USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Mount Pleasant in Wayne County > History of the township of Mount Pleasant, Wayne County, Pennsylvania : a discourse delivered on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1855 > Part 6
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APPENDIX.
younger, as those of all other ages. With these facts before us, it is extremely difficult to form any con- clusion as to the cause of this unusual mortality. Many things have been conjectured, but it is evident that no one cause can account for it. A variety of circumstances expose the system to disease. The same epidemic prevailed during the last season in many parts of our country, and in its healthiest locali- ties. But, whatever may have been the immediate cause, we know there is one First Great Cause, who rules all intermediate causes. Sickness and death are at His disposal. In His hands are all the springs of life."
NO. IV.
This township is elevated from sixteen to seventeen hundred feet above tide-water. The following table, prepared with much care, for the different months of the years 1846 and 1849, will show the character of the seasons, temperature and variations :
THERMOMETRICAL OBSERVATIONS AT MOUNT PLEASANT VILLAGE.
At Sunrise.
At 2 P. M.
Greatest Variations.
Least Variations.
Variation.
Mean
Max.
Min.
Mean.
Max.
Min.
Mean.
July
68
18
55.8
96
56
77.9
20th from 60 to 90
15th from 50 to 58
17.7
Aug.
68
52
60.3
92
66
87.8
3d
64 “ 92
15th «
68 “ 73
20.5
Sept.
72
40
49.4
94
42
69.2
17th
46 “ 70
28th
40 " 42
15.5
Oct.
58
18
40.0
76
29
54
12th
28 “ 58
31st
32 " 36
14
¡Nov.
54
10
33.9
68
15
40
18th
32 “ 53
25th
=
27 “ 28
7.1
Dee.
41
20
38
12
25.6
24th
7 " 25
9th
26 " 24
7.2
Jan.
42
-10
13.2
40
-6
20
12th
-8 " 24
2d
1 4
2
7.7
Feb.
27
-10
12.5
46
5
22.8
28th
20 " 46
5th
25 " 22
12.3
Mar.
42
11
23.4
54
25
35.2
4th
11 " 38
. 14th
=
26 “ 28
13.2
April
50
11
28.1
63
23
41.9
30th
29 " 61
8th
32 " 32
15.2
May
60
28
42.6
73
34
55.3
4th
46 " 73
25th
44 " 46
13.4
June
70
38
57.6
87
48
71.5
27th
57 " 85
16th
66 “ 67
14.2
UJuly
70
43
60.3
90
60
78
29th
53 " 85
14th [“
70 “ 72
18.4
In 1847, Thermometer stood the lowest,
Jan. 221
-3.
" 1848,
11th -15.
" 1854,
Dec. 19th -5.
" 1855,
Feb. 6th -24.
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APPENDIX.
1849.
Months.
1846.
.
89
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APPENDIX.
NO, V.
The Dyberry is called in the oldest surveys of this region, the "northeast branch of the Lackawaxen." From various accounts, it is probable it received its present name as follows :
At an early period, a Mr. Dye began improvements on this stream, a little above the present village of Honesdale. He felled some of the timber and girdled some. In this state he left it, and did not return. In a few years it was covered with bushes, which bore a bountiful supply of luxuriant berries. This was called Dye's berry-field-or Dye's berries. Hence, Dyberry. This name was given to the stream, upon whose margin the field was located.
NO. VI.
The following is a copy of some verses written by Mr. Samuel Stanton. As they have a historical in- terest, and embody the opinion then generally enter- tained, that there would be a great western thorough- fare through this region, they are here inserted. The author is indebted for them to Hon. Paul S. Preston, who has also kindly furnished other documents of interest and value.
The most that was then expected was a good turn- pike road. Little did they think of a great iron railway connecting New York City and Lake Erie. Had the writer seen the majestic arch of the Erie Railroad, which now spans the Cascade gulf, and
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90
APPENDIX.
the ponderous trains, laden with a nation's wealth, forced on their way by the iron horse, his poetic ge- nius would have kindled with new fire.
"A few Lines of Poetry, attempted on seeing and assisting in building the town of Harmony, on the Susquehanna River, Aug. 2, 1789.
I.
" When I see towns and cities rise, It fills my mind with sweet surprise To find what man may do : To see bright genius displayed, And deserts turned to marts for trade, Is sure a pleasant show.
II.
" In contemplation rapt, methinks I see on Susquehanna's banks, Where savages long rov'd, A pretty town in order stand, Stored with the riches of the land, Possess'd by men belov'd.
III.
"Sweet, happy place, called Harmony. Strangers must say, when they pass by, The Founder they approve ; Who from a forest wild did raise A seat where men may spend their days In friendship, peace, and love.
IV.
" Here nature, industry, and art, Join-and their various powers exert In several different ways. The builders do cut down and hew The pines which unregarded grew, And famous houses raise.
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APPENDIX.
V.
"Each tradesman here may have employ, And the oppressed are filled with joy, That virtue has a home. The vicious here no count'nance find, But the distressed are used kind, And here the honest come.
VI. . " Here health and peace do walk the round- Plenty springs from the well-till'd ground, Where honest farmers live : More happy far than warriors are, The fruits of their industry share, And to the needy give.
VII.
"From the high rock with lofty roar, The Cascade stream did useless pour, But now its use we know. Millers and clothiers it maintains- The smith and potash-maker gains A living by its flow.
VIII.
"The gardens it from drought defends, And what none use still downward tends, To join the flood below. There boats do find a pleasant road, And their rich treasures they unload, And safely come and go.
IX.
" How curiously the streets are plann'd, How thick the stores and houses stand- How full of goods they are ! From north and south the merchants meet, Have what they wish for most complete, And to their homes repair.
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APPENDIX.
x.
" Drinker is worthy of esteem, Who plann'd and brought about the scheme That I this day do see. May blessings all thy plans attend -- While thou art still the poor man's friend, Thou art beloved by me.
XI.
" And Preston, too, who takes the care, May he in all the blessings share, And always have a friend ; And have a long and prosperous life, A worthy woman for a wife, To love and to defend.
XII. '
" The workmen who assist to raise The town, must have a little praise, And some good wish bestow'd ; May they live long-be good and great- Be bless'd in person and estate, And walk the right-hand road."
NO. VII.
The following letter was received too late to be used in the Discourse, but which contains somne state- . ments worthy of notice. It was written by a native of this town, who spent his youth in this place :
GIBSON, Jan. 29th, 1856.
REV. MR. WHALEY :
DEAR SIR : I have delayed replying to your note, hoping to be able to give the desired information ; but, up to this time, have not been able to do so. *
% By the way, short as my life has been, I
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APPENDIX.
have some recollections of the men of those early times-of Samuel Stanton in particular. Well do I remember accompanying my parents to religious meetings in the barn of Samuel Stanton, somewhere on Belmont Hill. No easy-cushioned seats in those days. We boys were disposed of in the manger, or on the scaffold. Well do I remember that the good mat- rons of those days-yea, and the young women (no ladies then) -would carefully carry their shoes, when going to meeting, till near the house, before they would put them on. The more favored few, who first came out with wagons of a most uncomfortable build-a plain board box upon a stiff, unyielding axle -were then considered aristocratic. In short, the real and pressing wants of the times left no room for indulgence in luxuries. When we go back in imagi- nation, and try to contemplate what our first settlers endured, the thought is interesting and melancholy. For long, long years, they labored on in their wilder- ness-homes-the deep snows of the dreary winter shutting them out from all communication with the more favored world. Some pressing want compels the father to leave his little family for a season-his stay may be necessarily protracted-sickness visits his little family. For long, long days and weary nights, his companion watches over the sick ones, and with painful anxiety awaits his return. No friendly voice salutes her ear-no physician is at her com- mand. But the actors of those trying times are gone -their history is buried with them. It is well that the little which can be gathered up should be preserved.
--
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APPENDIX.
A knowledge of what our fathers endured may be useful to us, and to those who live after we are gone. I think the undertaking very commendable, and wish you much success in its prosecution.
Respectfully, Yours, &c.,
N. F. KENNEDY.
NO. VIII.
The following facts concerning this road are taken from a report made by the company to the Senate, in 1822. They may be of interest, to show the magni- tude and value of this road in the first period of its existence-as well as the enterprise of the inhabit- ants :
" The length of this road is fifty miles. Beginning at the Delaware river, it passes through the towns of Damascus, Lebanon, and Mount Pleasant, in Wayne County, and Gibson, New Milford, and Great Bend, in Susquehanna County. It was begun in 1806, and finished in 1811. The act of incorporation provided for 1,000 shares of $50 each, with power to increase the number of shares, so as to fulfil the intention of the act. The number of shares taken was 1,657. The capital stock, therefore, amounted to $82,850. The road received no assistance from the State. It was built by individual enterprise-most of the stock was taken on the line of the road. It was constructed twenty feet wide. The materials are, earth, stone, lime, and timber. Its form was convex, being about four inches higher in the centre than at the sides
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APPENDIX.
During the three first years, it paid a debt of $11,000, besides keeping itself in repair.
This road furnished a very convenient passage for settlers in this new country and westward. Some portions of this part of the State owe their early ex- istence and growth to this road. It gave a decided impulse to the increase of population and improve- ments to the surrounding country."
NO. IX.
"This road was begun in 1812. It commences at Mount Pleasant, and was to terminate at Dingman's Ferry on the Delaware river, in Pike County-a dis- tance of fifty miles. It was, however, never finished further than its intersection with the Milford and Owego turnpike-a distance of thirty-two miles. The capital stock was $40,000. Private subscriptions, $24,000. State subscription, $8,000. Average cost of the road per mile was $904. The principal ob- jects of the road werc-to open a communication to market, chiefly to Philadelphia, by way of the Dela- ware river-and promote the more rapid settlement of this part of the State. In consequence of great changes in public improvements and modes of travel, it has been relinquished, with the exception of that portion lying between Bethany and Mount Pleasant."
NO. X.
The average yield of Indian corn, under good til- lage, is fifty bushels per acre. The cost of raising it
96
APPENDIX.
is about fifty-two cents per bushel. The soil being highly adapted to grazing, more attention, of late, has been paid to dairying than any other branch of agri- culture.
NO. XI.
The following are the names of those who united in the organization of this Church :
SAMUEL STANTON,
MARTHA STANTON,
JOSEPH TANNER, LYDIA TANNER,
MARGARET DIX, RHODA STEARNS.
NO. XII.
The following are the names of the communicants on this occasion :- Joseph Tanner, Samuel Stanton, Abram Cramer, Joseph Cromwell, Margaret Dix, Rhoda Stearns, Martha Stanton, Lydia Tanner, and Anna Cramer.
NO. XIII,
This society was the first Temperance Society prop- erly of Wayne County. The Damascus and Cochec- ton Temperance Society, organized in May, 1829, was located partly in New York State. But nine persons could be induced to join this society, at its organization. It became auxiliary to the Wayne County Temperance Society, in 1832. In 1834, the society took forty copies of "The Temperance Re- corder."
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