnson Hose Company No. 1. This took place on August 2, 1877. The company was furnished with 1,000 feet of hose and a two-wheeled cart, by the borough. The hose- house was on Barbour street, in Whitney & Wheel- er's old barn. Another barn located on the public square was used as a place of meeting. In the loft of that building the first needs of the hose boys were

* From the Era.

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

brought up and acted upon, with Frank Whalen in the chair. Later on the Johnsons fitted up a building on Pine street and made their headquarters there. Their first fight with the fiery enemy was the conflagration which destroyed the old Bradford House. In recognition of their gallant services at this fire the citizens purchased a carriage for them, and since that time they have played well their parts in saving life and property from the devouring element. Their present headquarters are in the city building. This company was incorporated March 7, 1881. The following is a list of the present officers: President, Thomas Blakely; vice-president, Thomas Osborne; recording secretary, B. McAllister; treasurer, George Carney; foreman, D. A. Ropp; first assistant foreman, Jacob Heckel; second assistant foreman, Charles Robbins.

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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