USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 6
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
"'Oh,' she replied, 'you would not believe, though one rose from the dead.'
"I told her I would helieve if she rose from the dead. She re- plied: 'I will if I can.' This she did by turning white after death and looking as young and sweet as a girl of 16, and smiled just as sweetly. It remained until she was cold. The neighbors who were present will vouch for the truth of this. Her face was terrible to behold. Nothing but the love of God could produce such a change.
"War is nothing over the sea, but let it come home as it has to me, then it goes for the heart strings; and even now while I am scribbling I feel more like singing the 'Old Log Cabin in the Lane.' I return thanks to Almighty God for rowing mother over the river a shouting and landing her a smiling.
" The above was the wife of Garrard Fordyce, whose mother was a sister of Judge Garrard of the Fort. His grandmother was killed by Indians near the Fort. You can read an old gravestone beneath the Indian's tomahawk: 'My baby and I were slain.' He was one of President Harrison's electors in 1840, and could have been governor at that time, being very popular and possessed of plenty of means: but droving was his delight, having the road strung with cattle from Illinois to Philadelphia. It could truth- fully be said of him, the cattle upon 1,000 hills were his. He was also famous for being the only man in Greene County who ever made an almanac. He spent many sleepless nights at it. Having no printing press, he wrote it out. He died as poor as Lazarus, on the bosom of the ocean, and was carried to Abraham's bosom, where all wear golden slippers. Mrs. Fordyce's people came from the Susquehanna. and were related to John and Bill Bigler, who used to raft down that river, and both became governors, John of California. and Bill of Pennsylvania."
AT the public sale of the effects of the late Lydia Roush, of Freeburg. Snyder County, whose death was mentioned in the May number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, two chairs, a cream jug and half a dozen figured plates were disposed of which were one hundred years old.
LIKE Northumberland County, Luzerne has a Warrior Run.
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
POSTMASTERS OF MUNCY.
The question having been asked: "Who was the first post- master of Muncy?" D. B. Dykins, Esq., of that place, applied to the department at Washington for the information. His inquiry was promptly answered as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 16, 1887. D. B. DYKINS, EsQ., Muncy, Pa.
Sir :- In reply to yours of the 13th inst., I inclose a list of the postmasters, with the dates of their appointments, beginning with that of Henry Shoemaker, April 1, 1800, at which time the official name of the office was Muncy, and has remained such ever since.
Very Respectfully,
A. E. STEVENSON, First Assistant Postmaster General.
The appointments referred to above, embracing a period of nearly 87 years, are as follows:
Henry Shoemaker
April
1,1800
James Bell. Jan. 13, 1803
John Brindle
.
11, 1815
Abraham Taylor
Dec.
28, 1816
William Pidcock
Feb.
22, 1817
George Frederick, Jr
Dec. 4, 1819
William A. Petrikin.
March 20, 1822
Cowden S. Wallis.
Dec. 22, 1840
John P. Schuyler
March 15, 1843
William Michael.
Dec. 14, 1844
John Whitlock
May 1,1849
William Michael.
July 11, 1857
Enos Hawley.
9, 1861
". (P. & S.).
April
5, 1869
George L. I. Painter (P. & S.)
March 12, 1873
66
66
(P. & S.) Oct. 30, 1877
66
(P. & S.)
29, 1881
James H. Fulmer (P.).
Dec. 5, 1885
(P. & S.).
Feb.
10, 1886
NOTE .- (P.) Appointment by the President; (P. & S.) Confirmation by the . Senate.
The First Assistant Postmaster General further states that no record of the office prior to 1800 can be found. It is possible that no office was opened at Muncy previous to that year, but it would
-
(P.) April 9,1877
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seem to be doubtful, as there was a large settlement there long be- fore that time.
The following information relating to the establishment of mail service at Muncy is also furnished by the department :
The records show that in 1826 a mail route was established from Muncy to Meansville and others succeeded it as follows :
In 1832 one from Pottsville to Muncy ; Muncy to Cherry; Muncy to Towanda ; Bloomsburg to Muncy; Muncy to Jersey Shore.
In 1836 one from Northumberland to Muncy; Muncy to Tannyville; Muncy to Monroeton.
In 1840 one from Danville to Muncy.
As a matter of record the above information, which is official, is valuable for reference when discussions arise about the appoint- ment of postmasters and the establishment of mail routes. It is to be regretted, however, that no information can be furnished con- cerning the postal business previous to 1800.
MRS. F. J. SCHOCH, of Selinsgrove, Pa., has held the position of superintendent of the infant school of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for the past twenty-six years.
GOD BLESS MOTHER. BY GEORGE COOPER. A LITTLE child with flaxen hair, And sunlit eyes, so sweet and fair, Who kneels, when twilight darkens all, And from whose loving lips there fail The accents of this simple prayer : "God bless !- God bless my mother !"
A youth upon Life's threshold wide, Who leaves a gentle mother's side, Yet keeps, enshrined within his breast, Her words of warning-still the best ; And whispers, when temptation-tried- "God bless !- God bless my mother !"
A white-haired man who gazes back Along life's weary, furrowed track, And sees one face-an angel's now !- Hears words of light that led aright, And prays, with reverential brow : "God bless !- God bless my mother !"
THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
Two Dollars per Annum, in Advance. Single Numbers, Twenty Cents.
A monthly publication, devoted entirely to the preservation of scraps of local history in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with reference occasionally to statistics, finance and manufactures.
Address all letters and communications relating to literary matters, subserip- tion or advertising to
JOHN F. MEGINNESS, Editor and Publisher,
WILLIAMSPORT, PA.
WILLIAMSPORT, JUNE, 1887.
SUCCESS OF THE JOURNAL.
It is gratifying to be able to state for the information of the readers of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, that its reception by the public has been much better than was anticipated by its publisher. Subscribers have been received from all parts of the State, and many letters of approval and encouragement have come to hand from persons who take a deep interest in the collection and preser- vation of local history. So numerous have these kind expressions been, and the circulation having already reached a point to make the enterprise self-sustaining, the publisher, although only con- tracting to furnish thirty-two pages mouthly, is so encouraged that he is induced to give his patrons forty pages this month as a recognition of their appreciation of his enterprise. He has also made other improvements. Among them is a neat design for the first page of the cover. It was furnished by Mr. H. H. Darnell. of the Williamsport Academy of Fine Arts, and the engraving was done by Mr. Charles V. Melhorn, also of Williamsport. The work reflects credit on both designer and engraver, and shows what can be done at home.
The enthusiastic reception of the first number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, however humble and unpretentious its appearance, shows that a great change is taking place in the public mind with reference to historical matters, and readers now eagerly seek such information who would have cared but little for it a few years ago. This taste will continue to grow, and as it grows publications of
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
this kind will be better appreciated and patronized. A new era has dawned for us: one that shall see the gathering of what the ravages of time have left, and its preservation for the uses of the generations that shall come after us.
New subscribers are informed that sufficiently large editions of the first and second numbers were printed to enable them to commence with the beginning, in order to make their volume com- plete at the end of the year, which will be with the number for April, 1888.
Many friends of the enterprise have intimated their intention of contributing historical articles on various subjects for future num- bers, which will be as valuable as they will be interesting. Numer- ous papers of great value are on file for publication as soon as they can be reached. There will be no lack of material. The editor alone has enough in his possession to fill the monthly for several years.
The outlook is encouraging to the publisher and stimulates him to make greater efforts to meet the tastes and wants of his patrons in the historical line. It is his ambition to build up a large circu- lation, and if every subscriber will take it upon himself to get one more, it can easily be done. The field is rich in incidents and reminiscences, and the greater the patronage the more inducement there will be to cultivate it.
DURING the past week, remarks the Erie Dispatch of May 2d. many improvements have been going on at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in that place. and it has been necessary to do con- siderable excavating and filling in in order to make the grounds look as beautiful as possible. . The workmen, while engaged in ex- carating, have unearthed some very interesting relics which were at one time in the possession of the early French settlers. Cannon balls about two inches in diameter, perfectly round, but badly cor- roded, are found in considerable numbers, besides other trinkets of iron. The most interesting specimen, however, is a horseshoe which radically differs from anything now made, it being of one piece of iron with corks placed around at intervals and a piece stamped out of the centre to give a firmer foothold. All these interesting relies have been placed upon exhibition at the Home, where they can be seen by visitors.
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
THE COAL BUSINESS AT TYRONE.
The borough of Tyrone, situated at the junction of the Bald Eagle Valley and Clearfield Divisions of the Pennsylvania Rail- road with the main line, has been rapidly growing of late years and is now recognized as a place of considerable importance. This has been caused by the rapid growth of the bituminous coal trade, which here finds an outlet, to a great extent, from the mines of Clearfield County, and the passenger business on the Bald Eagle Valley line to Lock Haven and Williamsport. Very few persons have any idea of the amount of coal handled on the scales at Ty- rone. Recently the Daily Herald gave the following statement of the yearly coal tonnage from the Clearfield railroad, obtained from the scale books of the company, from 1867 to 1886, a period of twenty years :
Years.
Tons.
Years.
Tons.
1867
169,219
1877
1,374,927
1868
171,238
1878
1,298,425
1869
259,994
1879
1,622,976
1870
379,683
1880.
1,739,872
1871
542,896
1881
2,401,987
1872
431,915
1882
2,838,970
1873
592,860
1883
2,866,174
1874
654,251
1884
3,173,363
1875
926,834
1885 2,889,499
1876
1,218,789
1886
2,280,782
Total
27,834,654
This gives a yearly average of 1,391,732 7-10 tons. The years 1885 and 1886 show a decrease, which is attributed to strikes and the unsettled state of business in those years. The present year, however, bids fair to go far ahead of any previous year in the history of the road. As another curious item the Herald gives the following total amount of freight charges at the Tyrone scales, for the Clearfield Division, for 1886 :
Months.
Amount.
Months.
Amount.
January
$ 363,551 65
July
389,972 52
February
397,823 11
August
358,674 35
March
195,050 41
September
336,458 41
April
68,804 76
October
379,775 90
May
10,858 27
November
393,505 40
June
384,537 20
December
396,041 07
Total for the year .... $3,675,053 05
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
And to bring the matter down a little more in detail, the Herald gives the amount of freight charges for a single week from April 4 to 9 inclusive. For these six days the total amount of freight charges was $116,000.12, of which $89,951.81 was prepaid. This shows that the Clearfield branch is one of the best paying in all the divisions of the great Pennsylvania Railroad system. And it also shows why the town is growing and prospering.
LITERARY NOTES.
H. L. FISHER, of York, will soon publish a little volume entitled "Olden Times," which will interest many readers.
REV. S. C. LOGAN, D. D., of Scranton, has completed the manu- script of his "History of the Scranton City Guards," and is now making arrangements for its publication. It will make a volume of about 330 pages.
THE Bath Plaindealer, a weekly paper, is publishing some in- teresting reminiscences entitled "Rafting Fifty Years Ago ; or, Notes of a Voyage from Painted Post to Port Deposit." It is in journal form and gives the daily incidents of the voyage.
THE " Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography," pub- lished by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, enters upon its eleventh volume in the April number. It is rich in historical mat- ter pertaining to our country. Terms, $3 per annum.
" GENEALOGY of the Parthemore Family," by E. W. S. Parthe- more, of Harrisburg, is a handsomely bound volume of 242 pages. . The author brought an immense amount of work to bear on the preparation of this book, which traces the family from the begin- ning through all its ramifications down to the present time.
FOR want of space it is impossible to reproduce all the kind words said of the first number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL by the press, but due acknowledgment is herewith made of the same, and we hope that our editorial friends will never have cause to re- . gret what they have said. Their words of encouragement are highly appreciated and will be embalmed in the memory of the editor.
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
IT is worthy of mention in these pages that General John Bur- rows, who was one of the commissioners of Lycoming County in 1802, hauled the present Court House bell from Philadelphia on his own wagon. It was suspended in the belfry of the Court House which was erected in 1800, and continued to do duty as long as the building stood. When it was decided to pull down the old building in 1860 to erect the present Court House, the bell was carefully removed for safety. When the new temple of justice was completed the old bell was again suspended in the belfry, and down to the present time it has continued to announce the openings of courts and public meetings with a faithfulness that has never faltered in summer or winter. Its tones are as clear and distinct as when it was first suspended 85 years ago, and if no accident be- falls it the old bell is good for service a hundred years hence. Think of the judges who have been called to service by its clear, mellifluous tones ; of the offenders against the law who have been summoned to meet justice face to face; of the criminals who have been terror stricken when they heard it call for them to come forth and hear their doom. Vandal hands should not be allowed to touch nor desecrate the old bell. Let it continue to perform its judicial duty far into the future, as it did long before the present generation was born. Its silvery tones are familiar to every ear. Disturb it not.
THE Wilkes-Barre Record of April 21st reports that Dr. W. H. Sharp, of Nanticoke, has presented the Historical Society with two valuable relics. One is an iron hatchet or tomahawk, blade six inches long, 23 inches along cutting edge. It was found on the premises of Asa Cook in Pike Swamp, near the cabin of Abram Pike, the celebrated Indian killer. The other is an aboriginal implement or ornament of stone, 43 inches long, 1} inches wide, and having two conical-shaped holes bored through near the rounded ends. It was found on the mountain in Hunlock Town- ship by C. H. Sharp.
MR. THOMAS DAUGHERTY, of Audenreid, Carbon County, in- forms THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL that he has in his possession the original plan on parchment of the interior of old Warrior Run
THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL. 65
Church, with the names of the pew holders written in the slips and the amount paid for the pew by each in pounds, shillings and pence. He is a grandson of Mr. James Daugherty, who was one of the original pew holders. This is one of the most interesting relics of this historic church yet developed, and the announcement of its existence may remind others of something equally as inter- esting which they possess.
NEARING THE END OF A CENTURY.
MRS. MARY A. RIDDELL, who resides with her son, Mr. Charles B. Riddell, at Larry's Creek, Lycoming County, was born in Har- risburg April 23, 1800, and is now in her S8th year. Mrs. Rid- dell was always noted for her intelligence and excellent conversa- tional powers. Her husband, the well-known Sheriff Riddell. died in 1879, aged 84.
MRS. ELEANOR BLACKWELL, of Jersey Shore, was born at Gran- ville, Bradford County, February 23, 1800, and is just two months older than Mrs. Riddell. She lives with her son, Mr. J. M. Black- well, and enjoys reasonably good health. Her husband, Nathaniel Blackwell. died in 1882, aged 85 years and 5 months.
MRS. CORMAN, of Miles Township, Centre County, celebrated the anniversary of her 95th birthday on the 4th of April, 1887. She was born in Penns Valley and has resided her entire life within fifteen miles of her birthplace. This good old lady, says the Bellefonte Watchman, still enjoys excellent health. a clear in- tellect and has every promise now of rounding out a full hundred years. The Centre Hall Reporter, referring to the family, says :
Her husband died quite a number of years ago. They were among the early settlers, and helped to clear the soil of its primitive forests, until a good sized farm, now one of the best in Brush Valley, was their reward. Mrs. Corman went through all the hardships of an early settler's life. She assisted her husband in all farm work ; felling trees, preparing new ground, harvesting, attending to stock, and reared a large family, all of whom became good and useful citizens. as also did their descendants. The Cormans are among the oldest and most respect- able families of Centre County.
MRS. ELIZABETH QUIGGLE, of Beech Creek, Clinton County, was born January 1, 1797, in Nittany Valley, and is already half way along in her 90th year. Her hair has scarcely turned gray. She
.
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
reads the daily and weekly papers regularly and keeps posted in the current news. Her maiden name was Moore. Mrs. Quiggle is the maternal grandmother of Deputy Sheriff Wensel, of Clinton County.
THE Lock Haven Daily Democrat is authority for the state- ment that Dr. D. B. Kline, of Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, celebrated the 95th anniversary of his birth on Easter, April 17, 1887. If his age is correctly reported. there is but little doubt that he is the oldest living physician in Northern Pennsylvania.
RIPE SHEAVES GATHERED BY THE REAPER.
SAMUEL REITZ, of Lower Augusta Township, Northumberland County, was suddenly called hence on the morning of February 15, 1887, while walking in the yard of his residence. He was nearly 85 years old.
MRS. ELIZABETH AFRICA, who died March 10, 1887. was the oldest resident of Huntingdon. She was in her 98th year and was remarkably well preserved both in body and mind. Only a few days before taken ill she was busying herself in garden making and preparing to plant early spring vegetables. The Globe says that up to within two minutes of her death she sat calmly on her bed, pleasantly conversing with several of her friends, and vigor- ously swaying back and forth a huge palm leaf fan. Her peaceful death was a fitting close of such a noble life.
CAROLINE PATTERSON, widow of a Seneca Indian who acted as a spy and scout during the war of 1812. has just died at James- town, New York. Her husband served under Captain Blacksnake. and, with his wife, were present at the burning of Buffalo during that war.' She was 92 years old.
JOEL HEATON WOODRUFF, who died in Newberry-the Seventh ward of Williamsport-on the 12th of April, 1887, was 92 years old. He was born in Plymouth, Conn., in 1795. Mr. Woodruff lived for many years at Liberty ( Block House ), Tioga County, where he kept a hotel and is well remembered by many of the older people. He was of a retiring disposition and a great lover of books.
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IT is learned from the Sullivan Review of April 14, 1887, that Mrs. M. M. Diekey, widow of the late James Dickey, died at her home in Towanda, on Monday, April 4, 1887, in the 78th year of her age. Mrs. Dickey was a pensioner of the Revolutionary war. She was born in Switzerland and came to America in early life with her father, John Mosier, who settled where the town of Du- shore is now located, when that part of the country was an un- broken wilderness, with the exception of a little clearing by the refugee Frenchman, Du Petit Thiers, after whom the town was eventually named. When a young girl she married James Dickey, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who died in Towanda in 1844, aged 96 years. Mrs. Dickey had therefore been his widow for 43 years. Two brothers. who are well known in Sullivan County, Peter Mosier, of Dushore, and Christian Mosier, of Colley, and a sister, Mrs. C. Hoffman, of Dushore, survive her.
JACOB ECKERT, who died at Northumberland April 7, 1887, was a native of Sunbury, where he was born March 3, 1803. He was 84 years, 1 month and 4 days old, and out of that time had lived 70 years in Northumberland. Mr. Eckert assisted in building the dams in the river at Columbia and Lock Haven, and was one of the pioneer boatmen. He was among the first to transport freight through the Union canal from Middletown to Philadelphia via Reading. For 40 years he had been a consistent member of the M. E. Church. He was the father of Hon. H. T. Eckert, of Sun- bury, one of the Representatives of Northumberland County in the Legislature for 1887-8.
DR. SAMUEL POLLOCK died at his home in Williamsport April 28. 1887, after a long illness. He was a native of Milton. where he was born October 23, 1808, and was, therefore, in the 79th year of his age. Dr. Pollock received his literary education at the Milton Academy under the celebrated Dr. Kirkpatrick. Dickinson College and the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1828. He then studied medicine with the famous Dr. James S. Dougal, of Milton, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1832. From 1832 to 1838 he practiced medicine at Milton, and then removed to Williamsport. where he resided up to the time of his death. a period of 55 years. Dr. Pollock was an eminent practitioner in his day. He also de. .
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voted much attention to microscopy and the study of medical jurisprudence, was a Biblical scholar of high attainments and a poet of no mean order. He was a member of the Lycoming Medi- cal Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. At the time of his death he was the oldest physician in Williamsport.
MUNCY has lost its oldest inhabitant in the death of JACOB COOKE, which occurred April 19, 1887, aged 89 years, 8 months and 4 days. He descended from Revolutionary stock. The Luminary gives an interesting sketch of deceased, which is worthy of reproduction in these pages :
He was born in Point Township, Northumberland County, August 15, 1797. He was the oldest son of Captain John Cooke, who commanded the 4th Sub Legion under General Anthony Wayne, in 1792, and grand-on of Colonel Wil- liam Cooke, who had charge of a regiment under General William Irvine in 1778-9, during which time the famous battle of Brandywine was fought, and in which he and his regiment did effective service. Colonel Cooke was afterwards Quartermaster General at the post at Northumberland, and in subsequent years the first sheriff of Northumberland County. Jacob Cooke, unlike his father and grandfather, did not possess a military spirit, though he performed duty as a mem- ber of the "Volunteer Corps of Artillery" for eight years at the town of Nor- thumberland, according to the act of Congress of 1814, and during the last war his sympathies and aid were unswerving, and devotedly given to the cause of the Union.
At an early age he was thrown upon his own resources with but a common school education, such as the schools of an early day afforded, but in early life he adopted the mottoes of " Honesty, Industry and Economy," and "Pay as you Go," and hence succeeded in life. In 1828 he begun the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1870, when failing eyesight compelled him to retire, and he was succeeded by his son Edward. Loss of eyesight, however, was not a prevent- ive of his managing his own business affairs, and few young men of to-day pos- sess the tact and calculation he did at three score and ten. He was a man of sterling integrity and independence, and when he arrived at a determination it became rooted and grounded into his mind as part of himself.
He was a resident of Muncy for more than half a century, and has been largely identified with the interests of our town. He at one time was an active politician, especially during the memorable campaigns of 1840 and 1844, and was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention that nominated Henry Clay in 1844. In 1849 he was chosen a director in the Danville Bank, and remained in office until the establishment of the First National Bank of Muncy in 1865, when he be- rame a director in that bank and remained one until his death.
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