USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Picture of Lycoming County, 1st ed > Part 13
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ELDRED one of the smallest in the county, was erected November 16, 1858 and named for C. D. Eldred, an Associate Judge. The land speculations of Robert Morris attracted Quaker settlers, for whom Quaker Hill was named. The site of War- rensville, only village in the township, was cleared in 1802 by
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Samuel Carpenter, who erected the first grist and saw mill and installed the first carding machines. The town was plotted in the year 1841 by John Weisel and was named in honor of Gen- eral Warren. A post office was established on July 25, 1842, with Samuel Torbert as first postmaster. About a mile east of Warrensville the first school building, a stone structure, was erected.
FAIRFIELD created in 1826, was named for the rolling land of the Susquehanna River Valley. In this township is the Samuel Wallis house, now the Brock estate. the oldest house in the county. The first road from Northumberland to Lycom- ing Creek passed through its southern part. Governor John Andrew Shulze, upon his retirement from office in 1829, came to the township to live.
FRANKLIN named for Benjamin Franklin, was erected from Moreland in 1882. Topographically the township is a section of Muncy Hills. Among its earliest settlers were Wil- liam Howell, Nathan Howell, Peter Snyder, Solomon Reed, Joseph Lyons, Daniel Ritter, and William Lore. During the lumbering boom many mills operated in this section, but the most important industry was the Franklin tannery near Lairds- ville. At one time this was the largest tannery in northern Pennsylvania. The only village in the township is Lairdsville. Its first post office was known as Chestnut Grove.
GAMBLE was named for Jesse Gamble, a President Judge of Lycoming County. It was erected January 30, 1875. The first settler was David McMicken, who was said to have dis- covered Rose Valley about 1784. About 1820, Germans began to arrive and in a short time these energetic settlers developed prosperous farms. An early industry was the manufacture of salt and potash. The salt plant was on Salt Run and the potash works nearby. Lumbering and the extraction of hemlock bark were also early industries.
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HEPBURN erected 1804, was named for William Hepburn, State Senator and County Judge. Hepburnville stands on the site of an old Indian village, called Eeltown, perhaps because of the abundance of eels found in Lycoming Creek. The first settler was James Thompson, in 1784. The next was Samuel Reed, whose house was the only one between Trout Run and Newberry. Reed was also the first school teacher in the town- ship at what is now Cogan Station. German colonists founded Blooming Grove, the most important early settlement of the township, in 1807. The colony located near the present village of Balls Mills, functioned under a written agreement, signed by all, with power of representation vested in Wendel Herman. Still standing is the Blooming Grove Dunkard Meeting House, built in 1828. In 1930 the Pennsylvania Historical Commis- sion and the Lycoming Historical Society erected a marker on the site. Behind the building is the Dunkard Cemetery. A museum, housing relics of these pioneer settlers, is also on the property.
JACKSON created in 1824, lies in Liberty Valley. It was named in honor of the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Within its boundaries are Little Pine Creek, Roaring Branch, and Big and Little Elk Lick Runs. Peter Sechrist, who came from Perry County in 1811, was the first settler. About 1817, Jacob Beck, Daniel Beck, and George Miller established homes there. The Charles Williamson road from Montoursville to Painted Post, N. Y. was built in 1792. Williamson also built that noted landmark, the Block House, on the edge of the county and township lines.
JORDAN was named for Alexander Jordan, a President Judge of Lycoming County. It was erected February 7, 1854, from Franklin township. William Lose settled there in 1812. Unityville is the only village in the township. Lumbering was its early industry, but today it is an agricultural section.
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LEWIS erected in 1835, was named for Ellis Lewis, a President Judge. In 1840 a part of Cascade was annexed to Lewis. Lycoming Creek flows through the township. Along the banks of this stream was the old "Sheshequin Path," an Indian trail. Conrad Weiser often traveled over it and Colonel Hartley followed it in 1778, when he invaded the Indian terri- tory. In 1779, when the West Branch Valley was devastated, the Indians came on this trail from the north, burning and de- stroying everything in their path. The first resident was A. M. Slack, who came there after the Revolutionary War. Slacks Run gets its name from him. There are small amounts of iron ore, copper shale, fire clay, and building stone in the township. The bottom lands along the valley are productive, but the re- mainder is mountainous.
LIMESTONE was originally called Adams, in honor of President John Adams. The name was changed on April 14, 1835. The first settler was probably William Winland, who came there in 1789. Jacob Sallada, of French extraction, came to Nippenose Valley in 1811. He was a carpenter and builder and played an important part in the early development of this and adjacent townships. The borough of Salladasburg is named for him. Nippenose Valley, one of the scenic spots in the town- ship, is an oval limestone basin, surrounded by mountains ris- ing to a height of nine hundred feet. Two breaks occur in the ridge line, Rauch's Gap and Nippenose Gap. A natural phe- nomenon in the valley is the immense "sink holes" in the lime- stone floor of the basin. Water from the mountains enters the "sink holes," and after flowing through a subterranean passage for some distance, it gushes forth in a huge spring. The spring forms Antes Creek, which flows northward through a gap in Bald Eagle Mountain to the Susquehanna River. Collomsville, named for Seth Collom, an early settler; Oriole, or Jamestown, the original name; and Oval are township villages.
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LOYALSOCK erected in 1786, was named for the creek which bounds it. The only settlements at the time of its founda- tion were near the river and a short way up Loyalsock and Ly- coming Creeks. The township affords geologists excellent op- portunity for the study of rock strata. The first permanent settlers arrived there in the years between 1796 and 1800, but the pioneers had entered the territory as early as 1768. Peter Smith, Samuel Harris, the Covenhovens and the Benjamins were early settlers. Industrial development began with the Mc- Kinney Iron Works, established in 1825 at Heshbon. Iron was brought by boats from Centre County to Jaysburg, then trans- ferred to carts and hauled to the works, which consisted of a furnace and rolling mill equipment. Lumbering was also an important industry in the early days.
LYCOMING was erected on December 2, 1857 from Old Lycoming. The Hayes, Inigels, and Kulp families first settled along Hoagland's Run. Quiggleville, on Hoagland's Run, is the largest village in the township. Perryville, on Lycoming Creek, is the second-largest village. Its first mill was built by Josiah Hays in 1831.
MCHENRY was created from Brown, Cummings and Cogan House townships on November 18, 1858. Its first name was Kingston; but a meeting of citizens held shortly after its creation voted that the name be changed in honor of Alexander H. McHenry, a veteran surveyor. John Mix probably plotted the first settlement in 1785, with Claudius Boatman settling there in the same year.
McNETT erected February 10, 1878, was named for H. H. McNett, one of the petitioners for the new township. Coal, iron ore, fire clay and building stone are found in the area. The greater portion of the surface is mountainous, consisting of glacial moraine. Near Roaring Branch good fossil plates and casts have been found. Roaring Branch, the largest village, is
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situated half in McNett township and half in Tioga County. Penbryn, also called Leolyn, is the next village in size. The name is Celtic and means "Head of the mountain." Ellenton and Chemung are other villages.
MCINTYRE erected 1848, was named for Archibald McIn- tyre of Philadelphia, one of the founders of the Williamsport and Erie Railroad. The surface of the township is rough and mountainous, with steep rocky slopes. Back of Ralston is a high ledge of rocks, on the summit of which is a level notch. It was over this notch that the Sheshequin Path, an old Indian trail, passed to avoid the almost impassable thickets in the valley below. On this precipice Shikellimy, famous Indian chief and vice-King of the Six Nations, nearly lost his life while guiding Conrad Weiser and party through this territory on their his- toric journey to Onondaga, capital of the Six Nations. Settlers were slow to come to the township, because of the density of the wilderness. In 1794, Aaron Levy, and Michael and Hyman Gratz settled on land near Ralston, and John Smith Koutz and John Blackwell, in 1805, settled on Pleasant Stream and near Roaring Branch, respectively. About 1831 an iron furnace was established near Frozen Run, several buildings were erected, and the place was named Astonville, in honor of the manager of the enterprise. The ore was filled with fire clay and at that time the only method by which it could be removed was by freezing. It was from this process that Frozen Run received its name. Ralston was named for Mathew Ralston of Philadelphia, a pioneer in the iron and railroad industry.
MIFFLIN was named for Governor Thomas Mifflin. When it was created in 1803, it was quite extensive but since has given territory for the creation of other townships, with the result that it is now eighth in size. Mifflin was in the "Fair Play" region, land whose ownership was disputed by Indians and white men. Among those who settled in the territory were John
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Murphy, Anthony Pepperman, John Olen, and Joseph Robin- son. These men were of the old school of pioneers; they lived in primitive cabins and spent much of their time hunting and fishing. In this township is "Ogontz," summer home built by Jay Cooke of Philadelphia.
MILL CREEK erected in 1879, was named for its principal stream. Samuel Hall and Jonathan Collins were the first set- tlers. They were followed by the Nunn, Klees, Lockard, Wil- son, Moon, and Reeder families. Since the removal of the tim- ber, the township has become an agricultural section with good farming and sheep grazing land. Along the base of the mountain there is some fine flag stone.
MORELAND was erected in 1813 and probably derives its name from its hilly terrain. The hills give it a greater surface area than level country of the same dimensions. Colonel George Smith, an officer in the Revolutionary War, was the first set- tler on Muncy Creek in 1790. Among those who took an active part in the early development of the township were the Opp, Gower, Hill, Shipman, Jones, Fiester, Brittian, Christopher, Derr, and Taggart families.
MUNCY is a name derived from the Monsey Indian tribe, who once inhabited the territory. Muncy is the oldest township in Lycoming County. It was erected as a part of Northumber- land County on April 3, 1772, or twenty-three years before Lycoming County was created. Samuel Wallis, builder of the first permanent residence, lived there. Muncy Farms and Muncy Manor were within its boundaries. Pennsdale is the only vil- lage in the township. It was first known as Pennsville, later changed to Hicksville, and finally to Pennsdale. Pennsdale is the site of the historic Friends' Meeting House, built in 1779 and in continual use ever since. The old furnishings, the in- terior, and the original parts of the exterior are well preserved and hundreds of persons visit this historic building annually.
Quaker School, Pennsdale
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MUNCY CREEK erected in 1797, was named for the stream of the same name. The borough of Muncy, with its southern line crossing the Muncy Hills, lies within its borders. On the river bank is Port Penn, where under a great elm, noted Indian chiefs met in conference. This was also the junction of several Indian trails. On Little Muncy Creek is Clarkstown, site of one of the oldest churches in the county, the Immanuel Luth- eran. The deed for the land on which it was erected was exe- cuted on April 5, 1791. Its constitution, written in German, dates back to 1794. The township, a rich agricultural section, also contains paint rock which has been successfully worked since 1888.
NIPPENOSE is a name whose derivation is not clear. One definition is "nose nipped by the frost." Another, more logical perhaps, is the Indian word, "nippe-no-ivi," meaning "like the summer." This township was erected in May, 1786. Its best land is in the southern section, where Bald Eagle Moun- tain is split by a great canyon through which Antes Creek flows. Prominent in the Colonial history of the area was Colo- nel John Henry Antes, who came to the section about 1772. The stockade, erected by him at the mouth of Antes Creek,
played an important role during early settlement. The village of Antes Fort gets its name from this soldier of pioneer days. Antes Fort was laid out by Jonathan White and called Gran- ville. The name never became popular and finally was changed to its present title. Some years ago, Nippenose Park was situated in the eastern end of the township. There were cottages and pavilions, a steam boat ran from Williamsport, and it was a train stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The park survives only in the memory of the older residents of the community.
OLD LYCOMING named for Lycoming Creek, received the prefix "Old" to distinguish it from Lycoming, a more modern subdivision. One of the original townships, it was created
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August 22, 1785, nine years before the erection of Lycoming County. Newberry and Jaysburg were its early villages. At Jaysburg the first county courts were held and the first jail built. Near this place the Moravian missionaries met French Margaret Newberry, head of an Indian clan, for whom New- berry was named. Among the early settlers were the McMeens, Mahaffeys and Updegraffs. Their descendants are still promi- nent in the life of the community.
PENN was named for William Penn by Tobias and Isaac Kepner, former residents of Penn Township in Berks County. It was erected in 1828. The surface is mountainous and rough, not suited to agriculture. Benoni Wiesner, whose place was near the base of North Mountain, was the first settler. He was fol- lowed by Christopher Frey, Thomas Reed, John Craft, and Thomas Strawbridge. Fribley, Strawbridge, and North Moun- tain are villages in the township.
PIATT erected April 20, 1858, was named for William Piatt, an Associate Judge. The surface of the township, though mostly rolling contains some fine bottom land, particularly at Level Corners. This area was in the disputed territory ruled by the "Fair Play System." Larry Burt, an Indian trader, was the first settler. The next was Simon Cool, a captain in Colonel Plunkett's Army. At the time of the Big Runaway Cool fled the valley. After his return he was killed by Indians. Another early settler was John Knox, descendant of the re- former. He settled on Pine Creek in 1799, and erected a grist mill at what is now Safe Harbor. Level Corners was the home of Robert Covenhoven, Revolutionary soldier, spy and scout, in the period following the Indian troubles in the region.
PINE derives its name from the heavy pine timber which covered its surface. It was erected January 27, 1857 from terri- tory belonging to Brown, Cummings, and Cogan House town- ships. It is the largest township in the county, containing
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48,640 acres. Originally covered with a heavy growth of tim- ber, it is mountainous and wild, with knob-like hills, one of which, Oregon Hill, rises to a height of nineteen hundred feet above sea level. Little Pine Creek and its tributaries constitute its principal drainage system. The scenery along its course is_ magnificent; in many places it cuts through deep ravines of great beauty. In 1800 John Morris settled above the mouth of Little Pine Creek, where the village of Texas now stands. Morris and his wife, in 1806 leased the Moore property and opened a girl's seminary. This venture, a bold one for the period, met with considerable success. It was the only school of its kind in northern Pennsylvania. The school, which later received the name of "Wilderness Seminary," was on the Newberry-to- Painted Post road. Many of the persons who helped to make county history were at one time enrolled in the school and taught by Mr. and Mrs. Morris. Oregon Hill and English Cen- ter are important villages. The former was so named because of the intense interest shown by the early settlers in the Oregon Boundary dispute, which had for its slogan "forty-four-forty or fight." English Center gets its name from its early English settlers.
PLUNKETTS CREEK, erected 1838, was named for Colonel William Plunkett, Commander at Fort Augusta prior to the Revolutionary War. Louis Donelly settled near the mouth of Bear Creek in 1818. When Donelly arrived he found evidences of a predecessor; a man named Paulhamus had squatted there for a while and left about 1776. It is said that he was a de- serter from the British army. Another early settler was John Barbour, a Scotchman, who became an extensive land owner, built the first lumber mill, and took an active part in the de- velopment of the township. Proctorville, named for Thomas Proctor, was the home of a large tannery during the latter half of the nineteenth century. It employed several hundred men and
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did an extensive business for many years. Another early indus- try, which exists only in the memory of the older inhabitants of the township, was Roger's Woolen Mills on Bear Creek, which did a thriving business until its destruction by fire in 1891. In general the township is wild and mountainous, since much of its territory is part of the main Allegheny range. Its mountains and streams provide hunting and fishing of the finest sort. Comfortable summer houses and cabins have been erected in many places.
PORTER erected in 1849, was named in honor of Governor David Porter. It is one of the smallest townships in the county. Part of its surface is rolling and hilly, but along the river are some very valuable bottom lands. Until 1784, the township was "forbidden territory," governed by the "Fair Play Men." The first settler was William McClure, who located near Jersey Shore in 1773. Another prominent settler was Dr. James Davidson, who settled here prior to the creation of Lycoming County, about 1791. He was a native of New Jersey, and had served in the Revolutionary War as physician and surgeon. After the close of the war he purchased a farm two miles above Jersey Shore, and for a long time was the only physician in that section. Upon the erection of Lycoming County he was appointed Associate Judge by Governor Mifflin. Stone quarry- ing along Pine Creek has for many years been a profitable in- dustry.
SHREWSBURY was taken from Muncy Township in 1804. Its original area embraced Sullivan County, which was erected from it in 1847. Theophilus Little, Sr., a native of Monmouth County, Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey, succeeded in per- petuating the name of his old home by naming the new town- ship. Peter Corson, who located in the woods along Muncy Creek in 1794, was the first settler. Jacob Maish and John Rynearson were the first on Big Run, and Peter Buck was the
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earliest pioneer on Lick Run. Tivoli and Mawr Glen are the only villages in the township.
SUSQUEHANNA formed in 1838, was settled by Anthony Moore, Thomas and John Miller, Alexander Beatty, and John Gibson. The township has some very productive farm land. Nisbet is the only village in the township. Its post office was established on November 23, 1867.
UPPER FAIRFIELD, erected in 1851, was originally named Pollock in honor of Judge James Pollock, the seventh judge of Lycoming County. Pollock became Governor of Pennsylvania and later Director of the Philadelphia Mint. On January 29, 1853, the name was changed to Upper Fairfield. Among the names of early settlers appear: Osbourn, Rooker, Rothfuss, Entz, Heylman, Rentz, Sweely, Buckley and Slaugenwhite.
WASHINGTON, named for George Washington, is one of the oldest in the county. It was erected August 23, 1785, while Lycoming County was still part of Northumberland. The first settler was Michael Huling, a blacksmith by trade. Another early settler was Catherine Smith, a widow with ten children, who was left three hundred acres of land near the mouth of White Deer Creek. Since her property was an excellent site for a saw and grist mill, she borrowed money and built one in 1774. The following summer she built a boring mill, where a great number of gun barrels were bored for use in the Revolutionary War. Later she built a hemp mill. At the time of the Little Runaway, when the Indians devastated the valley, her mills were burned and she with her children were forced to flee. She returned in 1783 and rebuilt the mills. Business was resumed only a short time when Claypoole and Morris, claiming priority rights to the land, instituted eviction proceedings against her. She appealed to the General Assembly to no avail. After years of litigation Catherine Smith was finally dispossessed. During litigation it is said that she made thirteen trips on foot to Phila-
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delphia and return. The heroic struggle of her life is a legend in this section.
WATSON was named for Oliver Watson a prominent banker of Williamsport. It was erected from Cummings and Porter in January, 1845. The first settlement was by John Alexander at the mouth of Tomb's Run in 1784. The valley along Pine Creek is a fertile farming section. Iron ore has been mined along Furnace Run, but not in sufficient quantities to be of commercial value.
WOLF, named for George Wolfe, Governor of Pennsyl- vania, was formed from Muncy township in September, 1834. Since the formation of the township it has contributed land for the creation of two boroughs, Hughesville and Picture Rocks. The history of the township is intertwined with that of Muncy, the parent township. David Aspen, who arrived in 1775, is credited with being the first settler. His cabin was located on the southern boundary line of the present borough of Hughes- ville. It was to his place that Rachel Silverthorn made her his- toric ride of warning prior to the Big Runaway, in 1778. Aspen escaped to Fort Muncy, where he remained for a few days. He then returned to his cabin on a tour of inspection. When he failed to return a searching party discovered his body near his cabin. He had been shot and scalped by the Indians. Another early settler was Abraham Webster, who came from England and located near Pennsdale. In 1778 the family was attacked by Indians, a son, Abraham, killed and another son, Joseph and two daughters captured. One of the girls was drowned in Seneca Lake by an angry squaw, and the other was never heard of again. The southern part of the township is rolling country, with many fine farms, the northern section is hilly and rough. Limestone is quarried west of Hughesville. There are great quantities of flagstone in the northern section.
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WOODWARD, erected November 23, 1855, was named for Apollos Woodward, of Williamsport, an Associate Judge. Its surface is rolling, with fertile farm land along the river valley. The principal streams are Queneshaque Run, Kulp's Run, and Pine Run. Linden is the only village. When the canal was be- ing built, several shanties were put up there and the place was called "Shanty Town." Eventually better homes were erected and the pleasant little village was named Linden. Queneshaque Run derives its name from the unpronouncable Indian word "'Quenis-chasch-hacki," which is interpreted' "long straight water." The Delaware Indians, whose town was on the present site of Linden, used this name to designate the long, straight stretch of still water in the river at this place, now known as the "Long Reach." The white settlers called the creek by the Indian name for "Long Reach" which has been corrupted to "Queen-e-shock-any" and other forms of spelling. Quene- shaque is now the spelling generally used. One of the outstand- ing early settlers was Brattan Caldwell. He came to this country from County Kildare, Ireland, about 1770, and to the West Branch about 1772, settling west of Lycoming Creek on Indian land. Caldwell was one of the organizers of the "Fair Play System" and frequently served as commissioner. At the time of the Big Runaway he and his family fled to Lancaster County, but they returned as soon as the immediate danger was past.
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