USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 18
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL for September gave as its frontispiece the copy of an old engraving, showing how the central part of Williamsport looked forty-five years ago. In that picture the old Court House was a central and conspicuous figure. In this number a view of the present Court House is given, which serves to show
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the change that has been wrought in the last twenty-seven years. The present Court House was built in 1860 and cost $50,000. It con- tains all the public offices of the county, besides the regular court room and a room for the United States Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which meet here in June and September, when the appropriations will warrant it. The building is illumi- nated throughout with the Edison electric light and heated by steam.
THE editor of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL has often been solicited to publish a revised edition of the History of the West Branch Valley. After considering the matter carefully for several months he has decided not to do it. The work and expense involved, to produce such a book as the public would expect, are too great to warrant the outlay, which would undoubtedly exceed the revenue. In the meantime those interested in the preservation of our early history and the biography of pioneers, will find more in the pages of the monthly in the course of two or three years than they ever would in a book; and that, too, at a much less expense. Our ad- vice to all interested parties is: Order THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL before the limited edition is exhausted, because it will not be re- produced either.
AN exhaustive and carefully prepared article on "Old Fort Augusta" is contemplated at an early day. An engraving of the plan of the fort will be given, together with other illustrations. All the old letters, orders, instructions and documents relating to the building of the famous stockade, which bore such a conspicu- ous part in our early history, will be reproduced, and much new matter given. Persons possessing relies of the fort, incidents, an- ecdotes or reminiscences of its early defenders, are requested to notify the editor of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
THE second instalment of the journal of Hon. Samuel Maclay, printed herewith, will be found deeply interesting. The third and last instalment will be as attractive as the first and second. It will describe the journey of the Commissioners up the Kishki- minetas and Conemaugh rivers into the very heart of the Allegheny Mountains.
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FIRST SCHOOLS IN WILLIAMSPORT.
BY J. F. WOLFINGER, MILTON.
1795, April 13, Lycoming County was organized out of a part of Northumberland County by order of the State Legislature, and the town of Williamsport was not only laid out this same year, by Michael Ross, an active and intelligent European German, but also became the seat of justice for Lycoming County the same year.
1800. About this time the first school house in Williamsport was built. It was a rude log structure and stood on the southeast corner of the present Court House Square. James Watson was the first teacher in this common English school house. and Apollos Woodward, one of the late Associate Judges of Lycoming County, also taught school there for some time in his youthful days, but whether he was the immediate successor of Watson is unknown. Among the taxable heads of families in Williamsport in 1806 we find the names of Bess. Boone, Buyers. Calvert, Collins, Cummings, Doan, Dumm, Eldridge, Emmons, Green, Haller, Hays, Hepburn, Heylmun. Houston, Hunter, Hyman, Freeman, Levergood, McClure, McElrath, MeEwen, Moore, Murphy, Murray, Ross. Shaffer, Sloan, Tallman, Throp. Titus. Turk, Updegraff, Vanderbelt, Waters, Wat- son, Wilkinson. Winters. Woodward and Young. And the follow- ing new taxable residents appeared on the list in 1807: Bailey, Biss, Brindle, Harris, McConnell, Lenover, Pidcock, Scates, Steiner and Strawbridge: and it was the sons and daughters of these fam- ilies who were the scholars in this first school house of Williams- port.
1803. The old brick Court House. a neat two-story building, began in 1801, ( but now gone), was finished and began to be used for the holding of the Lycoming County Courts. It stood just where the present much larger brick Court House now stands. For a part of the time prior to 1803, (as the late Apollos Wood- ward, of Williamsport, informed me), the Lycoming Courts were held in a two-story log dwelling house that stood on the southwest corner of the present Court House yard-said square of ground having been generously donated by Mr. Ross to the county for the erection of their public buildings. How long the old log school house, here noticed, was permitted to stand on this Court House
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Square, and when it was torn down or removed, and what became of it, are questions that I cannot answer.
OLD WILLIAMSPORT ACADEMY.
1811, April 2, the State Legislature passed an act establishing the " Williamsport Academy for the Education of Youth in the English and other Languages, in the Useful Arts, Science and Lit- erature," and granting it $2,000 out of the State Treasury. Its first board of trustees, eight in number. consisted of William Wil- son, Ellis Walton, Thomas Caldwell, Samuel E. Greer, Thomas Hays, William Brindle, James Stewart and Robert McClure. The sixth section of its charter required the proceedings of this Acade- my to be recorded in a book used for that purpose, and this book, if it could now be had, would give us much valuable information, now lost and beyond our reach. The building erected in pursu- ance of this authority was a plain but substantial brick structure, of an octagonal form, or eight-cornered in shape, and two stories high, with four good sized rooms, two up stairs and two down- said rooms being separated from each other, on cach floor, by a suitable entry and stairway. It stood * on the corner of Third and West streets, the then western end of Williamsport, and from the elevated nature of its ground had a clear and beautiful view of the Susquehanna River and of the picturesque Bald Eagle Mountain on the South Side. When we look at the number of rooms in this Academy, and the fact that the English language was to be taught there. I am strongly inclined to think that this was the second school house in Williamsport, and that it was designed to accommodate all of its scholars, those who studied English as well as those who studied Greek and Latin.
The first teacher in this Academy was the Rev. Samuel Hender- son, and his successors in regular order, on down to 1835, were Justus Dart, Francis Graham, - - Blaisdell, F. M. Wadsworth, Richard Chadwick, James Teas, Isaac K. Torbert and Joseph Rathmell ; and for the following facts concerning their personal history I am mainly indebted to the researches of my late aged and venerable friend, T. Coryell, Esq., of Williamsport.
1. Henderson was a graduate of Edinburgh College, in Scot-
* It still stands there, and is now used for a dwelling house.
ยท
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land, who, after studying theology, emigrated to and preached at Wilmington, in the State of Delaware. He then came to Wil- liamsport and took charge of its Academy, and also preached sev- eral years for the Presbyterian people of Williamsport and New- berry. He afterwards preached at Shamopan, in Bradford County, and finally moved to or near Pittsburg, where he died.
2. Dart was a good English scholar from our Eastern States, and went West.
3. Graham was a fine arithmetician and after several years' stay at Williamsport, went South.
4. Blaisdell was a good teacher, from the State of New York, who studied law at Williamsport, but what became of him is un- known.
5. Wadsworth was a graduate of Yale College, in the State of Connecticut. He studied law under J. B. Anthony, Esq .. of Wil- liamsport. and afterwards practiced law in Perry and then in York County, where he died.
6. Chadwick came here from the State of New Jersey, was a fine mathematician. and afterwards went to Smethport, in Mckean County, and served as its Prothonotary for a good many years, and died there.
7. Teas came to Williamsport in 1828 and left it in 1830, and settled himself as a physician at Northumberland, where he died. He was from Milton, and one of the old Milton Academy scholars; a tall. sedate and fine looking man.
8. Torbert was a native of. Lycoming County, a printer by pro- fession, who published the Lycoming Gazette for several years and became the author of " Torbert's Arithmetick," a work of some value.
9. Rathmell was one of Wadsworth's Williamsport Academy students, and became a good Greek and Latin scholar and after- wards an excellent teacher himself. . Rathmell was a big, heavy man of a quiet nature, slow and easy in his movements, but sure. He died at Williamsport a few years ago. I often met him and knew him well when I was a student at law under J. B. Anthony, at Williamsport.
BACK numbers of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL can always be sup- plied to new subscribers.
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LITERARY NOTES.
The Lancaster Inquirer devotes much attention to the gathering of historical facts in that part of the State, and it has become a valuable repository of local history. Its course is highly com- mendable.
We welcome the Western Antiquary, of Plymouth, England, to our exchange list. As its name imports, it is filled with valuable matter relating to Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. The Antiquary is edited with marked ability by W. H. K. Wright, F. R. H. S., and Borough Librarian of Plymouth. Subscription price, eight shillings per annum.
The Historical Record, published at Wilkes-Barre, by Dr. F. C. Johnson, improves as it grows older. The current number is ex- ceedingly valuable. being filled with choice matter relating to early times in the Wyoming region. An illustrated article en- titied, "Relies of the Red Men," is alone worth a year's subscrip- tion, which is only $1.50.
A valued correspondent has furnished THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL with a carefully written biographical sketch of Rev. David Kirk- patrick, who taught a famous classical school in Milton many years ago. He also gives the names of nearly all the pupils whom he graduated. It will appear in an early number.
THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL has several valuable contributions on file, which have been crowded over by the length of Maclay's journal. Among them may be mentioned an article on "Roswell Franklin," contributed by Rev. J. N. Hubbard, of Tracy, Cali- fornia, and the History of Methodism on the North Branch of the Susquehanna. by C. F. Hill. They will appear as soon as room can be found for them.
IN October. 1830, the Pennsylvania Canal was completed from Northumberland to Muncy Dam. And in November of the same year John Deeter, of Milton, ran the first boat through to Milton. It was named "West Branch," and the cargo consisted of store goods from Baltimore, for Moore & Sterling. The arrival of the boat was regarded as a great event by the people of that day.
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NEARING THE END OF A CENTURY.
THE oldest inhabitant of Muncy Borough at this time is Abigail Edwards. She was born in Buffalo Valley, on the 10th day of September, 1792. Her parents settled on the Glade Run, in Muncy Valley, when she was only about nine months old, and this vicinity has always been her home. She still moves about the house with a nimbleness that even octogenarians often fail to exhibit, and her mind has preserved the same exceptional degree of vigor. In the course of an interesting chat with a friend. the other day, who found her contentedly taking care of a little great-grandchild, she made the following observations, which are given almost in her own words: "I am just as well as you could expect me to be- for you know I am now ninety-five years old. I have always had good health, and all the doctoring and medicine I ever had did not cost ten dollars. We didn't get fed on candies and rich cake when I was a child. I am not of much use in the world now any more, and I am ready to go any time, but the Lord it seems don't want me just yet. I remember well when I was quite young a small company of Indians encamped along the Glade Run, near our place. I was afraid of them and didn't go near them. They beg- ged food of the settlers, and did not hurt anybody. One of the men showed my father a lump of silver, and told him that there was lots of it close at hand. The settlers of the Muncy Hills often hunted for it, but I guess nobody ever found it. I remember too how we all felt when we had the last war with England. My parents were strict Quakers and thought it was wrong to go to war, but we young folks got other ideas into our heads. I had two brothers and a sister. One of the boys marched off to the war, and came home safe. I might have gone too if I had been a boy, as I was not a good Quaker. I always liked to hear preaching and singing when I went to meeting."
PETER BASTRESS, now one of the oldest residents of the borough of Jersey Shore, was born at Pottstown. Berks County, November 12, 1808, and came here with his parents in 1817. His father, Solo- mon Bastress, who is well remembered as one of the representa- tive men of Lycoming County, was also born at Pottstown, January 20, 1788, and died at Jersey Shore May 12, 1872, in the 84th year
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of his age. His father, Peter Bastress, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Pottstown, July 9, 1758, and died at Lebanon in 1837, aged 79 years. Solomon Bastress was a weaver and dyer by trade, but after settling here he became a sur- veyor and scrivener, and carried on that business in addition to his trade.
Before locating here he had entered into partnership with John Slonaker, John Brown and Philip Krebs, to build an iron furnace on Upper Pine Bottom Run, above the First Forks of Pine Creek, in 1814, and they carried it on until 1817, when it was blown out. His father superintended the furnace while it was in operation. The ruins of the stack may yet be seen.
Solomon Bastress was sent to the Legislature from Lycoming County in 1827, and re-elected in 1828-9-30, serving four terms in succession. In 1846 he was elected an Associate Judge, and served until 1856, a period of ten years, having been re-elected in the meantime.
Many of his friends who had settled in that portion of the county now embraced in Bastress, when it came to be erected into a township in 1854, insisted, inasmuch as he had frequently done surveying and writing for them, that it should be named after him, and it was done.
In addition to being a surveyor, member of the Legislature and Associate Judge. Solomon Bastress also served as a Justice of the Peace for a number of years in Jersey Shore. No man in the county stood higher or was more respected and honored by the people than Judge Bastress. And it is a pleasure to add that his son, Peter Bastress. stands equally high. He has often been ten- dered office by his fellow citizens, but has steadily declined. He is now quietly spending the evening of his life at his comfortable residence on the hill-side, overlooking the town of Jersey Shore, honored and respected by his friends and neighbors.
MRS. ANN GRAY was born on Staten Island, September 6th, 1795. Her father, William Vaname, was a sea captain. When Mrs. Gray was three years old he gave up the sea and moved to Binghamton, N. Y., by wagon and settled on a farm where the centre of that town now stands. Her husband. Arthur Gray. died in the year 1862, In the 70th year of his age. Had he lived a few
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months longer they would have celebrated their golden wedding. Mrs. Gray spends the time visiting her children, Mrs. Joseph Du- Bois, of Waverly, N. Y., and Mrs. Abel DuBois, of Williamsport. On the occasion of attaining her 92d birthday anniversary, on the 6th instant, she was the recipient of many tokens of love and friendship from her friends and neighbors, and a dinner was given to commemorate the event. It is rarely one meets with so elderly a person with every faculty unimpaired. Mrs. Gray is particularly active and bids fair to live many years to come. She had nine children, four of whom are living. Her two sons, William and Christopher Gray, are living on the homestead, in Broome County, N. Y., near Binghamton.
J. B. Scour, the oldest born resident of Northumberland, is a man of remarkable vitality for his age. He was born August 4, 1805, where the cemetery is now located, and is 82 years old. Mr. Scout retains all his mental faculties and voted at the last pri- mary election. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in 1829, which he followed until 1880. In 1875 he lost his wife, who was then 75 years old.
RIPE SHEAVES GATHERED BY THE REAPER.
HERSH WEYLE, who died at Tylersville, Clinton County, Sep- tember 4, 1887, was 86 years and 8 months old. Deceased was a German by birth and came to this country thirty years ago. He was much respected by the community in which he lived. His re- mains were taken to Bellefonte for interment.
DANIEL TONNER, who died at Canton, Ohio, August 24th, 1887, was a native of Centre County, Pennsylvania, and would have been 69 years old had he lived until December next. He learned the trade of a carpenter, but after locating in Ohio he became the book-keeper and correspondent for an extensive manufacturing firm in Canton, which position he filled until the close of his life. He was highly esteemed by the community in which he lived.
DANIEL FOLLMER, who died at his home in Turbut Township, Northumberland County, on the 19th of August, 1887, had reached the ripe age of 81 years, 4 months and 6 days. Mr. Follmer was born on the farin adjoining the one on which he died. During his
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long lease of life he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, meeting with abundant rewards for his labor. He maintained the strictest integrity in his relations with every one, and no man in that community stood higher in the esteem of the people than he. He exercised great zeal in church matters and died with the fullest hope of a heavenly reward. He survived his wife about five years. Four sons and four daughters comprise the children, all of whom are living.
JOHN JOHNSON, colored, died in Lawrence Township, Clearfield County, September 3. 1887, at the great age of 116 years. The Republican says that he was a native of Falmouth, Virginia, and remembered hearing a courier announce the surrender of Corn- wallis, October 19, 1781. He was about ten years old at that time.
MRS. MORIARTY, who died near Farrandsville, Clinton County. a few days ago, is supposed to have been about 103 years old. No facts regarding the time and place of her birth are obtainable.
TOMBSTONE RECORD.
Michael Ross, the founder of the city of Williamsport, lies buried in the old cemetery on Washington street. His wife lies by his side. Neat tombstones, bearing the following records, mark their last resting places:
Sacred To the memory of MICHAEL Ross, EsQ'R Proprietor of the Borough of Williamsport Who Departed this life June 20th AD. 1819 In the 60th Year of his age.
Sacred To the memory of ANN CORSON Wife of MICHAEL Ross, Esq Who Departed this life July 31st AD. 1818 In the 55th year of her age.
Their graves, which are enclosed, are kept in good order by the
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hands of loving descendants, and hundreds of friends and strangers visit them annually.
In the neatly enclosed cemetery, on the side-hill, near the famous medicinal well at Sizerville, Cameron County, are two plain tomb- stones bearing the following inscriptions:
HIRAM SIZER
Born In Hampden Co. Mass. July 17, 1791. Removed to Cameron Co. 1819 Died June 9, 1869 aged 78 y. 10 mo's & 23 ds.
POLLY Wife of HIRAM SIZER Died Feb. 5, 1882 Aged 95 y's & 11 mo's She was Born at Springfield, Hampden Co. Mass May 10, 1786.
Under a clump of locust trees in the lower part of the Borough of Watsontown are four lonely graves. A plain stone at the head of the first one reached bears. this inscription :
SAMUEL STOCKS. Died April 16th 1844 Aged 71 years.
From England.
Samuel Stocks carried on a small woolen factory for many years near the mouth of White Deer Creek, in Union County. He was a bachelor. R. H. McCormick, Esq., of Watsontown, remembers him well. He says that he was a noted character, and spoke with a strong English accent.
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A few yards further on three more graves in a group are reached. The headstones bear these inscriptions:
In Memory of Jenny first wife of JOHN WILSON, who Died March 6th 1787 In the 33d year of her age
In Memory of JOHN WILSON Who Died Feb'y 15th 1813 In the 61st year of his age.
In Memory of Margaret, 2d wife of JOHN WILSON Who departed this life May 23d, 1818 Aged 50 years.
The crumbling remains of what was once a rough stone wall surrounds the narrow enclosure where Wilson and his two wives were laid long, long ago.
The original Warrior Run Church-a log structure-stood near this old grave-yard, on the bank of the river. When Rev. Fithian visited it Sunday, July 16, 1775, and preached to the people from a wagon, it was not yet covered. .
ACCORDING to Now and Then the first slate roof in Muncy was put on the brick blacksmith shop of Charles Mozley. The second was on the brick foundry erected by Trumbower & Company. This must have been in 1871 or 1872, as the publication contain- ing the statement bears date September, 1872.
THIS issue of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL closes the sixth month of its existence. All subscriptions unpaid are now due.
SAMUEL WALLIS was the owner of the first hounds brought into Muncy Valley.
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NEARLY all the land now occupied by the borough of Becch Creek, Clinton County, belongs to what was known as the "Lieu- tenant Wiggins tract," a part of the " officers' survey." The credit of starting the village belongs to Michael Quigley, who, about the year 1812, bought 30 acres of land off the " Wiggins tract" and constructed a grist mill. At, or about the same time, Quigley built a dwelling for himself a short distance south of the mill, one room of which was used as a store. The first person using it for that purpose was " Buck" Claflin, father of the celebrated Claflin girls. Beech Creek borough was organized in 1869, and the census of 1880 gave it a population of 400. It is probably 500 at the pres- ent time.
GENERAL MONTCALM, writing to his friend, the Chevalier de Bourlaamque, gives the following picture of the condition of affairs at Fort Duquesne just before its fall: " Mutiny among the Canadians. who want to come home: the officers busy with making money. and stealing like mandarins. Their commander sets the example, and will come back with three or four hundred thousand francs; the pettiest ensign, who does not gamble, will have ten, twelve, or fifteen thousand. The Indians don't like Ligueris, who is drunk every day."
WHILE working on South Market street, Muncy, a short time ago, Henry Cable found an old English penny bearing the date of 1735 or 1737. It was found about a foot below the surface and was very much corroded. The penny was probably lost by some early settler or explorer, and has lain buried for one hundred and fifty years.
WE hear of many persons throughout the country who express their intention of taking THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL. If they do not hurry up and order it they may find the edition exhausted when they want it. Back numbers can still be supplied, but once they run out they will not be reproduced.
WHO will furnish us with a history of the old cemetery at Halls, where Captain John Brady was buried after being shot by the In- dians on the 11th of April, 1779? It is one of the oldest burying places in Lycoming County.
Central High School Building, Williamsport, Pa.
A. S. WAGNER, ARCHITECT.
THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
A MONTHLY RECORD.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, by JOHN F. MEGINNESS, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Vol. 1. NOVEMBER, 1887. No. 7.
JOURNAL OF SAMUEL MACLAY, 1790. ANNOTATED BY JOHN F. MEGINNESS.
TUESDAY, July 27th .- John Ria and Neal St Clair came from the uper camp and brought me a line from Colonel Matlack informing me what things and Provisions they wanted, and that they intended to start immediately for Lake Erie; I sent them the men provis- ions &c without any Delay, and here I am left unable to help myself, though much Better.
[ Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st, are blank.]
SUNDAY, August 1st .- We arrived at Fort Frankland about 3 o'clock. Though I continued to get something better, yet I mended but slowly. This afternoon I collected a small quantity of oyl * from a small oyl spring in the bank of French creek, with which I had my back rubbed before I went to bed.
MONDAY, August 2d .- Felt something better and had my back rubbed with the oyl this morning. We spent the forenoon in pre- paring and fiting out a party to survey the Allegina River, but were prevented from sending them off by rain that came on about 12 o'clock.
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