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Historical

and Biographical Annals

Columbia and Montour
Counties
PENNSYLVANIA

Containing

Concise History of the

Two

Counties

Genealogical and Biographical Record
of

Representative Families

TWO VOLUMES

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME

CHICAGO
J.

BEERS & CO.
1915

and a

THE JiEV/ VOf>K
PUBLIC LIBRARY

783455

ASTOR, LENOX AHD

»9|7

PREFACE
In the preparation of this history of Cohimbia and Montour counties the

pubHshers have been guided by several factors, the principal one being to record
In this vicinity of quaint legend and marvelous incident it is perhaps quite
facts.
natural that writers of the past should have yielded much to the temptation to
romantic narrative.
Pains have been taken to revert to the unimpeachable
records of the early times, which are still available to investigators, and for
verification of the statements in the present

work we

direct attention to files of

newspapers of the period in question, and other records to be found now in the
Bloomsburg and Danville public libraries and the courthouses of the two counties, as well as in the archives of the Columbia County Historical Society and
in private homes.
An important feature of this work, in which appear items of history which
would be preserved in no other way, is the genealogical record of many of the
families of this section whose ancestry were instrtmiental in the building of the
Commonwealth and this portion of it in the days of settlement and trial. The
utmost care has been exercised in the compilation of these family records, and
in nearly every instance the biographical sketches were submitted to those immediately interested, thus affording ample opportunity for revision and correction.
In compiling data for the history the publishers have had the assistance and
supervision of the following residents of this division of the Keystone State:
In the history of Columbia county proper the matter prepared by a representative of the publishers has been reviewed by George E. Elwell, of Bloomsburg,

who

also supplied the Bench and Bar chapter; the Bloomsburg chapter, including the industries, churches, organizations and the first account in permanent book
form of the Bloomsburg Centennial; and much other matter that has been used

proper places through the body of the work.
detailed and authoritative account of the electric trolley and lighting systems which cover both counties was supplied by A. W. Duy, Esq., of Bloomsburg. The story of the building of the Catawissa railroad was written by Charles
in the

The

The interesting narration of the
E. Randall, of the Catawissa Nczi.<s Item.
founding and development of the great car works at Berwick was written by the
manager of the American Car and Foundry Company, William

F. Lowry.
on the establishment of the tirst Methodist congregation in this section of the State, the history of the Berwick Water Company, Berwick Store
Company, and of the Y. M. C. A. of Berwick, are from the pen of F. A.
district

The

article

Witman, of Berwick.
The material for the chapter upon the medical profession of Columbia
The matter for the
county was supplied by Dr. L. B. Kline, of Catawissa.
article on the highways and roads of the counties was furnished by Arthur M.
Clay, district superintendent of the

State

Highway Commission,

stationed at

Bloomsburg.

Credit should be given to Miss Martha E. Robison for the hiswork of the Columbia County Sabbath School Associa-

tory of the origin and
tion, to

The

which organization she has devoted many years of her life.
entire history of Montour county has been reviewed by Hon. H. M.

Hinckley, of Danville, who has written the greater part, devoting much time to
the history of the religious denominations of the county, and to the correct
description of the founding, development and growth of the town of Danville

and the

industries,

improvements and

historical occurrences

brought about or

participated in by the present and past residents of this division of the State of

Pennsylvania.

The publishers also acknowledge their indebtedness to Col. J. G. Freeze's
early history of Columbia county gratitude to F. M. Gotwalds, of Danville, and
Percy Brewington, of Benton, for aid in the progress of the work; Boyd Tres;

cott,

of Millville, and S. N. Walker, of Bloomsburg, for assistance rendered;
N. Dieffenbacher, of Danville, and William W. Evans, of Blooms-

to Daniel

burg, for data for school history; and to Miss Edith Patterson and Miss Jennie
Bird, librarians at Bloomsburg and Danville, respectively, for courtesies extended.

In behalf of the various writers of
the officials of the counties, the

who have

assisted in

making

region which has been

its

this

work, cordial thanks are expressed to

members of the
this

press, the clergy,

and

all

others

an exhaustive and accurate treatise on the

province.

THE PUBLISHERS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORY
CHAPTER

CHAPTER XDC

PAGE

Benton

The Indians

CHAPTER
CHAPTER

CHAPTER XXI
Centre

CHAPTER XXII
Locust and Oeveland Townships

CHAPTER

CHAPTER V
Transportation Facilities— Lighting—Roads, Turn-

Fishingcreek

CHAPTER
CHAPTER

CHAPTER XXV

VII

Greenwood Township— Millville Borough
65

CHAPTER Vin

Hemlock Township

CHAPTER XXVIII

CHAPTER X

Madison

CHAPTER XXDC

CHAPTER XI

Main Township

CHAPTER XXX

CHAPTER Xn
CHAPTER

246

Educational Growth

Mifflin

—Mifflinville

Township

CHAPTER XXXH

„„
_
CHAPTER
XIV

255

Mount Pleasant Township^

CHAPTER XXXin

104

Orange Township

CHAPTER XV
Berwick and West Berwick

252

Montour Township

XTTT

Bloomsburg

248

CHAPTER XXXI

The Press

343

Township

Columbia County After 1850

241

Jackson Township
77

County Formation

238

_t,_^„_

CHAPTER IX
Records of the Counties

—Orangeville

Borough

149

CHAPTER XVI

Catawissa Borough^Catawissa Township

261

CHAPTER XXXV
188

Roaringcreek

Township

CHAPTER XVH
Centralia

Borough— Conyngham Township

CHAPTER
Beaver Township

256

CHAPTER XXXIV
Pine Township

232

CHAPTER XXVI

The Medical Profession of Columbia County.... 74

War

231

Franklin Township
57

Bench and Bar

228

CHAPTER XXIV

Religious Denominations

224

XXIII

Township— Stillwater Borough

^'^^^

221

Township

CHAPTER IV
Agriculture

210

218

Briarcreek Township

Topography and Geology— Iron—Coal

PAGE

CHAPTER XX

Founding of Pennsylvania

Township— Benton Borough

262

CHAPTER XXX\T:
201

264

gpott Township

CHAPTER XXXVH

X\ail
208

Sugarloaf Township

269

MONTOUR COUNTY HISTORY
CHAPTER
Early History

— County

of the

Organization, etc

273

CHAPTER
277

390

CHAPTER Xin
293

Derry Township

CHAPTER IV

—Washingtonville

Borough

391

CHAPTER XIV

296

Military Record

XII

Cooper Township

™

Improvements

386

Anthony Township

Early Families

«^^T=^
Internal

PAGE

CHAPTER
Some

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER V
Schools of Montour County

CHAPTER XV

303

CHAPTER VI
Bench and Bar

394

^'^^'^^ Township

Limestone Township
311

396
,

CHAPTER X%T
;

CHAPTER

VII

Mahoning Township

397
j

32 1

Physicians

CHAPTER XYil

CHAPTER Mil
325

Officials

398

;

CHAPTER XVIH

CHAPTER IX
Danville

^^^J^'"y Township

...400

327

Valley Township

386

West Hemlock Township

CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER X

Township Formation

402

*^^

BIOGRAPHICAL SECTION

HISTORICAL INDEX
COLUMBIA COUNTY
2
Aborigines
146
African il. E. Church
Aggi-essions, Indian.. 13, 188, 248
31
Agricultural Associations ...
28
Agriculture
5
Indian
367
Alton (Almcdia)
331, 628
AiKman, Alexander
267
Ahnedia

American

Car

and Foundry

Co.—
Ber\vick

161,

Berwick Rolling Mill

163

Co.,

1873 (View)
Berwick Store Co. (View)

161
165
113

Bloomsburg
Jackson & Woodin First
168
Store (ViewO
Jackson & Woodin JIfg. Co.,
161
1873 (View)
163
Lower Works (View)

Steel

Car

Department
165
163

(View)

Upper Works (View)
Amusement Houses

—

147
66, 313
26
Anthracite
39
Apple Orchards
12
Area of Pennsylvania
206
Aristes ("Montana")
91
Assessment and Valuation..
Assessors, Township and Bor88
ough
71
Associate Judges
134
Athletic Park
87
Attorneys, District

Bloomsburg
Anthony, Judge Joseph B.

Baldy,

Edward

Baldy Guards
Baldy, William J
Bands
Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa

—

Banks
Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa
Centralia
Millville

317, 576

398
318, 576
81,

218
184
148
193
18
315
155
121
193
303
334

Boy Scouts Troop

Baptists
63, 144, 176, 233, 337, 343,

Bar,

Members

245

Columbia

County
Barkley," Charles

Bear Kun (Mordansville)
Beaver Township
Beaver
(SliumanValley
town)
Bench and Bar
Benton Borough
Benton Township
Berwick Borough
Berwick Bridge
Site of
Steamboat Acci.

dent (View)

Berwick Circuit
Berwick Guards
Berwick Hospital

60,

View

127
355
208

56
171
184
186
186

School

View

108
104
54
56
119
186
193
120

124
124
28
Fountain. 113
Hall
113
266
17, 104

Agricultural Department...

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Boatyards

Town
Town

Boone. Samuel

—

Boroughs
Benton
Berwick
Catawissa

Bridges
(See

53-56
also

Borough

and

Township Chapters.)
Berwick
56
View)
County Bridge at Blooms56
burg (View)
Bricn. William
150, 151
(

308
65
310
210
149

Berwick Schools
1159
Berwick Store Company
165
Store
165
Department
(View)
Billheimer, Michael
17

Bloom Township
Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg, County Bridge at
View
Bloomsburg Hospital
View
Bloomsburg Soldiers' Monument
View
State
Normal
Bloomsburg

181
392
219
218

Boyle's (Brady's) Fort
Briar Creek
Briarcreek Township

Brobst, Christian.

.44,

Buck Mountain
Buckhorn
Buckwheat

189, 197

209
239
28, 34

19,

—

Business Establishments
(See Borough and Township Chapters.)
207
Byrnesville

Campbell (Central)
Canal Trade
Canalboats
Boat,
Passenger
(View)

Canby
Car Works, Berwick
Views
Carver, Prof. Henry
Catawissa Borough
Catawissa Bridge
Catawissa Guards
Cataw-issa

Friends

House
View

271
42, 43

43,

107,

1868
168
255
163
163, 165
126
188
54
81

Meeting

Catawissa Mountain
19,
Catawissa Soldiers' Monument

View
Catawissa Township
Catholics

(See

—

Greek

and

266

196
168
246
193
120
188

Roman

Catholics.)

Centralia
Millville

Orangeville
Stillwater

West Berwick
Bosley, Fort
Boundaries. Pennsylvania ...

Bowman, Bishop Thomas....
vii

210
149
188
301
332
256
338
158
11
13
59

Cattle Epidemic
Cemeteries

57, 147, 186, 301, 340, 251, 267

Centennial

Celebration,

135
271
201
231
Centerville (Centralia)
303
Centre ville (Lime Ridge) .... 223
65, 311
Chapman, Hon. Seth

Bloomsburg

Central
Centralia Borough
Centre Township

HISTORICAL INDEX

vni
263

Cherrington Family
Christian Denomination.

.63,

14G, 177, 216, 230, 236, 242, 272

Churches
also

(See

Borough

and

203
350

Crawford, Capt. Jack
Creasy
Creeks
Creveling Grape
Cumberland Pike

19
39, 268

Township Chapters.)
Circuits, M.
Civil War

60, 171

Columbia County

78
80
79
104, 105
92
87
224

in the ....

Drafts
Clayton, Thomas
Cleared Land, Acreage
Clerks,

County

Cleveland Township
Qubs, Literary and Social

—

182
132
201
Coal
19, 20
27
Dredging
26
Mining
Coal Mines, 26, gOS, 206, 207, 209
269
Cole Family
271
Cole's, Billy
Cole's Creek
269, 271
26
Collieries

Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa

Columbia County, History of
Columbia County, Organiza-

82,

273

Columbia County after 1850.
Columbia
County
Agriculand
Horticultural
tural,

Mechanical Association ...
Columbia County Bar Asso-

tion

Columbia County Medical So75

ciety

Columbia County Courthouse 84
Views
84, 277
Columbia County Historical
134
85
120

Society

Columbia County
.

Jail

View

Columbia County OflTicials... 87
Columliia Park
222
Columbia County Poorhouses 86
Columbia
Sabbath
County
School Association

Columbia Guards

63
78,

81,

Commissioners' Clerks
Common School Law
Conestoga Wagons
Congressional Districts

297
88
94
36
89
89

Congressmen
Conner Implement Works... 258

Connecticut Claims
13, 14, 104
Conviigham, Judge John
66, 312
201
Conyngham Township
Cooper (Bloomsburg Pioneer) 104
Copper Ciaze
27, 270
53
County Bridge, Bloomsburg.
View
56
88
County Commissioners
31
County Fairs
85
County Jail
View
120
County Seat Contest. 83, 373, 275
88
County Treasurers
Courthouses at Bloomsburg,
Old and Present (Views)
84
At Danville (Views)
277

242
87

District Attorneys
Districts

—

89
65, 70
89, 90
Legislative
Doan, John
17, 104
Donnel, Hon. Cliarles G...66, 312
43
"Durham'' Boats

Congressional
Judicial

Early Physicians
Eaton, Frederick H
Educational Growth
Jlodern Development
Statistics
also
(See

163, 513

94
95
95, 97, 98

Borough

and

Township Chapters.)
Election Districts
86
Electric Ligliting
50, 111, 316
Electric Railways
203
48, 50,
Elk Grove
Elwell, Judge William

271

133

(Protestant)

De-

nomination
63, 139, 174, 300, 304, 244, 271
366
Esther Furnace
23, 235
Evangelical Denomination.

Espy

63, 145,
176, 177, 179, 209, 217, 319,
320, 323, 237, 242, 251, 354, 368

Evans, Judge Charles
Evans, William

C
70, 314, 433
135, 577

Evansville
Eves, .John
17,
Explosion on River Steamboat
(1826)
43,
Eyer, Ludwig
Eyer's Grove
Eyerstaedtel (Bloomsburg)
.

219
233
153
105
335
105
31

County

Farmers, Prominent

30
149

Fernville
Fire Companies
Ill,

First Settlers
also
(See

160,

Catawissa
Centralia

Centre Township

Espy
lola
Millville

Numidia

Orangeville
Friends, Society of
57,
58, 150, 170, 188, 196, 326, 236
Friends' Meeting House, Cata-

wissa
196
View
168
Frontier Forts... 9, 104, 231, 393
Fruit Raising
39
Anthracite
and
l'\iniaces.
Charcoal
23

Columbia County
23, 230, 235, 246,

Montour County
Abandoned
Furry Family
Galena Ore
Gas Lighting
and
Geology

Borough' and

Township Chapters.)
264, 271

Fisheries

229
Fishing Creek
228
Fishingcreek Township
Floods
53-56
Foot and Mouth Disease ....
30
Forks
230
Formation of County
82, 373
Forts. Frontier. .9, 104, 221, 393
Fort McClure Chapter, D. A. R.
11. 104, 134
Founding of Pennsylvania... 12
.

Foundry ville
Fowlerville

264
24
35
188

30,

27
48

Topography,
19

Borough
Township Chapters.)

and

Germantown

307
Glen City (Scotch Valley) ... 309
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry 30
also
Borough and
Township Chapters.)

(See

Grassmere Park
Gravel Picker, for Buckwheat

Greek Catholics
Greenwood Township

63, 179,

271
34
206
232

Gristmills, Old... 32, 189, 208,
319, 235, 229, 333, 235, 239,
347, 248, 354, 257, 363, 365, 369

Guava

371

Town-

(Sugarloaf)

269
338

ship

Hemlock Township
Herring, .Judge Grant
Hinckley, Hon. Henry

70, 313

68. "313, 318,

Historical

134
30

County
Horse Breeding
Homes, Pioneer
Hopkins, Rev. Caleb.
Hospitals
Berwick

—

15
62, 139,

Bloomsburg
Views
Hughesburg (Catawissa)
Hurley Guards
Ikeler,

Judge Elijah

The

244
186
119
186
189
81

R
69, 313,

Indians.

448

Society, Columbia

151, 230

222

Iron, Coal
also
(See

193, 316

306
318
185
128
240
194
304
323
26T
236
235
225
358

Buckhom

Harrison
Fairs,

231

—

Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg

66, 313, 673

Ent Post, G. A.
Episcopal

ciation

Dens

Franklin Township
Fraternal Organizations
Aristes

420
1

HISTORICAL INDEX
13,

Indian Aggressions

Names

188
6

Costumes
Customs
Feasts and Sports
Fishing and Hunting
Government

5
7
7

Origin and Local Tribes
Patlis and Trails

188
188
3
7

Religion
Treaties

Villages and Settlements

Wars and Forays

4
8

Inns, Old... 38, 105, 150, 202,
206 211, 222, 224, 226, 240, 257
336
lola

230
238
24
^79, 80

19, 20,
23,

Mills

"Iron Guards"

Jackson, Col. Clarence

161, 184, 464

Jackson Guards
161,
Jackson, Mordecai
Jackson Township
Jackson & Woodin Mfg. Co..
First Store, 1865 (View)..
Works, 1873 (View)
Jail, Columbia County

184
416
241
101
'168

161

85
130
270
10, 221
243
246
229

View
Jamison City
Jenkins, Fort

Jerseytown
John Family
Jonestown

Judges-

71
71
65-70

Associate
President

Biographies

Judicial Districts. 65, 70, 311, 312

Karkaase

17,

Kernsville
Kline Family

Knob Mountain

19,

328
325
256
256

20,27

Lead Ore
Legislative Districts
Lesher, Prof. Albert

89, 90

Lewis, Judge Ellis
Libraries, Public

—

169
66, 311

161
try
265
Light Street
48
Gas
Lighting,
49
Electric
222
Lime Ridge (Centreville)
Limestone
20, 222, 239, 254
Literary and Social Clubs
132
Bloomsburg
182
Berwick

—

Judge Robert

Locks, Canal
Locust Township
Locustdale
Lodges, Indian

Lutherans

104

Lyon, Robert

McAuley, Alexander
ilcAuley Mountain

17, 208,
19,

McClure, Fort
McClure, James
McHenry, Daniel

11,
11, 17,

212

McWilliams, Robert

243
114

Madison Township
Magee Carpet Company
.JIail

Routes, etc

Mail

Service,

17, 38

and

Ancient

418
154
224
207
5

61,

141, 147, 173, 177, 178, 197,

Moses Van Campen Chapter,
D. A.

Mount Pleasant Township
jM

246
247
162, 461
JIallery, Garrick
219
Martzville
Masonic Fraternity, Blooms128
burg

182
255

u n i c p a 1 Improvements,
110
Bloomsburg
i

National

Road

Nationality of Early Settlers 14
Newlin
225
New Media (Numidia)
225
235
99,
218,
Newspapers
North Branch Canal
42, 153, 250,

North Mountain
Northumberland

253
19

Circuit,

Methodist

17, 39, 152

Modern
Main Township

60, 171

Northumberland Presbytery.
Numidia

225

Mainville

Town-

(See also Borough and
sliip Chapters.)

Maus Family
17, 274, 282, 400, 407,

Medical Profession
Medical Societies

—

445
74

Methodist Church and Acad168
emy, Berwick
168
Me'w. 1840
Metliodist Episcopal Denomination
59, 143, 146, 171, 179, 200,
204, 209, 219, 223, 227, 230,
232, 236, 240, 245, 247, 251,
254, 256, 261, 262, 263, 267, 272
Methodist Episcopal Circuits

—

Berwick
60, 171
60
Bloomsburg
Northumberland
60, 171
DenomiProtestant
Methodist
nation

63, 179,

Mifflin Bridge
Mifflin Crossroads
Mifflin Township
Mifflinville

217
55
209
248-

248
77, 132, 184

Military

263
255
232

Millertown (Canby)
MiUville Borough

19-27
Mineral Products
Mines, Coal. .26, 203. 206, 207, 209
72
"Mollie Maguires." Trial
206
Montana or Aristes

Montgomeiy, William
(See also Montour County.)
Montour County Agricultural

Society

Montour County Medical

So-

ciety
4,

Montour Township
Monuments

—

Soldiers',
Soldiers'

Catawissa
and S a

Bloomsburg
Views
Mordansville

Oak Grove

123

Officials—

Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa
Columbia County

216
158
108
190

MiUville

234
258

Orangeville

West Berwick
75
75

Columbia County
Montour County

Montour. "Madame

69, 313,
43,

224
209
104
104
17

McHenry, John G

Mill Grove

Berwick
166, 180
119
Bloomsburg
Life Story of a Great Indus-

Little,

198, 206, 209, 219, 220, 223,
226, 236, 240, 245, 247, 250,
251, 254, 256, 260, 262, 267, 268

8
3, 20,

Iron
Industry

75
373
252
193

i 1

o r

Old Gristmills
Old Inns
38, 105, 150, 202,

206, 211, 222, 224, 226, 240, 257

256
259
256
29
Orchards
of
273
Organization
County... 82,
251
Orphanage, Mifflinville
Ostricli Farm
268

Orange Township

Orangeville Academy
Orangeville Borough

Owen, Evan
..17, 35, 104, 105, 149. 150, 155

Owensville

(Berwick)

Oyertown (Bloomsburg)

120
120
255

....

150
105

191, 265
Paper Mills
270
Passenger Boat, Pennsylvania
168
Canal (View)
30
Patrons of Husbandry .......
also
(See
Borough and

Paradise

Township

Cliapters.)

Peat
Peckham, Hon. Aaron K.
Penn. William
Pennsylvania Canal
PassengerBoat. 1868 (View)
Pennsylvania, Founding of
Area
Boundaries
Pensyl (Willowvale)
Pentecostal Denomination .63,
Physicians, Early
.

Physicians, Registered

Pine Summit
Pine Township
Pioneers
(See also

266
66
12
43
168
12
12
12

232
146
74
76
262
261
16

Borough and

Township

s',

158
32

Cliapters.)

Pioneer Station
Polkville (Waller)
Pollock, Judge James

270
241, 242
66, 312

HISTORICAL INDEX

—

I'oimlatiou
(See Borough and
ship Chapters.)

38
Offices
List of
40
Postal Rates
17, 39
Postal Service. ..38, 152, 317, 234

Post

Postmasters

—

(See Borough and Township Cliapters.)
Postriders
38, 152, 217

206, 216, 223, 236, 260, 3G7, 372
59
Presbytery, Northumberland.
71
President Judges, List

The

218
102
99
102
103

Centralia

101, 235

Millville

.63. 139, 174, 200, 204, 244,

and

Township Chapters.)
School Superintendents
99
Scotch \alley (Glen City) ... 209
364
Scott Township
Secret and Fraternal Socie-

—

306
218
185
128
240
194
304
233
267
265
235
225
259
261

Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Buekhorn
Catawissa
Centralia

Centre Township

Espv
Street

Ligl'it

Millville

Numidia

Protestant Episcopal Denomination

Orangeville

271
87

Prothonotaries
Purchase Line

Borough

Aristes

58, 142, 174, 179,

Benton
Benvick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa

also

(See

ties

Presbyterians

Press,

94
96
Buildings
State is'ormal, Bloomsburg 124
State Normal (View)
128
Summer
98

Schools

Town-

334

Sereno
Settlers,

15
15
14

Early

Homes
Nationality

Quakers

58. 150. 170. 188, 196, 326,

236

Quaker Meeting House, Cata196
168
20, 222, 239, 267

wissa

View
Quarries
Railroads

44,

154, 190

Railway JLul Service

39
Ratti, Josepli
114, 119
218
Raven Creek
Rea, Alexander W...73, 302, 307
87
Recorders, County

Reformed Denomination
61, 141, 178, 300, 210, 220.
233. 336, 231. 245, 247, 350, 360

Registers, County
Religious Denominations

Reminiscences

Rhoadstown
Roads
Catawissa

Cumberland Pike
Indian
State-aided

Roaring Creek
Roaringcreek
Roaringcreek Township
Roberts. Moses

Roman

87
57
17
236
35
193
36
3

43
225
225
262
17

335

Rohrsburg
Catholics

63, 145, 178, 204, 207, 227

Rosemont Cemetery
Rupert
Rupert Grove
Rupert, Leonard
Rupert. Old Aqueduct

147
252
123
17
43

Rural Free Delivery
39, 152
Ruthenian Greek Catholic
179
Church
Salmon. Joseph

321, 256

Army

178

Borough

and

TowiLship Chapters.)
Settlements, Indian

School
(See

Township Chapters.)
93
93
93
Stillwater Borough
228
Stock Raising
29
271
Sugarloaf (Cole's CYeek).269,
369
Sugarloaf Township
Summer Hill
219
Susquehanna River
8, 42
53
Bridges
Floods
53-56

Explosion
42, 152
Site of Accident (View)...
56

Talmar

138, 185, 194, 304, 206. 218.
223, 225, 235. 340, 359, 365, 367
Societies, Literary and So-

—

183
133
301

Society of Fi-iends

57,
150, 170, 188, 196, 336, 336

Old Meeting House at Cata168
wissa (View)

Monuments

130, 193

130
35, 37
Stagecoach Days
43
State-aided Roads
40
State Highway Department
State Highways in Counties
41, 193
90
State Representatives.
89
State Senators

Views

Statistics

Taurus

218

Taverns, Old.. 38, 105, 150, 203,
306, 211, 233, 334, 336, 340, 357
Taylor, John
166, 168, 864

Topogi-aphy and Geology,
Iron, Coal
See also Borough and

(

Beaver
Benton

Soldiers'

261

Tamenund

List of

58,

92,

Susquehanna River Fisheries. 264
Steamboat
•'Susquehanna,"

Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa

41
98

Borough and

Stock
Taxables
Taxes

322
30
Sheep
87
Sheriffs
208
Sliuman
208
Shumantown
224
Slabtown
Slate
20, 27, 339
B
Frederick
192, 595
Smith,
Societies, Secret and Fraternal

cial

95, 97,

also

Township Chapters.)
Formation and
Townships,

Shawnee Park

—

86
208
210
108
218
188
221
224
201
228
231
333
338
241
224
243
246
248
252
355
256
361
262
264
369

Bloom
Briarcreek

Catawissa
Centre
Cleveland

Conyngham
Fishingereek
Franklin

Greenwood
Hemlock
Jackson
Locust
Madison

Main
Mifflin

Montour

Mount Pleasant
Orange
Pine
Roaringcreek
Scott

Sugarloaf
Trails, Indian

Transportation

Facilities....

Treaties

35
13
35

Turnpikes

United Brethren 63, 306, 337. 264
United Evangelical Denomi.

Agricultural

59, 64

Church

Land

92
82
27
26

Military
INIinerai

Mines
Population
(See

Salvation

also

(See

57,

Roads

also

Borough

and

Township Chapters.)
Property Values

nation

63, 145,
176, 177, 179, 209, 217, 319,
220, 223, 237, 342, 251, 354, 268

Van Camp
Van Campen, Moses
Chapter. D. A.
Villages, Indian

10,

230
221
182
4

HISTORICAL INDEX
Waller

242
Waller, Rev. D. J
59, 135, 175
Waller, Rev. D. J., Jr
137, 143, 566
196, 648
Walter, Mary Emma

War

Records of the Counties

Waterworks

—

203
234

Millville

Welliver. Daniel
Welliversville

83
77

255
137
Welsh, Judson P., Ph. D
West Berwick Borough .. 149, 158
10
Wheeler, Fort
Whitmire
223

215
158
110
193

Wilburton
40
Williamsburg (Light Street) 365
Williams Grove
330
Willow Grove
223, 233

Footing, Columbia Coun-

War

Centralia

Wigwams

Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Catawissa

WilloAV Springs

Willowvale
Wirt, Paul E
Woodin, Clemuel R
163,
Woodin, William H
161,
Woodward, Hon. Warren J.
Wyoming Valley, Geology ...
.

Young

Jilen's

333
233
116
489
488
66
20

Cliristian Asso-

146, 166, 179

ciation

Young Women's

Christian As-

146

sociation

MONTOUR COUNTY
307
362
355

Academy, Danville
View, 1S80
African M. E. Church
Agricultui'al

Mon-

Societies,

tour County
Amerman, Dr. Alonzo
Amerman, Charles V
Ammerman, R. Scott

Angle, F.

319,
319,

Anthony, Judge Joseph B. .66,
Anthony Township
Associate Judges
314,
Attorneys
Attorneys, District

33
322
320
688
60g
312
386
326
314
326

Canal, North Branch
Catholics
Cattle Epidemic

Edward

317, 576

Baldy Guards
Baldy, Peter, Sr

81,

298

Banks, Danville

Exchange

375
388
352, 355, 389
320

Baptists
Bare, Harry C
Beaver, Thomas
364,384,406
Beaver, Thomas, Free Library 362
View
362

Bench and Bar

311
Best, Valentine 276, 325, 336, 373
William
291
Biddle,
394, 482
Billmeyer Family
Park
393
Billmeyer's
Bitler, Di-. Benjamin E. .333, 679
B'nai Zion Synagogue
355
.

—

Borouglis
Danville

327

391

Borough Officials, Danville...
11,
Bosley Mill and Fort
Boundarv Lines
286,
Boyd, John C
Boyle's (Brady's) Fort
Brickyards
Bridges
Danville. .53, 330 (View),
Liberty Township
288,
Bright, Peter
Brower, D. H. B., Recollec-

—

372
393
376
423
392
336

•

tions

Brown, George B
Butler, George D

369
395
457

382
290, 384, 563
317

84
277

inations)
Circuits, Methodist Episcopal

Danville

60, 343

War, Montour County

Civil

298 -304
298 304
386
284, 358
398, 399
337

Soldiers

War, Roster

Clark, Col. Robert
Clark's Tavern

Countv

Clerks,

Coal

Cock Robin Mill, Danville
Columbia Guards
Columbia Seminary

78,

Conily

Comly Family

Comly, Joshua
Commissioners, County

Company
View

Store, Old, Danville

Congregationalists, Welsh
.89,
Congressional Districts.
.

Congressmen

89,

Continental Fire

Company

333
297
394
388
315
315
326
384
330
355
325
325
376

Conyngham, Judge John N.
66,

Washingtonville

—

At Bloomsburg
Creeks
Cross Keys Tavern
Curry, Dr. Edwin A

Cleaver Family

287, 328, 329, 347, 576
318, 576
Baldy, William J

Courthouses, Old and Present
(Views)

30
Cemeteries
57, 398, 399, 403
Centre Turnpike
293
320
Oialfant, Charles
291, 326
Chalfant, Thomas
Seth
65, 311
Chapman, Judge
Churches (See Under Denom-

Civil

Baldy,

294
356, 390

Cooper, John

Cooper Township
Co-operative

Iron

and Steel

Works
Cornelison, .Joseph
County Buildings,
Original

332
292, 480

Montour

Present
Fairs

County
County
County
County
County

312
314
390

Officials

Organization
Seat Contest..

83,

—

School

358
323, 452
394, 400

Curry Family

Dam, Roaring Creek
Academy
View

399
307
363
Blues
396
273, 327
Borough
53, 369
Bridge
330
Female Seminary. 307
299
Fencibles

Danville
Danville
Danville

View

Danville
Danville
Danville Foundry

Machine
334
310
307

Co
Danville High School
Danville Institute
Danville Light Horse

Com-

296
334
333
297
Militia
Milling Company. •• 336
Nail & Mfg. Co". ... 334
368
Post Office
Stove & Mfg. Co... 333
Structural
Tubing
331
Co
Deen. John, Sr
284, 557
&
Lackawanna
Delaware.
294
Western Railroad
388
Derry Church
391
Deri-y Township
326
District Attorneys

pany

Iron Foundry
Iron Works

Danville
Danville
Danville
Danville
Danville
Danville
Danville
Danville

Districts

—

89,
70,

Congressional

274
377
33
325
273, 276
273, 275

.Tudicial

310
274, 277

325
311

89, 90. 326
Legislative
Donnel, .Judge Charles J. .66, 312
.

Earlv

Families,

Montour
277

County
Earlv

History,

Montour

373
357
East End Mission
Eckman, Col. Charles W.398. 454

Countv

Superintendents,

Courthouse

At Danville

HISTORICAL INDEX
Electric Light. Danville.
Electric Railroads

.50, 371
50, 295

66, 312, 673

Emmet, John

284

Enterprise Foundry & Machine Works
334
Episcopalians (Protestant)..
346, 389
Evangelical Denomination
354, 390
Evans, Judge Charles C
70, 314, 432
387
Exchange
390
Exchange Hall
.

32
County
Famine
392
30
Farmers, Prominent
394
Finney, Robert
Fire Companies, Danville... 376
Fairs,

Floods
Foot and

...

Forts, Pioneer.. ..9. 104. 321,
Foundries. Early, Danville. 25,

Franklin Court
Frazer, Daniel
Frazer, John, Recollections.
Free Schools
Frick, A. J
Frick, Arthur
Frick, Dr. Clarence
Frick, George A
Friendship Fire Company.
Frontier Forts... 9, 104^ 231.
Fruitstown (Wiite Hall)...
.

Furnace, Valley

Furnaces

19. 24.

Thomas J

30
386
392
328
35S
282
376
308
317
317
321
314
376
393
387
401
395
318
371
284
320
319

Gas Light. Danville
Gaskins, Thomas
Gearhart, Charles P
Gearhart, Edward S
Gearhart Families

365
365. 366, 368
Mrs.
480
F.365,
Geisinger,
George
Hospital

Views

Birthplace

and

Home

480

(Views)

Good Will Hose Company...
Goodman, Philip
".

Grier,
Grier.

Herring, -Judge Grant
High School, Danville

Hon. Robert C
Old

Gristmills,

View
Grovania
Grove Furnaces
Gulics, John C

70,

Hinckley, Judge Henry

68, 313, 318,

Hoax. 1860

Hoffa, Dr. Jacob

—

355
313
374
448
383
322

Hospitals
For Insane

360
360
Views
365
George F. Geisinger
Views
365, 366, 368
358
Hotels. Danville
Howe & Samuel Steel Plant. 335
398
Howellville
282, 306
Hughes. Ellis
392
Hutchinsons

Judge Elijah

Ikeler,

Insane. State
Danville

344, 353,
354, 391, 393, 395, 399, 401, 402

McClure,

69, 313,
for,

Institutes, Teachers'
Institutions,
Philanthropic,

Danville
Internal Improvements

—

Countv

420

283, 317.
283, 338.
317,

396
305
332
376
358
30
412
412
412
314
33
328
390
333
282

Harpel, Dr. Francis E...333, 549

William M.
298, 299

1161
583

322,

McNeal. Ann
McWilliams Familv
Magill. Dr. William

394, 583

H
287, 321, 372

Presbyterian

Mahoning
Church

338

397
Mahoning Township
Mahoning Township, Old Tax
397

List

Market Square Park. Danville 372
314, 325

583

Maus Family

360
360
310

Maus, Phillip
Mausdale
Mausdale Gristmill, Built

360

View
Mayberry Township

Sys-

294
19

24
398
341

401
328
398
Mechanicsville
397
Memorial Park. Danville.... 372
Meredith, Dr. Hugh B
322, 362, 544
Metal & Machine Co
328, 335
Metal Engineering Company
328, 335
Methodist Episcopal Denomination.
.343. 353. 355, 357.
394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399. 403
Circuits
60. 343
.

.lapanese Embassy Hoax.... 383
317
.Tolmston, William C
312
.Jordan. .Judge Alexander.

Methodists, Primitive

Judges

Mexican War, Montour County

—

314, 326

Associate
President

311

Judicial Districts 65, 70, 311, 312
.

Karkaase
Kase, Simon P

17,

328

289, 329

Kelso, Prof. .John
Kirk. Rev. James W., D. D.
341,
Kirkham. Samuel
282,
Kisner. Ralph
320,
Knitting Mills, Danville

307

311
395
394
362
View
362
Rev.
347
Edwin
Lightner.
Limestone Quarries
20, 390
Limestone Township
396
Limestoneville
396
Limestoneville Institute. .307. 397
Lewis. .Tudge Ellis
66,
Libertv Furnace
Liberty Township
Librarv, Thomas Beaver Free

Little,

Judge Robert

390
297
296

Soldiers

Military Record
Montgomery, Gen. Daniel.
.

.274. 280, 327, 360

Montgomery Family
Montgoniei-y. .John
Montgomery. -lohn

17,

C
G

278
318
316

Montgomery. Gen. William..
550
306
880
335

336
Laundries. Danville
Legislative Districts. .80, 90, 326
Leidv. Paul
317

R
69, 313. 418

Lundy. John
Lundv. Rev. .John P

445
281
401

1800

295, 369

292
320
.

17, 274, 282, 400. 407,

293

Danville
Internal
Improvement
tem, State
Iron
Iron Jlills
Iron Mines

Rev. Alexander

Capt.

McCormick. James
McHenry. B. Frances
McHenry, Dr. Montraville

Hospital

Views

.Tack.

Lutherans

Marr, Alem
Martin Family

Geology
Gibson Family
Gibson, Schoolmaster
Glendower Iron Works

Grangers
Grier Families
Grier. Rev. Isaac

J. .324, 938

Raymond

398, 449, 455, 517. 638
368, 481
Geisinger, George F
Geisinger, George F., Memorial

282

\\'illiam

Dr.

53, 369

Mouth Disease ....

Formation of Townships

Galbraith,

Hartman.

Ha user.

Hebrew Synagogue

Elwell, Judge William

286
286

278, 337

Home

at Danville

(View)

328

Montgomery. .Judge William. 281
Montgomery. Rev. William B. 284
Montour County, History of. 273
Montour County Agricultural
32

Society

Montour County Medical Society

Montour.

Madame

ifontour Rifles

Monument,
View
ilooresburg
IMourer,

Muster

Soldiers'

Rolls,

Chapter IV ..

75
273
298
372
277
395
321
296

National Guard
304
National Iron Company. .331, 334
Newbaker. Dr. Philip C. .333, 640
New Columbia
402
336
Newspapers. Danville

HISTORICAL INDEX
394
North Branch Canal
Northern Montour Agricul32

tural Society

Northumberland

Cir-

cuit
Officials,

60,

County

342

335
373
323, 498
330, 499

Danville
Oglesbv, Dr. James
Oglesby, William V
Old Gristmills
Officials,

View
328
Old Taverns, Danville
358
House
in
Oldest
County
338
(View)
Organization^ Momtour County
273, 276
Ottawa
39G
Pants Factory, Danville

—

336

Market Square
Memorial

378
373
372
30
325, 855

Parks. Danville

Representatives
Congressional
State

River Front Park, Danville
Roads, Turnpike
Roaring Creek
Roaring Creek Furnace. .24,
Robbins, Dr. James E
324,
.

Presbyterians
338. 349. 357. 388, 393, 395, 402

339
311
390

Presbyteries
President .Tudges
Primitive itethodists

Prominent Farmers

Protestant Episcopal Denom346, 389

ination

Prothonotaries
Purscl, Dr. Isaac

327
323

Quarries

390

Railroads
294
Rank, Daniel
318, 854
Rank, Isaac
288
Reading Iron Company .329. 334
Recorders. County
327

Rockefeller. Judge William M.
Roman Catholics
356,

.1.

325
326
383
376
317
293
391
372
293
398
399
547
312
390

333, 694
318, 440

James

Scarlet,

305

Schools
(See

also

and

Borough

Township Chapters.)
374
308

Danville
Schools, Free

Danville
Schultz. Dr.

Institutions,
Philanthropic
360
Danville
331
Physicians
Danville
330
Planing Mills.
Pollock, Judge James
66. 312
Poor Farm
397, 401
368
Postmasters. Danville
Postmasters, ^^^lite Hall
387
387
Postmasters. Exchange
Post Office, Danville
368
Post Offices, List of County.
40

Pennsylvania Railroad. .294, 295
Petrikin. Dr. David. .321, 325, 328
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
394
.

89,

Ridgeville

School

—

Republican Rally
Rescue Fire Company
Rhodes. B. K
Rhodes. -John

339, 388, 393
Paules, Dr. William R
324, 1008
.

387

....
351, 391, 393, 397, 401, 402
Reminiscences, Danville .... 376

Sandel, Dr.

River Front
Patrons of Husbandry
Patten, Dr. EoDert S
Patterson, Rev. John

Red Horse Hotel
Reformed Denomination)

Superintendents,

County

310
374

Solomon S

Sechler, H. B.
Sechler, .Jacob
Seidel,

Arren

322, 361, 429

288
285
393, 859
326
274, 277

Senators, State
Settlers,

Early

also
Borough and
Township Chapters.)

(See

398
289
Sheriffs
327
289
Shoop, Gideon
Shreeve, Capt. .loseph E 299, 303
Shultz. Dr. Benjamin F..390, 323
Silk Mill, Danville
335
332
Simington. Dr. R. S
Smack. Daniel
396
Soldiers' Monument, Danville 372
View
277
Spanish-American War, Montour County Soldiers
304
State Hospital for Insane,
Danville
360
Views
360
335
State Senators
State Representatives
326
Steel Plant. Danville
335
393
Strawberry Ridge
Dr.
.James
D...
321
Strawbridge.
Strawbridgc, Ool. Thomas... 394
Stver's Corners
402

Sharp Ridge
Shelhart, Jacob

Xlll

327
Surveyors
Suspender Factories, Danville 336
Susquehanna River.. 293, 369, 398
Swenoda
402
Taverns. Old
387
Danville
358
Taxables. List of, 1798 (Ma397
honing Tp.)
Teachers' Institutes
310
295
Telephones
Toll Rates, 1828
370

Topography and Geology .... 19
386
Township Formation
Townships
386
Anthony

—

390
391
394
Limestone
396
397
Mahoning
398
Mayberry
400
Valley
West Hemlock
403
Tradesmen, Early, Danville.. 380
School,
Training
Geisinger
367
Hospital
View
368
326
Treasurers, County
293
Turnpikes

Cooper
Derry

Liberty

Valley Furnace
Valley Township

Van

Alen, T.

van Fossen, George
Vastine, Dr. Jacob

W
H

Vincent,
Voris,

Henry
James

401
400
390
321
322, 444
318
287, 725

Walker, Robert

War

of 1812,
Soldiers

392

Montour County

Washington Fire Company.
Washingtonville Borough
.

Washingtonville. Fort

Waterman & Beaver

Store,

Danville

View
Waterworks. Danville
Welsh, Thomas C
West, William K

320,
319,

West Hemlock Township ....
White Hall
AVhite Hall Hotel

Wilson. Capt. John S
Wilson, Nathaniel

296
376
391
393

38,

384
330
370
683
492
402
387
387
397
282

Yeomans, Rev. Dr. John W.. 340
Yorks Family
292, 683
282
Young, Dr. Benjamin F
Young Men's Cliristian Association

View

365
362

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Abiams, Abiam
Abrams, Isaac B
Achy, Epliraim
Achy, iXabery
Acor Family
Acor, Joseph S
Adams, Charles
Adams, Charles E
Adams, Emerson

Adams

1000
1000
1202
1202
897
897
647
633
851

Families

633, 646, 851, 890, 921, 963, 1192

Adams,
Adams,
Adams,
Adams,
Adams,
Adams,

Miss Frances
Jacob
John K
Peter J
Samuel

932
1192
647
921
963
890
Ulysses K
987
Ahlers, William
Aikman Family
628
629
Aikman, James E
628
Aikman, John
Albeck Family
935
1234
Albertson, Bartley
1234
Albertson, Edward
Alexander, Miss Harriet J... 582
Alexander. Samuel D
582
1088
Alleger Family
612
Altmiller, Cliarles F., M. D.
Altmiller Family
612
Amerman, Dr. Alonzo
322
320
Amerman, Charles V
904
Amcsbury, Arthur
904
Aniesbury Family
Amnierman, Bernard
919
Ammerman. .John B
793
Ammerman, K. Scott
319, 688
John
776
Andy,
776
Andy. AVilHam H
1312
Angell Family
1312
Angell, Richard B
COS
Angle Family
Angle. Frank C
319, 608
609
Angle. Theodore R
Anthony. Judge Joseph B..66, 312
Eli
879
Appleman,
879
Appleman Family
871
Armes, John ..."
Armes. William J
871
1130
Armstrong. Alfred
Arnhold Family
1063
1227
Artley Family"
1237
Artlcy, William
Artman, Clark D
123S
Artman Family
1238
Ash Family .".
745
Ash. Stewart A
745
Aten Family
690

Auten Family

Auten, Robert

Averill, Archer
Averill, Mrs. Margaret

899
899
805
805

1328
Baker, Charles
Baker Families. 943, 950, 983, 1228
983
Baker, Dr. Frank
950
Baker, George G
943
Baker, Samuel
Baldy, Edward H
317, 576
576
Baldy Family
287, 576
Baldy, Peter, Sr
318, 576
Baldy, William J
320
Bare, Harry G
504
Barger, aiarles C
504
Barger Familj'
523
Barkley Family
Barnard Family
1059
Barnard, Orrin'H
1059
Barton Families. .568, 762, 1069
762
Barton, Harry S
1069
Barton, Henry C
Bates Family'
1190
Bates. Richa'rd
1190
Baueher Family
816
1065
Bauman, Elias F
Bauman Family
1065
Beach Family
1218
Beaver Family
406
758
Beaver, Henry P
Beaver, Thomas
364, 384, 406
Beck. Daniel B
660
Beck Family
660
Belles Families
999
830,
829
Belles, Henderson F
Belles. Jonatlian
999
818
Berninger, Aaron
818
Bei-ninger, Arias J
706
Berninger Family
.Jonas
662
Beniinger,
726
Beyer Family
"V
Levi
726
Beyer,
1077
Bibby, Mrs. Julia
Matthew
A
1076
Bibby,
Biddle Families
291, 644
Biddle. Dr. John
644
291
Biddle, William
Cliarles
1160
Billig,
1160
Billig. Martin L
482
Billmej'er, Alexander
Billmeyer Families
394, 483
483
Billmeyer. Harry
Bird Family
635
Bitlcr. Benjamin E., M. D.323. 679
Bitler Families
679, 907
90S
Bitler, Dr. Sherman E

xiv

Bittner, Archible
Bittner Family
Black, Alfred B

Black FamihBlank Famil'y
Blee Families
Blee, Frank
Blee, Robert

G
E

Bloss Family
Bloss, Frank
Bloss, John
Bloss, Nelson

Blue Family
Blue, Horace C
Bogart, Aaron
Bomboy Families

Bomboy, Frank
Bomboy, Leonard
Boody "Family
Boody, Lincoln
Boon'e

Family

Boudman Family
Boudman,

.J. Roland
Bower, Bruce H
Bower, Clemuel R
Bower, Edward F

Bower Families
732,

796.

827,

....598, 613,
838, 1129, 1250

Bower, George
Bower, Hiram R
Bower, Hiram VC
Bower, Oscar
Bower. R. Orval
Bower. Solomon
Boyd, Daniel

•.

Boyd Family
Boyd, John "C
Boyer Families
Boyer, .Jacob
Boyer. Jacob
Boyer, Reuben
Boyer. William
Boyles Family
Boyles. Josluia

523
523
478
479
946
587, 727
587
727
966
731
731
966
715
715
1124
770, 890
770
770
572
573
1113
835
825
732
1033
1250

H
E

598
613
828
838
796
1033
422
423
286, 423
681, 689
895
689
894
681
843
185, 842

Brannen Family
430
Brannen. James L
430
Bredbenner Family
831
Bredbcnner, Mrs. Lydia A... 805
832
Bredbenner, Miles S
831
Bredbenner, Wm.
1177
Breisch, Ernest E
Breiseh Families ..588, 1110, 1177
Breisch. George
1177

Breisch. Hannon
Breisch. .John E

Brewington, Percy
Bright, Hon. Dennis

588
1110
621
456

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Bright Families
Mrs. Lucy
Tfter
Brink Family
Brink, Harry

Brobst Families
Brobst,

458
388, 457

Britt Family
Brittain Family
Brittain, William

288, 456

Brjgiit,
Briglit,

Thomas B

Brock way Family
Brockway, Roland O
Brower Family
Brower, William H
Brown, Benton B
Brown, Edward J

975
975
1033
951
951
1017, 1060
1066
1088
1088
476
476
561
1103

Brown Families

Chamberlain, Isadora

tSeth

474,

713
767
767
Daniel
453
Curry,
Curry, Edwin A,, M. D. .323, 453
Families.
792
.394,
400,
453,
Curry
7U3
Ciury, John R.

65,

Currin,

H
H

Davenport Family

1080
1080
734
734
Davenport, Ray
Davis Families... .583, 1054, 1175
1054
Davis, John J
1175
Davis, William T
712
Davis, William
Dean Families
701, 991
991
Dean, Joseph
991
Dean, Mrs. ilargaret B
Deen Familj'
557
Deen. John, Sr
284. 557
1219
Deily Family
1319
Deil'y, John
815
Deitrick, Elmer F
815
Deitrick, William
853
Delanty Family
1115
Delay, Emmanuel
1115
Delay Family
1115
Delay, Mrs. Mary
Families.
.592, 668, 1233
DeLong
592
DeLong, Frank E
668
DeLong, .lerome B
668
DeLong, Perry
"De Mott. Cyrus
740
De Mott Family
740
848
Dengler Family
Dentler Family
955
Frank
955
D
Dentler,
1244
Depew, Jonathan
Cliarles
F
1098
Derr,
Derr Families. .554, 753, 863, 1098
554
Derr, F. C
753
Derr, J. Miles
863
Mont
Derr,
920
Deutsch Family
L
919
AVilliam
Deutsch,
787
Dewald, John B
DeWitt Families
641, 1003
641
DeWitt. William
1144
Dice Family
1144
Dice, .Joseph C
845
Clark
L
Dickson,
579
Dickson, Conway
David
C
580
Dickson,
Dickson Families
580, 845
579
Dickson, Sterling
Dieffenbach Family
833
833
Dieffenbach. Hervey E
Daniel, L.
Daniel, L.

Percival

Cummings, John
Currin Family

735
311
915
915
Childs, William F. P
Chrisman Family
713
713
Chrisman, Hon. William
1353
Clapp, Henry C
1353
Clapp, Mrs. Mary E
451
Clark, David
Clark Families
769, 1077
769
Clark, Frank R., M. D
581
Clay, Arthur S
581
Chiy Family
Clcwell Families
707, 1019
767
Clewell, Laurence 1
865
Cloud, Charles G
865
Cloud, William J
802
Cohen, Joseph, M. D
802
Cohen, Lewis
Coira Family
1053
Coira, Henry L
1052
928
Cole, Jacob H
928
Cole, Thomas
730
Coliey Family
730
Colley, Richard F
315
Comly Family
315
Comly, Joshua
John
974
Conner,
974
Conner, Samuel J
Conner. Theodore F
737

Chapman, Judge
Childs Family

561, 1103, 1164
Brown, George B...390, 384, 563
C
473
James
Brown,
474
Brown, John J., M. D
1164
Brown, W. Earle
563
Brown, William G
1059
Bruder, Miss Gussie A
1059
Bnuler, John A
894
Brugler Family
Bruner Family
508
John
D
M.
508
Bruner,
W.,
Brunner Family
825
1343
Brunstetter, George
693
Bryan Family
Conyngham, Judge John N.
.."
BrVan. John G
66, 312
,693
Bucci Family
1119
'778
Cook, Charles
-Cook
Giovanni
7781119
Bucci,
(John Bush)
Family
314
1113
Bucher, Charles E
Cooper, John
Cornelison Families .480, 991, 1231
Bueher Family
1113
Cornelison, James
1253
Buck Family
798
798
Buck, Thomas R
Cornelison, Joseph
392, 480
1231
403
Cornelison, Robert
Buckalew, Hon. Charles R
Buckaiew Families
Cotner
630
697
403,
Family
Buckalew, Capt. John
697
Cotner, George P
406
Hiram
Louis
E
697
Buckalew,
502
Cotner,
Crawford, Clinton
743
1091
Buckingham Family
Crawford
1091
743
Buckingham, George A
Family
Burhard, Rev. Edward A.... 824
Creasy Families
Burket Family
786
...614, 620, 652, 676, 982, 1004
Bush Family
614
981
Creasy, Francis P
Bush, Frederick
620
981
Creasy. Dr. George E
Bush. John (Giovanni Bucci) 778
982
Cioasy, Harvey Lewis
052
317
Butler, George D
Creasy, Joseph A
1004
Butler. Kent A
1047
Creasy, William E
T
Butler, Thomas
676
1047
Creasy, Hon. William
Butt Family
517
773
Creveiing, Daniel H
517
Butt, William A
774, 984
Creveling Families
1210
Creveiing, Herman G
978
1247
Cadman, Enoch
Crispell, Chester F
Cadman. John
978
1346
CVispell Family
533
1142
Campbell. Charles
Ci'ispin, Hon. IBenjamin
534
Campbell Families 665, 1137, 1142
Crispin, Benjamin F., Jr
1130
536
Canouse, David
Ci'ispin, Clarence G
Canouse Family
528
1130
Ciispin Family
Canouse, Mrs. Parah C
1129
535
Crispin, M. Jackson
Carrathers Family
1064
802
Croop, Allen B
Carrathers, John A
802
1176
Croop Family
Carsc Family
666
1063
Croop, George
Carse, Robert A
666
1176
Croop. Milton H
Catterall Families
708
808, 945
Crosslev, Daniel F
Catterall, George
945
Ci'ossley Families. .708, 1069, 1232
Catterall, .Toseph
1069
808
Crosslev, Robert
819
320
Chalfant, Cliarles
Culp, Cliarles
Chalfant, Thomas
819
291
Gulp, Reuben
Chamberlain Family
713
735
Cummings Family
473,

Diefl'enbacher, Benjamin S...1116
545
Dieffenbacher, Daniel
Diefl'enbacher Families. .545. 1116

Diehh Charles
Diehl Family

1058
1058

Dietrich Families
Dietrich, Karl L
Dietrich, Peter
Dietterick, Bruce
Dictterick Family
."
Dietz Family
Dietz, John'H
Dildinc, Charles
Dildine Families

866, 1185

M
C

1185
866
1074
1074
733
732
1053
1005, 1053

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

XVI
Dildine, John A
Dillon. Jolni L
Dirk, iliss Clara Belle

1005
728
1065
1064
Dirk, William J
Divel Family
548
548
Divel, Judge Henry
Dixon Family
748
Doan Family
626
462
Dodson, Boyd
Dodson Familj'
462
1134
Dodson, John
Donnel, Judge Charles G. .G6, 313
1185
Doster, Jacob
1184
Doster, John
1184
Doster, .John, .Jr
1185
Doster, Theodore
818
Dreibelbis, Amos
Dreibelbis Families
81S, 1239
1060
Dreisbach, Benjamin F
Dreisbach Families
749, 1060
596
Drinker, Edward R
Drinker Family
596
597
Drinker, Jliss Lydia
1218
Duggan, .John J
1218
Dutt Family
1058
1058
Dutt, Nelson S.
760
Duy, Albert W.
760
Duy Family

536, 1073, 1254

Ent Families

Ent, Gen. Wellington
Enterline Family

Enterline, W. G
Ervin, Barton E
Ervin, Stephen

Eshleman, Benjamin

East Family

R
D

East, Harry

Eaton, Clark

Eaton Family
Eaton. Frederick
Eck. Miss Anna

Eck Family
Eck, Reese

Eckman,
Eckman,

1198
1198
680
512
162. 512
812
811
812
.298, 454
455
1021
1085
1085
490
490
,

M
W.
G

Col. Charles
ilrs.

Sophia
Eckroth Family
Edgar Family
Edgar, Thomas
Edmondson Family
Edmondson. George D

Edwards Families

...

821, 1182, 1187

654,

Edwards, Henry J
Edwards. .James S
Edwards, Jesse
Edwards. Thomas E
Eisenhauer Family
Eisenhauer. John H
Elliott. .Tohii

Elliott.

HOG

Samuel

Mrs. Annie
Ellis Families
Ellis,
Ellis,
Ellis,
Ellis.

821
654
1187
1182
797
797

1106
886

565, 591, 886
,

James F
.James

John D
Elmes Family
Elmes, William
Elwell Family

Elwell. George Edward
Elwell, George Edward.
Elwell. .Judge William

.Jr.

66, 312

Emmet. .John
Emmett, Andrew

Emmett Family
B

Ent, Charles
Ent. Edwin

591
885
565
816
816
673
675
676

673
284
1095
1095
536
1073

898
1090
1090
948
948, 1096
949
742

Eshleman Families
Eshleman, Harold
Evans, Andrew J
Evans, Judge Charles

C
70, 314, 432

426
898

Evans, David
Evans Families
574,

578,

875
983,

742,

James
John D
John

432,
1151, 1155

574
875
1151
983
Oliver E
Mrs. Sarah E
743
William
135, 577
587
Everett, Edward, M. D
Everett Family
587
'
Evert Family
1099
1099
Evert, George H
553
Eves, C. Scott
758
Eves, E. Tmman
Eves Families. .553, 733, 759, 1047
733
Eves, Joseph C
1047
Eves, John Emery
594
Eyer, Luther
Ever, Rev. William J
594, 619
Evans,
Evans,
Evans,
Evans,
Evans,
Evans,

1189
1189
847
Fail-child. Wesley B
847
688
Fallon, Ed. F
Fallon Family
687
688
Fallon, William
906
Farley Family
906
Farley, Robert
Faiver Family
1077
1077
Farver. George
Faus Family
849
849
Faus, Frank
Faust Families
937, 1087
Fedorco Family
1256
1256
Fedorco, .John
1213
Fegley, Daniel E
1213
Fegley Family
Fensteniaker Family
1158
1158
Fenstemaker. George C
Fensterraacher Family
993
1234
Fenstermacher, Grant
993
Fenstermacher, Michael W.
992
Fenstermacher. Scott E
1115
Fergerson Family
1034
Ferris, Courtney E
Ferris Families. .736, 1034, 1241
736
Ferris, Olaf F
1043
Fettorman, David F
Fetterman Family
1043
Field Family
579
Field. Henry P
579
Field. Mrs. Katharine J
.579
1108
Fielding Family
1108
Fielding. Wilfred G
Fiester Family
1114
1114
Fiester, Henry A
1112
Fitield, Benjamin P
Fifield Family
1112

Fahringer Family
Fahringer, Harry
Fairchild Family

Finnigan, .James C
Finnigan, William
Fisher, Charles J
Fisher Families
:

877
877
495

..464, 495, 756, 1083

George A
Horace
John L
William C
William H
William S
Family
Fister, Ranslo
Fleckenstine Family

465
465
466
466
756
464
1135
1125
616
Flick Families
709, 727, 931
907
Forney Family
964
Fornwald, Cliarles S
Foinwald Family
964
965
Foniwald, George A
Fortner Family
1251
Foster Family
695
695
Foster, John G
889
Foulk, Benjamin F
868
Foulk, Charles L
Foulk Family
889
Foust Family
915
Foust, Philip H
915
Fowler Families
569, 1104, 1159, 1208
Fowler, Jeremiah R
569
569
Fowler, Lillian D
Fowler, Theodore B
1104
Fowler. Willard G
1208
499
Fox, Charles S.
Fox Families
428, 499
Fox, Dr. James T
428
Fox. Dr. .John C
429
1047
Frank, John
282
Frazer, Daniel
718
Frazier, Daniel
Frazier Family
718
503
Freas, Barton D
Freas Families
503, 1074
1074
Freas, Rush T
424
Freeze, Col. John G
Freeze Family
425
788, 1196, 1212
Frey Families
Freeman
788
Frey,
1196
Frey. Henry
317
Frick, A. J
317
Flick, Arthur
321
Frick, Dr. Clarence H
Frick. George A
314
Fritz. Hon. Andrew L
513
Fritz Families
513, 822
823
Fritz, Rush
Fritz. Verner E
822
1200
Fry Family
1300
Fry. George A
466
Funk, Rev. Henry
467
Funk, Nevin U
521
Furman. Chester S
Furman Family
521
Miss
Julia
522
Furman,
Fisher,
Fisher,
Fisher,
Fisher,
Fisher,
Fisher,
Fister

Gaertner, Emil
Galbraith, Thomas J
Gallagher, Michael
Gallagher, Miss Rose
Garrett. William
Garrison, Aaron
Garrison, Calvin D

942
318
1128
1128
851
810
959

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Garrison Families
539, 752, 810, 1087, 1251
959
Garrison, Mrs. Lydia S
752
Garrison, William
284
Gaskins, Thomas

Gearhart, Bonliam R., Jr....
Gearhart, Cliarles P
Gearhart, Mrs. Cordelia E.
Gearhart, Edward S
Gearhart Families
.

519
320
451
319

449, 455, 517, 638

Gearhart, George
Gearhart, M. Grier
Gearhart, Robert Y
Geisinger, Mrs. Abigail A.
Geisinger, Mrs. Abigail A.,
.

449
638
517
480

Geisinger, David
Geisinger, George F
Geisinger, Mrs. Margaret

Gernert, John
Gibson Families

480
1211
481

R..1210
1029
1029
925

George Family
George, William J

...396,544,901

775
775
468
583
Gilbert, Rev. Richard
Charles
J
747
Gilds,
Gilmore Family
989
989
Gilmore, W'illi'am H
Girton Families
599, 667
667
Girton, Prof. Maurice J
Girvan Family
1023
John
A
1022
Girvan,
Glenn, Edwin A., M. D
1072
Glenn Family
1072
1217
Gordner, Jonathan R
Gotshall Family
1101
1101
Gotshall, Heniy
Gotwalds. Francis
692
Graham Families
611, 1229
Graham. Marks
611
Gresh Family
1236
D
1236
Gresh, Joseph
Grier Family
412
Grier, Rev. Isaac ...383, 338, 412
Grier, Isaac X
317, 412
413
Grier, Rev. John B
Grier. Hon. Robert C
314
Grotz Family
664
664
Grotz, John K
Grove Family
540
Grove, Herbert S
540
Grozier Family
764
Grozier, Prof. "Harry .... 184, 764
1081
Gruber, David L
Gniber Family
1081
Guest, David" L
918
Guest Family
919
Guie, Edwin B
1097
Guie. James
1097
Gulics, John C
283
Gulliver Family
994
994
Gulliver, James
Giger Family
Giger, Josiah

Gilbert Family

Hagenbuch. Charles
Hagenbuch. Emory
Hagenbuch Families

Harder, Charles
Harder, Clark
Harder Families

765
581

Harder, Mrs. Sarah
Harder, Thomas E
Harder, Thomas R

582
589
1320
737
Harding Family
564
Haring, David E
564
Haring Family
Harman Families
435, 514
435
Harman, James Lee
514
Harman, Samuel
Harmon Family
794
Harpel, Francis E., M. D.322, 549
Harris Families
1209
961,
888
Harris, Levi
888
Harris, William J
Harter Family
976
Theodore
M.
D...
976
Harter,
C,
872
Hartjine, Prof. Daniel S
Hartline Family
872
772
Hartman, Charles L
Hartman Families
771, 995. 1030, 1035, 1072, 1123
Hartman. Frank S
1123
772
Hartman, Frederick B
A
1020
Hartman, George
1035
Hartman, John F
995
Hartman, Nelson C
283
Hartman, William
William
E
1020
Hartman,
853
Hartzell, John B
Hassert Family
471
Hassert. George E
471
461
Hauck, Charles E
Hauck Families
461, 1259
1259
Hauck, William
516
Haupt, Clarence E
Hauser, Dr. Raymond J.. 334, 938
916
Hayden Family
918
Hayden, .James
916
Hayden, Nicholas
1038, 1094
Hayman Families
1038
Hayman, James P
1094
Hayman. William
Heacock Family
1243
1243
Heacock, Jeremiah R
719
Heim, Joseph
Helm. .Julius
719
Heller Family
1174
1174
Heller, Samuel K
781
Helwig Family
781
Helwig, Noah"
664
Hendershott. Mrs. Mary M.
663
Hendershott. Norman J
Hendricks Family
1311
1211
Hendricks. George
Hendrickson Family
881
881
Hendrickson, John F

1188
1190

749, 1036, 1150. 1188, 1190

Hagenbuch, Frank

581, 589, 765, 1230

Birthplace and Home
(Views)

1150
Hagenbuch, Franklin
749
Hagenbuch, Frederick
Hagenbuch, Mrs. Sarah K...1189
Hagenbuch, Miss Sarah M... 752
1026
Hagenbuch, William A
656
Hager Family
656
Hager, William
935
Hagerman Family
935
Hagerman, Joshua
575
Hall, Horace A
410
Hancock, Charles P
Hancock Family
410

1087

xvu
Henkel, Rev. David

Henkel Family
Henkel, Mrs. Susan
Henkelman Family
Henkelman, George
Heurie Family
Henrie, William H
Henry Family
Herr Family
Herr, John N
Herring, Alexander

618
618
619
1005
1005
635
635
986
543
543
584
506, 584
506
70, 313
690
691
836
836
1174
1243

Herring Families
Herring, George A
Herring, Judge Grant
Herrington Family
Herrington, Frank
Hertz Family
Hertz, William J
Hess, Bruce A

Hess, Charles

Hess Families

437, 600, 803,
957, 971, 975, 1173, 1193, 1243
.

Hess, Hany F
Hess, Harvey
Hess, Isaiah J
Hess, .John 1
Hess, Leslie E
Hess, Dr. Milton J
Hess, Orion
Hess, Reuben
Hess, William
Hetler Family

971
438
1173
920
930
436
1193
1244
600
1024
1024

H
H

Hetler,

Mahlon C

Hicks Families
636, 648, 812; 1257

Hicks, Joseph S
Hicks, Millard
Hidlay Families
Hidlav. William J
Hildebrand. Camden

Hildebrand Family
Hile Family
Hile,
Hill

William
Family

636
1357
1153
751,
1153
1049
1049
1136
1136
750

Henry M...

Hinckley, .judge

68, 313, 318,

Hine, Daniel

Hine Family
Hixson, John

Hock Family

Hock, Michael B
Hockman Family
Hoffa Family

Hoffman Family
Hoffman, Lewis
Hoffman, Simon
Holdren Family

Holdren, Phineas
Hollingshead, William
Holly, Daniel

Holly Family
Hoppes. Clarence
Hoppes, Elias

Hoppes Families
Hoppes, George

Hortman Family
Hosier Family

Hosier. Georg'e B.

Houck Family
Housenick Family

Houtz F.amily
Houtz, 0.

. ".

448

.1133
1123
870
1304

1304
1172
892
747
700
747
876
876
546
822
822
1216
967
1157, 1217
1157
1199
1138
1139
1143
953
839
839

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

XVlll

Hove Family

923
923

Howe, Fred \V
Hower, Charles E

Hower

Families.

52-t

.534, 1045, 1106

Hower, Hiester V., M.
Hower, Dr. Hiram C
Hughe.*,

1090
630
282

Chester

HOG

Hughes, Ellis
Hughes Families

768, 910, 1169, 11T6

768
630
1169
823
823
103T
1037
873
873
896
896
973
973

Hughes, George
Hughes, Mrs. Harriet
Hughes, Walter A

Hull, Charles E
Hull Family
Hunsinger Family
Hunsiuger, .Josiah
Hunt, George
Hunt, John

Hyde Family
Hyde, Thomas E
Hyssong, Austin
Hyssong, Elisha

Judge Elijah R.69, 313, 420
Ikeler Families
421, 958, 990
Ikeler,
Ikeler,

Frank

422
419
422
958
990
852
853
459
590
590, 1185
1185
590

Ikeler, Fred T
Ikeler, Mrs. Helena

Roland
Samuel
Family
lies, William
Irland, James
Ikeler,
Ikeler,

lies

Ivey,

Edward

Ivey Families
Ivey, George A
Ivey, Ricliard

Jackson, Col. Clarence

161, 184, 464
416, 1168

Jackson Families

456
Jackson, Frank R
Jackson. Mordecai W....161, 416
624
Jackson, Jlorrison E
Jacobs Families
541, 1152
1152
Jacobs, George B
1153
Jacobs, John R
541
Jacobs, William F
643
Jacoby Family
643
Jacoby, Guy
819
Jaeoby, John G
819
Jacoby, Legrand S
916
James, B. J
James Family
916
1021
Jarrard, Clemuel L
Jarrard Families
1147
1021,
824
Jan-ard, Merton L
1147
Jarrard, William E
696
Jayne, Samuel C
John Families
346, 632, 833, 1040, 1354
1040
John, J. Stacey, M. D
632
John, Ralph R
Bartlett
527
Johnson,
Johnson Families
527, 744, 807, 936
807
Johnson, George
James
1123
.Johnson,
744
Johnson, .Joseph R
324
Johnson, Dr. Ralph E
999
Johnson, Reagan B

Samuel B

998
998
936
860
.Johnston Family
860
317
.Johnston, William C
Jones, Mrs. Catherine (Maus) 447
939
.lones, Evan
448
.Jones, Horatio C
939
.Jones, John L
312
Jordan, Judge Alexander.
903
.Jordan, Francis
903
Jordan, Mrs. Jennie B
.Johnson,

Johnson, Stephen C
•Johnson, William S
.Johnston, Charles

Karchner, Charles Franklin. 1016
Karchner Families ....1016, 1018
1018
Karchner, George E
289
Kase. Simon P
905
Kaufman, Mrs. Anna
905
Kaufman, Oliver 1
Keck Families
1027, 1213
1313
Keck, Henry S
1118
Keifeit Family
1118
Keifer, Henry H
997
Keiner, .Jolm F
997
Keiner, William
1113
Kelchner Family
1113
Kelchner. John
Keller Family
1126
1126
Keller, William
559
Kellev. Bruce C
559, 1062
Kelley Families
1062
James
Kelley,
1034
Kellogg Family
974
Kepner, Bruce A
Kepner Families
1355
974, 997, 1203,
1255
Kepner, John A
1303
Kepner, Samuel F
733
Kerswell Family
731
Kerswell. Thomas F
663
Kester, Benjamin F
E.
Ross
1113
Kester,
Kester Families
663, 1113
1333
Ivile Family
1223
Kile. George B
1124
Kimble Family
1124
Kimble, Frank
1181
Kindig Family
1181
Kindig, Michael E
996
Kingsbury, Adelbert R
996
King.sbury Family
550
Kirk Family
Kirk, Rev. James
341, 550
Kirkendall Family
1026
Kirkham, Samuel
383, 306
Kisner Families. .880, 1199, 1303
Kisner, Ralph
330, 880
703
Kisner, Samuel
1080
Kistler, Benjamin
775
Kitchen Family
775
Kitchen, Frank R
Klase Family
699
699
Klase, Jesse
813
Kline, Abraham
1235
Kline, Cliarles B
467
Kline, Cliarles S
1107
Kline, Edgar E
Kline Families. .415, 438, 467.
631, 705, 813, 962, 1107, 1225
962
Kline, Harry H
813
Kline, Isaac
.

Kline, Jacob L
Kline, John J
Kline, John L. C
Kline, Luther B., M.
Kline, Riley L
Klinetoh, Dr. Dalbys
Klinetob, David G

705
1064
622
D
415
438
B
652
1186
Klinetob Families
651, 1186
651
Klinetob, Harvey L
1086
Kling Family
1209
Klinger, Elmer
1309
Klinger, Gideon
741
Knapp, Christian F
817
Knecht, Jacob
817
Kiieeht, Mrs. Martlia E
1147
Knepper Family
665
Knittle, Daniel F
645
Knittle, Miss Ella
Knittle Families
645, 665
645
Knittle, .Joseph B
Knorr Families
786, 793, 985
785
Knorr, Harvey E
793
Knorr, Henry T
985
Knorr, Samuel
1107
Knouse, Ehvood
Knouse F.amily
1107
] 001
ICoeher, Edwin
Kocher Families
867, 1001, 1038, 1057
1038
Kocher, Thomas C
Koons Family
779
779
Koons, Julius C
Kostenbauder Families
1011, 1100
1011
Kostenbauder, Jesse J
1100
Kostenbauder, Oscar P
Kramni Family
905
Krebs Family
413
Kreischer Family
1204
1204
Kreischer, William
660
Kreisher, Clarence E
Kreisher Family
660
Kressler Family
1014
1014
Kressler, Samuel P
Krumm Family
1206
848
Kuhn, Isaac S
848
Kuhn, Mrs. Susan
1163
Kunkel, Charles
Kunkel Family
1163
Kurtz Family
720
Kurtz, Hon. .Jennings U..121, 720

Landis, David E
Landis, John B
Laiib Families

Laub. George
Laub, Jacob A

Daubach

Fam.ilies

Lazarus, Charles E
Lazarus Families
Lazarus, Henry
Learn, Alexander J

571
571
757, 1117

757
1117
552, 1031

940
940, 958

959
844
844
Learn Family
804
Lechleitner Family
868
Lechner, .Joseph F
870
Le Due, Emile J
870
I^e Due Family
Lee Families
911, 1101, 1177
1101
Lee, George S
911
Lee, Isaac C
1177
Lee. James
1224
Lee, Thomas

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Mrs. Carrie (Russell) .1259
1214
Legien Family
1214
Legien, Herman R
942
Lehmau Family
942
Lehman, Frank
1114
Leiby Family
1114
Leiby, Simon
933
Leidy Family
933
Leidy, John H
Paul
317
Leidy,
842
Lemon, Michael
842
William
Lemon,
526
Lenhart, C. Fred
526
Lenliart Family
988
Lenhart, George
1255
Letteer Family
1255
Letteer, Oscar E
878
Levan,
Levan (Le Van) Families. 501, 878
1078
Levan, Joseph
1078
Levan, Wilson
Lewis, Judge Ellis
66, 311
655
Litchard Family
655
Litcliard, James
419
Little, Mrs. Deborah T
Little Family
418
Lefller,

Little,

Judge Robert

69, 313, 418

Livziey, Harvey
Livziey, William

Lockard Family
Lockard, James S
Lockhart, Charles C

Lockhart Family
Long, Charles C

Long Families

Long, Jolin F
Longenberger Family
Loreman Family
Loreman. .Jonathan
Lormer Familv
Lormer. Scth C
Lovett, William
Lovett, William T
Lowry, William F.
Lundy, John
Lundy, Rev. John P
._

Lutz,

Charles

Lutz Family

Lyman Family
McAnall, Charles K
McAnall, John
McAnall, John R
McBride. Charles G
McBride Family
McBride, Hugh' D
McBride, .James D
McBride, Miss L. Rachel
McBride, Oscar E
McCollum, Alfred F
McConnell Family
McConnell. George
McCormick, James

McHenry, Abram L
McHenry, B. Frances

930
930
1030
1030
1143
1143
846
707, 952
952
1260
962
962
1128
1128
997
997
162, 744
286
286
754
754
486
1031
1030
1030
1080
1089
1080
717
1090
10S9
1096
593
593
292
1148
320

McHenry Families
657, 814, 1148, 1160, 1194, 1235

McHenry, Ira R
McHenry, James B
McHenry, John G

1160
1235
212, 657

JIcHenry, Dr. Montraville ....
1161
814
A
573
iloKiUip, Harvey
1225
Mcilahan I'amily
1161
JlcMahan, Capt. James
1149
McJlichael, James
1149
McMichael, William F
583
McNeal, Ann
655
McVicker F'amily
McWilliams Families ...583, 864
MaoCrea, Alexander B., M. D. 516
516
MacCrea Family
ilacdonald Families. 609, 668, 1156
322,

JXcHeniy, Oliver S

lAlacdonald,

John

T.,

Jlacdonald, John

M. D...1156

Maclntyre Family
Madden Family
Madden, William T
Magill, Dr. William

609
668
693
692

H
287, 321, 372

1241
Magreevy Family
162, 461
aUllery, Garrick
1241
Maloney Family
1039
Jlanning Family
H
1039
William
Manning,
1131
Mansfield Family
1131
Mansfield, William J
1169
Jlarkle, Daniel R
Markle Families 1043, 1140, 1170
634
Marks Family
634
Marks, Robert L
Marr. Alem
314, 325
583
Martin Family
941
Martin, James
941
Martin, Patrick
925
Martz, Ambrose
1062
Martz. Charles N
1042
Martz, David B. F
1154
Martz, Edward S
Martz Families
810,
1154
908. 924, 1042, 1050, 1002,
924
Martz, Henrv
90S
Martz, Jacob
929
Martz, Jacob
924
Martz. Jolm
Masteller Families
478, 1097
1097
Masteller, William
619
Masters Family
619
ilasters, Francis P
620
Masters, Mrs. Orpha L
Maus Families
17, 274, 282, 400, 407, 445
407
Maus, Philip E
1191
Mauser, Alonzo A
1305
JIauser, David
Mauser Families. .938, 1191, 1305
1306
JIauser, Jlrs. Sarah J
1082
Jlelick, Henrv
Jlelick Families
1055, 1082
Mensch Families
586, 630, 781, 1224
1324
Menseh, Frank
586
Mensch. John S
630
Mensch, Lewis C
781
Mensch, William
544
Jleredith Familv
Meredith, Hugh'B., M. D
323, 363, 544
815
IMericle. Theodore
1071
Merkel Familv
1071
Mcrkel. William A
.

XIX
Messersmith Family
Messersmith, Jesse B.... ...
Michael Families. .511, 1139,
Micliael, Obediah
Milheim Family
milliard Family
Millard, William H
Miller, Daniel
Miller, David

787
787
1215
1140
1179
521
520
801
1125

Miller Families
801, 1084, 1125, 1163
1084
Miller, George
801
Miller, Harry
Miller, James
776
Miller, Reuben J
1163
Mills Family
684

Mills, .Samuel

684
loiQ
iiys
1195
491
280

Milnes F-amily

Molyueaux Family
Molyneaux, Walter
Monroe, William R

Ditniel

Montgomery,
Montgomery, Gen. Daniel

274, 280, 337, 360

Montgomery Families
Montgomery, John C

17,

Montgomery, John G
Montgomery, Gen. William

278
318
310

378, 327
Montgomery, Judge William. 281
Montgomery, Rev. William B. 284
849
Moomey Familj849
Moomey. George iS
Moore, Evan B
1141
Moore Families
525, 631, 1141, 1194
Moore, John E
631
Moore, William
1194
ilordan Family
1166
Mordan, Harman L
1166
989
Morgan Family
989
Morgan. John L
Jloser Family
682
ilourcr, L. K
321
1105
Mowery Family
1105
Mowery, George
867
Mowrei-, Mrs. Annie S
867
Mowrer, .John
867
Mowrer, William K
1216
Jlowrey, Mrs. Eleanora
1216
Mowrey Family
1316
Mowrey, George Y
1216
Mowrey, Isaac
1122
Munson, David
Munson Family
1123
1132
Munson, ilrs. Louisa
658
Murray, David E
1307
Murry Family
1207
Muriy, Miles
Musselman, Beverly W., Sr.. 855
Musselman, Beverly W., .Jr.. 719
Musselman, Mis.-B Elizabeth L. 850
Musselman. Miss Sarah C.
856
850
Myerley. George
851
Myerlcy, Mrs. Harriet S
976, 1025
Myers Families

Newbaker Family

640

Newbaker. Dr. Philip C..332, 640
Xewman Family
777

Newman.

-lohn

Xevhard Familv

777
840

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

XX
Neyhard, Samuel
Noss Family
Nuss Family

110, 840

1037
1032(

Nuss, Jeremiah

498
498
333, 498
499
330,
1007
1007, 1111
1111
1166
1166
1110
1110
869
634
636
955
1332
1322
887
887

Oglesby, Dr. James
Oglesby, William V

Boyd T

Ohl Families
Ohl, Michael T
Oliver Family

William
Family

Oliver,

Oman

Oman, Thomas C

William

Orth,

Oswald, Mrs. Anne

Oswald Family
Owen, Hudson
Oxley Family
Oxley, Lewis
Oyster Family

Paden, Claud C
Paden, David F
Parker Family
Parker, Theodore
Patrick Family
Patrick, Gus
Patten, Robert

Oyster, George

994
995
1244
1344
1347
1247
M. D. .325, 855
1008

S.,

Paules Family

Paules, William R.,

Peckham, Aaron

Petty Family
Pfahler Family

Pfahler, James F
Pfahler, John E

Families

Phillips,
Phillips,

Lewis S
Ralph G

Ploch. Frederick

Poe Family
Pohe Family
Pohe, Stephen C
Polk Family
Polk, Rufus K
Pollock Family
Pollock, Judge James
Pollock, James
Price Families
Price,
Price,

Thomas J
William

Purpur, Edward

Purpur Family
Pursel Families
505,

Pursel,
Pursel,
Pursel,
Pursel,
Pursel,
Pursel,
Pursell

555,

560,

820,

Frank P
Henry J
Jasper

Jonathan
Norman S
William G
Family

Quick Family
Quick, John

324, 1008

66
1259
542
603
602
945
600
599
1059
788, 1353
788
1353
831
615
1120
1120
414
414
700
66, 312
700
496, 947
496
947
459
459

Pentz, E. D
Peters, Edward
Petrovits Family
Petrovits, Rev. Joseph J. C.

Pliillips

783
678
678

1032

Oglesby Family
Oglesby, George

Ohl,

Quick, William
Quigg, Thomas
Quigg, William

433,
1079, 1109

432
1079
555
1109
505
560
738
783
783

Randall, Charles

Randall Family
Rank, Daniel VV
Rank Family
Rank, Isaac

Raup Family
Rcagan, George L., M.
Reagan, Mrs. Tillie E

Rebman, Samuel C
Reed Families
Reed,
Reed,

854
288
573
573
1061

Raseley, Charles

Raseley Family
Raup, Abraliam

585
585
318, 854

Guy A
J. Orville

Reed}', Daniel

1061597
598
871
691, 1083
1083
941

791
791
809
Reese Family
809
789
Reifsnyder Family
789
Reifsnydcr, Karl P
1183
Reiter, Augustus
Reiter Family
1183
1036
Remley, David
1180
Renilcy Family
927
Reynolds Family
926
Reynolds, Theodore
Rhawn Family
481
481
Rhawn, William
Rhinard Family
1226
Rlioads Family
834
317
Rhodes, B. K
Rhodes, .John
393
Riciiard. Frederick J
493
494
Richard, Jacob F
Richardson Family
483
Richardson, John L
483
Richie, C.
1127
Rieketts, Edward
930
Ricketts, George E
930
Rider, Lloyd T
537
Rinard, Abraham L
608
Rinard Family
607
Rinard, Joseph H
607
971
Ringrose. Aaron
971
Ringrose, William R
Rishel, Dorance R
434
Rishel Family
434
Rishel, James P
863
Rishel, John R
862
Rittenhouse Family
1171
Rittenhouse, MarkE
1171
Ritter Family
1337
Ritter, FoiTcst
1237
Robbins Family
547
Robbins, James E., M. D. .334, 547
Robinson, Edwin
1132
Robinson Family
1132
Robinson, .John
1133
Robinson, .Joseph J
1134
Robinson, Thomas C
902
Robinson, William
1132
Robinson. William R
902
Robison Family
566
Robison, .James B
566
Robison. Miss Martha E
568
Rockefeller, .Judge William M. 313
Rodenhoffer Family
943

Reedy Family

Reese, Charles

943
883
883
1230
Rogers, David J
694
Rogers, Thomas J
694
Rogers, William J
Roiirbach Family
1315
Rohrbach, Lorenzo D
1215
Rook Family
1028
Rote Family
551
Rote, George L
551
1144
Roup Family
1144
Roup, William
Rowe Family
869
Rowe, George L
S69
Rowe, John
790
Rowe, Riciiard
790
Rowe, Mrs. Sarah
790
Ruch Families
1090
843,
Ruch. Henry
574
Ruch. William F
574
Ruhl, Robert J
602
1189
Runyan, Mrs. Ann Maria
1189
Runyan, Elmer
506
Rupert Family
Russell Family
1258
Russell, William M. C
1258
Rutter Family
441
Rutter, John C, Jr
441
871
Ryan Family
871
Ryan, James
Rodenhoffer, George
Roderick, David

Roderick Family

M. D.

Sandel, ,John H.,

Sands Family
Sands. William

Savage Family
Savage, George
Savidge Family
Savidge, Ralph
Scarlet Family

N
A

Scarlet. James
Schlee, Frederick
Schlee, Peter

Schott Family
Schott,

Thomas

Schram Family

.323, 694

1122
1121
1045
1045
1221
1331
440
318, 440
1063
1063
1237

1336,

784
784
439
Schultz, Dr. Solomon S. .333, 429
Schweppenheiser, Abram.806, 817
Sehweppenheiser Families
805, 817, 1337
Schweppenheiser, William C. .1237
Sechler Families .... 717, 867, 870
288
Sechler, H. B. D
385
Sechler, Jacob
582
Sechler, Mrs. Mary C
Sechler, M. De La'fayette
717
Sechler, Mrs. Rosanna
716
582
Sechler, Samuel
718
Sechler, William A
856
Seely, Col. Andrew D
739, 856
Seely Families
739
Seely, S. Britt
858
Seidel, Alfred F
Seidel. Arren E
393, 859
859
Seidel, Clarence
Seidel Families
714, S5S
Seidel, Joseph B
714
Seidel, Mrs. I^ucy C
859
1085
Seiple Family
1085
Seiple, Stephen C

Schram, Martin

Schultz Family

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Seybert Family
Shaffer, Alfred C
Shaffer, Hon. Charles
Shaffer,

1189
1186
704
1210

Edward

Shaffer Families

Smith, Charles
Smith, David
Smith Families

790
933

520, 804, 932, 934,
944, 1081, 1103, 1118, 1165, 1249

XXI

Swank

Families
504, 685, 853, 1208

Swank, Joseph G
Swank, Thomas J
Sweutek, Mrs. Amelia

504
853
939
Paul
P
940
Swentek,
Sweppenheiser, Dr. Claude E. 949
949
Sweppenheiser Family

1248
Smith, Fred K
193, 595
Smith, Frederick B
790
Smith, George
520
891
Smitli, H. Montgomery
Shalter Family
E
944
James
891
864, 927, 950
Smith,
Taylor Families
Shalter, John
950
936
643
Smith, John B
Taylor, Frank
Shambach, Jesse Y
H
John
925
166, 168, S64
1093
Smith, Joseph
Taylor,
Shannon, Qark
937
1081
Smith, Lloyd E
Taylor, William
Shannon Families
760, 1093
477
934
760
Smith, Miles
Teple Family
Shannon, Hun. William W..
477
James E
1165
Robert
835
Arthur
Smith,
Teplc,
Sharpk'ss,
D
632
926
970
Tewksbury, Eugene
Smith, Stephen
Sharpless, Benjamin F
622
L
804
Theodore
969
Smith.
Families
Tewksbury
Family
835,
Sharpless
Families.
1250
Thomas
F
932
1164,
1040,
970
Smithers, Benjamin
Sharpless, George
1164
922
Smithers Family
Thomas, Martin L
289
Shelhart, Jacob
1153
1052
Thomas, Miss Mary il
858
Snyder, Allen L
Sheriff, John
1151
1096
Thomas, Samuel R
858
Snyder, Charles
Sheriff, Mrs. Matilda A
960
1167
.614, 687,
Thompson Family
Snyder Families
Sherman, Nathan
960
791
761, S85, 909, 1052, 1096, 1322
Thompson, Hugh
Shew Family
913
Tliornton
885
791
Family
Snyder, H. Alfred
Shew, John'W. E
1061
761
874
Tilley, Rodman E
Snyder, Prof. Harlan R
Shires, Charles E
1061
William
755
874
Tilloy,
Shires Family
Snyder, John
933
909
842
Tooey, James
Shive Family
Snyder, Joseph H
933
615
1100
Tooey, John
Shoemaker, David C
Snyder, Mrs. Sarah
683
687
Tooley, John
Shoemaker Families
Snyder, Stephen E
F
683
John
614
Tooley,
834, 888, 1075, 1100
Snyder, William H
755
Townsend, Mrs, Elizabeth. .1057
1258
Shoemaker, William
Snyder, W. L
Town.scnd Families
711
Sober Family
1056, 1102
289
Shoop, Gideon
468
711
Townsend, John R
1135
Sober, Dr. Harry
Shugars Family
1103
Jonah
1146
Townsend,
Sones Family
1135
Shugars, Jolm H
1056
Louis
J
807
Townsend,
Edward
J
333
M.
D
B.
F.,
290,
Shnltz,
Sponenberg,
773
724
Traugh Family
Sponenberg Families 646, 807, 987
Shultz, Charles
773
987
Traugh, Henry F
Shultz Families
662,
Sponenberg, James E
839
646
Trego Family
734, 830, 903, 936, 1065, 1093
Sponenberg, Philip
829
637
Stackhouse Family
1065
Shultz, Glen L
Trego, William H
508
637
663
Trescott, Boyd
Stackhouse, Milton E
Shultz, Philip G
508
Trescott Family
560
1092
Startzel Family
Shultz, R.
1046
559
512
Startzel, William B
Trowbridge, Harry
Shuman, Ambrose, M. D
870
748
511
Trumbower, Mrs. Mary S
Shuman, Mrs. Angeline
Stees, Harry R
870
681
Trumbower. Samuel
541
Steinman, Andrew J
Shuman, Cliarles S
1027
683
Tubbs Family
Steinman Family
Shuman Families
1027
Tubbs, William E
Sterner Families
463, 832
509, 541, 1077, 1245
938
463
510
Turner, William
Sterner, Harry
Shuman, Franklin L
938
833
512
Turner, William G
Sterner, Prof. Lloyd P
Shuman, John T
784
1345
.John
Shuman,
Stifnagle, Philip
1133
784
511
Umstead, David
Shuman, Paris
Stifnagle, William
790
1188
Um.stead Family
548
Sidler, Emanuel
Stiles, .John J
1133
556
Still. Adoniram J
Umstead, Mrs. Harriet E
Sidlcr Families
548, 686, 875
826
556
686
Still
William
L
Family
Unangst Family
Sidlor,
836
1111
875
Stine Family
Sidler, William S
Unangst, George B
1149
1111
E
333
Michael
Dr.
R.
S
Stine,
Updegraff Family
Simington,
1093
684
Utt Family
1016
Stock, George A., M. D
Sitler, aiarles E
1092
610
Stone Family
Sitler Families
Utt, William S
648, 796.
1086
972, 1016, 1032, 1161, 1175, 1182
Stout, Mrs. Elleretta
T.
Van
1025
Alen,
1161
Families
Stout
761,
Sitler, .James
1087
796
Stout, Sheridan
Sitler, Reuben
1025
957
Stout. William T
Smethers, Miss Amy B
985
Smethers, Edward H
Strawbridge, Dr. James D... 331
1205
Families
Stuart
Smethers
Family
893
Stver, Cyrus F
957, 961, 985, 1243
893
1242
Family
Smethers, Hurley
Stver
1010
957
Suit, Alonzo J
Smethers, Jacob C
1197
1343
Families
Suit
Smethers, John A
1010, 1094,
1094
1301
Suit, Headley
Smethers, John
1197
Siilt, .Jacob N
Smethers, Miss Katlierine. .1242
Smethers, Philip McClellan.. 961
Suplee (Supplee) Families...
1103
740, 1033
Smith, Adam
850
1104
Sutliff Family
Smith, Allen E
704, 1186, 1210, 1246
1246
Shaffer, Rev. Theodore B
893
Shalter, Edmond

W
.

M
M

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

XXll
Vastino, Jacob M,
Vastine. William
Vastine, William

Vincent Familiesi
Vincent, Henry
Vincent, Thomas G
Vincent, Walter J
Voris, Charles E
Voris Family

James
Vought Families

Voris,

Vought, Peter H
Vought, William C

445
60C
445
659, 9G8
31S
9GS
659
725
725
2S7, 725
594, 1029
594
1029

Welliver, Wilbur C
Wells, Mrs. Lemuel
Welsh, Abner
^V'elsh,

Isaac

Welsh, James

G
G
Thomas C

Jayne
Welsh, Robert
^^'elsh,

Welsh,
Weniier Familv
Weiiner, Frank

W^agenseller Family
Wagenseller, George

Wagner Family

Wagner, Harvey
W^alker, Silas

Waller, Eev. David

J.,

127, 143, 560

Walp, Charles 1'
Walp Family
W'alter Family

Mary

Walter,

Walton

Emma

Fami'lies

W'alton,

Harry E

Walton, Rev. Morris
Waters, Dennis

Waters Family
Waters, George

Watson Family
Watson, John F
Watters Family
Watters. William
Watts Family
Watts, James S
Weikert Family
"
Weller, John

Welliver. Charles

826
826
895
196, 648
539, 837
837
539
858
1206
1206
879
949
984
984
698
698
903
910
538

Welliver Families
539, 1001, 1015, 1057, 1078

Welliver, George
Welliver, John E
Welliver, Samuel
Welliver, Warren

1001
1078
458
459

Wertnian Familv
Wertmaii. Felix P
W'ertman, Henry

West Family
West, Isaac "D
West, William Kase
W'halen, Daniel J
.

1067
1067
938
938
731

Whalen Family
Wheeler, Edward
Wheeler, H. C
White, Alem B
White, Bruce
White, Jbs. Esther
White Families

1057
407
954
954
682
955
1041
682
320,
1002
1002
923
923
929
492
493
319, 492
1240
1240
1041
1041
967
795
967

469,
795, 967, 1009, 1068, 1192, 1229

White. Frank B
White, Harry E
White, Hiest'er V

1229
1009
409
1068
W'hite, John P
White. Leslie H
1192
Whitmire Families ....1162, 1179
Whitmire, Morris J
1179
423
\Vigfall Family
423
Wigfall, Samuel
545
Williams, David C
Williams Families
666, 912, 982, 988, 995
546
Williams, George C
988
Williams, Guy
1128
Williams, J. J
Williams. William E
912
W"illits Familv
623
623
Wnilits, Isaiah W^, M. D
W^ilson Family
1108
W'ilson, Nathaniel
382
1108
Wilson, W. P

Wintersteen, Andrew J
Wintersteen Families

900

702, 882, 900

Wintersteen, Henry
\Vintersteen, Joseph

Witman, Rev. Edwin
Witman, Franklin A
Wolf Families

H
H

Wuodin, Clemuel

Woodin Family
Wuodin,

William

ceased)

702
1232
460
768
617, 1127
162, 489
488

(de161, 488

Woodin, William

489
66
913

Woodward, \Varren J

Wyatt Family
Yagel, Charles

Yagel Family
Yerrick, John
Yorrick, Rush
Yetter, Clyde C

Yocum Family
Yorks Family
Yorks, Miss "M. Ida
Yorks, William
Y'ost Family
Yost, Isaac'E

Young, A. Philip
Young, Dr. Benjamin

1053
1053
863
863
753
623, 1137
292, 683
684
683
1201
1201
570
282

Young Families
570, 935, 1051, 1168

Young,
Young,
Young,
Young,
Young,

Herman T
Jeremiah

B
Mrs. Mary B
Omer F

Dr. Jesse

Youngman, Maj. John C.
Y"oungman, M. Grier
Zarr Family

Zarr, Frank P
Zarr, Robert

Zehnder. Cliarles

Zehner Family
Zehner. William
Zerbe Family

1051
1168
417
1168
935
449
448

956
956
956
162, 460
800
800
799

HISTORY OF

COLUMBIA COUNTY
CHAPTER

THE INDIANS
Civilization struck the native savages of this
The great and popcontinent hke a bhght.
ulous tribes and their strong bands of warriors and hunters, fiercer than any wild beast
and as untamable as the eagle of the crags,
have faded away, and the remnants of the once
powerful and warlike nations are now huddled
upon reservations, and in stupid squalor are
the paupers of our nation, begging a pitiful
crust of bread, or in cold and hunger awaiting
the allowances doled out by the government
for their support. The swiftness with which
they are approaching ultimate extinction, the
stoicism with which they see and feel the inevitable

bones of laggard nations, nations who pause
within the boundary line separating the igfrom intelligent progress.
norant savage
Nature tolerates none of this sentimental stuff
of "Lo, the poor Indian." It wastes no time
in futile tears over the suft'erings of ignorance
and filth, but "removes" them and lets the
fittest survive, and to them belong the earth
and the good things thereof. And yet even
the poor Indian had rights that civilization
should have been bound to respect; and civilization had it within her power to help rather

men of the forest.
The one characteristic that will ever redeem
upon the memory of the Indian race from contempt

darkness and destiny closing
their fate, forms one of the most

them and

Soon their memory
epics in history.
will be only a fading tradition. To real history

tragic

they will give no completed chapter, because
they did nothing and were nothing as factors
in the grand march of civilizing forces.
They
gave the world no thought, no invention, no
idea that will live or that deserves to be classed
with the few things born of the human brain
As a race they
that live and go on forever.
had no inherent powers of self -development
Like the wild animal they
or advancement.
had reached the limits of their capacity, and
had they been left here undisturbed by the
white race they would have gone on indefisavages breeding
nitely in the same circle

—

savages.

Such are nature's resistless laws that the
march of beneficent civilization is over a great
highway paved with the bodies and broken

than rob the red

is his intense love for his wild liberty and his
unconquerable resolution never to be enslaved
a menial, drawing the wood and water and
receiving the blows of the lash from a masHe would sing his death song and
ter's hand.
die like the greatest of stoics, but he would not
be yoked. When penned up as a criminal, he

—

beat against the iron bars like the caged eagle
and slowly perished, but died like an Indian
brave, and rejoicing that thus he could escape
the further tortures that to him were far be-

yond death

itself.

The treatment

of the red

men by

the govern-

ment has not been wise and often unjust. Not
only were they cruelly robbed of their lands at
times, but government traders swindled them
of their pelts, furs and game, and gave them

—

the worst evils of our civilization
whiskey,
Governlying, deceit and hypocrisy.
missionaries
and
ment agent.=
preached and

powder,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
enjoined upon them our splendid Cliristian
code of morals, but the busy traffickers robbed,
swindled and debauched and murdered them
without hindrance or rebuke.
William Penn and Lord Baltimore were
more than a century ahead of their age. Their
treatment of the Indians is the fairest page in

the country which they had discovered so far
towards the rising sun to be without people,
but abounding in hsh, game, fowls and fruits ;
that thus the Lenape were induced to emigrate
eastward along the Lenape-zvhittuck, the river
of the Lenapes, also called Mack-er-isk-iskan,
which the English named the Delaware, in hon-

In their
the history of American settlement.
dealings with the savages they leaned to the
side of charity and paid them their own price
for the lands purchased, respecting their rights
and keeping the compacts made with them. In

or of Lord de

this respect they earned the unfaltering regard
and trust of the natives, the only injuries ever

done to the members of the Society of Friends
being perpetrated by the renegade allies of the
French.
ORIGIN OF

THE INDIANS

It is probable that the aboriginal inhabitants
of the territory within the limits of this county
belonged mainly to the Lenni Lenape, who
held that they were the original people and of
Western origin. The Delawares claimed that

their ancestors lived, many hundred years ago,
in the far distant wilds of the West, and were

the progenitors of forty other tribes that after
many years of emigration towards the rising
sun, they reached the Mississippi river, where
they met the Mengwe, who came from a very
distant region and had reached that river higher up towards its source; that they found a
powerful nation east of the Mississippi, who

la Ware, who entered Delaware
1610 and was governor of the Colony of
Virginia from about that time until 1618. The
Dutch and Swedes called it the South river

bay

it from the North river, which
bears the name of Hudson.
That such was the tradition preserved by the

to distinguish

Delawares is truthfully stated by Rev. John
Heckewelder, a Moravian missionary, in his
"Account of the History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations who once Inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States,"
published, in 1819, under the auspices of the
historical and literary committee of the American

Philosophical

Society.

The passing

re-

mark may here be made

that Indian laws and
were not preserved on parchor
in
ment, paper
books, but were handed
down by tradition from one generation to anhistorical events

other.

;

were

called Alligewi,

and from

whom

origi-

nated the name of the Allegheny mountains;
that the Lenape wished to settle near the Alligewi, which the latter refused, but allowed
to cross the river and proceed farther to
the East; that when the Alligewi discovered
how multitudinous the Lenape were, they
feared their numerical strength and slew the
portion that had crossed the river, and threatened to destroy the rest if they should attempt
to cross that the Lenape and Mengwe united
their forces against the Allegewi, and conquered and drove them out of that part of
the country that the Lenape and Mengwe lived
together in peace and harmony for many years.

them

;

Their tradition relates further that some of
the Lenape hunters crossed the Allegheny
mountains, the Susquehanna and Delaware
rivers, and advanced to the Hudson, which
they called the Mohicannituck river; that on
their return to their people they represented

DIFFERENT TRIBES

The

Iroquois have a tradition that the valSusquehanna was first inhabited by
the Andastes, a branch of the Lenni Lenape,
ley of the

whose local tribal name was Susquehannocks.
These the Iroquois drove out and possessed
themselves of the lands.
The Shawnees were driven out of Georgia
and South Carolina, and came to the mouth of
the Conestoga, within the present limits of Lancaster county, Pa., about 1677, and
spread
thence over what was afterwards Cumberland
county, along the west branch of the Susquehanna, in the Wyoming valley, and thence
to the Ohio. As early as (if not earlier
than)
1719 Delaware and Shawnee Indians were

on the Allegheny. About 1724, says
Bancroft, the Delaware Indians, for the convenience of game, emigrated from the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers to the branches
of the Ohio; in 1728 the Shawnees
gradually
followed them, and they were soon met by
settled

Canadian traders, and loncaire, an adopted
citizen of the Seneca tribe, used his eloquence
to

win them

Over

the

to the side of the French.

whole country watered by the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Susquehanna the Six Nations, composed of
Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas
and Senecas, and later the Tuscarora Indians,
claimed the right of conquerors and reigned
supreme, and with them all of the treaties
between the whites and red men were negothe

we owe

the musical
To
tiated.
and romantic names borne by the diiTerent
streams and sections of these two counties.
Here was the home of the famous chief,
Tamenund, whose name is perpetuated in the
Society of Tammany in New York and by a
county in the State of Louisiana.
The names of Indian origin in Columbia
and Montour counties are Susquehanna, meaning river of the winding shore Chillisquaque,
these savages

;

from "Chilisuagi," an Indian word
meaning a place frequented by snowbirds
(Conrad Weiser crossed it March 8, 1737;
he called it "Zilly Squache" in his diary)
Muncy, from the Monsey tribe; Wyoming,
derived

;

Maughwauwama — large

Catawese,
plains
pure water; Loyalsock, middle fork; MahonBriar
creek
was
for
Indian
name
The
ing.
Kawanishoning, for Pine creek, Tiadaghton
and for Roaring creek, Popemetung. William
Penn was called Miquon by the Indians with
whom he had dealings.
;

INDIAN P.^THS OR TR.MLS

The Wyalusing path was traced up Muncy
creek to near where the Berwick road crosses,
then to Dushore, thence to the Wyalusing
flats.

The Sheshequin path ran up Bowser's run,
thence to Lycoming creek, near the mouth of
Mill creek, thence up the Lycoming to the
Beaver dams, thence down Towanda creek
to the Susquehanna river, thence up the river
to the

Sheshequin

flats.

The Fishing Creek path

started on the flats

near Bloomsburg, ran up Fishing creek through
Rosemont cemetery to Orangeville, on to or
near Long pond, thence across to TunkhanIt was on this path
\'anCampen was captured.

nock creek.

that

Moses

One

of the most frequently traveled trails
passing through the county was that leading
from Wyoming to Aluncy. It followed the
river from Wilkes-Barre to Shickshinny;
thence through the notch at the eastern end
of Knob mountain and along the northern
base of that ridge, entering Columbia county
near Jonestown, in Fishingcreek township,
following thence down Huntington creek to
the Forks and down Fishing creek to near the
mouth of Green creek thence up that creek
to a point below Rohrsburg; thence along
the northern base of the Mt. Pleasant hills to
Little Fishing creek at a point between Millville and Eyer's Grove thence over the divide
between the waters of Fishing creek and the
Chillisquaque, and thence northwestward un;

;

valley of the Susquehanna was at one
time thickly populated by the Indians and the
remains of many villages and burying grounds

The

have been uncovered in the last centurj-. The
most important legacy from these savage
predecessors is the foundation they laid for
subsequent exploration and development by
means of the numerous trails or paths they
made through an otherwise trackless wilderness. Through the dense forest, over the hills
and amidst the morasses ran these trails,
scarcely fifteen inches wide, but worn to the
depth of a foot by their constant use from
the feet of generations of savages and savage
beasts, and patted to the density of rock by
this soft yet resistless pressure.
The Shamokin path began at

Sunbury and

continued up the West Branch to the mouth
of Warrior run, where an Indian town was
located, and thence through the gap to the

town of Muncy, the home of the Monseys.

The Wyoming path

left

Muncy on

the

Wyoming.

joined

Muncy.

distance of nearly twenty-five miles
this railroad was more than a half mile
this old trail over which the Indian
Near the mouth of
traveled ages before.
Green creek above Orangeville this trail joined
the trail from Nescopeck to the Great Island,
in

where
from

which was at what
West Lycoming county.

Branch, ran up Glade run, thence through a
in the hills to Fishing creek and across
the creek, passing into Luzerne county through
the Nescopeck gap, and up the North Branch

gap

the path up Glade nm from
must have been a prominent path
or trail, as frequent mention is made of it in
the old surveys of 1769 which cover the western part of Columbia and the northern part
It made a short and
of Montour county.
direct route from the North Branch to the
West Branch and was -free from any steep
hills, in fact, the grades were so easy that
when the time came to locate the WilkesBarre & Western railroad, from near Washingtonville to Shickshinny, there was no place
til

now

Jersey Shore, in

All these trails found their outlet towards
the settlements by way of Shamokin and the
river, and when first seen by the whites bore
evidence of constant use. There was only one
important trail to the southeastern settlements

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
—the one from Wyoming
Delaware, at Easton. To

to the forks of the

other pomts the
was not only the
trail along the Susquehanna
for the natives of
great Indian thoroughfare
conthe valley, but for the whole Iroquois
all

federacy.

MADAME MONTOUR
From authentic
Montour

sources the story of Madame
She was the daughter

as follows

Montour and

of a French gentleman named
at that time
an Indian woman of the tribe

was

Her first marriage
inhabiting Canada.
She was
an Indian of the Seneca tribe.
acted as interpreter.
Albany in 171 1 and
a
In 1744 she again acted as interpreter
Pa. Her second hustreaty held at Lancaster,
Uneithe
of
band was Carondawana, a chief
four sons and two
das and she had altogether
union they were born
daughters, but by which

to
at

The nearest large village of which accurate
record has been left us, in this portion of the
now the site of SunState, is that of Shamokin,
In 1728 Shibury, Northumberland county.
was
kellamy, a prominent Cayuga chieftain,
was
which
populated
governor of the village,
the Delawares. He governed in
principally by
a wise and judicial manner until his death in
that date were gradu1749. The natives after
the whites, who in 1756 built
ally forced out by
the fort called

Augusta

at this point.

From

nucleus grew up the present town of Sunbury.
More than a century and a half has passed
since the withdrawal of the Indians from the
this

and Montour counties,
territory of Columbia
and the history of the Indian customs and
habits would soon be lost if not revived by the
historian of each decade. It is well, therefore,

manner of life of our
as a reminder of the
aboriginal predecessors
contrasts between those days and the present
to review in brief the

She seems to have
not positively known.
for large
been a friend of the proprietaries,
age of wonders and achievement.
Andrew, Henry,
The towns and villages of the Indians inerants were given to her sons,
near
and its
Robert and Lewis, on the Chillisquaque,
habiting the valley of the Susquehanna
in Huntingthe
tributaries were located immediately upon
Montoursville and at Shade Gap,
at Shamokin,
banks of the streams, on ground high enough
don county. In 1745 she resided
known.
not
attenlittle
to be out of reach of floods. But
where she died, but the date is
had
Madame Montour's daughter Margaret She tion was paid to location for defensive purtimber and
of
them
free
of
daughters.
a spot
several children, three
poses, except that
"French Margaret
on a point jutting out into the stream
it was who was termed
usually
EchOne of her daughters, Esther, married was was selected, in order that canoes could be
She
clan.
landed and the squaws have ready access
eohund, a chief of the Mousey
is

mas-

easily

accused of complicity in the Wyoming
to the water.
evidence could be
sacre although no direct
Wigwams were constructed in a substantial
ascribes
Tradition
manner to resist wind and storm, and to keep
cxathered to prove the fact.
the
winter.
founding
the inmates comfortable during the
to another daughter of Margaret
the home and
were nearly twenty feet in diameter,
Some
of the famous Catherinestown,
of the Cat Clan ot
while others were smaller;
temple of the sorcerers
large and roomv,
enemies alike of mott of them either oval or round in shape;
the Senecas, who were the
of Indians.
of
of bark or matting laid over a framework
the whites and the other tribes

INDIAN VILLAGES AND SETTLEMENTS
of Indian
Any attempt to locate the sites must deof Pennsylvania
villages in this part
is
It
accepted
entirelv upon tradition.

pend

Berwick,
as fact that the sites of Bloomsburg,
were at one time oc-

Catawissa and Danville
settlements, as the
cupied bv large Indian
found at these
remains and relics continually
in the remote past
points indicate the presence
Most ot
of large and thriving communities.
these natives on
the first settlers encountered
and were for some time aftertheir arrival

the return of
wards frequently terrorized by
who camped on
occasional bands of Indians
time immemorial
the sites which had from
favorite stopping places.
bee;i their

the ground, bunched together
poles stuck in
The winter
at the top and tied with thongs.
_

wigwams were covered with
at the top to allow the
flaps at different points

opening

and

with an
escape of smoke,
arranged to be
skins,

used for entrance, according to the direction
Even in 'these modern days it
of the wind.
that will be
is quite an art to erect a "tepee"
same time not sufweatherproof and at the
of the
focate the occupants with the smoke
In winter these wigwams were lined with
fire.
reeds
and
matting, woven of rushes, grasses
furs
bunks were built of poles, with skins and
;

were hung
for bedding. The clay cooking pots
from the center over the ever-burning fire.
built
In the larger settlements the Indians
bark and sod, a hole
loo- cabins, roofed with

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
left in the center to let out the smoke.
These were often fitted up in a very comfortable manner, and formed the model after which

being

the white settlers built their first habitations.
The whites, however, far exceeded the savages
in craftsmanship and design, and their homes
were fitted with that highest evidence of

—

superior civilization the chimney.
Many persons have read of the Indian
"lodge," yet few are familiar with its construction.
Lodges were not used for permanent
habitation, but mostly for camping and war
purposes. Saplings were stuck in the ground
in the form of a bow, something like a series
of croquet hoops set in a row, only about five
feet in height.
"lodge-pole" was lashed
along the tops of the hoops and over all were
thrown skins or matting, thus forming a long
hut, in which the sleepers lay.
Cooking was
done outside at the camp fire.
The agricultural operations of the savages

lage drudgery and cooking, cared for the
ponies, gathered fuel, cultivated the soil,
planted the seed and harvested the crops, cut
up and preserved the meat brought in by the
hunters, tanned the skins and made the clothing for the entire family, bore and nursed the
children, and when on a journey carried great

bundles of camp equipage.
They were undemonstrative and patient, bearing up under
with
much
their eternal burdens
fortitude,
and when in the pain of childbirth uttered not
The squaw who cried or groaned
a sound.
was forever disgraced. It was believed that
her sons would grow up to be cowards. Notall these hardships the squaws
were loyal and divorces were unknow-n, while
the custom was for a warrior to have but one

withstanding

wife, except in rare cases.
The warrior was the head of the

wigwam;

were obeyed without question and
law. The papooses were taught
were crude and their tools still more primitive. from infancy to be quiet and scarcely ever
Hoes were made from sharpened sticks and cried. The only occasion in which the writer
the earth was simply scratched to receive the ever heard an Indian baby cry was when he
seed.
Corn, beans, pumpkins and tobacco as a child wandered down to the river and
were the crops, and the tilled spots remained found half a dozen papooses suspended on
They
unfenced, the horses being pastured at a dis- boards from the branches of a tree.
After the were facing each other and making a queer
tance to prevent depredations.
as
soon
as
but
were
seeds
whites
sound,
of
the
caught
sight
they
purchased cooing
coming
from the traders and the -variety of crops was of the strange white face they set up a chorus
more extensive, some fruit trees being also of howls that quickly brought the squaws to
The rude implements the spot. They set upon the trespasser with
set out and tended.
were replaced by others better fitted for the canes and chased him crying from the vicinity.
In the winter the babies were allowed to
cultivation of the soil, and better tools were
Steel traps roll around over the dirt floor of the wigwam,
introduced into the wigwams.
took the place of "deadfalls" and pits muskets and in summer along the lanes between the
When carried they were lashed to a
replaced the bow and arrow awls and needles tepees.
made from the bones of birds and animals forked stick or rough hewn board, with ample
were no longer used in sewing the skin cloth- wrappings of skins and blankets. When a halt
ing and fitting together the matting coverings was made they were sometimes suspended
of the wigwam; and the iron hoe made culti- from a tree if the parents were likely to be
vation easier for the overburdened squaw. absent, thus protecting them from animals
Before the introduction of the pots and pans but if the stop was short the tightly bound
of civilization food was prepared by roasting infant was simply stood against a convenient
on twigs stuck over the fire or, in the absence tree, and not always in the shade; yet the little
of clay pots, boiled in skin kettles, heated by one would blink in the glaring sun without a
whimper.
dropping hot stones in them.
As they grew older the children were given
all the training that would fit them for their
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS
savage life. The boys were early turned over
The squaws bore the burden and toil of life to the men, who gave them instructions in
in an Indian camp. There was no "sufifragette" fishing, hunting and woodcraft, while the girls
propaganda then. While the male members of were soon forced into the dreary routine of
The young of
the village hunted, fished, went on foraging the squaw's life of drudgery.
and warlike expeditions, or slumbered before both sexes developed early; at the age of
the fire, the females did the heaviest and most fifteen the boys were free to come and go
degrading labor. They cut poles and built the without restraint two years before that the
wigwams and cabins, performed all the vil- girls had budded into womanhood, and it was
his wishes
his

word was

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
maiden to reach the age of
without being appropriated by some

a rare thing for a
fifteen

buck.

;

Courtship and marriage were not attended
with much ceremony or delay. When a buck
cast his eye on a maiden he went to the father

and offered a price for her, usually in ponies.
The main ceremony consisted in the settlement
of her value between the contracting parties,
the

after-ceremonies

the

medicine

man

and simple. Yet these unions were
seldom broken except by death.
In moving from place to place the squaws,
as usual, had all the work to do.
The wigwams and household goods were made into
large bundles and packed on the backs of the
ponies, or on "sweeps" made of poles lashed
to each side of the animal and connected behind with crosspieces. The squaws also carried some of the burdens, while the bucks
stalked ahead smoking their pipes.
When a
halt was made for meals the ponies were not
Sometimes there
unloaded, except at night.
were spare ponies enough to permit the squaws
to ride, but only after the bucks had been provided with a mount. Riding or walking, the
squaws carried the papooses on their backs.
being brief

All rode astride, with but a blanket beneath,
and no bridle was used, the animals being
guided by slaps on the side of the head or by

words.

arrival at a suitable location

was the

duty of the squaws to unload, erect the wigwams, cut the firewood and perform all the
heavy work without assistance. When their
work was over they retired to the depths of
their skin robes, simply removing their clothing,
with the exception of the skirt, while the warriors retained only the breechclout.

COSTUMES
Indian dress

made

the earlier times

was ex-

Great taste was
shown in the manufacture of these costumes,
which were trimmed with fur, and ornaments

clusively

skins.

made of fish scales,
grasses and feathers.

beads, colored
designs were beauartistic, and the material thoroughly
finished.
Indian tanned skins have always,
even to the present day, commanded high

tiful

beaded moccasins, soft deerskin leggings, richly decorated and fringed with the brightest
colored beads, ornaments and pendants and
their plump busts and arms were almost
covered with the many strings of ornaments,
In winter
shells, beads and stone pendants.
an e.xtra skirt was worn, and furs wrapped
around the'neck and head.

shells,

The

and

prices.

After the coming of the whites cloth began
by the squaws in the manufacture

to be used

of clothing; the brighter the colors the more
popular the pattern red being a favorite. The
squaws dressed in the gayest costumes their
tastes could devise
beautifully worked and

—
;

Warriors, old and young, were most particuTheir hair was
as to their appearance.
pulled out by the roots after the age of puberty had been reached, and but a "scalplock"
was allowed to grow. To this was fastened
Nose and
a plume of feathers or horsehair.
ears were pierced for rings the bodies were
left bare to the waist, with many handsome
lar

;

thrown across the shoulder.
body were profusely painted with
from clays and simple woodland
flowers, and a belt around the waist bore the
knife, warbag of charms, and other tools of
the chase or warfare, and served to hold the
Through this belt was passed
leggings up.
belts of

wampum

The

face and
colors made

the ends of the breechclout, made of linen or
It was
other cloth, in early times of skin.
eight or nine inches wide and nearly a yard
of
it
around
and
the
manner
wrapping
long,
the body denoted the clan or tribe to which
the wearer belonged.
Moccasins of many kinds were worn, and
in all cases the ankles were covered to protect
the feet from snakebites and thorns. On long
expeditions a fringed skirt was worn to protect
the body from bushes and briars, the leggings

The differbeing then exceptionally heavy.
ence between the hunters and the warriors on
the warpath consisted in the lack of paint on
the faces of the former and the lack of clothing of the latter. On marauding expeditions
the warrior greased himself all over to make
the hold of his adversary insecure.
There was general pride in the skill of the
hunters and the achievements of the warriors.
The taking of the first scalp by a young warrior was an occasion of special excitement and
The return of a party from the
rejoicing.
warpath or a hunting expedition was always
attended with a public reception in the village
but after the expedition ended the lazy life of
the heroes began, and when winter set in they
had nothing to do but lie around until the
spring should come, smoke their pipes and
relate their deeds of prowess. On bright days
they sometimes got up a little excitement over
a game of football or a footrace occasionally
there was a dance or a feast, but as a rule the
winters were passed in idleness. Smoking was
;

;

their

chief

comfort

under

all

conditions,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
whether half asleep in the wigwams, or lollwere
ing in the sunshine outside. Their pipes
made of corncobs, clay, stone or wood, and

upon them were expended

and

all their taste

Great Spirit was ruler over all, and that spirit
was an Indian. Manitou was the name most
generally given the Great Spirit. The Indians
believed that they were the first of the human
race created; that they sprang from the brain
of the Great Spirit; that they possessed all
knowledge, and were under the special care of

capacity for decoration.

GOVERNMENT

their creator.

Their traditions were vague, but

The Indian government was distinctly social- their religious sentiments were clear. They
In the wigwams and vil- had no fixed days or manner of worship.
istic in character.
lages, with the warriors and hunters, between They believed in a future state of reward and
the young and old, in all situations of life,
there was perfect equality; in their character
and conduct were seen a strong sense of indethat
pendence, a great aversion to anything
savored of caste or subjugation. They gloried
in their native liberty, and for one to show a
feeling of superiority was an effective barrier
chief being asked if
to all further success.
his tribe were free, replied:
"Why not, since
The
I myself am free, although their chief?"
chief of a tribe was not a ruler but a counselor; he could neither make peace nor war,
and except as others were guided by his example he had no control of tribal affairs.
brave was chosen war chief upon his own
merit as a warrior, after having demonstrated
chief
exceptional bravery or skill the village
was selected as one possessing administrative

punishment in the "happy hunting grounds"
beyond the grave; that all who did well would
be happy, but all who did ill would be mis-

eloability, commanding address and great
quence, and well versed in the traditions of
the tribe and their relations to neighboring
tribes.
Possessing these distinguishing traits
of character and influence enough to be chosen
leader, it was equally necessary for each to
maintain his standing as a hunter and warrior.

who had the care of
the sick and were in charge of all religious
feasts and observances, were held in great respect as possessors of supernatural powers.
By the practice of their magical arts they
were supposed to have close relations with
the Great Spirit. Their medicines, made from
roots and herbs, were in their use surrounded
with all mystery possible, and all the arts of

;

For purposes of consultation, and as a place
to assemble the chiefs and braves, a council
house was usually built near the center of the
There all met on an equal footing to
village.

determine questions of common interest the
calumets or pipes of peace and war were placed
side Ijy side, the choice of each to be made by
;

There the
the signal taps of the war club.
Indian warriors gave vent to bursts of native
were
so
for
which
justly fathey
eloquence,
mous.
Although an Indian seldom spoke
under ordinary circumstances, when he did
break the silence he said something of import.
It was at these councils that opportunity was
afforded to acquire that popularity and influence which would promote the speaker to position and authority.

erable

;

they justified their barbarous outrages

and savage warfare, their cruel torture of men,
women and children, upon the precept of
"blood for blood," and among themselves, as
one of their famous chieftains said, they let
each individual "paddle his

own

canoe."

What

principles of religion they had they
They believed in a good
spirit and an evil one, and a number of lesser
deities that were active in managing the affairs
of the universe. To these they made sacrifices
to avert calamity, to secure blessings and success, and in the way of thanksgiving for bene-

followed closely.

fits

received.

They

also believed firmly in pun-

ishment and reward in
Their medicine men,

this life.

the conjurer were solemnly practiced.
Indian burials were conducted with as much
form as any of their ceremonies. In the grave
with the corpse were buried the rifle and trappings of the warrior or hunter, his pipe and
tobacco, and sufficient provisions and parched
last him on his journey to the happy
hunting grounds of the future life. There was
no common place of burial, each grave being
located in the forest or on the hills, to suit
When
tlie wishes of the surviving friends.
an Indian or his squaw died the survivors
would remain in mourning for a year, being

corn to

afterwards at liberty to marry again.
FE.\STS

AND SPORTS

RELIGION
Personal pride was the controlling influence
in the Indian's religion.

believed that the

The regular times for feasts were when the
green corn could be first used, when the first
game of the season was killed, and when a vie-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

was celebrated. Notices of these feasts
were sent to the wigwams and to the friendly
tribes by means of a runner, who bore small
He would give the
pieces of painted wood.
When the feast
date and program verbally.
occurred the bucks, squaws and young Indians
sit
around
the
which
were boilon
would
fires,
tory

ing the kettles of green corn, juicy venison,
bear meat, fat coon and hominy.
Warriors
and squaws dressed in their best, and the occaEach was
sion was one of vast ceremonial.
provided with a wooden bowl and a spoon of
bone or metal, and they helped themselves
whenever the food had been cooked to their
notion.

None but the warriors participated in the
wild excitement of the war dance, but the
youths were allowed to look on in order to
prepare for their later

initiation,

which was

There were other
severe and nerve-testing.
dances in which the young and old joined with
loud shoutings, the clangor of tomtoms and
other rude instruments winding dances with
intricate figures wild square dances, in which
the maiden might show her preference for the
favorite hunter and these dances often were
continued all night by the light of the blazing
;

;

saries

and finery from the traders.

some-

when

the season was favorable
and game was plenty, that the whole tribe
would devote the winter to the traps, which
were located at all favorable points along the
trails and streams, sometimes occupying a terBearitory of thirty miles in circumference.
ver, otter and bear skins were the most valuable, but the skins of muskrats, mink, weasels
and other small game also were not rejected.
The great abundance of game in the woods,
the rich soil of the valleys in which were
located the villages, provided an unfailing
source of supply to the savages. Knowledge
of woodcraft and of the habits of the birds
and beasts of the forest was the first requisite for existence in savage life, and in this
the Indians excelled.
They had expedients
for every emergency.
One great accomplishment was the ability to imitate the notes and
calls of the birds and the cries of the beasts
of the forest.
Warriors used these calls in
their forays, and the first white settlers soon
learned to suspect the cry of a bird if sounded
at an unusual time.

times happened,

;

WARS AND FORAYS

camp fires.
The sports and pastimes of the savages were
in character more in the way of preparation

The war party was the most carefully organized band that left a village, the numbers of
which it was composed depending upon the
character of the expedition.
One or two
braves might start on a bushwhacking or
scalping expedition of their own, or a band
fore the introduction of firearms, of practice of five or six might start out to destroy some
with the bow and arrow. Football was a very" isolated cabins and massacre the inmates.
popular game, the excitement lasting some- Larger parties were made up to attack the
times for days and involving the entire village settlements. When starting out all the braves
in the sport.
donned the warpaint and oiled their bodies,
then formed into a single line and marched
FISHING .^ND HUNTINn
through the village singing war songs. Just

and incentive to the objects and pursuits
of their life, and consisted of running and
canoe races, jumping, wrestling, shooting,
throwing the tomahawk, and, in the days befor

before leaving the limits of the village a salute

The Susquehanna and
into

would be fired, but from that time until the
were the favorite spawning and feeding attack was made not a sound broke the stillthe streams flowing

waters for the choice varieties of the different
this section, and during the
months the Indians speared them and
them
in
wicker
baskets and nets. The
trapped
younger people had great sport in following
the larger fish in the shoals and rapids and
killing them with spears and arrows; and in
winter they cut holes in the ice and through
them speared the finny denizens of the stream.
Trapping of animals was the most profitable
It was a good school for
pursuit followed.
the youths, furnished employment for the old
or disabled men, and gave the braves the means
wherewith to supply themselves with neces-

fishes native to

cool

war party of Indians
ness of the forest.
could pass within a few feet of the camp of
the
the whites or
cabins of the settlers and
make not a sound or leave a single trace of
their passage.

The Indians' method of fighting, which has
survived even to the present day, vvas a system of rapid attacks and retreats. They would
lie in wait for the enemy and after a sudden
attack would fall back to some other advantageous point. In the fight the
in an irregular line,
anything that the topography of
afforded.
Thev seldom met the

was formed

whole force
covered by
the country

enemv

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
stand-up

fight,

but would strike suddenly and

retreat, yet there was not a drop of cowardly
blood in an Indian.
parties were sent
out on a raid it was customary to send as sup-

When

port in case of reverses a band of hunters, with
squaws and camp equipage, to locate an advanced supply camp not far from the scene
of battle. From this center the hunters would
go out after game and act as a rear guard,
awaiting the retreat of the war party.
The return of the successful warriors was
the occasion of much rejoicing and excitement.
They came in with shouts of victory, waving
the bloody scalps and driving before them the
captured victims that had been preserved for
the sacrifice, their hands tied behind them and
their faces blackened as a sign that they were
First the victims
to be burned at the stake.
were made to run the gauntlet. Indians of
all ages, squaws and children, stood in a long
double line, between which the prisoner was
compelled to run, sometimes blindfolded and

bound.

weapons

However, some of the
voluntarily entered the Indian
fiendish and inhuman than
With the names of
the natives themselves.
Butler and Brandt are associated all that the
human mind can conceive that was cruel and

and

responsibility.

white

men who

tribes

became more

They seemed

devilish.

revel

carnage

and blood.

As a contrast to this, instances are to be
found where the native sense of honor of the
Indian caused him to withhold his hand from
the destruction of those who had befriended
him and to warn them of the attacks of other
tribes.

singularly

this respect the Quakers were
exempt from attack and murder,

The savages were armed with any through their
that came to hand, sticks, clubs, manner with

switches, whips, knives and tomahawks, with
which the unfortunate was struck and slashed,
Sometimes sand was thrown
often to death.
In most inin the eyes to impede progress.
stances the captive was allowed to live long
enough to be lashed to the stake and burned.
The hardy pioneers of this country became
inured to these acts of rapine and reprisal
and in many instances returned the debt with
It would be impossible to overdraw
interest.
the horrible pictures of death and torture that
were the experiences of many of the pioneer
settlers

years becoming as much attached to their
foster parents as if they had been born into the
These seldom were reclaimed to a life of
life.
civilization.
Interpreters for the tribes were
usually selected from these captives, and it
was often found they had grown to like the
savage existence and attained positions of trust

of this country.

Indian would not

hesitate to dash out the brains of a family of
children in the presence of the father and
mother, and then scalp the parents and burn

fixed policy of dealing in a just
Few instances are
the Indians.
recorded where a member of the Society of
Friends suiifered from the depredations of the
savages, who had learned of their high sense

of humanity and justice.

FRONTIER FORTS, COLUMBI.\ .XND MONTOUR
COUNTIES

The treaty and purchase of 1754 between the
Penns and the representatives of the Six
Nations caused great dissatisfaction among
the Shawanese, Delawares and Monseys, who
considered that they had been defrauded of
their lands, which had been guaranteed to

them by the Iroquois. They therefore proceeded to go on the warpath, and the settlethe home.
In return, there was no quarter ments were raided, the settlers scalped and
given the savages when captured. No prison- their homes destroyed.
This being brought to the attention of the
ers were taken by either side in the latter days
of the warfare between the whites and In- proprietaries, preparations were made for the
A good Indian was usually a dead protection of the settlers, and Benjamin
dians.
one.
Chapter after chapter could be filled
with the stories of the hardships and cruelties
suffered by our forefathers, but space will not
permit their repetition.
It sometimes happened that prisoners were
spared by the Indians through superstition or
intent, and in these cases the captive was carefully guarded against escape while being inSome of
itiated into the life of the savage.

the captives married squaws, became satisfied
with the mode of life and remained with the
Indians.
Children sometimes were preserved
from death and adopted into the tribe, in later

Franklin ordered the construction of Fort
Augusta, at what is now the site of Sunbury.
This was followed by the erection of many
other forts along the valleys of the North and
West Branches of the Susquehanna, viz.
Fort Jenkins, in Briarcreek township, Columbia county; Fort Wheeler, on Fishing creek,
about three miles above its mouth; Fort McClure, on the Susquehanna within the limits
of the present town of Bloomsburg; Fort
Rice, on the headwaters of Chillisquaque
:

creek,

thirteen miles

from Sunbury; MontMuncy on

gomery's Fort, twelve miles below

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

10
the

West Branch;

now

Bosley's Mills, on the
the site of VVashington-

and captured.
and remained

He was

sold to the English

some time, but
Montour county; Fort Freeland, on at last exchanged, returned home to recuperWarrior run, four miles above its mouth Fort ate, and then was sent to Wilkes-Barre, where
Meninger, at the mouth of Warrior run; he remained until the close of the war. He
Boone's Mill, seven miles from Fort Freeland, removed to New York State in 1795, and
at the mouth of Muddy run; and Fort Swartz, there, after an active life as surveyor and
Chillisquaque,

in captivity for

ville,

;

about one mile above Milton.

These old forts were mainly designed to
afford temporary shelter to the settlers from
the raids of the Indians. In time of war they

were regularly garrisoned by rangers. One
of the methods of defense, which had been
brought to America by natives of Europe, and
formerly one of the weapons of the Romans,
was the use of the "caltrop" or "crowsfoot,"
an iron instrument having four barbed points,
which projected in all directions, so that when
thrown on the ground at least one point stood
These implements were a great
upright.
deterrent to the barefooted or moccasin-clad
savage, and the unfortunate who stepped on
one of them soon gave evidence of his presAfter the cessation of hostilities the
ence.
settlers frequently complained of the presence
of these barbs in their pastures, where cattle
would get them fastened in their feet, the rusty
iron often causing inflammation and death.
It is unnecessary to describe the forts outside of Columbia and Montour counties, as
they have little bearing on local history, so
we will simply detail the origin, history and
ultimate fate of the forts which were erected
within the present limits of the two counties.
In relating the history of these forts the narrative would be incomplete without a brief
sketch of Moses Van Campen, the builder of
two of them. He grew to manhood and first
came into prominence as a member of Col.
John Kelly's command on Big Isle, on the
West Branch of the Susquehanna, in 1777. In
177S he had been promoted from orderly' ser-

geant to lieutenant, and in that year built Fort
Wheeler. In 1779 he did scouting duty for
In 1780 he was
Sullivan's army near Tioga.
captured by Indians, his father, brother and
uncle killed, and he, Peter Pence and Abram
Pike carried into captivity. One night they
rose, and after killing nine of their captors

and wounding the remaining one made

their

In 1781 Van Campen spent the summer in scouting and the winter in guarding
British prisoners.
In 1782 he marched with
Robinson's rangers, of which he was a lieuescape.

engineer, he died at the advanced age of ninetytwo.

FORT JENKINS
This fort was erected in the fall of 1777, or
during the winter and the early spring of 1778,
and was simply a stockade around the home of
a Mr. Jenkins, one of the first settlers.
Its
size was 60 by 80 feet and it stood on the
North Branch of the Susquehanna in Centre
township, midway between Berwick and
The old canal passes between
Bloomsburg.

and the river.
heavily wooded island
stood in the river directly opposite, but reits site

peated floods have long ago destroyed it.
Soon after the building of the stockade the
fort was garrisoned by thirty men, under
Col. Adam Hubley, who
Colonel Hartley.
succeeded him, marched the garrison away,
and County Lieutenant Colonel Hunter furnished sufficient men to hold the fort until the
arrival of Col. Ludwig Weltner and the German battalion. The latter held the post until
1780, when they departed to assist in the defense of Forts Rice and Augusta. Soon afterwards a party of Tories and Indians came by
way of Knob mountain, and finding the fort
deserted set fire to it and the surrounding

buildings.

After peace had been declared Mr. Jenkins
sold the land on which the fort had stood to
James Wilson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who sold it to Capt.

The

Frederick Hill.
built a dwelling

latter

on the

moved onto

it,

of the fort and
calling it the "Fort
site

kept a tavern there,
Jenkins Inn." His son Jacob succeeded him
and conducted the tavern for a time, but was
converted at a Methodist revival and abandoned the sale of liquor to take up farming.
Charles F. Hill, the son, followed as owner.
Charles S. Yorks is the owner of Fort Jenkins
in 1914.

FORT WHEELER

In April, 1778, Lieut. Moses Van Campen
Northumberland, and after a
few days' rest was ordered to build Fort began the building of Fort Wheeler, on the
Later
he
was
sent
to
where
farm of Isaiah Wheeler, on the banks of FishMuncy.
Big Isle,
he was attacked by a large body of Indians ing creek, about three miles above the present

tenant, back to

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
town of Bloomsburg, on the Bloomsburg

Sullivan railroad, in Scott township, near the
It was built of logs
of the Paper Mill.
and surrounded by a stockade sufficiently large
to accommodate the families of the neighborhood.
They had hardly completed the fort
before the Indians arrived and attacked it,
but the defenders soon put them to flight.
Van Campen made this fort his headquarters
when not engaged in scouting. One of the
attractions to him was the daughter of Wheeler,
for whose hand Van Campen and Col. Joseph
site

and Jenkins.

The

loss of the latter fort left

the right flank exposed to the marauders, so
on Van Campen's return from captivity he
stockaded the home of Mrs. James McClure,
on the bank of the Susquehanna, one mile
above the mouth of Fishing creek, and on the
later site of the house of Douglas Hughes, below Bloomsburg. This fortihcation took the
name of Fort McClure, and became the headquarters for stores and expeditions as long as
the defense of the frontier was necessary.
This fort was never seriously attacked, though

Salmon, another scout, were rivals. Salmon the near residents often fled to it for security.
married the girl. Van Campen's father It was never more than a stockade and further
fortifications were not built. A residence now
also for a time lived near the fort.
Fort Wheeler was the only one of the long stands on the site. A marker has been placed
here
line of defenses in this section of the State
by the Fort McClure Chapter, Daughters
that was never abandoned or destroyed by of the American Revolution, Bloomsburg.
finally

Time alone did the work of
Peter Melick, one of the committee of safety for Wyoming township, lived
near here.
The old graveyard where the
soldiers were buried is still recognizable,
and the spring that supplied the fort with
water is still running. The land is now owned

hostile hands.

FORT BOSLEY

disintegration.

Bosley, in the forks of the Chillisquaque, at
The mill
Washingtonville, Derry township.
built in 1773, and stockaded in 1777. When
the Indians became troublesome it was garrisoned by about twenty men and became a
place of importance in the lines of defense.
Captain Kemplon was in command here in
1780, and assisted in repelling many attacks of
the savages.
The site of the old mill is easily recognizable by the race and dam at the lower end of the
town of to-day. The headrace has been continued across the road, and the old dam site
has been used as a location for the more modern mill of Snyder Brothers.
The land on which the fort or mill stood was
the property in past years of Jacob Hartman

John Crawford, was

the

by
Creveling family.
grandfather of Joseph Crawford, an old citizen of Orangeville, was the second child born
in this

section, his birth taking place inside
the stockade of the fort soon after its comNo vestiges of the fort are
pletion, in 1778.
now to be seen, but the site is known to most
of the residents of that section.

FORT MCCLURE

At the time of the destruction of Fort Jenkins there was a line of forts reaching from
the West Branch to the North Branch of the
Susquehanna, comprising Forts Muncy, Freeland,

This only fortified work in Montour county
really the stockaded stone mill of a Mr.

was

Montgomery, Bosley's

Mills,

Wheeler and Jesse Umstead.

CHAPTER

FOUNDING OF PENNSYLVANIA
Two hundred and seventy years ago was
born in the city of London the subsequent
founder of the Province of Pennsylvania. He
was the son of WiUiam Penn, of the County of
Wilts, a vice admiral in the time of Cromwell,
whom Charles II knighted for his successful
naval services against the Dutch.
The son,
William, was a studious youth, and receiving
religious impressions in his twelfth year was
converted to the tenets of the Society of
Friends by the preaching of Thomas Lowe, a
Quaker leader. While in Oxford College he
continued his religious practices, which the
authorities condemned and for which they
finally expelled him.
Young Penn's father vainly endeavored to
turn him from his views on religion, hoping to
persuade him to follow the profession of arms,
but finding him obdurate gave him a severe
beating and turned him from his home. His
mother prevailed on the father to reinstate him
and he later took up the study of law, graduated, and under the Duke of Ormond served as
There occurred the
military aide in Ireland.
turning point of his life. He again came under
the influence of Thomas Lowe, joined the
Quakers, and was imprisoned for attending
their meetings.

Again he disagreed with his father, the
cause being his refusal to remain uncovered
in the presence of the king and others.
This
rupture was permanent until just before the
father's death, when they became completely
reconciled. The entire estate being left to the
son he was now in position to devote his life
to the cause of the persecuted sect, and such
was his influence with the king that he obtained
the patent for the Province of Pennsylvania,
in consideration of his father's services and a
debt of f 16,000 due the estate from the crown.
After a long and searching course of proceedfrom June 14, 1680, till March 4,
1681, the charter was granted, in which the
boundaries of the Province are thus prescribed
"Bounded on the east by Delaware River, from
ings, lasting

twelve miles distance northward of New Castle
town (Del.) unto the three and fortieth degree
of northern latitude, if the said river doth extend so far northward, but if the said river
shall not extend so far northward, then by the
said river so far as it doth extend and from
the head of said river the eastern bounds are to
be determined by a meridian line, to be drawn
from the head of said river unto the said fortythird degree.
The said land to extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed
from the said eastern bounds, and the said
lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of northem latitude, and on the south by a circle drawn
at twelve miles distance from New Castle,
northward and westward, unto the beginning
of the fortieth degree of northern latitude, and
then by a straight line westward to the limits
of longitude above mentioned."
By a calculation of the contents of those
charter boundaries the Province contained
The present area of the
35-361,600 acres.
State of Pennsylvania, according to the census
of 1910, is 45,126 square miles, or 28,880,640
acres.
The area was diminished by the subsequent adjustment of the boundaries between
this and the States of Maryland, Virginia and
New York. The impossible southern line, mentioned in the charter, caused much dispute between Penn and Lord Baltimore, which was at
;

length permanently fixed by Mason and Dixon,
who were eminent mathematicians and astrono-

mers, between 1763 and 1766.
In December, 1774, the boundary line between Pennsylvania and New York was ascertained and fixed by David Rittenhouse on the
part of the former, and Samuel Holland on the
part of the latter, to be north latitude
42°, with a variation of 4° 20'. (This was the
declination in 1790. It is now about 10°. ) The
forty-third parallel of north latitude, mentioned in the charter, extends through central

New York. Messrs. Rittenhouse and Holland
placed a stone on a small island in the western
12

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
branch of the Delaware river as a monument
on the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, vkfith
the words and figures New York, 1774, and
the above-mentioned latitude and variation
cut upon the top.
They also placed another
stone, four perches due west from the former,
cutting on the top thereof the word Pennsylvania and the same latitude and variation as
The extension of that line
on the other.

gree of religious liberty than had been allowed
elsewhere in the colonies.
INUI.AN TREATIES

AND AGGRESSIONS

More than a hundred and fifty years elapsed
from the date of the settlement of Jamestown,
Va., ere the more venturesome of the pioneers
came to the portion of the Commonwealth infarther west was postponed until 1786-87, when cluded in the boundaries of Columbia and Montour counties, and eighty-six years had elapsed
it was completed by Andrew EUicott, on the
part of Pennsylvania, and James Clinton and since William Penn made his first bargain with
the Indians.
Before detailing the settlement
Simeon Dewitt on the part of New York.
By act of March 27, 1790, ^300 were granted of this section we will review the diflierent into Reading Howell for delineating on his map cidents which occurred previous to that time
which had tlieir effect upon the history of the
all the lines of this State, as established by
counties of Columbia and Montour.
law or otherwise ascertained.
The first treaty between Penn and the InPenn sailed in the ship "Welcome" Aug. 30,
He dians took place in July, 1682, at Shackamaxon,
1682, for his newly acquired province.
arrived after a long passage at New Castle, and was negotiated by William Markham, the
In the following
Del., where the colonists, English, Dutch and former's representative.
Swedes, assembled to welcome him as their November Penn arrived with a party of colbeloved proprietor. He wished the province onists and cemented the former treaty, probaVarious other
to be called New Wales, but the king persisted blv also making another one.
In reference purchases were made by the Penns in the years
in naming it "Pensilvania."
The purthereto Penn wrote to his friend, Robert Tur- 1696, 1700, 1718, 1732 and 1736.
'T proposed, when chase of 1749 came to within a few miles of the
ner, on the 5th of January
the secretary, a Welshman, refused to have it territory now included in the counties of
called New Wales, Sylvaiiia, and they added Columbia and Montour.
At that time few of the white leaders had
Penn to it, and though I much opposed it, and
went to the king to have it struck out and al- any idea of the vast extent of the country, and
tered, he said it was past and would take it the Indians could eive them no definite descripupon him nor could twenty guineas move the tion of the boundaries or extent of the tracts
for I that they had disposed of. Connecticut at this
under-secretaries to vary the name
feared lest it should be looked on as a vanity time was seeking to enlarge its boundaries, and
in me, and not as a respect in the king, as it cast envious eyes on the rich Wyoming valley,
truly was, to my father, whom he often men- part of which is located in the northern end of
Columbia county. In a conference held with
tions with praise."
Notwithstanding his rights under that char- the Indians at Albany in 1754, the Connecticut
:

;

Penn, with his characteristic sense of juspurchased the territory from the Indians
It is sad to relate that later
at a fair price.
owners of land in the State did not follow in
his footsteps in their dealings with the natives
and settlers.
Before leaving England Penn drafted what
he called the "Fundamental Law and Frame of
ter,

tice,

Government of Pennsylvania," from which we
"All persons livcite the thirty-fifth section
confess and acknowling in this province
:

who

edge the one Almightv and Eternal God to be
the Creator, L^pholder and Ruler of the world,
and that hold themselves obliged in conscience
to live peaceably and justly in civil society,
shall in noways be molested or prejudiced for

their religious persuasion or practice in matters of faith and worship, place or ministry
whatever." Herein was granted a greater de-

delegates made a large purchase of land in this
valley and formed the Susquehanna Company,
The
to promote the settlement of the lands.
proprietaries of the State of Pennsylvania had
also made a purchase of these identical lands
at an earlier date, the savages having little regard for the letter of their obligations and being actuallv ignorant in many instances of the
The
real location of the several tracts sold.
Connecticut company at once began to sell the
lands thus purchased, and a few venturesome
settlers came to the portion now included in

Fishingcreek township.
The success of the French in 1754 and Braddock's defeat in the following year brought the
Indian war into this section and it resulted in
It
the depopulation of the country in 1763.
was not until the purchase of 1768 that the
country was finally permanently opened to set-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

As soon as the Connecticut authoriheard of the Penn purchase they sent a
small party of settlers to reoccupy the lands
abandoned in 1763. This brought on a bitter
controversy between the two parties who
claimed the land. Forts and blockhouses were
erected bv both sides, and some blood was shed.
tlement.

the

ties

wounded.

dispute was taken to the London Counwhich decided against the Penns. In 1775
the matter was brought before the Continental
Congress, who also decided in favor of ConThis decision was rejected by the
necticut.
Pennsylvania Assembly, and it was not till
1802 that Congress finally gave the titles to the

The

cil,

Penns.
Settlers

from

Connecticut

had

come

now

the eastern part of Columbia
county and entered upon the land under the
Connecticut claim, and the grantees from the
Penns came to the same region and made claim
to the lands under surveys made in 1769 and
This led to much friction between the
1772.
settlers and it was finally settled by the Decree
of Trenton, which awarded all the lands in
the "Seventeen townships of Luzerne county"
to the Connecticut claimants and all outside
of Luzerne county to the Penns, with a proviso that any lands in the seventeen townships
which had been sold by the Penns to settlers
should be ceded to the State and the purchase
money refunded. From that time on the rival
claimants lived in peace with their neighbors.
The Penn treaty made with the savages in
1768, at Fort Stanwix, was the primal incentive to the settlement of the land of which this
The whites, secure in a
history is written.
clear title to the country, took peaceable possession of their purchases and the Indians retreated to the fastnesses of the hills, but few
remaining in their old villages of Nescopeck,
Catawissa, and the one on the Mahoning creek,
the site of Danville.

what

The Revolutionary war brought with

renewed fear of the savages, and after many
forays and minor attacks the terrible massacre
This
of Wyoming occurred, July 3, 1778.
caused a general

flight of all the settlers in this

most of them taking refuge at Sunbury
and Northumberland.
The authorities took prompt measures to protect the settlers.
Colonel Hartley and a regiment of the line were at once sent to the scene,
section,

built a fort at the home of a settler named Jenkins, six miles below Nescopeck falls, pursued

the Indians and drove them from that section.
That winter the savages were not active,
owing to the extreme cold. The following
April they attacked the fort, but were repulsed.

whites

losing

Again

and

three

May

having

four

the Indians attacked

a party of settlers at Mittlinville,
killing and
scalping four of a family. These ravages continued through the entire year, the troops being
too few to make adequate return. In 1779 the
campaign of the whites was begun in earnest,
and by the end of the year the country was in
a more tranquil state.
This resulted in the
withdrawal of some of the soldiers, and in 1780
most of the defense of the frontiers devolved
on the poorly equipped and hard-worked
militia.
In that year the savages made a concerted attack on Fort Jenkins and destroyed
it, carrying off the stock and burning the stores
of grain.
The garrison had got wind of the
attack and retreated.
The following June a company of rangers

was organized, with Thomas Robinson as capand Moses Van Campen as ensign. Later
Van Campen was made lieutenant, the command devolving on him, as Robinson was not
tain

In the spring of 1781
on the plantation of
the Widow McClure, the farm now included
in the limits of Bloomsburg, and there stored

experienced in scouting.
this

company

built a fort

their supplies.

The close of the Revolution brought about
a cessation of hostilities, and the treaty of
1784 removed the last barrier to settlement.
NATIONALITY OF THE IMMIGRANTS

The first settlement in Columbia county was
made by an Irish Quaker. Next came the
from the Minisinks; the Welsh, from
Uwchland; the Germans, from Berks county;
and the Scotch-Irish, from New Jersey. The
Diitch,

available lines of travel had much to do in
determining the location of the pioneers, who
followed the line of the Susquehanna and its
tributaries.

The Quakers settled at Catawissa and Greenwood, but the poor character of the soil at the
former place caused these thrifty farmers to
pass on to Ohio and Canada. Those at Greenwood, finding the soil satisfactory', remained,
and their descendants are scattered throughout the county.

The German immigration

set in

about 1788,

coming mostly from Berks county,
although many were from the Fatherland.
were
more
They
persistent and plodding than
the Quakers, and most of them remained in
their adopted homes.
This nationality forms
these people

the greater part of the present population.
The New Jersey immigrants were mostly
English dissenters. They occupied the coun-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
comtry north of the river and their posterity
in the northern
prises the bulk of the population
townships. There are also a large number of
the descendants of the Connecticut settlers to
be found in that locality.
In Locust township a considerable portion
of the population is of Welsh descent, and they
are among the best of the farmers of the
In Conyngham township there is a
county.
large population of foreigners of many nationalities, the predominating race being Slavonic.
These are employed principally in the coal
mines.
FIRST SETTLERS OF

THE COUNTY

The evolution of the present prosperous community from the raw material of the past is a
story of romantic and enthralling interest. The
casualties in the founding of an empire by war
are not more numerous than those endured by
the founders of a community in the wilderness,
peopled by savages and wild beasts.
The different members of Columbia county's
piSneer society came from widely separated
localities they were led to emigrate by a variin
ety of motives, and they differed as much
social prejudices, habits and conditions as in
The common object of all was
nationality.
the planting of a new home, where patient,
persevering toil would gain a moderate competence for old age and provide greater advan;

tages for the growing families. There was no
established rule for success in this venture,
and the unbroken forest contained enough difficulties to develop the individuality of the pioneer to the fullest.
The selection of a home site was determined
The chance acquaintance
largely by accident.
with a speculator, or the story of a friend or
relative who had emigrated to the new purchase, led to the removal of the listener to the
same section. Very often, as is the case in

present days, the purchase was made before
examination in some cases a careful tour of
inspection was made while in other instances
the fever of immigration to new territory
seized the head of the family, and without adequate preparation the household was broken
up, property sold at a loss, the few portable
household goods placed on the backs of horses,
and the trip begun without definite aim or des;

;

tination.

of travel, the amount of
down to only the necCarts and
essaries that were easily carried.
wagons were taken only as far as Sunbury.
routes
into the
in
other
and
Beyond there,

With the

difficulties

goods brought narrowed

county, the packhorse was the only means of
Sometimes oxen and
transporting goods.
cows were taken, and their ownership was an
evidence of wealth. One man was offered all
the land he could see from a considerable eminence for one cow, but refused to make the
deal.

The locations were determined by the condition of the ground and the class of trees
upon
it, and its nearness to water.
Many grievous
mistakes were thus made, as the forest growth
in this vast empire of the west bears little relation to the character of the soil.
Some of the
best land in the county was left to the wild
denizens of the forest, while poorer soil in

apparently better locations was eagerly seized
upon. The location once settled upon the family was to be provided with shelter, and for
this the abundant timber supplied the materials ready to hand.
But the hewing and shaping of the trees into the form of a home was
the work of men, and few of the present generation would voluntarily take up the labor of
constructing a log house with the crude and
simple implements of their pioneer ancestors.
Each family was a company of architects in
itself, and but little aid was needed to erect the
first rude home.
When more pretentious structures came into being they were the result of
the united labors of the entire neighborhood,
expended during one of the famous old "log

With willing hands to assist the
rollings."
house was built one day and occupied the ne.xt.
"Setting to rights" was not a laborious process.
few wooden pegs driven into the logs sufficed to hang a scanty wardrobe, and two larger
ones over the fireplace supported the rifle and
powder horn.
puncheon floor a later lux-

—and a

—

were deemed unnecessary until
the long winter evenings and stormy days pre-

ury

loft

vented outdoor labor.

The most important
the ample

chimney of

part of the

home was

which

in this cli-

stone,

mate was placed at the end of the house, with
a broad mouth surmounted by a wide mantel,
upon which accumulated most of the visible
treasures of the household. This great wide
fireplace was found in every home, some of the
more pretentious having one at each end of
the house. In it were hung the pot-hooks and
hangers, and the "spit" of the old country
would sometimes be found there also. Upon
the massive and ofttimes artistic "firedogs"
rested the heavy logs that threw out a glorious
blaze and served for both warmth and light.
Here stood the "tin oven" and the older "Dutch
oven," within which were baked the corn pone
and johnnycake. In the ashes were put the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

potatoes and roasting ears, and while the meat
was trying in tlie skillet the cottee pot simmered among tne coals, is there a picture of
comfort more alluring in these days of restaurants and fiats ?
Cooking stoves did not make their appear'

ance until 1835, the old "ten-plate stove serving as a lieater, if such a luxury could be afforded.
The careful housewife had brought with her
from their former home the homespun bedticks, as well as bedclothing, and until the hrst
crop of corn supplied the "shucks" the forest
was resorted to for dried leaves for the bedding. The simple methods of transit precluded
the carrying of furniture, so this lack was supThe ax and the
plied from the forest also.
drawing-knife were all the tools at hand, but
with these the pioneer fashioned the needed

forth abundantl)- in response.
Except for a
lew simple vegetables, corn alone was cultivated, and supplied all the wants of man and
beast. Every part served some useful purpose.
As the resources of the land were gradually
developed the support of the family became
a less serious problem. The stock found support in the forest and scarcely needed the fod-

der stored in the log barns.

Hogs fattened in
the forests upon the abundant mast.
With
milk, pork, meal, game, fish and wild berries
there was small chance of famine in the households.
patch of flax was sown after a time,
spinning wheels and looms fashioned, and each
home soon became a factory which turned out
clothing for the whole family. Buckskin formed
the wear of the men, but the women's chief dependence was upon "linsey-woolsey," a combination of flax and wool, in the manufacture of

which much skill and taste were employed. In
those days there was no thought of the "high
The head cost of living," neither was there any struggle
literally had but one
and one side were the walls of the cabin, for the cost of high living. Most of the wants
while the poles forming the other sides were of the household could be supplied from masupported by a post set into the ground at the terials at hand, and the outside world was
Cords or deerskin thongs almost a sealed book to them.
proper distance.
In those days amusements were few and
were laced across from the walls to the side
were allied closely to some useful occupation,
pieces, supporting the shuck-filled tick.
It was not an uncommon thing to find a fam- the result of a night's frolic being an addition
to the store of clothing or food.
The women
ily consisting of father, mother and six or more
children living in a house about twenty-two organized woolpickings, quilting and spinning
feet square, with two rooms, and a loft reached bees, while the men reveled in log-rollings,
by a ladder. In the bedroom were two beds house raisings and husking bees. The lack of
(not counting the "trundle-bed," which slid quick communication caused these affairs to
under the larger one), a "chest of drawers," a be strictly local, and the isolated settlements
table and a chair or two.
In the kitchen were of the past were really farther apart than comthe beds of the older children, surrounded with munities now separated by thousands of miles.
The religious sects of the time formed their
boxes, barrels and the many bins of grain and
sacks of necessaries. Yet limited as the space own communities and developed customs of
articles.

Rough benches with

plied the seats

and

sapling legs sup-

tables, but the
leg to stand on.

bedstead

was, there was room for all.
But little support could be expected from the
land at first, so dependence was had upon the
surplus stores of the neighbors who had come
previously, and in instances where the family
were the pioneers there was much suft'ering
until the fields had yielded their harvests. Fortunately the wild game and fish were abundant,
and there was never recorded a case of actual
starvation.
There was no opportunity for the pioneers,
even had they the knowledge, to carry on "intensive" farming. The land had to be cleared,
and the newcomer devoted all of his energies
to this end.
The more industrious families
worked far into the night burning the logs and

brush heaps. The soil was filled with undecayed roots of the herbage, so that the rude
plows simply tickled the land and it laughed
;

homes in the "old country" into many of
the habits that are now ingrained in their descendants. The influence of these customs was
on the whole beneficial, and the religious enthusiasm of the immigrants was slowly modified by contact with others of dififerent views
than those of the communities in which they
had been born. This mixture of nationalities
is one of the wonderful causes of the development of the present great American nation
a nation without racial or religious prejudice.
their

—

ADVENTUROUS PIONEERS OF THE PAST

far as can be ascertained the first actual
in the territory comprised within

white settler

Columbia and Montour counties was Robert
McWilliams, who with three sons, Hugh, John,
and Robert, and a daughter, Jane, wife of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Robert Curry, came from Ireland
settled in that part of this section

in 1771

and

1785 to establish himself and his large family
Fishing creek, around Orangeville. Three
years later Leonard Rupert established his
home at the mouth of Fishing creek and fixed
upon that point a name which will forever cling

now known on

His
Liberty township, Montour county.
complete history, as well as that of the other
pioneers mentioned further on in this chapof
ter, will be given in the separate sketches
as

it.

These were the leaders of the immigration
county and their names will stand forth
Lancaster county, Pa., settled in 1772 near upon the pages of history beside those of others
where the town of Bloomsburg is now located. of this great nation who have made smooth the
About the same time Evan Owen (founder of way of the present generation by conquering
Berwick) and John Doan bought land and the wilderness and the savages who shared its
Another later settler here sovereignty with the wild beasts.
located near him.
was Samuel Boone, a Quaker, in 1775.
REMINISCENCES
Moses Roberts, the builder of the first house

the diiTerent divisions.
James McClure, a Scotch-Irishman

at Catawissa, is

was

Quaker,

from

next in order of coming. He
from Maiden-creek, Berks

county.
all

John Eves, the famous Quaker ancestor of
the members of that name in this section,

locateil

permanently

at Millville in 1774.

The

same year Alexander AIcAuley, whose mysterious disappearance later on aroused the entire
community, settled temporarily in Beaver township, on Scotch run.
In the year 1775 Michael Billheimer and
Daniel Welliver, both from New Jersey, located amid the headwaters of Chillisquaque
creek, now in Madison township, Columbia
county.

Nov. 26, 1774, William Montgomery purJ. Simpson 180 acres of land on
Mahoning creek, on the north bank of the east
branch of the Susquehanna, called "Karkaase,"
and on which the town of Danville was laid out
In the
in 1792 by his son Daniel Montgomery.
chased from

of 1776, or early in the spring of 1777,
William Montgomery moved his family to this
section and occupied their recently built stone
fall

There, Oct. 8, 1777, was born his
This house still
son, Alexander.
stands in the town of Danville and is occupied
by the descendants of William Montgomery in
house.

youngest

1914.

It is still in

good

state of repair.

to this

The conditions of society, the modes of living and the methods of business in Columbia
county a hundred years ago and for twentythereafter were quite different
five years
from those of this brisk and prosperous
Mr. I. W. Hartman, a former merage.
chant of Bloomsburg, living in 1914, re-

many interesting things by which
comparison may be made of the past with
Mr. Hartman said that if the
the present.
average merchant of today was obliged to do
business handicapped as they were in those
days he would consider it almost an impossibilWhen the everpresent commercial drumity.
mer was an unknown quantity, the only means
the merchant had of replenishing his stock was
by personally going to Philadelphia, which he
And as
did semi-annually, spring and fall.
there was no railroad nearer than Pottsville
called

the trip was not only costly but consumed a
In those days there was
great deal of time.
only little cash business, all goods being sold on
Prior
to his going to Philatime.
six months'
delphia to purchase the stock the merchant

would call upon his customers, collect from
them what was coming, and taking the money
with him would pay for the goods he had purchased six months previously. This was re-

The year after the settlement of the Mont- peated twice a year, yet notwithstanding this
what
gomerys was not one of general exodus to this crude financiering many of them amassed
section, owing to Indian depredations, but in in those days was considered an ample fortune.
in the
1779 an unfortunate family, whose name is un- Of course a few goods were purchased
known, were exterminated by the savages soon interim, but owing to the cost of transportation and the time consumed in their delivery
after they arrived at the site of Mifflinville.
Valley township, Montour county, was the this was the exception.
The mailing facilities were as crude as
next scene of new arrivals, in the persons of
route from WilliamsPhilip Maus and family, who came in 1782. others. There was a mail
The year following was the date of the settle- port to this place passing through Jerseytown.
carried
ment of the county above Orangeville, the The mail was usually
by a man on
leader of the party being Daniel McHenry.
horseback, but in inclement weather he used a
Abraham Kline, whose name is a household covered wagon. The postage at that time was
word in that section, came from Germany in five cents and subsequently reduced to three

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

18
cents,

which sum

remained for many

years, until within the

was reduced to two
The only bank in this

recollection

many

cents.
section of the State

was

Northumberland, and William McKelvy, a
resident of Bloomsburg, who was one of
the directors, drove down every Monday morning to attend a meeting of the board. Mr. Hartman remembers going down on horseback one
time and making a deposit of $500 for his employers, Eyer & Heffley, returning the same
day. The merchants did but little bank business scarcely any at all. The principal busiat

—

ness was the making of deposits for safe
keeping.
In the "good old days of the past" few of
the present conveniences were even dreamed

a rebuttal to the claims of the survivors of those times that the old
days were the
best, let us review some of the details of life
in those times.
In the good old times of the
early years of
the eighteenth century every gentleman wore
a queue and powdered his hair.
His clothes
of.

were more elaborate than now, more unsanitary, and of brilliant colors which often faded
There was only one hat factory in
badly.
America, and that made "cocked" hats. Dry
goods consisted of "men's stuff" and "women's
stuff," and was limited in character and

delphia, while the journey

from

New York

Charleston by land occupied twenty days.
In those good old days there was no regular post office department, all letters being carried by private post, the cost of the letter varying from one to three shillings. There was not
a mile of railroad in the country, no steamboats,
no street cars, no telephones, no telegraph lines,
and the news in the papers was usually about
ninety days old when it was printed.
There were then no kerosene lamps, no elec-

and the chief method of illumination
was by tallow candles. Matches had not come
into general use, so flint and steel were carried by all who went on a journey, while the

tric lights,

housekeeper kept a coal of

Sometimes when the

fire lit all

went out
mount a horse and go
fire

the time.

would be

to the nearnecessary to
est neighbor for a light, the coals being carried

wooden bucket filled with ashes.
The church collections were taken by means

in a

of a bag on the end of a pole, with a bell attached to awaken the sleepers whom the parson's prosy and long-drawn-out sermons had
lulled into slumber.
If the sermon did not
suit the hearer he dare not criticise it lest he

be heavily fined.

were highly prized and were handed down
from one generation to the other. Wooden
bowls, platters and trenchers were the usual

Imprisonment for debt was a common pracand the whipping post and pillory were
means of punishment. An old copper mine in
Connecticut was then used as a prison, and
many of the inmates died from the effects of
their incarceration in it. Yes, these were the
"good old days" we sometimes hear about.
Another important event in those days was
court week. The county seat was at Danville,
subsequently removed to Bloomsburg, and peoThe
ple from ail over the county attended.
hotels for days were busy making preparations
the
and
as
for the entertainment of
crowd,
newspapers were scarce it was a time when
information was exchanged as well as the business which brought them transacted. Mr. I. W.
Hartman frequently saw men walking from
the upper end of the county at the present loca-

table utensils.

tion

Books were very expensive, many small volumes costing $15 each. There was not a public library in America, and most of the books
in private libraries came from
Europe.

court.

quality.

Stoves were unknown and all cooking was
done before open fireplaces. China plates were
a great luxury, and were
generally objected
to because they dulled the knives.
It seems
that the only habit left us from the
past is the
one prevalent in some classes of
society of
eating with the knife.
girl was not permitted
to marry till she could bake a loaf of bread and
cut it while warm into even slices.
When a
person had enough tea the spoon was placed
across the cup. Pewter spoons and steel knives

Virginia contained one fifth of the populaUnited States, and the Mississippi
valley was not as well known as the heart of
Africa is now. Two stagecoaches bore all of
the travel between New York and Boston, and
the trip required six days.
Two days were
tion of the

occupied in the trip from

New York

to Phila-

tice,

of Jamison City, to Danville to attend
The first day they would walk as far as
Orangeville, stay over night, and finish their
walk the next day. This was necessary, as
there was no other way of getting there except
by driving down and many did not keep a horse.
There were no bridges to cross the river and
the only one along Fishing creek was at the
site of the present double bridge at the Lazarus

farm below town. At that time it was a single
track affair and very primitive in its construction.
There was a foot bridge over the creek

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

on which people crossed in going being pushed in a flat, there being no rope
and from the Foulk mill.
ferries at that time. Or one could go down the
Going to Catawissa in those days was not an valley to the Deimer farm, then over the hill
easy matter by any means. The only way of and cross the river at Catawissa in the same
getting there was by going around by what is
now the Aqueduct mill and fording the river
at the site of the Rupert railroad bridge, or

at the red rock

CHAPTER

III

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY— IRON— COAL
Separated from the earlier settled portion
of Pennsylvania by the Kittatinny range of
hills, and defended from the storms of the
northwest by the AUeghenies, the portion of
the State in which lie the counties of Columbia
and Montour is particularly blessed in the
possession of both natural beauty and mineral
wealth. Few of the elevations reach the dignity of mountains, although they rise in graceful curves to the height of over 1,500 feet in

mountain, with a parallel ridge south of

some instances. From their summits may be
obtained a view of the beautiful and fertile
valleys, clear streams and gently rolling hills
of as fair a land as that written of by the Irish

the

poet,

who

said

Bounteous nature loves
everywhere.
Footprints leaves on

all

many

lands, beauty

sands, but her

wanders

home

surely there.

The community
cultural.

in general is distinctly agrievery hand are to be seen the re-

it,

separating the fertile regions from the anthracoal fields, the only evidence of whose
existence is the black waters of Catawissa
cite

creek.

Between Mifflin and Beaver townships lies
Nescopeck mountain, which extends from the
Luzerne county line to Mainville. McAuley
and Buck mountains, with their small deposits
of hard coal now almost worked out, complete
list

of elevations in the southern part.

North of the Susquehanna the most imporis Knob mountain, at the site of
C)rangeville, a clear cut, green-clad elevation
of great scenic beauty. Eastwardly this ridge

tant elevation

is called Huntington and Lee mountains, after
a division at the edge of the county. The most
picturesque portion of the county lies in the
extreme northern part, where a spur of the

AUeghenies forms the lofty North mountain,
the source of Fishing creek and its branches.
This is the home of the trout and the paradise

summer

boarder.

sults of men's efforts to gain a support from
the willing soil.
Upon the basis of the productiveness of the land is built the success of
the two counties, and almost every man of
affairs can trace back to three generations of

of the

agricultural progenitors.

hills

Montour county bears in her center the productive Limestone ridge, from which much of
the ore and stone of the past have been taken.
On her southern boundary is the famous Mon-

well watered country.

Elsewhere in the counties the surface is
constantly broken by a succession of hills of
varying height, the fertile slopes of which are

Around these
cultivated entirely to the top.
meander the numerous streams of this

Fishing creek and its tributaries afford the
drainage of that section of Columbia
county north of the river, with the exception of
tour ridge, like a wall between it and North- a small portion in the extreme east drained by
umberland county. In the eastern end is the Briar creek. On the south of the river the
first rise of Catawissa mountain, which passes
country is drained by Catawissa creek. Roardown through Columbia county, forming the ing creek and Ten-Mile run.
division between Main and Locust townMontour county is drained almost entirely
At Catawissa the Susquehanna has by Chillisquaque creek and its many branches.
ships.
forced a passage through the range, showing This stream flows through Northumberland
all the strata of the rocks of this section in all
county and empties into the West Branch of
their odd and interesting forms.
Dividing the Susquehanna. The portion of the county
Locust and Conyngham townships is Little around Danville is drained by Mahoning creek.
sole

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

GEOLOGY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY

Columbia and Montour counties lie wholly
within the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton basins
of the anthracite region, known as the Wyoming Valley. This section was part of the territory claimed

awarded

by Connecticut and afterwards

Pennsylvania.

gains the

name

Wyoming from the Indian title of Maughwauwama, a Delaware word, meaning large plains.
Although broken by lofty hills, the term applies
very appropriately to this section of the State,
to the broad and comparatively level
valleys that lie between the hills. Few of these
hills attain the dignity of mountains, the highest being but ,600 feet, but they afford charmingly varied views of a prosperous and pictur-

owing

esque country from their different summits.
The general geological structure of the rocks
of these counties includes the Pocono or Pottsville Conglomerates in the higher elevations,
the Catskill and Chemung rocks in the lower
hills, and in the valleys the outcrops of the
Hamilton, Lower Helderberg and Salina formations. These rocks are only included in the

Older Secondary system and comprise the various strata Nos. \' to XI, inclusive, classihed by
the second geological survey of the State.
Columbia and Montour counties are just
outside of the mining region of the anthracite
fields, although many mines have been opened
and operated continuously for years in the extreme southeastern part of Columbia county.
The anthracite veins are usually above the highest layers of rock on the summits of the hills of

these counties, therefore "out of sight" in this
immediate section, but to the east and south of
the borders of Columbia the coal veins sink to
points where they can be profitably mined. The
soft coal strata of the western part of the State,
which have made the fortunes of thousands,
are here completelv eroded away and are theoretically at .IvOOO feet in the air above us.
The rocks of this section are not only compressed and twisted into strange forms, but thev
are forced up into steep ridges and basins, but
for which the operations of the miner would

be more difficult and hazardous. This uplift
has forced many of the strata into the light and
greatly assisted in the work of mineral research
and exploitation, besides adding to the picturesnue beauty of the cliffs and valleys.
In addition to the action of the subterranean
forces of past ages the more recent (comparatively) erosion of the glaciers has further diversified the surface of these regions. The end
of the sreat glaciers or sea of ice that covered
all of New York State and extended to the

Susquehanna was marked by a terminal
moraine, or ridge, of boulders and debris left
by the melting of the ice. This moraine was
l^ter torn apart and scattered in places over
the land by the immense streams of water that
arose from the rapidly melting ice fields, so
causing the deep beds of sand and gravel all
over this section. The glacial rivers also cut
the deep clefts in the strata to be seen where
the rivers and creeks force their way through
Montour ridge and other elevations.
The mineral products of these counties are
few, agriculture leading as a source of wealth.
in the past the iron ores were of great
importance, atid supplied the raw
material for furnaces at Bloomsburg and Dan\ille.
These veins of ore have been worked
out in the last twenty years, or have been found

However,
industrial

make exploiiron ores of the Lake
Superior region can be mined and shipped to
this point for less than it takes to produce the
native ores, and the old methods of smelting
being replaced by the more simple modern ones
caused the abandonment of the furnaces in this
to

descend

such depths as to

tation unprofitable.

The

region.

The quarrying

of slate for mantels and roofwas prosecuted in Hemlock township, Columbia county, but through lack of
knowledge of the business and deficiency of
funds the enterprise was abandoned some years
ago. The raw material is still there and, with
modern machines and a cultivated market,
would probably make it well worth while to
ing purposes

revive the industry.
The mining of limestone for Ijurning purposes was at one time the leafling industry of
both counties, but at present the plants in use
are found only in the vicinity of Lime Ridge,
in Columbia county, along the line of Montour
ridge, south of Frostv Valley and as far west
as Limestoneville, in Montour county.
At
Lime Ridge and west of there two firms are
quarrying the limestones for ballast and burning purposes, producing a fine grade of
hydrated lime and some small quantities of
Near Espy, Rhone Trescott
building stone.
has a quarry in the Bossardville limestones
which contains a thin vein of galena, from
which he obtains several carloads of ore per
year, yielding a high percentage of lead. This
is jirobably the source of the lead brought to
the Fishing creek neighborhood by the Indians
during their occupation of the section of
country near Orangeville. At that time the
owners of the land believed that the lead was
obtained at a nearer point.
The onlv mines of anthracite coal in this sec-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
tioii

are to be found in Beaver and

Conyngham

townships, Columbia county, although it was
formerly thought that coal could be developed
in Briarcreek township, while in 19 1 4 discoveries of coal have been made in the vicinity of
Exchange, Ivlontour county. The mines are
treated m the separate sketches of these town-

of the glacier that at one time covered the State
of New York and extended as far south as

Berwick.
Mifflin

— The

rocks of this township extend

from the Pocono beds in the summit of Nescopeck mountain to the Lower Helderberg limestone in the bed of the Susquehanna opposite
Mifflinville. The glacier that came as far south
ships.
as Berwick did not cross the river to this townGEOLOGY OF THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS
ship, but poured its melting ice streams into the
Susquehanna. Later stream action caused the
of
the
characFollowing are short reviews
deposits of rounded boulders and gravel to
of
the
townelevations
the surface of this section.
The crest
formation
cover
and
teristic
and
Montour
Columbia
of
of
and
Nescopeck mountain, which forms the
boroughs
ships
counties, Columbia being the tirst in order of southern border of the township, is 1,625 feet
above sea level.
description.
Sugarloaf The rocks of this township beColumbia County
long to the Catskill formation, with the exception of a narrow belt of Pocono which forms
Most of the strata of the Clinton and the summit of North mountain. Drift heaps
Scott
in
this
are
formations
and gravel beds cover most of the area. The
exposed
Helderberg
Fossil iron highest elevation in this township is 1,275 f^^t^township along Montour ridge.
Benton The Catskill and Chemung rocks
ore was formerly extensively mined at several
Several quar- predominate here. Drift and gravel beds prepoints, but is now exhausted.
ries were at one time operated along the ridge dominate.
The greatest altitude in this townfor lime burning, but are now abandoned. The ship is 850 feet.
Jackson Catskill and Chemung red sandhighest elevation of Montour ridge in this
stones are found here, with many boulder beds.
township is 900 feet.
characterformations
of
the
Most
Centre
Glacial remains abound. The greatest altitude
istic of this part of the State are shown in this
is 1,280 feet.
Pine Chemung, Catskill and Hamilton fortownship, along Montour ridge and HuntingThe Bossardville and Lower mations predominate in this section. Genesee
ton mountain.
Helderberg limestones are extensively mined shales and Tully limestones are also found. The
for lime burning and cement purposes, while greatest elevation is 1,315 feet.
the Bastard limestone between, which caused so
Greemvood Chemung and Hamilton rocks
much trouble in the past to quarrymen by rea- here predominate. There are also found areas
is
and
awkward
hardness
of
its
son
location,
of Genesee black shale. In the Chemung sandnow broken into a fine quality of road material. stones a quarry was once operated near the
Lead and zinc were found in granular state in Mount Pleasant township line, furnishing
small pockets in the Upper Salina limestone rough building stone. This township is pracbeds, and were supposed to warrant exploita- tically free from boulders. The land is generthe
tion, but although thousands of dollars were
ally free from stones, and the rocks are of
The highest elevation is near
spent in investigation there were no tangible black shale.
this
of
The entire valley
results.
township Millville—825 feet.
south of Lime Ridge is covered with boulders
Fishingcreek Pocono, Catskill, Chemung,
and gravel, deposited in the past by glacial Genesee and Hamilton rocks are here exposed.
and alluvial action. The highest point of the Glacial deposits form the great plain along
Huntington mountain in the township is about Huntington creek. The highest point is Hunt1,500 feet.
ington mountain, 1,500 feet above sea level.
Briarcreek Here the Montour axis passes
Orange The rocks in this township run
under the tow-n of Berwick, while Hamilton from the Pocono to the base of the Chemung
across
and Knob mountains pass almost entirely
formation. Great heaps of rounded boulders
the area of the township. Both elevations are are scattered over the hill summits and give
about 1,500 feet above the sea. Glacial action evidence of the sea having covered this section
cut the valley between these mountains and re- of the State in past ages. From the summit of
mains of ice deposits of boulders and trash are Knob mountain an extensive view is had of the
These were the ac- counties of Montour and Columbia. This altito be abundantly found.
cumulations from the great terminal moraine tude is 1,430 feet.

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

—

Mount Pleasant The Chemung, Lower Helderberg and Salina formations predominate
The limestones are shghtly magnesian
here.
and would make good Portland cement. Others
can be burned for lime. At the forks of the
road near Little Fishing creek the highest point
above the sea, just above Mordansville, is 535
feet.

—

Hemlock Almost a complete section from
the Catskill formation down to the basal beds
of the Clinton is found in this township along
the banks of Fishing creek.
large quarry
was formerly operated in the Hamilton shales,
from which a hne grade of slate for mantels
and tables was sawn, by the Thomas Slate Company. At this quarry the Marcellus slates were
also mined for roofing and school slates. The
Lower Helderberg limestone was mined at
this place for the Bloomsburg furnaces, also

about a mile east of Buckhorn. The Bloomsburg Iron Company and William Neal & Sons
quarried the fossil iron ore in the Montour
The highest elevation in this township
ridge.
is

975

feet.

Montour

—

Catskill,

along the Delaware, Lackawanna

& Western

railroad, at the

end of Montour ridge, are the

most complete

student of
of value to observe here,

the county.

much

—

—
A

—

Chemung and Genesee

shales are the range of rocks in this township,
Between
covering a section of 4,784 feet.
Catawissa bridge and Rupert the exposures

geology will find

sandstones here were at one time quarried for
About 1,500 feet is the
building purposes.
height of the mountain at this point.
Catawissa All of the diflferent formations
characteristic of this county are shown along
the Susquehanna from Catawissa to the
Bloomsburg bridge, along the bluffs of Catawissa (or Nescopeck) mountain. None of the
limestones
here
have been commercially
worked. The height of Catawissa mountain is
estimated at 1,600 feet.
Franklin Only a few of the characteristic
formations of this county are exposed in this
township.
dividing ridge, part of Catawissa
mountain, separates the Susquehanna from
Roaring creek in the central part of the townElevations range from 900 to 1,400 feet
ship.
above sea level.
Locust Little mountain, along the southern
border of this township, has an elevation of
1,040 feet, and exposes the Pocono formation
to some extent.
Other strata are shown at
various gaps in the hills and mountain, made
by the branches of Roaring creek.

and the lover of the picturesque will be gratified
by the varied scenery to be found at this spot.
Indications are found here that the Susquehanna once flowed in a channel directly westward to Danville through the valley north of
Montour ridge. The Bossardville limestone
has been quarried for agricultural uses by several persons in this vicinity, but was found too
impure for building uses. The fossil iron ore
was also at one time mined about a mile and a

Montour County

— In

Cooper

the tunnel cut to drain the old

quarry of Grove Brothers, at Grovania, the exposures of Catskill and Chemung rocks are
very complete. The Lower Helderberg limestone is the one quarried here now for lime, as
it was for furnace uses in the
past. Some fossiliferous iron ore

but

now

was

also

mined

The

exhausted.

in the past,
ancient valley of
vvhich that river

the Susquehanna, through
once flowed before it carved
the

Montour

axis,

shown

its

way through

in the center of

this township, and forms the basis of the best
farms in this vicinity. The elevation of the

ridge here

—about 760

feet.

Mahoning The formations characteristic of
half west of Fishing creek. The highest point Montour ridge are to be found in this township.
of Montour ridge in this township is 755 feet. A number of limestone quarries were formerly
Bloornsbnrg The Clinton, Salina, Lower operated in this township to supply the fur-

—

Helderberg and Hamilton formations are exposed along the banks of Fishing creek beside
the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad tracks. At
many places outcroppings of fossil iron ore are

found and have been almost completely mined
out in the past. The town of Bloomsburg is
located on three terraces composed of deposits
from streams in the past. The highest terrace

naces at Danville, but are now idle. Iron ore
was also extensively mined, but has long since
been exhausted. About 700 feet is the height
of the ridge here.
Liberty The lowest beds of the Clinton
slates form Montour ridge here, while the

—

Oriskany chert and the Lower Helderberg limestone make Lime Ridge in the northern border
The Hamilton and Bossardin Bloomsburg is on Second street, where the of the township.
ville limestones have here been extensively
altitude is 571; feet.
mounMontour
Main Cutting through Nescopeck
quarried.
ridge stands 900 feet above
tain, Catawissa creek here exposes all of the sea level, while Lime Ridge is about 100 feet
Pocono and Catskill formations. The Catskill lower.

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

—
Valley Most of the rocks

in this

township

are of the Chemung-Catskill formations. The
Clinton iron ore has been extensively mined
along the sides of Montour ridge, being followed to great depths by means of drifts, the
dip being about 30 degrees. Limestone quarries were numerous in the days of iron workAbout
ing, but now have passed into disuse.
800 feet is the greatest elevation in this township,

on Montour ridge.

—

Hemlock As is the case in the adjoining townships, the Chemung-Catskill formaPVest

tions here predominate.

The Hamilton beds

are too deeply buried to make profitable working here. The greatest elevation in this township is almost 1,000 feet above the sea.

berry

mung

—The Hamilton, Helderberg and Che-

rocks are here to be seen.

and filled with limestone and many fossils.
Below the fossiliferous horizon the ore is poor
and the cost of working it prohibitive. For this
reason the mines of the county were
gradually
abandoned as fast as the upper layers of ore
became exhausted.
The discovery of iron ore in Columbia county
was made in 1822 by Robert Green, a farm
laborer employed by Henry Young of Hemlock township, while plowing a field near the
end of Montour ridge, on the bank of Fishing
creek.
He opened a drift and demonstrated
the value of the vein. For
twenty years this
ore was mined and transported to the Esther
and Penn furnaces, across the Susquehanna.

Columbia County Furnaces

A large quarry

Before the discovery of ore in the northern
was formerly operated near Washingtonville,
the product being lime and building stone. The part of the county the Catawissa furnace was
feet built in Main township on Furnace run, near
greatest elevation in this township is 900
Catawissa creek, by John Hauck, in 181 5. He
above the sea.
the
southern
had the advantage of proximity to the road to
Limestone Limestone ridge,
sandthe
of
is
Oriskany
Reading and abundant wood for charcoal. The
composed
boundary,
stones and the Helderberg limestones. Many ore was at first procured from the neighborlimestone quarries were operated in this sec- hood of Bloomsburg, but after the discovery
tion, getting their product from the Bossard- of the deposits in Hemlock township most of
the raw material came from the latter source.
ville and Stormville beds.. The greatest elevaFor several years this was the only furnace
tion is 780 feet, on Limestone ridge.
Anthony This township was once a vast in the county. The product was sent to Readof
remains
ing to be forged and the finished iron returned
valley filled with a mighty stream,
whose action are shown in the boulder heaps for home consumption. This was changed by

—

The only rocks that
that strew the surface.
here appear above the horizon are the Hamil-

In the highlands of the
ton and Chemung.
north the greatest elevation is 1,200 feet.

Mayberry

—The formations

in this

township

are of similar character to those in Franklin

No
township, Columbia county, adjoining.
quarries have been opened here, although the
rocks have been used for building purposes
running through the
center of the township, is about 300 feet above
locally.

Sharp

ridge,

sea level.

THE IRON INDUSTRY
The mineral productions of Columbia county
are of considerable value and form one of the
sources of wealth for the people, but the yearly
output is only a fraction of that of the past.
During the operation of the iron furnaces at
Bloomsburg and other points the production of
this metal was the most important business in
the county. All of the ore came from the sides
of Montour ridge and was of a fossiliferous
character.
Near the surface the ore was like
loose soil, but below the layers became harder

the construction in 1824 of a forge near the furnace by Harley & Evans and the double handling done away with. Both furnace and forge
were operated until 1883, when the distance
from the mines and the cost of fuel caused
their abandonment.
The introduction of the
anthracite process of smelting also made the
furnace obsolete, as it was of the old charcoal,
hot-blast design.
crumbling wall, overgrown
with bushes, now marks the site of this once
famous iron works.
The grading of the stage road to Reading
through Locust township in 181 7 caused the
construction of the Esther furnace by Michael
and Samuel Bittler. It was located on land
originally patented to Samuel Shakespeare in
1773, on Roaring creek, nineteen miles from

Fort Augusta (now Sunbury).

David Shake-

speare inherited the land and his executors

deeded

to Jacob

Yocum, from whom

passed

to the Bittler family.

There was neither iron nor limestone near,
but an abundance of wood. Most of the ore
came from the Fishing creek region after the
opening of the mines there. After various enlargements the furnace was leased successively

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

to John and Samuel Trego, and Fincher &
Thomas. In 1845 Samuel Uiemer became lessee.
Later owners were John Richards, John
Thomas, D. J. Waller, Sr., Casper Thomas,
Jacob Schuyler and J. B. Robison. The opening of the canal along the Susquehanna in 1832
made Catawissa the main shipping point of the
county and the furnace was abandoned.
The Irondale furnaces were built by the
Bloomsburg Railroad & Iron Company in 1844
and were lined-up and blown-in in 1845 by
James Ralston, a native of Glasgow, Scotland.
A railroad was built around the hill along Fish-

property to H. A. McKillip, receiver, and the
property was sold by him at public sale to the

ing creek to connect the furnaces with the
At that time iron ore was found in
canal.
great quantities in the hills all around the
town and the canal offered a cheap means of
transporting the coal and finished product.
During the Civil war there was a mint of
money in the iron business and the furnaces
were kept running constantly, turning out
about thirty tons of pig iron a day, the price
going at one time to $40 a ton.
The plant in 1886 consisted of two furnaces,
a waterpower house and a steampower house,
a large store, a mansion house, twenty-three
tenement houses comprising the settlement
known as Morgantown, and a narrow-gauge
railroad from the furnaces to the Lackawanna

a well kept property.
In 1852 an agreement

& Bloomsburg

railroad.

The company

also

had

leases on many thousands of acres of ore
lands in the county.
C. R. Paxton was president of the company
and resided in the mansion near the furnaces.
On his removal to Virginia, about 1874, E. R.
Drinker became superintendent. But the iron
trade had declined, and the ore beds in this
section were worked out, necessitating the
transportation of most of the ore used from
Snyder county (Pa.) and Maryland, thus increasing the cost of production.
In 1889 the stock of the Bloomsburg Iron

Company was purchased by

Knorr and
management

Bloomsburg Water Company, the title passing on June 11, 1896. So passed out of existence what had for many years been the leading
industry of Bloomsburg. The store building
has been unoccupied for years, the Paxton
mansion, whose occupants were so long among
the social leaders of the town, is now a tenement house, and every vestige of the furnaces
has disappeared. The waterpower house has
passed into the ownership of the Irondale Electric

Light Company, and been

rebuilt,

and

was entered into by
William McKelvey, William Neal and Jacob
Melick to erect and operate an anthracite iron
furnace, taking the ore from the farm of the

latter, east of Fishing creek. In 1853 seventeen
acres were purchased from Daniel Snyder and
Joseph W. Hendershott on the canal, east of
the town of Bloomsburg, and in April, 1854,
the "Bloom" furnace was blown-in. In 1873
the firm name was changed from McKelvey,
Neal & Co. to William Neal & Sons. Up to
1875 the gross product of this furnace was
17,968 tons, but later the yearly product was
greatly increased.
By 18S3 the ore deposits
near Bloomsburg were exhausted and the furnaces in the vicinity were supplied from mines

New

Jersey.
of these furnaces were abandoned in
the
1892,
property sold and the furnaces torn
down. The site is now occupied by the powerhouse and car barn of the North Branch Transit Company, the only visible remains of the
furnace being the brick water reservoir and the
slag heaps along the abandoned bed of the

All

canal.

The

slag

now broken up and used

to ballast the streets of

Two

other

furnaces

Bloomsburg.
were built at Light

Street between 1844 and 1850 by Gen.

Matthew

Both were
L.
S.
Wintersteen, and the
shortlived, their greater rivals at Bloomsburg
But iron continued to decline in getting the advantage in shipping and receivchanged.
price, and Colonel Knorr's death occurring soon ing facilities. One of these furnaces was operthe
furnaces
were shut down. In 1893 ated by Peter Ent and stood just above the
after,
the Bloomsburg Iron Company, through its upper mill. The B. & S. railroad runs through
Col. S.

president, L. S. Wintersteen, sold the property
to H. C. Pease, who tore down the furnaces
and began the erection of a stone building in-

McDowell and Samuel

Bettle.

the center of the slag heap. The other furnace stood at the lower end of the town. Both
are completely gone.

tended

for manufacturing purposes.
This
operation was stayed by injunction, and the
executrix of Colonel Knorr's estate, desiring
an accounting, petitioned the court for the appointment of a receiver, which was granted,
H. A. McKillip being the appointee. After
proceedings in court. Pease reconveyed the

Montour County Furnaces and Mills
charcoal furnace was built by Eli
near the crossing of the Reading railroad at Mill street, Danville.
The first anthracite iron furnace in

The

Trego

first

in 1837,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Montour county
terson

near

the

was built by Burd Patmouth of Roaring creek,
After

1839.
Mayberry township,
hands it came
passing through successive
into the possession of Simon P. Kase, of
Danville, in 1857, who ran it for a short
time and then abandoned it. The ore was obtained from Montour ridge and carried across

the river on flats.
In 1838 Patterson built a charcoal furnace
at the site of the present Lackawanna railroad
This
crossing in the eastern part of Danville.
he operated for a short time, but the introduction of anthracite coal soon made the furnace obsolete, and it was therefore abandoned.
Later Patterson built a nail factory near it,
but this also was a failure.
Michael and John Grove were the first successful furnacenien, after anthracite coal was

one in 1840
adopted. They built two furnaces,
and the other in 1859, on Mahoning street, Danville.

400-horsepowcr engine ran the blast

and about seventy-five men were employed.

own use. There are two large foundries
machine shop, and
a small foundry for the manufacture of sash
at
This
weights,
Bloomsburg.
completes the
list for the two counties in 19 14.
their

at the car plants, a general

Furnaces Abandoned

At present there are no furnaces in operation
in either Columbia or Montour counties, most
of the iron works consisting of foundries and
rolling mills, which obtain their raw material
from the furnaces around Pittsburg. Those

who have no knowledge

of the old charcoal
furnaces and their operation will find a description of the methods then used interesting.
The early furnaces averaged twenty-five feet
in height by seven feet across the "bosch," or
The fuel was
widest part of the interior.
strictly charcoal and the blast was cold, being
driven by leather bellows through a "tuyere"
Later on
into the mass of charcoal and ore.
wooden "tubs" were used to create the blast,
somewhat like short cylinders, with a piston

They closed down in 1880.
working horizontally, the power coming from
Chambers & Biddle built two furnaces in a water wheel in the nearest stream. These
was
mill
A
in
rolling
1845.
1840, and another
"tubs" were used as late as 1878, even after the
added in 1844, and the plant took the name of introduction of anthracite coal as fuel.
Montour Iron Works. Here the first T rails
The product of these charcoal furnaces was

having been
foundry and
machine shop were added in 1852, and in 1857
a new rail mill was added. This foundry durthe cannon and
ing the Civil war cast many of
mortars used by the Union forces. It had cast
in 1842 the first cannon in the United States

in the

East were made,

rails

previously the chief product.

made

of anthracite iron.
In 1880 the works came into the hands of the
which
Philadelphia & Reading Iron Company,
now operates them.
The last furnace built in Montour county
was the Chulasky furnace, on the line of Northumberland county, in 1846. Its capacity was
iron per an6,500 tons of soft gray forge pig

num.

was

idle after 1893.

Besides the plants mentioned, Danville has

from ten to twenty-five tons of pig iron per
week, which sold at the furnace at fifteen dollars a ton.

Some

of the furnaces in later years

produced stoves, pots and plows.
After the charcoal furnaces were abandoned
and the process of smelting by anthracite introduced the highest period of development in
the iron industry ensued. It was the most important source of wealth to the people and

Owing to
gave employment to thousands.
its success the growth of Danville and Bloomsburg from 1844 to 1890 was due, but the closof the
ing of the mines and the abandonment
furnaces did not seriously affect the prosperity
of these places, for the wealth gathered from
the earth was not of an evanescent character
and the people had made use of their opportunto establish the towns on a permanent foun-

had numerous other iron foundries and mills,
ity
among them being these old ones Enterprise dation.
Foundry. Danville Iron Foundry, National
In filling the old anthracite furnaces, alterIron Foundry, Co-operative Iron & Steel
nate layers of ore, coal and limestone were
Iron
National
Works,
Works, Glendower Iron
a ton of
Stove used, about three tons of ore making
Company's Works and the Danville
iron. The furnaces were run continuously,
pig
the
are
Readmg
The
Works.
present plants
filled from the top as fast as the iron
Iron Works, the Danville Stove Works, the being
was drawn from the bottom. Casting was
Danville Steel Works, the Tube Mill and the
done twice a day. Not only did the local founDanville Foundry & Machine Works.
dries use the product, but" it was in great deAt present Danville is the only strictly ironthe eastern
The Ameri- mand by the foundries all over
making town in the two counties.
half of the State.
have
at
Berwick,
can Car & Foundry Company,
mines of the
for
During the years when the iron
a pipe works and a rolling mill, but only
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

two counties were in operation the annual
production was an average of 20,000 tons. For
each ton of pig iron were required 3.25 tons
of ore, 2.05 tons of coal and 1.59 tons of limestone.

COAL MINING
the anthracite coal produced
Practically
in the world comes from an area of 484 square
In this
miles in northeastern Pennsylvania.
region 87 per cent of the total acreage of coal
lands is owned by eleven railroad corporations.
all

The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company controls 63 per cent of all the anthracite
coal in the United States, and more than half
of the mines in Columbia county. These railroads own the mines, the rails and rolling stock,

into thick layers in another.
They plunge to
a depth of two thousand feet in one
place
below water level, and in a short distance
rise more than a thousand feet above the sea.
In the Pottsville region, of which Columbia

beds are a part, the coal

lies in long,

narrow

basins under the valleys of the streams, the
edges of which rise to the tops of the mountains and the centers sink several hundred
feet below the surface.
Most of the mining is done by "stripping"
off the upper layers of conglomerate rock
which are characteristic of the hard coal regions, and as the stratum of coal sinks slopes
are run in the same direction until the bottom
of the basin is reached. The coal is hauled
to the "breakers" and there broken, sorted and
freed from slate.
Vast piles of refuse or

the yards and pockets in the cities, operate the
wholesaling companies and control the retail- "culm" have accumulated in years around
ers.
Thus they fix the price of coal to the these breakers and render the scene gloomy
and desolate.
consumer.
Coal was discovered in Beaver township in
The cost of mining a ton of coal in the
Schuylkill region is Si. 80. The roads owning 1826, but not till 1854 was any attempt made
the mines charge $1.50 a ton freight for house- to mine it. The Columbia Coal & Iron Comhold sizes of coal transported to tidewater. pany was formed in 1864 by Simon P. Kase,
This is 30 per cent more than the rate for gen- of Danville, and a railroad built to McCauley
eral merchandise.
Coal at the mine mouth is mountain. In 1867 shipments of the coal be-

The freight charge is $1.50; gan and in 1869 the mines were exhausted and
$3.75 per ton.
the railroad's wholesaling branch charges the railroad removed.
The mines are now
twenty-five cents for handling, and the retailer operated by the Beaver Valley Coal Company,
adds $1.25 more, making the cost of a ton of and produced 4,000 tons in 1913. None of the
coal to the householder $6.75 in New York. companies here have ever made more than
The United States government owns and bare operating expenses, as the coal is on the
operates a coal mine at Williston, N. Dak., extreme tops of McCauley and Buck mounwhere the cost of mining a tori is $1.78. This tains, in shallow strata and difficult of access.
The mines in Conyngham were opened beincludes all charges except transportation.
Although within the coal region of the east- tween 1854 and 1867. Most of them are loem part of Pennsylvania, Columbia county has cated on the lands of the Girard estate and
few mines of that precious mineral. These are leased by the Reading and Lehigh \'alley RailThe principal mines now
located in Beaver and Conyngham townships, road Companies.
the latter being the only ones profitably open are the Continental and Repellier collieries at Centralia
worked.
the Midvalley collieries
There is a great difference in the soft and at Aristes and the Morris Ridge and North
hard coal mining regions. In the former the Ashland collieries, below Centralia.
beds lie low down in the strata and are reguAccording to the figures published by the
lar in character and easily mined. But anthra- State Geological Commission in 1882 the total
cite coal beds are contorted, turned over and production of the mines then in operation in
jammed into strange and irregular forms. Columbia county was 722,114 tons. FollowSqueezed by enormous pressure in past ages, ing are the names of the mines, location and
they disappear in one spot only to expand operators
;

;

Name
Bast
Potts

Hazel Dell
Continental

Monroe
Logan
Centralia

Bear City
Morris Ridge
North Ashland

—

Location
Big Mine run
Locustdale

Operator 1882
P. & R. Coal & Iron Co
P. & R. Coal & Iron Co

Centralia
Centralia

L. A. Riley & Co
Lehigh Valley Coal
A. H. Church
L. A. Riley & Co
L. A. Riley & Co
John Q. Williams

Montana
Centralia
Centralia
Centralia
Centralia
Centralia

May & Co
P. & R. Coal &

Iron

Tons
90,161
83,941
7,638
16,542
35,8S4

231,169
88,283
2,000
SS.490
111,036

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The

Bast,

Monroe and Bear City collieries
With the exception of

have been abandoned.

the colliery at Locustdale, all
now under the control of the

the mines are

The coal is washed into the river from
the culm banks, where the slate sinks into the
crevices, while the coal floats down slowly

Lehigh Valley and steadily, year by year, until it is lifted
Three mines have been to the surface by the dredges. Most of the
the coal taken out has been in the water at least
opened since the above table was published,
i and 2.
thirty years, as its rounded shape would indiRepellier and the Midvalley Nos.
From the mines in Conyngham and Beaver cate. The dredges are simple and their cost
townships during 1913 there were produced is low, about $200 covering engine and boat.
Based on
1,078,481 tons of anthracite coal.
OTHER MINERALS
the average wholesale selling price of $2.38
was
this
coal
$2,566,per ton, tiie value of
estimate can be had regarding the proNo
three tenths per
and
one
or
almost
784.78,
cent of the total production of hard coal in duction of lime and limestone, or cement.
The average cost of mining was There are a number of large and small plants
the State.
in both counties, most of which cater to the
$2.07 per ton.
Railroad Company.

Although the early ironmasters of Danville
often prospected for coal in various parts of

Montour county their efforts were never refor the
It remained
warded by success.
drouth of 1914 to reveal the hidden veins of
anthracite to two farmers of the vicinity of
Exchange, who were seeking deeper veins
of water for their stock.

local trade.

At one time the slate mines near Buckhorn
were a source of profit to their owners, but
they have been abandoned for many years.

The production of galena or lead ore is so
small as to be of little interest to the reader,
the greatest quantity being insufficient to warrant exploitation.
It is obtained in connection with the limestone at mines near Lime

For many years Judge J. L. Brannen of
Exchange had noticed in the bed of the Chil- Ridge and Espy.
In this connection reference may be made
lisquaque rounded fragments of coal, but he
In
did not seek to ascertain their source.
October of 1914 P. C. Dennen and William
Houghton, farmers of the neighborhood of
Exchange, about the same date dug new wells,
both going to a depth of over seventy feet.
At that depth they simultaneously struck a

to the

copper deposits of Sugarloaf township,

which are of no real value, but were considered valuable by the promoters of the company
who built the smelter near Central and sank
a large sum of money in the vain endeavor
to

reduce the ore commercially.

stratum of anthracite coal, measuring from
three to four feet in thickness, which on testthe
ing proved to be of similar character to

The
best product of the hard coal regions.
coal lies in the usual basin-shaped form so
characteristic of this grade of fuel, and will

STATE REPORTS

the reports received by the
According
State Geological Survey the mineral production of
Columbia and Montour counties
The showed a decline in 1913 of over $125,000,
be worked by "stripping" and shafts.
have not yet as compared with 1912. This is in marked
quantity and extent of the deposit
contrast with most of the counties of the
been demonstrated.
Along the Susquehanna river are a number State and to the State as a whole, which
of dredges, which operate in low stages of showed a very distinct increase in value.
The products reported were brick and tile,
water, bringing up from the river bed the coal
which has "drifted down in flood time. This anthracite coal, sand and gravel, pottery, limeIt is impossible to give the
coal, unlike the soft variety, will not disinte- stone and lime.
grate.
During 19 13 these dredges washed details of production, without itemizing the
individual output.
out 133,986 tons of salable coal.
to

CHAPTER

AGRICULTURE
Owing to the lack of complete reports from
the agricultural department of the State, no
reliable statistics are to be had regarding the
agricultural productions and stock raising
possibilities of Columbia and Montour counThe principal products of
ties at present.
these counties now, as in the past, are wheat,
buckwheat, oats, corn, rye, potatoes, and other
farm products of lesser importance. Probably
most of the available land in both counties is
now under cultivation, and the crops will bear
comparison in quality and quantity with those
of the other States of the Union.
Among the grain producing States Pennsylvania ranks first in buckwheat, fourth in rye,
eleventh in wheat, twelfth in oats, and fourIn the production of wheat
teenth in corn.
this section of the State stands second, but in
buckwheat it is at the top. One of the famous
products of Columbia county at one time was

Amber wheat, developed and introduced
throughout the United States by William J.
Martin, of Catawissa. The numerous gristan

two counties, described at length
another chapter, are an evidence of the importance of the growing of grain in this secmills of the
in

tion.

Among them

the Millville mill,

which

ranks among the largest buckwheat mills of
the Union.
In early times buckwheat was the chief crop
of this section, as it will grow on new and
partially reclaimed land, so the pioneer farmThis estabers depended on it principally.
lished the fame of the region for buckwheat,
and the years have seen but little diminution
Most of the buckwheat of
of the product.
these years is grown around Millville, Benton,
Orangeville and Washingtonville, although
quantities are also grown in other parts of
both counties. The rapid growth of this grain
is one of the reasons for its continued popularity,

only

ninety days being required

for

growth and harvesting, in comparison with the 270 days needed for a crop of

planting,

wheat.

The

flour

from buckwheat

used chiefly

for griddle cakes, one of the prominent hotels
of New York City making a specialty of serving cakes made from Fishingcreek buckwheat.
small amount of the flour is used to make

"scrapple" by butchers, while in Holland it
is extensively used in the manufacture of
gin.
In 1904, when wet weather damaged the crop,
quantities of buckwheat were exported to Holland from Columbia and Montour counties.
In the matter of wheat but little can be
ascertained, although there are many mills
equipped with the modern roller process,
which grind the grain for the local markets.
Little

wheat

exported from this section,

the crop being about sufficient to supply all
demands of the mills, with a small surplus.
comparison of the agricultural methods of
the past and present is unnecessary.
It can
be said, however, that our farmers are supplied with all the implements that modern science can devise for the harvesting and working
In addition the Bloomsburg
of farm crops.
State Normal School has a department of agriculture, under the charge of Professor Hartline, which devotes considerable time to laboratory and field work of a practical character.
comparison of values in early times with
those of the present will be of interest to the
From an old copy of the Danville
reader.
Observer we learn that in 1824 wheat sold in
the open market at 65 cents a bushel, rye at 28
cents, corn at 25 cents, oats at 15 cents, flaxseed at 55 cents, buckwheat at 20 cents, beeswax at 28 cents a pound, pork at 4 cents, butter at 10 cents, and lard at 6 cents.
In 1914 wheat sold at 90 cents a bushel,
rye was not in the market, corn sold at 85
cents, oats at 40 cents, flaxseed was not in the
market, buckwheat was 65 cents a bushel, beeswax 25 cents a pound, pork 13 cents, butter
30 cents, and lard 12 cents.
It is interesting to note that the price of
beeswax has scarcely changed over three cents
on the pound for more than one hundred

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
It is a natural product that man has
never been able to imitate successfully.
Among the famous products of this section

years.

the Creveling grape, propagated by Mrs.
Charity Creveling. wife of John Creveling, a
member of the Society of Friends, residing
near Espy. The first vine, from which cuttings
were sent all over the Union, ran over a large
pear tree beside the residence of Mr. Crevel-

was

ing.

Catawissa, which gave a variety of wheat to
the world, was also the home of two fruits of
national fame, which has not been dimmed

The
even in this modern and rapid age.
Catawissa monthlv raspberry was propagated
from a single plant discovered in the Friends'
burial ground there and is noted from the fact
that blossoms and berries appear at the same
The Sharpless
time from July to October.
strawberry was originated in 1872
K. Sharpless, of Catawissa, and extensively exploited by J. L. Dillon, of Blooms-

seedling

burg.

One of the industries of these counties
wiiich has lapsed into the realm of memory is
In early days
the production of maple sugar.
maple syrup and sugar were staple commoone townshiji Sugarloaf being named
from the chief of its products. The sugar season was as anxiously anticipated as the wheat
harvest, and was more sure and lucrative. In

—

dities,

—

the present time the loss of the noble maples,
devastated by the woodman's axe, has caused
an almost entire abandonment of this once

famous industry.
APPLE ORCHARDS
Pennsylvania

third in

the

list

of apple

hundred bushels.
Another instance

is the experience of Ira
township,
Roaringcreek
He put brains, hard work
and attention into an old orchard, and the
first year after he began experimenting harvested a larger crop than ever before in its
The following year he picked from
history.

of
Cherrington,
Columbia county.

the old trees a crop of 1,800 bushels of marketable apples.
Instances of this kind are occurring all over
the two counties, and will be multiplied in the
coming years, after the intelligent care now
being bestowed on the orchards brings forth
fruit.
Some of these farmers have received
over a dollar a bushel for their fruit in the
local markets, but at less prices the industry
If the counties
is
still
very remunerative.
continue to progress in this way during the
coming vears Adams county, now the foremost
fruit raising county in the State, will have
to put forth renewed efforts to retain the prize

medal.

Aside from the big apple crops that are
raised in Columbia and Montour counties there
are a multitude of smaller fruits that, while
singly insignificant, together form an aggregate of no mean volume, and are a source of
considerable revenue to the farmer and his
Each farm has a number of cherry,
family.
peach, quince, pear and other fruit trees, bear-

more or less valuable burden each year.
There are one or two large peach orchards, but
most of the farmers content themselves with
Nor are
raising only enough for local trade.
the cultivated fruits the onlv profitable prodThe crabapple. huckleberry, elderberry,
ucts.
chestnut, walnut and hickorynut are plentiful
and afford a source of spending money for
the younger generation that is not of inconsidWhen taken altogether
erable importance.
the financial value of these fruits and nuts
assumes proportions that makes them count
in the statistics of the counties.

SWINE RAISING

"Farmer" Creasy, master of

the State Grange, who has developed to perfection several varieties of apples on his farm,
east of Catawissa. J. L. John, of Millville. in
an old orchard that had been declared unpro-

produced hundreds of bushels of
marketable apples.
Everett of Pine
.\. G.
township took Inold of an old orchard that had

ductive,

never given him a profitable crop, and in the
tirst year sold over three hundred bushels of
good apples. The next year he sold almost
six hundred bushels of a better quality, and
in the fourth year he harvested nearly twelve

ing a

producing States, and has practically driven
the western apple from the home market, because a better apple can be produced here at
a lower cost.
This is true also of Columbia
and Montour counties, where several varieties
of apples have originated, among them being
the Fornwald. Priestlv and Pennock varieties.
Some of the best apples exhibited at recent
State fairs have been from these counties and
have received honorable mention.
The pioneer commercial orchardist in Col-

umbia countv

It is taken for granted that the average
farmer will raise enoueh pork for his own use,
and that is true of Columbia and Montour
counties, but in addition enough hogs are

raised to

make

the industry quite a lucrative

one to the shippers supplying outside markets.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

The most popular breeds

are the Berkshire,
Chester- White, Duroc-Jersey and PolandChina, all of the fat or lard type of swine. It
not possible to designate the particular
is
breed that is in the lead, neither can we state
the number of animals shipped. Sufficient to
say that the industry is a thriving one and in
the future will be of considerable importance
in this section of the State.

Shultz, of Boyd's Station, on the south side
of the Susquehanna river, opposite Danville.
It also infected the herds of the town.
The
first

germs came from

Buft'alo,

N. Y.,

Only enough sheep are raised in Columbia
and Montour counties to supply the local
butchers, the wool being a side issue, and of
There
little importance in a monetary way.
are

many

reasons for the decline of this in-

First come the many useless
dustry here.
dogs, which soon develop a fondness for
Then the fences are rapidly
sheep killing.
being taken down on the farms, and sheep are
death to crops.
Third, the farmers of the
West are in a better position to raise sheep at
lower prices than in the East. Lastly, the constant care required by this most defenceless
animal makes the industry an unprofitable one
to the farmer, who can utilize his energies in

lucrative employment.

HORSE BREEDING
Before the Civil war the breeding of horses
was one of the chief of the side lines of the
farmer in these counties, but in later years the
Western horses came into the market at prices
that made home-raised stock unprofitable.

There was a time when a good Western team
could be bought for $300, but the prices are
slowly increasing as the Western ranches are
cut up into farms, and the local horse breeding
industry is regaining some of its lost prestige.

number of farsighted farmers are entering this field, but still the local market cannot
be supplied by local breeders, and from six to
ten carloads of Western horses are each year
brought in by dealers, who hold frequent sales
at prominent points in both of the counties.
CATTLE EPIDEMIC IN MONTOUR COUNTY

Montour county has been unfortunate in
having been the point in central Pennsylvania
from which the aphthous fever, or foot and
disease of cattle, originated. The first
discovery of this disease was made on Nov.
9, 1908, on the farm of Jacob Shultz, of
Cooper township. Almost at the same time
it broke
out among the cattle of Edward

shipped here from

About the first of November, 1914, there
was an outbreak of the aphthous fever, or
foot and mouth disease, among the cattle of
Columbia and Montour counties. It was
brought to

SHEEP

cattle

in that year.

this section in

shipments of cattle

and Lancaster. Several fine
herds were found to be infected and prompt
measures were taken by the State Livestock
Sanitary Board to stamp out the disease. At
the farm of Henry Cooper in Limestone
township, Montour county, over thirty head
of cattle and several hogs were killed by the
State at the farm of Calvin Cooper in Madison township, Columbia county, about the
same number \vere killed and on the fann of
Charles Umstead, near Washingtonville, ten
cows and a lot of hogs were killed. The infection of all of these came from one shipment from Buffalo. At Danville two herds
were found to be diseased and promptly killed.
They were in the stock-yards of William
Mourey and at the farm connected with the
At the
Danville Hospital for the Insane.
latter place over one hundred head of cattle
The infection
and sixty hogs were killed.
here came from a shipment from Lancaster

from

Buft'alo

;

PROMINENT

F.'^RMERS

Among the prominent farmers of Montour
county are Dr. W. R. Paules, whose large
farm is near Washingtonville D. R. Rothrock, owner of Pleasant Hill farm; Alexander
;

Billmeyer, who owns
ing a thousand acres, near Washingtonville
George W. Watson, owner of Buttonwood
Spring farm; and William L. Satteson, who
operates Wilmshurst farm, near Exchange.
T. E. Hyde, a stock raiser and extensive
fanner, has a farm called Edgemont, on the
edge of the two counties, near Grovania, that
Anis a model in its methods of operation.
other enterprise is the Guernseydale Stock
Farms, near Rupert, owned by a corporation
of considerable size, with still another farm
near Catawissa.
fifteen farms, aggregat-

;

GRANGERS, OR PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

mouth

of the strongest orders in Columbia
and Montour counties is that of the Patrons
of Husbandry, or Grangers, as they are genThey have existed in Pennsylerally called.

One

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
vania for forty-two years and nearly every
township in these two counties has an organization in thriving condition, the members in
cases owning their hall and conducting

many

a cooperative insurance association.
Columbia county has fifteen granges, and Montour
county, six.
Every county in the State has
a number, the total being 820, with a member-

ship of 75,000.

Columbia county has the most

prosperous insurance association, the Briar
Creek Mutual Fire Insurance Company, carrying $14,000,000 of insurance.

The Master of

the State Grange and editor-

in-chief of the "Pennsylvania Grange News,"
Hon. William T. Creasy, is a resident of Cata-

wissa township, directly opposite Bloomsburg,
where he has one of the finest farms in the
county.

The platform of

the

Grange

calls for equal-

ization of taxation, the initiative,
recall in State matters, and

and

referendum
on national

issues the organization has favored a graduated income tax, the parcel post, election of
senators by direct vote, conservation of
natural resources and waterpower, and opposed
a ship subsidy, a centralized bank, and the
sale of American goods at lower prices abroad
than at home. All of these but the last have
been accomplished, partly through the efforts
of the Grange.
In matters of legislation the Grange counts

many

victories.

Through its efforts the agricolleges of the country now teach
Before the Grange turned its
agriculture.
attention to them they were agricultural only
cultural

name.

feated the

It
bill

was a Grange demand that deto reissue the patents on sewing

machines and almost immediately machines
that could not be bought for less than $100 sold
for less than $25.
The Grange secured the
important and far-reaching decision from the
courts that the creature is not greater than the
creator, and that as railroads must come to the
people for their charters or rights to be, they
are amenable to the will of the people.
The
Grange made possible the Hatch act for the
establishment of experiment stations.
The
agricultural departments at Washington and
Harrisburg owe their existence to the Grange.
The Inter-State Commerce Commission came
into being as a result of the interest taken
by
the Grange in the transportation question.
It
was a persistent Grange demand that started
the rural free mail carrier on his
rounds
daily
over country roads. National and State oleomargarine and pure food laws have saved the
dairy business and have done much to preserve
the public health.
They are on our statute

books only because of the persistent demands
of the Grange. Recently the Grange took a
leading part in securing from Congress the
denatured alcohol bill.

COUNTY FAIRS
The

first steps for the exhibition to the pubof the products of the ground in Columbia
county were made by Dr. John Ramsay, B. F.

lic

Hartman, Caleb Barton, William Neal and
I. W. Hartman, under the
suggestion of Dr.
John Taggart, who had visited a successful
county fair in the northern part of the State
in 1855. The exhibition was held in Mr. Barton's field, at the foot of Second street,

Bloomsburg, the grounds being inclosed by a
rail fence and almost the entire gate receipts
at ten cents a person being expended in police
There was enough left to pay
protection.
two dollars to B. F. Hartman as premium on
a driving horse, the only one entered. A few
specimens of grain and vegetables and a
second-hand grain drill completed the "exhibits."

The following year a fair was held in the
Sloan field, on the south side of Si.xth and
west side of Market streets, which was characterized by a marked improvement in the
number and character of the exhibits. The
third fair was held in grounds situated on
Fifth, between Market and East streets, and

the fourth on the grounds

now

use by the

present organization.
During the first three years of this movement each person worked upon his own plan.
Lumber dealers in the town loaned the material for the sheds, etc., which were torn down
after each exhibition, but after the organization in 1858 some discipline was introduced
In that year a charter was
into the methods.
granted to the "Columbia County Agricultural,
Horticultural and Mechanical Association" on
the application of B. F. Hartman, James
Masters, \Villiam G. Shoemaker, Caleb Barton, Matthias Hartman, Jacob Harris, J. H.
Ikeler, A. J. Sloan, Palemon John, E. R.
Ikeler, C. G. Barkley, Joshua Fetterman,

Thomas

Creveling, Joseph P. Conner and John
After a number of annual meetings the charter was amended in 1885 to provide for perpetual membership and remove
restrictions against the holding of real estate.
Before completing the history of this association we will refer briefly to other societies
which were at one time or other in existence
in the county.
The "Northern Columbia and
Southern Luzerne Agricultural Association"

Taggart.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

was chartered Feb. i6, 1884, and held its first
fair near Berwick in September of that year.

later held at Washingtonville.

In the course
of time a difference arose between the representatives from the town and country and the
society divided, the Northern Montour Agricultural Society being organized.
The headquarters of the latter are at Washingtonville,
where the annual fairs were held. The Montour County Agricultural Society held annual
fairs in Danville.
At present there are no
fairs held in Montour county, most of the
people attending the Bloomsburg fair.

After

five annual exhibitions the association
dissolved and the grounds were sold, being
now a part of West Berwick.
The "Benton Agricultural Association" received its charter on Oct. 3, 1885, held five
annual fairs, and then closed for lack of finan-

cial support.

Since 1886 the Columbia County Agricultural
Association has added more land to its hold-

doubled the capacity of the grand stand,
its fair into one of the largest
The association is conducted
the State.

ings,

and developed
in

ST.XTISTICS

It neither pays
strictly business principles.
dividends nor levies assessments, the surplus
going to make improvements to the grounds
and buildings, and to increase the premiums.
The officers in 1886 were: Samuel Camp,

William Shaffer, J. M. DeWitt,
Baltis Sterling, Jere Kostenbauder, vice presidents J. C. Brown, treasurer; H. V. White,
secretary Thomas Webb, librarian James P.
president;
;

;

Freas, John Appleman, Dr. A. P. Heller, executive committee
K. C. Ent, J. P. Sands,
George Conner, auditors; Capt. U. H. Ent,
chief marshal.
E. D. HagenThe present officers are
;

N. Yost, secretary;
president; A.
Jacob H. Maust. treasurer; Harry S. Barton,
librarian Ellis Ringrose, A. R. Henrie, A. V.
Kressler, H. J. Pursel, vice presidents; E. W.
Hagenbuch, H. B. Correll, Elliott Adams, ex-

buch,

;

ecutive committee; Austin Ohl,
Guy Mensch, auditors.

Working out the averages of the State, to
Columbia county, it is ascertained that farm
laborers in this section work nine hours and
There are 148,forty-five minutes each day.
000 farm laborers in the State and their
average monthly compensation is $20.60 with
board and $32 if the laborer boards himself.
Forty-two out of every one thousand hogs
die in this county, a decrease of one from the
figures of 1913. There are 1,130,000 head of
hogs in the State, and they are valued at
$15,594,000, or at the rate of $13.80 a head.
The Columbia county horse has an average
value of $139. There are 584,000 horses doing
work on the farms of the State, which are
Last year they
valued at over $81,000,000.
were only worth an average of $133.

THE OLD GRISTMILLS

C. Cryder,

Grain feeds the world and

in the history

any nation the grinding of it into flour is
found to be the first industry to be established.
Handmills were known to the Chinese, the

Montour's f.mrs

The Montour County Agricultural Society Egyptians, the lesser civilized nomads of
was organized Feb. 18, 1856, with the follow- Asia, and to the barbarians of Europe. The
Thomas R. Hull, president development of the handmill into the mill
ing officers
:

;

Philip F. Maus, C. Garrettson, Robert Patterson, P. Wagner, D. Wilson, E. E. Haas, J.

Sheep, G. Shick, William McNinch, Jacob
Sechler, vice presidents
James McCormick,
secretary; Dr. C. H. Frick, corresponding
;

driven by animal power, and the subsequent
application of waterpower to this work, is a
matter that has been treated by many writers
will describe only the advent
of the past.
of the pioneer millers into the valley of the
North Branch of the Susquehanna.

and D. M.
When the Quakers and their immediate
managers
were
John Best, George Smith, James G. successors, the Germans, came id this section
McKee, James McMahan, Jr., A. B. Cum- of the State they at once noted the ample
mings, Jacob Sheeo. A. F. Russell, Stephen waterpower of the streams, and set to work
The early
Roberts. William McHenry. William Yorks, to harness it to the millstone.
Jacob Cornelison, Edward Morrison, J. M. settlers in Columbia county had to ride to
their
Best, Mavberrv Gearhart, Joseph Fevers, John .Sunburv to get
grist ground until the
Hibler, .Samuel D. Alexander, Robert Blee, first mill in the county was built in 1774 on
William Snyder. E. Wilson.
Catawissa creek. It was a crude affair, run
The fair of that year was held at the mouth by the only undershot wheel ever used in the
of Mahoning creek, and the annual fair was county, and was so often out of repair that
secretary; B. K. Rhodes, librarian;
The board of
Boyd, treasurer.
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
This
the settlers gave it little work to do.
was later rebuilt by Christian Brobst.
mill
on
the
Jonathan Shoemaker built another
mill

The Cole

and the Swartwout

mill

mill,

Fishing creek, in Sugarloaf township, were
both old-timers and famous for buckwheat

There are also the Edson and Thomas
on this creek, the former destroyed by
fire some years ago.
Both are now running
and have modern ecjuipment.
The Red and the White mills, on Hemlock
creek, near Bloomsburg, were both built by
and now in the hands of P. A. Fetterolf. it members of the Barton family, and are still
in good condition, both having modern equipis unique in having a wooden flume entering
ment.
The Aqueduct mill, at the mouth of
its second story, which operated a 22-foot
wooden overshot wheel. Other mills on this Fishing creek, has a flume running under the
stream where the Yohe and Nungesser mills, old North Branch canal bed, and has the discreek here in 1789, which was afterwards
converted into a paper mill.
The next oldest mill was the Brown mill,
on Ten-mile run, in Mifflin township, operated
for years by successive Browns, ancestors of
former Postmaster Brown of Bloomsburg,

flour.

mills

both long since gone.
In point of age the next is the Jacob Cleaver
mill, built in 1785 on Roaring creek, near its
mouth, in Mayberry township. This mill had

tinction of never being out of water.

water and a dam bolted to the
solid ledge of rock above the rock cut forebay.
It now has a concrete dam and forebay.
The mill at Slabtown, on Roaring creek,
in Locust township, was one of the best of

planing mill.

a fine fall of

finely fitted
wheat flour.

The Mather
and

mill,

mill at

now

modern

It is a
grinding a high grade of

Benton was

first

has a fine concrete

The

dam

site

every respect.
the Stillwater mill is now occupied by a paper
as is also that of the Trench mill, just

mill,

above Bloomsburg.
The mill at Jonestown, built by the family
fall of of that name who founded the town, is now
in
winter.
water and was only once frozen up
operated by H. C. Gruver. The Herring mill
That freeze caused its destruction, for the at Orangeville has been superseded by an
proprietor sought to thaw it out with straw electric light plant.
The McDowefl and Bettle mills at Light
and set it on fire. On this creek were also
built the Mendenhall, Snyder, Hughes and Street are both still running, as are Ikeler's
Mourey mills, some of which are still in and Shuitz's mills, near Rohrsburg.
On Briar creek only one mill remains of the
operation.
Other mills on Catawissa creek were built several of former years the Ash mill, near
the efforts of that old-time millwright,
This mill had a good
Cherrington.

Samuel

—

Mainville

modern

and Shumantown.

Some

are

while others are operated
by the old methods.
The oldest mill on the north side of the
in

fittings,

was the Pepper mill on Hemlock creek,
Hemlock township. It is now abandoned.
The old McKelvey mill below Eyer's Grove
was last operated by John Betz in 1878. The
Beagle mill in Hemlock township was abanriver
in

doned

The

in 1903.
first

flouring mill

was

built in Millville

by John Eves, and has undergone so many
changes that the former owner would not
recognize the
cessor of the

present

structure

the

suc-

one of the
buckwheat mills in America and
largest
produces more flour of that kind than any
first.

This mill

other mill in Pennsylvania.
The Ever's Grove mill, in Greenwood township, is the only brick one in the two counties,
and bears a strong resemblance to a church.
It was built in i860 by Jacob Ever, son of the
founder of PSloomsburg. The lola mill in the
same township, was built in 1828, and those at

Sereno, Pine township,
Mt. Pleasant township, a

and
little

Mordansville,
later.

the mouth of the stream.
the Rittenhouse, Hughes,

man

The others were
Traugh and Hoff-

Briarcreek township.
west of Orangeville, has
remained in the family for several generations,
and still turns out a high grade of buckwheat
and excellent wheat flour also. It has modern
mills, all in

Bowman's

mill,

machinery.

The mills of the White Milling Company
and R. R. Ikeler at Bloomsburg, the mill at
Jerseytown owned by Mrs. R. G. Greenly and
operated by Rohm Brothers, and the mill of
steam mills
J. C. Chrisman at Berwick, are
with modern equipment and all do a thriving
business.

The

oldest mill in

Montour county

the

mill, built in 1788, at

Washingtonville,
on the site of the fortified one of early times,
called Boyle's or Brady's Fort, on the banks
The present mill is a
of the Chillisriuaque.

Bosley

modern one and built of stone.
The first mill built in the county was that
of William Montgomery, the founder of the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

mouth of Mahoning creek, to handle the flour-yielding portion to much
became the site of Danville. better advantage. The Fowler mill at Espy
mill
was probably built about reached the highest state of perfection, havMontgomer\-'s
1778. It stood until 1S63 and then was razed ing had several runs of large French buhrs
to make way for modern establishments.
and a long line of scalping and finishing reels.
The Crownover mill at Exchange has been
The modern roller mill with its intricate
replaced by a more modern structure, operated system and machinery brought the milling
by Charles J. Yagel. The mill in Liberty business to a scientific basis and the mill owntownship, built in 1814 by John Auten, has er who did not bring his mill up to date in
long since passed away, as has also the Simp- equipment soon found himself with only
son mill in \'alley township.
neighborhood custom trade, that yielded little
The mill built by Philip ]Maus at the site or no profit.
To think of a kernel of wheat traveling over
of Mausdale, in 1793, was quite a pretentious
The millrace was dug by Irish a mile and a quarter from the time it entered
structure.
laborers, part of them Protestants and part the stock bin until the finished product reached
Catholics.
Eleven barrels of whiskey were the flour sack and feed bag, was beyond the
consumed in the course of the work, and Mr. ability of the average miller. The man who
Maus had frequently to jump in and disarm studied the system until he could follow the
the two factions when a division occurred on twenty or more reductions and separations,
and knew when each one was right, and
religious lines.
There were many other small mills in dif- changed his mill until all were producing the
ferent parts of Montour county, along the best results, became the successful miller.
Chillisquaque and its branches, but they have Such men were not plentiful in Columbia
long passed away or relapsed into ruin, their county, with the result that only a very few
memories not even being preserved by the old- mills are in position to turn out a "fancy
inhabitants.
The comparatively level patent" flour that will compete successfully
est
topography of Montour and the absence of in the market.
many streams of sufficient size to aflford
Quite fittingly, the "gravel picker," which
power deterred the old settlers from building has revolutionized the milling of buckwheat
mills, and not until the advent of steam did all over the United States, is the invention of
the gristmills begin to appear outside of the a Columbia county man, Charles FoUmer, of
settlement at the

which

later

larger towns.
At present the principal mills of the county
are located at Danville, Washingtonville,

Benton.
Through the inventor's failure to
patent his machine, which is used today everywhere buckwheat is milled, it has brought him

Mausdale, Mooresburg and in Limestone townAll of them are operated either partially or entirely by steampower, and most of
them are fitted with the modern roller process.

ship.

The

great majority of these mills began with
primitive equipment consisting of a pair
of grinding stones, many of which were shaped
from boulders found near at hand and a round
a

reel

covered with

was very

silk

cloth.

The "system"

two processes,
namely, crushing or grinding the grain between
the upper and nether millstones, and separating or bolting the mass from the stone on the
long reel, thus obtaining the good old-fashioned
flour and the equally good old-fashioned
"shorts" and bran.
With the advent of competition came the
demand for white flour and more of it from

financial return.

When

the buckwheat heads are harvested,
almost impossible to keep gravel from
mixing with them. Then, when the seeds are
ground into flour, the tiny bits of rocks are
ground with them, and produce gritty flour.
For years this difficulty could not be overcome. Plnally Follmer devised a system of
it

three pipes through which air currents were
Beneath them the buckwheat was
drawn.
passed, the seeds being drawn up, while the

gravel

was

left.

Manufacturers quickly seized upon the ingenious device, which Follmer thought too
So successful
simple to be worth patenting.
was it that on one occasion a car of buckwheat flour sent from the White Mills to the
South soon after the "picker" had been produced was refused. The Southern purchaser
insisted that the buckwheat flour was too white
to be pure buckwheat, and could not be cona bushel of wheat. Many of the mills put in vinced that no wheat flour had been mixed
"runs"
of
buhrs
and
more
additional
bolting with it. Buckwheat under the old system had
reels, and thus, by first breaking the wheat, and been of dark color on account of the ground
scalping off the bran, they were in a position stone which it contained.
short, comprising but

—

CHAPTER V
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES— LIGHTING— ROADS, TURNPIKES
During the period of early settlement this
portion of Pennsylvania was a country of
"magnificent distances." The means of communication with distant points was slow, tedious and inadequate. As the population increased and the people gained in wealth the
urgent necessity for easier means of communication with the more densely settled portions of the Commonwealth became apparent.
The Lancaster turnpike, the first of that class
of roads in the State, was built in 1795, at a
cost of $7,516 a mile, and this aroused the
people of this section to the possibilities of
road building.
In 1787 Evan Owen, the founder of Berwick, was commissioned to superintend the
construction of a road by the State from Easton
to the Nescopeck falls, and two years later
the Indian trail which was part of the route

was improved
of wheeled

sufficiently to permit the passage
March 19, 1804, the
vehicles.

Susquehanna & Lehigh Turnpike & Road
Company was incorporated, and in the following year graded and completed the road
at an enormous expense for those times.
In 1806 the Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike
Road Company was chartered, and by 18 18
the road was completed from Berwick to
Newtown on the Tioga river, in New York
After the completion of the bridge at
Berwick in 1814 a connecting line of roads
extended from Towanda to Easton. John M.
Buckalew, one of the prominent citizens of
Columbia county, was a stockholder in the
company and graded a mile of the turnpike for
This company has never
the sum of $350.
forfeited its charter, and in the annual statements of the treasurer of the State an item
of some thousands of dollars appears as an
asset, consisting of shares in the Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike Company.
State.

ham, Columbia county. The chief promoter of
this road was Gen. William Montgomery, of
Danville.
In 1814 a branch turnpike was
built from Danville to connect with this main
road, and formed one of the important routes
from Montour county. In 1788 the Reading
road was laid out from Catawissa to Ashland,
Schuylkill county, where it connected with the
"Centre" turnpike. In 1810 it was made a
State road and partially rebuilt. About 1817
a

sum of money was appropriated

to regrade
1825 a line of stagecoaches was
established by Joseph Weaver. In 1839 Benjamin Potts started an opposition line, both
changing horses at the famous Yeager tavern
at Slabtown. It was the most important road
on the south side of the river and bore an
immense amount of traffic. Great covered
it,

and

Conestoga wagons slowly wound their way
over the tortuous route across the mountains,
their limit of loading being twenty bushels of
grain for two horses. The journey to ReadNow
ing required eight or ten days then.
an automobile can make it in three hours to
Ashland, and about the same time to Reading
from the latter place. This road is now route
No. 183 of the State highways.
The second Reading road was opened in
1812 through Roaringcreek township, Columbia county, and for a time bore a part of the
stagecoach traffic, but the superior attractions
of the older road caused a decline after a short
time. This road is now the chief route for the
farmers to the mining towns of Schuylkill
county.

The turnpike from Bloomsburg

Muncy,

by way of Jerseytown, Whitehall and Exchange, was established in 1817, and for many
vears was a prominent road for travelers to
that section, until abandoned in favor of the
railroads.
The road from Berwick to Milton
also passed through Jerseytown, making that
town a prominent point in the days of the

"Centre" turnpike, so called from being almost in the center of the State, was begun in
1808, and ran from Reading to Northumber- stagecoach.
The road from Benton to Unityville, Lyland, passing tlirough the township of Conyng35

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

coming county, was built in 1S28, and made
a mail route at the same time.
It bore its
share of the traffic of the coaching era.
In 1856 the State Legislature made an appropriation for the construction of a road
through the valley of Little I-'ishing creek from
Bloomsburg to Laporte, Sullivan county.

and 1,500 saddle or pack horses

for the army's
agreed to pay fifteen shillings for
the use of the wagons each day, and to compensate the owners if the wagons were lost or
damaged. This oft'er later on was almost the
cause of Franklin's bankruptcy, as the battle
resulted in the capture by the English of almost

use.

the wagons and stock.
the time of Braddock's expedition the
pack horse was the most common means of
all

THE NATIONAL ROAD
This article would be incomplete without a
of the great National Road, or
as it was sometimes called.
Passing as it does through a considerable por-

description

transporting goods, but after that date the
roads were widened and the wagons entered

Cumberland Pike,

the

tion of Pennsylvania,

and

built at the time of

the commencement of the coaching era, it is
of vast historical importance in the present
age, when good roads are being demanded by
all the parties and the people.
This road was proposed in Congress in 1797,
an act for its construction was passed nine
years later, and the first coach carrying the
United States mail passed over it in August,
1818. It was a splendid road, sixty feet wide,
built of broken stone over bedstones of enormous size, with a covering of gravel, rolled
by an iron roller. Mordecai Cochran was the
contractor for the section from Cumberland,
Md., to Wheeling, W. Va., through the southern part of Pennsylvania, and he employed
over a thousand Irishmen to build that route

of 130 miles.

The intention was to build the road clear
through to Alton, 111., but it was completed
only as far as Vandalia, 111., although the route
was laid out the rest of the way. Over this
road passed most of the prominent persons of
the days before the railroads, and for years
there was a constant stream of vehicles of all
kinds traveling along this fine route towards
Since the Highway Commission
the West.
has been established in this State the NationSo well
al Road has been improved greatly.
was the work of the original contractor done
that in many places the old foundations are
still in

place.

Not only was this road macadamized, but
stone bridges were built over the rivers and
creeks, the distances indexed by iron mileposts,
and the tollhouses supplied with strong iron
gates.

THE "cONESTOGa" WAGON

field,

much

who

ers,

to the disgust of the

pack driv-

fiercely resisted the invasion.

rightly be proud of the
Dutchman who designed the Conestoga wagon,
for even in this day it is the ideal
wagon for
the transportation of goods over the roads. It
gained its name from the township in Lancaster county where the first vehicle of the
kind was made.
These wagons had a boatshaped body with a curved canoe-shaped bot-

Pennsylvania

tom which

may

them especially for mountain
them freight remained firmly in
place at whatever angle the body might be.
The body of the wagon was arched over with
six or eight hickory bows, of which the center
ones were the lowest, covered with a strong

use

;

fitted

for in

white hempen cloth, corded strongly

down

and ends.

Underneath hung the
tar-lodel or greasepot, and the water pail. At
the rear was the great feed box, with a woodthe

sides

en cover, slanted to shed the rain.
On the
sides were the long tool box and storage box.
The wheels had broad tires, often a foot wide,
of the turnpike companies giving rebates to the teamsters who had wide tires on

many

their wagons.
Sleek, powerful horses to the number of six
to ten drew these heavy wagons, which could

be loaded to the top of the cover with a miscellaneous freight of from four to si.x tons.
The horses were clad in handsome harness of
fine leather, bore bells, and were driven mostly
by word of mouth. The drivers rode sometimes on the "near wheeler," who bore a saddle, or on the "lazy board," a seat inserted on
the left side, but it was more often the case
that the driver walked alongside his team.

The number of these wagons on the main
roads was vast. At one time over 3,000 ran
constantly out of Philadelphia to the surroundMost of the teamsters made
ing towns.
freighting their regular vocation, and lived on

The first appearance of this wagon in his- the road with their teams. They carried their
tory was at the time of Braddock's expedi- own "grub" as well as feed for the horses, and
tion in I7S,S> when Benjamin Franklin issued also a long mattress for their use in the tavan advertisement for 150 four-horse wagons erns or on the road, sleeping usually on the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
lap-ioom

floor,

paying a small fee for the privi-

potations were inthe
dulged in, and from the resulting battles
old "wagon inns" gained their hard names.
These wagons after the development of railroads in this State became the "prairie schoonJJefore rcLiring

lege.

many

and bore many an emigrant
household to the far distant homesteads of that portion of our country.

ers" of the West,

and

his

was made in much shorter time. The National
Road was a famous coaching route, at one time
four lines of coaches being run upon it.

The coaches

this

section

of the

State

were of similar character to those elsewhere,
l)ut the roads were not as good and the hills
more steep. The rivalry between the different
lines was great and in many instances the warring drivers cut the rates to almost nothing
order to drive their rivals out of business.
Upon the patronage of these stage lines and
their passengers depended the prosperity of
many of the towns of Columbia and Montour
The village of New Columbus
counties.
(just over the line in Luzerne county) was
founded especially to cater to the coaching
in

STAGECOACH DAYS

The

first

coach was made

England

Rut1555 by Walter Rippen for the Earl of
land.
Eight years later he made one for
Queen Elizabeth. The early English stagecoaches were clumsy things, without windows
or seats, but necessity soon developed them
These
into the hne vehicles of later years.
vehicles were imported into the Colonies in

from
1737, but the colonists were compelled
the nature of the country to develop their own
conveyances.
In 1795 a stage line ran from Philadelphia
to New York, the fare being four dollars. The
vehicle had four benches, without backs or
cushions, placed across the interior, the passengers being compelled to climb over each
other to get to the back seat, the coveted one,

owing to the opportunity to rest the back
Leather curagainst the rear of the coach.
tains covered the top, and the passengers had
to stow their baggage under the seats, where
shifted at every move of the lumbering
it
coach.
Having no springs, this vehicle was
one to create terror in the heart of the unfortunate traveler who had a long journey before
him.
The coaches of 18 18 had "thoroughbraces"
fitted to them, which made the motion much
These were leather straps, by which
easier.
the body of the coach was suspended from
hickory bows. At this date the coach also had
a seat for the driver, with a footboard, and
had a trunk-rack bolted to the rear.
Many
other modifications were from time to time
were
which
made in the coaches, all of
superseded by the famous Concord coach, first built
This famous
in Concord, N. H., in 1827.
coach is still the model for vehicles of its
class at the present time.

The word "stagecoach"

strictly

applies to

a vehicle for the transportation of passengers
over a route at different stages of which the
horses are changed, and the word "omnibus"
indicates a coach used for short distances. The
stages from Philadelphia to New York
made the trip in three days, but later the trip
first

traffic,

but failed almost in birth, owing to

the advent of the railroads.

The journey by stagecoach was a mixture
of pleasure and pain. The autumn was probably the best time to travel, for then the roads
had settled to their best condition. In summer
the dust so covered the passengers that sometimes one could not tell the color of their garments. In winter and spring the coaches sank
to the hubs in the soft soil of the poor roads,
or bumped over the loose stones of the turnIt seemed to be adding insult to injury
pikes.
to demand toll from the passengers for a

journey over such highways. And the tollgates seemed to appear at remarkably frequent
intervals.

There was one curious and most depressing
condition of stage travel. It seemed no matter how little or how long the journey was,
nor where the destination, the coach always
The traveler
started at daybreak, or before.
had to rise in the dark, dress by the feeble
illumination of a tallow dip, and start out in
the cold, depressing gloom of the early dawn,
without breakfast. As most deaths occur in
the early hours before dawn, it is surprising
that the poor travelers of those days did not
the
gladly shuffle off this mortal coil to evade
Someterrors of the journey before them.
time later in the morning the breakfast post

would be reached, and something warm taken
within, just as the victim had almost deIt
spaired of keeping alive the vital spark.
was no unusual thing for the coach to make
ten miles ere the travelers were given their
breakfast. From three to five in the morning
were the starting hours of the coaches, and

the journey often lasted until eight at night.
In such a journey many miles could be aovered
in a

day.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

OLD INNS

The history of Pennsylvania shows that the
taverns of this State were many and good,
especially after the Revolution. These taverns
or inns were generally kept by the most prominent citizen of the town and were not simply
drinking places, but the center of social life
for the inhabitants.
The better class of
taverns usually had a parlor for the women,
with an open fireplace, from which the roaring
fire cast grateful warmth and cheerful illumination.
Most of these parlors were well furnished and served as a place of resort for the
of
the innkeeper as well as the traveler's
family
wife or daughter.
The taproom was usually the largest room
of the inn, had a bar, a great fireplace, and was
furnished with wooden benches and tables.
Often there was a rude writing desk for the
accommodation of the early traveling salesman or lawyer. One of the furnishings of
the fireplace was a pair of smoking tongs, to
pull a coal of fire from the embers for the
pipes of the habitues. Of the drinks that were
served here and the meals partaken much has
been written by others, so we will pass over
that part and give a brief list of the prominent
taverns or inns of Columbia and Montour
counties.

One of the first inns was
who built on the site

Hill,

that of Frederick
of Fort Jenkins,

east of

Bloomsburg on the road

his son ran

and

for

many

Berwick.

years.

When

stagecoaches came into constant use in
1/99 Abram Miller built the "Half-Way
House," where horses were changed on the
journey between -the two towns.
Probably the oldest tavern on the south side
of the Susquehanna was the Red Tavern, built
in 1804 by John Rhodenberger on the crest of
Locust mountain.
For almost a decade he
catered to the immense traffic along the old
Reading road. An inn still stands on the site
in 1914, more than a hundred years later.
Another inn was built about the same time at
the foot of Buck mountain on the other Reading road, by Adam Michael.
^^^^en this Reading road was in its high
tide of prosperity there were two inns located
on it that were famous all over this section.
One was the hostelry of John Yeager, at Slabtown, and the other Casper Rhoads' tavern, at
the

Rhoadstown.

inn stood on the road from Bloomsburg
to Danville at the spot now called Grovania
(then bearing the title of Ridgeville), but the
name of the proprietor has passed away with

the building. In 1838, when the coaches ran
to every point out of Danville, there were
four inns at Washingtonville, all of which did
a rushing business.
Probably the most interesting of the old inns
now remaining in this part of the State is
the one from which the village of White Hall
gained its name. The first inn here was the Red

Horse

Inn, built in 1810 by

Andrew

Schooley,

was razed some years later to make way
for a storeroom.
White Hall Inn was built
in 1818 by Capt. John F. Derr, and rebuilt
but

in 1849 by Ferdinand Ritter, who had the
ambition to make it a famous resort for

probably the most elaborately
in this section of Pennsylvania, the work being done by Samuel Brugler
of Jerseytown.
Over the wide porch is a
panel of some length, depicting an eagle holdtravelers.

It is

carved building

two American

flags and standing upon two
the door is a large piece of
while
on each side are fantastic
scrollwork,
animal heads.
The panels of the door are
also hand-carved, as are also the capitals of
the fine Corinthian columns.
When in its
prime, and with a coat of pure white paint
upon it, this inn must have presented an imposing appearance to the arriving traveler.
Even in its last days of decay and neglect it
has an impressive dignity that makes it over-

ing

Above

cannon.

shadow the more modem structures around
it.
The well from which many a traveler
watered his weary horse is still in use by the
road in front of the old hotel,

side of the

which is now owned and occupied by John
O. McWilliams.
In the larger towns there were many inns
of more or less repute, chief among them being
the Cross Keys and Golden Lamb, at Berwick
the Forks Inn and Chamberlain's Hotel, at
Bloomsburg; the Susquehanna House, still
standing at Catawissa and the Ferry Tavern,
the Jackson Tavern, the Cross Keys Inn, and
;

;

the Rising

Sun

Inn, at Danville.

POSTRIDERS

POST OFFICES

Before the establishment of post offices and
mail routes the public had to depend on the
casual traveler to communicate in writing with
friends and relatives in other parts of the
State.

The

embarked

own

gain,

postriders were men who
the carrying of mail for their

first

and many

different

rates

were

charged, according to distance and condition
of the roads. In 1773 Hugh Finlay was made
postal surveyor by the English government
over the territorv from Canada to Florida,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

A mail route from Fairmount Springs,
Luzerne county, to Taneyville, Lycoming
failed to correct them.
county, by way of Cole's Creek, Campbell and
In 181 1 the United States government Division, was operated on contract by James
of
the
a
ordered
post N. Park, his son Orrin being the carrier. All
topographical survey
road from Passamaquoddy to St. Mary's, in mail was carried on foot over the rough and
Massachusetts, and in 1815 published a list almost pathless country, and it was not till
of the post towns of the country, their dis- 1848 that the amount of mail matter wartances apart and the charges for letters de- ranted the use of a horse.
in 1856 Capt. John Derr ran the tri-weekly
livered. To make this information more available to the people the report was printed on mail coach from the Exchange Hotel at
linen handkerchiefs and sold at a low rate. Bloomsburg to the White Hall Hotel at WhiteSome of these unique records are still in a hall. In 1857 the route was extended to
Turbotville.
good state of preservation.
The post office department reduced the rates
According to this table a single letter was
conveyed for a distance of 10 miles or less in 1845 to 5 cents for a half ounce, over a
for 6 cents up to 60 miles, 8 cents 100 miles, radius of 300 miles a greater distance cost10 cents; up to 250 miles, 17 cents; and for ing 10 cents. As usual, the letters had to be
prepaid. In 1847 stamps were first introduced,
450 miles a fee of 25 cents was charged.
The first post office route was established in but did not come into general use until 1855.
William
bein
Rates were reduced to 3 cents in 1863, and
Penn,
1683 by
Pennsylvania
tween Philadelphia and New Castle, Del. The again in 1883 to 2 cents for each half ounce.
first postmaster of Philadelphia was Benjamin
Free delivery of letters over a restricted
penny post having been established in
He found many abuses in force, but

the

1753.

;

Franklin, in 1737. In 1753 he was made postmaster for the Colonies, and in 1775 was appointed postmaster general by the Continental

Congress.

The

rates

letters in this State

remained

All
in the above table until 1842.
to be prepaid, postage averaging
12 cents each, and the postmaster was obliged
to give the sender a receipt and then forward
a description of the letter, the amount of postthe

same as
had

letters

age paid, the date of sending and other necessary information to the department at Washington.
Fortunately for the old postmasters
there were few letters transmitted in those
days.

The high rates, the poor service and other
causes broug'ht into existence many private
expresses, which carried letters in defiance of
the law for much less than that charged by
the government.
Berwick first appears as a post village in
Three years later Jonathan Hancock
1797.
carried the mail over the route from WilkesBarre.

route in large cities took effect in 1863. In
1865 it was extended to cover small cities, and
in 1873, and then in 1887, the delivery system
was made applicable to small towns and villages.

In 1896 the rural free delivery, which has
caused the abolition of so many small post
offices, was tested in different sections with
such success that it was greatly extended in

1904 and later years. At present the rural
routes are being extended as fast as conditions warrant into every part of the Union.
Two of the latest additions to the conveniences of the post office, which have in a short
time become absolute necessities, are the postal
savings banks and the parcel post. The
was declared but a few years ago by

latter

inter-

ested parties to be impossible of establishment,
it has
yet in the two years of its existence
its great value and almost put
the great express companies out of business.

demonstrated

R.XILWAY M.\IL SERVICE

pony mail was established in 1806 from
The first railway mail car was given an offiDanville to Sunbury, the round trip being
made in a week. It took two weeks for an cial test in 1864. Two mice were responsible
answer to be received from Philadelphia. The for the introduction of the traveling post
Before that date the mail was disroute from Sunbury to Painted Post was office.
awarded in 181 1 to Conrad Teter, who sublet tributed according to the addresses at certain
the route from Wilkes-Barre to Miller Hor- designated post offices, which usually were
ton.
The route from Shickshinny to Jersey- the distributing points of whole States. It
town, through the Fishing Creek post office, was slow and laborious work. At one of these
was established in 1815.
distributing points. Green Bay, Wis., a pair

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

of mice made their home in a pouch that had
lain in the post office for several days.
When
Jhe pouch finally reached its destination, near
the upper shores of Lake Superior, the receiving postmaster found not only the rodent
homeseekers, but also a larger family of little
mice. They had made beds of chewed-up letThe postmaster reported the matter to
ters.
the Chicago office and sent along the mice as
an exhibit, which was received by George B.
Armstrong, the assistant postmaster. To prevent the repetition of such an occurrence Armstrong sought to speed up the mail service, and
finally evolved the idea of having the mail disThe
tributed on the trains while in transit.
"The
plan was ridiculed. One man declared
government will have to employ a regiment of
men to follow the trains to pick up the letters
that would be blown out of the cars."
However, the first postal car, an ordinary
baggage car equipped with racks and pigeon-

Post Offices

Columbia County, ipi4

Almedia

lola (discontinued July ist)

Aristes

Jamison City
Jerseytown 2

—

Bloomsburg
Briar Creek
Buckhorn
Catawissa

Light Street

—
—

—5

Numidia
Orangeville

—2

Pine Summit
Roaring Creek
Rolirsburg i
Rupert

—
Stillwater —

Espy
Eyer's Grove

—

Mifflinville
Millville 3

Elk Grove

Creek

l<"ishing

Lime Ridge
Mainville

Central
Centralia

Forks

—
—

—

Beaver ValleyBenton 6
Berwick 3

—

Wilburton

holes,

made

its

initial

run from Chicago to

Clinton, Iowa, over fifty years ago, and today
every nation in the civilized world is distributing a large part of its mail matter in
railway mail cars. In the United States over
eighteen thousand railway mail clerks are
separating over ninety per cent of all the mail

originating in this country and a large volume
coming from foreign lands. They have separated in a single year nearly twenty-three billion pieces of mail matter, not including registered mail.
They travel an aggregate dis-

tance of five hundred million miles every year
on the twenty-seven thousand domestic transportation routes having a combined mileage of
four hundred and fifty thousand miles.
The service has been raised to the highest
point of efficiency to-day and the present ratio
of errors in distribution has been reduced to
one in ten thousand pieces of mail. The clerks
are expected to distribute the mail so that there
will be no rehandling in the post offices of large
cities, and to separate it into packages corresponding with each mail carrier's route in the
cities.
In the case of the largest cities they
must separate it according to sections or substations.
Considering the speed at which the
clerks sort the mail, the swaying of the train
plunging along at fifty miles an hour, and the
thousands of railway connecting points, the
locations of over sixty thousand post offices
in the United States and the frequent illegibility of the hand written addresses, it becomes
a marvel how the railway mail clerk can work
without a greater proportion of errors.

Post Offices
Danville

Montour County,

ill

—7

1(^14

Ottawa

Exchange
Strawberry Ridge
Grovania
Washingtonville
Mausdale
White Hall
Mooresburg
*
The Hgure after the name of the office indicates
the number of rural routes emanating therefrom.

STATE

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

For many years Pennsylvania has stood
almost at the bottom of the list of States in
the matter of good roads.
Except in a few
isolated instances, very little aid has been given
in the past to the builders of roads here by
the State. The first act for the establishment
of a Highway Department was that of 1903,
which was supplemented by the acts of 1905

The act under which the present
Highway Department is operated is
commonly known as the "Sproul Road Act,"
and 1907.
State

enacted by the 191

and approved in
John K. Tener.

May

session of the Legislature,
of that year by Gov.

This act called for a reorganization of the
existing State Highway Department, and provided for the taking over as State highways
the roads comprising 296 specified routes,
forming connecting links between county seats
and the principal cities and towns, and in addition forming trunk lines extending from one

end of the State to the other. The act provided that the new department should have
full charge of maintaining and constructing
these routes after June i, 1912; carry on existing State-aid contracts; and further provided for the iiuprovement of township roads
to the extent of two million dollars, fifty per
cent of which was to be supplied by the State,
and the other fifty per cent by the county or

township applying for

aid.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The department was organized

July,

State highways, 35,512 miles of country roads

and the State divided into fourteen dis- were surveyed and maps prepared showing
the roads, towns, villages and other important
tricts, District No. 3 consisting of Columbia,
Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder places in the districts.
The average expense for maintenance of
and Union counties, with headquarters at
The State Highway head- approximately 6,000 miles of roads in 1912-13
Bloomsburg.
quarters is at Harrisburg, the officers consist- was $169 per mile. The following 'numbered
ing of Edward M. Bigelow, State highway routes of the State highways are those passing
commissioner Joseph W. Hunter, first dep- through Columbia and Montour counties:
uty State highway commissioner; E. A. Jones, Route No. 2, Sunbury to Danville; No. 3, Danville to Bloomsburg; No. 4,
second deputy State highway commissioner
Bloomsburg to
Samuel D. Foster, chief engineer; Howard W. Wilkes-Barre via Berwick; No. 16, BloomsFry, chief clerk and W. R. D. Hall, statisti- burg to Laporte via Benton; No. 161, PottsThe field work is under the direction of ville to Sunbury via Centralia; No. 183,
cian.
a bridge engineer, fifteen assistant engineers, Bloomsburg to Pottsville via Catawissa and
and fifty superintendents. The auditing de- Centralia; No. 185, Laporte to Wilkes-Barre
partment is under the charge of a certified ac- via Benton No. 239, Bloomsburg to Williamscountant, and the maintenance department is port via Millville and Sereno; No. 240, Wilunder the direction of a competent engineer.
liamsport to Danville via Washingtonville
In addition to the work done in the counties No. 249, Bloomsburg to Lock Haven via Stillof Columbia and Montour, considerable work water,
Millville,
Rohrsburg,
Jerseytown,
was done upon the historic highway in the White Hall and Exchange No. 259, Danville
southern part of the State, known as the "Na- to Lewisburg via Mooresbtirg; No. 283,
Road" or "Cumberland Turnpike." Bloomsburg to Sunbury via Catawissa and
tional
This road was built by the United States gov- Pensyl's Mill No. 303, lola to Muncy via
ernment in the years 1804 to 1814, and con- Pine Summit; No. 321, Laporte to Benton,
nected Baltimore, Md., with Alton, 111. The and over route No. 16 to Bloomsburg No.
highway department has improved almost the 327, Bloomsburg to Berwick via Almedia,
entire length of this road through Pennsyl- Espy, Lime Ridge and Briar Creek.
Under the provisions of the act of 1909 the
vania, and intends to make it a model road of
modern construction. The great width of this revenues derived from the registration of
road is a standing rebuke to the "skimpy" motor vehicles and operators' licenses were
methods of the road builders of the past in set aside for the improvement of the State
roads. From Jan. i, 1910, to June i, 1913, the
this State.
The funds expended by the highway depart- receipts from this source were $2,031,921. It
ment in the years 1912-13 were derived from is estimated that the annual receipts from this
source will be over a million dollars a year
the following sources
191

;

hereafter.

highway fund appropriation
Automobile tax receipts appropriated
State

$3,000,000
1,800,000
State-aid appropriation
1,000,000
Balance State-aid appropriation, 1907-1909.
660,642
State-aid funds returned by counties and

townships
National Road appropriation
Experiments and tests fund appropriation.
Traveling fund appropriation
Contingent fund appropriation
Expense fund, automobile division

The roads placed under

410,950
300,000
50,000
88,000
79.000
100.000

printer.

The commission

is given power to divert or
State roads, when necessary, to
purchase and free of charges all toll roads, rebuild all bridges where necessary, take over all
roads running through towns or boroughs
where it is necessary to comolete the improvement of a route, to aid to the extent of fifty
per cent of the cost of the construction of a

rebuild any

the care of the State

highway commission aggregated 8,827 miles,
and the different classes of construction are
as follows

During the period above referred to the
length of routes in' the two counties under
discussion was 127.24 miles, and the total
expended for maintenance upon them was
The work of surveying tlie town$13,659.
ship roads was in progress, but the completed
maps had not been placed in the hands of the

Brick, asphaltic-concrete, asphalt-

ic-macadam, waterbound-macadam, and concrete.
There were 296 main State highway
routes and 306 alternate lines, the averaa:e cost
of surveying per mile being $47.87, plotting
$11.36 per mile, and checking and tracing
In addition to surveying the
$7.96 per mile.

road through a borough when petitioned, and
make regulations regarding the laying of
railroad tracks and pines or conduits upon

and under the said roads.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

The State-aid roads are built by the higliway department and maintained by them, one
half of the cost of building and maintenance
being borne by the State and the other half
by the county and township. These roads are
built to conform with the State standards and
are under the supervision of the highway de-

partment.
In 1914 a section of State-aided roadway
8,555 fsst in length was built in the boroughs
of Berwick and West Berwick, under the
supervision of the State highway department.
The base w^as concrete and the road was surfaced with Watsontown brick, laid in. tar.
The contract price of the work was $31,265.33.
strip on each side of the street, including

was added by the two
laid under the supen-ision of the
State engineers this additional strip was paid
for by the boroughs alone.
Its length was
3,200 feet, and extended as far as the settled
portion of the town of West Berwick.
The present completed State-aid roads are
located in Catawissa, Berwick, Danville and
a stretch north and south of Benton.
The
road from Bloomsburg to Danville and
the gutter and curbing,

boroughs and

;

through ^Montour county to Northumberland
is macadamized and kept in a fine state of
repair, while in other parts of both counties
work is proceeding on the roads as rapidly
as the amount of funds on hand held by the

highway department

will justify.

Watchman of that year the trade on
Susquehanna in 1824, by means of "arks"
rafts, from Columbia county, was 100,000

Danville
the

and

bushels of wheat, 3,000 bushels of clover seed,
3,000 barrels of whiskey, 250 tons of pork, and
a small amount of lumber. It seems that the
forests were then beginning to be completely
exhausted along the watercourses.
In April, 1826, the "Codorus," a steamer

Vork Haven and commanded by Cappassed Berwick on its way to
Wilkes-Barre and Binghamton. The following month Captain Collins, in the "Susque-

built at

tain

Elger,

hanna," a larger boat, attempted to pass the
falls of Nescopeck, opposite Berwick, and in
the attempt the boiler exploded, killing four
and wounding a large number of the passenThis settled the fate of navigation in
gers.
the river, and steps were at once taken for
the construction of a canal.

Propositions had been made to build a series
of dams across the river, but never went beyond
the discussion stage.
The North Branch
canal, which was an extension of the Pennsylvania State canal system, was begun in
1826, the first excavation being celebrated at

Berwick by a military parade and salutes from
Alexander Jameson drove the
cannon.
oxen and Nathan Beach held the plow handles
as the first furrows were turned.
The North Branch canal began at Northumberland and extended to the New York
the

State

NORTH BR.\NCH CANAL
The Susquehanna was declared a navigable
highway by the Provincial Assembly of 1771
and a sum set aside to improve it. "Durham"
boats, so named from a town below Easton,
where they were built, were the first to navigate the river.
They were sixty feet long,
eight feet wide and two feet deep, and drew
twenty inches of water when loaded with
fifteen tons of merchandise.
Four men, with

moved them

against the current
two miles an hour.
Many attempts were made to increase their
speed mechanically before the invention of
steam.
Isaac A. Chapman, in 1824, built a
setting poles,
at the rate of

boat at Nescopeck designed to be operated by
horsepower, but it failed after repeated trials.

there connecting with a canal to
thence boats were towed down Seneca

line,

Elmira

;

lake to the branch of the Erie canal, through
which either the Atlantic or the Great Lakes
could be easily reached. The canal was opened
as far as Nanticoke falls in September, 1831
the W'yoming extension to Pittston, seventeen
miles, was completed in 1834; the Tioga
branch, to connect w-ith the New York canal
system, was begun in 1836; also the line from
Pittston to Athens the Tunkhannock line was
;

;

begun

1838.

The North Branch Canal Company was

in-

corporated in 1843 and took over the unfinished portion between the Lackawanna river
and the New York State line, but did not
carry out the contract, and in 1848 the State
The entire
regained control of that part.
canal and its branches was finally completed
in 1853, but not fully opened until 1856, when

was fittingly named the "Experiment."
Farmers and merchants of these counties re- the "Tonawanda" passed up from Pittston to
sorted to the use of "arks," rafts and flats for Elmira with a cargo of coal.
The total cost
the transportation of their merchandise, but of the North Branch canal and its branches
they often lost the results of months of labor was $1,598,379.35.
in a few moments in the rapids and eddies of
The length of the canal through the counties
the treacherous stream.
According to the of Columbia and Montour was about twentyIt

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
four miles.

In this section there were five

locks, located at

Berwick, Bloomsburg, Rupert
and Lime Ridge and one near Danville. These
locks were twenty feet wide, twenty feet deep,
with three sets of gates at distances of ninety
feet.
They were very substantially built of
earth, lined with stone, covered with a wooden
sheathing fastened to the stones by iron rods

and wedges. The capstones along the walls
were of Pottsville conglomerate, fastened together with iron staples sunk in holes previ-

Some

of these
ously filled with melted lead.
locks could easily be used at present, while
others have been destroyed by fire and flood.

The most important monument in Columbia
county to the ability of the old canal builders
is the aqueduct at Rupert, which is now used
by the electric railroad as a bridge. The stone
piers are in excellent shape and the timbers
are still in fair condition after eighty-three
years of use.
the '"WyomIn 1830 the first canalboat
ing"^-built at Northumberland passed Berwick in the river, the canal being still uncompleted. The following year the "Luzerne"
came up the canal. In 1835 the first boats
for passenger trade, the
built exclusively
"Denison" and the "Gertrude," constructed
Miller
Horton
and A. H. Cahoon, were
by
launched at Northumberland for the trade
between that town and Wilkes-Barre. They
were drawn by six horses. For a period of
some years before the advent of the railroads
the canal was a favorite route for passenger
traffic, as the stagecoaches were barely comfortable and more expensive.
Although the
about six
progress on the canal was slow
miles an hour the scenery was beautiful, the
accommodations excellent, and the food could
be eaten in peace and at leisure. Many picnic
and excursion parties were made up and the
practice continued even down to the last years
of the life of the canal system, when small
light-draft steamers were used for the pur-

—

pose.

Boatyards were established at NorthumberEspy and Wilkes-Barre, where the boats
were built and repaired. The canal company
in later years operated its own boats, but any
person could carry on a freight business by
paying the regular tolls and complying with the
rules.
In winter the canal was emptied of
water and all the necessary repairs were then
made. In the spring it was necessary to mow
the long grass in the canal bed before the
water was let in, as it greatly interfered with

land,

canal was immense. It was the main avenue to
the seaboard and coal could be profitably sent
through it to Philadelphia for one dollar a ton
from Wilkes-Barre. The railroad rate is now

Canalboats were on an
average eighty-five feet long and drew two
The average depth of the
feet when loaded.
canal was five feet. The largest cargo ever
shipped in one boat was a mixed one of 285
nearly double that.

tons.

The entire canal system in this section of
the State was sold in 1858 to the Sunbury &
Erie Railroad Company and by them to the
North Branch Canal Company. In 1869 it
was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, who formed the subsidiary company
which for some years operated it under the
name of the Pennsylvania Canal Company.
In 1880 the traffic on the canal began to decline and in ten years after that it became
apparent that the canal would have to be
The unprecedented freshets of
abandoned.
1889 had destroyed the Juniata division, from
Newton Hamilton to Rope Ferry, a distance of
fifty-six miles, and the West Branch canal was
also damaged, all that portion west of the
Loyalsock being almost totally obliterated.
Having no connection below Northumberland,
the canal became almost useless and was finally
abandoned in 1891. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company sold it to the Delaware, Lackawanna &• Western Railroad Company, the present owners, later on.
The Pennsylvania Canal Company operated
the section of the canal from Northumberland
to Wilkes-Barre, a distance of sixty-five miles,
but owned altogether about 338 miles of canals.
Their capital stock was fixed at $5,000,000 and
the officers were all Philadelphians, stockholders of the

Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

The locaP superintendents

in this section

were

D. Quick of Rupert and Hudson Owen
of Berwick. The chief engineer was Thomas
H. Wierman of Harrisburg.
In this year of 1914 there is little evidence
in sight of the past glory of the canal, although
but a few years have elapsed since its abandonment. Nature has done her best to obliterate
the work of the past and man has assisted her

Hugh

and deby tearing down the embankments
The authorities at
stroying the stone work.
Danville have almost entirely filled up the bed
of the canal, but in Bloomsburg and Berwick
and along most of the intervening space it remains open, filled in places with stagnant water,
a menace to the health of the public. The locks
rapid transit.
For some years the business done by the at Rupert and Bloomsburg are still visible,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

but those at Dainille and Berwick are covered
up under tons of earth.

of the Susquehanna; "the levels showing that
every foot of the waterways could be made

The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company has placed metal signs along the

navigable."

"This could be made a part of a route from
Philadelphia to the lakes," he stated, "by going
down the North Branch and up the West
Branch to Sinnemahoning creek, 100 miles; up
It prevents adjacent landowners from the Sinnemahoning to Toby's (or Sandy) creek,
ple.
shutting off the river from the public use and 40 miles down Toby's creek to Allegheny river,
has permitted the growth of trees to continue Oo miles up the Allegheny to French creek,
unrestricted, thus converting many parts of 25 miles; up French creek to Waterford, 28
the canal towpath into a veritable "lovers' lane," miles; then by canal 14 miles across country
embowered with foliage and affording a shady to Erie." This route, he claimed, would neceswalk for miles along the beautiful Susque- sitate the construction of but thirty miles of
hanna. The canal could be easily converted canals. Flis idea was that the streams could
into a level and permanent highway at but all be made navigable by a series of dams.
moderate expense, if the railroad could be inNothing ever came of this project, and it
duced to turn it over to the State Highway was not until 1829 that the transportation
Commission.
question came up again. This time it was the
railroad project. Mr. Brobst had been elected
to the Legislature from Columbia county, and
kept hammering at the State authorities for
The honor of being the first to promote and transportation between the Schuylkill and the
construct a railroad in this section of Pennsyl- North Branch. Fortified by the survey he had
vania belongs to citizens of Catawissa, the made on the waterway project, he succeeded
head of the project, and for a time the only in getting the Legislature, in 1828, to pass an
advocate of the plan, being Christian Brobst. act authorizing the Pennsylvania Canal ComThe story of the building of this road is an mission to "employ a competent engineer to
interesting and romantic one, and has been make surveys and examinations between a
compiled in the follovving accurate narrative point on the Schuylkill canal near Pottsville,
by Charles E. Randall, editor of the Catawissa and a point on the Susquehanna river between
News Item and vice president of the Columbia the towns of Catawissa and Sunbury," as to
the feasibility of building a railroad between
County Historical Society.
In the issue of Jan. 20, 1825, Danville those points.
a
letter
from
Christian
The waterway levels taken by Mr. Brobst
Watchman, appeared
At that were by means of a "Jacob's staff" and a homeBrobst, Catawissa, dated Jan. 15th.
time water transportation was considered the made water level, made by himself, and they
solution of the problem of communication be- were so accurate that in surveys in later years
tween the great manufacturing centers, the by professional engineers the levels varied only
route about six feet in the entire distance between
State canal being partially completed.
for water communication was sought between Catawissa and what is now Lofty. An engithe Schuylkill river and the North Branch of neer named Robinson was employed by the
the Susquehanna.
canal board to make the surveys, three terminal
In his letter to the Watchman Mr. Brobst, points on the North Branch of the Susquewho was one of Catawissa's "live wires," a hanna river being considered Catawissa,
merchant miller, owning the upper mil! at that Danville and Sunbury. The engineer elimiplace, the farm now owned by Harman Breisch, nated Danville on account of "insurmountable
and a number of other properties in this sec- natural obstacles," and after a lengthy survey
tion, advocated a route between the two rivers reported to the commissioners in favor of a
by way of the Little Schuylkill river and Cata- route through the Ouakake and Catawissa valwissa creek. He claimed the route was prac- levs with Catawissa as the terminal, saving
tical and that he was acquainted with every that this route was "adapted to locomotive enfoot of the way. His plan was to come up the gines." while the route with Sunburv as a
Schuylkill river, then up the Little Schuylkill terminus was "adapted to horse nower only
to its headwaters cross over to the headwaters for the greater part of the route."
Besides,
of Catawissa creek, "a distance of three miles, "the Catawissa route would p^ive three distributive points
Pottsville. Little Schuvlkill and
part of the way through a small mountain"
then down Catawissa creek to the North Branch the Lehigh."

warning the public against
trespassing. Many persons object to this prohibition, but in a way it is a blessing to the peoline of the canal,

;

RAILROADS

—

;

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
In spite of the engineer's report the canal

commissioners favored the Sunbury terminus,
one of their number, Gen. Daniel Montgomery,
being particularly active in Sunbury's support.
On February 7, 1829, a meeting was held at
the home of Christian A. Brobst (a son of
Christian Brobst), Catawissa, to "protest
against the activity of said Gen. Daniel Montgomery, he being a canal commissioner, in
furthering Sunbury's claims as a terminal
against the report of the engineer in favor of

secured was of John Fortner, whose farm
(i'ranklin township), now owned and tenanted
by his granddaughter, Miss Alvaretta Fortner,
extended down to Catawissa creek. The survey began at the west line of the Fortner property.

Chief Engineer Miller built the house known
"Monroe house" at the corner of Second and South streets, and the office of the
as the

company was located there. The property is
now owned by Oliver Miller, of Aristes.
The work continued during 1835-36-37-38,
Mr. Brobst was chosen presiCatawissa."
dent of the meeting and Joseph Paxton and the right of way being secured, the grading

completed and the bridges erected, the line
enduig at what was later known as the Lehigh
Valley switchback, below Ryan's tunnel, at the
foot of an inclined plane starting midway between Lofty and Ryan's tunnel and ending half
mile below in the Quakake valley, where the
Joseph Paxton, William McKelvy, Joseph a
Wilkes-Barre turnpike crosses the Little
liroljst (a son of Christian), Dr. Harnian Gear-

committee
Dr. Isaac Pickering, secretaries.
was appointed to see that the Catawissa route
the
to
attend
the
committee
fair
a
show,
got
meeting of the canal commission at HarrisCol.
The committee was as follows
burg.
:

hart and Dr. Isaac Pickering.
The project of the State building the railroad fell through, but the Catawissians did not
give up the idea, but turned to Philadelphia
capitalists and business men with whom they
Two years later
had business connections.

they succeeded in interesting Philadelphia capital and the Little Schuylkill & Susquehanna
Railroad Company was formed.
In the charter granted by the Legislature
on March 21, 1831, Charles Sidney Coxe,

George Troutman, Thomas Reeves, Jr., RobEarp, Nathan Smith and George W. Tryon,
of Philadelphia
George DeB. Keim and
Mathias S. Richards, of Reading, Berks
county; William Audenreid, Burd Patterson,

ert

;

Pottsville,

Schuylkill

county

;

Christian

and Joseph Paxton, of Catawissa,
Columbia county; and Wm. McElwy (McEbenezer Daniel, of Bloomsburg,
and
Kelvy)
Columbia county, were appointed commissioners to open books for stock subscriptions.
By 1S35 sufficient money had been raised by
stock subscriptions and the financial support
of a Philadelphia bank (either the Bank of
North America or the Bank of the United
Brobst

States) to start the work.
One provision of the charter was "that the
said road shall not be more than four rods
wide, and shall not pass through any buryingground, or place of public worship, or any
dwelling-house, without the consent of the
owner thereof, or any outbuildings of the value

of three hundred dollars, without such consent."

Edward Miller was appointed chief engineer
and he came to Catawissa early in 1835 and
started

the

survey.

The

first

right of

way

Schuylkill river. It was the intention to continue the line through the Quakake valley to
Philadelphia. The grade of the plane was 10
feet 9 inches, to the one hundred feet.
The bridges were wooden lattice-work, the
timber being sawed by sawmills set up on the
ground. Not a bolt or spike was used in any
of the bridges, the framework being put to-

gether with wooden pins.
Not a rail was laid on the right of way, however, though a quantity had been prepared and
stored at the foot of the inclined plane. The
stringers were sawed out of logs to a suitable
size and a strap rail of iron nailed on the top.

The

old plane, graded in 1838, is plainly traceable today from the trains passing that point

on the Reading.

locomotive was built

England for the

& Susquehanna

Railroad Company, but was never used as no track had been
It was stored at Philadelphia until the
laid.
Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie Railroad was
built.
It weighed about fifteen tons and was
called the "Catawissa," and was about the
size of one of the little "dinkeys" used in later
It was never run
years by superintendents.
E. Railroad,
practically, except on the C. W. &
where it was used for a short time to haul the
officials over the road, having been first over-

Little Schuylkill

hauled by Harry Clayton, of Tamaqua, master
mechanic of the Little Schuylkill railroad.
In 1838 the bank that had financed the road
failed and the work stopped, not to be resumed until 1853, when it was taken up by a
new corporation, the Catawissa, Williamsport
& Erie Railroad Company, chartered in 1850,
which took over the property of the Little
Schuvlkill & Susquehanna Railroad Company,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and was authorized

to extend the road to
This company surveyed a new
route from the head of the old inchned plane,

WiUiamsport.

act of the Legislature incorporating the Catawissa, WiUiamsport & Erie Railroad Co., extending the line to WiUiamsport, "Provided,

abandoning that route, going to Tamanend, That any road located under authority of this
where it connected with the Little Schuylkill section shall not diverge more than one mile
Navigation & Railroad Company, which was distant from the mouth of Fishing creek." The
built irom Port Clinton to meet them.
road was built by way of Fishing creek and
The contractors from Catawissa to Taman- the town of Rupert resulted.
end were Alexander Christy and a man named
Another line was run from Rupert through
Malcom, both Scotchmen. They tore down Millville and Aluncy to WiUiamsport, but noththe old lattice-work bridges and erected trestles, ing was ever done with this route.
The Catawissa-Tamanend end of the road
except at Alainville, Fisher's, Aline Gap and
Long Hollow, where Burr arch bridges were was completed first and mixed trains were run
The old bed graded by the original between Port Clinton and Catawissa, the first
erected.
company was repaired and used. The road one on the i6th or 17th of July, 1854, the C. W.
was completed to Rupert in 1854.
& E. having trackage rights over the Little
Beyond Rupert to Milton, where it joined Schuylkill to Port Clinton, where they conthe P. & E. railroad, Thomas Emmet was chief nected with the Reading main line. The creek
engineer and contractor, and he was permitted bridge had been completed and the Catawissa
The
to make out his own estimates. He must have station was located on the present site.
been an honest man, as no charges of graft yard comprised the home of Isaac S. Monroe,
were ever made against him. The road was who sold to the company and purchased the
home built by Chief Engineer Miller at the
completed to Milton in the fall of 1854.
The first locomotive used on the line, the corner of Second and South streets. The old
one used in track-laying and ballasting, was Monroe homestead was moved down opposite
the "Massachusetts." It was built in that State the station and was for many years used as
by Hinkly & Drury, and was delivered at offices, being torn down a few years ago.
The first through train from Port Clinton to
Columbia, Pa., from where it was brought to
Catawissa on a canal flat in 1853. It was un- Milton (with connections through from Philloaded at a point opposite the head of the adelphia) was run in September or October,
"cove" below town, run over a cribbed-up track 1854. The first scheduled train started from
to the river bank, where it was loaded upon a Catawissa to Port Clinton on Monday in July.
large flat and ferried across the river to a It came up from Tamaqua on Sunday, the i6th
point near the dwelling house that used to stand or 17th, to be here ready for Monday's start.
From There were two trains running from opposite
just below the Pennsylvania junction.
that point it was hauled up a temporary track ends of the line. The engineer of the first regto an engine house that had been erected near ular train out of Catawissa was John Johnson,
the old Nick Fisher home, the end of the grad- afterwards a machinist in the shops here, and
ing then. The rails used were made at Dan- the fireman was his brother-in-law, a man
named Coe. The conductor's name was Duville, weighed 56 pounds to the yard, and were
delivered across the river and hauled over the Bois. That Sunday was a gala day in Catabridge by teams, being stored at the engine wissa, thousands of people coming from all
house and at the paper mill crossing.
over this section to see the train come in. W.
The "Massachusetts," afterwards known as G. Yetter, then sixteen years of age, saw the
No. 2, weighed about twenty-five tons, was a train arrive that afternoon. The first station
wood-burner, and had Samuel Carpenter as agent at Catawissa was George Hughes, father
engineer and Frank Wright as fireman, both of Mrs. Sarah Vastine. The first at Rupert
from Columbia. Joseph Shuman, of Beaver was
George S. Gilbert, a member of the enValley, was night watchman at the enginehouse
gineer corps.
and engine wiper.
The locomotive was turned at this place by
In 1853 a line was run from the old grading
means of a Y, that extended out to the river
at the Fortner line down the river to Danville,
bank from the old station and back to Roberts'
crossing the river at Boyd's. Colonel Paxton,
Corn run).
one of the promoters of the company, owned run (now
The C. W. & E. was built at a uniform grade
the farm at the mouth of Fishing creek (now
to Lofty.
the Boody farm) and wanted the railroad to of 33 feet to the mile from Catawissa
The maximum curvature was 12 degrees, exgo to Danville by way of his farm. He suca supplement to the cept at "Nigger Hollow," where it was I2>4.
ceeded in
getting passed

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
From Lofty

Tamanend

road was extended to Northumberfirst but two trains, one passenger
and one freight, were in service, but addi-

later the

the descending grade

land.

was 66 feet to the mile.
The Catawissa railroad had seven wooden
trestle bridges (the largest

being that at Dark

Run, which was 546 feet high and 574 feet
long) and about as many tunnels. The bridge
at Mainville was 115 feet high and 727 feet
long. It was the only one in Columbia county.

fine steel bridge

now

occupies

its

Lackawanna, "The Road of Anwhich now operates the line. At
present four passenger trains are run daily
each way, and an equal number of freights.

place, the

W.
W.

In 1882
G. Yetter as assistant engineer.
G. Yetter, resident engineer, laid out and
built the extension from Williamsport to NewThe extension from Milton to Wilberry.
liamsport cost $1,200,000, the estimate having been $1,000,000.

i860 gave up the ghost.

The property was purchased at public sale by
the Catawissa Railroad Company, a corporaformed for that purpose. In 1872 the
road was taken over by the Philadelphia &
Reading Railway Company under a lease,
under which the latter company still holds control and operates the road.
The officers of the road have been: Presidents—William D. Lewis, T. H. Dupey, M. P.
Hutchinson and Franklin B. Gowen (after the
Reading took charge in 1872) superintendents
tion

—Thomas

tions of two trains were made every ten years
until 1881, when it came into the control of
thracite,"

The first master mechanic was
Tamaqua.
George H. Prescott, and his brother, "Andy"
Prescott, was foreman.
The Catawissa railroad was extended from
Milton to Williamsport in 1871, under George
Webb, superintendent and chief engineer, with

strenuous time and

the famous

old piers of the first one still remaining. All
the others have been replaced by steel.
The Catawissa' shops were built in 1864, the
repair work before that time being done at

The Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie had

;

M. McKissock; Henry Fondy
Stanley H. Goodwin, who resigned in May,
1863 followed by George Webb, who resigned
succeeded by Daniel Reinhard until
in 1872
March 17, 1887, when W. G. Yetter was ap;

;

pointed until June, 1893, when the Catawissa
railroad was consolidated with the Shamokin
Branch of the P. & R. under Mr. Bertolet as
superintendent, until he was succeeded by A.
T. Dice, who was followed by J. E. Turk, the
present superintendent.
The second railroad built through this section of the county was the Lackawanna &
Bloomsburg road, projected by citizens of
Wilkes-Barre, who had no means of reaching
Philadelphia but the circuitous route through

Scranton and New York City. This road was
completed in 1857 to Rupert, connecting there
with the Catawissa road, and the first train
passed Bloomsburg on Jan. i, 1858. Two years

The

line is

equipped with automatic block

sig-

and is one of the finest in the State.
The North & West Branch railroad was conceived in the mind of Rev. D. J. Waller, of

nals

Bloomsburg, who reasoned that the logical
route for a railroad was along the southern
bank of the Susquehanna. This route had
previously been the one selected by Simon P.
Kase as the one for his telegraph line, but
was abandoned in favor of the Hazleton route.
Mr. Waller wrote the charter for the new road,
and Hon. C. R. Buckalew had it passed by the
It was ten years, howLegislature in 1871.
ever, before the road was completed to WilkesBarre from Catawissa. J. C. Brown was chief
engineer, and Samuel Neyhard, assistant. The
charter of the company provided that a bridge
be built over the Susquehanna, with a wagon
way beside the tracks, the county to pay twofifths of the cost. That bridge was never built,
but the road was constructed under the name
of North & West Branch Railroad Company,
with almost unlimited powers to construct
It came into the control of
branches, etc.
the Pennsylvania system in 1886. At the present time the road is in a prosperous condition.

Six passenger trains and numerous freights
are run daily through Catawissa.
In 1870 the Danville, Hazleton & WilkesBarre road was built by the efforts of Simon
P. Kase, of Danville.
It, also, is now in the
It follows the
control of the Pennsylvania.
east bank of the Catawissa creek, passing
through Main and Beaver townships, connecting Catawissa with Hazleton and the hard coal
region.

The Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad Company received its original charter from the
State in 1883, and was completed in 1888. The
first ground was broken at the bridge a short
distance north of Orangeville, in August, 1886,
the road was completed and operated to Benton
the following year, and to Jamison City in 1888.
The promoters of the road were: Hon. C. R.
Buckalew and Col. John Jamison, of Bloomsburg, and the constructing engineer was John
A. Wilson, of Philadelphia. James C. Brown,
a former postmaster of Bloomsburg, was
the surveyor of the line.

The

entire right of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

way was secured through the efforts of Capt.
John Bush
J. Conner and Silas McHenry.

ELECTRIC R.'MLWAYS

— LIGHTING

(Giovanni Bucci), of Bloomsburg, was the
The road is twenty-nine miles
contractor.
long, its route being through the beautiful and
historic

Fishingcreek valley, where at

many

points are located the camps and cottages of
the summer residents from Bloomsburg, Catawissa, Berwick and the adjoining towns in the
There are many highly productive
county.
farms along the line, which passes through

For the following concise and correct history of the development of gas and electricity
in the counties of Columbia and Montour we
are indebted to A. W. Duy, a prominent attorney of Bloomsburg, who is personally associated with these companies.
Gas Lighting

The

ville

gas company to be incorporated and
begin operations in Bloomsburg was the Bloomsburg Gas Company, which corporation received
its charter from the court of Common Pleas
of Columbia county on May 9, 1874. The authorized capitalization was $30,000 (Deed
Book 27, page 433), and the promoters of this
H. J. Clark, John
enterprise were as follows
La Wall, Freas Brown, D. A. Beckley, Samuel
Knorr, H. H. Grotz, E. R. Ikeler, Enos Jacoby,
A. L. Turner, J. C. Brown, J. K. Grotz, A. C.
Smith, C. Bittenbender, C. F. Knapp, J. H.
Maize, Ed. M. Warden, Jacob Schuyler, C. G.
Barkley, D. J. Waller, William Peacock, J. J.
Brower, I. W. Hartman, Robert F. Clark,
John A. Funston, C. W. Neal, Joshua Fetterman, W. M. Reber, D. Lowenberg, M. C.
Woodward, J. S. Sterner, E. H. Little, Louis
Bernhard, Wm. B. Koons, Isaiah Hagenbuch,
W. F. Sloan, H. L. Dieffenbach, C. W. Miller.
These gentlemen after receiving their charter purchased the tract of land at the intersection of Seventh and Market streets in the town
of Bloomsburg, there constructed a gas plant
and laid mains throughout the main portion
of the town, and conducted a very prosperous
business until Sept. 2, 1899, when the company
leased its property, rights and franchises for
a period of nine hundred and ninety-nine years

factured by the American Car & Foundry ComBerwick, are forwarded to their

(Misc. Book 6, page 454) to the American Gas
Light Company of Bloomsburg, a corporation
formed under the act of 1874, for the purpose
of taking over the property, rights and fran-

Light Street, Orangeville, Forks, Stillwater,
Benton, Coles Creek, Central and Jamison City.
Connection is made at Bloomsburg with the
the Reading, and at Paper
with the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg &
Berwick roads. The road operates six passenger trains each day, and several freights,
although the trade has fallen off since the removal of the sawmills at Jamison City. An
extension was projected northward to connect

Lackawanna and
Mill

with the Lehigh Valley road, and a route was
once surveyed, but nothing further has culminated.
The present officers of the road are Samuel
Wigfall, president; H. T. Dechert, vice president \V. C. Snyder, superintendent and treasurer George A. Ritter, secretary and auditor
:

;

About fifty men
are employed by the company.
The Wilkes-Barre & Western railroad was
commenced in 1885, ran the first train from
Watsontown to Millville in 1887, and in 1891
was completed to Orangeville. Subsequently
the management changed hands, the name was
changed to the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg &
Berwick Railroad Company, the line to Orange-

C. Fortune, supervisor.

abandoned, the route made through Light
Street and the line completed to Berwick in
1903. Over this road most of the cars manu-

pany, of
owners.

The
hills

line traverses a picturesque region of

and deep valleys, passing through Light
Paper Mill, Jerseytown, Eyer's Grove

Street,

and Mordansville, with a branch to Millville.
of the road is at Watsontown, on
the west branch of the Susquehanna. Samuel

The terminus

B. Haupt, president of the road, died in September, 1913, from injuries received when his
private car was struck by a switch engine in
the Berwick yards.
Since his death the road
has come into the control of the Pennsylvania

system.

first

Bloomsburg Gas Company.
American Gas Light Company of
Bloomsburg received its charter Aug. 25, 1899
(Misc. Book 8, page 665), its authorized capi-

chises of the old

The

talization being $40,000, together with an issue

of bonds of equal amount, and the incorporacompany were: William D. Boyer,
John B. Russel, Grant Pelton, George W. Reynolds, P. R. Bevan, all of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
It continued in business until Nov. 16, 1906,
when by virtue of an agreement of merger and
consolidation between it and the American
Electric Light Company, the property, rights
and franchises of the company became vested
tors of the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Drinker, M. G. Hughes, John Appleman,
Bloomsburg, the incorporators of the last James Magee, J. H. Mercer, William Chrisnamed company being E. li. Tustin, John B. man, L. E. Waller, John A. Funston, B. F.
Russel, P. R. Bevan, Harry S. Barton, A. W. Gardner, William Krickbaum, H. W. McReyDuy. The gas business in Bloomsburg was nolds, L. Gross, John L. Moyer, C. W. Neal,
conducted under the management of this com- John B. Casey, J. H. Maize.
On Dec. 11, 1889, the above gentlemen, all
pany until Feb. 7, 191 1, when by another agreement of merger and consolidation it was of whom were prominent in the affairs of the
and
electric
other
with
county, received a charter from the governor,
gas
twenty-two
merged
companies, covering the territory between the effected an organization under the name of
borough of Nescopeck in Luzerne county, and Bloomsburg Electric Light and Power Comthe borough of Riverside in Northumberland pany (Misc. Book 3, page 440), purchased a

Gas and Electric Company of

in the United

county, both inclusive, forming the Columbia
Gas and Electric Company, the details of whose
consolidation are referred to later on.

the northeast corner of tlie intersection
of Eighth and Catharine streets, Bloomsburg,
and there erected an electric light plant, the
original equipment consisting of two small
Keeler boilers two fifty horsepower TaylorBeck engines; two fifty kilowatt Thompsonlot at

The Columbia Gas and Electric Company
sold and conveyed all of its property, rights
and franchises to the Columbia and Montour
Electric Company in March, 1913, and the gas Houston alternating generators, one fifty light
business is now being conducted under the direct current Thompson-Houston arc genermanagement of that company and is keeping ator, and a wooden panel switchboard.
A contract for lighting the streets of Bloomspace with the rapid strides in the general industrial development of Bloomsburg.
burg was secured from the town council, pole
lines
and wires were erected throughout the
The Danville Gas Company was created by
special act of Assembly, approved the 8th day built up portion of the town, arc lights placed
This at the intersection of the principal thoroughof May, 1854 (P. L. 1855, page 710).
company purchased the lot of land where the fares and electric light turned on about the
1st of April,
89 1, a truly historic event in the
present gas and electric plant is located and
erected a gas plant, constructed mains through- advancement of Bloomsburg.
This company on Sept. 2, 1899 (Misc. Book
out the borough of Danville and proceeded to
engage in the business of furnishing gas to the 6, page 451), leased its property, rights and
The property of the franchises to the American Electric Light Comcitizens of that borough.
Danville Gas Company was next acquired by pany, a corporation which was formed for the
the Consumers Gas Company, a corporation purpose of taking over the old company, havwhich was created under the act of 1874, on ing received its charter Aug. 21, 1899 (Misc.
Nov. 8, 1882, and this company conveyed by Book 8, page 664), of which company the inlease for the term of nine hundred and ninety- corporators were William D. Beyer, Grant Pelnine years, its property, rights and franchises ton, G. W. Reynolds, P. R. Bevan, all of
This company conducted the
to the Standard Gas Company (Deed Book 19, Wilkes-Barre.
plant until the i6th of November, 1906, when
page 606).
it entered into an agreement of merger and
Electric Lighting
consolidation with the American Gas Light
Company of Bloomsburg, forming the United
The pioneers in the electric lighting business Gas and Electric Company of Bloomsburg
in Columbia county were the following gentle(Misc. Book 9, page 17).
men and firms W. R. Tubbs, Harman & HasThe Irondale Electric Light, Heat & Power
sert, Robbins & Peacock, W. H. Brower, C. M.
Company was incorporated on April 7, 1902
(Misc. i3ook 7, page 503), the incorporators
Creveling, L. S. Wintersteen, B. F. Sharpless,
T. L. Gunton, Isaac S. Kuhn, J. R. Schuyler, being C. M. Creveling, W. S. Moyer, Dr. W.
I.
Frank
P.
C.
W.
M.
Brown,
Willits,
Billmeyer,
Reber, Charles W. Runyon, N. U. Funk,
J.
C. W. Miller, N. U. Funk, E. V. Hartman, H. Grant Herring, H. A. M'Killip, J. N. ThompV. White, L. T. Sharpless, C. A. Kleim, A. G. son, C. A. Kleim, J. C. Brown, Dr. J. J. Brown.
The Irondale Electric Light, Heat and Power
Briggs, J. E. Wilson, J. M. Robbins. Mathias
Geist, R. W. Oswald, James McCloskey, H. P.
Company acquired by purchase the dam, mill
Chamberlain, L. N. Moyer, D. W. Kitchen, race, wheel house, and water rights of the
W. R. Kocher, H. J. Clark & Son, Freas Bloomsburg Iron Company, and in the year
Brown, Charles G. Barkley, Paul E. Wirt, 1902 erected and equipped at Irondale a hydroGeorge Rosenstock, David Hensinger, Frank electric plant, receiving its waterpower from
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Fishing creek, the water being conveyed from
the old Irondale dam by way of the headrace

company

to procure all of the rights of

way

from abutting property owners, the subscribers
temporarily abandoned the construction of the

and developing about two hundred horsepower.
For a number of years the Irondale Electric road.
The North Susquehanna Transit Company
Light, Heat and Power Company and the
Bloomsburg Electric Light and Power Com- was incorporated Aug. i, 1895 (Misc. Book
the
of
pany were both engaged in
furnishing
7, page 449), by the following named gentleE. S. Whitney, Robert E. Wright, Allenelectricity to the community, developing a spir- men
Wilson M. Gearhart, James Scarited competition, resulting in a rate which while town, Pa.
beneficial to the citizens produced disastrous let, R. S. Ammerman, John K. Geisinger, Dan:

;

results to those having investment in the enterprise.

E. R. Sponsler, J. M. Fitzgerald,
Harrisburg, Pa. all of whom constituted the
The charter route of
first board of directors.
this company extended from the borough of
Danville in Montour county through the town
ville,

Pa.

;

The Berwick

Electric Light

Company was

incorporated on Aug. 4, 1892 (Misc. Book 4,
page 70), the following gentlemen being interested in the enterprise at that time: F. H. of Bloomsburg to the village of Espy in ColumEaton, C. D. Eaton, W. F. Lowry, C. C. Evans, bia county.
F. W. Brockway, W. E. Elmes. They subseOn Oct. 31, 1899, the Bloomsburg and Berquently incorporated the West Berwick Elec- wick Electric Railway Company and the North
tric Light Company, which was a company
Susquehanna Transit Company entered into
subsidiary to the Berwick Electric Light Com- an agreement of merger and consolidation,
pany, furnishing electric current in the borough forming the Columbia and Montour Electric
of West Berwick. These two companies later Railway Company, with an authorized capitaljoined the merger and consolidation forming ization of $375,000; bonds were issued in the
the Columbia Gas and Electric Company.
sum of $375,000 secured by a first lien mortThe first electric light company to be incor- gage to the Commonwealth Trust Company of
porated in the borough of Danville, Montour Harrisburg, as trustee, the company secured a
county, was the Standard Electric Light Com- tract of land, the site of the old Neal furnace,
pany, which received its letters patent from where they erected a powerhouse and car barn,
the Commonwealth on Oct. 6, 1899 (Deed Book and the first electric railway in the history of
21, page 435), the incorporators being John Columbia county was constructed and comB. Russel, W. D. Boyer, G. W. Reynolds, Grant pleted between the borough of Berwick and
Pelton, P. R. Bevan, and this company took the town of Bloomsburg, with a branch four
over by purchase the electric light business in miles extending from the town of Bloomsburg
Danville which had formerly been conducted to the borough of Catawissa. The road was
opened for traffic in October, 1901.
by John R. Bennett, as an individual.
The Danville and Bloomsburg Street RailELECTRIC RAILWAYS
way Company was incorporated on Sept. i,
1903 (Alisc. Book 8, page 259), with an

The

first electric

railway company organized

Columbia county was the Bloomsburg Electric Street Railway Company, which was incorporated on June i, 1892, under the act of
1889 (Misc. Book 4, page 41), by J. L. Dillon,
in

L. E. Waller, C. C. Peacock, I. W. Willits, W.
R. Tubbs, C. W. Miller, for the purpose of
constructing two miles of road in the town of
This enterprise was subseBloomsburg.
quently abandoned, as the traffic was not
deemed sufficient to support it.

authorized capitalization of $250,000. The incorporators were R. H. Koch, W. C. Billman,
Frank C. Angle, Charles P. Hancock, W. F.
Bonds in the sum of $250,000 were
Pascoe.
issued secured by a first lien mortgage to the
Easton Trust Company, of Easton, Pa. They
secured a site at the village of Grovania, half
way between Danville and Bloomsburg, and
there erected a powerhouse and car barn, and
constructed the road between Danville and

Bloomsburg.

A number of charters for other electric
The Bloomsburg and Berwick Electric Railway Company was incorporated Feb. 9, 1899 railways to be constructed with terminus at
(Misc. Book 6. page 265), by R. Steen Martin, Bloomsburg have been granted, but up to 1914
Franklin Ingraham, J. M. Emery, L. E. Waller, none of them went further than the projected
F. E. Miller, C. W. "Miller, with its route from stage. The exception was the Bloomsburg &
Bloomsburg

pletely financed
W. Miller, but

Railway Company, incorporated in
route from Millville to Bloomsburg
of the was partially graded and about two miles of

This road was comthrough the efforts of Mr. C.

Berwick.

owing

to the inability

Millville

1901.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The cgmpany was then reorgantrack laid.
ized as the Bloomsburg, Millville & Northern
Railway Company and preparations were made
to equip the line with storage battery cars, but
nothing detinite was accomplished. The officials and promoters of this road in 1913 were:
D. O. Coughlin, president, Wilkes-Barre
;

Walter Hughes, treasurer, West Berwick; W.
P. Zehner, secretary, Bloomsburg; directors,
William Masters and Ellis Eves, Millville;
Walter Hughes, C. W. Miller, J. C. Brown,
James Magee, W. P. Zehner, Bloomsburg; J.
B. Kester, Mainville; L. E. Waller, WilkesBarre.
In passing it seems well to observe that in all
of the foregoing enterprises, which have contributed so much to the development of Columbia county, Mr. C. W. Miller, a member of
the Columbia county bar, was the pioneer, and
to his indefatigable energy and farsightedness
the community is largely indebted for the progress which it has made, not only in the development of public service corporations, but
many manufacturing industries as well.

In the

of 1908, at a time when the deof the electrical industry in the

fall

velopment

nation was beginning to assume that position
in the economic scheme which it is one day
destined to attain and when science had demonstrated the fact that electrical energy might
be profitably transmitted for long distances,
certain gentlemen affiliated with the Pardee
coal interests, at Hazleton, conceived the idea
of establishing a gigantic electric power plant
adjacent to the vast culm banks at the Harwood Mines, and a corporation w'as formed
known as the Harwood Electric Company,
who there erected a modern electric plant at
a cost of over a million dollars, with capacity
to furnish electric energy and distribute it for
hundreds of miles.
Recognizing the possibilities which this enterprise offered, Mr. A. W. Duy, of Bloomsburg, at that time counsel for the electric railway company and the gas and electric companies, together with Mr. E. R. Sponsler, of
Harrisburg, Pa., the president of the Colum;

bia

and Montour Electric Railway Company,

conceived the idea of amalgamating all of the
electric light, gas and electric railway companies in Columbia and Montour counties, and
a corporation was formed by them under the
laws of Delaware, known as the Columbia
Power, Light and Railways Company, with an
authorized capitalization of $850,000, and an
authorized bond issue of like amount.
The
incorporators of this company were E. R.
Sponsler, Harrisburg; A.

W. Duy, Blooms-

Lowry, Berwick; Myron I. Low,
C. M. Creveling, Almedia; R. H.
Koch, Pottsville; W. C. Billman, Reading; P.
burg;

Lime Ridge;

M. F. D. Scanlon,
Davids; B. F. Meyers, Harrisburg; W. M.
Del.
R.
Scott Ammerman,
Pyle, Wilmington,

R. Bevan, Wilkes-Barre;
St.

;

Danville, Pennsylvania.

This company acquired by purchase a controlling interest and in some instances all of
the capital stock, a majority of the bonds, and

some cases all of the bonds, of the followBerwick Electric Light Coming companies
pany of Berwick; West Berwick Electric
in

Light, Heat and Power Company, of West
Berwick United Gas and Electric Company
of Bloomsburg; Irondale Electric Light, Heat
and Power Company of Bloomsburg; Standard
Gas Light Company of Danville Danville
;

;

Electric Light Company of Danville; Nescopeck Light, Heat and Power Company of
Nescopeck Columbia and Montour Electric
Railway, and Danville and Bloomsburg Street
;

Railway Companies.
In order that the territory of operation of
the company might be legally organized and
the light, heat and power furnished by any one
of the subsidiary or operated companies managed by the company and as required by the
statutes of the Commonwealth, the company

procured to be organized and purchased
tlie

capital stock of the following

heat and

named

all

light,

power companies Briar Creek ElecCompany, Catawissa Electric Company,
Centre Township Electric Company, Cooper
Electric Company, Gearhart Electric Company,
Hemlock Electric Company, Mahoning Electric Company, Miftlin Township Electric Company, Montour Electric Company, Riverside
Electric Company, Salem Electric Company,
Scott Township Electric Company, Shickshinny Electric Company, Valley Township Electric Company. West Hemlock Electric Com:

tric

pany
It

— $5,000 each, the

total

being $75,000.

was the ultimate purpose of the company,

as the sole or principal stockholder of the respective subsidiary or operated companies, to
cause the merger of the railway companies
into one company and all of the light, heat and
power companies into one company, so that
the subsidiary or operated companies should
consist of one transportation company and one
This was
light, heat and power company.

accomplished bv agreements of merger and
consolidation dated Feb. 7, 191 1, forming the

Columbia and Montour Electric Railway Company and the Columbia Gas and Electric Company, and all the territory operated by the
company through its subsidiary companies in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

the counties of Luzerne, Columbia and Montour brought under the requirements of the
statutes of the State relative to tlie supply
of light, heat and power within the territory
of the franchise and to persons and companies
in the territory contiguous thereto.
In undertaking the work of the operation
of the various subsidiary companies, the necessity of a change in the power for operation
was early felt. Each of the respective operated

companies was producing its own motive
power, with a multiplicity of engines, generators and machinery, and each with its force
of employees. Indeed it was one of the primary conceptions in the economic operation of
these companies to secure either a common
center of

operating 9,000 kilowatts and supplying an extensive territory in the immediate location of
the plant, besides the power furnisned to our
local companies.
The current is transmitted
by a douDie line of triple wires or cables, constituting two units of transmission, so that
an accident to one line may be overcome by
the use of its alternate.
Under the contract, the power is delivered
at a point in Nescopeck township, Luzerne
county, on the south bank of the Susquehanna
river and is carried thence over the river by
cables suspended upon steel abutments or
towers, clearing the entire water space by one
span, the length of which is 2,300 feet. Tlience
it is carried to Berwick, where it is measured
by a system of meters and reduced and divided
to the uses of the respective operated comThis is accomplished by a line of
panies.

power within the territory, or a
power from a distance outside of the territory from which all the subsidiary companies
might be operated from a common source or cables extending from Berwick
by the manipulation of a single unit. In consummation of this design the company, through
the Nescopeck Light, Heat and Power Company, on the 5th day of June, 1909, caused the
execution of a

contract for the supply of
the Harwood Electric Company,
by which the latter named company agreed
to furnish by the ist of January, 1910, sufficient common power to operate the transportation companies and all of the light, heat and
power companies, to the maximum amount of
five thousand kilowatts.
The plant of the Harwood Electric Company
is located at Harwood Mines, in Luzerne county. Pa., distant some sixteen miles southeast
of Berwick. The steampower for the generation of electricity is produced by the consum])tion of the refuse of the mining operations of
the Pardee Estate extending over a period of

power with

some

forty years, which, having been produced
mining operations when only the choicest
was sent into commerce, contains vast deposits of washable and commercial coal as
used in modern economics, amounting to millions of tons, which under the present rate of
consumption will not be consumed in half a
in

coal

century. In addition to this, vast deposits of
virgin coal owned by the estate may be considered supplementary or additional to the
capacity of this vast concern.
The plant proper constitutes one of the
finest, if not the finest, plants for the production of electricitv known to modern engineerIt has been recently constructed, with
ing.
the most approved and latest appliances, at an
expenditure of several millions of dollars, and
has a present contemplated maximum capacity

of some twenty-five thousand kilowatts,

now

to Danville,
erected proportionately by each of the respective power companies the territory of which is
invaded by the line, each company using such
part of the current as its necessities may reThe transportation companies use the
quire.
current after a transmutation from alternating current to direct current, by efficient generators employed by these companies.
As an auxiliary and additional power, the
plant of the Irondale Light, Heat and Power
Company has been equipped to develop its
waterpower to a potentiality of eight hundred
horsepower, with an equal alternate or auxiliary steampower, which under the Harwood
contract may be used singly or doubly, at the
The powerhouse
pleasure of that company.
at Irondale has consequently been remodeled
and new and effective machinery installed for
this general purpose. The primary purpose of
the Irondale equipment is to act as a governor
and reduce the peak of the load, and in operation not only does this, but reduces the general
consumption of the Harwood current. This
effects the most approved engineering scheme
for the reduction of the cost of power under
the contract with the Harwood Electric Company and in effect produces in the operation of
both plants a constant, unfluctuating and efficient current, which is surpassed at no plant
in the United States.
All of the various subsidiary companies were
operated by the Columbia Power, Light and
Railways Company as a holding company until May 26,
191 1, when the gentlemen interested in the company, believing that its securities would find a more ready market if each
company were operated direct, rather than
through the medium of a holding company.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

caused to be incorporated the Columhia and

Samuel

Montour Electric Company.
The incorporators ot this company were E.
R. Sponsler, \V. F. Lowry, Myron I. Low,
C. M. Crevehng, A. W. L)uy, the company

secured an appropriation of $10,000
from the Legislature and erected the second
This was a covered wooden arch
bridge.
bridge, and was operated for some years as a
toll bridge by the company.
It was made a
free county bridge by proceedings in court instituted by a petition of citizens of Berwick
and Nescopeck filed May I, 1899. A. J. Derr,
J. C. Brown and G. W. Keiter were appointed

having an authorized capital of $525,000 and
an authorized bond issue of $525,000. This
company subsequently purchased outright
from the holding company and from the
various subsidiary companies all the right,
property and franchises of the gas, electric
light and power companies, and they are now
being operated by the Columbia and Montour
Electric

Company, which company

also

ac-

quired ninety-hve per cent of the capital stock
of the Columbia and Montour Electric Railway

Company, and controls the management and
operation of that corporation.
In 1913, the name of the Columbia and
Montour Electric Railway Company, because
of its similarity to the name of the power

F. Headley, A. B.

Wilson and Robert

McCurdy

viewers, and on Sept. 25, 1899, they reported
in favor of a free bridge, and assessed the
damages to be paid to the bridge company at
$25,349, which action was approved by the
grand jury. After some delay caused by a
motion for time to file an appeal by the bridge
company, the court made an order on Feb. 5,
1900, declaring this bridge a free county
This being a bridge between Columbridge.
bia and Luzerne counties similar action had
been taken in the Luzerne County court, and
a similar order made.
The Luzerne county

company, was changed by appropriate action
and is now the North Branch Transit Com- viewers were George J. Llewellyn, W. H.
Since June i, 1913, both the power Sturdevant and C. A. Shea, who with the
pany.
company and the transit company have been Columbia county viewers had met and conunder the management of H. D. Walbridge & sidered the matter, and had made their joint
Company, No. 14 Wall street. New York. report in favor of the bridge and assessing
Nearly all of the original local incorporators the damages on July 21, 1899. This bridge
was destroyed by the flood of March, 1904.
retained an interest in the two companies.
Through the firm of H. D. Walbridge & Proceedings were at once started to have it
Company the local companies are affiliated with replaced by the State in April, 1904. The
the Northern Central Company and the North- report being favorable, the contract was let
umberland County Gas and Electric Company, on June 13, 1905, to the York Bridge Company
and supply w^ith gas and electricity the follow- for $209,500, and an iron and steel bridge
was erected and completed in 1906.
It is
Nescopeck, in Luzerne county
ing territory
Berwick, West Berwick, Bloomsburg, Cata- one of the finest structures that crosses the
wissa and intermediate villages, in Columbia river anywhere. A free ferrv was maintained
county; Danville, in Montour county; Selins- by the two counties during its construction.
grove and Lewisburg, in Union county; SunDANVILLE
bury, Northumlierland, Milton, Watsontown
and Turbotville, in Northumberland county.
The Danville Bridge Company was chartered
:

;

BRIDGES

Jan. 2, 1S28, the officers of the company being:
Daniel Monts'oinerv, president James Longhead, treasurer; John Cooper, secretary; John
C. Boyd, William Colt, Peter Baldy, Sr., Willifim Boyd, Andrew McReynolds, Robert C.
Grier, managers. On the 3d of March of that
year a contract was made with John P. Schuyler and James Fletcher for the construction of
the first bridge. The work on the foundations
began in that month, and in January, 1829,
the bridge was completed, the company accepting it the following month. The State held a
small amount of stock in this bridge.
Daniel
HofTman was appointed the first toll collector,
at a salary of $65 a year.
On Alarch 14, 1846, the bridge was swept
;

BERWICK

The first bridge across the Susquehanna at
Berwick was authorized by the Legislature in
1807, and an organization was made five years
later, with Abraham Miller as president; John
Brown, treasurer, and Silas Engle, Thomas
Bowman and Elisha Barton as managers. This
bridge was completed in 1814 by Theodore
Burr at a cost of $=^2,000. Its length was 1,260
feet and it rested on timber piers, boxed in
with heavy planks. In the winter of 1835-36
it was carried
away by the ice. The following

year

Jesse

Bowman,

Josiah

Black,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

away by a flood, Daniel Blizzard being carried Barton, William McKelvey, reorganized the
down with it and rescued with great difficulty company on a firm financial basis and erected
near the old stone house. The company until a bridge at a cost of $26,000. It was opened
then had declared eleven dividends, but it was for travel Jan. 15, 1833.
The location was changed from that first
not till 1863 that another was declared. After
the destruction of the bridge the company selected, at the mouth of Fishing creek, to the
made a contract with Chester Evans and David site of the present bridge. This bridge sufN. Kownover to rebuild it. Evans disposed fered several times from freshets and ice. In
of his share in the contract, and his partner

spans were destroyed, but were reIn 1875 the entire
superstructure was swept away, and a truss
bridge was built to replace it the same year.
All of these bridges were operated on the toll

1846

five

built the following year.

completed it.
The second bridge stood the storms and

many seasons, until 1S75, when it
too was swept away by the terrific impact of
the Catawissa bridge, which was borne down plan.
When proceedings were started for a free
upon it by a tremendous flood on St. Patrick's
The following year the county bridge at Bloomsburg, the stockholders
day of that year.
&
of
the Catawissa toll bridge became fearful
H.
Hawke
Co.
F.
doing
bridge was rebuilt,
the stone work, and the Smith Iron Bridge that their property would be depreciated thereCompany, of Ohio, the framework and super- by, and so they and other citizens filed a petiThis was also a toll bridge and tion in court in December, 1892, asking the
structure.
the toil keepers at different dates were Daniel appointment of viewers to report on the exHoffman, Rudolph Sechler, E. Mellon, Isaiah pediency of making the Catawissa bridge a free
floods for

Thornton and Joseph Hunter. The bridge county bridge. H. H. Hulme, J. W. Hoffman,
was a fourth of a mile in length, with a White Snyder, Joseph Sponenberg, A. K.
covered footway on each side, shut entirely off Smith and P. Hippensteel were appointed
viewers, and filed their report in September,
from the central roadway.
The officers of the company in 1886 were 1893, in favor of the proposition, fixing the
S.

Frick, president; J. C. Grove, secretary
and treasurer; W. H. Magill, A. J. Frick, Isaac
X. Grier, Wilson Metter, G. M. Shoop, B. R.
J.

Gearhart, Amos Vastine, managers.
This bridge was replaced in 1904 by a steel

price to be paid by the county at $34,000. On
the same day the grand jury approved the reExceptions were filed, and after a hearport.
ing and numerous delays the court ordered the
bridge made free of tolls on Nov. 9, 1893. The
same day the commissioners approved of this
action, and tolls ceased at 2 :30 p. m. on Friday,

structure of truss construction, by the State
and county authorities of Montour and Northumberland, and was made a free bridge by Nov. II, 1893.
In September, 1896, the bridge was lifted off
order of court. Henry R. Leonard was the
engineer for the State, and the contractors the piers from end to end and thrown over into
were the King Bridge Company, of Cleveland, the river by a windstorm. The commissionOhio.
ers, acting under the law of 1895, providing

CATAV/ISSA

The

necessity for a bridge across the river at

Catawissa induced citizens of that town to petition the Legislature as early as 1816 to
authorize the opening of subscription books
for that purpose.
Although some stock was
subscribed for, the project languished for
Then the near completion of
twelve years.
the North Branch canal caused renewed interest and an appropriation of $5,000 was obtained
from the State. Subscriptions were obtained
with more ease and a committee, consisting of

George Taylor, Jacob Alter, Philip Rebsome,
George Keim, John Rebsome, George Getz,
Henry Foster. John C. Appelman. Samuel
Brooke, Benjamin Beaver, Peter Schmick,
George H. Willets, Stacy Margerum, John

that the State shall rebuild county bridges that
are destroyed by stonn or fire, took the proper legal steps to have the State replace the
The contract for an iron and steel
bridge.
bridge was let to the Penn Bridge Company,
for $124,900. It was completed and accepted,
and used until March 9, 1904, when the ice
flood carried away two spans. Again the State
rebuilt it, putting up an entirely new strucThis
ture, much better than the first one.
was opened for travel in May, 1908. During
the intervals when these bridges were building the county maintained a free ferry at this
point.

BLOOMSBURG

On Aug.
to the court

23, 1S92, a petition was presented
citizens asking for a free county

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
bridge across the Susquehanna river at Bloomsburg, and on the same day the court appointed
C.

H. Moore, M. C. Vance and Simon Hons

viewers to report on the same. On Sept. 21st
a petition was presented by citizens of Catawissa to stay the proceedings. An answer was
filed and depositions taken, and Judge Savidge
of Sunbury was called in by Judge Ikeler to
hear and decide the case. The latter petition
was dismissed by Judge Savidge, and to this
action exceptions were filed, and also a petition for reviewers, the first viewers having reAfter some
ported in favor of a bridge.
skirmishing between the parties, C. W. Eves,
Hendershott
were apFisher
and
B.
W. S.
G.

pointed, and on

May i, 1893, they reported
favor of a bridge; this report was laid before
the grand jury on May 3d and approved by
them with the recommendation that the bridge
be erected at the expense of the county.

On May 4th more exceptions were filed by
opponents of the bridge, and the matter
dragged along from time to time until Nov.
when the court made
"And now, November

court on January 7, 1901, asking for the appointment of viewers. T. H. B. Davis, J. P.
Fry and J. C. Brown were appointed. On
Feb. 4th the viewers reported in favor of a
bridge, and on the same day the grand jury approved it. Then came exceptions and a petition for reviewers, but this finally resulted in
an order of the court in favor of the bridge
on July 7, 1902, and the same day the commissioners approved the same. On July 26th the

commissioners adopted plans, specifications
and estimates submitted by J. C. Brown at their
request, he having been selected as supervising engineer. The estimated cost was $96,547.
The contract was awarded to C. H. Reimard
for $93,985, who sublet the superstructure to
the King Bridge Company for $56,600. The
work was well under way, and three spans
were completed when the flood of 1904 deIt looked then as if the
stroyed the bridge.
bridge would never be rebuilt by the county.
In 1905 a bill passed the Legislature which
authorized the State to build uncompleted

the following order:
9, 1893, all exceptions having been withdrawn in open court and
all adverse proceedings abandoned, the report
of the reviewers and Grand Jury is approved,
and it is adjudged that the said bridge is necessary as a county bridge, and that the same is
too expensive for the township of Catawissa
and tile Town of Bloomsburg to bear, and upon
the concurrent approval of the same by the
county commissioners the said bridge is ordered
to be entered of record as a county bridge."

bridges exceeding 1,000 feet in length over any
river, whenever any portions of said bridge
already erected have been destroyed by floods
before final completion thereof, and where it
appears that over half of the contract price has
already been paid before such destruction.
The bill was drawn by Hon. Fred Ikeler while
a member, and was passed largely through

The commissioners concurred, and on Nov.
25th they had a letting, and after due consideration awarded the contract for the superstructure to the King Bridge Company, and
for the masonry and other work to Joseph
Hendler. J. C. Brown was employed by the
commissioners to prepare the plans and specifications, and to make an estimate of cost, and
also to be the supervising engineer of the work.
The estimated cost was $69,256. Jesse Rit-

river at Mifflinville.
W. H. Eyer,
C. A. Small and E. C. Hummer were appointed,
and filed their report on June 25, 1905, in favor
of the bridge. The report was approved by
the court, and the bridge ordered to be built
by the State. Exceptions were filed and after

tenhouse, B. F. Edgar and C. L. Sands were
the county commissioners at the time.
The
bridge is iron and steel, and is 1,150 feet long,
with six spans. The cost of the superstructure was $35,500; of the substructure $35,415.46, and the riprapping and filling $2,384.21,
making the total cost $73,299.67.

span was just completed when, Dec. 10, 1907,
as the workmen were fastening it to the pier,
the false work underneath was carried away
by the flood in the river at the time, and the
entire span went down, carrying with it forty

9th,

MIFFLIN
Feeling the necessity for a bridge across the
river at Mifflinville, citizens of Mifflin and
Centre township presented a petition to the

his

influence.

petition

was

Proceeding under

filed in

the

this law, a

Dauphin County court

asking for the appointment of viewers in the
matter of rebuilding the bridge across the Sus-

quehanna

some delay by litigation the contract was
awarded to the York Bridge Company for the
superstructure.

The work was progressing and

the second

all but seven of whom were rescued.
bodies of the latter excepting two were
recovered down the river at various points,
some a long distance away. The loss to the
builders was about $10,000. The bridge was

men,

The

completed and opened for travel in 1908. A
long delay was caused by litigation with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the latter

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

56
objecting to a

The

grade crossing.

litigation

ended by a decision of the Supreme court that
an overhead crossing must be provided, and

was accordingly done. This bridge is
1,226 feet long, with six spans, and is a fine
structure of iron and steel.
Prior to the building of the Mifflin and

this

Bloom bridges ferries were operated at Mifflinville. Lime Ridge, Espy and Bloomsburg.
In 1914 Columbia county has over two hundred bridges to keep in repair. Most of the
smaller bridges are being replaced by concrete structures, which will last for ages with
no repairs. The one at Slabtown, over Roaring creek, built in 1913, is as fine an example
of this class of bridge as can be found in the
State.

BRIDGES

AND THE FLOOD OF I9O4

The Susquehanna valley was visited by a
flood in January, 1904, which surpassed in extent any previous flood in this section.
The
river was gorged with ice, and the rapid rise
of the water turned it from the channel out
on the low lands all along the course of the
river.

The lower

The remaining spans soon followed.
span.
Of the other spans of the Berwick bridge, one
lodged near the Berwick falls and the others
were carried downstream to a point near
Briar Creek. The commissioners of Luzerne
and Columbia counties at once decided to burn
these spans to prevent their being carried down
stream to do damage to the bridges below, and
this was accordingly done.
For two weeks the flood conditions improved. There were warm rains which gave
rise to the hope that this would rot the ice, so
that it would break up and pass off without
gorging. And then came a third flood, more
disastrous than the first two, the water rising more than forty-one feet above the low
water mark. When it is stated that in some
places icebergs weighing many tons were left
in fields a half mile away from the regular
channel of the river, the extent of the flood
may be more fully realized. All the railroads
except the Bloomsburg & Sullivan were again
out of commission, and great damage was
done from one end of the valley to the other.

The Bloomsburg

bridge seemed doomed, as
the ice was up to the floor, but it escaped with
the
west
end
only
being sprung out of place
about three feet, and when the ice passed

portions
Bloomsburg,
Catawissa, Rupert, Espy, and all along the line,
were submerged, and the trolley and railroads away it settled back into place.
were unable to operate for three days. Great
The Catawissa bridge did not fare so well.
damage was done to property, but no lives Two of the spans were carried ofT, and lay
were lost. The flood subsided without carry- bent and twisted about one hundred yards being away any of the river bridges, but the ice low. The covered wooden bridge at the paper
mill over Catawissa creek was swept away
gorge still remained.
Only two weeks later the waters rose again, and lodged up against the Pennsylvania railcausing the greatest flood in the history of the road bridge. By an agreement with the comThe first movement in the ice gorge missioners the railroad company was permitted
valley.
was observed at Berwick on Tuesday, Feb. to destroy it to save its own. Many other
9th, and the Berwick bridge was soon torn county bridges were also destroyed by this
from the piers and toppled over into the rag- flood.

ing flood. One span was carried down stream
on the ice to Mifflinville, where it jammed into
the uncompleted iron bridge, and carried of? a

previously stated, the Catawissa bridge

was again erected by the
in

1908.

State,

and completed

County Bridge at Bloomsdl'kg,

Berwick Bridge

—Where

Pa.

Steamboat Accident Occurred

CHAPTER

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
The

earliest

sympatuy

compacted

the

community

New

Columbia (Swenoda), Derry, VVashand Danville, Montour county.
These ancient places of sepulture will always
be tenderly cared for, and the old churches

influence tending to bind to-

gether the colonists in Columbia and Montour
Most of the
counties was a religious one.
pioneers had strongly cherished religious
affiliations, and were thus brought togetlier
in the practice of their individual form of
These bonds of
worship of the Creator.

ingtonville

near

will be preserved as
piety of the past.

and

eventually led to some more permanent form
of organization in a religious way.
By this
means the various denominations in early
times established the foundations of their

churches which have since been most faithfully preserved and deepened, until in 1914
the strength of religious convictions has be-

come so firmly fixed in the two counties as
to be a part of the life and well-being of the
entire community.
Fifty years ago it was no uncommon thing
for a country minister to travel twenty miles
on a Sunday to serve three congregations.
Now, in 19 14, the automobile has made travel
so much easier that even the little country
parsonage has a garage attached to it and the
parson may often be seen speeding along the
highways to visit a parishioner or hold SabThe auto has also proved an
bath services.
important factor in the reduction of the counFarmers can now attry church attendance.
tend the larger churches in the towns and
mingle with the urban worshipers there, often
causing such a dwindling of attendance at the
little village church that it is finally forced to
close.
Many of the wayside temples are now
abandoned, while others are opened only at

monuments

to the

In this year of 1914 the work of country
ministers is difticult and poorly paid.
Most
of them serve several charges, which means
holding service in one church in the morning,
another in the afternoon, and a final service
in the evening.
The salary of the pastor is
seldom large enough to warrant the purchase
of an auto, but many of the ministers of
Columbia and Montour counties have been

compelled to draw upon their meager stipend
for this purpose.
Still, as in the past, these
faithful pastors jog along the country roads,
chatting with the farmers, cheering the downhearted, comforting the disconsolate, settling
petty quarrels, praying with their parishioners,
marrying them, baptizing the little ones, making their wills, and finally burying them and
giving consolation to the mourning family.
Rev. A. Houtz, of Orangeville, is one of
these old-time pastors carried on into the mod-

and infrequent periods. The final
abandonment of many of them has been de-

ern days, and now retired from active work.
He says that the labors of the country pastor
are as hard as in the early days of the churches,
but the compensation is still the same. However, he says the congregations in the country
churches are more appreciative they seem
almost to hunger for the services.
The growth of the churches here has been
steadily upward, as may be seen from the de-

—

which follow.

The

oldest

irregular

tailed descriptions

layed by the associations of the old burying
grounds beside them, where fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers are laid at
rest.
Manv of these cemeteries are over a hundred years old for example, Hidlay in Scott
township, the Quaker burying grounds at
Catawipsa. Millville, Roaringcreek and Greenwood, Columbia county, and the old cemeteries

Societv of Friends, which was at one
time the most important in the State, has
dwindled in numbers greatly during the years
that have elapsed since the first monthly meeting was established, but though the tendency
of the present day for more worldly methods
of worship has diminished the numbers of the
Quakers, their deeds and records of the past,
all of a beneficial and substantial character,

—

sect, the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and

material, will always remain
of the history of Pennsylvania, and brighten its pages for all time.
Were it not for the custom of the Quakers
to care for the education of the children, but
few of the settlers of other sects could have
gained a knowledge of the necessary rudiments
of the English language. And still more creditable to the admirable system of the Quakers
was the fact that any could attend these schools
without attempts being made to influence their
religious

'interwoven

in the fibre

In 1789 this region is mentioned under the
ot Fishingcreek, in connection with

name

Chilhsquaque and neighboring
Presbytery of Carlisle. This
Presbytery had been formed three years before, but this region probably remained unoccupied until 1792, when Rev. Mr. Wilson,
a licentiate of the Synod of New York, and a
Mr. Henry were appointed to cultivate the
field.
Two years later Rev. John Bryson was

Mahoning,

localities, as in the

and became pastor at WarChilhsquaque, where he continued to serve for nearly half a century. In
the following year Rev. John Porter was comSOCIETY OF FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS
missioned to start from Fishing creek and
missionize
up the river to Wyoming and Tioga
In the absence of regular ministers the
Point.
The names of Rev. Benjamin Judd,
Society of Friends was best equipped for
Ira Condit and William Spear, the latter a
establishing public worship, and the presence
of a considerable number of this sect at Cata- licentiate, appear also as appointed to missionize at this period along the east branch of the
wissa led to the founding of a meeting there
in 1787.
For twenty years it continued to be Susquehanna. Revs. Andrews and Gray also
did more or less missionary labor in this field.
the rallying point for the denomination in this
The first church of this denomination, known
region.
monthly meeting was established then as
"Briarcreek" and at present as "Hidhere in 1796, but in 1808 this was removed to
Church, was organized about 1796 in
Muncy on account of extensive emigration of lay"
Centre township, the house of worship being
the sect from Catawissa.
in that year.
In 181 7 a second church
In 1795 a meeting was established in Green- built
wood township, and a year later another was was organized in Bloomsburg with three memIn 1S14 a monthly bers, who immediately set about erecting a
established in Locust.
commodious building.
third organization
meeting was established at the latter place
and is still continued. A monthly meeting was was eft'ected at Berwick in 1827; another in
in
1842 in Greenwood the
also established at Berwick in 1800, which con- Orange township
in Scott in 1853; in Sugarloaf
tinued with gradually diminishing strength un- following year;
in 1858; and in Centralia in 1867.
The Sugartil about 1865, when it ceased to e.xist.
loaf church was later removed to Benton.
The
was more
established in
religious belief.

sent to this region
rior's

Run and

;

society
firmly
Greenwood township, where many members
of the sect have resided continuously since the
first settlement.
In 1834 the different meetings of the sect were associated in a half-yearly
meeting here, and in 1856 the Muncy meeting
was transferred here also.
Although the
name is retained and occasional meetings held
in Locust and Catawissa, the chief activity of
this denomination is confined to Greenwood,
where there are two well supported meetings.

PRESBYTERIAN

The

Scotch-Irish were an important element

in the pioneer life of this State and gave early
prominence to the Presbyterian denomination,
to which they generally belonged. James Mc-

who came

The

first

pastor to reside permanently in this

was Rev. Asa Dunham, whose home
was near Buckhorn. He was a soldier of the

section

Revolution, having served directly under
In 1799 he was appointed to
serve in the counties of Luzerne and Northumberland, the latter then including Columbia
county, and for many years served the churches
at Briar Creek and Fishing Creek, traveling
through the entire region and preaching
wherever a class could be assembled.
After 1817 Rev. John B. Patterson and Rev.
Samtiel Henderson were engaged in the work
in these counties, the former at Bloomsburg
and the latter at Briar Creek. From 1824 to
1830 the pastors who labored in this field were
Revs. John Niblock, James Levs'ers, Crosby,
Matthew B. Patterson, Robert Bryson, Robert

Washington.

to the region of Bloomsburg Dunlap and Ezra S. Ely.
was probably the first representative
In 1832 Rev. John P. Hudson, a Virginian,
of this sect in Columbia county, but it was was appointed stated supply for the churches
some years later before any organized effort at Bloomsburg, Briar Creek and New Columwas made to propagate its tenets here.
bia.
He always rode a blooded horse, famous

Clure,

1772,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
for speed, which served him well in the many
and lengthy trips around the circuit.
The succeeding pastor to this charge was
Rev. M. Tobey, who remained but a short time.
Rev. Daniel M. Barber, who had established a

school for

young

ladies near Washingtonville,

took the New Columbia charge. At the
same date Rev. D. M. Halliday was pastor at

ne.xt

Danville.

METHODIST

The

Methodism into Columwas made probably through the in-

introduction of

bia county

strumentality of Bishop Asbury, the founder
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.

was under

his

preaching in Northamp-

ton county that the Bowmans were converted.
They subsequently removed to Berwick, and
it was probably through their representations
that the Bishop was led to come here. At that
time he ordained these men who subsequently

Next in 1838 came Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr.,
whose life work in both the religious and
material field has left a permanent impress on
His charge became such a power for good. Other itinthe history of Columbia county.
embraced all the country from the mouth of erants who came here on missionary tours were
Revs. William Colbert, James Paynter, Morris
Roaring creek to Little mountain, and along
the Susquehanna to Nanticoke, with North Howe and Robert Burch, but they did not seem
mountain for the upper boundary, a territory to etfect any permanent organization.
In the valley of Briar creek, four miles disnearly forty miles square. One sermon a forttant from Berwick, near the present village of
night was all that could be allotted to Bloomsthat name, resided the Bowmans, Thomas and
burg and Berwick, while other points were
restricted to services once a month.
At first the residence of the pastor was at
Espy, as the most central point, but later, when
Berwick was set ofif as a separate charge, Catawissa offered better inducements for a time.

Among

the early pastors in this section

may

be mentioned Revs. Daniel M. Barber, A. H.
Hand, S. S. Shedden, George W. Thompson,
Charles Williamson and James J. Hamilton,
in Columbia county
and Revs. John Bryson,

Christopher, both ministers of the Methodist
Church. In order that the neighborhood could

have regular religious services, Thomas Bow-

man fitted up the third story of his rather
pretentious stone house as a place of worship,
and invited the Methodists to hold services
therein.
This house was used for religious
purposes for many years and stood in a fair
state of repair until 1912.
ruin.
Rev. Thomas

Bowman

now

later

only a'

became

;

Halliday, Yeomans, John B. Patterson, DunWilliam Smith, Nicholas Patterson,
Isaac Grier, Hood and Ijams, in Montour

ham,

county.
Detailed histories of the different churches
of both counties will be found in the chapters
devoted to the separate divisions. The list of
pastors, location of churches, and other statistics for 1914 are here presented
:

Sunday

Members School

Pastor
William Gemmill, Millville

Horner Kerr, Orangeville
John B. Grier, Danville
James W. Kirk, Mahoning
William R. Mather, Raven Creek
Spencer C. Dickson, Bloomsburg
Edward A. Lou.x, Berwick
Robert P. Howie, Mooresburg
Arturo D'Albergo, West Berwick

the celebrated and eloquent Bishop

whose death occurred

Bowman,

191 4.

In the year 1805, under the joint ministry
of Revs. James Paynter and Joseph Carson, a
great revival was held, the country for forty
miles around feeling the impulse. As a direct
result a class was formed at Berwick, and this
point was made a regular appointment of the

Wyoming

circuit,

which extended from North-

In 1806 it was
to Tioga Point.
attached to the Northumberland circuit, with
which it. was associated until 1831, when the
church work had so increased that the Ber-

umberland

wick

circuit

was formed, embracing twenty-

eight preaching places, of which the following
337

27s

443
499
92

440

were in Columbia county
Benton, Berwick,
Bloomsburg, Buckhorn, Espy, Jerseytown,
Light Street, Mififlinville and Orangeville.
361
In 1886 there were forty-two churches in
132
Columbia county of the Methodist denominaG. A. Lenkel, Centralia
60
48
tion, and in Montour county there were eight.
Since that date the denomination has grown
All of the above churches are in the Presbyin strength and numbers and in the
of Northumberland.
The following steadily
tery
year 19 14 is the strongest religious denominachurches are vacant, the pulpits being occaBriar Creek, New
sionally filled by request
Columbia, Washingtonville, Benton, Derry and
:

Rohrsburg.

tion in both of these counties.

The first regular conference appointments
for the different stations in Columbia county
were made in 1791, when it was in the North-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

uniberland circuit, which extended from that
town up the North Branch to the Wyoming
valley, and up the West Branch to Great Island.

The

distance traveled by the circuit rider

making his rounds was three hundred miles,
which was accomplished in six weeks. When
the nature of the country and roads, and the

— John Thomas, George Hildt.
— John Thomas, David Shaver.
— Charles Kalbfus, William James.
1829— James W. Donahay, Josiah Forrest.
—
1830 James W. Etonahay, A, A, Eskridge.
1826

1827
1828

pittance allowed the ministers of those times,
are taken into consideration it may well be
admitted that their labors were distinctly unselfish, and the results of their efforts re-

markable.
This territory was for

many

years supplied

by only two ministers and included the pres-

and stations of W'illiamsport,
Newbury, Muncy, Milton, Northumberland,
Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Catawissa, Blooms-

ent

circuits

burg,

Berwick.

Bloomingdale, Orangeville,
Previous to 1804

Sunbury and Bellefonte.

Danville circuit belonged to the Philadelphia
conference, but in that year was transferred to
the Baltimore conference. In 1807 it was returned to the Philadelphia conference, in 1810
it was included in the Genesee conference, and
in 1S20 it was reassigned to the Baltimore con-

remaining

cuit until
circuit
1831

1832
1833
1S34
1835

1836.

were

The

pastors of the Danville

— David Shaw.
— Marmaduke Pearce. James Forrest.
— Josiah Forrest, James Reed.
— Henry Tarring, Oliver Ege.
— Henry Tarring. Jolm Guyer, R. Beers, Thomas
Meyers.

Lee, R. W. H. Brent.
— Samuel S.Ellis.
Stephen Hildebrand.
183S— Robert T. Nixon, William Hirst.
—
W. Houghewent.
1839 Robert T. Nixon.
—
1840 George Bergstresser, Joseph A. Ross.
1841 — George Bergstresser, George Guyer.
1842 — Tohn Ball, Tames Guyer.
1843— John Ball, S. G. Hare.
—
1844 James Ewing, George A. Coffey.
—
1845 James Ewing, B. ¥. Brooks.

1836— Joseph
1837

Pastors of the Berwick circuit were

—William Prettyman, Wesley Howe.
1832 — William Prettyman, Oliver Ege.
1833 — Marmaduke Pearce. Alem Brittain.
—
H. Young.
1834-35 John Rhodes,
Hall.
1836— Sanks,
— Sanks, George
1837
Guyer.
Hall.
1838— Charles Kalbfus,
—
1S39 Charles Kalbfus. Penfield Doll.
—
William
Mills.
1840 James Ewing.
— James Ewing, W. F. D.R.Clemm.
1841
—
Thomas
1842
Taneyhill, Joseph A. Ross.
—
1843 Thomas Taneyhill, Thomas Bowman.
—
Francis
N.
Mills, W, L. Spottswood.
1844
1831

ference.

The preachers who labored
umberland

circuit was formed in 183 1, Danin the old Northumberland cir-

Berwick
ville

circuit

were

in the old

North-

— Richard Parrott. Lewis Browning.
1792 — James Campbell. William Colbert.
—
1793 James Campbell, James Paynter.
1794 — Robert Manley. Jolm Broadhead.
—
1795 James Ward. Stephen Timmons.
—
1796 John Seward, Richard Sneath.
1797 — John Lackey, Jolm Higby.
179S— John Lackey, John Lead.
Benjamin Bidlack, David
Moore,
1799— James
Stephens.
Edward Larkin, Asa
1800— Ephraim Chambers,
Smith.
1801 — Johnston Dimham, Gilbert Carpenter.
1802 — .^nning Owen, James
—
1803 Daniel Ryan, James Ridgeway.
1804 — Thomas .\dams. Gideon Draper.
1805 — Christopher Prey. James Saunders.
1806— Robert Burch. John Swartzwelder.
1807— Nicholas Willis. Joel Smith.
1808— Thomas Curren, John Rhodes,
—
1809 Timothy Lee, Loring Grant.
1810— .Abraham Dawson, Isaac Puffer,
l8n— B. G. Paddock, H. Baker. R. Lanning.
1812 — George Thomas, Ebenezer Doolittle,
—
1813 Joseph Kincaid, Joseph Chambcrlayne.
1814— John Haggard. Abraham Dawson.
B. Cook.
1815— Reynolds M. Everts,
1816 — John Thomas. Alpheus Davis.
1817 — Benjamin Bidlack, Peter Baker.
1818— Gideon Lanning, Abraham Dawson.
1819— John Rhodes. Darius Williams.
1820— John Rhodes. Israel B. Cook.
1821 — Marmaduke Pearce, John Thomas.
1822 — John Thomas, Mordecai Barry.
—
1823 Jacob B. Shephard, Mordecai Barry.
1824 — Robert Cadden. F. McCartney.
1825 — Robert Cadden, Richard Bond.
1791

.'\ikins.

—

John Bowen, W. F. Pentz.
1846— John Bowen, J. W. Bull.

1845

The Bloomsburg circuit was formed
and the pastors in charge were

in 1847,

—

S. L. M. Couser. J. Turner.
184S— G. H. Dav, J. W. Elliott.
1849— John W. Gere. G. H. Dav.
1850— J. S. Lee, E, H. Waring.
1851— J. S. Lee, T. M. Goodfellow.

1847

— Thomas Taneyhill, W, E,
—
—
—
—
— Guyer, T. Sherlock.
1858-59
1852
1853

Buckingham.

Thomas Taneyhill. J. A. DeMoyer.
1854— J. A. Ross, A. W. Guyer.
1855 J. Moorhead, F. M. Slusser.
1856 George Warren, S. Barnes.
1857 George Warren. N. W. Colburn.
J.

i860— F. Gearhart, A. R.

Riley.

After 1862 the Bloomsburg circuit was divided and Bloomsburg was made a station.
The following are the circuits and stations
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbia and Montour counties, together with the
number of members, value of church property
and the names of the pastors in charge in 1914
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Members

Station or Circuit

Benton circuit
Berwick station
West Berwick station
Buckhorn circuit
Catawissa station

$21,000
68,000
10,200
6,000
21,500
8,000
17,000
33.5oo
27,500
19.050
3.000
9,ooo
8,000
6,500
IS.7S0
12,800
8,600
7,000
3.900

148
136

304

Centralia station

185

Conyngham

230
384
312
313
306

circuit

Danville station— St. Paul's
Danville station— Trinity

Elysburg circuit
Espy Lime Ridge circuit
Jamison City circuit
Jonestown circuit

—

251
177

Mifflinville circuit
Millville circuit

Orangeville circuit

240
332
268

Roaring Creek circuit
Rohrsburg circuit

179
106

Washingtonville circuit

REFORMED AND LUTHERAN

Pastor

I'aluation

335
1,094

•.

W. Newman

H. Ake
J. E. Beard
George Martin
R. H. Stine
Charles W. Bryner

H. E. Crow
H. Witman
Alexander Scott
C.

T. F. Ripple

Edmund
J.

Symons

N. Diehl

Philip

Thomas

W. McAlarney

William Faus
Ariel R. Turner
John H. Greenwalt
William Shannon
L. A.

Remley

and occasionally Fishingcreek
creek,
His missionary labors extended
townships.
Most of the German immigrants to this all over both Columbia and Montour counties,
section were members of either the Lutheran and througii him the church was placed on a
In 1822 lie removed to Espy and
or Reformed Churches, and they brought their firm basis.
These they read continued there to preach until his death in
religious books with them.
and discussed constantly, in the effort to pre- 1824. He devoted himself so completely to
serve their religious convictions, hoping when the work of the church that he acquired conthe time was propitious to be able to have the sumption and brought to an untimely close a
benefits of the ministration of leaders of their career whose importance to the community
sects.
They were not long without the service was just beginning to get appreciable results,
of their pastors. Among the first of the Luth- He was a fine singer, and he preached exeran missionaries who came to this section clusively in the German language,
In 1829 Rev. Daniel S. Tobias took charge
were Revs. Seeley, Sharretts, Plitt, Pauls, Kraof the Bloomsburg congregation, and in 1844
mer and Baughey, who organized churches
in 1795 at Catawissa
1805 in Briarcreek 1808 he was assisted by Rev. Henry Funk, who held
services in the English language.
In 1854
in Locust; 1809 in Mifflin; 1810 in Hemlock;
in
and 1812
Orange townships. In 1886 the Rev. W. Goodrich succeeded them, serving
Lutherans had eighteen churches in Columbia his people for half a century. At the close of
his ininistry the charge consisted of six concounty and ten in Montour county.
The denominational lines between the Luth- gregations, and by his advice the Orangeville
erans and the adherents of the Reformed charge was formed, consisting of the OrangeChurch were not very strictly regarded in ville, Zion and St. James congregations, while
pioneer times, the first churches built by the the remainder included the Bloomsburg, Heller
German settlers being used by both denomina- and Catawissa churches. In 1886 there were
tions, alternately, all the people usually attend- twelve Reformed churches in Columbia county
This custom of having and three in Montour county.
In most ining both services.
union churches has continued until the present stances the congregations were cooperating
time in almost every instance, the occasional with the Lutherans in the use of a single
exceptions being due to local disagreements, church building. This is also the case in some
The schism in the Lutheran Church has about instances at the
present time, although in the
equally divided. the denomination in these two
are
Miftlin

—

;

^^^^^^ ^^^ denominations

counties but there

a lack of the rancor be-

tween the members sometimes met with

^,^^

Susquehanna
^

separated,
the dividing line
„

and East/>„
Suswhich take in parts
of Columbia and Montour.
in this section was Rev. Jacob Dieffenbach. of the counties
He came to Bloomsburg "in 1815, when he There are sixteen churches of the Reformed
was in the prime of life, "and preached in that denomination in the two coiinties, details of
town as well as in Mahoning, Catawissa, Briar- which are given in the following table:
other parts of the State.
The first minister of the

^^^^V^^"

the

Reformed Church quehanna

Wyoming

„,

Classis

Classis, both of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

No. of

—
Numidia —
Paul
Bear Gap — Grace
Briarcreek —
Peter

138
36
300
164
32
164
69
75

St.

James

Zion
Orangeville

49
249
432

Hidlay

Bloomsburg
Danville

— Shiloh

Danville— St. John
St. James
Strawberry Ridge Trinity

114
114
225
93
10

—

Emanuel
Berwick
Rev.

— Salem

Sunday

Members

Church

Mainville Emmanuel
Mifflinville— St. Matthew

Gerhard was succeeded

October, 1914, by Rev.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
there was built the same year, while the present one was built in 1869. St. Hubert's church
was built at Danville in 1862. St. James' Roman Catholic Church at Exchange was established many years ago, and in 1910 the old
church on the hill was abandoned and a splendid new one built in the village. These represent the number in Montour county in 1914.
In Columbia county there are two churches in
Berwick, one in Bloomsburg, one in Centralia,
one in the edge of the county at Mount Car-

commel, and one in Locust township, just
pleted in 1914.

EVANGELICAL
This denomination came to Columbia county
In
in 1848, and to Montour county in 1858.
1886 it had three churches in Scott township,
one at Mifflinville, two in Jackson township,
two in Centre township, two in Briarcreek
and one in
township, one in Beaver township,
Bloomsburg. In the same year there was one
church in Danville, and two in other parts of

Montour county.
churches

The

number of

present

Columbia coiinty

thirteen.

Montour county there are now
OTHER DENOMINATIONS

three churches.

The Methodist Protestant, United Brethren,
Christian, Pentecostal and Greek Catholic denominations are represented in the two counties
the
by organizations which are mentioned in
sketches of the different sections in which
they are located.
The following table will convey some idea
of the relative standing of the different denominations in both counties. It might be inferred that the Methodists have lost in numbers in both counties, but such is not the case,
the only loss being in the number of the
churches, caused by the removal of the memIn fact, the
bers to the cities and towns.
in
majority of the denominations have gained
numbers steadily, the exceptions being the
Quakers and the Methodist Protestant sects.

Columbia
.

Denomination
Methodist
Lutheran

Co.
1886 1914
36
42
18

Evangelical

Reformed

13
12
10

Presbyterian

Baptist

Episcopal
Roman Catholic
Christian

United Brethren
Greek Catholic

S
2

Pentecostal
Society of Friends (Quakers)
Methodist Protestant

5
5
S
5
3

4
I

COLUMBIA COUNTY SABBATH SCHOOL
ASSOCIATION
at Bloomsburg in 1868, and inProtestant evangelical
Sunday
cludes all
It is an auxiliary of
schools in the county.
State and national organizations of similar
names, and has held many annual conventions
Rev. Alfred Taylor, of
since its formation.
New York, was the conductor of the first meeting and was probably the organizer.
The second convention was held in 1870 at
Bloomsburg, but no records are to be had rewas
garding it. In 187 1 the third convention
held at Espy, and here J. B. Robison was
He was succeeded after
elected president.
one year's service by a series of presidents, all
ministers, well known in the county, among
them being Revs. Stuart Mitchell, A. Houtz,

was organized

N. Spear, F. P.
continued until
held each year
cept in the year

Manhart and U. Myers.

This

1889, conventions having been
to the present since 1873. ex1879, when the records merely
state that the secretary had died.
In 1889 H. R. Bower, of Berwick, was
elected president and served three years, when

he was succeeded by Myron I. Low, who has
served ever since, making a record for continuous and efficient service unequaled in the
State.

At the first convention of which we have a
record there were eighteen delegates from the
local schools and twenty-five from outside the
schools.
county, representing in all sixteen
This does not convey, however, an idea of the
number of Sabbath schools in the organization
at the time, since every Protestant evangelical
school in the county became automatically a
part of the association.
In 1880 the executive committee was directed to effect the township organization, and
at the 1882 convention district or township vice
a few years
presidents were appointed, within
township or borough in the county

every
This
being represented by an organization.
less
Montour
system prevailed until a redistricting along
Co.
cumbersome lines was authorized by the con1S86 1914 vention of 191 1, and before the 1912 conven10
9
tion was held the county had been subdivided
10

5
5
3
2

5
3

2
2

into thirteen districts,
at

all

of which are actively

work.

About 1900 departmental organization was
work in the
begun, and at present there are at
secondcounty superintendents of elementary,
ary, adult, teacher training, home, temperance,
mission and rural departments, with a complete corresponding organization extending
throughout the districts.
In 1907 the State Association erected a

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

high standard of organization for

and Columbia was one of the

its

first

counties,

still higher standard was set by the State,
and again Columbia was one of the first to

attain

it.

Some

Peter

Wills,

two coun- Robison.

to attain this standard, maintaining and
passing beyond it year by year until 1913, when
ties

vice

field

presidents

and

statistical

;

Miss Martha
Miss

secretary

;

Ethel Creasy, assistant secretary Mrs. C. E.
Kesty, recording secretary A. W. Spear, corresponding secretary Fred Holmes, financial
Mrs. Anna McHenry, treasurer.
secretary
Miss
The department superintendents are
;

;

growth of the work in the Mabel Moyer, elementary O. H. Bakeless,
county may be had by the statement that for teacher training; Mrs. C. E. Trescott, home;
some years less than forty dollars was the Rev. C. E. Miller, O. A. B. C; R. L. KHne,
amount of annual receipts, and this was not temperance; Rev. W. J. Dice, missions; Rev.
all used at first.
In 1913 the county expenses P. H. Hoover, secondary N. Beishline, rural.
were over four hundred dollars, the amount
A summary of the statistical report for 1913
District No. i, Berwick and
being contributed by the schools and indi- is as follows:
viduals interested in the work.
vicinity, total enrollment, 4,870; church accesBesides what is accomplished by volunteer sions, 745 increase in enrollment, 768. Dishelpers, the county organization during the trict No. 2, West Berwick and vicinity, enrollyears 1906-1907 maintained its own field secre- ment, 1,971; church accessions, 107; increase
District No. 3, Centre
tary, Miss Martha Robison, who gave her en- in enrollment, 226.
tire time to the work, relinquishing the posi- and part of Briarcreek townships, enrollment,
tion in 1908 to take a similar one with the 1,137; increase in enrollment, 190; church acState Association.
Since that time the work cessions, 180.
District No. 4, Bloomsburg,
has been carried on by the corps of county Catawissa, Montour townships. Espy and Alidea of the

;

now nvmibering almost twenty.
At present there are in the county, and therefore a part of the association, 135 Protestant
evangelical Sundav schools, with a total enrollment of over 22,000, and reporting in
19 1 3 over 2,000 accessions.
Twenty-five per
cent of these schools reported a complete organization, almost all had "Cradle Rolls," and
the other departments of the work were maintained in the same proportion.
One of the
sources of strength of the association was the
continuous service of manv of the officers, who
were familiar with the county and therefore
able to do the most efficient work.
In 1877
A. W. Spear became treasurer of the organization, and served until i88s, when he was made
officers,

corresponding secretary, which office he still
holds.
Mrs. Anna McHenry has served as
treasurer since 1800. while other officers also
have rendered valuable and extended service.

The

present officers are:
Myron I. Low,
president H. R. Bower, Thomas Ash, C. A.
Shaflfer, L. C. Mensch, M. E. Stackhouse.
:

media, enrollment, 6,250; increase in enrollDistrict
ment, 317; church accessions, 456.
No. 5, Orangeville and Light Street and vicinincrease in enrollment,
enrollment, 977
17; church accessions, 6. "District No. 7, Benton and vicinity, enrollment, 1,002; increase,
District No. 8,
church accessions, 55.
75
ity,

;

Sugarloaf township, enrollment, 492; decrease
attendance, 78. District No. 6, Benton and
Fishingcreek townships, enrollment, 760; decrease, 75 accessions, 43. District No. 9, Millville and vicinity, enrollment, 840 increase, 76
accessions, 11. District No. 10, Hemlock and
Madison townships, enrollment, 671 increase,
43; accessions, 33. District No. 11, Cleveland,
Locust, Roaringcreek, Franklin and Cata.wissa
townships, enrollment, 1.002; increase, 75;
in

;

accessions,
figures,

District

q8.

partly),

No. 12

(last year's
Centralia,
District No.

Conyngham and

enrollment, 835 accessions. 140.
13, enrollment, 446; increase, 69; accessions,
18.
Totals, enrollment for county, 21,770;
church accessions for county, 1,923.
;

CHAPTER

VII

BENCH AND BAR
In entering into the history of the Bench
and Bar of this district it may not be out of
place to compare the present with the past.
The lawyers of eighty years ago in the rural
districts found all their surroundings, as well
as the legal procedure, very different from
those of to-day. The country was comparatively new, the facilities for travel by public
conveyance most meager. Carriages with elThe
liptic springs had not yet been invented.
judges and members of the bar usually traveled on horseback, sometimes riding fifty miles
The
in a day to reach a distant county seat.
districts were then much larger than now. The
courthouses were not of the present style of
architecture, the accommodations often being
A wood
of the most primitive character.
stove

furnished heat

for the

usually

small

room, and the work at evening was done by
Court was conthe light of tallow candles.
vened by the sound of a dinner horn blown
Trials
were longthe
crier
at
the
door.
by
drawn-out owing to the necessity of writing
down all the testimony of witnesses and other
Steproceedings, by the judge and counsel.
nographers were then unknown, their introduction in the courts not having become general until within the last forty years, and the
innovation has enabled the courts to transact
in one day what formerly required three or
Splendid courthouses, some of them palaces,
with all the conveniences of modern invention, have taken the place of the old-time seats
of justice, and with these changes have come
changes in legal procedure intended to facili-

though
in

the

minds of the laity a belief that there is still
room for improvement. While the transaction of business has thus

been expedited, there
remains the delay and uncertainty in the
administration of justice, by reason of the
fact that able lawyers, inspired by a large retainer on either side, differ in their interpretastill

—

practicing before him in Columbia county
many of the ablest lawyers of the State, some
of whom previously or subsequently held
prominent public positions. Among them may
be mentioned Judge Jeremiah S. Black, Chief

—

George W. Woodward, Judge John W.
Maynard, Hon. F. B. Gowen, Judge James
Gov.
Ryan,
Henry M. Hoyt, Judge Edward
O. Parry, Judge F. Carroll Brewster, Attorney
General Henry W. Palmer, Judge W. A. Marr,
Hon. George F. Baer, Hon. John B. Packer,
Hon. Francis W. Hughes, Hon. S. P. WolverJustice

ton, as well as many other gifted men.
From 1814 to 185 1 Columbia and Northumberland counties formed the Eighth judicial
district with Lycoming and Union counties.

Hon. Seth Chapman,

four.

tate the dispatch of public business,
in regard to the latter there lingers

tion of the law where the facts are not disputed. The court below may differ with both,
and the higher courts may differ with the
court below
frequently bringing on a new
trial, with a repetition of the costs and worry.
While it is generally agreed that a remedy
for this condition is desirable, no one has ever
been able to suggest an acceptable one, and
probably no one will ever be able to do so
until the time shall come when all men are of
one mind, a situation that is not likely to occur before the millennium.
During his administration it was no uncommon experience for Judge Elwell to see

the first judge of
held court in January at Danville, which was then the county seat of Columbia county, court convening in the second story of a log house on the river bank,
a few doors east of Mill street.
Gen. William Montgomery and Hon. Leonard Rupert
were his associates. Henry Alward, of Milton, was the first sheriff. The first prothonotary was George A. Frick, who later became a
prominent attorney of Danville.
Of those who came to the court at Danville
to practice law were Charles Hall,
Charles Maus of Berlin, Hugh Bellas of Sunbury, Samuel Hepburn of Rlilton, Bradford
this

district,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and George Porter of Center county, James
Carson of Philadelphia, and Ebenezer Greenough of Sunbury. Judge Thomas Duncan
and Judge Charles Huston came here from
Center county to attend court.
They were
both afterwards members of the Supreme
William G. Hurley, of Bloomsburg,
James Pleasants of Catawissa, Alexander
Jordan and Charles G. Donnel, of Sunbury,
attended court in Danville regularly.
Judge Ellis Lewis, who succeeded to the
bench in 1833, was a native of Lewisburg,
Pa. He began life as a printer, subsequently
occupied the editorial chair, studied law, and
was admitted to the bar at the age of twentyTwo years later he was appointed depfive.
uty attorney general for Lycoming county
in 1832 was elected to the Legislature; in
1833 was appointed attorney general for the
Commonwealth, and the same year appointed
After ten
as successor to Judge Chapman.
years of service here he was transferred to
the Second district^ later elevated to the Sucourt.

;

preme

court, in 1851,

and became chief

justice

Subsequently he was appointed one
of a committee of three to revise the criminal
in 1855.

code.

died
G.

March 19,
Donnel,

1871.

Northumberof
land county, was appointed to the vacancy on
the bench of the Eighth district Jan. 14, 1843,
and held his first term in April of that year.
He died the following year, before he could
accomplish his work, but held high in the
respect and esteem of those who had known
him and admired his attainments.
Judge Joseph B. Anthony, who succeeded to the bench in 1844, was the first to
hold court at Bloomsburg after the removal
His first
of the county seat from Danville.
session there was held in January, 1848. Judge
Anthony was a native of Williamsport. In
1830 he was elected to the State Senate, and

Charles

1834 to Congress, and reelected two years
In 1843 he was appointed judge of
the court for the adjustment of the Nicholson claims, and in March, 1844, to the bench
He died in
of the Eighth judicial circuit.
in

later.

185 1, nine months before the expiration of
his term.

Judge James Pollock was born in Milton
and studied law under Judge Anthony. He
graduated from Princeton and was admitted
Two years later he was
to the bar in 1833.
appointed district attorney, and in 1844 was
elected to Congress from the Thirteenth disIn 1851 he was appointed to the bench
trict.
to succeed Judge Anthony, and held the place
until the judges were made elective, in 1851,

when he refused to be a candidate. In 1854
he was elected governor; in i860 appointed a
delegate to the peace congress at Washington
in 1861 appointed director of the mint at
Philadelphia; resigning the otSce under the
administration of Johnson, he was reappointed
by Grant in 1869, held the position until 1882,
and was then made collector of internal revenue.
He is the originator of the motto on
American coins, "In God We Trust." He
;

died April 19, 1890.

John Nesbit Conyngham succeeded Judge
Pollock on the bench in 1851.- He went
upon the bench of the Luzerne district
in 1839 by appointment of the
governor, and
when Columbia was put in that district Judge
Conyngham became the president judge here,
and so continued until the formation of the
Twenty-sixth district, in 1856, composed of
Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming counties,
which took Columbia out of his jurisdiction.
He was one of Pennsylvania's most eminent
jurists, and presided in the Luzerne district
for thirty years, until 1870, when he resigned.
In 1871 he met with a railroad accident which
resulted in his death.
He was beloved and
respected by all who knew him.
Warren J. Woodward was appointed judge
in May, 1856, and in October
following was
elected for a term of ten years.
He served
until December, 1861, when he resigned to
accept election as president judge of Berks
county, and moved to Reading. At the expiration of this term he was reelected for a second,
and served until 1874, when he was elected a
justice of the Supreme court, which position
he occupied until his death, in 1879. Judge
Woodward was born in Bethany, Wayne
county, and received an academic education
in Wilkes-Barre.
He taught school, learned
the printer's trade, and later studied law at
Wilkes-Barre, where he became the leader of
the bar. He was a hard student, a conscientious and upright judge, and a man of intellectual power.
He was considered one of the
ablest

Supreme

Aaron

justices of his time.

Peckham was

appointed to

fill

the unexpired term of Judge Woodward, December. 1861, after which he declined to be
a candidate for election to the position, and

resumed his practice at Tunkhannock, where
he remained until his death.

William Elwell was

elected

president

judge of the Twenty-sixth district in 1862, accepting the nomination at the request of a committee of the bar.
He had no opposition at
the first election, and none at the time of his
reelection in 1872.

May,

1874,

Wyoming

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
were placed in the
and Columbia and
Montour made the Twenty-sixth, which is the
condition in 1914. On the expiration of Judge
Elwell's second term the bar of the district
unanimously requested him to accept a third
term, to which he consented, was later nominated on the tickets of both leading parties,
and at the following election was unanimously
and

Sulli\an

Forty-fourth

counties

district,

Afterwards, at different
times, he was urged to become a candidate
He
for the Supreme bench, but declined.
also refused to have his name used in the
canvass for the office of governor, although

given

the

office.

warmly urged.
In 1871 Judge Elwell was chosen

an unusual character would transpire at that

The president judge, Hon. E. R. Ikeler,
and Hons. C. B. McHenry and C. G. Murphy
were upon the bench. Court Crier D. R. Coftman opened the session by the usual proclamation, and then B. F. Zarr, Esq., soHcitor to
time.

the county commissioners, W. G. Girton,
Jesse Rittenhouse and Ezra Stephens, addressed the Bench in the following words
"If Your Honors please, before the court
:

proceeds with its regular business, I wish to
bring to your attention a matter in which we
all feel

um-

the difficulties between the miners and
operators in the coal regions, which he
Later
to the satisfaction of both sides.
Mollie JMaguires case, a description of
which is given at the end of this chapter, was
His decision in this case
tried before him.
was affirmed by the Supreme court.
It is believed that Judge Elwell tried more
cases than any other judge upon the bench
of the State, as many important cases were
certified to Columbia county from other disIt is worthy of
tricts and tried before him.
mention that of all the cases tried in the courts
of Oyer and Terminer, Quarter Sessions and
the (Drphans' court, not a single one from this
county was reversed during the more than
twenty-six years he was upon the bench, and
very few in the Common Pleas court.
It may not be out of place here to record
the fact that a tribute was publicly paid to
Judge Elwell during his lifetime that does not
often fall to the lot even of distinguished citizens.
It is almost the universal custom to
wait until after the cold clods have rattled
upon the casket before public appreciation of
a man's life and character is expressed. When
such action is taken during a man's lifetime it is a matter of great gratification to him who receives the recognition, and
it is also highly creditable to those who are
As the inciresponsible for its expression.
dent here referred to has appeared in print
only in the newspapers, the files of which are
accessible to but few people, and as the matter is a part of the history of the court of
Columbia county, it is deemed proper for it
to be here recorded in full, so that it may be
preserved in permanent form.
pire
the
did
the

On Monday morning, Sept. 2.^, 1889, when
court opened, the room was filled with an
audience including many ladies, who had been
drawn there by the report that proceedings of

a lively interest.
in these courts for a period

"There presided

more than twenty-five years a

of
to

jurist dis-

tinguished for his legal knowledge, high moral
character, courteous treatment of the bar, uniform kindness and impartiality to all the

—

Honorable William Elwell. The best years
of his life were spent here, and he is to-day
a venerable citizen of the county, one whom
the people delight to honor.
"Appreciation of the qualities that endear
a man to his countrymen is testified not more
by the rearing of imposing monuments than
by giving fitting expression to the sentiment
in their hearts.
There may be in all the
walks of life great men, but great only when
by their acts they have signally benefited mankind. The preacher becomes great only when,

by his power and p>ersuasiveness, he causes
men to reverence and to obey the laws of God.
The soldier becomes great when, by his conquests over the enemies of liberty, he gives to
the people liberty and a

home

;

the statesman,

economy he secures to them
the philanthropist, when he has
prosperity
alleviated human suffering; the judge, when
he has faithfully administered the laws. True

when by

his wise
;

is always recognized and honored
by the people, and the man who makes it his

greatness
life

work

to labor for the

good of the race

entitled to such recognition and honor
"The citizens of Columbia county hold in
.

the highest estimation the ability and integrity
His reputation as an able
of Judge Elwell.
and conscientious administrator of the law
is not confined to the limits of the county, but
extends throughout the length and breadth of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and even
beyond her borders. His opinions and rulings
are cited with confidence by the pleader in
the courts, and are received by the highest
tribunals as authority of weight.

"The countv commissioners, joining with
other citizens in their just estimate of the
distinguished services rendered to the Commonwealth by Judge Elwell, have deemed

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

eminently proper to cause to be prepared this
portrait" (here Prothonotary W. H. Snyder
withdrew a green cloth hanging on the wall
behind the Judges, disclosing a lifesize bust
"of the Honportrait in handsome gilt frame)
orable William Elwell, and to place it in this
temple of justice, not so much as a monument
to the past as a testimonial to the future, and
as an offering by which he himself may learn
It
the kindly feeling of our hearts.
is my privilege, and I assure you my pleasure,
on behalf of the commissioners of the county,
to present to the court, to the bar, and to the
citizens, this portrait of His Honor, Judge

...

Elwell."

Judge Ikeler made the following response
"In behalf of the bench, the bar, and the
:

we accept this portrait
of Judge Elwell, as an appropriate memento
of him and of his honorable judicial career.
It cannot fail to be a constant reminder to us
who have been intimately associated with him,
to follow so far as possible in his footsteps.
Of the present commissioners of Columbia
from
county, a majority reside at a distance
citizens of the county,

the county

seat.

Their act

undoubtedly

sentiprompted and sustained by the public
ment of respect, admiration and love for Judge
to its
Elwell, which permeates the county
_

remotest bounds, but which, great as it is, is
of his merits.
only an index of our appreciation
We, the members of the bar, who have been
administrain
the
him
closely associated with
tion of justice, though ours has been the forensic strife about a question of property, of
it has been his office
liberty, or of life, while
well fulfilled to hold the seat of Justice with
her* sword and scales, conducting before him

unawed, unruffled and unswayed our

legal

his rulings,
struggles, we have been taught by
led by his learning, instructed as to manhood
The
perpetual presby his dignified bearing.

ence here of this portrait, reminding us of
of his character, will be to us a continued incentive to diligence in our calling, and

him and

manly graces. It will
young men in training for the

to the cultivation of all

stimulate the

bar

;

eminent
they will learn the history of the

this portrait represents, and they
jurist
will be stirred with emulation of his great attainments in legal lore, and of his surpassing
virtues as judge, and they will be infused with
in working for the highest ideal
new

whom

energy

of achievement, and to usefulness

their

day and generation.
"If any of us should be so fortunate as to
arrive at the advanced age that Judge Elwell
has already reached, he will be happy if he

is able to look back
upon a life's work as well
done as his upon every duty as scrupulously
and zealously performed as it was by him
whose likeness hangs upon this wall."

—

In this connection it should be noted that
after the death of Judge Ikeler his
portrait
was presented to the county. Of all the judges
who have presided over the courts of Columbia county, the likenesses of these two
jurists are the only ones that hang upon the
walls of the court room.
In

November,

1887, Judge Elwell concold which resulted in chronic
catarrh, and so affected his hearing and his
general health that he tendered his resignation to the governor, to take effect on
July 31,
1888.
From that time he led a retired life
until his death, which occurred on Oct.
15,
tracted

when he was aged eighty-seven years.
more complete story of the life of this great

1895,

judge appears among the biographies.
Judge Elwell's resignation left a vacancy to
be filled at the November election, with an appointment by the governor of a president
judge to serve until January, 1889. Henry M.
Hinckley of Danville received the appointment.
Judge Henry M. Hinckley was born June
2, 1850, in Harrisburg, Pa., where he received
early education, and was graduated at
Princeton College in 1874.
Having pursued
the study of law during his college course, he
was admitted to the bar of Montour county in
1875, and to the Supreme court in 1878. He
has long been recognized as one of the ablest
his

attorneys in this section of the State. He was
nominated for president judge by the Republican party in the district to succeed himself,
but the district being strongly Democratic he
was not elected. During the brief period of
his incumbency he discharged all his duties
with fidelity and marked ability.
Since his
retirement from the bench he has devoted himself to his profession, and has a large practice, not only in Montour and Columbia counties, but in other counties outside of the district.
Before his appointment to the bench
he was for some years associated with I. X.
Grier, Esq., of Danville, in law business.
For the first time in the history of this judicial district, after Judge Elwell resigned
there were opposing aspirants for the nomination for president judge on the Democratic
ticket, Elijah R. Ikeler and Charles G. Barkley, both of Bloomsburg, being the candidates.

An active and energetic canvass was made,
resulting in the nomination of Mr. Ikeler in
both counties, and he was elected in Novem-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ber, 1888, entering upon his duties in January,
when the
1889, and serving until Aug. i, 1898,

hand of death was laid upon him. He contracted a cold which resulted in pneumonia,
and after only a week's illness passed away.
Elijah R. Ikeler was a self-made man.
His studious and industrious habits enabled
him to obtain sufficient education at Greenwood Seminary to enter upon the study of
law, which he took up after being engaged in
the milling business for a

He moved from

number of years.
Bloomsburg and

Millville to

registered as a law student with Colonel
Freeze in 1864, and was admitted to the bar
He soon forged ahead, and bein May, 1867.
came one of the leading practitioners of the
county. As a judge he was patient and careful, always evincing a desire to do right ac-

cording to his best judgment.
At the time of his death Judge Ikeler was
a candidate for renomination, his opponent
being Robert R. Little both Democrats. The
county conventions of both counties had been
held, Montour county instructing its conferees

—

for Ikeler, and Columbia county for Little.
Ikeler brought about a
complication in the judicial situation, such as
had probably never before occurred in the his-

The death of Judge
tory of the State.

Aug.

10,

1898,

Gov-

ernor Hastings appointed Grant Herring as
president judge to serve until January, 1899.
Robert R. Little was the Democratic candidate
in Columbia county for election for the full
term.

What

the situation

was

Montour

county no one seemed to know, as Judge Ikeler

had named

his conferees in that county,

but they had not yet accepted.

was

also

whether their appointment would
stand after his death. There were also complications in the Republican party on the
judgeship, Montour county having instructed
for James Scarlet and the Columbia conferees
favoring Charles C. Evans, Scarlet being
doubted

made the nominee.
•Appreciating the necessity of taking some
action in the matter, a call was issued for a
meeting of the Columbia bar on Aug. 17, 1898,

afterwards

which was signed by thirty-eight members.
The call stated that "impressed by the conviction that the selection of a president judge is
of transcendent importance to the public, and
observing that the ordinary agencies for the
nomination of a candidate do not in this instance promise to succeed in giving to the
people harmonious and desirable results, we
do agree to confer together upon the selection
of a judge who shall be competent, independent, and impartial, who shall be free from

faction, without friends to reward or enemies
to punish, and, if possible, wholly unconnected
in position or interest with past or present con-

troversy or dispute upon the question of the
judgeship, and take such action as the majority of those present shall judge to be advisable,
prudent, wise, and necessary, to secure or aid
in securing, the selection of a president judge."
But eighteen of the signers were present at
Hon. C. R. Buckalew was
the meeting.
chosen chairman, and a resolution was adopted
for the appointment of a committee, "to act
for and represent us in the conference which
must take place and enable us to present for
endorsement by the people of this district a
man competent and eminently fitted to serve
as president judge."
Nothing ever came of
this action, however, mainly for the reason
outside
the district could
that no lawyer from
be found who was willing to enter the contest as a candidate, where there were so many
local aspirants, and where he would be a comparative stranger.
Meanwhile the fencing for advantage went
on. On Aug. 10 Mr. Little and conferees went
to Exchange, Montour county, and there met
the conferees appointed by Judge Ikeler, and
a judicial conference was organized, resulting
after several ballots in Mr. Little's nomination.
The next day the Democratic standing
committee met at Danville. Judge Herring
claimed that the conference at Exchange was
void, for the reason that the conferees named
by Judge Ikeler had no authority to act, as it
The comceased when Judge Ikeler died.
mittee took this view of it and proceeded to
name a new candidate for Montour county,
their choice. Judge Herring then carried the matter to the Dauphin
county court to settle the question as to whose
name should be printed on the ballots as the
After hearing, the court
regular nominee.
decided that the Exchange conference was a
showed that the Ikeler
as
the
evidence
nullity,

Judge Herring being

conferees had not been appointed in fact.
Judge Herring then appointed conferees for
"Montour, and after several meetings Herring
withdrew and Little was unanimously nominated, and was elected in November, 1898, defeating James Scarlet, the Republican nomi-

He served until Feb. 26, 1906, when his
death occurred, after a protracted illness.
Judge Robert R. Little was born in Berwick in May, 1852, and was the son of E. H.
nee.

Little, who was for many years a prominent
attorney of Columbia county. He graduated
at the Normal School in 1871, and subsequently attended the University of Rochester,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and Hamilton College, New York, after which
he read law with his father, and was admitted
He was elected
to the bar on Sept. 4, 1874.
district attorney in 1878 and again in 1881,
He was
filling the office with much ability.
possessed of an even temperament and quick
perception, and was considered a safe and
careful counsellor.
The death of Judge Little again made a
vacancy on the bench of the district to be
filled by an appointment by the governor.
There were a number of aspirants among the
Republican members of the bar, and strong
influences were brought to bear.
On March
30th Governor Pennypacker appointed Charles
C. Evans, Esq., of Berwick, as president
judge, to serve until January, 1907. He was
nominated by the Republican conventions of
both counties to serve for a full term. In the
Democratic party the candidates for the nomination were John G. Harman and Grant
Herring, both of Bloomsburg. The Montour
county primaries were held first, resulting in
a vote of 1,030 for Herring and 528 for
Harman, giving the former twenty-three delegates in the convention, and the latter five.
The following week the Columbia county primaries were held, when Harman received
2,484 votes and Herring 1,912, thus giving
the conferees to Harman.
This resulted in
a deadlock, and in September the case was
carried to the Democratic State executive
committee by Mr. Harman, after every effort
to secure an agreement by the conferees had
The committee after several hearfailed.
ings decided that they had jurisdiction, and

nominated Mr. Harman, to which Mr. Herring filed exceptions in the Dauphin county
court, and after hearing the court decided that
Harman's nomination was invalid, thus leaving the Democrats without a nominee. Both
candidates filed nomination papers.
This
made a three-cornered fight, which resulted
in the election of Judge Evans, the Republican and Prohibition candidate, by a plural241 votes in the district, Evans receiving 4,474 votes, 3,325 in Columbia county and
1,149 in Montour; Harman, 4,233, 3,578 in
Columbia and 655 in Montour; Herring,
2,936, 1,964 in Columbia and 972 in Montour.
Thus for the first time in its history has
the district had a Republican president judge
elected for a full term.
Judge Evans's term
ity of

will expire in January, 1917.

Judge Grant Herring, who served from
August, 1898, to January, 1899, was a son of
George A. Herring, and was born in Centre
He graduated
township, Columbia county.

Bloomsburg Normal School in 1879,
at Lafayette College in 1883.
He read
law with E. R. Ikeler, Esq., and was admitted
to the bar in February, 1885, entering into
partnership with his preceptor at once, and

at the

and

so continuing until Mr. Ikeler's elevation to
the bench. He served four years as collector
of internal revenue of this district during
President Cleveland's administration, and as
State senator from 1890 to 1894.
man of
strong personality, a brilliant speaker, and an
able lawyer, he acquired a large clientele. In

1907 he moved from Bloomsburg to Sunbury,
and entered into a law partnership with Hon.
S. P. Wolverton which continued for several
years, when it was dissolved, and Judge Herring engaged in practice by himself. In 191 1
his health began to fail, and in 1912 he went
to Europe to visit his daughter, who was
studying music in Berlin, and to seek medical
assistance.
While in Germany an attack of
his old complaint resulted fatally, and at his
own request he was buried there. His death
occurred on Aug. 4, 1912, in Berchtesgaden,
Bavaria.

Judge Charles

Evans was bom

Briarcreek township, Columbia county, Jan.

He graduated at the State Normal
10, 1858.
School at Bloomsburg in 1877, ^"d ^t Lafayette College in 1881.
He immediately entered
the law office of Hon. Simon P. Wolverton,
at Sunbury, and July 14, 1883, was admitted
to the bar of Northumberland county.
In
August. 1883, he commenced the practice of
law at Berwick, where he continued to pracappointment to the bench.
Judge Evans has made a good record on
the bench.
He is careful and conscientious,
of even temperament, and his opinions show
that he makes exhaustive research in arriving
tice until his

at legal conclusions.
Like all judges,
had some of his decisions reversed

he has
by the

higher courts, but in this respect his

record

will

compare favorably with most of the judges

of the State. He has been called a number of
times to hold court in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton,
Philadelphia, and other places.

JUDICIAL DISTRICT

The

territory

now embraced

Columbia

county was formerly a part of Northumberland county, and was included in the Eighth
judicial district, composed
land, Union and Luzerne.

Northumberit was

Later on

Eleventh judicial district with
Montour, Luzerne and Wyoming, and again

placed

in the

with Sullivan and

Wyoming

in the

Twenty-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
In 1872 Columbia and Montour bethe Twenty-sixth district, and have so
remained until the present (1914).
Herewith we give a list of the president
judges who have presided over the courts in
this territory since 1813, with the dates of
sixth.

came

their appointment or election.
held in Bloomsburg, after the

The

court
change of the
first

county seat from Danville, was in January,
1848, Judge Joseph B. Anthony presiding.
Col. John G. Freeze, at the time of his death,

July 8, 1913, the oldest member of the Columbia county bar, personally knew all of
these judges from Judge Anthony to the present incumbent.

President Judges

1
851; Peter Kline, elected Nov. 12, 1856;
Jacob Evans, elected Nov. 12, 1856; Stephen
Baldy, appointed Jan. 12, 1861, elected Nov.
23, 1861
John McReynolds, elected Nov. 23,
1861 Peter K. Herbein, elected Nov. 8, 1866,
;

;

April i, 1869; Iram Derr, elected
1866; James Kester, appointed April
F. Mann, elected Nov. 26,
Charles
23, 1869
1869, died in office Jan. 24, 1870; Isaac S.
Monroe, appointed Feb. i, 1870; Iram Derr,

died in office

Nov.

;

Nov. 17, 1871 George Scott, elected
November, 1875, died in office April 10,
1876; Mayberry G. Hughes, appointed April
26, 1876; Franklin L. Shuman, elected in
November, 1876; Isaac K. Krickbaum, elected
in November, 1876; Franklin L. Shuman,
elected in November, 1S81
James Lake,
elected in November, 1881
Charles G. Murphy, elected Nov. 2, 1886 James Lake, elected
Nov. 2, 1886, died in office Jan. 4, 1887; Cyrus
elected

;

Seth Chapman, appointed July 11, 181 1, resigned Oct. 10, 1833 Ellis Lewis, appointed
Oct. 14, 1833, served until Jan. 14, 1843;
Charles G. Donnel, appointed Jan. 14, 1843,
died March 18, 1844; Joseph B. Anthony, appointed in March, 1844, died Jan. 10, 1851
;

;

James Pollock, appointed Jan.
mission

expired

Nov.

1851;

comJohn N.

16, 1851,

Conyngham, appointed Nov. 15, 1851, district
changed; Warren J. Woodward, appointed
May 19, 1856, resigned Dec. 10, 1861 Aaron
K. Peckham, appointed Dec. 10, 1861, com;

mission expired Nov.

William Elwell,
3,
elected Nov. 3, 1862, commission expired in
January, 1873; re-elected Nov. 6, 1872, com1862

;

mission expired in January, 1883; re-elected
Nov. 7, 1882, resigned July 31, 1888; Henry
M. Hinckley, appointed Aug. i, 1888, commission expired ]an. i, 1889; E. R. Ikeler,
elected Nov. 6, 1888, died Aug. i, 1898; Grant
Herring, appointed Aug. 10, 1898, commission
expired Jan. i, 1899; R. R. Little, elected Nov.
8, 1898, died Feb. 26, 1906; Charles C. Evans,
appointed March 30, 1906, commission expired in January, 1907; elected Nov. 6, 1906,
in January, 191 7.

commission expires

Associate Judges

John Murray, appointed Oct. 11, 1813;
William Montgomery, appointed Aug. 5, 1815;
Leonard Rupert, appointed June 27, 1816;
William Donaldson, appointed March 26,
1840; George Mack, appointed March 27,
1840; Samuel Oakes, appointed March 6,
1845; Stephen Baldy, appointed March 11,
1845; George H. Willits, appointed March 12,
1850; John Covanhoven, appointed March
12, 1850; Leonard B. Rupert, elected Nov. 10,
185 1
George H. Willits, elected Nov. 10,
;

;

Jan. 8, 1887; elected

McHenry, appointed

November, 1887, died in office Jan. 8, 1890
Mordecai W. Jackson, appointed Feb. 3, 1890
Charles G. Murphy, elected Nov. 3, 1891
Mordecai Millard, elected Nov. 4, 1890, and
Nov. 5, 1895; James T. Fox, elected Nov. 3,
1896, and Nov. 5, 1901 J. U. Kurtz, elected
Nov. 3, 1896; William Krickbaum, elected
Nov. 4, 1902, and Nov. 5, 1907; E. C. Yeager,
elected Nov. 6, 1906; Charles E. Houck,
elected in November, 191 1; M. H. Rhoads,
in

;

appointed in January, 1913, elected in
ber,

Novem-

1913.

The Columbia County Bar Association was
organized Dec. 3, 1878. Morrison E. Jackson,
of Berwick, was the first president Col. J. G.
Freeze, vice president George E. Elwell, secMr.
retary; and C. G. Barkley, treasurer.
Jackson died in July, 1879, and Colonel Freeze
was elected president, which position he held
up to the time of his death in July, 1913, Mr.
Elwell continuing as secretary up to that time.
The present officers (1914) are: A. W. Duy,
;

;

C. C. Yetter, vice president
H.
president
Mont. Smith, secretary; H. R. Stees, treas;

;

urer.

Members
Robert C. Grier,
William G. Hurley,

*
of the Bar

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

Catawissa.
James Pleasants,
Samuel F. Headley, Berwick,
Morrison E. Jackson, Berwick,

LeGrand Bancroft, Bloomsburg,
B. K. Rhodes,
Bloomsburg,
Charles R. Buckalew, Bloomsburg,
*

Names

listed in

deceased,
deceased,
deceased,
deceased,
deceased,
deceased,
deceased,
deceased.

order of admission.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

72
Robert F. Clark,

Bloomsburg,

Reuben W. Weaver, Bloomsburg,
John G. Freeze,
Bloomsburg,
Robert S. Howell,
Elisha C. Thompson,
Franklin Stewart,
Ephraim H. Little,

Bloomsburg,

Alexander

Danville,

Frick,

Oliver C. Kahler,

Wesley Wirt,
Agib Ricketts,

Espy,

Bloomsburg,
Berwick,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

Wilkes-Barre,
Berwick,

Hervey H. Grotz,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

A. Peck,
Charles G. Barkley,
Samuel Knorr,

William H. Abbott,
Chas. B. Brockway,
Wellington H. Ent,
M. M. Traugh,
James K. Brugler,

Catawissa,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Berwick,
Bloomsburg,
Peter S. Rishel,
Bloomsburg,
Michael Whitmoyer, Bloomsburg.

M. M. LaVelle,
Russel R. Pealer,
Elijah R. Ikeler,
Charles W. Miller,

Centralia.

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg.
George S. Coleman, Bloomsburg.
James B. Robison,
Bloomsburg,
J. H. James,
Centralia,
M. E. Walker,
Shickshinny,
O. B. Mellick,
Bloomsburg,

James Bryson,

Centralia.

Milton

Berwick.
Berwick.
Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg,

Stiles,

LeRoy Thompson,
John M. Clark,
B. Frank Zarr,
A. C. Smith,
Hervey E. Smith,
John A. Opp,

Bloomsburg,
Plymouth.
Buckalew, Bloomsburg.
George E. Elwell,
Bloomsburg.
Robert R. Little,
Bloomsburg.
Nevin U. Funk,
Bloomsburg.
William L. Eyerly,
Bloomsburg,

Warren

Charles B. Jackson,

Berwick,

deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
not practicing.
deceased.
deceased.

James M. Fritz,
William Leverett,
A. M. Freas.
James A. Rohrbach,
William D. Beckley,
E. H. Guie,
J. Simpson Kline,
H. A. McKillip,
Fred Ikeler,

practicing.

James

deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
left the county.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
left the county.
left the county.
left the county.
deceased.
left the county.
deceased.
practicing.

deceased.
deceased.
deceased.

deceased,
deceased.
deceased.
not practicing.
deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
practicing.

deceased.
not practicing.
deceased.
practicing.

deceased.
deceased.

Frank

P. Billmeyer, Montclair, N.J.
Levi E. Waller,
Wilkes-Barre. practicing,
T. J. Vanderslice,
Bloomsburg.
practicing.
H. C. Bittenbender, Lincoln. Nebr.

W. H. Rhawn,

Catawissa.

William Brvson,
Centralia.
Paul E. Wirt.
Bloomsburg.
Robert Buckingham, Bloomsburg.
L. S. Wintersteen,
New York,
Andrew L. Fritz.
Bloomsburg.
Andrew K. Oswald, Berwick.
Jacob H. Maize.
Bloomsburg.
C. C. Peacock,
Wilkes-Barre.
Hiester V. White. Bloomsburg.
A. E. Chapin,
Bloomsburg.

John C. Yocum.
David Leche,

Guy

Jacoby.

William Chrisman.
W. H. Snyder.
William E. Smith,
Grant Herring,
A. N. Yost,

Catawissa.

Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg.
Bloomsburg.
Orangeville.

Berwick.
Sunbury.
Bloomsburg.
C. E. Geyer,
Catawissa,
S. P. Hanley,
Berwick,
Sterling W. Dickson, Berwick,

practicing.

deceased.
not practicing.
deceased.

Thomas

B. Hanley,
L. Evans,
Charles H. Weaver,

John R. Sharpless,
R.

Rush

Zarr,
A. Everet,

not practicing.
left the county.
deceased.
deceased.
practicing.
practicing.

deceased.
deceased.
deceased.
practicing.
practicing.

deceased.
practicing.

Philadelphia,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

Christian A. Small,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

Frank

Ikeler,

Edward

practicmg.
not practicing.
left the county.
not practicing.

practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
left the county.

Hazleton,
Kingston,

Wilson
John G. Harman,
George M. Tustin,
Charles H. Bates,

practicing.

not practicing.
left the county.
practicing.
practicing.
left the county.

practicing.

not practicing.

Flynn,
Ralph R. John,
G. M. Quick,
H. J. Patterson,

Williamsport,

Bloomsburg,

practicing.
left the .county.

D. Sylvester Pensyl,
Albert W. Duy,
Bloomsburg,
Clemuel R. Weiss,
Bloomsburg,

left the county.

McHenry,

Centralia,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

practicing.
practicing.
left the county.

left the county.

practicing.

Harry M. Hamlin,
C. J. Fisher.
C. Johnston,
Clyde C. Yetter.

Wm.

Clinton Herring,
J. Alexis Guie,
Harry R. Stees,
Harry M. Persing.
C. H. Marks,
C. E. Kreisher.
R. O. Brockway,
J. G. Jayne,
L. C.

Mensch,

Boyd

F. Maize,

Catawissa,

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Seattle, Wash.,
Bloomsburg,
Shickshinny,

Catawissa,
Berwick.
Berwick.
Catawissa,

H. Mont Smith.
William E. Elmes.

Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,

Berwick,
Berwick.
Catawissa,
Wilkes-Barre.
Warren S. Sharpless, Berwick,
Neil Chrisman,
Wilkes-Barre,
Centralia.
John A. Moran,
Conway W. Dickson. Berwick.
Clark Dickson.
Berwick,
G. W. Moon,
Bloomsburg,
Alex. C. Jackson,
Charles S. Kline,
A. J. Robbins,

deceased,
deceased,
practicing.

Wilkes-Barre,

Wilkes-Barre.
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
Seattle, Wash.,
Sunbury,
Bloomsburg,
Bloomsburg,
New Y'k City.
Berwick,

TRIAL OF

practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
not practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
not practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing.
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing,
practicing.

THE "mOLLIE MAGUIRES"

The most important criminal case which
ever came up before the courts of Cohtmbia
county was the trial of the "MolHe Maguires"
This case was the beginning of a
in 1869.
series of incidents which became of almost
national fame, and finally resulted in a second
trial, in 1877, which closed the matter for all
time.

On Sunday, Oct. 18. 1868, the body of Alexander W. Rea, agent for the Locust Mountain
Coal & Iron Company, of Centralia, was
found in the bushes on the road from Cen-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
tralia to

Mount Carmel,

riddled with bullets.

John Duffy, Michael Prior
and Thomas Donohue were arrested for the
and
murder,
lodged in the Pottsville jail.
Later they were sent to Bloomsburg to await
trial.
Suspicion also fastened upon Patrick
Hester, who had hastily decamped to Illinois,
and he later on returned to Bloomsburg and
At the December session of
surrendered.
court a bill was found against Donohue, Duffy
and
at the February session, 1869,
and Prior,
a similar bill was returned against Hester.
The case was called by the district attorney
on Feb. 2, 1869, Judge Elwell presiding, and
Nov.

17, 1868,

few days later two contractors at the Oakdale
mine were shot.
Depredations became so common that every
passenger train passing through the affected
section had to be preceded by a locomotive
Watchmen and
carrying an armed posse.
station agents were beaten, loaded cars put
upon the main line, switches misplaced, warehouses plundered, and bosses particularly
hated by the malcontents were served with

Commonwealth was represented by

The
prisoners.
District

Such
notices to leave, under pain of death.
threats were almost invariably executed.
The chief source of these atrocities was an
organization formed by the lawless element
and christened the "Mollie Maguires." They
terrorized the entire coal region from 1865 to

Attorney E. R. Ikeler, Linn Bartholomew,
Robert F. Clark, Edward H. Baldy and M. M.
The prisoners were defended by
LaVelle.

1875, had signs and passwords, and developed
such strength that not a man could be hired
unless he was approved by the society.

John W. Ryon, John G. Freeze, Myer Strouse,
S. P. Wolverton and W. A. Marr.
The theory of the prosecution was that,
Saturday being a general pay day in the coal
regions, a party of assassins concealed themselves at the point where the body was found
in the hope of securing the large sum of
money which Rea would carry. It was his
custom, however, to pay off the men on Fri-

In exposing and suppressing this society the
president of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal
& Iron Company, Franklin B. Gowen, employed James McParlan, of the Pinkerton DeMcParlan posed as a miner,
tective Agency.
joined the order, became one of the leaders,
and finally brought most of them to justice.
Nine of the "Mollies" were sentenced to death

separate trials granted the

day, a practice well known to all residents of
the vicinity.
This caused the prosecution to
infer that the murder was committed by
some persons unfamiliar with the locality.
Donohue was tried and acquitted on Feb.
II, 1869; on the nth of May the case against
Hester was dismissed from lack of evidence,
and on the same date Duffy was tried and

Prior also was tried and acquitted.
Seven years then passed and no further clews
to the murder were discovered.
Made bold by the release of the accused

acquitted.

miners,

some

laborers fn the hard coal regions

developed an organization for purposes of intimidation which soon absolutely controlled
the community and caused a complete reign
of terror over all of the southern part of
Columbia county and a great part of Schuylkill

and Carbon counties.
common method of

intimidating the
better class of coal miners was for a gang of
ten or more toughs to sweep through the mining camps, forcing every man to join them,
the gradually increasing numbers overawing
any inclined to resist. On June 3, 1875, 0"^
thousand men stopped work at several mines
near Mahanoy City, and a similar band did
the same at Shenandoah. The same night a
breaker at Mount Carmel was burned, and a

in Schuylkill county, two in Carbon, and some
others were imprisoned for long terms.
At this time there was a man named Daniel
Kelly, an abandoned criminal, confined in the
Schuylkill county jail on the charge of larceny.
Suspicion having been directed against him as
having some knowledge of the murder of

Alexander W. Rea, he became frightened and
if allowed to
Accordingly, on his testimony, Peter
McHugh and Patrick Tully were arrested in
the fall of 1876 as participants in the murder,
and Patrick Hester was again arrested as acThey were first
cessory before the fact.
lodged in the Pottsville jail, but later brought

offered to turn State's evidence

free.

Bloomsburg for

trial.

1877, the trial began, Messrs.
Hughes, Buckalew and District Attorney John
M. Clark appearing for the Commonwealth,

Feb.

Messrs. Ryon, Wolverton, Freeze,
Brockway, Mahan and George E. Elwell ap-

while

All the accused
peared for the defense.
pleaded "not guilty" and were arraigned toDaniel
Kelly, pardoned by the govgether.
ernor,

was made the chief witness against

The trial lasted three weeks, when the
jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and the
prisoners were sentenced to hang. New trials
were refused them and the governor and
board of pardons would not interfere, so on
them.

Aug.

1877,

Tully,

McHugh

and Hester

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

were executed upon a gallows at Bloomsburg,
borrowed from the authorities of Carbon
Two weeks before the execution
county.
Tully confessed to Attorney Elwell that he
guilty and corroborated the evidence of
Hester and McHugh did not confess
Kelly.

was

their guilt in a public manner, although they
had the ministrations of a priest on the morn-

ing of their death. What they told the father
confessor is not known, as the secrets of the
confessional are kept inviolate by the Roman
Catholic Church, but the priest saw Tully's

confession and approved of its publication.
The informer, Kelly, was subsequently
made a witness in a similar trial at WilkesBarre,

where he confessed to an appaUing
crimes.
His evidence was there

series

given without stipulated immunity, but as his
punishment would have prevented the bringing of others to justice through similar confessions of witnesses, he was allowed to go
free.
He left this section, and what subsequently became of him is not known.

CHAPTER

VIII

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
(By Luther B.

Kline,

D., Catawissa, Pa.)

The noble profession of medicine has had Bacon, who hailed from Connecticut, by way
many representatives in the past who have left of Kingston. At that time his practice exupon the history of Columbia
Doctors have always been the inticounty.
mate counselors and true friends of the people, and in this county there are many who
have a warm spot in their hearts when the
family physician is discussed. To the pioneers
of this section of Pennsylvania the old-time
country doctor was one of the welcome visitors
at their isolated homes.
In those days the
practice of medicine required good horsemanhealth
and
all
the courage and
ship, rugged
endurance that the physician could command,
for the roads were often mere muddy trails,
the homes far apart, and the dangers of the
forests and morasses were added to by the
terrors of wild beasts and still more ferocious
savages.
All of the earlier physicians were
obliged to
keep at least three good horses on hand at all
times, for often when the doctor had ridden
their impress

home from

a twenty-mile trip he would have to
retrace his tracks without sufficient time to
make a change of garments. And besides the
hardships of the constant and long rides, the
old physicians were expected to wait for their
pay for an indefinite time. In the days of lack

of currency and trading there was some excuse
for this, but at the present time the physician
is still a waiter, and
usually a good one. Most
everyone gets his money before the doctor is
paid, yet there is seldom a complaint from the
long-sufifering medico.
The first doctor who came to Columbia

county

supposed to have been Dr. E. B.

tended from Catawissa to the headwaters of
Fishing creek. He removed to Wellsboro in
1817 and engaged in farming.
Drs. Townsend and Krider were the next

and they located in Bloomsburg. The
former remained but a short time, but the lat-

arrivals,

practiced in the town until his death.
About 1818 Dr. Roe came, and divided his time
between healing and teaching school. He then
removed up Fishing creek and went to farming.
Dr. Ebenezer Daniels came to Catawissa
about 1822, and was followed the next year
ter

by Dr.

Harmon

whom

Gearhart,

he highly

recommended

to the people of the town.
Daniels sold his practice in 1834 to Dr.

Ramsay, and removed

Dr.

John
Dr.

Indianapolis.

Gearhart died in 1833.
Dr. Ramsay removed to Bloomsburg and
took a leading part in the affairs of the town.
He was especially active in the paths of education. He died suddenly in 1863.
Dr. William Petrikin came to Bloomsburg in
1834. He was a son of the famous Dr. David
Petrikin, of Danville, and had all of his father's energy and brilliancy, but death carried

him

off in 1842.

Dr. David N. Scott came to Bloomsburg in
1842 and resided in the part of town nick-

named "Scottown" from

the

fact

that

the

Doctor laid it out into lots, and built the first
house there.
He removed to Kansas some
years
Dr.

later.

Thomas Vastine came

Bloomsburg

1833, but soon left for Williamsport.

Later

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
he located permanently in

St.

ward Hawkins also came to
short time and then went to
Drs. George Hill and
1848.
were residents of Bloomsburg

Louis. Dr. Edthe town for a
Michigan, after
Thomas Butler
for a few years

after 1846, the former going to Muncy.
Dr. J. B. McKelvey came to Bloomsburg in
He had previously located at Mifflin1851.
ville, in 1849, from there going to Graysville,

Ky., and Arkadelphia, Ark.
reside in

Bloomsburg

continued to

until his death.

During

The name was changed

75
to

Susquehanna Union

Medical Society in 1859, but in 1864 it was
changed to Columbia and Montour Medical

Still later the name was restored
Society.
to its first form.
of June 18, 1881, all members of
the
act
By
the profession were required to register with
All who had been in
the State authorities.

from 187 1 were permitted to continue,
even if not graduates of a medical school.
Others must produce certificates of graduation
practice

1914, while some workmen were excavating in
the alley beside his house on Main street, they

to continue in the profession.

uncovered some human bones, which had probably been buried there after use in demonstration work. For a few hours all sorts of rumors
were current, until the true explanation was
found.
The Doctor had a wide circle of
friends, and his death was a matter of regret

teresting ones for the

all.

Mifflinville
its

history.

had few doctors

any period of

Many

papers were read at the meetings and
to elevate the standards of the pro-

much done

So pleasant were the relations befession.
tween the members from the two counties that
no thought of separation was held until June
Then the members from Montour
16, 1874.
county, having quietly nominated only Columbia county men for all the offices and suc-

One of the first was Dr. F. C.
who located there in 1855. He ceeded

Harrison,
afterwards went to Lewisburg and became a
banker, a much more profitable occupation.
After his departure Dr. Wells, of Wilkes-

Barre, located there for a short time.
In 1855 Dr. William H. Bradley came to
Bloomsburg to practice, but soon after began to
In 1868 Dr. William M.
edit a weekly paper.
Reber arrived in Bloomsburg. He had been a
surgeon in the navy and was a man of much
ability.

In 1874 Dr. Benjamin F. Gardner came to
Bloomsburg from Tennessee. He had been a

surgeon of high rank in the Confederate service, and his change of location proved a wise
one.
He found more opportunities and
speedier payment for his services in the North
than in the impoverished South. He is still
living, and is much respected by all the towns-

in getting them elected, stated their
intention of organizing the Montour County

Medical Society. The separation took place
without a particle of friction, and the two
societies

still

interchange ideas and

Hugh McReynolds,

another of the older

physicians, came to Bloomsburg from Buckhorn, where he had practiced for some years
previous to 1872.

the

in rotation at

held at Benton.
paper called "The Roster"
is issued monthly, edited by Dr. Luther B.
Kline, of Catawissa, and contains reviews of
the past work, programs of the future, and
It
articles of special interest to the members.
has a circulation of 125 copies. The meetings
are well attended and are taken up with discussions of matters of value to the medical
profession. The society has forty-four active
members and one honorary member. Dr. John

The officers and committees for 1914 are:
President, Dr. Joseph Cohen, Berwick; first
vice president, Dr. Benjamin F. Gardner,
Bloomsburg; second vice president, Dr. John
M. Gemmell, Millville secretary and treasurer,
Dr. Luther B. Kline, Catawissa; librarians
Dr. John W. Bruner and Dr. James R. Mont-

—

;

COLUMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
This society had its origin in 1858.
On
July 31st of that year a number of physicians
of Columbia and Montour counties formed an
organization for mutual protection and inter-

change of experiences.
sided.
to

In the following

become auxiliary

Dr. John

month

Ramsay

pre-

was decided
and

to the State society,

members of

the profession in
Northumberland county to unite with them.

visits.

Columbia county society
meets
Berwick, Bloomsburg and
Catawissa the second Thursday of every
month, except in July, when the meeting is

At present

C. Rutter.

people.

Dr.

The years following organization were inmembers of the society.

invite

the

—

gomery, Bloomsburg. Censors Dr. J. Elmer
Shuman, Bloomsburg; Dr. John H. Bowman,
Berwick Dr. Charles K. Albertson, Fairmount
Committee on Public Policy and
Springs.
;

—

Dr. B. Frank Sharpless, CataLegislation
wissa; Dr. John W. Bruner, Bloomsburg; Dr.
Charles T. Steck, Berwick.
Scientific Program Dr. J. Brooks Follmer, Berwick; Dr.
William C. Hensyl, Berwick; Dr. Edwin A.

—

Glenn, Berwick.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

REGISTERED PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN COLUMBIA COUNTY SINCE ACT OF 1881 BECAME A

Name

LAW

Institution

Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Medical College

Homeopathic Medical
Jefferson Medical College
Medical College of Virginia
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Bellevue Hospital Medical College
Long Island Hospital
University of Vermont
Jefferson Medical College
Hahnemann Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia College
Philadelphia University
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College
Eclectic Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
Eclectic Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College

Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Pennsylvania Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
Hahnemann Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College
Castleton Medical, Vermont
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania

Medico-Chirurgical
Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore
Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore
Medico-Chirurgical
Medico-Chirurgical
Medico-Chirurgical
Jefferson Medical College
Hahnemann Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Baltimore
Medico-Chirurgical
Jefferson Medical College
Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
REGISTERED PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN COLUMBIA

Name
tAndrew Graydon

Bloomsburg

tGeorge A. Poust
tRuth Tustin
Clifton Z. Robbins
tjohn Rhodes

Millville

tThomas

C. Kutter

tj. K. Levan
tReuben O. Davis

*Montraville McHenry
tCarl H. Senn
tDavid A. Hart
(Frederick E. Ward
tjames C. Davis

tWalter C. Shew
*George H. Vastine
John T. MacDonald
Edward L. Davis
John M. Gemmell
Theodore C. iriarter
Edwin A. Glenn
Henry Bierman
tjacob A. Baer
Joseph Cohen
George E. Follmer
John VV. Bruner

Wilham

T. Vanee

tH. V. Hower
J.

Shuman

William C. Hensyl
tJ. F. Gardner
J.

M. Vastine

The following

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
Numidia
Berwick
Berwick
Berwick
Benton

May

C. Fortner

J. Bruce Hess
Charles B. Yost

1881

BECAME A LAW

— Cotlt.

Institution

Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
University of New York
Jefferson Medical College
University of Vermont

Bloomsburg

1906
1907
1890

Orangeville

1881

Mifflinville

1887
1891
1904

Medico-Chirurgical
Baltimore Medical College
Medico-Chirurgical
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Pennsylvania
Medico-Chirurgical
University of Pennsylvania
Maryland Medical College
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Hahnemann Medical College
Hahnemann Medical College
College of Physicians and Surgeons
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College
Jefferson Medical College
University of Maryland
College of Physicians and Surgeons
University of Pennsylvania
Jefferson Medical College

1900

Medico-Chirurgical

Mainville

Berwick
Berwick
Jamison City
Catawissa
Bloomsburg
Berwick

1906
1909
1906
1891
1910
1899
1906

Millville

1881

Bloomsburg
Berwick
Bloomsburg
Berwick
Berwick

1904
1888
1901

Orangeville

Bloomsburg
Berwick
Millville

Catawissa

physicians are residents of

local society, being either retired or

Howard

1902
1900
1906
1890
1868
1901
igi3

Millville

Columbia county, but are not members of the
Lewis R. Davis

COUNTY SINCE ACT OF

Diploma

Residence

with other societies (Dr. Everett is a
of the Lycoming county society)

member

connected

Centralia
Centralia

Benton
Bloomsburg

Edward
Honora

Everett

C. Grimes
George L. Jolly
Thomas Kealy

Millville

Bloomsburg
Orangeville
Centralia

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

COLUMBIA GUARDS

This military company, belonging especially
to Danville, but famous all over Columbia
its service in two wars, was organized at Danville in 1817. At the breaking out
of the Mexican war it was under the command of Capt. John S. Wilson, and its offer
of assistance being accepted was mustered
into the United States service Dec. 28, 1846.
number of citizens of the county escorted
the Guards as far as Pittsburgh, on their way
to the seat of war, and all along the journey
They
they met with a continuous ovation.
were placed in the 2d Regiment, Pennsyl-

county by

vania Volunteers, then

commanded by Colo-

under Colonel Geary,
afterwards governor of Pennsylvania.
Captain Wilson died at Vera Cruz on April
10, 1847, and the command devolved upon
Dr. C. H. Frick, who gallantly led the Guards
during the campaign. Their first engagement
was at the storming of \ era Cruz, and the
second at Cerro Gordo, where they lost one
man, John Smith. At the battle of Chapultepec they lost two men, William Dietrich
and John Snyder. On approaching the City
of Mexico, the defense of San Angelo, with
nel

Wyncoop, and

later

of the militarj' stores, was committed to
the Guards, and on the 13th of September,
1847, they were among the first to enter the
City of Mexico in triumph.
The Guards returned to Danville on July
28, 1849, and the whole town turned out to
welcome them. Hundreds of persons from
all over the county thronged the streets, and
such a demonstration as was then made has
never been seen in Danville before or since.
all

The Guards

kept their organization until
the opening of the Civil war, when they
entered the service under Capt. Oscar Ephlin.
On the expiration of their term they were
honorably discharged, and the company then
disbanded.

The following

Guards soon after

the muster

roll

the

their

organization (see
Chapter IV, IMontour county, for list of those

Mexican war).
John S. Wilson, captain

Clarence H. Frick,
E. LaClerc, second
lieutenant; William Brindle, second heutenant; George S. Kline, first sergeant; James D.
Slater, second sergeant; Robert Clark, third
sergeant; Charles Evans, fourth sergeant;
John Adams, first corporal James Oliver, second corporal; John Smith, third corporal;
Arthur Gearhart, fourth corporal Thomas
Clark, drummer; Jesse G. Clark, fifer.
first

lieutenant:

The private soldiers were
Charles W.
Adams, Alvin M. Allen, Jacob App, George
W. Armstrong, Frederick Brandt, Samuel
Bums, Flam B. Bonham, William Banghart,
John Birkenbine, Samuel D. Baker, Francis

;

Edward

;

Bower, Francis B. Best, William Brunner,
William H. Birchfield, Randolph Ball, Peter
Brobst, Abram B. Carley, Michael Corrigan,

Wm.

Dieterich (Dietrich), Wm. Erie, Daniel
Follmer, Charles W. Fortner, Robert H.
Forster, Sewell Gibbs, Edward Grove, George
S.

Thomas Graham, Shepherd W. Girton,
Samuel Huntingdon, Adam Heisler, Henry
Hemcastle, Oliver Helme, William S. Kertz,
William King, Jerome Konkle, Charles Lytle,
Ira Lownsberry, Robert Lyon, John A. Lowery, Benjamin Laform, Benjamin J. Martin,
Jasper Musselman, Edward McGonnel, George
?^Iiller, William Moser, Archibald
Mooney,
Mahlon K. Manly, John G. Mellon, Alex.
McDonald, Daniel Martial, Richard H. McKean, Charles Moynthan, Robert McAlmont,
Hugh AIcFadden, James AlcClelland, Norman B. Mack, William McDonald, Casper
Oatenwelder, Daniel Poorman, Peter S. Reed,
Philip Rake, James A. Stewart, Peter M.
Space, Jona R. Sanders, Oliver C. Stevens,
Garner,

Snyder, Edward Seler, Peter SeigC. Snyder, John N. Scofield. William Swartz, Joseph Stratton, William W.
Sawaney, John A. Sarvey, Benjamin Tumbleton, Adam Wray, William White, George
Wagner, Jacob Willet, Jerome Walker, George
Wingar, Peter W. Yamell.

Daniel
fried,

John

CIVIL

WAR

Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States Alarch 4, 1861. Fort
Sumter was

fired on April 12th, and on the
15th of that month the President called on
Calls and
the loyal States for 75,000 men.
orders were subsequently issued, under dates
of May 3d, July 22d and July 25th, for an
On the 2d of
aggregate of 500,000 men.
July, 1862, there was another call for 500,and
on
the
of
000 men.
4th
August one for

300,000.
On Sept.

5, 1862, the Confederates invaded
Maryland, and a levy en masse was called in

Pennsylvania. On Sept. 15th a large number
of "emergency men" left Bloomsburg, and on
the 17th the battle of Antietam was fought.
On the 1 8th the Confederates evacuated
Sharpsburg and recrossed the Potomac, and
on the 22d more "emergency men" left

Bloomsburg.
On June 15, 1863, a proclamation was made

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
On

for the
15th there was a
call for 300,000 men, and on Feb. i, 1864, the
President ordered a draft for 500,000 to be
made on the loth of March. On the 14th
there was a call for 200,000 more, on the
1 8th of
July one for 500,000, and on the igth
of December one for 300,000. Besides these
there were a lot of "ninety-day militia" and
other irregular musters. These various calls
militia.

were

filled

Oct.

by enlistments, volunteering and

drafts.

There were four drafts made in Columbia
and Montour counties one by the State
authorities for the militia; one Sept. 17, 1863,
to fill previous calls; one on June 3, 1864; and
one on April 14, 1865. Lee having surrendered
April 9th, the men liable for service under the
The last battle of the war
last were released.
was fought May 12, 1865, and the surrender
of the last of the Confederates, under Kirby
Smith, occurred on May 26th of the same

—

Bloom supplied 45; Briarcreek, 49; Beaver,
40; Benton, 27; Conyngham, 60; Centre, 54;
Fishingcreek, 50 Franklin, 5 Greenwood, 45
Hemlock, 25; Jackson, 19; Locust, 40; Montour, 24; Main, 18; Mount Pleasant, 27; Mifflin, 46; Madison, 48; Orange, 9; Scott, 36;
Sugarloaf, 29.
No opposition was manifested to this draft,
in fact it had the effect of stimulating enlist;

;

ments in the national service. The later drafts
on the part of the national government, however, were not received with equal unconcern.

The

was drawn at Troy, Pa., Sept. 17,
and called for 634 men from Columbia
There was considerable opposition,
county.
first

1863,

particularly in

year.

During the war there were for Pennsylvania two great emergencies, the first in September, 1862, relieved by McClellan's victory
At that time Governor Curtin
at Antietam.
called for 50,000 men, and Columbia county
responded by sending four companies, and
Montour sent two. The second emergency
was in June, 1863, when the President called
Of the number required,
for 100,000 men.
Columbia county sent five companies, and
Montour two.
The first company in Columbia county to enlist for the Civil war was the "Iron Guards,"

under Col. W. W. Ricketts, from Orangeville,
and the first man to enlist from the county
was C. B. Brockway. Ricketts was a West
Point cadet, and he soon had his company
completed. He ofl:'ered it to the government,
but was rejected. Not daunted, the members
chartered canalboats and went to Harrisburg,

where they were

The draft
supplied by draft or otherwise.
was ordered by the State to fill the ranks.
The townships of Catawissa and Pine, and
the borough of Berwick, filled their quota
with volunteers, but in the other divisions of
the county a total of 696 men were drawn.

finally accepted.

THE DRAFTS
Civil war the miof Pennsylvania existed practically only
There was a form of military
on paper.
organization, and a tax was levied on each
voter liable to duty save those in volunteer
companies, but there were few companies in
a complete state of organization.
In 1862 an enrollment was ordered, and
the number subject to military duty in Columbia county was found to be 4,587 the quota,
under all calls, was 1,447 the number in service, 626; leaving a balance of 821 men to be

At the beginning of the

litia

;

Fishingcreek, Benton, SugarJackson and Pine townships, and the
neighboring portions of Luzerne and Sullivan
counties.
A series of semi-public meetings
loaf,

was held

the disafifected sections for the

purpose of discussing the situation, at which
the usual windy oratory prevailed, but no
definite plans were made to meet the question at hand.
Some advocated resistance to
the draft, others suggested the hiring of subbut all finally acted on their own sugThere were a number
gestions, individually.
who refused to report for duty, and, as is customary in wartime, they were declared to be
deserters by the military authorities.
This
angered the people greatly and many wild
threats were made by individuals, who afterwards regretted their sudden ebullition of temThe culmination of the trouble came
per.
stitutes,

when, in August, 1864, Lieutenant Robinson
Luzerne county was shot and fatally
wounded by a party of citizens whom he had
challenged on the road near Raven Creek
post office. It has since been established that
Robinson had no official authority to apprehend deserters.
In the same month a detachment of United
States troops arrived in Bloomsburg and
camped at the Fair Grounds, ostensibly for
This
the purpose of enforcing the draft.
of

force was increased later until it included
almost a thousand men, a company under Colonel Lambert, part of the Keystone Battery
from Philadelphia, under Lieutenant Roberts,
a battalion of infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, and a battalion of the Veteran
Reser^-e Corps.

Aug. i6th Major Gen-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

eral Couch, commanding the Department of
the Susquehanna, arrived and conferred with
leading citizens. He was assured of the nonresistant character of the inhabitants of the
affected townships, so he offered to remit the
charge of desertion if the drafted men would
report themselves before noon of the following Saturday. He returned to Harrisburg before the time set, and the recalcitrants not having reported Colonel Stewart proceeded with
a body of troops to Benton on Aug. iSth. On
the 28th Major General Cadwallader arrived

Bloomsburg from Philadelphia, assumed
command, and followed the first troop to BenOn the 31st about a hundred arrests
ton.
were made and the prisoners brought to Benton, where a preliminary examination was
made. Of the number, forty-four were dispatched under guard to Harrisburg. The surrounding country was explored for alleged
"forts" and other evidences of resistance, but
none was found. General Cadwallader returned to Philadelphia and the larger number
of the troops were withdrawn, but some remained and arrests were made from time to
time. The aggrieved parties and their friends
took legal steps to release the prisoners and
in

to test the legality of the arrests.

Oct. 17,

1864, twenty-one of the prisoners were granted
Of these five had been
conditional release.
previously discharged owing to illness and one
had died in prison. On the same date the
trials of the remaining twenty-three were be-

military commission at HarrisSeven were convicted and sentenced
burg.
to terms ranging from six months to two
of $500, one
years. One prisoner paid a fine
was pardoned by President Lincoln and five
by President Johnson, several were acquitted,
and the charge against the rest was later withdrawn.
Among the citizens of Columbia county even

gun before a

day there are conflicting opinions
the
regarding these troubles, their origin and
One side claims that
results of the trials.
there was an organized and armed opposition
at this late

to the drafts, that threats were made against
the authorities, that peaceable citizens were
threatened by violent sympathizers, and that

was necessary to restore order and safety. The other side claims
that dishonest enrollment was made, that there
the military occupation

was no organized resistance, that no threats
were made, military interference was unnecessary, that the soldiers were guilty of many
outrages, that many innocent men were imprisoned without warrant of law, and that the

main object was

to intimidate Democratic
voters in the presidential election of 1864.
These are matters that will in time work
out to a definite series of facts of history, and
the trouble will be looked upon with the same
lenience with which the old veterans of the
Civil war now view the deplorable conflict in

which they participated.

COMPANIES AND REGIMENTS
Notwithstanding the draft troubles, Columbia county was well represented at the front
of battle in the war. One of the first companies to see service was the "Iron Guards,"
mentioned previously.
As members of the
35th Regiment, 6th Reserves, they were mustered in July 27, 1861, participated in many
battles and skirmishes all through the war,
and were finally mustered out June 11, 1864,
at

Harrisburg.

The 178th Regiment, drafted militia, was recruited in Columbia, Montour, Lancaster and
Luzerne counties. Companies A,
and I

were from Columbia county, and F and G
mostly from Montour county.
They were
mustered in Oct. 30, 1862, and mustered out
at
July 27, 1863,
Harrisburg. They were in
several skirmishes, but no important actions.
Company H, i ith Regiment, was from Montour county and served for three months, being in the engagement at Falling Waters, Md.,
against

redoubtable

the

"Stonewall"

Jack-

son.

Company

14th Regiment, was

Montour county, but did not

see

also

much

from

service,

being on guard duty near Washington. On
the termination of the three months' service
many reenlisted in other regiments.
Company C, i6th Regiment, from Berwick,
was mustered in April 30, 1861, for three
months' service, and saw much fighting in
Virginia.
after their

Many
first

of the

company

re-enlisted

term ended.

Company C, 193d Regiment, was from Montour county, was mustered in July 17, 1864,
and mustered out Nov. 5, 1864. They served
as guards along the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
and on scout duty, but were never in any battles

or skirmishes.

Company A, I32d Regiment, from Montour
It
county, was mustered in Aug. 15, 1862.
first-class war record, being in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks-

had a

burg and Chancellorsville, and was mustered
out

May

24,

1863.

Clinton

Neal,

Bloomsburg, was quartermaster of the
ment.

Company E

of this regiment

regi-

was com-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
posed of the "Columbia Guards,"
Company H, mustered in at
Bloomsburg.
recruited in

the same date, was the "Catawissa Guards,"
recruited entirely from that town.

Company I, 136th Regiment, was from Columbia county and first formed part of the
defense of Washington. Later it went through
a number of engagements, the regiment at the
It
battle of Fredericksburg losing 140 men.
was mustered out May 29, 1863, at Harrisburg.

Company A, 74th Regiment, was

recruited

Columbia county, for one year's
service, in March, 1865, did guard duty along
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and was mustered out at Clarksburg, Va., Aug. 29, 1865.
Company B, 103d Regiment, coming mostly
from Bloomsburg, was mustered into service
in the early part of 1865, and mustered out at
Newbem, N. C, June 25, 1865, after a few
skirmishes and lots of guard duty.
Company E, 209th Regiment, was recruited
in Columbia county in 1864 and sent to the
mostly

front at once, but

saw

little

fighting except at

Forts Steadman and Sedgwick, which latter
they captured. After railroad work and scouting they were mustered out May 31, 1865, at
Alexandria, Virginia.
Company E, 35th Regiment, 6th Reserves,
was recruited in Montour county. May 14,
1861,

and saw service

South Mountain,

Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Spottsylvania
Court House. They were mustered out June
II, 1864, with an unstained military record.
Battery F, ist Artillery, 43d Regiment, was
recruited in Columbia and Montour counties
in 1 86 1 and participated in the engagements
at Winchester, Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
Bristoe Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, SpottIt
sylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
remained in service till the close of the war.
G, 52d Regiment, was recruited
in Columbia county in 1861, being among the
They saw
first in the field and the last out.
service in the advance on Richmond, in the
and
Oaks
Fair
battles of
Mechanicsville, the
assault on Port Royal, S. C, the attacks on
Forts Johnson and Sumter, and were at Ralwere
eigh when Johnston surrendered. They
mustered out at Harrisburg July 12, 1865.

Company

84th Regiment, also known as
the "Hurley Guards," was recruited in Columbia and Montour counties, a few men beThey
ing later received from other points.
reached Hancock, Md., Jan. 2, 1862, and were
in the battles of Winchester and Port Reof Fredpublic. They were also in the battles

Company D,

ericksburg and Chancellorsville, and the campaign in the Wilderness, down to Petersburg.
In 1862 they were mustered out, but many of
them entered the 57th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, serving until June 29, 1865. Samuel M. Bowman of Columbia county was colonel of the 84th Regiment.

Company H, 93d Regiment, was composed
"Baldy Guards," recruited in Danand named from one of the town's prominent citizens. It saw much and arduous service, many of its members being killed and
wounded. They were in the following enYorktown, Williamsburg, Fair
gagements
Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Marye's
Heights, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg,
Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. On
Col.
Jan. 25, 1865, they were mustered out.
of

the

ville

W. Eckman, of Montour county, rose
command of the regiment.
Company B, 184th Regiment, was recruited

Charles
to the

Montour county and joined the Army of the
Potomac as it crossed the Pamunky river. May
28, 1864. The next day they were in the batAt the battle of
tle of Tolopotomy creek.
Cold Harbor they lost heavily, and in constant

service in the assaults lost 350 men in twentysix days.
They were continuously in battles
and skirmishes until the surrender at Appo-

mattox Court House, and then participated in
the grand review at Washington.
Company C, 187th Regiment, was formerly
D, 1st Battalion, organized for six
months' service and mustered out Jan. 9, 1864.
Upon reenlistment they went to Cold Harbor,
Later they
arriving there during the battle.
were in all the heavy fighting before Petersthe
procession^ at the
They headed
burg.
burial of Lincoln, and were mustered out Aug.

Company

1865, at Harrisburg.
Battery F, 2d Artillery,

ties.

112th

Regiment,

Columbia and Montour counThey garrisoned Washington for some

was recruited

time and" then participated in the battles of
the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg,
mine explosion.
losing heavily at the famous

At Fort Harrison they lost 200 killed and
wounded. They remained in Virginia after

the evacuation of Petersburg until the end of
the war, being discharged at Philadelphia.

Company A, 52d Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, contained many Columbia county
men. It was in the Peninsular campaign, the
movement against Richmond, the taking of
Charleston, and its flag was the first that
floated over recaptured Fort Sumter. A num-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

82
ber of Columbia county

men were

Com-

also in

of this regiment.
The 7th Cavalry, 80th Regiment, contained
a number of men from both of these counties,
to be found on the rolls of Companies
and
H. They saw long and severe service under
Buell in Kentucky and Tennessee, being dis-

pany

charged Aug. 23, 1865.

Bloomsburg, East
Bloomsburg, West

Fishingcreek
Franklin

375
354
1 56
56
225
167
180
143
73
210
60
62

Greenwood
Hemlock

136
144

Briarcreek
Catawissa Township
Catawissa Borough
Centraha, ist
Centralia, 2d
Centre
Cleveland

Conyngham

COLUMBIA county's WAR FOOTING

With

the world at war in 1914, it is interesting to read the report of the assessors of
that year to the adjutant general at Harris-

burg, showing the number of men in this
county, between the ages of twenty-one and
forty-five, subject to military duty. The total
is 4,572, and in addition there are many who
would volunteer in case of war, thus making
a very respectable showing. The number by
districts is as follows
:

Jackson
Locust

Madison
Main

123

Mifflin

120

Millville

59
79
26
52
23
74
57
45

Montour
Mount Pleasant
Orange Township
OrangeviUe Borough
Pine
Roaringcreek
Scott

Beaver
Benton Borough
Benton Township
Berwick

Sugarloaf

102

Stillwater Borough
West Berwick, ist
West Berwick, 2d

8
146
325

82
525

CHAPTER X
COUNTY FORMATION
The three original counties laid out by the
immortal founder of Pennsylvania were Bucks,
Philadelphia and Chester. Though the Province was divided in 1682 into the three mentioned counties, their boundaries were not
theredistinctly ascertained until several years
after.

In 1729 the extension of the settlements and
the purchases from the Indians led to the establishment of Lancaster county. At that time
the Susquehanna marked the western limit of
the Province, but the purchase of 1736 opened
a triangular area west of the river, which was
attached to Lancaster county until the increase
of settlements demanded the erection in 1749
of York county, and in the following year of
Cumberland. The Indian boundary line of
the Kittatinny range marked the northern limIn 1752 the counties of
it of these counties.
Berks and Northampton further divided this
section.

In 1771 Bedford county was erected, and

in 1772 the county of Northumberland, from
the territory of which Columbia and Montour
counties have since been formed, came into

It included an area now covered by
twenty-six counties and originally extended to
the border line of New York. It was organized March 27, 1772, and took in all the valley
of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, and,
with a small exception, the whole of the northern part of the State.
It contained 28,922
square miles, a territory larger than ConnectiMassachusetts
and New Jersey
cut, Delaware,
combined.
At the first court held in that county, on
April 9, 1772, the county was divided into the
townships of Penn, Augusta, Turbut, Buffalo,
Bald Eagle, Muncy and Wyoming. Columbia
and several other counties were included within the three townships of Augusta, Turbut and
Wyoming, the other four townships being cut
off from Northumberland in 1786 and included

being.

Luzerne county.

The

territory of Northumberland was again
curtailed in 1789 by the formation of Mifflin

county; by Lycoming in 1795 Center in 1800;
Union and Columbia in 1813 and Montour in
The townships also were gradually cut
1850.
up. Turbut township was bereft of territory
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

in 1775 to form Mahoning, and in 1786 another
portion was removed to torm Derry township.
The same year Chillisquaque was formed from
Mahoning. In 1785 "Catawassa" was formed
from Augusta, the name of that township gradually being changed in spelling to "Catawese,"
"Catawessa," and finally remaining as "CataThis latter township was again rewissa."
duced by the erection of Ralpho or Shamokin

to reach the courts

township in 1788, and by Mifiiin township in

had been taken from Columbia, so finally in
1853 the division line between the two counties
was established as it is at present. By the
same act, what was Madison township in
Columbia county was renamed Pine, and the
parts of Madison township which had been
set off to Mount Pleasant and Hemlock were
reannexed to the old territory in Columbia

1797-

In 1786 the county of Luzerne took away
part of Wyoming township and the remainder
was named Fishingcreek. In 1797 this area
was again abbreviated by the formation of
Green Briarcreek township, and the following
year the township of Bloom was erected. In

and officials, and the case
was as bad as before, except that now Danville
was the sufferer. So by an act approved May
3, 1850, the county of Montour was created,
including the townships of Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, Liberty, Limestone, Derry, Anthony, and the borough of Danville.
The wrangling was not over, however, and
complaints were made that too much territory

1799 Greenwood was formed from Fishingand in 1812 Harrison or Sugarloaf was

county.

formed from the latter.
Columbia county was taken from Northumberland and separately organized in 1813,
by an act of Assembly of March 226, and included the townships of Chillisquaque and
Turbut. Danville was named in the report of

Beginning at the Northumberland
county line, at or near the house of Samuel
Reader, thence a direct course to the center
of Roaring creek in Franklin township, twenty
rods above a point in said creek opposite the
house of John Vought, thence from the middle

the commissioners appointed by the governor
to lay out the county and select a county seat.
In 181 5 the two townships of Chillisquaque
and Turbott (or Turbut, as it is now spelled)

of said creek to the Susquehanna river, thence
up the center of the same to a point opposite
where the present county line of Columbia and
Montour strikes the north bank of the river,
thence to the said north bank, thence to the
schoolhouse near the residence of David Smith,
thence to a point near the residence of Daniel
Smith, thence to the bridge over Deerlick run
on the line between Derry and Madison townships, thence by the line between said township of Madison and the townships of Derry
and Anthonv to the line of Lycoming county.
The township of Roaringcreek and parts of
the townships of Franklin, Madison and West

creek,

This
were returned to Northumberland.
prompt return of the townships after the location of the county seat was construed by many
to be a trick to give Danville preference over
Bloomsburg, and for years thereafter a continual controversy raged between the rival
towns as to the location of the courthouse.
In 1816 the Assembly restored a portion of
the two townships to Columbia county, the

parts annexed being now Liberty and Limestone townships in Montour county.
Again
in 1818 another legislative act cut off a large
of
and
of
the
eastern
side
Columbia
part
gave

This dismemberment
to Schuylkill county.
of the county did not satisfy any of the rival
claimants for the county seat. Repeated applications were made to the Legislature to remove the seat of government to Bloomsburg,
and finally in 1845 the act was passed to authorize a vote on the question.
The result was a
decisive one, the majority for removal being
out
a
of
The
of
total
1,334
4,492 votes.
county buildings being completed, the records
were removed from Danville in November,
1847. 'ind the first session of court was held
it

Bloomsburg in January, 1848.
But the location of the county seat at
Bloomsburg created another complaint from
those who now had to travel a great distance

The

division line as

follows

named

in the act

was

also taken from Montour and
reannexed to Columbia. As at present constituted, Columbia countv contains an area of a
little over 400 square miles, and a population of

Hemlock were

48,467 persons.

The division line of 1850 so dismembered
the townships of Madison, Hemlock and Montour that some readjustment of the lines became necessarv, so in 1852 what remained of
Madison south of Millville was attached in
part to Mount Pleasant and part to Hemlock,
the old name adhering to that portion which
extended alonsf the coimty line northwest of
Greenwood. By the act of 1853 the latter was
renamed Pine, and the restored portion, with
those attached to Hemlock and Mount Pleasant, formed into a township under the old
name.

The

division

effected

the

township of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Roaringcreek by the act of 1850 was subsequently made permanent, the restored portion
being named Scott. This was found to conflict with a township north of the river, then
under the advisement of the court, and a
month later the name of the southern township
was changed to Locust. Scott township was
formed the same year at the same session of
court, from the township of Bloom, which
had become too unwieldy for the election
commissioners.
petition was laid before the court in 1855
stating that the township of Locust was from
twelve to fourteen miles long and from eight

and that the southern end
mining district, while the northern end was devoted to farming, and asking
for the formation of a new township from
The commissioners reported
part of it.
favorably, the court confirmed the report, and
to ten miles wide,

was

chiefly a

the

new township was named Conyngham,

after the judge of that date.
Finally, to complete the division of

CHAPTER

county,

the

COLUMBIA COUNTY AFTER
The year 1850 fixed the date of the new
dispensation for Columbia county and the
At that date the
birth of Montour county.
From
population of Columbia was 17,700.
then until the present year of 1914 Columbia
has
in
county
steadily gained
population and
prosperity. Although the townships and some
of the smaller towns have lost somewhat, this
is only due to the modern tendency to concentrate in the places of greatest size and attractions.
However, it is believed that the coming
years will show another exodus to the land
and give to this county the agricultural stimulus

which

all

that

needed

make

earthly Eden.

The population

of Columbia in i860, according to government census figures, was 25,065
in 1870 it was 28.766; 1880, 32,439; 1890,
36,832 1900, 39.896 1910, 48,467. The total
area of the county is a little over four hundred

;

square miles.

COLUMBIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE

The first courthouse, which was used during the time that this county also included
the territory of Montour county, is described
in the annals of the latter county in another
part of this volume, as its history has always
been a part of the history of Danville and it
was later again used for the business of the
new county of Montour.
One of the arguments of the opponents of
the removal of the county seat from Danville
to Bloomsburg was that the cost of the erection of the necessary public buildings would be

Colum-

township of Cleveland was
formed from Locust in 1893, and named after
the president who had just been elected on
the Democratic ticket.

bia

1850

a severe burden upon the Bloomsburg people.
The act removing the county seat provided
that within three years thereafter the citizens
of Bloomsburg should erect at their own expense suitable buildings of brick or stone of
the most approved plans, and that the old pub-

grounds and buildings at Danville should
be disposed of, to pay the original subscribers
thereto, the surplus, if any, to revert to the
lic

county treasury.

The Bloomsburg people met all these arguments with the offer to donate the ground and
erect the buildings at their own expense, and
in carrying out these engagements they acted
in no niggardly spirit.
William McKelvey
and Daniel Snyder were the prime movers in
this matter, and as soon as the question of removal was settled entered actively upon the
work of erecting the courthouse and jail.
Elisha H. Biggs, who had made a liberal subscription to the fund for erection, bought the
lot opposite the "Exchange Hotel," which he
at that time owned, and offered this as the site
of the courthouse.
William Robison, who
owned the lot on the upper side, also donated
sufficient land, so that after the alleys on each
side were laid out the building site contained
about ninety feet front.
Mr. Snyder contributed two lots fronting on Center street, and
the
back
to
extending
upper line of the courthouse lot, for a jail site, which was accepted.
At this time the Presbyterian Church was planning for a new house of worship, and Rev.
D. J. Waller, Sr., went to Philadelphia to
secure approved plans for the two structures.
These plans were drawn by Napoleon Le Brun,

Old Courthouse, Bloomsburg,

Pa.

Columbia County Courthouse, Bloomsburg, Pa.

A
!

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and were scrupulously followed by the contractors.

high, with a large square tower and a portico.
In the new part are the offices of the prothono-

of tary and commissioners, on the first floor. On
burned by Daniel Snyder himself, and the second floor are the judge's office, county
was of the pure Ionic order of architecture. superintendent's office, jury rooms, and a reA second
It was 40 by 60 feet in size, with the county
tirnig and rest room for women.
offices below and the court and jury rooms courtroom, 26 by 44 feet, is located on the third
above. The cupola was fitted with a bell and floor, where is also a room occupied by the
The other county offices
clock, the former put up in 1848, at a cost of Historical Society.
$400, and the latter provided by private sub- remain as before. The building is heated by
In 1868 the courthouse was ex- steam and well supplied with all modern conscription.

The new courthouse was constructed

brick,

tended by the addition of a 25-foot building,
the upper story for the law library and the
use of the judges and juries, and the lower

veniences.

The roof was also
for the court records.
raised at this time, which destroyed the true
architectural proportions. In 1882 a new clock
was installed in the cupola, and a year later
steam heating was introduced into the build-

stone,

ing.

jailer's

the September session of court, 1890, a
petition, signed by a large number of taxpayers,
was presented, asking for some changes and
improvements to the courthouse. This was
referred to the grand jury, who recommended
that an addition be built to the front of the
In accordance with this the
old building.
county commissioners inspected plans submitted by architects, adopting those of A. S.

The

material

the addition

brick, with brownstone trimmings.
sents an imposing appearance.

pre-

COUNTY JAIL
The

first jail was constructed of brick and
and combined the usual features of
residence and prison.
It served the

county well for thirty years, although its insecurity in later years caused considerable
complaint. For a number of years successive
grand juries recommended the erection of a
new jail, but the opposition of the people prevented any action. Finally the county commissioners made it known that if another jury
recommended action it would be taken. The
fourth grand jury sanctioned the report of its

Wagner, of Williamsport. Bids were invited, predecessors, and in 1877 the county commisand the contract awarded on Nov. 19, 1890, sioners began measures for the construction of
to Matthias Shaffer, for $21,600, that being a new jail. For various reasons it was decided
There was some to abandon the old site, and the Pursel lot, on
the lowest responsible bid.
opposition to the expenditure of this money, Market street, below Third, was conditionally
as there always is to public improvements, and purchased for $4,000. These moves gave rise
a move was made to procure an injunction to to severe criticism of the commissioners'
prevent Shaffer from beginning the job, but plans.
before this could be done he was at work with
The plans for the new prison were drawn
his men early in the morning, and had the stone by a Mr. Wetzel, and on April 21, 1877, the
the
of
the
at
the
front
and
of
was awarded to Charles Krug. This
contract
steps
part
porch
building torn away. There was no injunction action intensified the dissatisfaction of the
asked for. While the work was in progress critics, who rapidly included a large proporMr. Shaffer died, and the contract was com- tion of the population in their ranks. It appleted by his son. Barton Shaffer, as adpiin- pears that there had been ten proposals, rangThe work was finished, and ac- ing from $41,075 to $119,025, and that the
istrator.
cepted by the county commissioners on Feb. award was made to the second lowest bidder,
29, 1892.

at a price $5,900 higher than the lowest one.

The board of commissioners at the time the It was at once charged that these were grave
contract was made was composed of William reasons for suspecting jobbery on the part of
Ezra the architect. The commissioners were urged
G. Girton, Jesse Rittenhouse, and
In
Stephens, with J. D. Bodine as clerk.
January, 1892, a new board went in office,
consisting of Jesse Rittenhouse, B. F. Edgar
C. M. Terwilliger was
and C. L. Sands.

to dismiss him,

elected clerk.

injunction
authorities

This addition to the courthouse is 70 feet
on Main street and 40 feet deep to where it
joins on the old building, and is three stories

abandon the new, expensive,
and either order a new
letting or promptly accept the lowest bid. The
commissioners refused, and on April 27th an

"mud-bottom"

location,

was applied for to restrain
from building on the Pursel

and from entering

into a contract with

The hearing developed

that the lot

the
lot

Krug.

was too

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

narrow, and would require changes in the plans
that were radical, therefore the court granted
a temporary injunction.
In the meantime Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., had
offered a lot on Iron street, between Seventh
and Eighth, and in July the commissioners
abandoned the former location and accepted

Mr. Waller's donation. The new site was
open to some of the objections of the first one,
but the commissioners adhered to their final
In the construction of the building
they evaded the order of the court by grantmg
contracts for the different parts of the structure to various contractors, some of whom
were smiply hirelings of Krug. Another complaint was made that the cost had been increased from the contract price of $56,975, to
decision.

$70,000.
The prison

a picturesque stone structure,
fruit trees and well
kept lawns. It has a high basement, and two
stories above, with a square tower on the
An oblong extension in the
middle front.
rear contains the cells, which are arranged in
two tiers on either side of a corridor, lighted
by skylights in the arched roof. In the basement are the workshops, steam heating plant
and the dungeons. Baths, closets, ventilation,
lighting and heating are all well provided for,
and the cells are reasonably secure, being lined
with metal and having two doors, of steel and
is

surrounded by bearing

wood.

POORHOUSES

In 1869 the township of Conyngham and
the borough of Centraha organized a district,
and a farm of seventy-five acres was pur-

chased, together with suitable buildings, all
of which were exempted from taxation.
In
1872 Madison township also formed a poor
district and bought a farm of 100 acres, upon
which its poor are comfortably provided for.
The county itself has never had a poor farm,
and apparently it is not greatly needed, for
paupers are scarce in this thrifty section of the
State.

TOWNSHIPS

The

several townships of Columbia county
their erection are as follows:

and the dates of
Catawissa
Fishingcreek
Briarcreek

Bloom
Greenwood
Mifflin

Hemlock
Sugarloaf

Madison

Mount Pleasant
Roaringcreek

Montour
Jackson

Orange
Franklin
Centre

Main
Beaver
Benton
Locust
Pine

The

only other public buildings in the county
In early
are the several district poorhouses.
years the poor were "farmed out" to outsiders,
a most unsatisfactory method. In 1866 an act

Scott

Conyngham
Cleveland

1785
1789
1797
1798
1799
1799
1801
1812
1817
1818
1832
1837
1838
1839
1843
1844
1844
1845
1850
1853
1853
1853
1856
1893

Scott, Pine, Locust, Conyngham and Clevewas passed authorizing a county poorhouse, land townships were formed after the erection
but when the question was submitted to a vote of Montour county.
There are fifty-five election districts in
it was found that only Bloom, Greenwood and
Hemlock townships supported the project. In Columbia county in 19 14, their names being as
erecthe
was
follows:
act
an
passed authorizing
1869
tion of a poorhouse in Bloom township and
Beaver, Benton borough, Benton township,

providing that the application of ten taxables
in any other township should cause an election
to be held to decide whether that township
should unite with Bloom to form a poor district.
Under this act the townships of Scott,
Greenwood and Sugarloaf united with Bloom.
farm of 100 acres on Fishingcreek was
purchased, in Mount Pleasant township, having thereon a brick and a frame house, the
inmates being housed in the former. Other
additions and imnrovements have since been

In later years the borough of Millville
has united with the Bloom poor district.

made.

Berwick northeast, Berwick southeast, Berwick northwest, Berwick southwest, Bloom

Bloom

second, Bloom third, Bloom
Briarcreek east, Briarcreek south,
Briarcreek west, Catawissa township, Catawissa
Centralia
Centralia
first,
borough,
second, Centre north, Centre south, Cleveland,
east-north,
Conyngham
Conyngham westfirst.

fourth,

north,

Conyngham west No. i, Conyngham
2, Convngham southwest, Conyng-

west No.

ham

southeast, Fishinecreek east, Fishingcreek west, Franklin, Greenwood east, Greenwood west. Hemlock north, Hemlock south.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Jackson, Locust north, Locust south, Madison,

Main,

Millville,

Mifflin,

Montour,

Mount

Pleasant, Orange township, Orangeville borough. Pine north. Pine south, Roaringcreek,
Scott east, Scott west, Sugarloaf north,
Sugarloaf south, Stillwater borough. West
Berwick No. i, West Berwick No. 2.

and reelected three times; George W. Sterner,
elected 1881 and 1884; Charles H. Campbell,
elected 1S87 and 1890; Charles B. Ent, elected
1893 and 1896; John C. Rutter, Jr., elected
1899 and 1902; Frank W. Miller, elected 1905
and 1908; James H. Mercer, elected 1911.
District Attorneys

COUNTY OFFICIALS
In the smaller counties the offices of prothonotary and clerk, and register and recorder,
Under the constitution of
are consolidated.
1790 the county officers, with the exception of
the sheriff and coroner, were appointed by the
governor, but in 1838 it was provided that they
be elected. The old constitution provided that
the people elect two candidates each for the
offices of sheriff and coroner, and that the governor appoint one of them.
By the amendment of 1838 the people were permitted to
officers
select these
themselves, the governor to
commission them. The various offices have
been filled as follows
:

Prothonotaries and Clerks

George A. Frick, appointed

1813;

David

Petrikin, appointed March 15, 1821 John Russell, appointed Jan. 14, 1824; Jacob Eyerly,
appointed Jan. ly, 1830; James Donaldson, appointed Jan. 8, 1836, May i, 1838, and Jan. 10,
1839; Valentine Best, appointed Jan. 18, 1839;
Jacob Eyerly, elected in 1839; Jesse Coleman,
elected 1863; Wellington H. Ent, elected
;

R. H. Ringler, ap1869, died Nov. 5, 1871
pointed 1871; B. F. Zarr, elected 1872, and
William
Krickbaum, elected 1878, and
1875;
1881
William H. Snyder, elected 1884, and
Nov. 8, 1887; G. M. Quick, elected Nov. 4,
1890, and Nov., 1893 W. H. Henrie, elected
Nov. 3, 1896, and Nov. 3, 1899; C. M. Terwil-

District attorneys were first elected in 1854.
to that time the duties were performed by

a deputy attorney general appointed for each

county. The following persons have held the
office of district attorney since it became elec'
tive

to 1857; E. H. Little,
1857 to 1868; E. R. Ikeler, 1868 to 1871 James
Bryson, elected in 1871, resigned 1874; John
M. Clark, appointed Dec. 7, 1874 (to fill Bryson's unexpired term, his own term com-

Robert F. Clark, 1854

;

in
January) ; John M. Clark,
elected in
1874; Robert R. Little, 1877
to 1883; Robert Buckingham, elected in 1883,
resigned 1885 F. P. Billmeyer, appointed in
1885; F. P. Billmeyer, elected in November,

mencing

;

1885, and in 1888, resigned in 1890; William
Ciirisman, appointed in April, 1890, elected in
November, 1890; Thomas B. Hanley, elected
in November, 1893, resigned June 27, 1896;
John G. Harman, appointed July 11, 1896;
John G. Harman, elected in November, 1896,
and in November, 1899; A. W. Duy, elected in
November, 1902 C. A. Small, elected in 1905,
reelected in 1908 and 191 1.
;

Sheriffs

;

Hger, elected Nov. 4, 1902, and Nov., 1905
Freeze Quick, elected in November, 1908, and
;

again in 191

Registers and Recorders
Josiah McClure, appointed in 1814; Ellis
Hughes, appointed 1821 Rudolph Sechler, appointed 1824; John Cooper, appointed 1830;
Alexander Best, appointed 1836; Philip Billmeyer, appointed Jan. 18, 1839, and elected in
;

the fall of 1839; Charles Conner, elected in
1842 and 1S45 Jesse G. Clark, elected in 1848
and 185 1 Daniel Lee, elected 1854, and reelected twice
John G. Freeze, elected 1863
and 1866; Williamson H. Jacoby, elected 1869,
;

;

The

constitution of 1790 provided that sheriffs and coroners shall be chosen by the people
two persons were
at the regular election
chosen for each office, one of whom respecThey
tively was appointed by the governor.
held office for three years or during good be;

havior, and until a successor was qualified,
but the sheriff could hold office only one term
This was amended
in any period of six years.
by the constitution of 1838, so that only one
person could be chosen for each office. The
following persons have filled the office of
sheriff since the organization of the county
:

Henry Alward, commissioned

Jan. 13, 1814;
Joseph Prutzman, commissioned Oct. 10, 1816;
commissioned
Oct. 8, 1819,
John Underwood,
died in office; William Robison, appointed to

vacancy, Sept. 16, 1822 Andrew McReycommissioned Oct. 14, 1822
John
Rhoads, commissioned Oct. 22, 1821; William
Kitchen, commissioned Oct. 22, 1828; Isaiah
fill

;

nolds,

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Reed, commissioned Oct. 24, 1831 Isaiah Salmon, commissioned Oct. 25, 1834; William
Kitchen, commissioned Oct. 18, 1837; John
Fruit, commissioned Oct. 30, 1840; Iram Derr,
commissioned 1843; Benjamin Hay man, commissioned Nov. 5, 1846; Peter Billmeyer, commissioned Oct. 24, 1849; John Snyder, commissioned 1852; Stephen H. Miller, commissioned 1855 John Snyder, commissioned 1S58;
Josiah H. Furman, commissioned 1861 Samuel Snyder, commissioned 1864; Mordecai Millard, commissioned 1867; Aaron Smith, commissioned 1870; Michael Gruver, commissioned 1873, <i'^d in office; Charles G. Murphy,
coroner, was sworn in April 5, 1876, and served
;

1899— W. H. Fisher, William
Krickbaum, N. Kitchen. 1902 W. H. Fisher,
William Bogart, G. W. Sterner. 1905 C. L.

N. Kitchen.

—

—
—

Pohe, J. A. Hess, Elisha Ringrose. 1908 C.
L. Pohe, J. A. Hess, C. F. Lenhart.
191 1
G. S. Fleckenstine, C. E. Welliver, C. F. Lenhart.

Commissioners' Clerks

;

until May 5, 1876; Charles S. Fornwald, appointed by the governor May 5, 1876, served
until January, 1877 John W. Hoffman, elected
fall of 1876; Uzal H. Ent, elected fall of 1879;
John Mourey, elected fall of 1882 Samuel
Smith, elected fall of 1885 John B. Casey,
elected fall of 1888; John Mourey, elected fall
of 1891; J. B. McHenry, elected fall of 1894;
W. W. Black, elected fall of 1897; Daniel
Knorr, elected fall of 1900; W. W. Black,
Charles B. Ent, elected
elected fall of 1903
fall of 1906; W. P. Zehner, elected fall of
B.
F.
elected
fall of 1913.
Rice,
1909;

Since 1866 the clerks to the county commissioners have been
Robert C. Fruit, William
Krickbaum, John B. Casey, J. D. Bodine, C.
M. Terwilliger, D. Z. Mensch, R. F. Vanderslice, J. W. Hidlay, A. B. Black, Charles E.
Smith.
:

County Treasurers

;

County Commissioners

The following persons have served

as county
the years mentioned, since
From that date until 1875 °^^ person
1866.
was elected each year for a term of two years.
After that three commissioners were elected
every three years.

commissioners

—

1866 Montgomery Cole, Allen Mann, John
Fowler.
1867 David Yeager, John F.
1868— W. Grier
Fowler, Montgomery Cole.
Quick, Montgomery Cole, David Yeager. 1869
David Yeager, W. G. Quick, Cyrus Robbins.
1870 W. G. Quick, Cyrus Robbins, H. J.
Reeder.
William Shaffer, Cyrus Rob1871
bins, H. J. Reeder.
1872 William Lawton,
H. J. Reeder, William Shaffer. 1873—William Shaffer, William Lawton, John Herner.
1874 William Lawton, John Herner, John
Silas W. McHenry, John Herner,
Ent. 1875
Joseph E. Sands.
1878 Stephen Pohe,
Charles Reichert, A. B. Herring.
1881
Charles Reichert, B. F. Edgar, Joshua Fetterman. 1884 Stephen Pohe, Washington Parr,
Theodore Mendenhall. 1887— W. G. Girton,
Jesse Rittenhouse, Ezra Stephens.
1890
Jesse Rittenhouse, B. F. Edgar. C. L. Sands.
1893— G. M. Ikeler. J. G. Swank. W. H. Utt.

—

—John

N. Gordon, William Krickbaum,

list

shows the incumbents of

this office

during the terms in the years before their
names, prior to 1870; from and after that time
the dates show when they began their terms
:

1816, James Langhead; 1818, Josiah McClure; 1820, 1822, William Wilson; 1826, 1828,
Andrew McReynolds; 1830, Hugh McWilHams; 1832, 1834, John Fruit; 1836, 1838,
Hugh McWilliams; 1842, Leonard B. Rupert;
1844, David Clark; 1846, Charles F. Mann;
1S48, Emanuel Lazarus; 1850, Amandus Levers; 1852, Samuel Creasy; 1854, John Doak;
1856, Jacob Harris 1858, James S. McNinch
i860, John A. Funston
1862, James S. McNinch 1864, Daniel McHenry; 1866, John J.
Yohe
Stiles; 1868, Jacob
1870, David Lowen'

;

berg; 1873, John Snyder; 1876, H. W. McReynolds 1879, H. A. Sweppenheiser 1882, A. M.
Johnson; 1885, P. A. Evans; 1888, George A.
Herring; 1891, John L. Kline 1894, J. R. Fowler; 1897, G. S. Fleckenstine; 1900, Jeremiah
Snyder
1903, A. B. Croop
1906, M. H.
;

;

Rhodes; 1909, John Mourey; 1912,

L. Rabb.

Toivnship and Borough Assessors

—

1896

This

The township and borough assessors for
Beaver Emanuel Har1914 are as follows
ger Benton borough O. E. Sutton Benton
Berwick Cyrus Smith
John Ipher
Tp.
W. C. Sloan; Bloom, E,— P. B.
Blooni,
Heddens
Briarcreek William Ash
Catawissa Tp. James Bibby Catawissa borough
O. D. L. Kostenbauder Centralia, ist M. W.
Brennan Centralia, 2d A. T. Conway Centre
Frank Harris Cleveland F. P. Small
Conyngham Peter J. McHale Fishingcreek
H. W. Hess; Franklin—D. M. Reeder;
Greenwood W. L. Kelchner; Hemlock
:

—
;

—
—

—

;

W.—

;

—

;

—

;

—
—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

•

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Chas. L. Hartman; Jackson — M. O. Everhart;
Locust — D. C. Yocum; Madison — John
— P.
Kreamer; Main — Jerry Kelchner;
C.
Glodfelter; Millville— Tillman Stadler;
Montour—Albert Newman Mt. Pleasant—
R. M. Creasy; Orange Tp. — Elmer Kline;
— W. Allabach Pine
Orangeville borough
—
M.
B. F.
Karshner; Roaringcreek—
Yocum Scott— Harry Deiterick Sugarloaf —
— George
Stillwater
Fritz;
Jesse
—borough
William Croft;
Dresher; W. Berwick,
J.

Mifflin

;

VV.

;

ist

Berwick,

2d— L. M.

Pettit.

Representatives in Congress

Columbia county has been joined with a
at dili'erent times in

number of other counties

It
the formation of a Congressional district.
was originally placed in the Tenth district,
which included the counties of Northumber-

Union, Lycoming, Luzerne, Bradford,
Susquehanna and Tioga, with two Congressmen, and was represented by the followWilliam Wilson and Jared Irwin,
ing persons
elected 1814; William Wilson and David
1816.
In 1817 Mr. Scott was
elected
Scott,
elected a judge and resigned, and John Murray
land,

Potter,

was elected to fill the vacancy. John Murray
and George Dennison were elected in 1818;
George Dennison and W. C. Ellis in 1820. In
1 82 1 Ellis resigned, and Thomas Murray, Jr.,
was elected to fill the vacancy.
In 1822 Columbia was put in the Ninth district, with Union, Northumberland, Luzerne,
Susquehanna, Bradford, Lycoming, Potter,
Tioga and McKean, having three members, as
W. C. Ellis, Samuel McKean, George
follows
Samuel McKean,
Kreamer, elected 1822
George Kreamer, Espy Van Horn, elected
1824 and 1826 Philander Stevens, James Ford,
Allen Marr, elected 1828; Lewis Dewart, Philander Stevens, James Ford, elected 1830.
In 1832 Columbia was placed with Luzerne
as the Fifteenth district, with one member.
Andrew Beaumont was elected in 1832 and
1834; David Petrikin in 1836 and 1838; B. A.
Bidlock in 1840 and 1842.
In 1843 Wyoming was joined to Columbia
and Luzerne, forming the Eleventh district.
Owen D. Leib was elected in 1844 and 1846;
Chester Butler in 1848; Hendrick B. Wright
:

;

1858 and i860 (he died in March,
1861, and at a special election in June, H. B.
Wright was elected).
In 1861 Columbia was joined with Bradford,
Montour, Sullivan, Wyoming and all of Northumberland, except Lower Mahoning township,
Northumberland was
in the Twelfth district.
transferred to another district in 1862, and the
remaining counties elected Henry W. Tracy in
1862; Ulysses Mercur in 1864, 1866, 1868 and
1870; Dr. J. D. Strawbridge in 1872. Mercur
resigned in 1872, having been elected to the
Supreme bench, and at a special election, in
December, Frank Bunnell was chosen for the

Scranton

short term.
In 1S73 Columbia

was put in the Eleventh
with Montour, Carbon, Monroe and
Pike counties the townships of Nescopeck,
Blackcreek, Sugarloaf, Butler, Hazel, Foster,
Bearcreek, Buck, Salem, Hollenback, Huntington, in Luzerne county; Fairmount, Roaring
Brook, Spring Brook, and that part of Scranton south of Roaring Brook creek and east of
the Lackawanna river, in Lackawanna county
and the boroughs of Dunmore, New Columbus,
Gouldsboro, White Haven, Jeddo, and Hazledistrict

;

Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. It
was known as the "Shoestring" district. F. P.
Collins was elected in 1874 and 1876; Robert
Klotz in 1878 and 1880; John B. Storm in
1882 and 1884; C. R. Buckalew in 1886 and

ton, in

1888.

In 1890 the Sixteenth Congressional district

was made up of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Sullivan counties, and so remains
in 1914. S. P. Wolverton was elected in 1890
and 1892; M. H. Kulp, 1894 and 1896; Rufus
K. Polk, 1898 and 1900 (died in office, and
Alexander Billmeyer was elected to fill the unexpired term) Charles H. Dickerman, 1902;
E. W. Samuels, 1904; John G. McHenry, 1906,
1908 and 1910 (died shortly before the expiration of his third term, and the vacancy was
not filled) John V. Lesher, 1912 and 1914.
;

;

State Senators

Columbia county was

first placed in a Senawith Luzerne, Susquehanna and
Union, Columbia and Union being added upon
This district
the formation of the counties.

torial district

elected two senators, Thomas Murray, Jr., and
was in the Twelfth dis- William Ross, Murray being reelected in 1814,
trict with Luzerne. Montour and Wyoming. the first election for senator in which Columbia
Hendrick B. Wright was elected in 1852; participated.
In 181 5 the Ninth Senatorial district was
Henry M. Fuller in 1854 John G. Montgomery
in 1856 (he died before taking his seat, and formed, and included Northumberland, Columin 1857 Paul Leidy was elected)
George W. bia, Union, Luzerne and Susquehanna, with
in 1850.

In 1852 Columbia

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

senators, chosen alternately, the term being
Charles Frazier was elected in
four years.
1816; Simon Snyder, 1818; a special election
was lield in i8iy to till the vacancy caused by
the death of Simon Snyder, and Kobert WilIn 1820 Redmond Conynglett was elected.

two

four representatives" to the General Assembly.
Samuel Bound, Leonard Rupert, Thomas

and George Kreamer were elected
David E. Owen, Robert Willett,
Joseph Hutchison and Henry Shaffer in 1814.
In 1815 Columbia was made a separate diselected.
was
ham
trict, with one member, and James McClure
In 1822 the Tenth Senatorial district was was elected in that year; Samuel Bond, in
formed of Luzerne and Columbia, with one 1816, 1817 and 1818; James McClure, 1819;
member. In 1824 Robert Moore was elected. John Snyder, 1820; John Clark, 1821.
In 1822 the county was given two members,
The term was then changed to three years.
In 1827 Moore was reelected; Jacob Urum- and William McBride and Alexander Colley
were elected, and reelected in 1823; John Mcheller, 1830; Uzal Hopkins, 1833.
Another change of district took place in 1830, Reynolds and Eli Thornton, 1824; John
when Columbia and Schuylkill were made the McReynolds and William McBride, 1826; John
Charles McReynolds and Christian Bropst, 1827; John
Ninth district, with one senator.
Fraley was elected in 1837; Samuel F. Head- McReynolds and John Robinson, 1828.
ley,

1840.

In 1843 Columbia and Luzerne were again
put together, as the Thirteenth district. William S. Ross was elected in 1844; Valentine
Best, 1847.

Murray,

Jr.,

1813;

The representation was reduced to one member in 1829, and John Robinson was elected;
Uzal Hopkins, 1830 and 1831 Isaac Kline,
1832 and 1833; John F. Derr, 1834 and 1835;
Evan O. Jackson, 1836; John Bowman, 1837;
William Colt, 1838 and 1839; Daniel Snyder,
1840, 1841, 1842, 1843; Thomas A. Funston,
1844 and 1845 Stewart Pierce, 1846, 1847,
;

Montour was added to these two
and the district became the Sixteenth.
Charles R. Buckalew was elected in 1850 and
reelected in 1853; George P. Steele, 1856.
1848; Benjamin P. Fortner, 1849.
In 1850 Columbia and Montour were joined
In 1857 Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder formed the Thirteenth dis- in a district, and John McReynolds was elected
M. E. Jackson in 1851; George Scott, 1852
trict, and C. R. Buckalew was elected senator,
but resigned at the end of one session. Reuben and 1853; James G. Maxwell, 1854; John G.
Keller was elected in 1858 to fill the vacancy, Montgomery, 1855; Peter Ent, 1856.
In 1857 Columbia, Montour, Sullivan and
and reelected in i860. D. B. Montgomery was
elected in 1863.
Wyoming were put together, with two memIn 1864 Sullivan was substituted for Snyder, bers, and Peter Ent and John V. Smith were
and the district was changed to the Fifteenth. elected George A. Jackson and
George D. Jackson was elected in 1866, and Oakes, 1858 and 1859 H. R. Kline and
C. R. Buckalew in 1869.
Osterhaut, i860; Levi L. Tate and
In 1871 Lycoming was substituted for North- Tutton, 1861 G. D. Jackson and J. C. Ellis,
and
Chalfant
elected
1862 and 1863.
Thomas
was
umberland,
In 1864 Columbia and Montour were made
in 1872.
In 1874 the State was redistricted, no change a district, and W. H. Jacoby was elected that
occurring in this district except the change of year and 1865; Thomas Chalfant, 1866 and
In 1874 1867: George Scott, 1868 and 1869; Thomas
the number to the Twenty-fourth.
and again in 1876 Robert P. Allen was elected
Chalfant, 1870.
In 1871 Columbia was placed alone, and C.
George D. Jackson, 1878, died in office, and
E. J. McHenry was elected in 1880 to fill the B. Brockway was elected, and reelected in 1872
Verus
H.
and
W.
W.
MetzHart, 1882;
1873.
vacancy;
In 1874, in accordance with the provisions
ger, 1886; Grant Herring, 1890; J. Henry
Cochran, 1894. 1898, 1902 and 1906; Charles of the new constitution, Columbia was made a
W. Sones. 1910 and 1914. No change has separate district, and g^iven two members, and
been made in the formation of the district the term of office was fixed at two years, E. J.
McHenrv and S. P. Rvan being first elected;
from 1871 to the present (1914).
E. J. McHenrv and David S. Brown, 1876;
T. T. Vander^lire and Joseph B. Knittle, 1878
Members of General Assembly
and 1880: William Brvson and T. J. VanderBy the Eighth section of the act creating slice, 1882: A. L. Fritz and William Brvson
Columbia county in 1813 it was provided "that 1884; A. L. Fritz and James T. Fox, 1886
the inhabitants of the counties of Northum- James T. Fox and William Krickbaum, 1888
berland, Union and Columbia shall jointly elect William Krickbaum and E. M. Tewksbury,
In 1850

counties,

;

——

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
1890; E. M. Tewksbury and A. L. Fritz, 1892;
A. L. Fritz and William T. Creasy, 1894 W. T.
Creasy and William Chrisman, 1896 and i8g8;
W. T. Creasy and Fred Ikeler, 1900 and 1902
W. T. Creasy and John G. Harman, 1904. The
memrepresentation was then reduced to one
ber, and W. T. Creasy was elected in 1906;
Charles A. Shaffer, 1908, 1910, 1912 and 1914.
;

The amount of money out
Columbia county
follows

the

year

interest

1914 was as

;

Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg east
Bloomsburg west
Briarcreek township
ASSESSMENT AND VALUATION, COLUMBIA
Catawissa township
COUNTY
Catawissa borough
Centralia borough 1st ward
The total valuation of property in this county Centralia borough 2d ward
in 1914, according to the report of the county Centre township
This was Cleveland township
commissioners, was $13,987,354.
Conyngham township
probably less than half the real value of prop- Fishingcreek township
in
Frankhn township
erty, when the immense coal deposits
Conyngham township and the materials and Greenwood township
Hemlock township
and
finished products of the many factories
Jackson township
industrial establishments are taken into con- Locust
township
sideration.
Madison township
had
street
alone
Main
west
of
Center
township
Bloomsburg
a valuation of $1,586,830, which is remarkable, Mifflin township
Millville borough
considering the large amount of unoccupied Montour township
Bloomsburg east of Center street fol- Mount Pleasant township
space.
lows with a valuation of $1,538,095, and Ber- Orange township
wick is third in position, with a valuation of Orangeville borough
Pine township
Following is the complete list:
$1,321,375.
Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Beaver township
222,425
$
Sugarloaf township
Benton township
212,375
Stillwater borough
Benton borough
172,010
West Berwick 1st ward
Berwick borough
1,321,375
West Berwick 2d ward
east

—
—

Bloomsburg—
Bloomsburg— west

1,538.095
1,586,830

Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough

— ward
—2d ward

Centralia borough
Centralia borough

1st

Centre township
Cleveland township
Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township
Millville

borough

Montour township
Mount Pleasant township
Orange township
Orangeville borough
Pine township

Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough
West Berwick ist ward
West Berwick 2d ward

—
—

Total

494,750
142,305
527,635
186,520
98,400
518,700
223,672
1,356,327

31S.71S
186,730
351,180
338,960
109,075
319,003
393,240
203,810
375,585
158,305
270,185
218,615
176,430

in ,555
129,099
146,378
413.535
153,935
65,345
604,010
345,245

$13,987,354

—
—

Total

24,733
74,143
24,733
238,200
209,303
241,442
33,790
10,705
145,560
7,i47
48,925
55,241
40,897
3,498
26,700
14,065
33,287
37,4l6
6,751
13,665
25,025
42,402
54,II3
66,389
10,191
7.594
6,819
75, 136
10,963
44,175
102,682
34,593
15,188
29,960
61,745

$1,968,402

Even though

the fact is acknowledged that
Columbia county has been almost denuded of
timber, there still remained in 1914 a total of
75,356 acres of timberland. Of this Conyngham is credited with 11,135 acres, but most of
it is mountain scrub, unfit for
any purpose but
mine props. The timber areas in acres are as
follows
:

Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centre township
Clevelnnd township
Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township

4,565

413
8,895
1,741
1,310

9
1,303
2,913
1 1, 135
3,113
1,499
3.709
1.720
4,188
2,319
5,185
:,.... 1,283
1,998

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

92
Millville

borough

Montour township
Mount Pleasant township
Orange township

l.i/i
1,879

Orangeville borough
Pine township

54
7,220
4,277

1,98c)

Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough

7,264
441

75,356

numerous

various boroughs, Columbia county has 164,880 acres of
the
returns
of the
cleared land, according to
assessors in 1914. Madison township leads the
county with 12,806 acres, with Fishingcreek
and Centre close seconds.
The acreage by districts is as follows
lots in

Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township

6,658

413
8,895

— east
— west

861

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg

436

Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia borough
Centre township
Cleveland township

6,899
4,574
182

—

Conyngham

ist

ward

150
11,358
7,5o8

townsliip

Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township

II,SI2
6,152
10,941
7.640
6,003
8,370
12,806

Madison township
Main township

5,558
8,346

Mifflin township
Millville borough
.

3,885
7.292
5.478

;

Orangeville borough
Pine township

5,39i

3.317
4.949
1,092
22

—
—

421

Total

164,880

In addition to the above the following numBenton
ber of lots have also been returned
:

Berwick,

1,178; Bloomsburg
west, 902; Briareast, 1,246; Bloomsburg
1st ward, 328 Centralia
creek, 959 Centralia

—
—2d

—

;

ward,

compiled

Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg east
Bloomsburg west
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia 1st ward
Centralia 2d ward

—
—

Centre township
Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township
Millville

1882
257

J914
171

zgi
258

292
660

3,202
1.780
1,348

9S6
284
646

876
150
802

385

521

296
512
366

444
325
898
322

117
431

132

383
310

227

146
349
285
162
377
246

157

456
271
153
272

borough

Montour township

Mount

154

Pleasant township

195
163
108

171

Orange township
Orangeville borough

253

Pine township
Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township

218
129
412
215

154
232
152

469
381

Stillwater borough

—
— 2d

West Berwick
West Berwick

ist

ward
ward

Total

1,030

954
8,320

16,908

138;

—

;

Conyngham, 411; Fishing-

creek, 55; Millville, 200; Orangeville borough,
1st ward, 1,177; West
123; West Berwick
Berwick 2d ward, 2,241.

—

The number of

The occupational tax of Columbia county
for 1914 was as follows:

225
7.102

Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough
West Berwick ist ward
West Berwick 2d ward

237;

439

Montour township
Mount Pleasant township.
Orange township

borough,

following table

273

Total

In addition to

1914 showed an increase of 8,582 over the
statement for 1882, the date of the publication
of these figures in Colonel Freeze's history of
For purposes of comparison the
the county.
in

—

taxables in Columbia county

Beaver township
Benton township
Benton borough
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg east
Bloomsburg west
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough

—
—

Centralia
Centralia

—
—

ist

ward

2d ward
Centre township
Cleveland township
Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township

14,690
6,170
25,515
169,440
146,320
1 18,600

54.575
6,630
70,110
4i,970
37.440
16,610
8,480
83,890
12,280
5.295
13.620
12,930
3,200
14,205
9,400
8,470
23,095

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
borough

Millville

I9.4IS
13,060
5.080
2,300
13.010
5.285
3.600
34.915
11,930
3.520
99,i5S
48,360

Montour township

Mount

Pleasant township

Orange township
Orangeville borough
Pine township
Roaringcreck township
Scott township

Sugarloaf township
Stillwater

borough

W. Berwick— 1st ward
W. Berwick— 2d ward

county can be found
within these three townships. All of the townships and districts except the 2d ward of Centralia have at least one cow, but that spot has
not one; and in spite of its large size, Conyngham township has but five cattle in its confines.
The names of the divisions, number of cattle
fifth of all the cattle in the

and

valuation,

according

figures, are as follows

assessors'

the

Value

No.
Total

$1,162,565

In 1914 Columbia county had 6,558 horses,
mares, geldings and mules, over the age of
four years, with an aggregate valuation of
$330,160. Madison township led, with Greenwood a close second, but the average assessed
value varied greatly, according to the views
of the different assessors. The figures are as
follows
:

Animals
200
299

Beaver township
Benton township
Benton borough
Berwick borough

Bloomsburg— east
Bloomsburg

—west

Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia ist ward
Centralia 2d ward
Centre township
Cleveland township

—
—

Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Franklin township

S8
148
148
92
303
149
69
37

179

414
274

Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township
Millville borough
Montour township
Mount Pleasant township
Orange township
Orangeville borough
Pine township
Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough

I7S

1st

ward
ward

Totals

15,645
2,170
8,915
6,905
5.695
17.870
7.455
2,450

520
760

374
307
229
286

Greenwood township
Hemlock township

W.Berwick —
W. Berwick — 2d

Value
$10,820

385

430
197

269
66
167

266
178
36
217
178
170
137

'5.945
13,820
9,l6o
12,260
9.010
28,375
14,500
8,060
16,185

25,040
11,360
11,870
2.710
11,245
13,060
7,560
1,27s
10,425
9,370
7,685
5,SI0

24
33
45
6,558

2,570
1,905
2,055

$330,160

For a number of years Madison, Centre and
Greenwood townships have striven for the
honor of having the largest number of cattle
within their borders in comparison with the
other townships of this county.

More than

one-

Beaver township
Benton township
Benton borough
Berwick borough

Bloomsburg— east

—

Bloomsburg west
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia

—

ist

141

borough
Montour township
Mount Pleasant township
Orange township
Orangeville borough
Pine township
Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough
W. Berwick ist ward
W. Berwick 2d ward
Millville

—
—

Total

2,430
9,040
3,635

310

i77
205

9,375
3.89S
'OO

6,390
2,495
10,750
5,240
2,205
4,330
9.6l5
3,380
5,450

311
109

374
251
152

216
385
169

260
42

455

181

4,390

250
170

5,035
4,165

300

I93
120

3,295
2,400
3,210
2,780

145
144
21
10
20
5.1

The amounts paid for

480
200
1.080

122
10

ward

2,820
5,455

273
24
8
44
58
300

915
280
515
$116,604

by the
various townships and boroughs for the year
1914 were as follows:
Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia borough
Conyngham township
Fishingcreek township
Greenwood township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin

township.

Montour township

liquor licenses

lOO
200
lOO
1,850
4.500

200
200
1,250
4,100

975
100
200
300
100
lOO
100

200

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

94
Mount Pleasant township

loo

Conyngham township

Orangeville borough
Pine township
Sugarloaf township

400

Fishingcreek township
Franklin township
Greenwood township
Hemlock township
Jackson township
Locust township
Madison township
Main township
Mifflin township

100
300
3,400

West Berwick borough
Total

$18,925

The

tabulated statement of the mercantile
was as follows:

license fees paid in 1914

Beaver township
Benton borough
Benton township
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg borough
Briarcreek township
Catawissa township
Catawissa borough
Centralia borough
Centre township
Cleveland township

41.23
196.89
6.30
1,844.46
1,718.30

66.25
5.65

418.66
426.78
72.66
14.86

Millville

18843
43.15
20.58
S9.91
14.24
10.80
87.68
21.79
35-99
97.04
166.95

borough

Montour township
Mount Pleasant township
Orange township

23.21
14.50

6.50
93.90

Orangeville borough
Pine township

10.51

Roaringcreek township
Scott township
Sugarloaf township
Stillwater borough
West Berwick borough

55-01
10.63

221.30

Total

CHAPTER

20.24
14.38

$6,128.78

XII

EDUCATIONAL GROWTH
in most of the counties of Pennsylvania, fire.
A tin cup and a wooden pail completed
growth of education in Columbia was con- the furnishings.
In one respect Columbia county fared better
temporary with that of religion. As soon as
the pioneer had established his home in the than her western neighbors in the counties near
wilderness and begun to accumulate a little of to the Allegheny river she did not have to
this world's goods he took note of the educasubmit her little ones to the tender mercies of
The first the "Irish schoolmaster," that "knight of the
tional needs of his growing family.
one to turn to was the pastor of the sect to rod and bottle" so common in the western counwhich his religious allegiance was given. The ties. Her teachers usually were drawn from
primitive pastor was often the schoolmaster the families of the neighborhood, and though
as well, and well did he perform that duty. To sometimes of limited capacity were sober, earnthese olden-time preachers we owe the deep est and religious instructors.
Many of the
religious sentiment and honesty of the genera- first schools were held in the homes of the
tion of which the present members of the com- teachers and the children were given more care
and attention than at a later date, when the
munity are sons.
Then came the era of "subscription schools." common school laws came into effect.
These were inadequately supported by the conTHE COMMON SCHOOL LAW
tributions of the parents and were at first held

the

—

homes. Later, voluntary subscripwere taken to build special habitations
for the schools, and they were of the same
primitive character as those of the householders.
The furnishings of these temples of
knowledge were also primitive in character.
The seats were puncheons, with peg legs the
desks lined the walls under the small windows,
the scholars stood up to use them and the
heat in wintertime came from an open and
wide-mouthed fireplace, the door of the hut
being made sjiecially wide to allow the scholars
at noon to roll in the great logs to replenish the
in private

tions

;

In 1833, the year before the common school
system was inaugurated, it was estimated that
less than 24,000 children were educated at public expense, and most of these by very incom-

These schools were called
petent teachers.
"pauper schools," and were despised by the
rich and shunned by the poor.
The children
were classified as pay and pauper scholars, and
the
the
rich from
thus
law practically separated
the poor, causing the development of the
"caste" idea in a democratic republic.
The svstem inaugurated bv the school law

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
1834 provided that each township could
accept or reject the plan, but this was iQund to
be unwise, and in 1849 the act was made comIn 1857 the genpulsory on every township.
eral supervision was taken out of the hands of
the secretary of the Commonwealth and the
same year the normal school law was passed.
The school laws found some opposition in
Columbia county from the Germans, who were
and
greatly attached to their native tongue
feared the teaching of English would cause
its abandonment by the younger generation.
of

Their forebodings were afterwards realized,
the stronger tongue gradually forcing out the
weaker, and English now prevails over all
other languages.

The equipment of the scholar of the olden
days was simple. A Webster speller, an English reader or a Testament, DaboU's arithmea few sheets of
tic, a slate, a goose quill and
coarse writing paper covered the entire range
of known material winter after winter, so long
Later on Maltebrun's
as he attended school.
geography and Smith's grammar were added,
Contrasted with
atlas.
a
Colton
and perhaps
the vast array of books laid before the present
scholar these first essentials were few and

tutions, as well as that of the State Normal
School, will be found in the chapters devoted
to the local history of their

home towns.

STATISTICS

Complete reports of the schools for different
years since the beginning of State supervision
would take up too much room in this work.
Reports may be had from the proper authorities at any time.
will, however, give a
few isolated figures for comparison, in addition to the latest reports available from the

county superintendent.
A writer of 1847 states that general education had been neglected in many of the townMiftlin and Valleyships, although but two
had failed to adopt the common school system.
The compensation of the teachers $16 for
was not such
the men and $9 for the women
as to induce competent persons to take up the

—

At that date there
profession of teaching.
were in the county 104 schools, in operation
seven months in the year, employing 98 men

and 31 women teachers.
In 1885 there were 196 schools, in operation
for a little over six months 97 male teachers
and 124 female teachers, the men receiving an
simple.
average of $35 and the women $28 per month
and the number of scholars in attendance was
SMALL BEGINNINGS
4,602 males and 4,187 females. The resources
The first organized educational movement of the schools in that year were $2,300 and the
made in the county was that of the Society of liabilities $26,445, while the total expenditures
Friends at Millville, who partitioned off one were $66,469.
end of their meetinghouse for use as a schoolMODERN DEVELOPMENTS
room by Miss Elizabeth Eves. This school was
;

;

not sectarian in character, the children of
schools were

all

welcomed.
Other
established — by the residents of

denominations

being

Fishingcreek in 1794, Benton in 1799, Berwick
in 1800, and other townships in rapid succes-

These local schools are treated
chapters devoted to the various townships.
The ambition for higher education was early
developed in this county, Berwick taking the
lead with her academy in 1839. It served its
purpose, and finally the building was torn down
in 1872.
Millville high school was established
in 1851, became Greenwood Seminary in 1861
and is still running, although with but few

sion thereafter.
in

Orangeville Male and Female Acaincorporated in 1858, opened the
following year, continued as an orphans' school
during 1864-66, and in 1894 was sold to the
township for common school uses. Catawissa
Seminary was chartered in 1866, having been

scholars.

demy was

operated since 1839 as an academy, and finally
suspended in 1872. The history of these insti-

Possibly in no other particular is there
clearer evidence of the growth of Columbia
county in the last quarter of a century than
that shown by the advancement of education.
Perhaps the most fundamental improvement
has been the establishment of a uniform course
of studies. The boroughs were the first to see
the wisdom of this nlan and the countn,' disThe countricts soon followed their example.
as carefully
try children are now graded just
as those in the towns, promotions are made in
the same manner, and, in fact, there is little to
choose between the city and country school.
One of the best results of systematic study
and work in the county has been the stimulus
it has given to the establishment of township
high schools. Under the old methods the pupils

never advanced by grades, never graduated,
and there was no means of determining where
the common school should leave of? and the
high school begin. As soon as the present sys-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

was adopted the pupils began to look for- the schoolroom, and no arrangements were
ward to something higher and school work made for ventilation, the windows being closed
seemed to be worth while.
for the winter and seldom opened until the
tern

Within the last fifteen years there has been
a steady increase in the number of high schools
in the county, scarcely equaled in the rest of
the State. Fishingcreek, Mifflin, Scott, Sugarloaf, Hemlock, Madison, Briarcreek, Centre,
Beaver, Roaringcreek, Main, Locust, Greenwood and Mount Pleasant by 1912 all had good
high schools, thoroughly established and en-

The special approthusiastically patronized.
priation for these high ^schools for the year
1912 was over $5,000. Besides the above there
have been high schools established at Benton,
Orangeville, Stillwater and Millville, and in

every township except Pine, Montour and
The attendance at these schools is
Jackson.
remarkable, over ninety per cent of those who
begin the course remaining to graduate, a record which some of the more wealthy and populous counties cannot equal.
Wherever a high
school has been in operation for a few years
there will be found a social center composed of
intellectually bright young
will assist in the future

breath of spring compelled it. As an old
resident said about the pioneer schoolhouses

smell."

There were then no decorations or embellishment of the walls or exterior, and often a sad
lack of repairs.
The furniture consisted of
plain wooden benches and desks, the seats
sometimes having a close capacity for three or
four children together. The outbuildings were
small, dilapidated and unsanitary to the fullest

degree.

But these conditions do not prevail now.
contrast is remarkable between the oldtime school and the one of these days. Even

The

the country schoolhouse now is often built of
enduring brick, and where wood is used the
style

of architecture and furnishings are in

men and women who consonance with
development of the

mental and moral character of their section.

Each month the teachers in the different dismeet to discuss ways and means of improving their work, and each month the leadtricts

ing teachers of the county spend a day at the
county seat, where they listen to talks by some
of the greatest educators of the State.
In every district a local educational mass
meeting is held thrice yearly, and is largely attended by the people. County institutes are
steadily in popularity
graduation
exercises and commencements are held yearly
school frolics for the improvement of the
school buildings are often held an eight weeks'
summer review school is held each year at Benton and attended by 150 students an excursion
of progressive farmers, teachers and pupils
is made each year to the State College, to get
acquainted with the progress of scientific agriculture and a series of debating leagues are in
operation to develop the latent oratory of the
pupils. An exhibit of the schools of this county
at the National Educational Association in
Philadelphia in 1913 was pronounced to be the
best of any country schools in the State.

growing

;

BUILDINGS

The

warm

and churches, "the atmosphere was carefully
preserved from one season to the other, and
one could tell he was in a schoolhouse or
church, even when his eyes were closed, by the

character and equipment of the schoolhouses have kept pace with and often outstripped that of the educational end. The old
rural schoolhouse of twenty-five years ago was
a frame structure, with an entrance directly into

all that modern science can
show, while the efforts of the directors, teachers and pupils are constantly directed to the
end of housing the scholar in a building where
he can gain an education without losing his
health and cheerfulness.

The location and character of the high
schools of the county are given below, and even
where there is no comment on the school it is
to be understood that the building is in as good
a state of repairs as its age will allow. The
grammar schools of the different townships
are described in the chapters devoted to the
general history of those divisions.
Superintendent Evans was elected to the office which he holds in 1901 and has been reMost of the
peatedly reelected up to 1914.
recent educational growth of the county is due
his efforts.
His unflagging energy and
abundant resources of mind and body, coupled
with a genial personality, have endeared him
He
to all with whom he has been associated.
has a fine and artistic sense, and through his
efforts the schools have had their lack of decorative appearance filled by the placing upon
their walls of hundreds of finely framed pictures from the old masters and modern artists.
Within the last year Superintendent Evans
had the honor given him of the presidency of
the Columbia County Historical Society, and
he intends to enlist the teachers and scholars
in the work of gathering material and relics
for the rooms of the society in the county courthouse. This will be a method of teaching history in a practical and effective manner.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

HIGH SCHOOLS AND PRINCIPALS
Principal
Myrtle Rice

Building

Location
Beaver— Beaver Valley

New

Benton— Benton

Remodeled

Berwick
Bloomsburg
Briarcreek- N. Berwick
Centre— Grange Hall

OJd
Old

Centralia

•

Fishingcreek— Jonestown

Greenwood

Hemlock— Buckhorn
Locust— Newlin
Main Mainville

—

Madison— Jerseytown

New
New

Mount Pleasant— Canby
Orangeville— Academy
Roaringcrcek— Gulp
Scott— Espy
Stillwater

Sugarloaf

now

Schools

Teachers

M. D. Mordan
Florence Hauck
Ernest Merrill
Ida Dreibelbis
A. S. Fritz
Harlan R. Snyder

ability of

County Superintendent Evans. Fol-

the statement of the number of
schools, teachers, and financial standing of the
county for the year 1912, taken from the re-

lowing

port of Superintendent
Scholars

> u
'

raj:

B-t;

o
" s
2 ^
> B

<
8

Beaver township
Benton horougli
Benton township
Berwick borough
Bloomsburg
Briarcreek township
Catawissa borough

6
7
2i

25
14
12

Catawissa township
Centralia

3
8

borough

10
Centre township.
Cleveland township
7
17
Conyngham township
9
Fishingcreek township....
Franklin township
4
11
Greenwood township
8
Hemlock township
4
Jack'^on township
11
T.orust township
10
Madison township
6
MTtn township
10
MifRin township
MillviUe borough
4

Montour townsliip
Mount Pleasant township.
Orange township
Orangeville borough

4
8

4
3

8
Pine township
Roarinccreek township. ...
5
8
Scott township
Stillwater borouch
3
12
Sugarloaf township
20
West Berwick borough.
.

Evans

Tax and Rate Per Cent Receipts

— c
Districts

Potter

M. Leehman

Amos Gruber

New
New
New

were 246 teachers

Chas.
Jjeo.

Old

in the
there are 325. Much of the rewideto
the
cent educational growth is owing
and to
spread influence of the Normal School,
the unflagging energy and the fine organizing
;

John E. Klingerman
Kimber Hartman

New

West Berwick
tliere

bamuel

Remodeled

— Grassmere

looi

A. Fetterman
A. Shovlin
J. Seesholtz
Hazel Kester
Maurice Girton
Charles W. Keeler
R.

New
New
New
New
New
New
Remodeled

Mifflin— Mifflinville
MillviUe

county

Frank Adams
Frank A. Frear

01°
', ',
Kemodeled
New, 8 rooms
'

Conyngham—AVistes

Y. SliaiTibach
C. Mauser
R. C. Cole

New
New

Catawissa

Ray Appleman

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Expenditures

Receipts

C-C o

Districts

X o

X
^^

u p

C D
5 O
m
P

£c£

rt
to

D.
=1-

c
o w

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
man, Hannah McHale, Margaret Kostenbauder, Griffith Yocum, Mary Maguire, Mary
R.
HartThe
act of 1854 provided for the election of
Steelfox, Irene Mohan, Centraha; G.
man, Espy Stanley R. Davis, Frank Hartman, county superintendents of public schools. In
Leota Hess, Mamie L. Wenner, Harland some of the old histories of Columbia county a
Thomas, Forks Lulu Sutliff, Central Pearl partial list of the different incumbents of this
Eves. Zelpha Hendershott, Rosa D. Hill, Helen office has been printed, but below will be found
Sees, Myrtle Mordan, Marian Turner, Jersey- the first correct list of names, together with the
Belma Colder, Jamison City Lulu dates of election or appointment. The names
town
Giberson, Eva Hess, Lulu Hess, Fred Stout, of the county superintendents from the first
Leona Harrington, Marie Fritz, Jamison City
year to the present date (1914) are as follows:
Harold Sutliff, Laquin; Helen Cole, Henry
Joel E. Bradley, elected June 5, 1854; ReuFought, Clara Shoemaker, Grace Thomas, ben W. Weaver, appointed Jan. i, 1855; WilMargaret A. Welsh, Jay Watts, Mamie Kess- liam Burgess, elected May 4, 1857; Lewis
ler, Frank Fought, Millville; Harry Hauck,
.Appleman, elected May 7, i860 William BurFlorence A. gess, appointed Oct. 23, 1861 John B. Patton,
Fannie Gearhart, Mainville
Gruver, Emory Seely, Calvin E. Dice, Nesco- appointed March 31, 1863; Charles G. Barkpeck Chloe Trivelpiece, Fairmount Springs
ley, elected Mav 4, 1863, reelected May i,
Freda Brown, Harold Campbell, Helen Creasy, 1866, and May 4, 1869; William H.
Snyder,
Edith Oman, Elva Hayhurst, Myrtle Hartman, elected
^"d
1872, reelected
4,
;

;

Mae
roll

Kline, Phyllis Turner, Orangeville; CarAppleman, Roy Girard, Ora Miller, Emer-

son Reece, RohrslDurg; Effie Hehvig, Lester
Yeager, Roaringcreek Angie Beishline, Sallie
Beishline, Her\-ey Reinard, Edna Pealer, Stillwater; Anna Heydenreich, Strawberry Ridge;
;

Bertelle

Hayman, New Columbus

;

Walter

Stackhouse, Forrest Peterman, Unityville
Anna Kasnitz, Francis Peters, Ruth McCleery,
West Berwick Edith Lindermuth, Zion.

;

May

1878

May 1875,
May 3, 1881,

7,
;

J. S.

Grimes, elected

reelected May 6, 1884. and May, 1887; William C. Johnston, elected May, 1890, and reelected May, 1893; J. K. Miller, elected May,
1896, and reelected May, 1899; William W.

Evans, elected May, 1902, and reelected 1905,
1908, 191

Under
of

CHAPTER

office

and 1914.
the school code of

was extended

191

the term

to four years.

XIII

THE PRESS
Probably the most potent force in shaping
the actions of a community is the newspaper
published by the leading men and read by the
majority of the people. Columbia county has
had a number of these mouthpieces and most
of them have left an impress upon the history
of the county. This review of the rise and fall
of the different organs of the parties and
leaders of the past and present is gathered

from many

sources,

and

considered correct.

BLOOM SBURG

The Bloomsburg Register, published by
James Delevan, was begun about the first of
October, 1826, as appears by the oldest copy
which was in the possession of Hon. Leonard
B. Rupert, in 1883, bearing date May 10, 1827,

and being Vol.
by 17 inches.

No.

32.

was

a sheet io><

In April, 1828, Thomas Painter purchased
the paper from the owners and changed the
name to the Columbia County Register. He
continued the publication until April, 1844,
when it was discontinued. The Register was
devoted to the party opposed to the Democracy, and was vigorously edited by Mr. Painter.
The Columbia Democrat was established by
John S. Ingram, and the first number issued
April 29, 1837. Then, or shortly after, he was
joined by Franklin S. Mills. They conducted
the paper for one year, and in 1838 sold it to
Capt. Henry Webb. He gave it permanence,
and in March, 1847, sold it to Col. Levi L.
Tate, who continued it until 1866, and in February of that year sold it to Elijah R. Ikeler.
He consolidated it with the Star of The North,
and called the combination the Democrat and
Star, the name changing subsequently to the

Bloomsburg

Democrat.

was

continued

100

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

under that name until January, 1869, when it
was bought by Capt. Charles B. Brockway,
and merged into the Columbian. The paper
was, under all its names and varying fortunes,
consistently Democratic in its politics, and was

The Columbian was

established in Blooms1866, as the organ of the Johnson
Republicans, under the management of George

burg

May

H. Moore, who published

thirty-five numbers.
will, subscription list and material
were then purchased by a number of Democrats of the county, and placed under the
New
charge of John G. Freeze, Jan. 4, 1867, as a
The Star of the North was established by Democratic newspaper, beginning Vol. I, No. i.
Reuben W. Weaver and Benjamin S. Gilmore, He continued until Feb. 15. 1867, when Capt.
Feb. I, 1849. Gilmore retired Aug. i, 1850, Charles B. Brockway became associated with
and the paper was continued by Mr. Weaver him, and eventually bought up the stock and
It was subsetook entire charge and ownership of the paper.
until his death, Dec. 2, 1857.
quently sold by his administrator and bought It was enlarged July 12, 1867, and began to
by Williamson H. Jacoby in January, 1858. be printed on a steampower press. On the
He published it until Oct. 16, 1862, when he 1st of January, 1869, by the purchase of the
went into the army, and the paper was sus- Bloomsburg Democrat from Mr. Jacoby, the
pended until August, 1863, when he returne'd Columbian became the sole Democratic paper
and resumed the publication. It was carried in the county. On the ist of January, 1871,
on under the old name until February, 1866, Henry L. DiefTenbach bought the paper and
when it was consolidated with the Columbia published it one year, when Captain Brockway
Democrat, then owned by Elijah R. Ikeler, as resumed the control. In July, 1873. Mr. Diefthe Democrat and Star. At the end of about fenbach again took the paper, and continued
seven months Mr. Ikeler sold his interest in until Oct. I, 1875, when Charles B. Brockway
the establishment to Josiah P. Shuman, and and George E. Elwell purchased it. They conJacoby and Shuman ran the paper until Jan- tinued it to Oct. I, 1879, when Captain Brockuary, 1867, when Mr. Shuman retired, Jacoby way retired, and on that day John K. Bittencontinuing the paper as the Bloomsburg Demo- bender purchased Brockway's interest in the
crat until January, 1869, when he sold it to paper, and the publishing firm became Elwell
Capt. Charles B. Brockway, who merged it into & Bittenbender. It continued under this manthe Columbian.
agement until Feb. 20, 1893, when Mr. BittenThe Columbia County Republican was estab- bender sold his interest to George E. Elwell,
lished in Bloomsburg March i, 1857, by Dr. who became the sole proprietor.
In September, 1909, Mr. Elwell associated
Palemon John. In 1869 he sold the paper to a
stock company, and Dr. WilHam H. Bradley with him his son, G. Edward Elwell. Jr., and
was editor. Dr. Bradley and Lewis Gordon on April i, 1910, the son became a partner, the
subsequently purchased the paper, and in 187 1 firm name changing to George E. Elwell &
sold it to Daniel A. Beckley and John S. Son. On April 7, 1910, the publication of the
the edi- Columbian ceased, for the reason that the job
Phillips, who became the publishers,
torial department being managed by Mr. Beck- printing part of the business had so increased
In 1873 E. M. Wardin bought the interest as to demand all the time of the proprietors,
ley.
of John S. Phillips, and not long after that of and the further reason that the financial reDaniel A. Beckley and became the sole pro- turns from a weekly newspaper were no longer
On the first of August, 1875, James commensurate with the labor required. Propprietor.
C. Brown purchased the paper from E. M. ositions to sell the paper, and to consolidate
Wardin, and for a number of years conducted with another, were both declined, and the
Mr. establishment retains the name of the "Columit with D. A. Beckley as associate editor.
Beckley retired, and Mr. Brown continued as bian Printing House," by which it has been
sole proprietor until 1908, when he sold the known for the last forty-six years.
From January, 1867, the Columbian was
paper to O. B. Ammerman, and subsequently
the ownership was changed into a stock com- Democratic in politics, and devoted to the genIt
In October, 1881,
eral policy of that party.
pany, with Mr. Ammerman as president.
was published and managed by C. W. the office was moved into its own three-story
Matthews as a semi-weekly, for the company, brick building, 25 by 75 feet, erected especially
for a short time, when Mr. Matthews retired for it, on Main street. The presses are run
and John S. Woods succeeded him. The pres- by electric power, and in all its appointments
ent owner is the Bloomsburg Publishing Com- the office is one of the finest printing establishthe editor.
ments in the interior of the State.
pany, and Charles E. Kesty is
influential.

its

editors,
always deservedly
Ingram went from here to Pottsville, Mills to
Jersey, Tate to Williamsport.

The good

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The Christian Messenger was started by
Edward E. Orvis, at Benton, in January, 1870.
was a monthly of twenty-four pages. In
1872 the name was changed to the Messenger
and Laborer, and D. Oliphant, of London,
Canada, became co-editor, with Mr. Orvis as
pubHsher. The paper was enlarged to thirtytwo pages. In January, 1875, it was changed
The office was moved
to a four-page weekly.
to Orangeville Oct. i, 1875, and the paper suspended on Dec. 26th of that year for lack of
It

support.

The Democratic Sentinel was established in
Bloomsburg in 1871, by Charles M. Vanderslice, who conducted it in a building which
stood at the rear of the

lot

now

occupied by the

101

started a paper there called the Argus.
His
office was totally destroyed in the great Milton
fire in 1884, but he started it again and continued it until 1892, when he went back to
Benton and reestablished the Argus, which he

conducted
Its

until

publication

until

Aug.

30,

as manager.

August, 1892, when he died.
was continued by his widow
1901, with Percy Brewington
the latter date it was pur-

chased by Brewington and Alfred Edgar, who
owned it until May, 1906, when Mr. Brewington purchased his partner's interest and became
In 1913 the ownership changed
sole owner.
to C. L. Hirleman, Mr. Brewington remaining
as manager, and he is now again the owner.
It has a large circulation in the upper end of

Townsend building. On April 12, 1885, the the county.
The Bloomsburg Journal was begim in 1876,
paper was purchased by William Krickbaum,
and the office was subsequently moved to its by G. A. Potter, as a temperance and family
In
the
courthouse.
east
of
newspaper. It was a five-column, four-page
present location,
In October, 1881, the form was
1888, J. C. Rutter, Jr., was made manager of paper.
the plant, and continued in that position for
In 1892 a daily edition was
eighteen years.
started in the Sentinel office under the title of
the Bloomsburg Daily, the first daily paper
published in the county, except the short-lived
Sun. J. C. Rutter, Jr., was the editor and

manager. On January I, 1904, Mr. Rutter
purchased the plant and made the Sentinel a
semi-weekly, continuing the publication of the
Bloomsburg Daily. He held the office under
his control until June, 1906, when he sold to

and then
In September, 1882, Dr.
Jacob Schuyler purchased a half interest in
the paper, and the new firm changed the form
to the old folio style. Mr. Potter again became
owner in 1887 and moved the plant to MillTablet.
ville, where he started the Weekly
Since the death of Mr. Potter the paper has
been published by his son-in-law, Boyd Trescott, who is also a surveyor and justice of the
changed

to a quarto of twelve pages,

of sixteen pages.

peace.

John G. McHenry.

Percy Brewington, the
present editor of the Benton Argus, was made
The
editor and held that office for a year.

The Sun. a daily paper, was started in April,
1S81, by Alem B. Tate and H. W. Kahler, and
Dissenabout eighty numbers were issued.

was incorporated as a stock company
1908 the daily was .called the Daily
Mail, the corporation the Sentinel Printery,
and George D. Herbert was made president
and manager. In July, 1909, J. C. Rutter, Jr.,
succeeded him, remaining until March, 1914.
The Dailv Sentinel came into being in FebruDr.
ary, 1892, and is at present published by

sions in the management and difficulties growing out of a want of support put an eclipse upon
the Sun. at the end of about three months.

F. Altmiller, who is also editor-in-chief.
A. HarJ. P. Ziegler is business manager; C.
rington, city editor; and C. R. Smith, foreman

Bloomsburg

business

and

of the mechanical department.
The Independent JVeekly was started by
William H. Smith and E. E. Orvis in Benton
on April i, 1874, as a Democratic newspaper.
On Oct. I, 1875, they removed it to Orangeville with the Messenger and Laborer, and
Smith & Orvis dissolved partnership. Smith
continuing to publish the Independent.
On April I, 1876, the Independent JVeekly

was moved back

to Benton,

where

was pub-

lished until September, 1877, when the plant
was removed to Milton by Mr. Smith, who

The Herald of Freedom was published by a
gentleman named Case, between the years 1850
and i860. It was a sort of workingman's freeAfter an unsuccessful struggle
soil advocate.
the

was transported from
McEwensville and the paper
be published there after a few

establishment

ceased to
months.

;

The Morning Press was established in
Bloomsburg on March i. 1902, by Paul R.
Eyerly and Charles Thomas Vanderslice, as
a morning daily. From the first issue it sprang
into

favor.

Beginning as a four-page,

six-

sheet, the demands upon its space grew
so rapidly that in the fall of the same year it
was enlarged to six pages, and the next spring
to eight pages, which it has since maintained.

column

The handsome and commodious home which

now occupies is in striking comparison with the quarters in which it first was

the Press

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

102

When the paper was bom in 1902
printed.
two small rooms in the Dentler building on
Main street were all that were required, and
into these were crowded both the editorial and
composing rooms, while a small corner of the
basement was given over to the pressroom.
There on the night before the first paper was
issued the proprietors battled all night with
a flood, wading knee-deep in the water until by
daylight they had reduced its level sufficiently
to enable them to print the first edition. Thus
the birth of the Press is associated with the
memorable flood of 1902, for the second day
of its existence brought the news of the terrible destruction wrought.
The Press was the

only paper that managed to circulate through

sufficient material and machines to produce the
higher class of commercial printed stationery.
At the head of the mechanical and business
department is C. T. Vanderslice, a member of
the firm and a printer of many years' experience, and he has surrounded himself with assistants of ability in the various departments.
Paul R. Eyerly, another of the proprietors, is
in charge of the outside news gathering and
other business. Charles Kline is the circula-

tion

manager.

With a circulation at the outset of 500 the
paper grew to 2,400 at the end of the first year,
and

in 1914 is above the 5,000 mark, and this is
claimed to be the largest of any inland paper
in similar territory in the State.

this section that day, and the enterprise of the
proprietors in getting and publishing the news

CAT.\\VISS.\

then set a standard which has never been surpassed, and which they have

lived

to in

every period of the paper's subsequent history.

The new home

of the Press, erected in 1908,

on Main near Market street, is unquestionably
one of the most artistic and substantially constructed buildings
Classical in design,

in
it is

central

Pennsylvania.

essentially different in

appearance from any other buildings in this
section, and commands the admiration and
attention of the beholder.
The front of the
building is perhaps the finest example of architecture in the county, and is the work of
Verus T. Ritter, an architect of more than
local fame.
The entire front is designed in
the form of an arch, the stonework of which
is distinctive and extremely decorative.
Into
the design have been worked a number of ornaments surrounding the doors and windows,
and the whole is surmounted by a globe representing the two Americas, encircled by a
wreath.
This front is in part stone, grey
pressed brick and metal, the delicate shades
and contrasts forming a harmonious whole.
The construction of the entire building is most
substantial, double floors being used exclusively, while vibration has been completely eliminated by the use of heavy steel beams and
wall anchors for the joists. With an outside
measurement of 23 by 64 feet, the building
has four floors, the pressroom being in the
basement. Here are the large Duplex press,
the folders and the mailing department. The
equipment of the composing room is the most
complete that experience and foresight could
provide. Here are located the typesetting machines and the necessary equipment for the
production of a modem daily paper. The job
department is fitted up in the most scientific

and convenient manner, and

provided with

The

newspaper published in Catawissa
was the Catazvissa Advertiser, which was
started in 1876 by Henry John and Joseph
Rhinard. It did not survive to the end of its
first

first

volume.

The Nezvs Item was established in Catawissa
by G. E. Myers on May 16, 1878, as a fivecolumn folio. In 1879 it was increased to
twenty-four columns, and in 1881 to twentyMr. Myers conducted it until
eight columns.
1884, when Charles E. Randall and J. C. Yocum became the owners, continuing until 1887,
when Mr. Randall became sole owner, and has
so continued to the present time. The Nezvs
Item has a large circulation on the south side
of the river.
Mr. Randall is a fearless and
pungent writer and enjoys merited prosperity.

BERWICK
In the following the facts concerning the

newspapers which existed in Berwick up to
1883 are gleaned from an article written by
Col. John M. Snyder, a veteran editor, now
deceased, which appeared in Freeze's History
of Columbia County (1883).
The Independent American was established
in the spring of 1812 or 1813, by WilHam
Carothers, who continued it until 1818, when
came into the possession of David Owen, son
of Evan Owen, the founder of Berwick. In a
short time he was succeeded by Orlando Porit

under whose management it remained until
He was followed by Daniel Bowen, who
conducted it until 1832, when' George Mack
became the owner, and changed the name to
the Berzvick Gazette; he made it a Democratic
After several years the office came
journal.
into the possession of Evan O. Jackson, who
ter,

1827.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
continued it as a Democratic paper until 1839,
when he disposed of it to Col. Levi L. Tate,

The

Berzi'ick Gazette

Irvin until 1856,

103

was conducted by Tate

when they were succeeded

He was followed by
Democratic Sen- by Walter H. Hibbs.
Tate took A. M. Alem B. Tate, who continued it until i860,
Gangewere in as partner, Mr. Gangewere re- when it was purchased by Jeremiah S. SanColonel Tate then established ders and issued by him here until 1869, when
tiring in 1883.
This left
the Enquirer, and in 1845 B. S. Gilmore pur- he moved the outfit to Hazleton.
chased a half interest in the paper and took Berwick without a local paper for the first
charge of the office, Colonel Tate going to time in fifty years.
The Independent was started by Charles B.
Wilkes-Barre, where he started the Lucerne
In 1847 ^'^^- Gilmore bought Snyder on June i, 1871, with a new outfit.
Democrat.
Colonel Tate's interest in the Enquirer, and Frank L. Snyder was assistant editor, and
For
Colonel Tate about the same time purchased Col. John M. Snyder the local editor.
the Columbia Democrat from Capt. Henry about nine years the Snyders published an
Webb, and removed to Bloomsburg. The pub- excellent paper, until Sept. i, 1879, when they
lication of the Enquirer was continued by Mr. sold it to Robert S. Bowman, who changed the
Gilmore until the spring of 1849, when he title to the Berwick Independent. Mr. Bowmoved the office to Bloomsburg and formed a man conducted it ably until July, 1904, when
partnership with Reuben W. Weaver, estab- he sold it to C. A. Rasely, who consolidated it
lishing the Star of the North, an account of with the Berivick Weekly Enterprise.
The Berwick Gazette, the third of that name,
which will be found among the Bloomsburg
was started on March 25, 1882, by J. H. Dietpapers.
The Sentinel, a Whig paper, was started in erick. On Jan. i, 1884, he sold it to M. B.
1834 by John T. Davis, and continued until Margerum, who in September, 1885, associabout 1838, when it was bought by Wilbur & ated H. R. Reedy with him as a partner. This
brief existJoslin and the name changed to the Independ- paper ceased publication after a
ent Ledger. It was made an eight-page liter- ence.
The Berwick Weekly Enterprise was estabary paper, and conducted for about one year,
when it was bought by several gentlemen, and lished by C. A. Rasefy on Feb. 3, 1900. In
and
the name again changed.
July, 1904, he purchased the Independent
The Conservator was issued by them with consolidated the two under the name of the
John T. Davis as editor. It continued through Berznck Independent. He continued this pubthe "Hard Cider" campaign of 1840, and is lication until Jan. 31, 1907, when it passed out
supposed to have been discontinued after the of existence.
who changed
tinel.

the

1840

name

to the

Colonel

The Berzvick Daily Enterprise, the first daily
The Star of the North was started by A. M. paper published in Berwick, was launched by
Gangewere in 1843, and published by him C. A. Rasely April 6, 1903. It was a sprightly
election.

about one year.

sold

John H. Winter, who continued

J.
it

Jones and
until 1848,

sold it to Dewitt C. Kitchen, who
changed the name to the Standard, and made
He
it politically opposed to the Democrats.

when they

paper and filled a long-felt want. He conducted it until Jan. 31, 1907, when he sold
the newspaper to C. T. Vanderslice and Paul

R. Eyerly, owners and publishers of the
Bloomsburg Morning Press. Mr. Rasely refrom 1848 to 1850, when it again tained the
job printing department of the office,
M.
Col.
and
hands
name.
Snyder and still conducts it. He has a well equipped
John
changed
the
purchaser.
being
modern printing office.
The Telegraph was the new title, and the
Vanderslice & Eyerly moved the Enterprise
From
policy returned to the Democracy.
to another building, where they soon installed
April, 1850, until the spring of 1851 it was thus
a new press, enlarged the paper, and are giving
published, when Colonel Snyder sold it to
Berwick and vicinity an up-to-date journal.
James McClintock Laird, who published it
until the spring of 1853, when it was sold,
issued

but to

The

whom

does not appear.

was established in 1853 by
Stewart Pearce and John M. Snyder, the
former retiring at the end of a month. Colonel
Snyder continued it until the spring of 1855,
when it was purchased by Col. Levi L. Tate,
and the name changed to the Berwick Gazette.

CENTR.-\LIA

Investigator

Centralia Journal was started by Herskovits & Co. in Centralia in December, 1893.
It was a small weekly paper and expired after

The

a short life.

CHAPTER XIV
BLOOMSBURG
is essentially a city of homes.
abundant resources make it an ideal place
which to live and raise a family, and as the

Bloomsburg
Its

biographical portion of this history will show
the people have not been neglectful of these
In the heart of a rich and proadvantages.
gressive agricultural district, supplied with the
finest of soil, provided with an abundance of
pure water, elevated to a height above the sea
which gives purity of air, and with a population noted for culture, refinement and intellectual attainments, there is nothing to prevent
the continued growth of this beautiful town.
And beautiful she is, in truth. Most of the
streets are shaded by closely set maple trees,
the roadways are kept in smooth and dustless
condition, the residents vie with each other in
the cultivation of flowers, and a spirit of civic
pride induces everyone to exert his best efforts
to keep the town at the front in every endeavor
that will make for her growth and advance-

ment.

FOUNDING THE TOWN
1772 the site of the present town of
Bloomsburg was not only located in the township of Fishingcreek, county of Northumberland, of the State of Pennsylvania, but at the
same time designated by the State of Connecticut as part of the township of Wyoming, of
their county of Westmoreland, claimed by
them at the time. Under the Connecticut
In

claim James McClure came here in May, 1769,
and located a home site, while on his way to
Wyoming, but he seems to have believed in
the right of Pennsylvania to dispose of the
land, for he obtained a patent from Francis

had never attempted to improve the land, which he had
in
under
the
title
of "Beausurveyed
1769
champ." McClure, after his purchase of the
tract, built a log house, and within that humble
domicile James McClure, Jr., the first white
child born within the forks of the Susquehanna, saw the light.
Stewart

1772.

Stewart

The McClures were

not long alone. During
year of their arrival Evan Owen (the
founder of Berwick
and John Doan came
from Chester county with the intention of

the

)

founding a settlement of Quakers.
cated south of Kinney's run, while

Owen
Doan

lo-

set-

near its mouth.
Samuel Boone, also a
Quaker, emigrated from Exeter township,
Northumberland county, in 1775, and secured
title to four hundred acres at the "Point," between the river and Fishing creek, extending
From all the evialong the banks of both.
dence so far unearthed it seems that the only
other families living on the site of Bloomsburg
before the Revolutionary war were the ClayThomas Clayton
tons, Coopers and Kinneys.
was a Quaker from Chester county, Kinney
was from New Jersey, while nothing is known
tled

of the nativity of Cooper.
Just before the commencement of the Revolutionary war James McClure died, but his
widow cultivated the plantation until the Wyoming massacre, in 1778, when she placed all
her portable possessions on a raft and floated
down the Susquehanna to Lancaster, remaining there until all danger was over. With her
went the widow of Capt. Lazarus Stewart,

who had been

killed at

Wyoming. Maj. Moses

\^an Campen, who had married the daughter
of Widow McClure, built the second fort in
the county on her farm, one mile above the
mouth of Fishing creek, calling it after his
respected mother-in-law. The site of this fort
is now marked by a tablet placed there by Fort
McClure Chapter, D. A. R., of Bloomsburg.
The fate of the last of the pioneers of
Bloomsburg Cooper was most unfortunate.
Robert Lyon, a soldier of Fort Augusta (Sunbury), was sent to Wyoming with a boatload
of stores. He landed at the mouth of Fishing
creek and left his canoe and gun in the care of
his dog, intending to visit the daughter of
He was captured a short distance
Cooper.
away by Shenap, an Indian chief, and taken to
Niagara, where he was finally released by his

104

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
brother, an officer in the British army. Cooper
had been somewhat antagonistic to the suit of
Lyon, so that the latter's sudden disappear-

While on

ance caused his arrest.

his

way

the jail at Sunbury a rifle belonging to one of
the posse was dropped into the river, and in
the altercation Cooper, who was accused of
throwing it overboard, was struck by the
owner with a tomahawk. He lived for twenty
Later on
days, and then expired in prison.
Lyon returned and the dead man's innocence

was

farm there and became
the

first

one

this

justice of the peace,
section of the county.

departure his land came into the
possession of Joseph B. Long, of New Jersey,
who later sold it to Ludwig Eyer, the founder
of Bloomsburg. In 1801 Joseph Hendershott
and Andrew Schooley arrived, as also did

Upon Owen's

Jacob Wanich.

Ludwig Eyer

this

time decided to give

impetus to the settlement of the locality and in
1802 laid out the town of Bloomsburg. At the
time the town was laid out there were three
buildings on the site, the Episcopal church,
John Chamberlain's tavern and a deserted log
house. But these were soon increased by the

building operations of the incoming settlers.
Soon after the founding of the town George

Vance, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian from

New

Jersey, built a cabin on the south side of Main
Abraham
street, at the junction of East.
Grotz came from Easton in 1806 and built the
first frame house in the new town, at what is

now

the corner of Second and Iron streets.
Christopher Kahler and John Coleman also
came from New Jersey in that year, the latter
occupying the first mentioned deserted log
house until he could build on what is now the
corner of Center and Third streets.
He
planted there the first orchard in the town.

1S09 Philip Alehrling, a native Hessian,

opened the first store, near where the "Central
Hotel" now stands. Daniel Snyder came in
1810 and bought land next to the town plat
from John Vance. At this time the town bore
the

name

BLOOMSBURG IN l8l2

From reminiscences of an old resident of
the town a mental picture of the appearance
of Bloomsburg in 1812 can be made. At that
time a log house stood on First street at the
the frame home of
site of the Tustin home
Daniel Fry stood at the corner of First and
West at the forks on the east end of Second
;

;

street was a one-story log house, owned and
occupied by Daniel Snyder, who later opened

.\hraham Grotz, the hatter, was
the southwest corner of Second and Iron
Christopher Kahler's home was on a
lot east of the "Central Hotel": John Chamberlain, the hotelkeeper, lived in a frame
house on the site of Moyer's drug store opposite Kahler's house was the home of John
Hagenbuch, and on the northwest corner was
the one-story frame store of Philip Mehrling,
a hotel there

established.

After the peace of 1783 immigration once
more turned toward this section, but Bloomsburg, owing to its supposed swampy location,
was not the gainer. Thomas Clayton had
meanwhile removed to Catawissa, while Evan
Owen had gone to found Berwick. In 1783
Elisha Barton came to this spot. He built the
"Red" mill on Hemlock creek, owned a large

Oyertown or Eycrstaedtel.

105

;

streets

;

later succeeded by William McKelCyrus Barton and E. H. Biggs; a twoframe
hotel occupied the site of the
story
present "Exchange Hotel" a one-story frame
was at the comer of Jefferson alley and Second
street, occupied by Mrs. Mooney a log house
on the corner of Center and Second, owned by
Mr. Fisher the two-story frame hotel of John
Chamberlain on the northv^'est corner of
Second and Center and on the opposite corner
the Episcopal church, where the Townsend

who was
vy,

;

building

now

stands.

the north side of

was no house nearer than
the log home of John Hess, at the site of the
Second

street there

The original
residence of J. C. Rutter, Jr.
laid out by Eyer was from Iron to West
on
streets.
All of the section
East street, below Third, was called "Hopkinsville," after
Rev. Caleb Hopkins, the Episcopal minister
who laid out an addition to the town at that
At that date a subscription school,
point.
taught by a Mr. Ferguson, stood at the northeast corner of Second and Iron streets.
town

OLD TAVERNS .\ND THEIR SUCCESSORS

At the time John Chamberlain kept his tavern each guest was expected to spend at least
sixpence at the bar for the privilege of sleeping on the bare floor of the public room that
His establishment was a pretentious
night.
frame structure on the corner of Second and
Center.
Casper Chrisman was the host of a smaller
tavern on the site of the present "Exchange
Hotel." This house was burned Feb. 24, 1870,
when Henry J. Clark was the proprietor. The
second building on the site was erected soon

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

106

by John S. Sterner, and sold to W. B.
Koons. The property was again damaged by
fire in 1877.
Soon after this it was bought by
I. W. McKelvy, who leased it to George H.
Brown, W. R. Tubbs, and James McClosky,
successively, until 1894, when Gehrad Snyder
bought it, and conducted it until 191 1. Then
James Magee became the owner. Since then
Robert J. Huntzinger has been the landlord.
Conrad Hess ran a hotel on Main street,
below Jefferson, on the site of the former I.
after,

W. Hartman

property, for a number of years.
of the "Central Hotel" was
a log structure erected in 1818 by Philip Mehrwho
was
ling,
accidentally killed during its
construction.
Subsequently a brick building
was erected on the site and conducted and

The predecessor

owned by John Laycock from 1853

until his

death, in 1879. Other owners were I. S, Kuhn,
C. B. Ent, and J. Kline.
Among the other
former landlords were George H. Brown,
George Aurand, Bernard Stohner, C. B. Ent
and James Kline. It is now owned by Mrs.
James Kline and is leased by George Wagenseller, who has given the house a high reputation.
The hotel has in late years been much

enlarged and improved.
The "Forks Hotel," which stood at the head
of Main street, at East street, was built in 1825
by Daniel Snyder, and for many years the
older settlers resorted there to pass the evening
in interchange of stories and reminiscences.
It was torn down in 1875.
Among the various
landlords of the "Forks" were G. W. Mauger
and T. Bent Taylor. The pump at the corner
furnished the hotel water supply.

The

"St. Elmo Hotel" was first opened by
L. Girton in the property of James Cadman.
has since had a number of tenants, among
them H. F. Deitterich, and George Wagen-

J.
It

It is now conducted by H. S. Kelchner.
The "City Hotel" was first opened by G. W.
Sterner, who bought the land of I. W. Hart-

seller.

man

1875 and erected the building. He sold
W. A. Hartzell, in

to the present proprietor,

1896.

Back
lic

in the early seventies there was a pubin the building now owned by Moyer

house

Brothers,

called the

"City Hotel."

was

the hands of J. L. Fisher, the present landlord.
"Hotel Stauffer" was first opened some
years ago by Mrs. B. Stohner. It had several
tenants and several changes of name until P.
B. Heddens became the owner and changed
the name to "Hotel Heddens."
few years
ago he leased it to the present landlord, E.

Staufifer.

"Hotel Irvin"

is leased by Irvin A. Snyder,
years was connected with the
"Exchange Hotel." It is a modern structure
at Main and Railroad streets, and was first
called "Hotel Lee" after the landlord.
The
next tenant, T. B. Brittain, changed it to
"Hotel Brittain," and Mr. Snyder christened

who

for

many

with its present name.
"Hotel Hidlay" when first licensed was
managed by W. F. Stohner. At the end of a
year Bruce Hidlay leased it, and later transferred it to his father, A. C. Hidlay, who continued it until 19 4, when he sold to O. E.
it

Myers, the present occupant.
The "Colonial Hotel," Metheral and Guinard, proprietors,
at Fifth

and East

new and commodious

streets.

inn

was opened

1914.

MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS
Philip Mehrling, the first of the Bloomsburg
merchants, appears to have been a man of
wealth for those times. He assisted in the de-

velopment of the town and built many of the
houses as well as a hotel.
In 1810 a Mr.
Bishop opened a store at the northwest corner
of Second and Center streets, and John Barton
also opened a store about this date. The largest store in the town was opened by William
McKelvy in 1816, on Market Square, and
conducted by him and McKelvy & Neal for
sixty years.
They were succeeded by I. W.
McKelvy, until 1894, when the store passed
into the ownership of F. P. Pursel, the present
occupant.
The wholesale drug business of Moyer
Brothers was founded in 1835 by John R.
Moyer, with a capital of but $100. Another
well known store was that of Eyer & Hefley,
which was carried on from 1835 to 1845. In
1843 I. W. Hartman began business in the old
Arcade building, which stood on the site of
the present Townsend building, comer of

by Bernard Stohner, and he and George
H. Brown and J. L. Girton were the successive
landlords vmtil 1881, when it was purchased
by Moyer Brothers, rebuilt and enlarged, and Market and Second streets.
since then used by them in their extensive
FIRST INDUSTRIES
drug business.
"East End Hotel" was operated for many
Many small shops were established at differyears by William Giger. Since then it has had
several tenants, a few years ago coming into ent early periods in Bloomsburg, catering to

built

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the wants of the few people, and the town was
amply supplied with blacksmiths, carpenters,
weavers, etc. The first industry of importance
was the tannery of Daniel Snyder, at Main
street and Light Street road, started in 1812
after many obstacles of a financial nature.
Another tannery was opened by Philip Christman, who sold out afterwards to William

Robison.

The first wagon shop was started under
In the year 1816 a
peculiar circumstances.
stranger came to Bloomsburg and stopped at
one of the taverns overnight. Inquiries of the
landlord elicited the fact that he was a wagonmaker, his name was James Wells, and he was
The landlord needed a
from Connecticut.
waeon, as did also others, this useful vehicle
being conspicuous by its absence at the time in
the town. Wells endeavor^ to obtain the use
of tools from the carpenters of the town, but
the prejudice against "Yankees" was so great
that he was repeatedly refused. Finally William Sloan agreed to let him have a bench and
the use of tools in his shop, then located on
Market street on the site of the present Lutheran church. They went to the farm of Sloan
near Bloomsburg and procured from the
fences sufficient seasoned wood to build the
first one-horse wagon ever seen in the town.
Sloan at once began the manufacture of wagons, the product being of the "Dearborn"
He sent salesmen around and soon had
class.
a thriving business. In 1832 John K. Grotz
became his partner and decided to add the
making of plows to the factory. He went to
Lewistown, Mifflin county, to buy a plow, and
started for home with it in his wagon, but on
the way sold the latter, and fastening a sapling
to the plow point hauled it sled-fashion more
than half the way. The making of plows was
not very successful, but the wagon business
prospered under the original founders and
their successors, M. C. Sloan & Brother, until
1890, when it was discontinued.
In 1832 a number of canalboats of the "ark"
variety

were

built

Bloomsburg by John

Whitenight, John Barton, Isaac Green, Samuel
Frey. These boats were
grain and other products and
southern ports, where both the

Ludwig and George
loaded

with
to

shipped
boats and their contents were sold.
Other smaller plants of the past were the
foundry of S. M. Hess, which produced car
wheels and fencing, and the establishment of
the Bloomsburg Planing & Cabinet Company.
In 1864 Peter S. Harman and Benjamin F.
Sharpless opened a foundry and machine shop,
running it for four years, after which Mr.

107

Harman

severed his connection and Mr.
continued the establishment for
as the Eagle Iron Works. It stood
on Third street, next to the Colonel Freeze
property, and was removed when Center street
Sharpless

some years

was opened through

it.

One

of the local industries between 1838
and 1841 was the culture of the silkworm by
Robert Cathcart and William G. Hurley, their
mulberry grove being on the north side of
First street.
But it was mainly a "fad" and
soon languished, the promoters hardly making

expenses.

PROSPERITY AND

GROWTH

The growth of the town was gradual and of
a substantial character, and never savored of
the "boom" method which so often wrecks a
town as well as the promoters. In 1838 the
population was a

little over three hundred and
the log and frame houses had for the most part
been superseded by brick structures. The discovery of iron in the hills near had resulted
in an increase of population, but it was not until the building of the furnaces in the early
fifties that the town took its first spurt of

growth.
After the establishment of the iron business
the advent of the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg
railroad in 1858 gave a fresh impulse to the
population. This road had a station originally
outside of the town limits, but before many
years the depot was well within the built-up
In 1881 the North & West Branch
portion.
railroad was built and helped somewhat to develop the river side of the town, l)ut for some
years the only means of reaching the depot
across the river was by ferry.
In 1888 the bridge question was agitated
and the Bloomsburg Bridge Company was or-

ganized.

The Pennsylvania Railroad Com-

pany proposed the erection of a bridge

to cost

$100,000, they to take $55,000 of the stock,
and the Bridge Company $45,000. After several interviews the project was abandoned,
and the Bridge Company dissolved in 1890.
An account of the subsequent building of this
bridge is given elsewhere.
These lines of railroad seemed to presage
the development of Bloomsburg into a railroad
center, but so far the prediction has not been

although there is little to complain
way of shipping or passenger facilThe only thing needed to complete the
ities.
chain of railroads is a through line north and
south connecting the Reading with the roads
fulfilled,

of in the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

108
in Sullivan

county by

way

of the Bloomsburg

Sullivan.

Until 1889 the nearest point to reach the
& Reading railroad from Bloomsburg was at Rupert, two miles distant, where

Philadelphia

omnibus

line

met

trains.

all

passenger
Travelers of those days will remember the
dusty ride to town in the rumbling coach. A
branch of the Reading was constructed into
Bloomsburg in 1889, with its terminal at Fifth
and Railroad streets, where a building was
erected by courtesy called a station.
It was
something better than a "shack" but not much
a respectable "shanty."
At one
time an effort was made to locate the station
on Market street diagonally across from the
Lackawanna depot, which would necessitate

more than

crossing the tracks of the latter company below the town. This was resisted by the Lackawanna Company, but after several years'
litigation the Reading procured a favorable
decision from the Supreme court. The project

was abandoned, however, owing

to the finanstringency of the Reading at that time, and
also to the fact that heavy damages were demanded by property owners in case their lands
were confiscated by the railroad. The old location was retained, and in 1912 a handsome
new depot was erected, the grounds neatly
laid out, and every convenience provided for
both passenger and freight traffic. Mr. F. R.
Carpenter was the agent of the Reading Company at Rupert before the building of the annex, from 1883, and since 1889 has had charge
of the Bloomsburg station.
His services at
the two places cover a period of thirty-one
and
he
has
been
and is a most
years,
always
cial

efficient

and obliging

official.

The Lackawanna Railroad Company
has been fortunate in having as

Bloomsburg

its

also

agent at

man whose

efficiency and popuhis retention in that posi-

have caused
tion from 1882 up to the present time.
Mr.
W. R. Kocher, while thoroughly attentive to
his official duties, is also engaged in the coal
trade.
He is an active and useful citizen, in
both business and religious relations, being an
officer of the Methodist Church and also of
the Business Men's Association.
He was
larity

president of the town council in 1897.

The Lackawanna freight station was destroyed by fire on May 2, 1914, and a new brick
structure has taken its place.
It is of rough
pressed brick made by the Bloomsburg Brick
Company, and is far more commodious and
attractive than the former one.
The returns of the mercantile appraiser for
1886

showed an aggregate of seventy-one

dealers in various commodities. Hardly onethird of that number existed in 1858. In 1914
the appraiser's figures for Bloomsburg are

165 dealers, wholesale and retail.
As the town grew in size the plat was added
by many lots and additions, under various
names, most of which are now forgotten. Besides "Hopkinsville," before mentioned, there
were the suburbs of "Port Noble," on the
banks of the canal "Snyder's addition," made
to

;

1837; "Welsh Hill," formed by Rev. D. J.
Waller in 1845 "Ramsay's addition," from its
owner, Dr. John Ramsay; "Hurley's addition"
of 1848; "Scottown," from Dr. David N.
Scott, on the southwest the "Rupert & Barton
addition," bounded by Fourth, Iron and East
streets and the canal; "Morgantown," at the
Irondale furnaces and "Rabbtown," at the
in

;

Bloom

furnaces.

INCORPORATION

— POPULATION

Bloom township was one of the original
twelve with which the county was organized in
From it at various periods were taken
1813.
portions to be added to Mount Pleasant,
Orange, Centre and Scott. The final remains
were organized in 1870 as the Town of
Bloomsburg, and include all the land between
the two great bends of Fishing creek, the
Susquehanna and the township of Scott.
After the last slice had been taken from

Bloom township and the town incorporated
the population in i860 was 2,668; in 1870,
3,340; in 1880, 3,702; in 1890, 4.635; in 1900,
6,170; in 1910, 7,413.
The town council consists of a president and
si.x memljers, who are elected
annually. Since
the organization of the town the officials have
been as follows

—

1870 President, Elias Mendenhall members, Joseph Sharpless, Stephen Knorr, W. B.
Koons, F. C. Eyer, Caleb Barton, C. G.
;

Barkley.
President, Elias Mendenhall; mem1871
bers, Joseph Sharpless, C. G. Barkley, Stephen
Knorr. W. B. Koons, F. C. Eyer, John Rinker.

—
—

1872 President, Elias Mendenhall; memFreas Brown, Stephen Knorr, Caleb
Barton, John S. Sterner, James Dennis, J. H.

bers,

Maize

vice

—

B. Koons, resigned.

mem1873 President, Stephen Knorr
bers, Louis Bernhard, Charles Thomas, C. W.
Miller,

Samuel Knorr,

;

Evans, John

Sterner.

—
1874 President,

bers,

David Lowenberg; memJoseph Hendershott, P. S. Harman, J. K.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
W.

Eyer. Louis Bernhard, Stephen Knorr,
Peacock.
President, David Lowenberg; mem1875
bers, E. R. Drinker, G. W. Sterner, Eli Jones,
Isaiah Hagenbuch, W. O. Holmes, Wellington Hartman vice John Cadman, resigned.

Stephen
Peacock,

1876 President, David Lowenberg; memPeter Jones, Isaiah Hagenbuch. E. R.
Drinker, George E. Elwell, W. O. Holmes, E.
M. Knorr.

Swentzel.

—
—

William
Gorrey.
1893

— President,

1894

bers,

— President,

David Lowenberg; memE. R. Drinker, W. Rabb, W. O. Holmes,

1877

Peter Jones, G. W. Correll, G. E. Elwell.
President, G. A. Herring; members,
1878
W. Rabb, G. E.
J. S. Evans, E. R. Drinker,

—

Elwell, B. F. Sharpless, W. O. Holmes.
President, I. S. Kuhn members,
1879^

—

;

T-

O. Holmes, G. M. Lockard, B.
F. Sharpless, E. R. Drinker, W. Rabb.
1880 President, G. A. Herring; members,
W. Rabb, J. S. Evans, B. F. Sharpless, Charles
Thomas. George Hassert, W. O. Holmes.
t88i
President, G. A. Herring; members,
W. Rabli, George Hassert, J. K. Lockard, I.
S.

Evans,

—

W. Hartman,

C._W. Neal.
1882 President, G. A. Herring; members,
C. B. Sterling, W. Rabb, George Hassert, W.
S. Moyer. L. E. Waller, I. W. Hartman.
President, G. A. Herring; members,
1883
C. B. Sterling. W. Rabb, George Hassert, I.
W. Hartman, L. E. Waller, W. S. Moyer.
1884 President, L. B. Rupert; members,

—

Correll,

—

Sterling, W. Rabb, Eli Jones, C. A.
Moyer, Isaiah Hagenbuch, L. T. Sharpless.
President, L. B. Rupert; members,
1885
C. B. Sterling, J. C. Sterner, Henry Rosen-

stock, C.

—

1887

— President,

Chnton

Harman

;

members,

Sterling, F. D. Dentler, E. B. Clark,

Wintersteen,

P. S.

Ringler,

James

Harman; members,

Clinton Sterling, John Wolf, Charles Hassert,
James Cadow, E. C. Wells, R. H. Ringler.
i88g President. P. S. Harman; members,
R. H. Ringler, E. C. Wells, Louis Gross,
Joshua Fetterman, Fred Schwinn, I. E. Yost.
1890 President, G. A. Herring; members,
William Rabb, S. W. Shntt, E. C. Wells, Louis
Gross, J. Fetterman, F. Schwinn.
President, P. S. Harman members,
1891
Thomas Gorrey, W. B. Allen, J. S. White, I.
W. Willits, E. R. Furman, Harry Rhodes.
President, F. P. Drinker; members.
1892

—

;

F. P. Drinker; members,
C. Creasy, J. E. Wilson,

—
—

Thomas Gorrey, John Kelly, H.
G. Supplee, W. S. Rishton, Henry Hower.
1898— President, W. O. Holmes; members,
W. S. Rishton, J. S. Blue, W. L. Demaree, D.
Butler, G. M. Lockard, F. B. Hartman.
1899 President, W. O. Holmes members,
F. B. Hartman, W. L. Demaree, T. L.
Smith,
J. R. Cox, Con Cronin, J. S. Blue.
1900 President, Frank Ikeler
members,
Con Cronin, H. F. Dieffenbach, John R. Cox,
F. J. Richard,

—

;

—

;

Theo. Smith, F. B. Hartman,

— President,

1901

J. S.

John.

Frank Ikeler; members,
Cronin, W. Kashner, H.
B. Hartman, C. F. Rabb.

Thomas Webb, Con
F. Dieffenbach, F.

1902

— President,

bers, G.

ard, J.

Cox.
1903
bers,

John R. Townsend memM. Hughes,"W. Kashner, C. H. ReimL. Wolverton, Josiah Giger, John A.

Gulp.

1904
bers,

;

— President, John R. Townsend; memH. Reimard, J. H. Giger, Samuel
M. Hughes, J. A. Cox, Charles

Pursel,

— President, John

Pursel,

Townsend; memGiger, Samuel
Charles Gulp, M. H. Rhodes, G. M.
H. Reimard,

Josiah

Hughes.

— President,

Yetter; members,

M. H. Rhodes, James Magee,

W. Runyon,

Mifflin.

Josiah Giger. John Deily.
1906— President, C. C. Yetter; members,

E. Fidler, R. R. Hartman, James Magee,

—

Hicks,

1905
P. S.

— President,

—

Cadow.

1888— President,

F. P. Drinker; members,
Knorr, Thomas Gorrey, C. C.
W. O. Holmes, W. H. House, W. H.

Stephen Knorr, Clinton Sterling, Isaac Yost.
President, S. C. Creasy; members,
1895
W. F. Hartman, J. E. Wilson, Stephen Knorr,
G. M. Lockard, E. M. Kester, Thomas
Gorrey.
1896 President, W. O. Holmes; members,
F. J. Richard, E. A. Rawlings, W. D. Brobst,
Thomas Gorrey, Charles Kunkle, W. R.
Kocher.
1897 President, W. R. Kocher; members,

A. Moyer, Isaiah Hagenbuch, L. T.

Sharpless.
1886
President, B. F. Zarr; members, C.
B. Sterling, T. C. Sterner, Henry Rosenstock,
E. B. Clark, "L. T. Sharpless, W. J. Correll.

—

109

O. Holmes, W. H. Gilmore,
Kreamer, Harry Rhodes, Thomas

C. C. Peacock,

Kashner, C. W. Runyon, John Deily.
1907 President, J. H. Coleman members,

—

W. Runyon, James Magee,

;

Zeigler,

John Deily, William Kashner, H. C. Rulon.
1908 President, J. H. Coleman; members,
James Magee, H. C. Rulon, A. B. Naylor,

—

Jacob Stiner, C. A. Pursel, C. W. Runyon.
President, F. J. Richard; members.
1909

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

110

James Magee, I. L. Rabb, W. Kashner, C. W.
Runyon, C. A. Pursel, H. C. Rulon.
1910 President, Joseph L. Townsend;
members, I. L. Rabb, C. A. Pursel, C. W.
Runyon, Thomas Gunter, H. C. Pollock, H.

—

C. Rulon.

—

President, James Magee; members,
191 1
G. H. Welliver, C. A. Pursel, R. R. Hartman,
Oscar Lowenberg, J. W. Bruner, Isaiah Ohl.
Under amendments to the State con191 2
stitution last year's council held over.

—
—
1913 President,

Oscar Lowenberg; members. Karl F. Wirt, C. A. Pursel, A. C Hidlay,
Coleman, H. C. Rulon, Dr. G. H.
J. H.
Welliver.

George Nathan Wagner, chief of police of
Bloomsburg, elected in 191 2, is a native of
Conyngham, Luzerne county. Previous to his
assuming his present office he served one enlistment in Battery E, 4th Coast Artillery, and
two enlistments in Troop D of the State Constabulary.

MUNICIP.\L IMPROVEMENTS
election of the first town couhcil was
beginning of municipal improvements.

The
the

Most of the repairs to the streets and town
bridges had previously been made by the township supervisors, or by benevolent and enterprising citizens who paid for them out of their
own pockets. In 1874 Market street was
finally opened clear through by the removal of
the house of Martha Wells, below Third street.
In the following year the brick "Forks Hotel"
was removed and Second street extended to
Center street was also
the Normal grounds.

opened and extended from Second to First.
Samuel Neyhard drew the plans in 1872 for
He afterwards
the grading of East street.

drew the plans

for the regrading of almost

every street in the town.

[Mr. Neyhard died

Oct. 27, 1914.]

Contemporary with the street improvements
the problem of water supply w^as solved by the
organization of the Bloomsburg Water Company in 1874 for the purpose of procuring a
supply of water from Stony brook, and a proposition made to the town council.
However,
an act of the Legislature was passed prohibitan
increase
the
bonded
indebtedness
of
of
ing
the town, and the company dissolved. In 1877
a second company was organized, the directors
being D. T- Waller, L. N. Mover. M. S. Appleman, E. H. Little, R. C. Neal, C. G. Barkley,
J.

A. Funston, George E. Elwell and H.

Clark.

As no

springs of sufficient height above the

town could be found, a reservoir
was dug on the hill immediately north of town,
the water taken from Fishing creek to a brick
well and from there pumped to the reservoir,
whence it was distributed over the town by
means of iron pipes.
The waterworks have been greatly improved
and enlarged since 1886, notably by the buildlevel of the

ing of a second reservoir, enlarging the power-

and adding new machinery, and in
March, 1913, a filtering plant was completed
at a cost of $50,000. Paul E. Wirt is president
of the company, Frank P. Zarr, secretary, and
the directors are Paul E. Wirt, A. Z. Schoch,
B. F. Sharpless, L. N. Mover, W. H. Hidlay,
A. B. Grotz, L. E. Waller, Ellis Eves. Dr. J. J.
Brown.
In May, 1874, the Bloomsburg Gas Company was formed, and in October of that year
the streets were first illuminated by this
method.
Col. S. Knorr was the first president, and C. W. Miller the first secretary, of
the company.
The first public sewers were introduced in
1884 and since then a complete system of
house

drainage has been installed.
The first paving done in Bloomsburg was
on Main street, from Market Square to Iron
street, in 1906, J. R. Fowler being the contractor. In 1914 the paving was extended from
Iron street to East street, and also from

Market Square

West

street,

supervision of the council.
An interesting and novel plant

under the
that of the

Bloomsburg Heating Company, which provides heat for many of the public buildings,
business houses and residences of Bloomsburg.
This comparatively modern method of heating was introduced in the town as early as
1885 by the incorporation of the Bloomsburg
Steam & Electric Light Company. In connection with their electric light plant they intended to use the waste steam for heating purposes, but the heating department was developed first. Pipes are laid to the homes and
stores, and steam at a good pressure is supIn 1908
plied even in the coldest weather.
the plant was purchased by J. T. Tracy and

A. W. Sharpless, who soon made it an important business investment. Since the death
of Air. Tracy the sole ownership has been
vested in Mr. Sharpless.
Having a number
of coal dredges in operation in the summer, he
is assured of an abundant and cheaply obtained
supply of fuel, taken from the bed of the

Susquehanna

river.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
M.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING

The

original electric light

company

in the

county was the Bloomsburg Electric Light
Company, organized in November, 1890, with
the following officers:
President. W. R.
Tubbs secretary, L. E. Waller treasurer, Dr.
;

;

Willits; directors, C.

Miller, J.

Mercer, P. S. Harman, C. C. Peacock, F. P.
The light was turned on for the
Drinker.
first time March 10, 1891.
The company continued to operate until 1899, when it passed
into the hands of the American Electric Light
& Gas Co., which at the same time purchased
the Bloomsburg Gas Co., and consolidated
the two under one management.
The name

111

J. J. Brown, N. U. Funk,
Robert Runyon, C. A. Kleim, J. C. Brown, Dr.
C. S. Altmiller, J. L. Moyer.

Milleisen, Dr.

FIRE DEP.\RTMENT

1868 Bloomsburg had no protection
against fires but the "bucket brigade." When
a fire occurred two lines of people were formed
at a well or cistern, and full buckets were
passed along one line to the fire, the empty
buckets being returned by the other line. If the
water supply became exhausted, the fire conUntil

tinued as long as there was anything left to
burn. In February, 1868, the Bloomsburg Fire

Company was organized. A subscription fund
was subsequently changed to the United Gas of $450 was raised, and with it a hand engine
& Electric Company, and this a few years was purchased from the Friendship Fire Comago passed into the control of the Columbia pany of Philadelphia by William H. Gilmore.
The It was a double decker, made for city use,
Power, Light & Railways Company.
Bloomsburg Electric Light Company had its with water supplied from a plug. It arrived
and
Catherine streets it is now in Bloomsburg on April 2, 1S68. Having no
plant at Eighth
suction pipe it was still necessary to supply it
abandoned.
The Irondale Electric Light, Heat & Power with water by the lines of bucket passers, but
Company was organized in April, 1902. Those it was an improvement on the brigade because
Much
actively interested in it at its inception were a stream could be thrown farther.
W. S. Moyer, Dr. J. J. Brown, Dr. W. M. good work was done with it, and it saved
Reber, C. W. Runyon, J. C. Brown, N. U. property worth many times its cost.
After the erection of waterworks the old
Funk, C. A. Kleim, Grant Herring, C. M.
Creveling, H. A. McKillip. The old power- hand engine made its appearance only in firehouse formerly used by the Bloomsburg Iron men's parades. It was sold in November, 1886,
Company at Irondale was purchased from the to the Volunteer Firemen's Association of
Bloomsburg Water Company, including the Philadelphia, and was kept by them as a relic
dam at Arbutus Park and the race. The of the early days of the city fire fighters until
building was remodeled and powerful turbines 1892, when it was destroyed in a fire.
instead of the old overshot water wheel, and
In 1880 the Bloomsburg Fire Company was
the latest machinery for both steam and water changed to Friendship Fire Company, No. i.
The
was
A
town purchased a steam fire engine in
modern
power
procured.
complete
equipment for the manufacture of commercial 1890, and put it in the charge of this comelectric current was erected, and the company
pany, where it has remained ever since. Of the
began business in August, 1903. In 19 13 the charter members but few are living, among
timber dam was torn out with great difficulty, these being W. H. Gilmore, J. H. Long, J. L.
owing to the many cribs and piling in the Walter, W. J. Correll, F. M. Gilmore, Jacob
creek bed, and a new timber dam, 12 feet Av\\, Edward Searles, John Roadarmel, Charles
high and 760 feet long, placed in position. A Decker, William Thomas and T. L. Gunton.
concrete dam could not be built owing to the This company has quarters in the town hall*,
fact that bed rock was over ten feet below the having well appointed rooms for the appacreek bed.
The old dams had been subject ratus and for meetings. For more than forty
to frequent damage by freshets.
years this company has held an annual ball
For a time there was sharp competition be- which is always largely attended.
tween the Irondale Company and the BloomsThe Friendship Fire Company is contemburg Electric Light Company, until a few plating the purchase of an automobile chem;

years ago, when both companies passed into
the control of the Columbia Power, Light &
Railways Company. The officers at the time
of the consolidation were
C. M. Creveling,
:

president; N. U. Funk, secretary: M. Milleisen, treasurer; directors, C. M. Creveling,

ical fire

engine.

Rescue Fire Company was incorporated
The petition for the charter
Feb. II, 1869.
was signed by J. I. Stees, F. M. Everett, P. E.
Wirt, A. T. Drake, Cain Mauser, W. Marr, W.
J. Buckalew, S. W. Shutt, E. S. Shutt, J. Gir-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

112

Warr, T. W'arr, W. Wirt, W. Roan.
There were many more charter members. The
name was changed to Rescue Hook and Ladder Company on May 12, 1900. This company's location is on East Fifth street, above
East street, where by its own efforts a fine
ton, G.

brick building has been erected, up-to-date for
the purposes, with pool table, kitchen, quarters for apparatus, and with rpeeting rooms on
the second floor.
Winona Fire Company, No. 3, was organized in July, 1880, and chartered Aug. 20, 1880.
The charter members were
Robert Buckingham, S. F. Peacock, Arthur A. Clark, E. B.
Clark, C. B. Robbins, W. Clark Sloan, Geo. E.
Elwell, J. F. Peacock, Less Alexander, C. F.
Woodhouse, E. E. Moyer, T. K. Bittenbender,
F. P. Pursel, R. F. Snyder", H. W. McKelvy,
F. S. Kinports, L. S. Wintersteen, F. D. Dentler, W. D. Beckley, R. R. Little, Paul E. Wirt,
W. B. Allen, Frank Maloy, J. W^ Gibbs, W. C.

with few

if any changes.
Among other things
provided that a chief engineer and three assistants shall be elected annually in December
by the several fire companies, and that the
officers shall rotate among the companies, beginning with Friendship No. i, and so on, the
assistants coming from the companies not havit

ing the chief.

A fire alarm system was installed in 1900
connected with the courthouse bell, with alarm
boxes in various parts of the town. H. P.
Chamberlin was the contractor.

THE TOWN FOUNTAIN
David Stroup died

in August, 1884, and in
bequest "to the Town of
Bloomsburg to assist in supplying the same
with water, two thousand dollars, to' be invested and kept at interest, the latter to be
applied to that object, or to be expended upon
water works erected or maintained by the
Town, or to be invested in stocks or bonds of

his

will

made

McKinney, H. M. Rupert, Harry Billmeyer,
John Palmer. The company occupied the third
floor over what is now the Bloomsburg Na- any water company organized to supply the
tional Bank in handsomely furnished rooms, town with water, on such terms as the Town
and for six or eight years kept up an active Council may prescribe."
The Bloomsburg Water Company proposed
Each year during the holidays
organization.
which was the leading social that if the town council would cause the money
it gave a ball
But for various reasons so devised to be expended in the erection of a
event of the year.
the interest died out, and the organization was fountain at or near the public square the comabandoned. Later on, however, it was renewed pany would furnish water for it free of exby younger men, and still exists with a goodly pense. This proposition was accepted by the
number of brave fire fighters. The company council, and a petition setting forth these facts
has very comfortable rooms over the J. L. was presented to the court on Aug. 18, 1892.
After the necessary legal proceedings Judge
Sharpless store.
Liberty Fire Company, No. 4, was incor- Ikeler made a decree granting the petition.
porated Feb. 10, 1906, with a large number The town council appointed President F. P.
of charter members.
They own their own Drinker and Councilmen W. O. Holmes and
house through their own eff^orts. It is located W. H. Gilmore a committee to select a founon Leonard street near Main street, and ad- tain and also the drinking fountain which now
mirably adapted to their uses, containing apparatus and meeting rooms, pool tables, kitchens, etc.

Another company known as the Good Will
Company organized about the same
time, and provided themselves with a chemical
outfit, but disbanded after a few years' exFire

stands at the post office corner. The fountains
selected, and their erection completed in
An inscription on the large
October, 1892.
fountain reads:
"Erected by David Stroup,

were

1892."

TOWN

H.JiLL

istence.

With three fire companies in town there was
no arrangement for concert of action in case
of a fire, as there was no recognized head, and
so the companies each appointed a committee
to confer with the others, and to draft a constitution and by-laws for the organization of a

The committees performed
and on Jan. 25, 1881, the result of
was presented to the town council,
and approved by that body, and stands to-day
fire

department.

their duty
their work

The town

was erected at East and Main
and dedicated on Sept. 14, 1890. The
occasion was observed by a parade in which
numerous organizations took part.
program consisting of music, and speeches by a
number of citizens, was followed, and a large
hall

streets,

crowd was

present.

The town

justly

proud

of the hall. It is a three-story brick building
of pleasing architecture. On the first floor is
the council room. Friendship Fire Company

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
On the second and third
two large rooms, and several smaller

room, and lock-up.
floors are

rooms, for public meetings, the fire companies,
The building is supplied with all modern
conveniences. David Hensinger was the conetc.

and builder, and the cost was $15,000.
to the time of the erection of this building

tractor

In a
blacksmith shop and carriage factory.
separate building across the street are the paint
and
a
shops, a large new brick building
frame building. In the conduct of this business Mr. Brobst is ably assisted by his son
Paul.

American Car

the town had occupied rented quarters for a
council room.

INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS HOUSES

One

of the oldest industrial establishments

Bloomsburg is the extensive foundry and
machine shops of Harman & Hassert. This
business was founded by Peter S. Harman and
George Hassert in 1875. Mr. Harman had
had many years' experience in the foundry
business, and Mr. Hassert was a machinist of
unusual skill. They began on a small scale in
a building 60 by 50 feet, making plows and
stoves, but the business grew rapidly, demandStarting additional buildings and machinery.
in

ing modestly, they soon did a business of
over $2,000 a year, but by 1879 the trade had
increased until they were employing thirty persons, and had entered the manufacture of mining cars. By 1886 they were doing a business

of $55,000 per annum and were preparing to
enlarge when in 1888 the entire works were
destroyed by fire. They immediately replaced
the burned frame buildings by ones of brick,

and added others, making the plant the largest
in the town at that time. At present the plant
turns out mining cars, hand cars, casts columns, and does general custom machine work.
The famous old founders of the company
passed to their final reward some years ago,
and the business has been continued by memIt is now an incorporated concern under the name of Harman

bers of their families.

Hassert, with the following officers

Presi-

dent, general manager and treasurer, J. Lee
Harman vice president, George E. Hassert
secretary, John G. Harman.
;

;

Carriage

Works

113

& Foundry Company

The Bloomsburg branch of the American
Car & Foundry Company had its origin in
the machine shop and foundry of Semple &
Taylor, started in 1863. In 1S71 more capital
was enlisted, the facilities increased and the
manufacture of mine cars commenced, under
the firm name of the Columbia County Iron
Manufacturing Company. The company becoming involved during the panic of 1873, the
plant was sold to M. \V. Jackson, of Berwick,
who sold an interest to G. M. & J. K. Lockard, who had been foremen in the old shop.
In 1879 they became sole owners and that year
fire destroyed the entire works, with a loss of
How$40,000 and only $18,000 insurance.
ever, in three months they rebuilt and entered

a career of prosperity, during the following four years producing over four thousand
cars, and doing a business of more than one
million dollars annually, having two to three
hundred men on their payroll, with a wage
list of $10,000 a month.
Subsequently the
plant became the property of the Bloomsburg
was
Car Company and
incorporated on the

upon

consolidation of the American Car

& Foundry

The plant consists of a
1900.
group of frame buildings which cover the
larger part of a city block, and which are fitted with the latest improved machinery and

Company

labor-saving devices, and employment is given
The
to over three hundred skilled workmen.
capacity is two thousand freight cars and
three thousand mine cars annually, which find
a market throughout the coal regions and in
In
several of the South American countries.
1914 an addition to the export building, of
65 by 112 feet, was made, and the company
started on an order of four hundred cars for
the Lehigh Valley railroad.

One

of the oldest concerns in this section
is the establishment of J. B. Brobst, known as
The busithe Bloomsburg Carriage Works.
ness was established by David Brobst in 1849,
and conducted by him for thirty-five years.
In 1884 it came into the hands of J. B. Brobst
and his brother. This partnership continued

when J. B. Brobst assumed entire
and management of the plant. The
premises occupied consist of a repair and

until 1907,

control

The Bloomsburg Woolen Mills
in 1882 by S. A. Caswell, M.
E. Caswell, E. C. Caswell and H. C. Halfpenny. They are located at Sixth and West
After the death of the first two partstreets.
ners named above, and the withdrawal of Mr.
Halfpenny, the firm name was changed to
E. C. Caswell & Co., the other member of the

were established

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

114

firm being Carlton A. Caswell.
This plant
has twice met with misfortune, once by fire,
in
and again
1896 by a cyclone which destroyed
the upper part, leaving only the first story
In
standing.
spite of this it recovered from
the loss and has prospered, being one of the
leading industrial establishments of Bloomsburg. It has seldom been shut down for lack
From 1887 to
of orders since its founding.
1901 J. M. Staver had an interest in the busiIn the latter year his
ness of the factory.
interest was purchased by Carlton A. Caswell,
who was already a half owner of the plant.
Mr. Staver died in 191 2, E. C. Caswell died
in February, 1914, and C. A. Caswell is now
sole owner.

The Bloomsburg School Furnishing Company
for some years. It
1885, "for the purpose of manufacturing school and church furniture, and doing general planing mill, foundry
and machine work." The officers were: C. W.

was an important industry
was incorporated July 17,

Miller,

Waller,
J.

president;
Jr.,

Brown,

Moyer, Dr. D.

Schoch,

directors.

W. M.
was

Reber,

successfully

operated until February, 1899, when it was
sold to the American School Desk Company.

The plant was operated by them for several
years, when, largely by reason of troublesome
strikes, it was shut down, and the machinery
removed to other factories of the corporation.
Bloomsburg thus lost an industry that employed

many

skilled mechanics.

Aug.

30,

1888, the factory was destroyed by fire, the
loss on buildings and finished product being
about $60,000, with insurance of less than half
that amount. It was rebuilt. About 1909 the
American School Desk Company sold the plant
to the Fred Fear Match Company.

The Bloomsburg

Silk Mill

his

home

Italy in the spring, as was his
ill
while there.
In the
of his serious condition reached here,
in

custom, and became

fall news
and Mr. Yorks, already a large stockholder,
made a flying trip to Italy, where he secured
a majority of the stock by an agreement with
Mr. Ratti. The death of the latter occurred
on Oct. 25, 1906, at Rogeno, Italy. Under
Mr. Yorks's guiding hand the mills continued
to prosper, and are now among the largest

employers of labor in this section. The dress
silks made at the Bloomsburg mills have attained a high standing wherever they have been
introduced, and that means over a large portion of the United States.
On the morning
of Sept. 12, 1913, Mr. Yorks died suddenly
after but a few hours' illness. Thereafter the
management of the mills passed to his son,
Milton K, Yorks, who had been an able assistant to his father for several years. At present
he is the general manager.
Pottery

The Hyssong Pottery was started by Rabb
about 1874. They were succeeded by
A. L. Hyssong, who carried on the business
until 1913, when he was succeeded by his son,
C. A. Hyssong. This is the only pottery in this
section of the State and has been located at
the same spot in the west end of Bloomsburg

& Rehm

ever since the beginning. The clay is procured
from New Jersey and the product is stoneware, jugs, poultry fountains, water coolers,
glazed flower pots, jardinieres, dipping cups
for the dye works, drain tile and sewer pipe.

The Magee Carpet Company
the outgrowth of a small plant of twentylooms which were run in Philadelphia by
James Magee & Co. at Tulip and Palmer
streets. Mr. James Magee comes from a family of carpet manufacturers, his father having
started in Philadelphia at the close of the Civil
war with four hand looms. In those days the
is

five

was founded in 1888 by Joseph Ratti, and in
1890 was incorporated as a company. At the
branch factory in Lock Haven the company modern mill was unknown. A manufacturer
manufactures dress silks, linings and tie silks. used the lower rooms of his home or else an
The Bloomsburg plant is of commodious size, outside shed in which to carry on his work.
having 45,000 square feet of floor space, which James Magee started in his father's mill,
From this he passed
in all its appointments is most modernly fitted
sweeping the floors.
for convenience, and over three hundred looms through the various departments, spooling,
are installed. The company gives employment winding, weaving, fixing, until he became the
to three hundred and fifty skilled operators. superintendent of the mills in Philadelphia,
During Mr. Ratti's lifetime he was ably as- moving the machinery from a crowded, ill
sisted in the management of the mill by Mr. F. adapted mill to one of the best appointed in
G. Yorks, a gentleman of wide experience in that city. In 1885, on his return from a year's
In 1906 Mr. Ratti went to experience in the West, feeling that there
silk manufacture.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
be no opportunity of rising in his
father's mill, he founded a partnership with
a yarn spinner and commenced the manufac-

would

ture of ingrain carpets.
After running the plant in Philadelphia several years, believing that it would be more advantageous to manufacture in a country town,
he visited Bloomsburg, as well as a number of

other places, and decided to remove his plant
there, which he did in 1891. He brought with

and W. H.
Vanderherchen, both practical men, and with
thirty-five looms the company was started,

him

his cousin,

James Magee

(ist),

making nothing but ingrain carpets. Foreseeing the gradual disuse of this class of carpet
in 1896, the tapestry mill and spinning mill
and the manufacture of tapestry
was started. The company partnership
meanwhile had sold out to the Bloomsburg
Carpet Works and the latter merged a few
years later into the Magee Carpet Works.
The company's brand of "Bar None Tapestry"
was favorably known throughout the country.
A short time afterwards velvet carpets were

were

built

carpets

made, to be followed later by the manufacture
In this work the company
of seamed rugs.
brought out a grade of velvets which had
never been produced before. In fact, it was
freely asserted that the grade could not be
done. But it was, and "Blue Ribbon Velvets"
were sold in every city of the Union. Again
the caprice of fashion compelled a complete
readjustment of plant. The demand was for a

To supply their trade
seamless velvet rug.
with this the company made the biggest effort
of its business life, erecting in 1913 one of the
finest mills of the country, with 500,000 feet
of floor space, and enough looms to produce

115

weaving department is on the top floor of the
mill, where abundance of light and ven-

new

tilation

may

be obtained.

save vibration,

was made 7 inches thick, resting on
The contract called for
heavy
a carrying load of 300 pounds to the square
foot.
On this floor are narrow looms which
weave the carpets, the small rugs and the carIt may
pets for carriages and automobiles.

the floor

steel girders.

not be generally

known

company produces

that the Magee Carpet
three fourths of the car-

pets used in carriages and automobiles, having
made a specialty of such carpets for many
The weaving department also conyears.
tains broad looms which weave a 9 by 12 rug
without a seam.
They are marvels of construction, handling a wire 10 feet long, putting them in and cutting the loops and withdrawing them, all automatically. Some idea of
the size of these looms can be obtained when
the reader is told that they weigh 22,000
pounds each. From the weaving room the
rugs are taken to the finishing rooms, where
they are cleaned, steamed, stretched, worked
and rolled up with a pole in the middle to

keep them from breaking

in transportation.

The older portions of the building are reserved for storage purposes, where many thousands of rugs are kept ready for prompt shipment on receipt of orders. The company has
a private siding for shipping in carload lots
and for taking in wool and coal in bulk. The
plant burns 6,000 tons of coal a year, uses
500,000 gallons of water per day, works up
6,000,000 pounds of wools and yarns every

hundred people and
wages every day over $1,200. The
management is in the hands of men who are
three hundred rugs every day.
practically conversant with the business, and
The Magee Carpet Company is one of the who give their full time and attention to the
largest producers of velvet carpet and rugs work.
Mr. Magee also conducts the I-eader Departin the country, its plant covering ten acres of
All ment Store, one of the largest of Bloomsburg's
floor space, and being a model of its kind.
the
and
mercantile
establishments.
of the equipment is up-to-date,
product
goes into every State of the Union, also to
Porto Rico, Chile, and Hawaii. All processes
of the business are done at the mills. The raw
wool is imported from Russia, China, Turkey
Both worsted
and other foreign countries.
warp and woolen yarns are spun in the com-

large dyehouse and tappany's own plant.
estry printing department color the yarns by
the use of the latest machinery. After being
steamed, washed and dried, the printed yarns
are spooled, and then go to the setting department, where skilled operatives "set" the pattern, straightening out the crooked lines and
beaming the yarns ready for the weaver. The

year, employs over seven

pays out

The Monroe-Hall Furniture Company
the leading progressive industries of
The plant is thoroughly equipped
with modern woodworking machinery for the
production of high-grade furniture of all
kinds. It was originally built in 1891 by W. H.
is

among

the town.

-Schuyler,

Theodore Redeker and

who conducted

Jacol) Keifer,

about one year, when the
Bloomsburg Furniture Company took over the
plant and conducted it for a time. This company was reorganized under the name of the
North Branch Furniture Company, who ran
it

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

116
the plant until

1898.

was then leased

States, as a result of

its

up-to-the-minute busi-

ness methods.

"The Pen

Mightier Than the Sword"

Among the products of Bloomsburg which
have gained world-wide fame there is none
more favorably known than the Paul E. Wirt
Fountain Pen, one of the first of these famous
writing instruments which have become a necessity to Americans and by them have been
carried to the ends of the earth. The factory
in Bloomsburg was started in 1885 by Paul
E. Wirt, one of the leading attorneys of the
town, and has been carried on ever since with
continued and increasing success. Millions of
these pens have been sold, the sales in the
United States exceeding five hundred thousand in a single year. So widely known has
this pen become that there is scarcely a country on earth which is not supplied with it
through retail merchants. The pen is a "loopfeeder" and has stood the test of time, having
many imitators, but none equal to it. Although
there are many other firms marketing foimtain
pens, the sales of the Wirt pen have never
fallen ofl^, but have increased yearly.
The factory where the pens are made is a
two-story building, 25 by 75 feet in dimensions, with an addition 40 by 75, recently
erected.

Forty employees are engaged in the
manufacture, divided between the gold pen,
rubber case, assembling and shipping departments. Most of the employees have been with
the firm for years and have become unusually

made

the factory,
the gold for the pens being received from the
the
rubber
from
South
mint,
America, and the
iridium from which the pen points are made
from Russia. This metal has a value of $125
skillful.

Every part

Paragon Plaster

Robert Hawley and William H. Slate, they
conducting it until 1906, when the present
company was formed and incorporated. The
officers are
W. R. Monroe, president, treasurer and general manager; H. A. Hall, secreThis
company has built up a magnifitary.
cent trade, extending throughout the United

Siipph Company

The Bloomsburg

plant of this company was
established in 1895, but the company has been
The business is
incorporated for 24 years.
housed in a brick and concrete building 70 by
200 feet in size, which is supplied with the best
facilities for the manufacture of "Paragon"
The company also manufactures
plaster.
"Paragon" high-grade lime in the new plant,
built five years ago at the lime works of Low
Bros. & Co., at Lime Ridge, and also deals

wholesale and retail in lime, plaster, cement,
The head
hair, marble dust, flue linings, etc.
offices of the company are located at Scranton,
the local branch being under the efficient
agement of W. L. White.

The

Artificial Ice

man-

Cold Storage Company

was established in 1892 by the Bloomsburg
Cold Storage and Artificial Ice Company, and
was operated by T. J. Pugsley. Financial difficulties closed it down in August, 1914,
when it was purchased by C. R. Dickerman, of
later

Milton, at

sheriff^'s sale.

The Bloomsburg Brick Company
has an extensive shale brick plant at BloomsGeorge L. Low, presiburg. The officers are
dent Dr. J. E. Shuman, vice president W. R.
Kocher, treasurer; H. R. Mears, secretary;
W. W. Swengel, general manager. The company has an authorized capital of $30,000, and
has acquired control of a valuable deposit of
:

;

particularly fine red shale suitable for the manufacture of high-grade pressed brick, paving
The plant has a
brick and other products.
capacity of 6,000,000 bricks per annum, and is
electrically equipped and fitted with the latest

and most approved brick making machinery.
The product is among the best, and large quanare being shipped to distant points a
big home trade is also supplied. Most of the
plant was destroyed by fire in September,
1914, but has been rebuilt.

tities

;

an ounce.

Mr. Wirt and his son, Karl, have become
substantially identified with the life of the
town and are connected with many of the other
important industries, as well as holding positions in the local government and the board of
trustees of the State Normal School.
C. W.
Funston has been associated with this industr\-

The planing mill of A. Bruce Hartnian is a
handy shop conducted by a handy man, where
all kinds of woodworking is done, and odd
It is a. great convenience to the
pieces made.
community and receives liberal and well mer-

almost from

ited patronage.

its

inception.

Planing Mill

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The Ricliard Manufacturing Company

Barger

Bloomsburg. J. P.
the superintendent of the

a resident of

Barger, his son,
a plant of great value to Bloomsburg, both
employment of skilled workmen and the
money the products bring to the town, and
also in the advertising value to this place from
the fact that some of the greatest public works
in America bear the name of this firm on
The
their mechanical and structural parts.
work of this company may be found all over
the Union and in England and France. The
business includes the manufacture of almost
in iron or brass, but the specialty is

117

There

Bloomsburg

in the

Nescopeck, Pennsylvania.

anything
wire and tube drawing machinery. The company has fitted out some of the largest plants
in this country with wire-drawing machines,
making what is probably the simplest and rnost
successful of this class of machinery. Besides
producing ammunition lifts, torpedo anchors,
observation towers and lighthouse lanterns for
the government, the Richard Company built a
cast-iron sectional lighthouse for the Miah
Maue shoals in Delaware bay, erecting the
structure in Bloomsburg upon a concrete foun-

dation and then dismounting it and shipping it
As
to the spot where it finally was located.
a single order in 1907 over 100,000 pairs of
roller skates were put out for a customer. One
of the notable and historic orders filled by this
firm was for a miter lock for the great gates
of the Panama canal locks, the first one used
when the canal was opened to the public.
Bloomsburg's name is fixed for many years
upon these gates.
The firm was organized in 1899 by F. J.
Richard, S. H. Harman and J. L. Richardson.
The present officers are F. J- Richard, president and general manager; j. L. Richardson,
treasurer; C. F. Altmiller, secretary.
:

TIic

Bloomsburg Hosiery Mills

Barger, Bains & Munn, proprietors, was established nine years ago, and is a branch of the
firm in
plant owned and conducted by this
Philadelphia, where the company's specialty is
In Bloomsburg the product
ladies' hosiery.
manufactured is' exclusively infants' hosiery,
finished at the Philadelphia mills, and the
goods are marketed throughout the United
The local plant is situated in a modStates.
ernly constructed brick building, which is conveniently fitted and supplied with the latest and
The indibest makes of knitting machines.
vidual members of the company are Charles C.
Barger, Edward Bains and W. F. Munn. The
two former are active in the business, while
Mr. Munn holds other large interests. Mr.

plant.

a branch mill at

The Fred Fear Match Company
one of the more recent additions to the industries of the town, having been established
The
in T909, with a capital stock of $500,000.
plant consists of a group of brick buildings
The Fred Fear
covering about four acres.
Match Company is owned by Fred Fear of
Fred Fear & Co., New York. The products
made are double tip and parlor matches, which
are manufactured under special processes
is

the company. The plant is specially
for this work and the best and most
modern machinery used in the manufacture of

owned by
fitted

matches

installed.

is also engaged in the manufacture of salad dressing, fly paper and Easter
It
has
plants also in Bradford, Pa.,
egg dyes.
The officers are:
Chicago and New York.
Fred Fear, president and treasurer C. C. YetA. E. Nalter, vice president and secretary

The company

;

trett,

superintendent.

The White Milling Company
was

established in 1885 by

H. V. White and

ably conducted by him up to 1900, when the
White Milling Company was incorporated with
the following officers: President, H. V. White;
treasurer, A. B. White secretary, M. Powell.
The company manufactures and deals in all
kinds of milling products, including spring and
;

winter wheat flour, rye flour, buckwheat flour,
corn meal, feeds, chops, etc., making a specialty of its celebrated "White Seal" flour
and other well known brands. The mills have
a capacity of 125 barrels of wheat flour, one
hundred barrels of buckwheat flour, twentyfive barrels of rye flour and twenty-five tons
of feed per day, besides other products. The
plant is a group of modernly constructed buildings, including the main mill, elevators, ware
and store houses. Each department is supplied with the best improved milling maThe board of directors is: John
chinery.
Eves, G. FI. Harter, Elhs Eves, J. C. Brown,

miller

Cherrington, A. C. Creasy.
P. C. Beyer.

The head

The Bloomsburg Roller Mills
were established
plant

1897 by R. R. Ikeler. The
and is fitted with im-

built of brick

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

118

proved machinery, including the roller process,
and has a capacity of sixty barrels of flour
per day exclusive of the corn meal and feed
mills.
Mr. Ikeler is a practical miller of many
millyears' experience. In connection with the
ing business he handles coal and wood.

The Dillon Greenhouses
the largest establishments of the
In 1875 this enterprise was
established in a comparatively small way by
the late J. L. Dillon, who for a number of
years was one of Bloomsburg's leading business men. The original houses were located

are

among

kind

in the State.

back of the normal school, having something
over 40,000 square feet of glass.
Twenty
were comyears ago the houses on Fifth street
menced and these were added to from time
to time, until there are now fifteen, having
Some
almost 100,000 square feet of glass.
the land
years ago the normal school purchased
the
where the greenhouses stood on
hill, and
in accordance with the agreement the buildings
were removed and possession delivered to the
school in May, 1913, the entire Dillon business being removed to the Fifth street location.
After Mr. Dillon's death the business was for
It is now in
a time conducted by his heirs.
the hands of his widow, who is ably assisted
by her son Charles and her nephew, Charles

Hutchison.

Miscellaneous Mercantile Houses

At the head of the list of mercantile establishments in Bloomsburg are the department
The store of Gelb & Mayer carries
stores.
line
everything for the household and in the
of wearing apparel, except men's clothing.
David Mayer is the managing proprietor.
The other department stores are the Leader
Store Company, Limited, with two branches,
at the corner of Fourth and Market streets,
and in the Exchange Hotel and F. P. Pursel,
the oldest and largest in town, at the corner
of Main and Market streets. Heyman Brothers carry men's and women's wear, and Bresnick's Women's Shop has everything for
;

women.
The druggists are Moyer Brothers, C. A.
Kleim, T- H. Mercer, W. S. Rishton, George
A. McKelvy, G. P. Ringler.
Hardware Dealers J. R. Schuvler, W.

McK.

—
—

Reber, H. B. Sharpless.
H. S. Kauf?man, F. P.
Electrical Supplies

Edwards, George E. Keller.
The grocers and provision dealers are

Tooley & Co., C. R. Stecker, J. L. Sharpless,
Schneider Brothers (wholesale), C. H. Sharpless, H. G. Pennington, A. L. Snyder, J. K.
Pensyl, Fritz & Fritz, C. H. Harris, S. A.
Lutz, J. C. Kahler, A. J. Learn, Theodore Garrison, F. M. Everett, T. C. Snyder, George
Trump, K. M. Moon, Mrs. E. Cronin, G. P.
Davis, U. W. Cherrington, Mrs. C. E. Kelchner, Mrs. S. David, J. C. Hile, Mrs. W. H.
Hartzell, J. L. Turner.
Confectionery and ice cream parlors are conducted by E. M. Savidge, Harmany Brothers,
Alexander & Co., J. L. Pohe & Son, W. F.
O'Neill, P. B. Irvin, John Bush, Joe Fest, A.
Svveisfort. The restaurants are kept by Mrs.
Freeze, Ralph H. Smoyer, W. Eastman, and
Alexander & Co.

There are but five licensed retail liquor establishments in Bloomsburg, exclusive of the
hotels, which are licensed, and they are kept
by Gilmore Bros., John Gross, J. E. Zeigler,
Frank Derr, Joseph Sands. J. S. Bachman is
the only licensed wholesale dealer.
Of the exclusive cigar stores there are four,
the establishments of \\'illiam Vial, The PalThere are
ace, J. Ralston, Edward Shaffer.
many barber shops, kept by E. F. Row, James

Glasgow Cameron, Frank Parks, Frank
Gensemer, Charles Fisher, Fred Vanderslice,
A. R. Kashner.
Meat Markets Frank Bomboy, D. L. Bomboy, R. A. Hicks, C. Bergold, Paul & Pensyl,
J. E. White, C. P. Kressler.
Coal Dealers— J. S. Edwards, W. R.
Kocher, R. R. Ikeler, Harman & Hassert,
W. H. Henrie, O. W. Drake.
Wall Paper— P. K. Vannatta, S. R. Bidleman, S. L. Appleman.
Plumbers— W. O. Holmes & Son, W. F.
Hartman, L. C. Conner, William Ludwig.
Mrs. John Tracy, Mrs. Elmer
Millinery
Brugler, Mrs. C. "C. Furman, Miss Bessie
Quick, Miss Ada Cox.
Pianos and Music Mrs. F. Anstock, James
Reilly,

—

—
—
Shoes Buckalew & Kemp, C. M. Evans, A.
Davis, Ralph H. Smoyer.
Shoemakers — R. R. Hartman, Otto Wolfe,
Lloyd Hartman.
—
Clothing John R. Townsend, D. LowenH.

Saltzer.

berg Estate, C. C. Housenick & Co., L. Gross
& Son, A. Evans, Emil Kroll, B. T. Pursel,
Manufacturers' Clothing Co.
Jewelers James E. Roys, George W. Hess,
George Rosenstock.
Saddlers M. L. Kline, Samuel Pullen.
Five and Ten Cent Stores F. W. Woolworth & Co., The Fair.

—
—

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

—
Liverymen H.
Brink, Charles Moss.
—
Garages Fernand

Gheen,

Miscellaneous
stationery

W. H.
P.

;

—Lesser

Alexander,
J.

whole-

W. Moyer,

Keller's Sons, wholesale notions

;

Brower, carpets; Zehner Brothers, M.

Whitenight,

Miller,

farm imple-

ments; W. W. Crawford, mineral waters; Joseph E. Gross, soft drinks H. E. Dieffenbach,
W. B. Ferguson, ice; J. Papania, fruits; S. C.
Creasy, lumber; E. W. Ritter, newsdealer; E.
;

Savidge, H.

Walter, bakeries; C. E.
W. A. Watters, laun-

Crawford, lunchroom;
dry;

Correll

new laundry

building,

and modernly equipped, was

size

completed in 1913.
At the meeting in January, 1912, action

was

changing the name back to
"Bloomsburg Hospital," in order to remove the
impression of the public that it was a private
hospital conducted for personal gain, and by
action of the court of that year the institution

taken towards

and confectionery;
J.

G. Freeze, $1,000.

ample

Seller, Jules Seiler, C. S.
Wright, H. B. Correll, Gunter

Knittle.

sale cigars

Charles

Shoemaker,

119

Co., furniture.

THE BLOOMSBURG HOSPITAL

is now named the Bloomsburg Hospital.
There are four public wards, with accommodations for sixteen patients, and also sixteen
private rooms. In an emergency this capacity
may be considerably increased. The administration of the hospital is in charge of a board
of twenty-five directors, in five groups, elected
for terms of five years each.
For 19x4 they
are, Paul E. Wirt, C. M. Creveling, Dr. J. J
B.
F.
Dr.
Dr.
L. B. Kline,
Brown,
Gardner,
For 1915, L. N. Moyer, Dr. I. R. Wolfe, J.
Harman, Dr. J. S. John, Dr. J. E. Shuman
For 1916, A. Z. Schoch, J. C. Brown, Dr. J
W. Bruner, Dr. J. R. Montgomery, James
Magee. For 1917, Dr. R. E. Miller, Frank
Ikeler, M. K. Yorks, Dr. A. Shuman, S. C.
Creasv. For 1918, Dr. S. B. Arment, Dr. C.
F. Altmiller, L. E. Waller, Dr. C. Z. Robbins,

This institution was promoted by Joseph
Ratti, the principal owner of the Bloomsburg
He and a number of friends met
Silk Mill.
on March 8, 1905, for organization. A. Z.

Schoch was elected president of the corporaHarman, secretary; Joseph Ratti,

tion; J. G.

F. G.
treasurer
The residence of
;

Yorks, assistant treasurer.
L. Ritter on East Fifth

was purchased by Mr. Ratti, and extenrepairs and improvements made to adapt

street

sive
it

for hospital purposes.

Friends of the en-

terprise were solicited, and contributed $6,190,
Mr. Ratti supplying the balance, about $9,000,
to meet the expense incurred. The equipment
included a complete set of the most modern

surgical instruments, and an operating room
fitted with all the sanitary appliances known
to the surgical profession.
In April, 1905, action was taken to change
the name to the Joseph Ratti Hospital, which
was done at the May term of court.
At the meeting in January, 1910, action was
taken looking to the erection of a new build-

The Legislature of 1909 had appropriated
$5,000 towards the project. Plans for the new
building prepared by McCormick & French of
ing.

Wilkes-Barre were adopted

191

and the

contract was awarded to the Shamokin Lumber Company.
The Legislature of 191 1 appropriated an additional $3,000 for the buildcanvass of the community for subing.
scriptions was made, which with several legacies enabled the corporation to complete the

building ready for occupancy in July, 1912.
The property has cost $55,000.
The legacies received up to 1914 have been:
Julia Waller, $1,000; Mrs. Antoinette Tellier,
$4,000; Capt. H. J. Conner, $1,000; Col. John

X. Grier.

The

building committee was composed of
A. Z. Schoch, J. C. Brown, S. C. Creasy, Dr.
Dr. Bruner
J. J. Brown, Dr. J. W. Bruner.
was the first chief of staff, and Dr. John is
now in that position, which he has held for
some years past. The present officers are Dr.
:

John, president J. C. Brown, secretary
and treasurer Dr. C. Z. Robbins, assistant
treasurer. The Sisters of Mercy have the direct care of the patients, and Sister M. StanisA number of
laus is the superintendent.
trained nurses are graduated each year from

;

the institution.

The hospital has already in its brief career
earned an enviable reputation for the successful treatment of critical surgical cases, due
largely to the ability of the physicians and the
While many
careful nursing of the Sisters.
gave valuable assistance in the establishment
of the hospital, the successful outcome of the
project is due more to the untiring efforts of
A. Z. Schoch and J. C. Brown than to any

other two persons.,

BLOOMSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

The charter of the Bloomsburg Library
Company was adopted Feb. 19, 1889, and the
management of the company's affairs vested in
a board of directors made up of the follow-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

120
Rev.

ing:

Frank

Manhart,

president;

C. Walker, vice president Eva Rupert,
secretary; Mrs. E. H. Little, treasurer; Martin
P. Lutz, Anna M. Frymire, Mary A. Correll.
Mr. Manhart having very shortly after removed from town, Col. John G. Freeze suc-

Maud

;

ceeded him as president.
The Library shared its

first

quarters with

C. T. U., this organization very generously making over a collection of books
which it owned to the control of the Library

the

In the spring of 1891 this partnerdissolved, and the Library's equipment moved to the Y. M. C. A. room. After
operating for four years its afifairs, like those
directors.

was

ship

many other early semi-public libraries,
languished, and for over ten years the town
was without any active organization. Before
the expiration of this time the women's clubs
began to agitate the matter of a public library,
and in 1902 the Civic club with its Library
of

department was organized.
In 1902 the project of a public library which
should also be free, was put forth by the women's clubs of the town. Contributions of books
and money were solicited and entertainments
given, with the result that practically every citizen of the town owned some share in the success which attended the institution from the
The largest sum given by an individual
start.
was the thousand-dollar bequest of Mrs. D. J.

Waller, and the largest amount from any one
source was the $1,100 from the Bloomsburg
Centennial fund. The Civic, Century, Wednesday and Ivy clubs stood sponsors at its inception,

out

and have been loyal supporters through-

its

years of growth.

The new Library Company

operating the

under the original charter,
by-laws were amended to increase

free public library

although

its

number of directors to twelve, including
two members of the town council. The first
board after the reorganization was as follows
the

Mrs. S. C. Creasy, president; Mrs. J. L. Dillon, vice president Miss Sarah E. I. Van Tassel, secretary; Mrs. C. W. McKelvy, treasurer;
Miss Laura Waller, Mrs. E. B. Tustin, Mrs.
C. W. Miller,
J. P. Welsh, Col. J. G. Freeze,
Louis Cohen, O. H. Bakeless, John R. Town;

of two large rooms and storage space. The
same year, upon petition of the people, council
came to the financial aid of the institution.
Since that time the appropriation has been increased until in 191 1 the present ruling was

Council voting to duplicate any sum
raised by the board of directors, provided
that sum be not in excess of $1,000.
The
library has also accumulated, despite its scanty
resources, an endowment fund which at present stands at somewhat over $3,000.
With
over 4,500 volumes added to the original collection, and with all possible storage space
crowded with unbound periodicals and other
needed material, the Library has reached its
limit of growth in the present situation.
It is
generally conceded by the board and by townspeople that a building of its own is the only
solution of this congested condition, and that
this building when erected must be commensurate with the town itself in beauty, and fitted
to the growth of the town for at least twenty
years to come.

passed

The board

at this

time consists of the

fol-

lowing persons
J. R. Townsend, president
James H. Coleman, vice president; Miss Mary
Mrs. Samuel Wigfall,
Unangst, secretary
treasurer; Mrs. C. W. McKelvy, Miss Sarah
E. I. Van Tassel, Mrs. C. W. Funston, Mrs.
H. G. Eshelman, Miss Anna Creasy, C. W.
Miller, O. H. Bakeless, Dr. G. H. Welliver,
James Magee, Dr. J. W. Bruner. Trustees,
J. R. Townsend, A. Z. Schoch, George E.
:

;

Elwell.

The following librarians have served as
noted: Mrs. Worthington, 1903-1908; Miss
Irene Mercer, 1908-1909; Miss Clark, June,
1909; Miss Blanche Williams, 1909-1911;
Miss Edith Patterson, 1911-1914.
Each year the library is financially aided by
a "tag day," in which the townspeople as well
as traveling public are importuned by girls
selected for the occasion to buy a tag or
streamer, the price varying with the inclination
of the purchaser. In 1914 seventy girls participated

and the sum realized was $270, the

largest on record.

soldiers'

monument

send.

A room was secured in the Clark building The erection of a monument in honor of
on Center street, the Library organized by the men of Columbia county who fought for
Miss Elizabeth Renninger, and on June 18, the preservation of the LInion in the Civil war
a subject agitated and discussed for many
1903, with Mrs. Mary S. R. Worthington as was
Back in the
librarian, and with four thousand books on the years before its accomplishment.
shelves, the Bloomsburg Free Public Library seventies an eff'ort was made to raise a fund
was opened to the people. Five years later for this purpose. A small amount was realthe Library was expanded to its present size ized by entertainments and in other ways, but

SOLDIICRS'

AND SaILORS' MoNUMKXT

Sol.DIIiKS'

]\[()XLMEXT.

Erected Ijy the County at Bloomsburg
Dedicated Nov. 2Q, tqoS

ColAMlllA L'uL-XTV IaIL,

J '.1.(

SI'.T R(

I'a.

ATA W

SS A.

L'a.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the public interest in the movement did not
appear to be sufficiently aroused in the project
at that time and so it slept for more than

twenty years, when the agitation was again
This culminated in 1898 when, on
started.
Feb. 8th, a petition was presented to the court
by citizens asking for the erection of a monument. Aftei being approved and disapproved
by various grand juries through several years
a contract was finally awarded to J. U. Kurtz,
of Berwick, whose bid was $7,795, the lowest
of five. The monument was erected in Market Square.
The dedication of the monument, which
took place Nov. 19, 1908, was probably the
most imposing open-air ceremony ever witnessed in the county. The weather was fine
and thousands of people were present. The
program included a parade which started at

Town Hall, headed by Chief Marshal W.
O. Holmes, County Commissioners J. A. Hess,
C. L. Pohe and Elisha Ringrose, Assistant
Marshals W. G. Lentz and R. A. Hicks, all
mounted. The procession included five brass
bands, mounted police. Sons of Veterans,
Patriotic Order Sons of America, the Drum
Corps of Danville, Knights of the Golden
Eagle Commandery, Improved Order of
Red Men, speakers of the day in carriages,
veterans of the Civil war, Ladies of the
G. A. R., Bloomsburg Fire Department. The

the

parade ended at the monument, Market
Square, where the exercises were opened by
J. C. Eves, president of the Monument Association.
After "America" and a prayer, President Judge Charles C. Evans in a very excellent address, on behalf of the county commis-

121

Moyer assumed the position May 10, 1840,
the office being located in his store on Market Square, where the residence of the late
Then came
John L. Moyer now stands.
Leonard B. Rupert, on June 3, 1847; John M.
Chamberlin, June i, 1849, office in his building on Main street, now occupied and owned

by Josiah Ralston; Philip Unangst, May 6,
1853, office in his shoe shop, corner of Main
and Center, on the site of Gelb & Mayer's store
Leonard B. Rupert, April 7, 1858, office in
building where Moyer Brothers building now
stands, below the square on Main street
;

;

Palemon John, April 9, 1861, office in room
occupied by Western Union Telegraph
office and Andrew Evans' tailor shop
D. A.
Bcckley, April ]2, 1865, office in same location
John B. Pursel, Aug. 9, 1866, office in store
room on west side of what is now the Farmers' National Bank building; D. A. Beckley,

now

;

April 5, 1869, office in a one-story frame building that stood on the site of the Morning Press
building; George A. Clark, May 5, 1885; A. B.
Cathcart, Aug. 2, 1889; James H. Mercer, Feb.

The three last named had the office
1894.
the Paul E. Wirt building where the
Bloomsburg National Bank now is. The oldfashioned boxes and fixtures of the former

office

were discarded, and new modern

appli-

ances were adopted.
O. B. Mellick became
postmaster on Feb. 25, 1898, and the office continued in the same quarters until June 16, 1899,
when it was moved to the L. N. Moyer build-

room now occupied by the Columbia
Electric Company, the fixtures that

ing in the

& Montour
were

in the

Mellick

Wirt building being

retained.

Mr.

was succeeded on March

7, 1902, by
office until Sep-

monument to the public James C. Brown, who held the
war veterans in particu- tember, 1914, when J. H. Maust was appointed.
lar.
E. E. Bittenbender, commander of Ent On Sept. 29, 1906, the post office moved into
its present commodious quarters in the First
Post, G. A. R., delivered the address of thanks
National Bank building, where it was equipped
for the monument. An eloquent and impressive speech was made by Hon. W. E. Andrews,
throughout with up-to-date appliances.
of Washington, D. C, the orator of the day,
FINANCIAL
and was followed by Congressman John G.
McHenry, whose address closed the exercises.
The Industrial Building & Loan AssociaThis monument has often been declared to be
more beautiful than some costing twice as tion was organized in 189 1. It has been so

sioners, presented the
generally, and to the

much.
POST OFFICE

The first post office at Bloomsburg was
established on Oct. I, 1807, with William Park
as postmaster.
He held the position until
I, 1810, when John Park succeeded him.
Then came John Barton, on April 17, 1819,
who continued until March 21, 1837, when
Bernard Rupert was appointed.
John R.

April

carefully conducted that it has never been
obliged to foreclose a mortgage on any of its
The officers are: John R. Townsend,
loans.
president F. R. Carpenter, vice president H.
;

;

Samuel Wigfall, treasDirectors: George E. Elwell, O. W.
urer.
Cherrington, W. H. Hidlay, Willie Law.
From the time of its organization up to December, 1913, it made loans amounting to
S. Barton, secretary

$87,630.

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

122

There are three financial institutions in
Bloomsburg in 1914, the First National Bank,
the Fanners' National Bank and the Bloomsbury National Bank.
On Feb. 5, 1S64, a company was formed for

bankmg business by William jMcKelvy, William Neal, I. W. McKelvy,
Robert Cathcart, Robert F. Clark, John K.
Grotz, George Hughes, Lloyd Paxton and
Charles R. Paxton. On Feb. 29, 1864, it was
authorized to become a national bank, and on
the transaction of a

March 7th it was formally opened for business with C. R. Paxton as president, and J.
P. Tustin as cashier. Its capital was $50,000,
and it was located in a room in the corner of
the building that was then the residence of William ]\IcKelvy. After Mr. McKelvy's death the

eling,

W hite.

Dr.
Dr.

Brown, M.

J.
J. S.

appliance for modern banking. In June, 1914,
surplus and profits amounted to $106,480.08,
addition to its capital stock. A. Z. Schoch
is president
W. H. Hidlay, cashier and the
directors are
Paul E. Wirt, IM. K. Yorks,
Dr. M. J. Hess, Dr. J. E. Shuman, R. J. Ruhl,
C. A. Caswell, W. M. Longenberger, Samuel

;

Wigfall, W. H. Hidlay, A. Z. Schoch.
The deposits in the three banks aggregated
$2,087,111.45 on April 4, 1913.

January, 1891, with a capital of $60,000, and
the first board of directors were W. S. Moyer,
C. A. Kleim, W'. Kramer, C. M. Creveling, G.
A. Herring, W. Gingles, C. W. Runyon, J. W.
Eves, P. A. Evans. W. S. Moyer was presi:

dent,

and Frank

Ikeler, cashier.

began busi-

ness in a room in what was then Mrs. M. E.
Ent's building, its quarters being much less
than half the size of its present offices. In
1909 the bank purchased the building and re-

adding a third story and changing it
throughout. The bank occupies the entire first
floor, elegantly fitted with all the modern conbuilt

it,

veniences, finished in mahogany and marble,
one of the handsomest banking houses in the
State.
Its capital stock in June, 1914, is
$60,000, with a surplus and profits of $137,850.93. C. M. Creveling is president, and AI.
W. L.
Milleisen, cashier. The directors are
:

White, N. U. Funk, C. A. Kleim, C. M. Crev-

its

bank occupies the first floor and is equipped
with all the most modern banking fixtures,
with banking rooms that will compare favor-

The Farmers' National Bank was organized

the building of Paul E. Wirt ne.xt to the Exchange Hotel, occupying the entire first floor,
is beautifully finished, and fitted with every

out of business in 1896.

Milleisen,

John.
The Bloomsburg National Bank was organized in 1899 and began business on Aug. ist
with a capital of $60,000, which was increased
to $100,000 in 1905.
The bank is located in

building was purchased from his estate by Col.
S. Knorr and L. S. Wintersteen, and subsequently was bought by the First National
Bank. In 1906 the building was practically rebuilt and enlarged, a third story being added
and the entire interior changed, making one of
the most imposing structures in the town. The

ably with many in the large cities. It now has
a capital of $100,000, and in June, 1914, a
surplus fund and undivided profits of $144,862.20.
The present officers and board of
M. I. Low, president; George
directors are:
L. Low, vice president; Frank Ikeler, cashier;
Fred Ikeler, S. C. Creasy, Louis Gross, Clinton
Herring, Dr. H. V. Hower, M. E. Stackhouse,
A. W. Duy, Dr. R. E. Miller.

The Bloomsburg Banking Company went
The Bloomsburg Board of Trade was organized in 1886, and during its existence was
instrumental in helping to bring to Bloomsburg
both the carpet mill and the silk mill. After
few years of usefulness the organization

ceased.

The Bloomsburg Chamber of Commerce was
in 1907.
The following are the

organized

President, C. C. Yetter vice
president, Paul E. Wirt treasurer, Dr. C. F.
Altmiller; secretary, A. N. Yost; trustees, A.
Z. Schoch, J. M. Robbins, Dr. D. J. Waller;

present officers

;

executive committee, Karl F. Wirt, F. T. RichW. Funston, Dr. Altmiller, C. "C. Yetter.
Through its efforts largely the Fred

ard, C.

Fear Match Factory was brought to BloomsIt is still an active organization, and has
done much to foster and develop the manufacturing and business interests of the town.
The Business Men's Association of Bloomsburg was first organized as the Business Men's
burg.

Protective Association in the spring of 1910.
a meeting of business men held in the Town
May 9th of that year a committee was
appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws.

Hall on

These were adopted on

May

The

20th.

or-

ganization was effected May 31, 1910, when
the officers were elected as follows
President,
:

vice president, J. W. Crawsecretary, G. Edward Elwell, Jr. treasurer. Tames E. Rovs ; directors, F. P. Pursel,
\Y. S.'Rishton, W. McK. Reber, William Low-

James Magee
ford

;

enberg, Lewis

were reelected

at the subsequent election

10,

191 1.
until May, 191

Jan.
set

in,

Buckalew.

These

officers

The organization prospered
when a period of inactivity

which continued

until

Jan.

10,

1913,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
when it was reorganized under the new name,
President,
and the following officers elected
H. V. White; vice president, James E. Roys;
:

treasurer,
secretary, G. Edward Elwell, Jr.
C. H. Sharpless; executive committee, F. P.
;

Pursel,

R. Kocher,

W. McK.

Reber, Lewis

Buckalew, WilHam Lowenberg.

the association in general is town
betterment. Its membership of over one hundred includes merchants, wholesale and retail,

The aim of

all

lines,

manufacturers, clergymen and

It has the functions of a
professional men.
board of trade, a credit rating bureau, collecAn office with a
tion agency and civic club.
stenographer is maintained in the First NaThe officers for 1914
tional Bank building.
are the same as above, except the following:
R.
S.
Hemingway; executive comSecretary,
mittee, J. S. Coleman, W. R. Kocher, G. E.

Elwell, Jr., William Lowenberg,

Paul

OAK GROVE

1886, "for the purpose of purchasing Or leasing grounds to be fitted up as a
park, within the Town of Bloomsburg, Pa., or
any other portion* of the County of Columbia,
to be used for holding celebrations, picnics, and
any and all purposes for which similar places
are used."
The capital stock was $10,000.
26,

W. R. Tubbs, HarHassert, J. R. Schuyler. Buckalew
Brothers, J. C. Brown, R. C. Neal, David
Lowenberg, J. F. Peacock, J. H. Mercer, J.
W. Gibbs, I. W. McKelvy, James McClosky,
George E. Elwell, J. L. Moyei', H. H. Grotz.
C. W. Neal, G. W. Creveling, C. B. Robbins,
E. Jacoby, L. T. Sharpless, F. P. Billmeyer,
L. E. Waller, C. M. Creveling, I. S. Kuhn,

The incorporators were

provement Company, which had purchased it
in the meantime, in payment of rent due,
which was accepted by the latter, and in 1891
the lease was cancelled and Oak Grove Park
Association disbanded.
The members, who
were among the leading business men of the
town, lost all they invested, and the town lost
a beautiful grove, whose site will some day be
within the built-up portions of Bloomsburg.
Then the town of Bloomsburg bought the
grove from the Land Improvement Company
for $5,500, and paid $1,000 on it, under the
agreement that the town should pay a rental
of $1,500 a year, and after a certain number
of payments the town was to own the grove.
rent was not paid, however, as subsecjuent
councils refused to recognize the contract, and
the company sued the town and obtained a
verdict of $2,300, subject to a reserved question of law as to the power of the town to

Oak Grove Park Association was organized

May

the income was not sufficient to pay the rent,
so that at the end of five years the company
proposed to turn over the park with all the
improvements to the owners, the Land Im-

Bom- The

boy.

123

In December, 1905, Judge Staples,
the case, filed an opinion finding
in favor of the town on the ground that the
town had no legal right to make the purchase,
and therefore the contract could not be enIn 1912 the Improvement Company
forced.
sold the timber, and it has all been removed,
a few stumps being all that is left to mark
the site of this once beautiful grove.

buy parks.

who heard

man &

RUPERT GROVE
For many years the only

easily accessible

grove in this section was what was known
as Hess' Grove or Rupert Grove, near the
bridge over Fishing creek at Rupert. It was
used for picnics, festivals, camp meetings and
other gatherings, and though not large was
C. W. Miller.
The main object of this organization was to an attractive spot. It was owned by Thomas
preserve the beautiful grove at East Fifth and Knorr and his estate for many years before
Park streets, as the town was in need of such being used as a grove. Reuben Hess bought
a resort, and it was feared that these fine old the Knorr property, and fitted up the grove for
For a number of years it was
trees would be felled for commercial purposes. picnic grounds.
The company made a lease with Mr. Nesbit used each summer for a week or more as a
and the Hoyt heirs, the owners, and pro- camp meeting ground by the A. M. E. Church,
ceeded to beautify the place.
A high fence and other gatherings were of frequent occurwas built around it, the grounds were cleaned rence. Subsequently G. W. Keiter purchased
up, a large rustic dancing pavilion was erected, the grove from Mr. Hess, and on Jan. i, 1904,
water was introduced and a fountain con- C. A. Kleim became the owner. He improved
structed, walks made, kitchen built, tables and the grounds by enlarging the pavilion and addbenches and swings provided, and the whole ing to the attractions and conveniences genergrove made attractive, at a cost of about ally. The trolley cars on the Catawissa line
$2,000 to the stockholders.

first

was patronized

pass
fairly well,

but

accessible.

the

grove,

making

easily

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

124

ATHLETIC PARK
of

The intention at the time
stated in the deed.
was to make a public park of it. The price
paid was $2,000. Forty-one years have passed
and it is no nearer being a public park than
the day it was bought. It has been used mostly
for a ball ground, and several times leased to
At one time the Civic club planted
circuses.
a number of trees therein, which if they had
been properly cared for would by this time
have afforded some shade. There are great
possibilities for a beautiful public resort here,
and it is to be hoped that the next historian
will be able to record that the original purpose
for which the purchase was

the passage of the public school act
1842 schoolhouses were built at various
in
town, but there was no system of
points
grading or general supervision until 1870,

Upon

Bloomsburg purchased from
Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., on Dec. i8, 1873, three
acres of land on Seventh street between Center
and Iron, "to be used for public purposes" as

The town

when the Fifth street school was built at a
cost of $12,000, and opened with F. M. Bates
as principal and George E. Elwell, assistant
Three years

later the Third street
I. E. Schoonover being the
In
1885 all the schools were
principal.
placed under the superintendency of D. A.
Beckley, who prepared a regular course of
studies and greatly improved the condition of
the schools.
The increase in the number of pupils in
the schools was such that a third building soon

principal.

school

was

built,

first

so it was determined to
erect a high school building. The lot formerly
the
on
First street was puroccupied by
jail

became necessary, and

made has been chased from

realized.

EDUCATIONAL

the county by the school district,
1888 the present imposing edifice was
The directors at the time were
completed.
John R. Townsend, J. C. Brown, O. T. Wilson,
W. Kramer, W. Chrisman, Joseph Garrison.

and

The

any consequence in
Bloomsburg was taught by George Vance in
a log building on the site of the present The architect was E. E. Ritter, and the
Episcopal church in 1802, and about the same builder, David Geisinger. Since D. A. Becktime Ludwig Eyer taught a German school in ley's time the following persons hSve been
a building on the northeast corner of Market principals of the high school
William J.
and Second streets. Other teachers of early Wolverton, J. F. Harkins, L. P. Sterner and
date were Robert Fields, William Ferguson, W. C. Mauser. L. P. Sterner was elected supervising principal of the schools in 1891 and
Murray Manvilie and Joseph Worden.
The highest branches taught in these schools most efficiently filled that position until July,
classes
the
advanced
were the "three R's,"
1914, when he was elected district superinreading in the Bible. The second schoolhouse tendent, and the district thus became indeon the site of the first one was of frame con- pendent. Large additions have been made to
struction and was taught by William Love. the three buildings from time to time, with
first

school

The next

school was established in a building in the lower end of the town, on the site
of the cabinet shop of Joseph E. Barkley, now
owned by the C. S. Furman estate. Robert
Fields was the first teacher here. .A.bout the
year 1830 a school was opened in a chair or
wagon shop at the site of the Masonic Temple,
Hiram W. Thornton being the teacher.
The old academy was erected on what at the
present time is the site of Dr. Montgomery's
residence, contained four class rooms, and was
used for school purposes until 1875.
The first actual high school was conducted
between 1850 and i860 by Prof. Joel E. Bradley in a room later used by tlie Democratic
Sentinel, while Airs. Anna Drake taught primary classes in the adjoining room. About

the

same period Miss Mattie Wells taught a

select school in a building later occupied by
William Gilmore, and Miss Susan Painter had
another in the rear of her father's ofince on

Market

street.

additional room supposedly for
years in the future, but on the opening
of the schools in the fall of 1914 every room
was filled to overflowing, and the necessity for
a fourth building was made imperative steps
are being taken for its erection.
In 1914 W.
C. Mauser is principal of the high school,
B. H. Johnson of the Third street school and
Harry Rider of the Fifth street school. E.xtensive improvements were made to the latter
grounds this year, and recent additions have
been made in the chemical, scientific and commercial departments of the high school. Manual training has been introduced in the other
two schools, and sewing classes are conducted
for the girls.
sufficient

many

;

State

Normal School

Crowning an elevation 150 feet above the
Susquehanna and overlooking the town of
Bloomsburg, the situation of the State Normal

^
a

c
o

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
is one of unrivaled beauty and healthThe buildings are grouped in such a
to be easy of access to the students
as
way
and are surrounded with well kept lawns and
numerous trees of nearly every variety capable
of growth in this latitude.
Bloomsburg is a
city of homes and the Normal pupils gain
thus all the advantages of homelike surroundings and social opj)ortunities, without the
temptations of a larger city.
This school is one of the largest in the
United States and many of its graduates fill
positions of importance throughout this and
The school is one of the best
other States.
disciplined in the country, while the educational work is so carefully supervised that a
strong corps of university and college trained
teachers has been brought together for a facAs a result the young men and women
ulty.
graduated from the college and preparatory
courses are taking high rank among their fellows and reflecting great credit on their alma
mater.
Nineteen acres of campus afford ample
space for lawns and athletic grounds and include a beautiful oak grove, while the seven
buildings are admirably adapted to their different uses.
Institute Hall, built in 1867, contains six spacious classrooms, and an auditorium on the second floor with a seating capacity of 1,000. The Model School building,
where the prospective teachers are given
classes of little ones to instruct, thus getting
practical experience in their life work, is a

School

fulness.

handsome three-story building next to Institute Hall.
It is 80 by 90 feet in dimensions
and contains twenty-eight study and recitation
rooms, well ventilated and fitted out for the
most improved methods of instruction.
The main dormitory is four stories high,
having a frontage of 165 feet and an extension
of 75 feet, and a wing 40 by 104 feet. This
wing furnishes accommodations for seventy
students. Extending across this wing forward
to the front building is the most attractive portion of the entire cluster of school buildings.
It is a piazza 140 feet in
length, which fronts
the beautiful Susquehanna, and from this

vantage point one of the most charming views
in eastern Pennsylvania
may be enjoyed. The
river, like a ribbon, edges the plain on the
south, disappearing through a bold gorge three
miles to the southwest.
Rising immediately

beyond the river is a precipitous ridge 400
feet high, backed by the majestic brow of
Catawissa mountain.
The town spreads before the eye to the right and left, while in
front is an expanse of green and golden field

125

and farm. This is a spot to rest and feast the
eye, and is always at the service of the student.
In this main building is located the dining
room, with a floor space of over four thousand
square feet. It is in charge of a professional
chef and meals are served by individual orders.
What is known as the north end addition
was built within a few years past and extends to within a short distance of the Model
School building, with which it is connected by
a two-story covered passage-way. Here are
located the study hall, library, dormitories for
young men, etc. At the northwestern extremity of this building is the gymnasium
building, 45 by 90 feet, fitted with all the
necessary appliances, and one of the best in
the State. The main building is equipped with
an elevator and sanitary appliances, and all
buildings are thoroughly illuminated, heated

and

ventilated.

Science Hall, on the west, was erected
within recent years at a cost of $65,000 and
North Hall is 40 by 70
is a model of its kind.
feet, three stories high, with a basement that
contains the laundry.
part of the top floor

fitted

up as an infirmary.

Besides the instruction in the classrooms,
of the classes in botany, agriculture, geology, etc., are taken on long trips weekly

many

around the country to study their subjects
These trips are useful, inat close quarters.
structive, entertaining and healthful, and are
eagerly attended by the students.
The beginning of the present Normal School
was made in 1839, when a building at the
corner of Third and Jefferson streets, Bloomsburg, was opened as a private school for inThe first
struction in the higher branches.
teacher proved incompetent and the same year
C. P. Waller, a graduate of Williams College
and subsequently a president judge of this
State, was induced to come here and found an
academy. He remained for two years and left
the institution in a flourishing condition.
After this teachers in the public schools in
their summer vacations taught in this school,
one of them, Joel E. Bradley, restoring to
some extent the high standard set by Mr. Waller.

About the year 1854
opened a classical school in
odist church (on what is
Columba's church), and

Mr. B. F. Eaton
the Primitive Methnow the site of St.

continued it with
such success that his friends took measures to
In 1856 Rev. D. J. Waller
it permanent.
prepared a charter and William Robinson and

make

others

circulated

were

The original signers
M. Coffman, E. Menden-

it.

Sloan,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

126

A. T. Evans, William McKelvy, J. J.
Brower, 13. F. Hartman, S. H. Miller, J. M.
Chamberlain, Philip Unangst, Jesse G. Clark,
A. Witman, Michael Henderson, John G.

committee
Clark, William Neal, trustees.
to secure money and another
to decide on a suitable location for the institute.
After much discussion the site offered

Freeze, Levi L. Tate, Peter Billmeyer, M. C.
Alexander J.
^Iosteller,
Sloan, Jonathan
Frick, E. B. Beidleman, Robert F. Clark, A.
M. Rupert, R. B. Menagh, W. J. Beidleman,
Robert Cathcart, A. C. Mensch, H. C. Hower.
The charter provided for the establishment
and maintenance of a school to be known as
the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute," for the
promotion of education in both the ordinary
and the higher branches of English literature
and science, and in the ancient and modern
Under the articles of incorporalanguages.

by William Snyder was accepted and plans
drawn for a building to cost not exceeding

hall,

Rev. D. J. Waller, William Robinson,
Leonard B. Rupert, William Snyder, Elisha
C. Barton, William Goodrich, Joseph Sharpless, John K. Grotz and I. W. Hartman were
tion

constituted trustees.
For a time after the granting of the charter
the school was conducted with varying degrees
of success by William Lowrey, Daniel A.
Beckley and Henry Rinker in the old "academy," and by others in the Episcopal church
building, until it was for a time suspended.
The "church building" was the first building
erected as the Episcopal church upon the
present property of that denomination. Being
a frame building it was moved to the back
part of the lot on the southwest corner of
Main and Center streets, and in it Joel E.

was appointed

$15,000. The selection of the final site was decided by the agreement of the town authorities
to remove the old "Forks Hotel" from the center of Main street.
The building was finally
completed in 1867 and dedicated on April 4th
of that year, the occasion being made a gala
one by the citizens of the town. The total cost
of the building and its furniture was $24,000.
The following year a bell, costing $1,200 and
weighing 2,171 pounds, was secured by subscriptions through the eft'orts of D. J. Waller
(son of Rev. D. J. Waller), George E. Elwell
and Charles Unangst, the members of the class
of that first year of the new school. Two of
them are prominent residents of Bloomsburg.
Rev. D. J. Waller heads the institution so ably
promoted by his father. Mr. Elwell's father
was president of the board of trustees for
eighteen years, and he succeeded his father as
a trustee, for nearly twenty years.
Mr.
Unangst resides in New York City, vi'bere he
is a prosperous lawyer.
The first faculty in
the academy was composed of Professor Carmathematics and the higher English
ver,
branches; Rev. J. R. Dimm, Latin and Greek;
Miss Sarah Carver, the lower English
Two courses of study were arbranches.
ranged and four years allowed to complete

Bradley and subsec]uently William Lowrey
them.
conducted a school.
Thus the school opened under local control
The need for a higher school than the
the year had
'regular public institutions was becoming more and with a small attendance, but
acute, however, and at this critical period the scarce begun before steps were taken to add a
right man appeared on the scene in 1866. State Normal school to the one just completed.
Henry Carver, a native of Binghamton, N. Y., A meeting was held in 1868 at which it was recame through the valley on a pleasure tour solved to establish a State Normal under the
and was introduced to Rev. D. J. Waller and act of 1857 and to procure grounds and erect
others.
The fact that he had been principal a building as soon as $70,000 had been subof an academy and in the preparatory depart- scribed. Rapidly the plans developed and on
ment of the University of California induced June 25, 1868, the cornerstone of the Normal
the citizens to persuade him to remain and re- School building was laid by Gov. John W.
open the school in the old academy building. Geary. Hon. William Elwell spoke in behalf
He did, and his success exceeded all previous of the trustees and Hon. Leonard B. Rupert
read the history of the Institute. Within nine
records.
After continuing the school for a year Mr. months the dormitory building was completed
Carver refused to carry it on longer unless at a cost of $36,000, and the school was forbetter accommodations were made for the rap- mally recognized by the State Feb. 19, 1869.
idly increasing classes. The general confidence
in his methods caused the townspeople to decide to revive the charter of the Literary Institute.
This was done, the elected officials
W.
I.
being Rev. D. J. Waller, president
Hartman, secretary John G. Freeze, R. F.
:

;

None

of the functions of the "Literary In-

were canceled when it became a normal school; the charter name is still "The
Bloomsburg Literary Institute and State Normal School" and the courses of study origare still maininally provided for the Institute

stitute"

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
tained, according to the terms of the original

agreement with the Commonwealth. As a consequence this school is different from other
normals in that it prepares students for colleges and maintains courses in both vocal and
instrumental music. The work of the Institute has never interfered with the training of
teachers in fact, the necessity of keeping well
trained instructors in the sciences, languages,
mathematics, history and literature to comply
with the requirements of the Institute has provided better instruction in the elements of
these branches for students of the normal departments. The school at all times has at least
125 representatives in the various colleges and
;

127

him at the head of the institution.
He was for years one of the leading trustees
of the school, being chairman of the committee
to retain

on instruction and discipline.

Mr. Barkley's successor was Rev. John
Hewitt, rector of the Episcopal Church of
Bloomsburg, who held the position until the
end of the school year in June, 1S73. Improvement continued, but still the income did
not meet expenses and the struggles of the
board of trustees continued. In September,
1875, the boarding hall

The

was burned, the

loss

partially covered by insurance.
hall was rebuilt in the ensuing year.
Mr.

being

only

Hewitt was succeeded by Dr. T. L. Griswold,

who continued as principal until June, 1877.
The first principal of the school. Prof. Under his administration the school first paid
Henry Carver, held the position until Decem- expenses. In the fall of 1877 Rev. David J.

universities.

1
871. He was an excellent disciplinarian
and organizer and had the happy faculty of
inspiring young people to make the most of
After his withdrawal from the
themselves.

ber,

principalship the school passed through a financial struggle that is best described in the words
of Col. John G. Freeze, in his "History of
Columbia County," as follows:
"The very large amount of money required,
the falling off of subscribers, the want of

prompt payment of those which were good,
the talk of those who were not in sympathy
with the movement, were all discouraging cirThe trustees were therefore
cumstances.
obliged to assume personally the cost of carrying on the work. They had upon themselves
at one time, as a personal obligation, more than
$20,000, repairs, expenditures and deficiencies
to the amount of from $1,000 to $3,000 annufor by them, on
ally having been provided

They have given

their personal responsibility.
days and nights to the business of the school,

they have borne, for the public and general
has
good, burdens which no man in the town
When
struggled under in his own business.
State aid came slowly or not at all, when subfailed, when the daily pressure of
scriptions

debts was almost unbearable, the trustees
shouldered the work and accepted the responsibility."

Jr., assumed the duties of principal
and his administration was very successful.
It was during his administration that the model
school building and the east wing of the dormitory were erected. Throughout the thirteen

\\'aller,

years of his connection with the institution
there was a constant growth in its material

equipment, size, and efficiency; and when, in
1890, Dr. Waller was appointed State superintendent of public instruction the school was

most prosperous condition.
In July, 1890, Judson P. Welsh, Ph. D., assumed the duties of the position. The "National Educator," in its issue of March 18,
1896, says of the prosperity of the school under his administration
"Through the influin a

ence of Dr. Welsh, the growth and prosperity
of the school has been phenomenal. We will

enumerate some of the material changes
which have gone hand-in-hand with the eduNew furniture came
cational improvements.
first, then the beautiful auditorium was re-

briefly

Next the large four-story dormimodeled.
tory and the gymnasium were built. Electric
and the
lights, the new library, the elevator,
servants' dormitory soon followed. The new
feature
of
athletic field is another remarkable
In short, the school has grown
this growth.
so wonderfully that those who have not visited
it for five years would be astonished to see the

The second principal of the school was the transformation."
Science Hall was
known lawyer, Charles G. Barkley, Esq.,

well

previously County Superintendent of Schools,
who accepted the position temporarily and on
condition that he would be relieved as soon
His principalship extended only
as possible.
from Dec. 20, 1871, to March 27, 1872, but a
marked improvement in the school in all rehis resigspects was apparent at the time of
nation, and the trustees would have been glad

built under the administration of Dr. Welsh, and opened in the fall of
iqo6, just after his resignation. It was erected
and equipped at a cost of $65,000.

In August, 1906, Dr. Welsh resigned the
in the State
principalship to accept a position
time
College, and the trustees for the second

extended a

upon

call to

retiring

Rev. D.

from the

Waller, Jr., who
State superin-

office of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

128

tendent had been elected principal of the Normal School at Indiana, Pa. He accepted, and
again became principal here in the fall of 1906.
The school has continued to grow, the attend-

ance

the year.

hundred during
Several additions to the buildings

191 2 reaching eight

have been made during these years, the most
notable being Science Hall. In April, 1913, at
a meeting of the stockholders, it was voted to
sell the school to the State under the
provisions
of the School Code, and in the near future its

ownership and control will pass to the Commonwealth.
The State Normal School is under the care
of a board of trustees of eighteen members,
nine of these representing the Commonwealth
and nine representing the stockholders. The
stockholders are the contributors of the original $30,000 which the State requires to be
furnished by the community in which a normal school is established. They are not stockholders in the sense of being participators of
the earnings of the school, but they elect the

and

Sept. 21st, 1913, namely, Col. John G.
Freeze, A. L. Fritz, F. G. Yorks and R. C.
Neal. At the May election, 1914, these vacancies were filled by the election of Milton K.
Yorks by the stockholders, and M. G. Youngman, L. E. McGinnes and Benjamin Apple
for the State.
Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., was the first president of the board of trustees.
He was succeeded by Hon. L. B. Rupert, who continued
in office until 1873, when Hon. William Elwell
elected.
He resigned in 1891 and was
followed by William Neal until his death,
Z. Schoch was chosen and still fills

was

when A.

the office (1914). I. W. Hartman is the only
survivor of the original trustees.
Four fifths of the yearly income of the
school is spent in the town, and it is estimated that the students in their personal expenditures bring into the town each year at
least $15,000.
During seven years previous
1898 the annual income of the school increased from $42,000 to $69,000, or almost

and suggest to the Common- sixty-five per cent. The income expended in
who may be appointed to repre- Bloomsburg during that time was $346,000
State.
The trustees of this school for rqnning expenses. Add to this the sum

trustees annually

wealth those
sent the

have upon more than one occasion furnished
funds to the institution from their private
means, and have frequently compromised their
personal estates by placing their names on
paper to help the school out of financial em-

when the State failed to appropriate sufficient funds, or withheld payment of
funds appropriated.
The annual appropriation of the State to the school at present is
$7,500, which is not half the sum paid in
salaries to the instructors.
The State also makes an appropriation of
one dollar and fifty cents per week to stubarrassment,

dents at least seventeen years old, who take
the teacher's course of instruction and declare
their intention to become teachers for not less
than two years in the public schools of the
Commonwealth. This aid to the students is
of no direct value to the school, as it does not
furnish any additional funds.
The following well known business and professional men constituted the 1913 board of
A. Z. Schoch, president; J. C.
trustees:
Brown, vice president; J. M. Clark, secretary;
Col. John G. Freeze, N. U. Funk, L. E. Waller, 0. W. Cherrington, Hon. Voris Auten, G.
J. Clark, on the part of the stockholders, and
T. R. Townsend, C. W. Miller, Dr. J. J. Brown,
R. C. Neal, M. J. Hess, Paul E. Wirt, A. L.
Fritz, F. G. Yorks, A. W. Duy, W. H. HidOf
lay, treasurer, on the part of the State.
the above trustees, four died between July 8th

expended by the students and the estimated
is $431,000.
Besides this the additions
and repairs to the school buildings represented $70,000, which was disbursed among
residents of the town, so that the grand total
that the town gained from the proximity of
the school was at least half a million dollars.

total

MASONIC

The history of the fraternity of Freemasons
Bloomsburg is coincident with the history
of the town itself. While the town was still
a small village, practically a settlement, Rising
in

Sun Lodge, No.

100, F.

A. M., was organ-

ized, and met at the house of
in Bloomsburg.
The warrant

WiUiam

Miller

was dated Jan.

2, 1804, and the first worthy master named
was Daniel B. Potter, who however declined
Christian Brobst was named in his stead. In
1805 and for a number of years thereafter
the meetings were held alternately at Bloomsburg and Catawissa. There were twelve members of the lodge, among them John Clark, W.
M. Philip Moyer, S. W. Casper Christman,
Gabriel Lount, secretary, and Isaiah
y. W.
;

;

This lodge continued until
Willits, treasurer.
about 1820 or 1822, when it surrendered its
warrant.
The next lodge here was formed on March
15, 1852, when Christian Frederick Knapp,
33°, William Sloan and others met and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
No.

265,
organized Washington Lodge,
A. M., which is still in successful existence,
in
the
Cathedral.
its
meetings
holding
The Scottish Rite bodies of Freemasonry

were organized in Bloomsburg May 19, 1865.
Conspicuous among the fourteen charter members were Christian Frederick Knapp, ^^°,
Elisha W. M. Low, 32°, and Jonathan Rose

Dimm, 32°

Dr.

Dimm, now

president-emeriUniversity, at Selinscharter
the
surviving
only
grove, being
member. These bodies have a membership of
tus

;

Susquehanna

over twelve hundred and occupy their own
building, known as Caldwell Consistory Cathedral.

The Cathedral is located on Market Square,
a building which, with its complete appointments, is the pride of Bloomsburg, as it might
It is a threewell be of a much larger city.
On
story brick with brownstone trimmings.
the first floor is a large entrance hall, with
wide stairs at the back leading to the second
On either side of this hall are the
floor.
rooms of the Craftsman Club, which include
reception rooms, reading rooms, card room and
billiard room, with all modem conveniences.
Back of these are an immense banquet hall,
capable of seating five hundred or more persons at the tables, and a kitchen fully equipped
witli all the latest accessories necessary to prepare a meal for so large a number.
The auditorium or lodge room is on the second floor. It has a gallery around the sides
and one end, and a perfectly arranged stage
with beautiful scenery, and electric lights of
various colors. This floor also contains cloak
rooms, office rooms and a large reception room.

The building is used exclusively for Masonic
purposes.
At one time Washington Lodge, No. 265,
F. & A. M., occupied rooms in the building
now owned by Moyer Brothers on Main street,
below Alarket Square. When J. J. Brower
erected the three-story brick building east of
the courthouse, now owned by Paul E. Wirt,
the Masons moved to its third floor and remained there until the completion of the
Cathedral.
Prior to 1906 the growth of the order had

made

larger and more commodious quarters
imperative, and various locations were considered for the erection of a temple. In January,
1906, purchase was made of the property then
owned by the Young Men's Christian Association, formerly for many years the home of
William Neal.
Plans were procured for a
building that would cover the entire lot. The
work of demolishing the old building was soon

129

begun, and the foundation walls progressed
so that the
laying of the cornerstone took place

on June 14, 1906, with impressive ceremonies
conducted by Right Worshipful Grand Master
George W. Kendrick, Jr. Other members of
the Grand Lodge who were
present were:
Deputy Grand Master George B. Orlady,
Senior Grand Warden
George W. Guthrie,

Junior Grand Warden W. C. Gorgas, Grand
Treasurer Thomas R. Patton, Grand
Secretary
William A. Sinn. The
following was the order of ceremonies
:

Formation at Lodge Room, ii 130 A. M.
Opening Prayer, Gra}id Chaplain.
Music, "Spirit of Power and Might,"
Caldwell Choir.

Proclamation, Grand Marshal.
Address to R. W. Grand Master, Chair-

man

of Building Committee.
Invocation, Grand Chaplain.
Deposit of Box in Cornerstone, Grand

Treasurer.

List of Articles Deposited, Grand Secretary.

Music,

"Who Enters

Here,"

Caldwell

Choir.

Preparation

Laying Cornerstone,
Right Worshipful Grand Master.
Plumb, Level and Square, Grand Officers.
Cornerstone Placed in Position, Right
Worshipful Grand Master and Grand Officers.
Music, "Great Architect, Our Heavenly King," Caldzvell Choir.
Cornerstone Laid, Right Worshipful
Grand Master.
Music, "Shine on Our Souls," Caldwell
for

Choir.

Corn, Wine & Oil, Grand Officers.
Music, "God Is My Strong Salvation,"
Caldzvell Choir.

Presentation of Architect, Chairman of
Building Committee.
Music,

Hymn, "Jerusalem the Golden,"

Caldzvell Choir.

Proclam.'^tion, Grand Marshal.
Oration, /. Henry Williams.

Chorus, "Glorious Things of Thee Are
Spoken," Caldzvell Choir.
Benediction, Grand Chaplain.
Chant, "So Mote It Be," Caldzvell Choir.

The

building was completed in September,
and the dedication of the Cathedral took
on the 24th, 25th and 26th of that
month. On Tuesday morning, the 24th, the
opening services were held. In the Lodge of
Perfection, H. A. McKillip presiding, the report of Architect Reitmyer was read, followed
1907,
place

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

130

by the report of the building committee by Bloomsburg Royal Arch Chapter, No. 218;
R. E. Hartman, its secretary. The key of the Mount Moriah Council, No. 10, R. & S.
building was then handed over to Frederick M.; Crusade Commandery, No. 12, Knights
W. Ulrich, Commander in Chief, by the Templar Orient Conclave, No. 2, K. of R. C.
builder, E. E. Ritter, and passed by him to of C. besides the four bodies of the Ancient
John R. Townsend, chairman of the board of Accepted Scottish Rite of the Valley of
trustees.
In the afternoon, the ceremony of Bloomsburg: Enoch Lodge of Perfection, 14°
dedication was conducted by Hon. Henry L. Zerubbabel Council, P. of J., 16° Evergreen
Palmer, 33°, M. P. Sovereign Grand Com- Chapter, R. C, 18° and Caldwell Consistory,
mander of the Supreme Council, N. M. J., S. P. R. S., 32°, the latter body being owner
assisted by James Isaac Buchanan, 33^, Dep- of the Cathedral, whose present trustees are
uty for Pennsylvania, and the officers of the Cortez B. Robbins, 33° C. Thomas VanderRobert D. Young, 32°.
slice, 32°
Supreme Council.
The reception on Tuesday evening was atOTHER FRATERNITIES
tended by about fifteen hundred people, inTheta Castle, No. 276, Knights of the
cluding members of the Consistory and of
The Golden Eagle, is one of the most prominent
other Masonic bodies, and their wives.
It has a large memguests were received by the officers of the lodges of Bloomsburg.
Supreme Council, and the officers of the Con- bership, and a considerable fund mvested.
;

;

Each lady was presented a souvenir
shape of a hatpin, the head being a
triangle with the figures 32 in the center.
A concert was given by Charles P. Elwell's
orchestra of twelve pieces in the auditorium.
Following this, Caldwell Choir rendered an exsistory.
in the

program for a half hour. During
the early part of the evening refreshments
were served in the banquet hall. At 9 130 the
banquet hall was utilized as a ballroom, and
lovers of the dance enjoyed themselves until
after midnight.
Wednesday and Thursday
were occupied with Masonic work, a large
number of candidates being advanced to the
The celebration ended
thirty-second degree.
with a banquet in the banquet hall in the
cellent vocal

evening, at which H. A. McKillip, 33°, presided as toastmaster. Provision was made for

550 guests.

The

following were the officers of Caldwell Consistory at the time of the dedication
Frederick W. Ulrich, 32°, 111. Com. in Chief
John R. Townsend, 32°, 111. First Lt. Com.;
John S. Mack, 32°, 111. Sec. Lt. Com.; E.
Skyles McKillip, 32°, 111. Min. of S. G. O.;
:

;

Eugene
George

F. Carpenter, 32°, 111. Chancellor;
L. Low. 32°, 111. G. Treasurer H. A.
:

K. of S. & A.
David S. Bachman, 32°, 111. G. Eng. and A.;
William J. Hehl, 32°, 111. G. Hospitaler; William M. Tinker, 32°, 111. G. Master of C.
Alfred L. Reichenbach, 32°, 111. G. Stan.
Bearer; Joseph L. Townsend, 32°, 111. Capt.
of the G.; Birch B. Freas, 32°, 111. G. SenMcKillip, 33°,

111.

G. Sec.

;

tinel.

Trustees,

John

Townsend,

Robert E. Hartman, 32°, Harrv

32°,

Achenbach,

32°.

The

bodies which meet in the Cathedral are

Washington Lodge, No. 265,

A. M.

;

One of its features is the commandery, a
handsomely uniformed and well drilled body
of young men, whose maneuvers have elicited
great applause wherever they have appeared.
La Valletta Commandery, No. 91, A. & L.
O., Knights of Malta, was organized July 2,
The

1891.

present officers are:

Sir knight

commander, John Fortner; sir knight generalissimo, John W. Harman; treasurer, J.
Lewis recorder, D. W. Campbell prelate,
;

;

William Lemon; captain general, William
Traub; senior warden, C. H. Gilmore.
Bloomsburg Conclave, No. 254, Improved
Order of Heptasophs, was organized March
The present officers are: Archon,
7, 1893.
John Lewis secretary, T. C. Harter financier,
H. M. Sommer; treasurer, C. A. Kleim; past
archon, R. G. Phillips; provost, T. J. Morris;
;

;

prelate, J. E. Aloyer; inspector, G. P. Ringler;
warden, W. F. Hartman trustees, G. P. Ring;

John Posten, R. G. Phillips.
Washington Camp, No. 319, Patriotic Order
Sons of America, was organized May i, 1888.
Present officers are:
President, John F.
Adams vice president, Paul Harvey past

ler,

;

president, J.
Isaiah Deily

Robison

;

financial secretary,

recording secretary, Clark Kashner; treasurer, C. E. Whitenight; master of
forms and ceremonies, Jacob Stiner; conductor, James Yost; inspector, W. E. Miller;
outside guard, D. R. Stiner; trustees, C. L.
Rupert, Isaiah Deily, J. Stiner.
Chaplain,
C. S. Ranck assistant secretary, S. G. Kashner; sentinels, Jacob Millard. Irvin Askew,
James Hunsinger, Clark Evans.
;

;

Honayawas Tribe, No. 372, Improved Order
of Red Men, was organized Aug. 21, 1907.
The officers now are: Sachem, N. J. Hofer;
prophet, John Tringle

;

senior sagamore, B.

(

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Lanyon; junior sagamore, H. Cleaver; chief

of records, A. W. Walters; collector of wampum, W. L. Earnest; keeper of wampum, J. B.
Earhart.
The Protected Home Circle was organized
Aug. 27, 1895. The present officers are: R.

Linville; escort,

131
B. Creveling; sentry,
P. Zehner, G. W.

Rhode Huff managers, W.
;

Hess, L. E. Smith.
Bloomsburg Lodge, No. 2557, Knights and
Ladies of Honor, was organized April 22,
1904. The officers are: Past protector, Aliss
Grace Cook; protector. Miss Lusetta Achy;

H. Smoyer, president C. H. Kline, secretary
Fred Holmes, treasurer.
vice protector. Miss Lizzie Wilson; recording
Bloomsburg Lodge, No. 436, of the Benev- secretary, Frank H. Evans; financial secretary,
olent I'rotective Order of Elks, of the United J. Hurley Walters; treasurer, L. E. Smith;
States of America, was granted a charter April chaplain. Miss Bertha Gross; guide, Wildie
14, 189S, and the following have served (each Dent; guardian. Miss Harriet Barber; sentinel,
one year) as exalted rulers of this organiza- Simon Poust; trustees, J. H. Walters, F. H.
I. A. Snyder, William K. West, W. H.
tion:
Evans, Wildie Dent.
Henrie, C. E. Randall, P. W. Gordon, Hon.
Bloomsburg Lodge of the Junior Order of
John G. Harman, Clyde Charles Yetter, Esq., United American Alechanics organized Nov.
Charles M. Evans, C. A. Small, Esq., Edward 22, 1890. In 1905 there was a split in the orSchenke, Gerald Gross, Anthony Menzebach, ganization and the local lodge went with the
William D. Holmes and David W. Powell.
Order of Independent Americans, becoming
This organization accumulated resources, American Union Council, No. 537. The presand on the 18th day of March, 1909, purchased ent officers are
Past councilor, J. H.
the Hartman property on Market Square, Cramer councilor, Rush Cook vice councilor,
which was remodeled. The home with the J. W. Cadow recording secretary, R. W.
furnishings today is valued at forty thousand Alexander; assistant recording secretar}', A. L.
;

;

It is a three-story brick structure with
a store and basement. The second and third
stories are used for lodge and club purposes.
The organization frequently gives the use of
its quarters for charitable and civic purposes.
It has a membership of 208 men, and its charity fund at all times of the year is distributed

dollars.

with such promptness and in such a manner
that it has received the commendation of

Bloomsburg

citizens.

The

present officers are

Joseph Flaherty, exalted ruler; Dr. C. F. Altmiller, esteemed leading knight
Myron E.
Sands, esteemed loyal knight; J. H. Coleman,
esteemed lecturing knight J. F. Watson, secretary F. D. Dentler, treasurer W. G. Lentz,
esquire; D. W. Campbell, chaplain; R. N.
Wolverton, inner guard; M. W. Betz, tiler; J.
E. Roys, organist. Trustees, K. F. Wirt, F. J.
;

;

Richards, Frank Ikeler.
The lodge has been honored by the appointment of Clyde Charles Yetter, Esq., one of its
members, to the office of district deputy grand
exalted ruler, of this District, which comprised
nineteen lodges in the years 1912-13.
Bloomsburg Nest, Order of Owls, No. 1133,
was organized June 30, 1913. The officers are
Past president, Jeremiah Geese president, A.
:

;

E. Tillburg secretary, J.
urer, E. L. Buck.
;

Bloomsburg

Woodmen

H. Fahringer

No.

Camp,

9808,

;

treas-

Modern

was organized March

of America,

The officers
1905.
consul, Robert Eunson
Bomboy ; banker, J. L.

30,

;

now are: Venerable
worthy adviser, P. C.
Townsend

;

clerk,

Sobers; financial secretary, M. C. Jones.

Bloomsburg Camp

World was organized

Woodmen

of
in

the

December, 191

The

ofCharles S. Myers,
deputy.
Consul commander, E. H. B. Abbett; adviser lieutenant, Robert F. Shaffer;
clerk, Joseph H. Dennis; banker, E. J. GearThere are four other camps of this
inger.
order in the county, located respectively at
Benton, Berwick, Millville and Numidia.
Van Camp Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F.,
was chartered Nov. 17, 1845, with these ofAndrew D. Cool, noble grand Ephficers
district

ficers are

;

raim Armstrong, vice grand
secretary;

George

;

Edward

Keifer,

Henry Webb,

assistant secretary;
Abbott, treasurer. George Cath-

cart, the last surviving charter member, died
The present officers for
in Danville in 1879.

1914 are: W. H. John, noble grand; George
A. Fornwald, vice grand Hurley E. Walter,
recording secretary; G. W. Hippensteel, financial secretary Theodore Kreigh. treasurer R.
A. Hicks, William Vial, S. C. Beagle, trustees.
;

;

Bloomsburg Council, No. 146, Order United
American Mechanics, was chartered July 16,
1868. with these members: H. F. Bodine, Tobias Henry, Harman Kline, H. J. Evans, M. S.
Housekne'cht,

M. M. Snyder, A.

S. Crossley,

Robert Roan, J. M. Thornton, Frederick Gilmore. George Nicholas, I. K. Miller, J. S.
Jacobv, Edward Searles, William Thomas, Joseph Christman, M. M. Johnson, J. S. Evans,
Schultz, Henry
I. Hagenbuch, P. Welsh, J.
Shutt, W. M. Furman, John Gulp, George

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

132

Moyer and C. W. Miller. The officers in 1914 send, John Turner, Charles Titel, William
D. R. Kash- Traub, Elias Utt, W. H. Utt, James Warr,
J. Edward Faust, councilor

are

;

Amos

ner, vice councilor; Silas Rhoat, assistant sec-

retary Joseph Rhoat, inductor Cleve Brodt,
examiner; J. H. Fahringer, outside protector;
;

;

Clark Miller, inside protector; H.

Giger,

representative.

The Daughters of Liberty, Council No. 81,
has these officers: M. C. Jones, councilor; F.
^Irs. M. C.
J. Rubenstein, recording secretary
Jones, financial secretary; Mrs. Fanny Davis,
;

treasurer.

Ent Post, G. A. R., No. 152, Department of
Pennsylvania, was first organized in .A.ugust,
Samuel
1868. with the following officers:
B. Robison,
J.
Knorr, post commander
X. W. Sample,
senior vice commander
junior vice commander F. P. Drinker, quarH.
Bradley, surgeon; G. K.
termaster; Dr. \V.
Beidleman, officer of the day; A. Croop, officer of the guard; C. S. Fornwald, adjutant;

Whitenight, Jerry Wagner, Robert
Watkins, Dr. I. W. Willitts.
About one hundred and twenty-two of the
members have died since the post was organized.
The post occupies a hall in the Wells
building on Main street, and keeps up active
work, ably assisted therein by the ladies'

auxiliary.
In addition to the above there are
lodges of
the Maccabees, Royal Arcanum, Daughters of
Rebekah, and Daughters of Pocahontas in

Bloomsburg.
LITER.\RY .\ND SOCI.AL CLUBS

;

Ross Creveling, chaplain.
After a few years the charter was surrendered, and in 1880 the post was reorganized
as No. 250, with the following officers: H. J.
Conner, post commander; C. P. Sloan, senior
vice commander; G. W. Mears, junior vice
commander W. H. Swentzell, quartermaster
N. B. Fowler, chaplain; G. K. Beidleman, officer of the day; W. H. Jacoby, officer of the
Fornguard; Daniel Boice, surgeon; C. S.

The

social life of

Bloomsburg

well repre-

sented by the many clubs formed for mutual
interchange of ideas and the improvement of
the mind and body.
Many of these societies
and clubs are of much value to the future
progress of the county, and others, especially
the Historical Society, will confer incalculable
benefits

upon the coming generations.

The Bloomsburg Wheelmen

;

wald, adjutant.
The present officers (1915) are: Dr. J. S.
Lazarus, post commander; William Thomas,
senior vice commander; Thomas Downs,
junior vice commander; W. R. Ringrose,
Clark Kressler, chaplain J.
quartermaster
;

W. Shuman,

officer

The Wheelmen was Bloomsburg's

oldest
social club.
Organized in the days of the
bicycle craze, the club's name became somewhat of a misnomer, but the members never

had a thought of changing

it,

but rather of

name in memory of the days they
rode awheel. The clubhouse was first located
Third
on
H.
street, in the present home of
Fisher, and later moved to Main street, to the
of the day; F. M. Gil- building now occupied and owned by the
The
guard Charles Kunkle, Ostrich Farm & Feather Company.
retaining the

;

more, officer of the
surgeon; C. S. Fornwald, adjutant.
The living members are: L. R. Bomboy, G.
;

K. Beidleman, George Brant, J. S. Bachman,
A. J. Beagle, W. J. Correll, C. H. Campbell,
O. B. Case, Louis Cohen, T. M. Dawson,
George Farver, C. S. Fornwald, B. B. Freas,
H. Gilmore, F. M. GilJ. H. Fahringer, W.
more, A. V. Hower, Albert Herbine, Isaiah
Holter, W. C. Hagenbuch, Jonas Hughes,
William Hopper, G. W. Jacoby, L. D. Kase,
Jonas Kline, Charles Kunkle. Clark Kressler,
William Kern, Jonty Lemons, Frank McBride, John McCormick, J. H. Maize, G. W.
Mears, "R. T. Morris. Camden Mears. Charles
W. B. Poust,
Muffly, T- R. Alills. O. B. Price,

R. Ringrose. Ellis Ringrose. L. T. Rider,

John Roadarmel, John Shellenberger, E. A.
Searles. B. F. Sharpless, William Shoemaker,
H. H. Sands, William Thomas, T- H. Town-

organization of the Craftsman so reduced its
membership that in 1912 it moved to two
rooms in Wirt's building, and after one year
there disbanded, and the funds on hand were
The
donated to the Bloomsburg hospital.
club's social events were always among the
most delightful affairs in this section, its annual banquets being one of its leading features.

Craftsman Club

Among the most beautifully appointed club
rooms in central Pennsylvania are those of
the Craftsman Club, for membership in which
it is essential that the applicant must be affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Located on
the first floor of the handsome Caldwell Cathedral, the rooms are, without question, among
the most elaborate to be found in anv clubhouse

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Beautiful in themselves, they
of the State.
are most elaborately furnished, and excite the
of
all
admiration
who have ever seen them.

The membership

is large and fast
growing.
Ever since the club came into existence it has
taken a prominent part in the social life of the

town.

Its

annual Christmas dance

the prin-

cipal social event of this part of the State, while
its ladies' day has become popular with those

ladies of town eligible to enjoy the hospitality
of the club.

133

spent in the study of literature, several foreign
countries, miscellaneous programs, the Bible,
and the "Racial Element in the Formation of
the People of the United States," under the
title of "Our Great
Republic." The club has
the following active members,
honorary members and associate members:
Mrs. O. H.

Bakeless, Mrs. W. H. Brooke, Mrs. R. C Butler, Mrs. R. F. Colley, Mrs. S. C.
Creasy, Mrs.
J. L. Dillon, Mrs. R. E. Hartman, Mrs. G. H.

Hemingway, Mrs.

S. J. Houk, Mrs. R. R.
Miss Helen Low, of Lime Ridge, Miss
Mrs.
Georgia Pursel,
J. L. Richardson, Mrs.
L. P. Sterner, Mrs. H. M. Smith, Miss
Mary
Tustin, Miss Mary Unangst, Miss Sarah Van
Tassel, Mrs. R. R. Zarr, Mrs. J. S. Grimes,
Mrs. E. B. Tustin, Mrs. J. K. Miller, Mrs.
C. A. Caswell and Miss May
Sharpless.
The present officers are
Mrs. S. J. Houk,
Miss
president
May Sharpless, vice president
Miss Mary Unangst, treasurer; Mrs. Carlton
Little,

The Elks

With a large number of Bloomsburg's representative business and professional men included among its membership, the Elks lodge
of Bloomsburg has exceptionally attractive
in the Hartman building, purchased
a few years ago. Two of the floors devoted to
their own use are handsomely furnished and

clubrooms

The

arranged.

a large and handthe third floor contains

first floor is

some store room,
the lodge rooms.

and

;

A. Caswell, secretary.

janitor and an expert chef
The charitable
constant attendance.
acts of this organization are among its leading

are

;

The Ivy Club

The Centurv Club
In the autumn of 1893 Dr. J. P. Welsh, printhe Normal School, was the prime
mover of the "University Extension," held in
Bloomsburg for several years. It was well
received by the people of the town who were
At the
inclined to the. study of literature.
second lecture of the first course it was suggested by the lecturer that a number of the
people club together to study the author for
the next lecture, one of the English poets.
After the second lecture seven young women
cipal of

came down Normal

Hill

together.

Before

separating at Center street they had decided to
meet the following Friday evening at the home
of one of the party. When the seven young
women had been holding their meetings for
some time, some one suggested that it would be
well to have a name.
One of the members

very happily sugeested "The Pleiades."

In
others were added to the list, it
to change the name of the
club.
The name "Century Club of Bloomsburg" was selected. Mrs. ]. L. Dillon was
elected the first president, which position she
very ablv filled for five years. The original
object of the Century Club was for social and
literary work and for the establishment of a
1896,

when

became necessary

library.

The

last

Early

in the nineties

Miss Helen John, Miss

Ida Bernhard, Dr. Eva Rawlings, Mrs. Edward Ever (Miss Emma Townsend) and Miss
Stella Lowenberg held weekly meetings for
In November, 1894,
reading and discussion.

characteristics.

twenty years have been

this

reading circle organized a literary society
as the A. A. P. Club.
It remained as

known

such until March 6, 1897, when it was reorganized as the Ivy Club with a membership
of eight persons. The main oljjects of the Ivy
Club are to aid in maintaining the Public
Library and the advancement of its members.
The club was admitted to the State Federation
of Women's Clubs in 189S. The organization
has fifteen members and the officers are
President, Miss Margaret Waller vice president,
Miss Helen John secretary, Mrs. D. S. Hartline; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Bruner.
:

;

The Wednesday Club

The Wednesday Club, of Bloomsburg, was
organized as a reading circle in the fall of
1892, taking for its first work "The Discovery
There were
of America," by John Fiske.
fifteen

members of

the club at that time.

Miss Eva Rupert was elected
The same year the name of the
president.
reading circle was changed to the Mosaic Club.
In January, 1898, the Mosaic found that the
purchase of books would be necessary to enable them to do the work that they had planned.
It was decided that these books should form
January,

189=;.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

134

the nucleus of a public library for the town of
The club joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs in June, 1898, and
still belongs to the Federation.
On June 29,
1899, the name of the Mosaic Club was
changed to the Wednesday Club, of BloomsIn all these years the moneys from
burg.

Bloomsburg.

dues and entertainments were devoted
use and maintenance of the Public
Mrs. Samuel
Library. The officers now are
Wigfall, president; Mrs. R. E. Miller, vice
president; Mrs. D. J. Waller, Jr., secretary;
Mrs. George E. Elwell, treasurer.
fines,

the

The "S" Club
This club was organized on
The "S" stands for "study and

Oct. 21, 1912.
service." The

were Miss Harriet Waller, presiMiss Mary Demaree, vice president
Miss Margaret C. Brooke, secretary
Miss
Jean Andres, treasurer.
first officers

dent

;

The

object of the club is the intellectual improvement of its members, and town betterment. The present officers are . Mrs. G. Ed-

Furman, Miss Clora G. Furman, Mrs. S. J.
Houk, Mrs. D. S. Hartline, Mrs. J. S. John,
Miss Martha McNinch, Mrs. H. R. Mears,
Mrs. C. Z. Rpbbins. The club meets weekly
from September to June, and papers on historical subjects are read by the members.
In 1907 this club erected a suitable marker
on the site of Fort McClure on the Hughes
farm, and dedicated it with appropriate exercises on April loth. The marker was unveiled
by Miss AlcClure, a direct descendant of Maj.
James McClure, after whom the fort was
named. In the afternoon a public meeting was
held in the courthouse, and among the exercises
was an address delivered by Rev. A. J. P. McClure, a great-grandson of Major McClure.

The object of this society is the preservation
of that spirit of liberty which animated the
fathers and mothers of the .\merican RevoluThe present regent is Miss S. \'an Tastion.
sel

;

tary,

vice regent, Mrs. C. W. Funston secreMrs. C. Z. Robbins treasurer, Mrs. R. G.
;

;

Phillips; chaplain.

Miss Mary

Tustin.

ward

Miss Gertrude
Ehvell, Jr., president
Gross, vice president Mrs. William W. Fagely,
secretary Mrs. Frederic O. Mvisser, treasurer
Mrs. Charles C. Housenick, club reporter.
The membership includes Miss Jean Andres,
:

Columbia County Historical Society

;

Miss Armantine Arment, Mrs. William
Lawrence Butler, Mrs. Arthur Stevenson Clay,
Mrs. Edward C. Creasy, Mrs. John M. Delaney, Mrs. George Edward Elwell, Jr., Mrs.
William \\'. Fagely, Miss Gertrude Gross, Mrs.
Paul Z. Harman, Mrs. Charles C. Housenick,
'\fi';s
Margaret Jenkins, Mrs. Ralph Keller.
Mrs. Clyde Kemp, Mrs. Frederic O. Musser.
Edith
Miss
Patterson. Miss Harriet Waller,
Mrs. Karl Funston Wirt.
Fort McClure Chapter. D. A. R.

Fort McClure Chapter of the Daughters of
American Revolution was organized April
10, 1905, and the date of its charter is April
The charter members were: Miss
22, 1905.
Martha L. Caldwell, Mrs. S. C. Creasv, Mrs.
W. L. Demaree, Mrs. Geo. E. Elwell, Mrs. M.
E. Ent, Mrs. Helena Ikeler, Miss Mary P.
Leverett. Miss Anna T. Leverett, Mrs. R. R.
Little, Mrs. C. W. Miller, Mrs. R. G. Phillips,
Mrs. F. P. Pursel, Mrs. L. P. Sterner. Miss
Mary Tustin. ]\Tiss Sarah E. I. Van Tassel,
Mrs. H. V. White. Mrs. Mary Worthington.
Mrs. M. F.
Other resident members are:
Caswell, Miss Ethel Creasy, Miss Hannah
Evans, Mrs. C. W. Funston, Miss Julia H.
the

The

first

steps

for the

formation of

this

were taken

May 9, 1914, at a meeting
courthouse at Bloomsburg, which
was called by the officers of Fort McClure
Chapter, D. A. R. The meeting was called to
order by James C. Brown, who made a few
remarks and then introduced Dr. S. P. Heilsociety

held in the

man, of Lebanon County, secretary of the
Pennsylvania State Federation of Historical
Dr. Heilman gave a practical talk
Societies.
in the sixteen years he had
His address was full of

on his experiences
been in the work.

hopeful suggestions and of great benefit to the

William W. Evans moved a
organization.
vote of thanks be given Dr. Heilman, seconded
by Professor Hartline and carried unanimously.
Fort McClure

Chapter presented to Mr.
a copy of a constitution and by-laws
which they thought would fill the needs of the
proposed Columbia County Historical Society.
The constitution and by-laws were read and

Brown

accepted and ordered printed. George Parke,
representing J. H. Beers & Co., publishers,
Chicago, 111., gave a short address, telling of
his work along historical lines in Columbia
County, and presented one copy of this History of Columbia County to the society, also
many interesting photographs he had made,
and local material that would be very valuable.
Mr. A. W. Duy moved that Mr. Parke be

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
thanked for his generous offer, seconded by
Mrs. C. A. Caswell and carried.
The nominating committee then presented
the following names for the offices mentioned
and they were elected
President, Wil:

liam

W. Evans

vice presidents, Charles E.

Randall, Catawissa, John

secretary. Miss Elizabeth
Ridge; treasurer, John W.

Evans, Berwick
A. Low, Lime
;

Shuman, Bloomsburg; librarian. Miss Martha L. Caldwell,
Clinton
committee
executive
Bloomsburg
Herring, Orangeville Miss Myra M. Eves,
Millville Mrs. I. R. Wolfe, Espy Miss May
McHenry, Stillwater; W. M. Longenberger,
Mainville John H. Aikman, Cabin Run L. P.
Sterner, Bloomsburg; Miss Sarah M. Hagenbuch, Centre township; R. W. Smith, Mifflin.
William W. Evans thanked those present
for giving him the honor of being the first
president of the Columbia County Historical
Society. He emphasized the fact that what we
of today are doing will be of the same interest
to posterity as the days of our forefathers are
to us, and our inability to learn simple facts of
those days shows the importance we should
give today's happenings in our county.
At the second quarterly meeting six standing committees were appointed, viz.
history,
biography, genealogy, relics and curios, necrolThe committee on
ogy, and household arts.
history, consisting of A. W. Duy, Esq., Mrs.
L. P. Sterner and Miss Edith Patterson, collect and collate books, newspapers, manuscripts, letters and histories of the industries
:

;

of the county, as well as historical data pertainThe biographical
ing to the county's past.
committee, consisting of J. C. Brown, Dr. I. W.
Willits and Mrs. M. E. Ent, prepare and tabulate the data of the lives of the men who have
aided in the county's development and secure
portraits and paintings of those prominent in
its history.
Charles E. Randall, of the Catawissa A^ezvs Item: Dr. J. R. Montgomery, of

Bloomsburg, and Miss Sarah M. Hagenbuch,
of Centre township, are the members of the
genealogical committee, whose work lies along
the lines of co-operating with the organized
family reunions, tracing the antecedents of
the prominent families to an earlier date.

The

and curios committee, consisting
Funston, Mrs. H. H. Grotz, of
Bloomsburg, and Miss Myra Eves, of Millville, have the task of collecting tools, implements and especially firearms that were used
by the early settlers of the county, and securrelic

of Mrs. C.

135

Schuyler, investigate ancient tombstones in the
county graveyards and keep a record of deaths
throughout the county. Household arts in the
county receives attention at the hands of the
Historical Society with especial attention to
the work that was done by the early settlers.
Specimens of spinning, weaving, old wearing
apparel, and old-fashioned playthings are
among the articles collected. Miss Sarah E.
VanTassel was elected corresponding secretary.

room was secured from the county commissioners, to be used as an office and for the
preservation of the various articles collected by
the society.
The members who signed the charter were
(from Bloomsburg except as noted): Mrs.
M. E. Ent, Mrs. M. A. John, Mr. and Mrs.
A. W. Duy, Prof, and Mrs. D. S. HartHne, Mrs. C. A. Caswell, Anna Leverett, Elizabeth Lowe, Helen Chrisman Sarah M. Hagen;

buch,

Centre township

Sarah Van Tassel,

;

Mrs. J. S. John Ella G. Stewart, Orangeville
Mary P. Leverett, Mrs. H. H. Grotz, Mrs. J.
R. Schuyler, Mrs. C. W. Funston Myra Eves,
Millville Mrs. H. A. M'Killip, Martha Caldwell, Clara DiefTenbach, John W. Shuman, J.
C. Brown, W. W. Evans, Dr. I. W. Willits,
Dr. J. R. Montgomery, Edith Patterson, Dr.
Jeannette M. Trench, Mrs. G. P. Frymire,
Mrs. R. G. Phillips, Mrs. L. P. Sterner; W.
;

;

M. Longenberger, Mainville; May McHenry,
Stillwater; L. P. Sterner; Mrs.'S. B. Karns,

Benton: H. A. M'Killip; Mrs. I. R. Wolfe,
Espy; Dr. T. C. Harter, Charles E. Randall,
Catawissa; Clinton Herring, Orangeville; H.
\'. White, Mrs. Paul E. Wirt, Mrs. H. V.
White John W. Evans. Berwick Mrs. Clinton
Herring, Orangeville; J. Bruce Hess, Benton;
R. W. Smith, MifT. H. Aikman, Cabin Run
flinville Mrs. E. H. Sloan, Orangeville O. D.
McHenry, Stillwater S. B. Karns, Benton
Mrs. Nellie T. Vastine, Catawissa; Larue
Funston Clark, Catawissa.
George Parke,
who was engaged in the compilation and preparation of this history of Columbia and Mon:

;

tour counties, was elected the

first life

corre-

sponding member.

THE BLOOMSBURG CENTENNIAL

ing a history of each article.
The necrology committee. Prof. D. S. Hartline, Dr. Jeannette M. Trench and Mrs. J. R.

The fact that Bloomsburg would reach the
one hundredth anniversary of its founding in
1902, with the suggestion that the occasion be
properly observed by a celebration, was first
mentioned in the issue of The Columbian of
No steps were then taken, but
Jan. 2, 1901.
in April, 1902, the subject

was again agitated

136

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

by the Morning Press and the Bloomsburg
Daily. This cuhninated in a public meeting at
the courthouse on April i8th, held for the purpose of ascertaining public sentiment in the
matter.
Mayor John R. Townsend presided,
and the prospects were so encouraging that
it was decided to organize and arrange for a
centennial celebration, to be held on August 27,
28 and 29, 1902.
A general executive committee was appointed consisting of Col. John G. Freeze, Dr.
[. P. Welsh, Louis Cohen, J. C. Brown, H. B.
Clark, W. S. Moyer, Dr. W. M. Reber, George
E. Elwell, L. N. Moyer, C. C. Peacock, A. Z.
Schoch, H. V. White, Paul E. Wirt, W. H.
Slate, W. O. Holmes, W. S. Rishton, R. E.
Hartman, I. M. Staver, A. W. Duy, H. A.
McKillip, F. G. Yorks, Frank Ikeler, W. P.
Meigs, J. G. Wells, F. P. Pursel, William
Chrisman, F. J. Richard, J. Lee Harman, E. C.
Caswell,- C. W. Aliller, M. F. D. Scanlan.

A meeting of the general committee was
held on April 29, 1902, when the following
Chairman,
permanent officers were elected
John R. Townsend; secretary, George E. Elwell; treasurer, L. N. Moyer; vice presidents,
A. Z. Schoch, Dr. J. P. Welsh. Committees
on finance and program were appointed, and
it was decided to hold a public meeting in
the courthouse on the evening of May 9th, to
which a special invitation was extended to the
ladies. This meeting was largely attended, the
courtroom bting filled to its capacity. Colonel
:

Freeze presided, and remarks were made by
him, and bv Rev. M. E. McLinn, F. B. Hartman, J. K.' Miller, H. V. White, Rev. J. D.

Smith and J. C. Brown. A report was made
by the program committee. Music was furnished by the Bloomsburg Band. It was an
enthusiastic meeting, and from that time the
success of the celebration was assured.
The finance committee soon canvassed the
town, and subscriptions came in cheerfully and
The town was divided into districts
liberally.
and solicitors were appointed for each district, with the result that nearly $2,700 was
realized. This sum was subsequently increased
in various ways, from the sale of privileges,
from badges and souvenirs, from the Winona
Minstrel show ($65.93), Historical Museum
($220.24), base ball games ($173.10), P. O.
S. of A. excursion, and in other ways, until
the whole amount that came into the hands of
the treasurer reached a total of $3,586.83.
At a meeting of the executive committee
held on June 5th it was reported that the
town council had granted the control of all
privileges on the streets to the committee. The

Columbia & Montour Railway Company offered to donate ten per cent of their receipts
for two days of the Centennial. The American
Electric Light Company offered to furnish
current for the illumination of all the arches
on the streets, and the Patriotic Order Sons of
America tendered one half of the profits of
their annual excursion.
All of these offers
were accepted, and a vote of thanks extended
to

for

all

their

liberality.

The committees

were appointed at this meeting, except those
on finance and program which had been previously selected.
That all of these committees performed their
duties in the most thorough and efficient manner was evidenced by the grand success of the
Centennial in every particular. The general
public had no conception of the vast amount
of detail work that was done by the active

men and women who

so unselfishly gave

much

of their time and labor in the preparation of
the event. For more than two months Chairman Townsend gave his attention almost exclusively to it, and to his fine executive ability
and good judgment was ascribed much of the
credit for the successful outcome. The secretary and others gave almost as much of their
time, and from start to finish no one shirked
any duty or responsibility that was assigned
to him.
The newspapers all gave valuable
assistance in publicity.
Twenty meetings of
the executive committee were held, all of
which were well attended and at which business of importance was transacted, so that
when the appointed time arrived everything
was in readiness.
Among the many thoughtful arrangements
was a rest room in charge of the Civic club,
for women and children, in the courthouse
a hospital in St. Paul's parish house for emergency cases of sickness or accident an ambulance a police patrol wagon barrels of ice

•)

,-',

;

water with drinking cups at numerous points
on the streets and a detective force from
;

Pinkerton's Detective Agency at Philadelphia,
guard against pickpockets and other crooks.

The Celebration
.\nd

now

the eventful day, to which

all

had

been looking forward for four months with

The town
pleasurable anticipation, arrived.
was lavishly decorated. The entire length of
Main street in the business portion was a gratifying

exposition

the

decorator's

art.

Everywhere throughout the town flags and
bunting were in evidence, not only on the
buildings, but also on the trees and poles, and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
even the wires lent themselves to the purpose
of the decoration committee, all uniting in
making a scene that was gorgeous in its magnificent splendor.

There was scarcely a

resi-

dence within the town limits that did not show
its loyalty to the spirit of the occasion.
Many
strangers were heard to exclaim that the decorations were more elaborate than they had ever
seen in a place the size of Bloomsburg. Beautiful arches electrically illuminated were erected
at the Town Hall, Courthouse, Market Square,
Fifth and Market, West and IMain, Leonard
and Main, East and Fifth streets. That at

Market Square was erected by the Knights of
the Golden Eagle and the Royal Arcanum, and
the others out of the general fund.
The Centennial exercises opened on

Wednesday evening, Aug. 27, 1902, in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, where an audience of#wo thousand people assembled.
It
was an inspiring sight, and an occasion never
to be forgotten.
On the platform sat all the
clergymen of the town, and addresses were
made by Rev. D. N. Kirkby, rector of St.
Episcopal Church, whose text was
9-14; Rev. J. R. Murphy, pastor
Columba's Roman Catholic Church,
whose stibject was "The Ethics of Politics";
and Rev. Dr. W. M. Frysinger, pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, who took for his
Paul's

Psalm
of

xlviii,

St.

discourse, "What do we owe to the Bloomsburg of a hundred years ago, and what do we
owe to the Bloomsburg of a hundred years

from now?"

The addresses were

all

able

and

appropriate, and were listened to with marked
attention.
Rev. J. D. Smith of the Baptist
Church offered the invocation Rev. W. R.
Whitney, Methodist, read a scripture lesson
Rev. M. E. McLinn, Lutheran, made a prayer
;

;

and Rev.

J.
Bentz, Evangelical, proiiounced
the benediction.
The music for the occasion was furnished
by the Centennial Chorus, organized from the

various churches and numbering nearly one
hundred, led by Prof. O. H. Yetter. 'They
rendered
Kipling's
hymn, "God of our
Fathers," and Mozart's "Gloria," and led in
the hymns, "All Hail the Power of Jesus'

Name," "Holy, Holy, Holy," and "America."

Made up

was, of the town's best vocal
talent, the music was all beautifully rendered.
it

Mrs. Fred Holmes presided at
Never before had there been
Never
blage in Bloomsburg.
audience listened to addresses

the organ.
such an assembefore had an

from the same
platform, at the same time, by Episcopalian,
Catholic and Methodist clergymen. It
was a most auspicious opening of the celebra-

Roman

137

tion, and it was fitting that we should show
our loyalty to our town by first showing our
loyalty to the Great Creator.
On Thursday morning, Aug. 28th, at 8
o'clock, the ringing of all the church bells and
the blowing of all the factory whistles for five
minutes ushered in the program of the day.
Brass bands arrived from Wilkes-Barre, Catawissa, Berwick, Buckhorn and Lime Ridge.
The Bloomsburg Band gave its service gratuitously both days. All incoming trains brought
throngs of visitors, and the streets looked like
a county fair.
Governor Stone, who had accepted an invitation to be present, arrived in the morning,
accompanied by his private secretary, in time
to attend the Historical meeting in the Normal
School auditorium at half past ten o'clock. A
large audience was present.
Upon the stage
and in the audience were many men and

women who
gressive

helped to

make Bloomsburg

and

industrial

educational

a procenter.

Mayor Townsend presided, and opened the
meeting with appropriate remarks. He then
presented to Roland Hemingway the prize
offered by the Century club for the best historical essay on the "Town of Bloomsburg,"
the prize being ten dollars in gold. Addresses

were made by Governor Stone and Hon. Fred
Ikeler, a brief history of the several churches
in Bloomsburg was read by Rev. D. N. Kirkby,
and an historical address on Bloomsburg was

delivered by Col.

Several selec-

G. Freeze.

were sung by the Centennial Chorus.
At half past two the civic and industrial paIt was
rade started from the fair grounds.
headed by mounted police, followed by W. O.
Holmes, chief marshal, and his aides, C. W.
Funston, C. W. McKelvy, A. W. Duy and
Then followed, in order, the
S. H. Harman.
Bloomsburg Band Governor Stone and Mayor
Townsend Bloomsburg town council DanEnt Post, G. A. R. the
ville Post, G. A. R.
Catawissa Band Knights of the Golden Eagle
of Bloomsburg and Catawissa Lime Ridge
Band Patriotic Order Sons of America Order of United American Mechanics Orangeville Band
Junior O. U. A. M. Bricklayers'
and Masons' Union of Berwick Y. M. C. A.
Cadets of Berwick, led by Col. A. D. Seely;
John Knox Commandery, Knights of Malta,
No. 12, of Wilkes-Barre; the Berwick Band;
the Locomobile Club of Bloomsburg; the
Ninth Regiment Band of Wilkes-Barre; industrial and mercantile floats. A prize of $25
was awarded John Knox Commandery for
best appearance of secret organizations, and a
exhibition drill.
special prize of $20 for
tions

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

138

The various

floats were prepared by the
F. P. Pursel, three floats; Richard

following:

Manufacturing Company; G. W. Keiter; AlexStegmaier Brewing Company

ander Brothers

;

Saltzer; Morning Press; Moyer Brothers;
Tooley & Co., two floats; J. L. Dillon; White
L. T.
D. Lowenberg
Milling Company
Sharpless ; Harman & Hassert Atlantic Refining Company; R. E. Hartman; J. F. Hid-

;

lay;

Brower & Glover; Bloomsburg Car Com-

Bloomspany
burg Fair Association Corner Thomas. A
wagon io6 years old was driven by Harvey
H. G. Supplee

;

F. Slagle

;

Creveling.

The parade was reviewed by Governor
Stone and Mayor Townsend from a stand
erected on Market Square. After the parade
the Governor was given a reception by Ent
Post, G. A. R., in their hall, and after lunch

Normal School he returned to HarrisIt was estimated that at least fifteen

at the

burg.

thousand people were present on this day.
In the evening at 8 130 o'clock a fine pyrotechnic display was shown on the Neal cinder
tip, and concerts were given earlier in difi^erent
portions of the town by the visiting bands.
Friday, Aug. 2Sth, was Firemen's day, and
the visiting companies arrived on early trains
and were met by their hosts and escorted
Visitors came
to the various hose houses.

from
until

all
it

parts of this section of the State,
was estimated that there were from

thousand to twenty-five thousand
the town.
The weather was all
people
that could be desired.
The parade started
at half past one from the Town Hall, under
the direction of William H. Gilmore, chief
marshal, and his aides, William Webb, J. Ohl,
S. H. Harhian, John Welliver and G. W.
twenty

Sterner.

was nearly a mile

long.

The

vis-

No. 3 Hose Company,
Plymouth Hook & Ladder Company, Northumberland Eagle, Pittston Lewisburg Fire
Department Good Will, Friendship, Continental, Washington Hose Companies, Danville
Reliance, Rangers, Berwick Lape Hose
companies were

iting

;

Company, Mowrey Hose Company, NantiThe following bands were in line:
coke.
Bloomsburg, Berwick, Catawissa, Buckhorn,
Lime Ridge and three drum corps.
The Northumberland Company had with them
a hand fire engine 106 years old.
Danville,

The parade was

the finest of the kind ever

was reviewed by
of the committee from the stand on Market Square.
seen

this

section.

Mayor Townsend and members

After the parade the drill corps of Eagle
Hose Company gave an exhibition drill, and

Then followed
prize of $25,
hose contest by the Eagle, Reliance and
Mowrey Companies, Eagle winning, with Reliance second.
The baseball games both days were attended

was awarded a
a

by large crowds, the first day's game being
between the Cuban Giants and Berwick, score
5-4, and the second between the Giants and

handsome sum was
Danville, score 9-4.
realized for the Centennial fund from these
games.
Other attractions were the war balloon at
Seventh and Market streets, where passengers were carried up one thousand feet, and
an exhibition of wireless telegraphy by the
Consolidated Wireless Telegraph and Telephone Company of Philadelphia, under the
direction of Professor Shoemaker.
Stations
were erected at the Courthouse and Normal
School, and the snapping of the spwks could
This was the
be heard for some distance.
first exhibit of the kind in the interior of
the State.
But the leading attraction, aside from the
wonparade, was the Historical Museum.
derful collection of antiques was gathered
in
club
the
old
brick
the
Civic
Presbyby
terian Church that stood on the present site
The articles were
of the Yorks residence.

attractively

thousands
visit there.

and systematically arranged, and
visitors were delighted by a
Such a collection was never be-

fore, and probably never will be again, seen
in Bloomsburg.
It is impossible to name

the thousands of articles here.
One of the
very interesting features at the Museum was
the spinning by Mrs. J. S. Woods, an aged
lady, on a spinning wheel. Mrs. S. A. Petriken was also present part of the time and
operated a wheel that had been in her family
since 1810. On the opening night Mrs. Petriken, aged eighty-seven years, sat at a piano
which was bought for her by her father,
Daniel Snyder, when she was a little girl.
It was the first piano ever brought to Blooms-

burg.
In the picture gallery of the Museum were
portraits of many of the men who had helped
to make Bloomsburg.
Among them were
Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., Judge William Elwell,
Senator Charles R. Buckalew, David Lowenberg, Prof. Henry Carver, William McKelvy,
William Neal, Elisha Barton, L. B. Rupert,
Peter Billmeyer, Daniel Snyder, Sr., William
Snyder, William Sloan, A. J. Sloan, George
Vance, Robert Cathcart, William Robison,
Rev. J. P. Tustin, Tohn R. Mover, Joseph W.
Hendershott, Dr. J. B. McKelvy, Gen. W. H.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

139

ing

preparing it was an arduous task, requirmany weeks, and they reaped a rich re-

has been one of the show places of the town.
The church and parish house, built of gray
stone, are of Gothic architecture, and with
the handsome tower, covered with beautiful
is always
ivy, make a picture that once seen
remembered. The grounds surrounding the

ward in the praises that were showered upon
them for the splendid success of their efforts, and in the receipt of a substantial
amount of money for the Centennial fund.
After all the expenses were paid there remained about $1,400 in the treasury, and this
was subsequently donated by the committee

It is most handinterior is equally beautiful.
somely finished, the soft coloring making an

AltoErit, Capt. C. B. Brockway and others.
gether the Museum was an exhibition such
as is rarely seen even in the large cities.
The work of the ladies of the Civic club
in

to the

iiloomsburg Public Library.
RELIGIOUS

Probably nothing illustrates more strikingly
the pride which the citizens of Bloomsburg
take in their town than the deep religious
and artistic sentiment expressed in the many
magnificent houses of worship which have
been constructed for the different religious
The First Methodist
denominations here.
Church, the First Presbyterian Church, St.
Paul's Episcopal Church and St. Columba's
Roman Catholic Church have homes than

which there are few finer in this section, and
they are soon to be followed by others, several congregations having taken definite steps
to rebuild.

The congregations of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and the Reformed Church,
both of which have celebrated their centennials, have a growing building fund in hand,
and the Baptist and Christian Churches, having outgrown their present homes, are preparing to build as soon as the funds warrant

parish house and church proper are large and
beautifully kept, and the rectory, on the sarne
in
property, is one of the handsomest homes
town of many beautiful residences.
this
the
the
church's
Handsome as is
exterior,

exceptionally attractive effect.

St. Paul's parish is the oldest religious
organization in Bloomsburg, dating from 1793,
when Rev. Caleb Hopkins was appointed rector of the territory comprised within the
forks of the Susquehanna. At this date a
crude log building was erected in the town
on the west side of the road "leading from
the house of Esquire Elisha Barton to BerIt was through the efforts of Mr.
wick."
Barton that the building was erected and the

rector appointed.

This church had no

Rev. Caleb Hopkins officiated at this
church at irregular intervals until 1806, when
he was made stated minister, his field of labor
including the churches of Bloomsburg, Jer-

seytown and Sugarloaf.

Bloomsburg known

part of

thousands of dollars are already invested in Bloomsburg church properties and
the next five or ten years will mark the expenditure of many thousands more. It is no
exaggeration to state that the church properties themselves represent an intrinsic value

until his retirement in 1819.

is as great, if not greater, per capita
than any other town of equal size in the
United States.

that

St. Paul's

Episcopal Church

Among Bloomsburg

church properties the

its present handsome
For
proportions is St. Paul's Episcopal.
years the property occupying a commanding
position at the corner of Main and Iron
streets, extending almo.'^t a half square on
Iron and more than that distance on Main,

one which

first

assumed

fire-

was heated by means

of a charcoal
fire in a rude grating before the chancel, the
rector's face frequently being obscured by
the smoke.

place, but

the outlay.

Many

Improvements

have been made from time to time, but the
have never been
building lines
original
changed. The church property is one of the
most valuable in central Pennsylvania.

resided in that
as

Hopkinsvijle
Rev. Mr. Snowden succeeded Mr. Hopkins in 1820 and took
measures to have the church incorporated.
This event occurred in 1824, the wardens and
vestrymen being Daniel Pursel, Baltis Appelman, Littleton Townsend, Isaac Green, Robert Green, Philip Appelman, Elias Bidleman,
Peter Melick and John Barton. Rev. William
Eldred succeeded Mr. Snowden in 1825 and
was the last to officiate in the old log church.

This structure was replaced

1827 by_ a

frame building of larger size, which continued in use until the completion of the third
church,

brick

edifice,

the

cornerstone of

which was laid in July, 1837. The next effort
at church building was inaugurated in 1868,

when

legislative action

disinterment

and

was secured for the

removal

dead

the

from that part of the burial ground

the

140

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

corner of Second and Iron streets in order
to make room for another building, the cornerstone of which was laid in September,
1868.
The first service in the building was
held on Oct. 28, 1870, but it was not
till June 28,
1 88 1,
that the dedication took

Bishop Howe conducting the services
and former rector Rev. T. H. Cullen preaching
the sermon. E. R. Drinker, the senior warden,
place,

read the certificate of the vestry.
The cost of the building was $28,000. The
acre of ground upon which the church and
rectory stood was secured from Joseph Long
for the sum of five shillings, by Elislia Bar"

John Trembly and Edmund Crawford,
The rectory stands upon the site of
the brick church, and was built in 1883.
In
the
church came into possession of a
1850
house on East street by the will of Elizabeth Emmitt, and the proceeds of its sale
were applied to the purchase of a pastoral
residence on First street. The present rectory
was erected in 1876 during the incumbency of
ton,

in 1795.

Rev. L. Zahner.
In 1886 the parish extended a call to Rev.
William C. Leverett, the rector of St. John's
Church, Carlisle, which was accepted, and he
remained in charge until 1895. During his
incumbency tht parish house was begun, and
It is a handsome stone
completed in 1892.
structure with an auditorium, and choir and
guild rooms on the first floor, and a dining
hall and kitchen in the basement.
It stands
on the church grounds and is connected with
the church by a stone corridor.
The furniture for the auditorium was presented by
Mrs. Hester Barton.
In 1 89 1 the uncompleted tower of the
church was finished by Col. J. G. Freeze, and
a peal of bells was placed therein by Paul E.
Wirt, Esq., both as memorials to deceased
members of their families, and Mr. and Mrs.
John A. Funston presented new stained glass

windows
ment was

for the chancel.
concrete pavelaid about the church properties, the
interior of the church was newly decorated,
largely through the efforts of the late George
S. Robbins, and a vested choir organized in
1892, by George E. Elwelk
With all these improvements, the parish
was ready for the centennial which was held
on May 29, 30 and 31, 1893. On these dates
sessions of the archdeaconry of Williamsport
were held in St. Paul's and Right Rev. N. S.
Rulison, assistant bishop of the Diocese, and
twenty-three clergymen were present, includServices were held
ing two former rectors.
in the church on each evening, and on Tuesday

and Wednesday mornings, with addresses at
different times by the Bishop, Rev. T. H. Cullen, Rev. H. L. Jones, D. D., Archdeacon
A
Groff, Rev. W. C. Leverett, and others.
luncheon was served in the parish house on

Wednesday

to the visitors.

The

close of the

century of St. Paul's Church was marked
by a season of delightful exercises.
Owing to physical infirmities, Rev. W. C.
Leverett resigned on April 15, 1895, and was
succeeded by Rev. D. N. Kirkby, who took
first

In
charge on June 9th of the same year.
1898 a new pipe organ was purchased, costing
over $3,000, in place of the smaller organ

purchased in 1874, the latter being the first
one brought to this county. Mr. Kirkby resigned in i'904, and was followed by Rev. R. S.
Nichols,

Rev.

mained
to

who served as rector
W. Diggles was then

for

two years.
and re-

called,

when he

until

Aug. I, 1912,
resigned.
In October, 1912, the vestry extended a call
Rev. F. O. Musser, curate of St. Stephen's

Church, Wilkes-Barre, which was accepted,
and Mr. Musser entered upon his duties as
rector of St. Paul's on Nov. i, 1912. In May,
the annual convention of the diocese
Harrisburg was held in this church.
is a list of clergymen who
Rev. Caleb Hopkins,
have officiated here
1704-1818; Rev. Mr. Snowden, 1823; Rev.
William Eldred, 1823-24; Rev. James Depuis,
1828-^2; Rev. Benjamin Hutchins, 1832-33;
Rev. G. C. Drake. 1833-42; Rev. William H.
Bourne, 1842-44; Rev. Samuel T. Lord,
1845-46; Rev. A. A. Marple, 1846-4S; Rev.
Joel Rudderow, 1848-53 Rev. Henry Tullidge,
"185^-57; Rev. A. M. Weilly, 1859-60; Rev. J.
A.' Russell, 1860-62; Rev. t. H. Cullen, 186370; Rev. John Hewitt, 1870-77; Rev. Louis
Zahner, 1877-86; Rev. W. C. Leverett, 188695; Rev. D. N. Kirkby, 1895-1904; Rev. R. S.
Nichols, 1904-06; Rev. J. W. Diggles, 1906-12;
Rev. F. O. Musser, 1912 to the present.
In 1906 George E. Elwell resigned the position of choirmaster, after an almost continuous service of thirty-five years, about twenty
vears of which he was organist. He was in1913,

iif

The following

;

strumental in raising the money for the purchase of both pipe organs, and was a vestry-

man

for thirty-three vears.
In 1907 the vestibule at the church entrance

was tiled. \\'qinscoted and decorated by the
members of St. Margaret's Guild, and in 1909
the aisles were tiled by the same organization,
and the chancel was similarly improved by
Mrs. George S. Robbins as a memorial to her
husband. The beautiful brass lectern in the
church was the gift of the children of Mrs.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Mary Drinker as a memorial to her, and a
very iiandsome brass pulpit was presented by
Robert C. Neal, Jr., of Harrisburg, as a
memorial to his grandmother, Mrs. Martha H.
Clark.

The

present vestrymen are Paul E. Wirt,
G. B. Boggs, Uriah Thornton,

W. Duy,

John Morris,

Woods, James

Mills,

Fortune, C. S. Ranck, A. E. Rogers. Col. J.
G. Freeze was a vestryman from 1886 to the
time of his death, which occurred on July
8,

1913.

Lutherans

During the first fifty years of their history
here the Lutherans, organized under the name
of St. Paul's congregation, worshipped in a
small building at the corner of First and
Center streets, built in 1808 in partnership
It
with the Reformed congregation.
was
almost square, with galleries on three sides
and a wineglass-shaped pulpit on the fourth
It was of logs and held about five
side.
This building was rehundred persons.
oved in 186 1, but the two congregations
own the lot and the burial ground adjoinThe old graveyard is now a serious
ing.
olistruction to the improvement of that part of
town, being overgrown with weeds and poison
The joint ownership has prevented a
ivy.
division and sale of the property.
This plot
originally was bought from Ludwig Eyer for
still

1896-1903; Rev.

141

E. Byers, 1903 to the pres-

ent date.

The church

building on

Market

street

now

occupied by the Lutherans was erected in 1857,
and in the following year was the meeting
place of the East Pennsylvania synod. Since
that time the building has been remodeled and
additions built from time to time to meet the
needs of the congregation, but it is still too
small for their comfort.
A larger and more
imposing structure is in prospect and funds
are being collected for the work.
Several
thousand dollars were expended during Mr.
Manhart's pastorate upon chancel and pulpit
furniture, repairs to property, and a pipe organ
new parsonage was completed
costing $900.

1
89 1, and first occupied by Mr. Heilman,
and the same year the lower room of the
church was improved.
A few years ago, during Mr. Byers' pastorate, a fine new pipe organ was purchased,
Mr. Andrew Carnegie contributing $800, and
the congregation the balance, and the church
was newly papered and carpeted. In November, 1907, this church observed the fiftieth an-

of the dedication of its present
building, and the hundredth anniversary of the building of the first Lutheran
church in Bloomsburg, by a celebration lasting
from the 17th to the 24th, and including varied

niversary

church

and very interesting exercises, participated in
by a number of former pastors and others.

fceight dollars.

The

Rev. Frederick Plitt was the first regular
Fpastor for the Lutherans, but as early as 1800
[Rev. Mr. Frederitze held services in the Epis-

Sunday school, Young People's Society, Ladies'
Aid Society, Women's Missionary Society, and
Men's Brotherhood. A fund has been started

copal church. The constitution of the church,
adopted in 1808, was signed by Mr. Plitt and
John Dietterick and Bernard Lilly, elders and

and Bernard

[trustees,
in
[early records were
services until 183^.

Stetler,

German,

deacon.
as

were

The
also

Thereafter both Eng[the
lish and German were used alternately until
185 1, when the tongue of the Fatherland was
abandoned. The church was incorporated in
1856 as St. Matthew's.
Since Rev. Mr. Plitt the successive pastors
have been: Rev. J. Frederick Engel, 1809-16;
[Rev. Peter Kessler, 1817-2Q; Rev. Jeremiah
Schindel, 18-^0-37 Rev. William J. Eyer, 1S374S: Rev. Monroe J. Allen, 1845-47; Rev. William T- Ever, 1847-51; Rev. PJiilip Weaver,
i8qT-5^: Rev. E. A." Sharretts. 1853-58; Rev.
J. R.^Dimm, 1850-67; Rev. B. F. Alleman,
186*7-72; Rev. T-R. Williams, 1872-75; Rev.
J. MrCron. 1875-78: Rev. O. D. S. Marclay,
TS78-81; Rev. F. P. Manhart, 1881-80: Rev.
A. Heilman, 1890-96; Rev. M. E. McLinn,
^P.
I

organizations of the church are

large

for the erection of a new church. The present
of the church council are
Rev. J.
E. Byers, pastor and president F. H. Jenkins,

members

;

W. A. Watters, secretary W.
lay president
H. Hidlay, treasurer. Elders, J. L. Wolverton, C. H. Albert, J. H. Birch, F. Bomboy,
Daniel Creveling. Deacons, C. D. Bankes, W.
;

;

A. Watters,

Edward Roth, Claude Maust.
Reformed Church

Among

the

German

settlers in

Bloomsburg

denomination has been well represented.
The first pastor to preach to them was Rev.
John W. Ingold, the first services being held
in the Episcopal church.
Being denied the
use of this building in 1806 the congregation
made use of a schoolhouse on Fiphing creek
until the buildingr of the co-operative church
on the corner of First and Center streets, in
this

i8o8._

Rev. John Dietterich

Adams

succeeded to

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

142

the pulpit on the death of Mr. Ingold in 1807,
and was followed by Rev. Jacob Dieitenbach
in 1815.
The latter removed his family to
Espy, where a parsonage had been built for
him, and entered upon a pastorate that covered

but ten years, yet

in that

following
rington,
ler,

I".

Elders, X. U. Funk, O. W. CherL. Smith deacons, \\'. C. Maustel;

U. A. Leiby, H.

Leiby.

Presbyterians

time he laid the foun-

Even before the founding of Bloomsburg
Columbia county. His field of labor included by Ludwig Eyer the Presbyterian denominaBloomsburg, Briarcreek, Mifflinville, Muncy, tion was active in this section of the county.
Nescopeck, Wapwallopen, Shamokin, Cata- As early as 1789 Asa Dunham, a native of
wissa, and several smaller points. His imme- Middlese.x county, N. J., and a Revolutionary
diate successor was Rev. Mr. Larose, who died soldier, bought a farm on the hillside near the
dations of most of the

Reformed Churches

Rev. Richard
office, of malarial fever.
Fisher of Catawissa preached at intervals until
Daniel
Tobias
became the
when
Rev.
S.
1828,
Following came Revs. Henry Funk,
pastor.
in

William Goodrich, L. C. Sheip, F. J. Mohr,
T. F. Hoffmier, G. D. Gurley, Walter E. Krebs,
0. H. Strunck, S. R. Bridenbaugh.

On March

1887, Rev. J. S. Wagner
the duties of the pastorate of
i,

entered upon
the Bloomsburg Reformed Church.
Owing
Rev.
to ill health he served only one year.
William T. .\uman was pastor from June i,
1889, to June 13, 1892. He was succeeded by
Rev. C. H. Brandt, who served from Feb. i,
The new parsonage
1893, to Oct. 24, 1898.
was erected during his pastorate. On Jan.
1, 1899, Rev. John D. Thomas, Ph. D., became
the pastor, and continued his labors until May,
1909, when he was called to a charge in Ohio
and was succeeded by Rev. W. C. Slough, the
latter entering upon his duties Oct. i, 1909,
and serving until 1913. Rev. P. H. Hoover
became pastor in the early part of 1914.
During the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Thomas

the church celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of
its establishment on the present site at the
corner of Third and Iron streets, and the one
hundredth anniversary of the founding of the

of Buckhorn, the birthplace later of the
Pursel family of Bloomsburg. Mr. Dunham
site

lived there with his wife, mother-in-law and
two brothers. While he was away from home
one day the house ^urned and his entire family
lost their lives.
Some years later he married,

the lady being his fifth wife.
occasionally at the barn of Elias

preached

Furman,

be-

tween Bloomsburg and Espy, and at the Briarcreek or Hidlay Church.
Before the organization of the Presbyterian
congregation in the town of Bloomsburg, in
181 7, the people had been dependent on the
generosity of the Episcopalians and Lutherans
for the use of their houses of w'brship. After
organization the use of the Episcopal
church was obtained for the nominal rental of
$7 a year. The first elders elected were James
McClure, Paul Leidy and Peter Pursel, and
they at once prepared to erect a church building.
They bought the lot now occupied by the
Manse on Third street and erected a 36 by 40
foot building, with a deep gallery around three
sides.
Some discussion arose whether the
entrance should be from the rear, as was the
custom, or from the street. The new method
the

prevailed.

The congregation united with the Briarcreek
Reformed Church in Bloomsburg. This cele- and Shamokin Churches in extending a call
bration was held from Oct. 25 to 31, 1908, and to Rev. Samuel Henderson, his services to be
was a most interesting occasion, not only to equally divided between the three churches, althe members of the chtirch, but to the entire though the Bloomsburg Church had made
community. An excellent program was suc- jjreparations to provide the greater part of the
He came the year of organization
cessfully carried out.
support.
Some years ago a vocalion was presented to and greatly assisted in the building of the
the church by Mrs. M. E. Ent, and the same church. He continued to serve the church ungenerous donor later supplanted the vocalion til 1824, when he was succeeded by Rev. John
with a much larger pipe organ, dedicated on Xiblock, from 1824 to 1826; Rev. James LewPalm Sunday, 1910, as a memorial to her ers, an Irishman Rev. Mr. Crosby, an easterndaughter, Mrs. Fred Ikeler, her mother, Mrs. er, the founder of the first Sunday school
S. A. Petriken, and her grandparents, Mr. and Revs. Matthew B. Patterson, Robert Bryson,
;

;

Mrs. Daniel Snyder, Sr.
The church building and parsonage were
thoroughly repaired and much improved by
desired alterations during the summer of 1909.
The officers of the church in 191 3 were the

Irvin and Bigman.
Rev. John P. Hudson, a Virginian, ser\-ed
from 1832 to 1838, and was followed in quick
succession by Revs. Tobey and Daniel M.
Barber. Then in the fall of 1838 a call was

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
made to Rev. David J. Waller, a licentiate of
the Newcastle Presbytery, who had preached
He
in Eloomsburg in the summer of 1837.
accepted the call and was installed in May,
of Columbia
1839, his charge consisting of all
His pastorate continued unintercounty.
ruptedly for thirty-three years, and his activities were such that not only did his congregation gain thereby, but the whole of the surrounding country formed the scene of his
labors, as much in a material as in a spiritual
way. Through his unflagging energy a railroad was built, industries establislied, many
families brought to swell the population of
Bloomsburg, and there was not a movement
for the betterment of the condition of his
people in which he did not take a prominent

His home was the stopping place of all
and conditions of people, who were enSo many
tertained with great hospitality.
came to his home at one time that when the
landlord of a neighboring inn put up a new
sign some wag hung the old one over the door
of Mr. Waller's house.
Subsequent pastors of this church have
part.
sorts

been Revs. Stuart Mitchell, D. D., until 1888;
I. M. Patterson, until September, 1896; Rev.
Dr. G. H. Hemingway, 1897 to 1909; and the
present pastor. Rev. S. C. Dickson.

When

came

Bloomsburg
the congregation prepared to build anew, and
the site on Market street was purchased. Napoleon LeBrun prepared the plans, and the
second church was built at a cost of $3,000.
The last services in the Third Street church
were held in Au.giist, 1848, and the new church
was dedicated the following Wednesday. Its
site was that of the present Yorks home.
The lot formerly occupied by the old church
on Third street was also used for cemetery
purposes, and had long been sadly neglected.
By proceedings in the court the remains were
ordered removed, and a fine brick parsonage,
known as the Manse, was erected upon this lot
the county seat

subject of building a new church
had been under consideration for some time,
and a fund started for this purpose. This
culminated in the purchase of several lots at
in

1880.

The

the corner of Fourth and Market streets, and
the erection of the present handsome edifice,

which was completed in 1891. It is of Hummelstown brownstone. and is very complete
The
and beautiful in all its appointments.
Rev.
officers of the church at the time were
I.
M. Patterson, pastor trustees. William
Neal, H. V. White, C. A. Mover, S. A. Wilson,
L. Runyon elders, William Neal, C. A. Mover,
:

;

Dr.

Schuyler, C. G. Barkley.

The

building

143

committee consisted of C. W. Miller and L. E.
Waller. The last service was held in the old

church on Sunday, June 7, 1891, and on June
nth the new church was dedicated, and without a debt. A large pipe organ was put in at
this time.

The old brick church was used successively
as a chewing gum factory, a printing office
and for other purposes until purchased in 1903
by F. G. Yorks, who tore it down and erected
there the stately mansion that is one of the
ornaments of Bloomsburg.
At the time of the dedication of the present
church the membership was 136, now it is 448,
and the Sunday school has an enrollment of
C. W. Miller,
319. The present officers are
W. L. White, R. J. Ruhl, W. B. Sutliff, A. N.
:

Yost, elders; W. H. Brower, clerk; Arthur
S. Clay, R. J. Ruhl, M. K. Yorks, trustees M.
Milleisen, treasurer; W. H. Eyer, secretary.
The superintendent of the Sunday school is
Prof. W. B. Sutliff.
On July 13, 1914, Rev. D. J. Waller, Jr., son
of the former pastor, and principal of the
State Normal School, delivered the dedicatory
address at the laying of the cornerstone of the
Sunday school building, which will be a model
;

and
utility, sanitation, convenience
It is 40 by 80 feet, connected with the

Hummelstown
It

sand dollars.
mittee are

Frank

church

constructed of
brownstone, to correspond with
is estimated to cost thirty thouComposing the building com-

by a wing 28 by 54
the church.

and

beauty.

Arthur

feet,

S. Clay,

David

Pursel,

John Lewis Moyer,
Waller, Jr., and

The treasurer of the building fund is Robert J. Ruhl the architect of
the building, George E. Savage, of Philadelthe contractor and builder, Aaron C.
phia
Hiester V. White.

;

Jury, Bloomsburg.

Metlwdists

One

of the most imposing edifices in this
of the State is the First Methodist
Episcopal church of Bloomsburg, at Market
and Third streets. Massive in construction
section

and artistic in design, it is a religious home
of which the congregation may well feel proud.
The first Methodist service was held in the
Episcopal church in Bloomsburg in 1829 by
Rev. George Lane of Berwick. Rev. Wesley
Howe, stationed at Berwick in 1831, preached
occasionally in the churches in Centre township and at Bloomsburg, and in the latter part
of that year exchanged with Rev. Alem Brittain, who preached to a large audience in the
This was the beBloom.sburg schoolhouse.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

144

ginning of regular services here, and in the
tollowing year a class was formed, which included Dr. Harman Gearhart, William Paul,

Shannon, Delilah Barton and others.
Preaching was sometimes held in the schoolhouse, and when the attendance was small in
the carpenter shop of William Paul, on Market, between First and Second streets.
In 1835 a frame church was built on Third
Jesse

being replaced in 1857 by a brick strucThe
dedicated by Bishop Levi Scott.
pastor at that time was Rev. George Warren.
will
the
of
this
church
be
list of
pastors
found in the previous chapter on religious denominations of the county. Most of them up
to 1862 were in charge of other churches in
At present
addition to that of Bloomsburg.
it is a charge by itself.
Pastors exclusively in charge of the BloomsRevs. D. C. John,
burg Church have been
R. E. Wilson, J. A. Price, J. A. Melick, B. H.
street,

ture,

at the time of the building
rell, J.

named

—

building of a larger church very necessary,
and steps were taken looking towards that end.
The lots between the church lot and Market
street were purchased, and during the pastorate
of Rev. B. C. Conner active measures were
adopted and the new church scheme culmiin the fall of 1895, and
May 2, 1896, the cornerstone was
contract for the stone work had
been awarded to Thomas Evans, of Danville.
The walls were about completed when, on Aug.
24, i8q6. Mr. Evans accidentally fell from the
northeast corner to the ground, a distance of
stained
about thirty feet, and was killed.
glass window, the gift of his workmen, marks
fell.
he
the point where
The new church was dedicated on Sunday.
It
Sept. iq, i8o7, with imposing ceremonies.

Ground was broken

on Sunday,
laid.

;

secretary; Fred Holmes, official board
treasurer; F. B. Hartman, Sunday school
The church membership in
superintendent.
1913 is 1.036, and of the Sunday school, 1,465.
cial

Baptist Church

Among

the several congregations of

which contemplate new church homes

town
in the

near future is the Baptist congregation, whose
present edifice is located on Third between
Iron and Catherine streets. Established fiftyfive years ago at the same location, the church
has had a steady, substantial growth, and at
different times, to satisfy the growing demands
of the congregation, improvements have been

made

church structure, but at the presagain inadequate to the needs.
The parsonage of the church is located on
to the
it

First street.

The

Cor-

Brown,

The pastors of this church since Rev. F. B.
Riddle, 1886, have been: S. M. Frost, 188688; S. W. Sears, 18S9-91 W. G. Ferguson,
1892-94; B. C. Conner, 1895-99; ^^ M- Fry^iiiger, 1900-02; W. P. Eveland, 1903-05 P. F.
Eyer, 1905 M. L. Ganoe, 1906-07; E. R. Heckman, 1907 to the present.
The officers are as follows: J. C. Brown,
president of trustees W. R. Kocher, secretary ;
Dr. J. J. Brown, treasurer; C. H. Kline, finan-

ent day

nated.

M. P. Lutz, C. C. Peacock, L. E.
hary, W. R.
Ringrose, S. C. Creasy. The building commit-

was during the pastorate of the

that the present commodious parsonage was purchased 1884. After that date
the rapid growth of the congregation made the
last

J. J.

tee consisted of Messrs. J. C. Brown,
Moyer,
Peacock, Correll, W. R. Kocher. The pastor
was Rev. B. C. Conner.

Crever, X. S. Buckingham, J. H. McGarragh,
E. H. Yocum,
J. S. Mc]\Iurray, M. L. Smyser,
John Donahue, D. S. Monroe, F. B. Riddle, up
to 1886.

were:

Brown, L. N. Moyer, Dr.

first efTorts to

establish the Baptist faith

Bloomsburg were made in 1840 by Rev. J.
Green Miles, who preached in the Methodist
church once and in the union meetinghouse
six times. The next minister to come was Rev.
in

built of Elk Run graystone, trimmed with
Indiana limestone, and cost S65.000. It is one
of the largest and finest church edifices in this

Hall, of Berwick, who preached
in 1843 and baptized John Snyder
creek
in January of that year. This
Fishing
was the first immersion in the town. For some
years afterward services were held at various
places in Bloomsburg bv Revs. Joseph B. MorIn 1858 Rev. J. R.
ris and A. D. Nichols'.
Shanafelts. of Berwick, began to preach once

section, having a seating capacity of 1.200 in
the auditorium, and bv opening the glass partition between that and the Sunday school room
800 more can be seated. The large stained
glass window at the front, and the fine pipe
or?an. were the gifts of Mrs. Freas Brown.
The other windows were contributed by classes
and individuals. The trustees of the church

than a year a house of worship was dedicated.
This structure, with many alterations, is the
one at present in use.
The church was organized with Martin C.
Woodward as deacon; John Snyder, clerk;
Daniel Breece. treasurer and with nineteen
members on the roll. They were: Martin C.

William

two sermons
in

in three

weeks

in the

courthouse, and in less

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

145

Woodward, Sarah J. Woodward, Isaac Tyler,
Susan Tyler, Harriet Roan, Lena Fidler, Sarah
A. Phillips, John Snyder, Richard Edwards,
Martha Edwards, Daniel Breece, Robert Roan,
Elizabeth Cadman, Maria Logan, Margaret
Derr, Mary A. Breece, Lucy Cosper, Mary N.

Columba. The pastoral residence adjoinwas bought in 1883. Fathers O'Brien,
Reilly, Clarke and McCann were successive
pastors until 1889. Father J. R. Murphy succeeded Father McCann, and was followed in
1910 by Rev. Father E. A. Burhard, the pres-

Powell, Mahala Brittain.
Mr. Shanafelts resigned after a three years'
Revs.
ministry and his successors have been
P. Tustin, C. W.
J. G. Penny, G. W. Scott, J.
Smith, D. J. R. Strayer, and again, in 1885,
Rev. J. P. Tustin. Rev. W. T. Galloway came
in 1888 and during his term the church was
Subsequent
improved at a cost of $1,100.
Rev. George Weeks, 1892pastors have been
Rev. J.
M.
William
Rev.
Tinker,
1896-97;
95;
D. Smith, 1898-1903; Rev. W. M. Tinker,
1903-06; Rev. R. G. Smith, 1906-10; and the
present pastor, Rev. T. E. Jepson, who came
In 1903 further improvements were
in 191 1.
made to the church, and in 1913 the Sunday
school room was enlarged.
Rev. T. E. Jepson, pastor of the church, is
one of the youngest veterans of the Civil war
in the State, having enlisted as a drummer boy
at the age of twelve.
The present officers are
Deacons, C. B.
Edwards, T. E. Hyde, M. E. Stackhouse,
H.
Dr.
Bierman, W.
James Sterner; trustees.
C. Johnston, John Shultz, James Reeser,
Franklin Keller clerk, T. V. Gunter treasurer,
H. R. Kahler.

ent incumbent.

;

St.

ing

The present handsome brick church was
erected in 1913, and dedicated on Oct. 12th of
that year.
The brick residence on the corner
of Third and Iron streets was removed seventy
the
feet to
west and on its site the new church
was built. The residence is used as a rectory.
The new church is 43 by 85 feet, and the total
cost of the building and furnishings was over
si.xteen

The

first

religious services held in

Blooms-

of the Roman
Catholic Church were in the days of the construction of the Pennsylvania canal, the workritual

men on which were mostly

Irish

Catholics.

Father Fitzpatrick of Milton officiated at difIn 1844
ferent times during this period.
Father Fitzsimmons held Mass on several

workmen who

erected the

occasions for the
These services
Bloomsburg iron furnaces.
were held at the home of Michael Casey on
Iron street, near the canal, every month, but
the floating population departed and the remainder was too small to support a pastor.
From then until 1874 a congregation was
slowly collected under the ministrations of

Fathers Sherdon, Murray, McGinnis, Smith
and Noonan, from Sunbury; and Schleuter,

from Danville.
Finallv the stone church once occupied by
the Primitive Methodists, on Third, between
Iron and Center streets, was purchased, rebuilt and rededicated under the protection of
10

Improvements

Evangelicals
of the

Evangelical Association in March, 1873, decided to occupy Bloomsburg as a mission and
place it under the care of Rev. R. C. Bowersox, together with several other points. Services had been held in the "Port Noble" schoolhouse in 1867 by Rev. U. W. Harris, and a
class formed with George Rishel as leader.

Other members were Joseph Garrison, Henry
Garrison, Elijah Strohm and Tobias Henry.
Regular services had been held after that, but

was not

till

1880 that the congregation

worshipped in their own house, built on a lot
purchased in 1873. Bishop Thomas Bowman,

Catholics

burg agreeably to the

dollars.

The Central Pennsylvania Conference

Roman

thousand

the rectory, pavements and the grounds totaled
a cost of over four thousand more.

himself a native of Briarcreek township, dedicated the completed building on Dec. nth.
Revs.
Pastors of this church have been
R. C. Bowersox, 1873-74; J. N. Irvine, 187576; A. W. Sheuberger, J. S. Hertz, 1877; G.
W. Hunter, 1878-79: L. K. Harris, 1879-80;
S. P. Rehmer, 1882-84;
S. E. Davis, 1880-81
H. W. Buck, 1885-88; J. F. Shultz, 1888-89;
A. W. Swengle, C. W. Hunter, 1889-90; C. L.
Sones, 1890-93 J. Womeldorf 1893-95 G. W.
:

;

Currin, 1895-99; J. W. Messenger, 1899-1900;
J. W. Bentz, 1900-03; J. Shambach, 1903-07;
E. B. Bailey, 1907- 11 and Rev. S. E. Koontz,
the present pastor, who came to the parish in
;

1911.

During 1894 the congregation became known
owing to

as the L^nited Evangelical Church,
the denominational change of name.

In 1898
the present parsonage on Fourth street was
erected.

The church has made remarkable
financially

and

spiritually,

strides

and recently the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

146

mortgage on the parsonage was entirely paid,
freeing the church completely of debt.

Church of Christ
a
Starting out a few years ago with only
few members who held regular meetings in a
the
room over the Hess jewelry store,
congregation of the Church of Christ has grown
lot
corner
a
own
now
until
large
they
rapidly
at Fourth and West streets and occupy a
handsome frame structure built upon the West

Intervening between
these two extremes, however, there were years
of struggle and toil, the results of which the
congregation is now reaping. After purchassmall rude
ing the present lot they built a
structure on Fourth street in which they met
until it proved to be inadequate to meet the
demands of the congregation, so the present
street

side of

structure

was

the

lot.

erected.

This church was organized March lo, 1902,
the first pastor being Rev. R. H. Sawtelle, of
the Stillwater Church. He was succeeded in
1904 bv Rev. G. C. Zeigler. Following pastors
have been Revs. H. R. Bixell, 1910-12; H. H.
Carter, 1912-14; and C. V. Huffer, the present pastor. The present officers of the church
are: G. G. Baker, A. M. Stevens, W. BrookC. D. Folling, J. W. Mordan, A. L. Walter,
mer, O. W. Ashworth, Charles Alunson.
Pentecostal Church

The Eighth Street Mission Church was
erected in 1893 by W. B. Cummings, and was
On July
first called the Methodist Mission.
as the Pentecostal
9, 1908, it was organized
Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. H. G.
Trumbauer as pastor. He served until July,
call elsewhere, and
1912, when he accepted a
Rev. H. N. Haas, who bewas succeeded
by
on April

his pastorate

gan

1913.

A. M. E. Church

were:

officers elected

first

Rev. D.

Wal-

president; W. H. Brooke, vice president; A. N. Yost, secretary; W. B. Cummings,
corresponding secretary E. B. Tustin, treasRooms were secured in the second and
urer.
third floors of the Dentler building, and inler, Jr.,

;

cluded a meeting hall, reading and game rooms,
which were conveniently fitted up and nicely
furnished.
In 1899 the William Xeal property was purchased and rearranged for the use of the asso-

Dr. Waller was president until 1894,
were Dr. J. P. Welsh, S. C.
W. L.
Creasy, F. N. Turner, C. H. Albert and

ciation.

and

his successors

White. The successive secretaries were B. F.
Armstrong, C. E. Kesty, C. D. Lynn, B. F.
Armstrong, U. G. Morgain, A. E. Barton and
W. H. Walters.
Excellent work was done, but the financial
warrant a consupport was not sufficient to
tinuance, so in December, 1905, an offer having been

made

for the purchase of the prop-

was sold to Caldwell Consistory for
$12,000, and the association suspended April
I,
They then purchased from J. L.
1906.
Dillon the Phillips lot, on Market street, next
to the post office, for $8,000, and in .-Xpril,
feet depth to
1906, sold 4 feet front and 90
the First National Bank for $1,500. The reerty,

mainder of the

lot is still

ciation, but is vacant,

diate prospect of
C. A. purposes.

its

YOUNG women's

owned by

and there

being utilized

the Assono immefor Y. M.

CHRISTI.\N .\SS0CI.\TI0X

A power for good in the life of Bloomsburg
was the Young W'omen's Christian Association,

which, organized several years ago, enin doing for the girls

deavored and succeeded

of the town what the Young Men's Christian
Association did for the men. Not only was the
lives given careful
religious part of the girls'
direction, but classes in practical subjects

were

The African Methodist Episcopal Church conducted, the better preparing them for fuwas organized in 1870. Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr., ture careers. Located in the Evans building,

near
gave the building site on First street,
Market, and Mrs. Edgar donated the lumber
Rev.
was
The first pastor
for the building.
John Henson, who had been a slave at one
His successor was Rev. William West.
time.
The present pastor is Rev. W. T. Watson, who
also has charge of the Danville Church.

YOUNG men's
The Y. M.
ized

Nov.

CHRISTI.AN .\SS0CI.\TI0N

C. A. of

16, 1890, in

Bloomsburg was organHartman's hall, and the

the Association succeeded in getting close to
a large number of the girls of the community

and the work has without doubt
print.

Many

social

affairs given

left

its

im-

under the

direction of the Association aided mightily in
maintaining interest. Unfortunately the work

the
lagged for want of financial support, and
E. Wilorganization disbanded. Mrs. George
bur was the organizer and the leading spirit
during its existence.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
YOUNG MEN

CLUB

347

E. P. Lutz, L. B. Rupert and S. Mendenhall.
committee composed of Messrs. Waller, Wit-

A
This club

a development of the Bible class

of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, which
At a banquet in
started with five members.
19 1 3 the proposition was made to organize a
club for young men of the town, regardless
of religious affiliation, who were without a
proper place for social meetings and amusements. The result was the formation of the

Young Men's

Club, which has grown in 1914
118, with an average age
of twenty-five years, and has become a power
In the latter
for good in the community.
year they rented the old office of Col. John G.
to a

membership of

Freeze, on Center street, near Third, where
they have a library, reading room, game and
D. *L. Bomsmoking room. The officers are
:

boy, president S. J. Johnston, vice president
W. E. Shafifer, secretary Howard Bomboy,
treasurer.
Any young man is eligible for
membership and the monthly dues are very
low.
It is under the direct care of the Lutheran Brotherhood.
;

;

ROSEMONT CEMETERY
The Rosemont Cemetery Company was

or-

ganized by a number of leading citizens in 1854.
Prior to that time there were burial grounds on
several of the church properties. The Episcopalians used their grounds up to the time of
the erection of the present stone church, its
predecessor, the brick church, then standing
on the site of the rectory, up to 1868. Where
the Presbyterian manse now is their church, a

man and

B. Rupert was appointed to select a
for the cemetery. They reported, and at
a meeting of the stockholders, Nov. 9, 1854,
'the hill north of the town, and immediately
site

D. Snyder was the
it," was selected.
president, and E. P. Lutz the first secreL.
B.
tary.
Rupert succeeded Snyder, and Mr.
Waller was elected president in 1856, and continued to serve until 1893, when Colonel Freeze
was chosen and so acted up to the time of his
death in 1913, when Frank Ikeler was elected.
The Soldiers' Circle was donated May 2,
1862. In 1888 additional land was purchased
from the Bloomsburg Iron Company, and other
lands were added at various times. Improvements have been made by the erection of a
sexton's lodge and a superintendent's office, at
either side of the entrance by a fountain and
by a brick pavement from the entrance to the
In 1895 a large tract of land
top of the liill.
up the Light Street road was purchased, and
adjoining
first

;

named New Rosemont, but very few interments have been made there, probably on account of the location, being up a long hill.
In 1914 thirty acres were bought by the company along the road between Bloomsburg and
Espy, and a new cemetery has been laid out,
which will no doubt be needetl in the near
future, owing to the crowded condition of
Rosemont. The present officers of the com-

Frank Ikeler, president C. L.
Pensyl, secretary; W. H. Hidlay, treasurer;
W. R. Ringrose, superintendent other directors, G. G. Baker, J. W. Harman, W. E. Shaffer, T. L. Smith. "J. G. Quick. C. A. Kleim,
P. K. \'annatta.
Mr. Ringrose has been superintendent since
He is the first one in that position who
1902.
has given his entire time to the care of the
pany are

;

frame building, stood, and the surrounding
grounds were used by them as a cemetery. A
number of graves were in the Methodist lot,
and the Welsh Baptists also buried around their
church, which stood on the site of Paul E.
Wirt's mansion. The Lutherans and German grounds, and under him they have been greatly
Reformed congregations owned jointly the lot improved. When he assumed the office the
on First and Center streets where their union company had a debt of $5,500. This was paid
church stood. The church was torn down many off, and $5,000 additional has been expended
years ago, but the graves still remain, in a dilap- for more land and for betterments, under the
When the other grounds direction of the efficient board of directors.
idated condition.
named were needed for other purposes the dead
were removed to Rosemont.
.\MUSEMENT HOUSES
The first minutes of the meetings of the
board of directors of the Rosemont Cemetery
The Bloomsburg Opera House was built in
Companv are dated June 1 1 1854, when a meet- 1874 by B. H. \'annatta and Edward Rawlings.
ing was held at the home of Daniel Snyder, Sr., At that time it was far ahead of any public
those present being Mr. Snyder, Daniel Melick, hall the town had ever had. its predecessors
Jesse Shannon, Erastus Barton, Rev. William having l)een merely rooms on the upper floors
Weaver and Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr. The first of store buildings. Snyder's hall, in the buildboard of directors consisted of those gentle- ing now occupied bythe H. B. Sharpless hardmen and Anthony Witman, Bernard Rupert, ware store and the City Cafe, and Hartman's
.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

148

on the third floor of what is now the Elks'
were the leading ones. Neither had
a stage. The opera house was conducted by
the lessees of the owners until 1876, when it
passed to the ownership of I. W. McKelvy,
hall,

building,

whose lessees operated it until 1895. Then P.
A. Evans and J. R. Fowler bought it, and the
latter managed it until Mr. Evans's death, when
his half interest passed to his daughter, the
wife of Dr. J. S. John.
few years later Mr.

Fowler

died,

and Dr. John purchased

his inter-

Neal, John R. Moyer, L. B. Rupert, Elias Mendenhall, William Sloan, Joseph W. Hendershott, A. J. Sloan, Robert F. Clark, Philip.

Unangst, John M. Chamberlin, David Lowenberg, Dr. Jacob Schuyler, John K. Grotz, I. S.
Kuhn, J. J, Brower, Issachar Evans, A. J.
Evans, Col. Samuel Knorr, M. C. Sloan, John
A. Funston, James K. Eyer, Joseph Sharpless,
Andrew Rupert, E. P. Lutz, C. F. Knapp, John
Wolf, Senator Charles R. Buckalew, Judge
William Elwell, Dr. J. B. McKelvy, Isaiah W.
McKelvy, Rev. J. P. Tustin, H. J. Clark, E. R.

The auditorium was much improved, the
est.
stage was enlarged and a gallery built, and the Drinker, Charles G. Barkley, C. B. Brockway,
name changed to the Columbia Theatre. It M. S. Appleman, Josiah Furman, G. W. Corv^fas run by lessees until September, 1914, when
rell, P. S. Harman, Robert Cathcart, Peter BillDr. John assumed the management.
The Neiv Lyric is an attractive moving picture house in the L. T. Sharpless building.

The

first floor

was

rebuilt for this purpose,

a liberal patronage.

The Victoria, built by L. J. Chamberlin, of
Shamokin, and opened early in 1914, is one of
the handsomest picture houses in this section,
costing about $25,000, and with a seating caIt is up to date in every
pacity of 1,200.
respect.
J. W. Earned is the manager.
Three other moving picture rooms have been
opened, at various times, but succumbed after
a short run.
The Midway, owned by Thomas B. Moore
and H. J. Achenbach, opened in 1906, is an
amusement hall that has met the public wants
various ways. It has been used as a bowling alley, billiard room, dance hall, for poultry
exhibitions, industrial fairs and the like. The
building is well adapted to its uses, and its
motto, "A nice place for nice people," has
always been well maintained by the manage-

ment.

as well as

many

others.

and

opened in 1911 by L. T. Sharpless and W. W.
Fagely, who have made it a popular place of
amusement.
The Arcade was the next bidder for public
favor.
It is in what was the furniture store
of W. J. Correll & Co., and was opened in
19 3 with H. B. Correll as manager. It enjoys

myer, William Snyder, Gen. W. H. Ent, George
Hassert, Henry Rosenstock, B. F. Hartman,

BRASS B.\NDS

For many years Bloomsburg has had at least
one brass band. Before the Civil war there
were two, and from these one was organized
and went to the war with the Iron Guards. In
1865 at a citizens' meeting a subscription w'as
taken up, and W. H. Gilmore was authorized
to go to Harrisburg and purchase instruments
for a band organized at that time, with John

Hower

as leader.
In 1871 the Bloomsburg Band was started
with T. L. Gunton as president, and A. W.
Monroe as leader. In 1884 the band obtained
a charter.
It has had a number of leaders,

among them Davis Brooks, who served faithThe most notable one
fully for many years.
was F. H. Losey, who afterwards attained
prominence as a bandmaster and composer.
The band has had its ups and downs, but
through it all T. L. Gunton, its first and only
president and manager, has never wavered,
and now has the satisfaction of having a fine
band of about thirty members, mostly young
men, well equipped, a credit to the town and to
themselves, as the result of his persistence.
The present leader is Clarence G. Herr.
In 1888 William H. Gilmore organized a

band and equipped it with uniforms and instruments. It was known as Gilmore's Band, and
Among those who were prominent and active Thomas Metherel was the leader. After doing
citizens in the earlier davs, and who have gone good service for five years the organization was
to the "great beyond." the descendants of discontinued in iSq"?, and the town had but one
many of whom are now among the representa- band for the next fourteen years.
The Citizens' Band was organized in April,
tive citizens of the town, were Dr. Davi'd Scott,
Dr. John Ramsay, Daniel Snvder, Sr.. William TOO/, with eleven members, who had left the
Robison, Philip Chrisman, William McKelvv. Bloomsburg Band. Charles P. Elwell was the
Rev. D. J. Waller, Sr.. William Hurlev. Caleb bandmaster, and a few months later E. M. SavBarton, EH Barton, Elisha Barton, William idge became manager.
Through Professor
OLD CITIZENS OF P.LOOMSBURG

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Elwell's efforts additional

members were

se-

cured among the more experienced players,
until it numbered nearly thirty men.
Rapid
progress was made under his direction, and
the band established a high reputation as one

of the best musical organizations in this sec-

tion.

retired in 19 lO,

and Frank Hower

served as leader for a time, when he was succeeded by L. I.. James, the present efficient
director.

FERNVILLE
Fernville, although a suburb of Bloomsburg,
in Hemlock township, situated just across
Fishing creek at the Hemlock bridge at Railroad street. The land on which it stands for-

149

merly belonged to the Bloomsburg Iron Company and later was purchased by E. R. and
F. P. Drinker, who laid out the level part of
it in town lots about 1890.
County Commissioner C. E. Welliver erected the third house
that was built there. The village contains about
three
fifty-five houses. The population is about
Fernville is in the south election
hundred.
has
about
and
district of Hemlock township
good schoolhouse furseventy-five voters.
nishes educational quarters for the cliildren in
the grades, while some attend the Bloomsburg
high school or the normal.
Here are located the dairy farms of J. G.

Quick and H.

Traub, and the greenhouses

of George Kressler.

CHAPTER XV
BERWICK AND WEST BERWICK
Nature prepared the site of Berwick and
has established upon the spot an ideal

man

modern industrial community of almost 14,000
souls. The first settlers considered it a logical
and

site,

their

wisdom has been proved by

development of the town.
When the borough was laid out the limits
were made one mile each way, but this restricted area has been overflown, and the rethe

subsequent

sult is the existence of three growing suburbs,
which absorb the overflow in part, the borough
of Nescopeck, in Luzerne county, caring for

the remainder.
With the territorial expansion which followed the industrial development of Berwick,
the populated area was extended across the
west line of the town, and West Berwick came
into being, with a population of 5,512; on the
north line grew up the suburb of North Berwick, in Briarcreek township, with a popula1,430; East Berwick, lying in Salem
township, Luzerne county, is actually a part
of Berwick and holds a population of 1,350;
while Nescopeck, just across the Susquehanna in Luzerne county, could well be termed
South Berwick, with a population of 1,578.
Add to this the population of Berwick proper,
and we have a total of 15,227 persons dependent in a great measure upon the car
works, shops and foundries of Greater Ber-

tion of

wick.

The expansion

of Berwick has but partially
met the growing demands of the people, not
to
realize
failure
from
the necessity, but be-

cause of the growth setting the pace for the
promoters of improvements and expansion.
Within the ten years previous to 1914 fiftythree new streets, totaling a length of twentythree miles, have been laid out ten miles have
been graded, two miles paved with brick, and
sixteen miles of sidewalks laid. Twenty-eight
miles of new water mains have been laid, and
eleven miles of gas mains.
;

Upon the public schools the sum of $105,000
has been expended, while over $60,000 has
been spent upon modern sewers. Part of this
amount has come from the American Car and
Foundry Company, a history of which is
found further on, the company employing during working seasons at full capacity 6,200
men, to whom is paid out the monthly sum
Besides this, the
of $260,000 in wages.
monthly wage list of the Baer Silk Mills, the
smaller factories and shops, and the numerous
stores and mercantile establishments, form a
total of no mean proportions, unequaled by
any other town in Columbia county.
With this fitting introduction to the industrial city we will turn backward to the little
village of Berwick, or "Owensville," the
nucleus of the present city.
FOUNDING OF THE TOWN

When

the land office was opened by the
1769 for the sale of the estate of
Pennsylvania, Evan Owen, a member of the
of
Friends, was one of the first to
Society

Penns

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

150

take advantage of the opportunity to obtain
a home in the new world. He made his first
journey of reconnoissance with Benjamin
Doan and others in 1772, coming from Harris'
Ferry in a "Durham" boat, and stopping at
the mouth of Fishing creek, but the troublous
times caused him to return to a more civilized
In 1780, eight yeans later, he came
locality.
back and selected as a permanent residence
the point opposite the mouth of Xescopeck
He himself did not settle here until
creek.
a period of six years had intervened. In the

meantime John and Robert Brown were induced by Owen to go to his lands and make
a home.
The Browns and their families made the
journey overland to Catawissa, where the
Quakers had already a thriving settlement, in
the period between 1780 and 1787. From that
village they went in canoes to the falls of
Nescopeck, landed on the site of Berwick and
located their separate allotments of land. During the first year they fastened treetops together, covering them with bark, and thus
made shelters for the period between their
arrival and the harvesting of the simple crops
of the virgin soil. The following year more
substantial homes of logs were erected, as the
farming land had proved to be of good quality.
The influx of actual settlers and the admirable site of the settlement induced Owen to
The act
lay out a permanent town in 1786.

The location, two hundred
a wise one.
above the river, with the opening in the
hills southward offering an outlet to the older
settlements, and the ample supply of fuel and
was

feet

water, combined with the picturesqueness of
the surroundings, offered a site that has demonstrated its suitability through all the following years.

The first settler to erect a dwelling was
John Brown, who built on the south side of
Front street, near Market, Robert Brown
Evan Owen
locating on the opposite side.
himself built a house on the site of the present
"St. Charles Hotel," while Samuel Jackson, a
took the opposite corner.
brother-in-law,
Josiah Jackson, brother of Samuel, opened
the first hat shop on Front street, below
Market.
James Evans, a millwright. John

Smith and Henry Traugh complete the
of the

list

first settlers.

Owen made

an extended

trip

through the

lower counties of the State, selling lots in the
projected town, and was fairly successful.
James Stackhouse, a wealthy farmer of Bucks
county, came and built a home on Second
street.

planted the

first

orchard, which

was vigorous for many years after the incorporation of the town. Others who came
were Thomas Cole, James Herrin, Benjamin
Doan and Jacob Cooper.
At first the town was laid off into lots and
the streets marked by blazing trees.
From
these arboreal surroundings arose the names
of the streets Oak, Vine, Mulberry, Pine,
Chestnut and Walnut. At first the residents
called the town Owensville, but the Quaker
proprietor was modest and the name he gave
it was that of his old home in
England
Berwick-on-Tweed with the hyphenated attachment dropped. After the settlement of
the conflicting claims of Connecticut and
Pennsylvania part of the town plot was taken
from Owen and included in Salem township,

—

Luzerne county. This portion is now the site
of East Berwick.
In 1800, John Jones opened the first store
in the town on what is now the site of T. H.
Doan's hardware store.
In the course of
time travel through the town increased and
the necessity of taverns became evident. The
first one in the town was
opened in 1804, at
the comer of Second and Market streets, by
Brown.
He gave it the title of the
John
"Golden Lamb." John Jones was the next
and was succeeded by Abraham
Klotz and Frederick Nicely. During the lat-

proprietor,

ownership the place was known as the
"Cross Keys." Before the bridge was built
William Brien established a ferry and kept a
tavern at the site of the old bridge. As an
adjunct to this hostelry Richard Smith built
a log house below Brien's place, where he
carried on the vocations of shoemaking and
the distilling of a brand of "squirrel" whiskey.
Samuel F. Headley later kept a public house
at the comer of Front and
Mulberry streets,
which he called the "Stage Coach Inn." In 1805 a market house was erected in the
center of the street afterwards named from
It was supit, between Second and Third.
ported on large square pillars, the space beneath being adapted to the storage of wagons
ter's

and the protection of the horses. It was lighted
by small green glass "bull's-eyes," which gave
but little light and almost completely prevented ventilation. This building was devoted
to school purposes, preaching, public assemblies and elections, and most of the denomina-

tions of the present
this

day had their birth

humble and crudely

time the housewives of the village

tomed

At this
were accus-

built edifice.

to spend "washday" on the banks of
the river, and the whole year round they left

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
their iron kettles hanging along the trees that
fringed the shore.

The first children born in Berwick were
of Robert
John and Anne Brown, children
Brown (Anne was the wife of Jesse Bowman, deceased, and the first person married
The first church built was the
in Berwick).
C. Evans'
Quaker, a log building, where C.
The first lawyer was
residence now stands.
named Bancroft; first judge, John Cooper;
Mooreland and Beisswick; postdoctors,
schoolmaster, Isaac
master, William Brien
Holloway preachers, Carson and Painter.

151

brick houses replaced the simple log structures
of the pioneers and the village began to assume the aspect of a town. The first frame

dwelling built at this period, by Robert Brown,
stood on Front street until 1902, when it was
torn down, although still in a fair state of
The first brick house erected
preservation.
the town, by Honteter Seybert, in 1816,
It later
a tavern, named after himself.
received the name of "St. Charles." The present hotel of that name is built on the site of
the old one.
in

was

;

EARLY INDUSTRIES

ROADS AND BRIDGES

The

As time passed the necessity for adequate
roads to attract the patronage of the traveler
caused the founders of Berwick to apply to
the State for help. In 1787, Evan Owen was
of
appointed to superintend the construction
a State road from Nescopeck falls to the
Lehigh. Two years later the work was coma
pleted and the Indian trail supplanted by
the Suspassable road. On March 19, 1804,
quehanna & Lehigh Turnpike & Road Company was incorporated, and in 1805 the old
road was made over into a graded turnpike
at a great expense, both to the State and to

Andrew Shaner, of Berprivate capitalists.
wick, was one of the contractors, and Christian Bowman was the first traveler to make
the journey through to Easton.

The Susque-

hanna & Tioga Turnpike Road Company was
chartered in 1806 to build a road to the northern line of the State. This road was finally

completed to Towanda. Pa., in 1818.

Among

the projectors and stockholders were Nicholas
Seybert, Andrew Shaner, Jesse Bowman,

Jacob Mack, McKinney Buckalew and John

William Brien's ferry being inadequate for
the demands of the public,
company was formed, with
urer,

Brown, carpenter; Aquilla
Benjamin Doan, tailor;
Abel Dalby, chairmaker and painter Jonathan
Bush, dyer
Cooper, mason
Henry
Suit, coopers John
Starr, blacksmith;
;

;

President,

John Brown

Abram
;

in 1812 a bridge
the following oftreasMiller, Sr.

managers,

;

Silas

Engle,

Elisha Barton, Jr. Theodore Burr received the contract and completed

Thomas Bowman,

It was 1,260 feet long,
the bridge in 1814.
with piers of heavy planked timber, and cost
The
bridge formed the connecting
$52,435.
link for the highways, and a continuous route
was thus established between Towanda and
Easton. The position of Berwick at the junction of these two roads was of immense advantage, and she dated her growth and prosperity from the time of their construction. An
era of building was inaugurated. Frame and

;

Traugh, tanner;
Vallershamp, dentist;
Herman Inman, tinner; Sleppy & Co., gunsmiths
James Evans, wheelwright
;

Marshall,

Bastian.

ficers

force of the current in the Susquehanna
induced Evan Owen to build a gristmill on the
banks, in the hope of utilizing the waterpower, but the attempt resulted in failure.
John Jones was more successful in his establishment of a limekiln on the banks of the
river.
He obtained his raw material from a
ledge on the island that at that time existed in
the river near the Berwick side.
The site is
simply a sandbar now. The forge across the
river on Nescopeck creek added to the prosperity of Berwick somewhat during later
years, as did the foundry of George Mack,
located at Foundryville, about a mile north
of town.
The first assessment list gives these names
of the founders of the respective industries
and vocations in Berwick
John and Peter

;

silversmith

;

Roxanna Cartwright,

Stackhouse, butcher; Polly
Mullen, weaver; Samuel Herrin, cabinetmaker; Col. John Snyder, saddle and harness
maker John Jones, lime burner.
milliner;

;

Paul Thompson came to Berwick in 1798
and erected the first pottery for the manufacture of crocks, jugs and other coarse utensils, on the spot where the Methodist church
stands. He owned a flatboat and sold his
goods along the river. His son Hugh enlarged
the pottery and ran it till 1842, when his sons,

now

Joseph D. and Richard, took charge. Together
they operated the pottery on an extensive
scale until 1853, and then Joseph D. Thompson continued it alone until 1863, when he
closed the business, owing to lack of
for that kind of goods.

demand

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

152

Among the names that will be remembered
in connection with the history of Berwick
are these Dr. Samuel Headley, Honteter Sey:

bert, Paul Thompson, Richard Smith, Mr.
Davenport, Samuel Herrin, Josiah F. Beach,
Wm. Kitchen, Dr. A. B. Wilson, Dr. Jackson,
Dr. Langdon, Thos. Coles, Sebastian Seybert,
A. Miller, Sr., Robert Smith, Charles Snyder,
Joseph Stackhouse, Lawrence Ruch, Judge
Mack, Andrew Shiner, Jonathan Cooper, Hugh
Thompson, Thomas Richardson, William
Herrin, J. W. Dietrick, John McAnall, Hudson Owen, Michael Frantz, Frederick Nicely,
Jesse Bowman, and Mrs. Eckert, nearly all of
whom died at an extremely old age.
Dr. Samuel Headley was one of the largest landowners in Berwick. Where the rolling

now

mill

stands

was part of

his farm.

Mul-

berry street was once all in his orchard. He
also owned the land from Judge Kurtz's residence up to the county line and back as far as
Fifth street, as well as the old ferry landing
on this side of the river. Christian Kunkle
owned the ferry landing on the Nescopeck
side.

MAIL SERVICE, ANCIENT AND MODERN
Berwick appears as a post

first

road, beyond Berwick.

Philip

Ab-

through Berwick

in 1850.
postal service kept progress with the
growth of the town. At present there are five
rural routes starting from Berwick, and the
carrier service covers the city and the surrounding suburbs in a most satisfactory man-

The

ner.

Following is the list of postmasters at Berwick from the first: William Bryan (Brien),
i, 1801
John Snyder, Jan. i,
181 5 David E. Owen, Nov. 20, 1820; Thomas
C. Foster, June 5, 1821
Robert McCurdy,
Jan. I, 1824; Isaiah Bahl, March 9, 1837: C. B.

appointed Jan.

;

Bowman, March 9, 1S42; Stephen Mansfield,
May 16, 1845; M. E. Jackson, June 25, 1846;
William B. Gardner, April 9, 1849; Adrian
Van Houten, Aug. 13, 1850; Isaiah Bahl, May
26,
1853;
John J- McHenry, May 21,
1857; Levi F. Irwin, Oct. 28, 1857; John
Ruch, Aug. 17, 1858; E. G. Horn, April 22,
1867; John McAnall, Dec. 14, 1867; J. S.
Sanders, Dec. 20, 1867 John Ruch, March
17, 1869; Robert S. Bowman, Feb. 6, 1885;
Charles H. Dorr, May 18, 1893
Louis J.
Townsend, Oct. 8, 1895 Robert S. Bowman,
Dec. 20, 1899; J. U. Kurtz, Feb. 20, 1909;
Oscar E. Letteer, 1913.
;

village
that time the postmaster at WilkesBarre appointed a post rider and designated
certain houses in Nescopeck and Berwick as
In
places for the distribution of the mails.
1800 Jonathan Handcock carried the mail, and
several years later William Brien was appointed the first regular postmaster at Berwick. In 181 1 Conrad Teter was awarded a
government contract for establishing mail
coaches between Sunbury and Painted Post.
He transferred that portion of the route between Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre to Miller
Horton, who owned the first line of coaches
between these points. In 1824 Jesse Miller
and Louis Horton assumed control of a mail
route from Baltimore to Owego, by way of
new era was inHarrisburg and Sunbury.

1797.

Towanda

and George Root were also long connected with these routes of travel, the latter
driving a stage for more than forty years.
The first telegraph line was constructed

bott

;

THE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION
Perhaps the most extraordinary event of
the early history of Berwick was the explosion
of the steamboat "Susquehanna" in 1826.
The navigation of the Susquehanna had long
been an accomplished fact so far as rafting

and flatboating were concerned, but no attempt
had been made to operate power boats further
than the forks of the north and west branches,
with the exception of a few experiments in
the way of horse-driven "arks." But the disA
covery of steampower caused attention to be
Four-horse coaches, substantial, directed to the Susquehanna by parties interaugurated.
comfortable and attractive, rolled into Ber- ested in the then great traffic thereon, and it
wick every day. The crack of the driver's was deemed feasible to operate steamboats in
whip and the blast of his horn relieved the the trade. The Susquehanna had been deotherwise monotonous quiet of the village. clared a navigable highway in 1771, and a sum
John Jones, tavern keeper, farmer and lime of money appropriated for its improvement.
The steamboat "Codorus" was built at York
burner, also became a stage owner, operating
The journey to Haven in 1825 and launched in October of
a line of coaches to Easton.
that point then required two days.
Joshua that year. She was sixty feet long, nine feet
Dodson drove the first coach from Berwick wide, had a sheet iron hull, and drew seven
to Elmira, a week being required for the round inches of water unloaded. The hold was two
trip.
Joshua Kindy was toll collector on the and a half feet deep, two boilers supplied the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
steam for a ten-horsepower engine, and sevin the
enty persons could be carried, thirty
cabin and forty on deck. Under the command
of Capt. John Elgar the boat made a successful trip up the Susquehanna from Harrisburg
in March and April, 1826, up to Binghamton,

New

York.

success of the "Codorus" caused the
owners of the "Susquehanna,'" a larger boat,
The "Susquehanna,"
to attempt the trip.
in
Captain Collins commanding, was built

The

four1825 at Baltimore, was eighty feet long,
teen feet wide, drew twenty inches when
in
feet
diamenine
an
iron
wheel,
empty, had
a
ter, as well as an iron hull, was operated by

ten-horsepower engine, had two boilers, and
accommodations for almost two hundred persons. Her speed was ten miles an hour. The
first trip was made in 1826, and on the afternoon of May 3d of that year an attempt was

made

to pass the

ways, while the dead were laid at rest in the
cemetery near the present Berwick Store.

Some of the victims of the explosion were
taken to the old brick building at the corner of
Front and Mulberry

I thought a cannon
and shot my head off." Other
fortunate passengers on the ill-fated boat were
Christian Brobst of Catawissa, William \\'oodside, William Colt and Sheriff Underwood of
Danville, and John Foster, ^^^illiam G. Hurand Isaiah Barton of Bloomsburg. The
injured were borne to a warehouse near the
river bank and tenderly cared for by the people of Berwick, the uninjured went to their

eral yards into the water.

had been

tley

fired,

which was

at that

The house now owned by
Anne Jackson was also opened to the
were
who
injured,
given every attention by her
floor to this day.

Mrs.

Near the entrance gate of the cemepeople.
tery are the graves of the two principal victims
of the explosion, the tombstones being of sandstone, crudely carved with quaint lettering and
ornamentation, the inscriptions being as follows

CALEB WHITMANS— Aged

24 Yrs.

This dust and ruin that remain

Berwick bridge now stands.

caped with little injury was Col. Joseph Paxton, of Rupert, who thus described the accident in an article printed in a Danville paper: "With our pitch pine we succeeded in
raising a full head of steam, and set off in
The strength
fine style to ascend the rapids.
of the current soon checked our headway, and
the boat, flanking towards the right bank of
I stood on the forthe river, struck a rock.
ward deck with a long ash pole in my hand,
and was in the act of placing it in the water
hoping to steady her, when the explosion took
Two young men standing near were
place.
blown high into the air, and I was hurled sev-

streets,

time a public tavern.
The ballroom on the
second floor was covered with bales of cotton
saturated with oil and in this the suft'erers
were rolled. The stains of the oil are on the

Nescopeck rapids, where the

The current being too swift, the captain allowed the boat to
drift down until she stranded on the rocks
near the shore, about the center of the channel below the present bridge. This caused the
stoppage of the wheel, and as one of the crew
was holding down the safety valve, the strain
became too much for the crude boilers, and
one of them exploded. The boat was not seriously injured, but two men were instantly
killed and several scalded badly by the escapAmong the passengers who esing steam.

153

Are presious in his eyes,
These ruins shall be built again

And

all

that dust shall rise.

JOHN TURK— Aged
Farewell to
I rest
I

all

23 Yrs.

dearest

friends,

here from pain

hope when christ shall
To see you all again.

call

me hence

The attempt of the "Susquehanna" deterred
other boats and the navigation of the river was
abandoned for all time. The agitation for the
building of the canal was taken up afresh and
by 1828 sufficient funds had been accumulated
to

make

the project a success.

NORTH BRANCH CANAL

The

work on the Pennsylvania canal
system in the central portion of the State was
inaugurated at Berwick by the breaking of
ground, July 4, 1828. The occasion was made
one of iinposing ceremonial. A procession of
first

the societies and organizations of the town
and the local and visiting officials, headed by
Col. N. Hurlbut of Wilkes-Barre and William
G. Hurley of Bloomsburg, as marshals, paraded the streets towards their destination, the
point near the river bank selected for the first
all

operations of digging. First came Dr. Whipple, the chief engineer of the work, with two
assistants.
Next, Nathan Beach of Beach
Grove, holding the handles of a plow, the oxen
it
dragging
being driven by John Lockhart of
Salem.
Then followed Jesse Bowman of
Briarcreek and John L. Butler of WilkesAlexander
Barre,
pushing wheelbarrows
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

154

Jameson of Salem and Arnold Colt of WilkesBarre, carrying spades. The Berwick Infantry,
under Col. John Snyder, and the Luzerne
County Cornet Band, followed.
The first earth was thrown out by Gen.
Daniel Montgomery of Danville and Judge
Hollenback of Wilkes-Barre. After the ceremonies it was intended to have a dinner on the
river bank for all the crowd, but a severe

downpour prevented

this,

so the repast

was

served in the "Cross Keys Tavern," only part
of the assembly being provided for, although
the rooms of the tavern were crowded to the
utmost.
The building of the canal did much to increase the growth of the town, but it scarcely
its

improved

moral tone, for

in 1830,

when

the

first boat passed through, there were fourteen
drinking places in the village. After the open-

ing of the canal many of the workmen who
in the construction remained and
made their homes in Berwick, thus adding a
large Irish strain to the German of the first

had assisted

settlers.

When

was finally abandoned the
Lackawanna & Western Railroad

the canal

Dela-ware,

Company in 1904 filled up the bed, covering
It is inthe old locks of stone completely.
teresting to conjecture the opinions of the exthe
next
who
of
century
may uncover
plorers
these stone remains and find the old cornerstone at the bottom of a deep excavation.

As an illustration of the growth of Berwick,
brought about mainly by her manufactories, it
will be noted that the population in 1840 was
452; in 1850, but 486; in i860, it had only
reached 625; in 1870 the growth of the Jackson & Woodin Company had caused it to increase to 923, and by 1880, so rapid had been
the growth of the plant, the town's population
was 2,094. In 1890 the population was 2,701
;

1900

was 3,916; and
STORES

in 1910, 5,357.

AND BUILDINGS

the population gradually increased their
wants were correspondingly catered to by

storekeepers

and

opened the

store about 1800, and was soon
William Brien, at his hotel.

mechanics.

John

Jones

first

followed by
George Payne and Thomas Richardson came
from Boston in 1807 and opened mercantile
establishments, the former at the corner of
Market and Second streets, and the latter on
the west side of Second street, between Market and Mulberry.
Others who had business establishments in
the period between
1830 and 1886 were:
Matthew McDowell, J. & A. Miller, Wright &
Slocum, Robert McCurdy, J. & E. Leidy,
Stowers & Ellis, J. & J. Bowman, Clark, John
Deily, Samuel Scoville, Rittenhouse & Shuman, Headley, McNair & Co., and George

Lane.

BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS

RAILROADS

So great was the traffic attracted by the
canal that in 1858 the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg railroad was built through the county,
thus adding to the transportation facilities. In
1882 the North & West Branch railway became a factor of importance in the transportaIt is located on the opposite side
tion field.
of the river from Berwick, and is now part of

The last steam
the Pennsylvania system.
railroad to enter the town, the Susquehanna,

The

list of firms doing business ifi Berwick
914 is as follows
Department Stores Berwick Store Company, Philadelphia Bargain House, Joseph M.

Schain.

—

General Merchandise A. H. Baer, H. B.
Dodson, Garrison Bros., Harter & Son, Harter & White, M. C. Hetler, F. A. Hippensteel,
James Lee, J. A. Rhodes, J. M. Schain, S. L.
"Seesoltz, Shiner Bros., J. C. Stone, Williams
Bros., C. B. Wilson.

—

Bloomsburg & Berwick, was built in 1903.
Electric roads connect Berwick with Nescopeck, Bloomsburg, Danville, Catawissa, and
the smaller towns intervening.

Grocers S. Aimetti, Charles Battista, C. A.
Benscoter, Vitale Bevilacqua, Tohn Cordora,
Thomas Cretella, Daroczi & Kish, Bruce H.
Hartman, E. H. Harvey, M. W. Hicks, W. C.
Keller, A. Kromo, Alfonso Marsicano, I. Mit-

POPULATION

tleman, John C. Oberdorf, J. W. Roberts, Cosimo Sacco, F. M. Smith, M. G. Smith, S. S.
Smith, John Timbrell.
Hardware R. E. Benscoter, A. E. Brenner, Harvey T. Doan.
Cigars and Tobacco C. W. Bower, Eli Bull
& Co., George A. Confair, Diamond Cigar

An old history of 1847 states that Berwick
then contained about one hundred dwellings, a
Methodist church, an academy, several stores
and taverns, and had about eight hundred
habitants.

in-

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
W. F. McMichael, Oscar Thornton,
United Cigar Stores Co.
Druggists Clewell & Currin, Gould's Drug
Store, N. B. Shales, C. T. Steck, Edward A.
Steck, H. T. Waldner.
Confectioners Boston Candy Kitchen, H.
H. Brown, George Confair, B. D. Fenstermacher, John R. Gould, L. J. Manning, H. T.
Waldner.
Bakeries— Berwick Bakery, H. M. Fetterolf, W. C. Heckman. W. I. Herbine, Jantzen's Bakery.
Barbers E. Bickel, H. H. Brown, James
Canouse, D. E. Lewis, J. M. Pollock, W. I.
Store,

—

lenberger,
Raseley.

Learn's

— Louis Dauber, C. E. Trescott,
— W. Prutzman,
Res-

taurant,

Plicks'

Frank L. Wright, William

F. Boyer,

George E. Clemens, S. K. Heller, Edward
Schenke, H. S. Williams.
Five and Ten Cent Stores Robert W.
Harman, Sterling Store, F. W. Woolworth.

—

Florists— W. C. Brittain, D. W. Davis,
Dixon's Greenhouse, John A. Smethers &
Son.
Flour and Feed T. M. Bomboy, John C.
Crisman & Son, H. L. Harrison & Bro., T. J.

—

Garrison, Howard Greenly.
Furniture F. L. Distlehurst, Wilson Harter, James Tierson.
Jewelers S. E. Fenstermacher, W. D.

—
—

Hons, M. Sherman.

—

Ladies' Furnishings
Philadelphia Bargain
House, Bon Ton Bargain Store.
Liverymen Ralph Edwards, D. W. Mitchell & Son, H. O. Ruch, W. A. Sutliff, W. B.
Wright.
Lumber and Builders' Supplies Berwick
Lumber & Supply Co., Harry Fahringer, William Krug, W. I. Mansfield, T- W. Sitler.
Meat Markets— C. H. Belles, E. A. Hartman, A. Kromo, S. L. Seesoltz, C. B. Wil-

son.

—

Men's Furnishings Housenick & Co., Marx
Levy & Son, A. A. Lerch, Moss Clothing
Company.
Tailors—B. & B. Tailoring Co., Mike Brothler,

Bogard's Tailor Shop.

Millinery— Mrs. L.
Wakefield, Bon
B. De Voe.

Hertz,

Evans,

—
—

well, C. E. Sitler, J.

Sitler, Zeiser Bros.,

Zimmerman & Kendig.
HOTELS

One

of the handsomest hotels in central
is the Hotel Morton, Berwick,
of which George H. Morton is the proprietor.
The substantial brick building, with
seventy rooms, is located on the corner of
Front and Market streets, the site of the old
Cross Keys tavern built in early times by

Pennsylvania

John Jones.

The St. Charles Hotel, built on the site of
the original home of Evan Owen, the founder of Berwick, is now operated by John P.
Brenner, and is one of the best in the county.
Other hotels are the Aimetti, Algatt, Berwick, Central, Columbia, Exchange, Fedora,
Bishop, Fairman, Friedman, Hanover, Reiter,
Linden, Kupsky, Alarko, Morton, Rome,
Schangler, Sponenberg, Weiss, Susquehanna.

PROFESSIONAL

The

Berwick are Drs.
E. A. Alleman, J. H. Bowman, F. R. Clark,
Joseph Cohen, E. L. Davis, R. O. Davis, J. B.
Follmer, M. J. Freas, E. A. Glenn, W. H.
Ilensyl, P. H. Jamison, A. B. MacCrea, J. P.
Pfahler, C. T. Steck, R. E. Warntz.
The attorneys resident in Berwick are: R.
resident physicians in

O. Brockway, Conway W. Dickson, S. W.
Dickson, W. E. Elmes, James L. Evans, A. C.
Jackson, J. G. Jayne, W. S. Sharpless.
Dentists: Drs. Paul W. Eves, B. G. Kleintob, H. H. Long, C. E. Schweppenheiser.

Hart, Mrs. G. P.
Store, Miss E.
J.

S. Bruan, Joseph Badolato, L. Hofl:man, L. J. Manning,
A. B. Messersmith, R. O. Bower, H. H. Merrion & Co., The $1.98 Shoe Store.
Undertakers G. G. Baker, I. J. Hess &
Son, Kelchner, H. E. Walton.
Contractors D. B. Beck, John Heavener,
William Krug, W. J. Mansfield, H. E. Shot-

Ton Bargain

—
Photographers William
Fenstemacher.
Plumbers—
Clark, B.

House,

Styer.

—

Printing

Real Estate—
W. Dickson,
T.
Shoe Dealers— Martin Basch,

Shrader.
Blacksmiths

Joseph E. Moore.
Restaurants H.

155

BANKS
First National

—

Bank

L. Eshleman &
Org-\nization. During the summer of
J. J.
G. Fowler, O. W. George, Kirken- 1864 several informal meetings of the busidall & Brownson, Charles H. Smith.
ness men of Berwick, Pa., were held with the
Printers
Berwick Enterprise, B. F. Schol- object of taking advantage of the National

Son,

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

156

Bank Act passed by Congress Feb. 25, 1863,
and to give Berwick banking facilities which
After the preit had lacked up to that time.liminaries had been complied with, the articles
of association were drawn and signed by the
M. W. Jackson, P. M.
following gentlemen
Traugh. Jesse Bowman, M. M. Cooper, Fran:

Evans, F. Niceley,

cis

S. B.

Bowman, A.

Mil-

ler, W. H. Woodin, M. E. Jackson, William
Lamon, H. Lamon.
The request of the association to enter the

National Banking System by virtue of the
charter was granted by the comptroller of the
currency under the title of the First National
Bank of Berwick, Pa., No. 568, Sept. 21, 1864,
for a term of twenty years.
The first meeting of the stockholders was
held Sept. 21, 1864, and organized by electing Jesse Bowman president of the meeting,
and A. Miller, secretary. The stockholders
at this meeting elected the following gentleM. W. Jackson,
men to serve as directors
:

Jesse

Bowman,

M. Traugh, A.

Miller,

H. Woodin, Francis Evans, S. B. Bowman.
The board of directors elected by the stockholders held their first meeting the same day
(Sept. 21, 1864) and organized by the election
of M. W. Jackson to the office of president
and M. E. Jackson to the office of cashier.
The bank commenced business with a capital stock of $50,000, which was later increased
to $75,000, at which figure it has remained.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders, which was held in the banking rooms,
the first board of directors and officers were
At this time the bank showed the
reelected.
following condition

Resources

Bonds
Revenue Stamps

Treasury Notes

Due from Banks
Loans and Investments
Cash and Reserve

$50,000.00
150.00
5,000.00
4i-6i
12,891.09
43,747.25

$111,829.95
Liabilities

Capital
Circulation

Due

Banks

Deposits

$50,000.00
40,000.00
382.56
21,447.39

meeting S. C. Jayne was elected cashier,
which position he still holds. Mr. Jayne has
the distinction of sending as cashier of a national bank for a greater length of time than
probably any other cashier in the State of
this

Pennsylvania.

On ]\Iay 12, 1869, John W. Evans was
elected teller, resigning Nov. 30, 1875, to take
effect Jan. i, 1876.
At the annual meeting held in January,
W. Jackson was elected president;
Jayne, cashier; and B. F. Crispin, teller.
The death of M. E. Jackson, attorney for the
bank and a member of the board, was offi1876, AI.

S. C.

cially

announced.

On May

3, 1880, B. F. Crispin was unanimously elected a director to fill a vacancy
on the board caused by the death of Clarence
G. Jackson, who died May 3, 1880; and on
March 25, 1881, F. R. Jackson was elected
a director to fill a vacancy which then existed
on the board, while S. C. Jayne was elected
to the board Jan. 8, 1884.
Extended Corpor-^te Existence. At a
regular meeting of the board held May 27,
1884, on motion it was resolved to extend the

—

corporate

existence

the

association

for

M. W. Jackson, S.
following stockholders:
B. Bowman, C. B. Jackson, Francis Evans, F.
R. Jackson, B. F. Crispin, S. C. Jayne, Anne
Y. Glenn, Mary B. Glenn, Freas Fowler, Eudora W. Hanley, Elizabeth F. Woodin, J. W.

Bowman.
At this meeting of the stockholders, Benjamin Evans was elected a director and ser\'ed
as such during the balance of his life.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders
held in January, 1885, the following statement was presented to the stockholders, showing the condition at the close of business Jan.
3,

1885:
Resources

U. S. Bonds
U. S. Treasury
Furniture and Fi.xtures

Due from Banks
Loans and Investments
Cash and Reserve

$ 53,526.25
1.350.00
1,500.00
5,952.21
156,709.50

38,624.53

$257,662.49

$111,829.95

At the annual meeting of the bank held
Jan. 9, 1866, M. E. Jackson resigned as cashier.
His resignation was accepted with regret
by the board. At this meeting M. W. Jackson
was reelected president and Mr. B. R. Davis
was elected cashier. Mr. Davis ser\'ed as
At
cashier of the bank until Jan. 12, 1869.

twenty years, or until 1904. The articles of
association at this time were signed by the

Liabilities

Capital

Surplus
Circulation

Undivided Profits
Due to Banks
Deposits

$ 75,000.00
40,000.00
27,000.00
1.919-59
4.584.18
109,158.72

$257,662.49

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
M. W. Jackson, who had served as president of the bank for thirty years, died July
The board at its meeting held Aug.
i8, 1894.
II, 1894, elected B. F. Crispin, president, and
Mr. Jackson
C. B. Jackson, vice president.
served as vice president until his death Nov.
5, 1900, and he had been connected with the
bank officially as director, attorney and vice
president for a period of twenty years. B. F.
Crispin served as president until his death in

1903.

Aug.

1903, Messrs.

H. P.

Field, C.

and M. Jackson Crispin were
members of the board to fill vacancies
then existing, and at the same meeting F. R.
Jackson was elected president.
The necessity of additional help was felt
during the year 1903, owing to the increased
G.

Crispin

elected

business of the bank, and the board elected
J. Hehl assistant cashier Oct. 5, 1903.
The bank had now been opened for business for almost forty years, and at a regular
meeting of the board held Aug. i, 1904, on
motion, an application was made for a new
charter, which was granted by the comptroller, and the corporate existence was extended for a period of twenty years from

Sept. 21, .1904.

The statement

presented to the stockholders at the annual meeting held in January,
1905, was as follows:
U. S. Bonds
U. S. Treasury
Furniture and Fixtures

$ 25,000.00
1,250.00
25,000.00
252.51
431,521.13
76,448.33

Due from Banks
Bonds and Investments
Cash and Reserve
.

...

$559,471-97

Liabilities

$ 75,000.00

Capital

Surplus
Circulation

Undivided Profits

Due

Banks

Deposits

son of the late B. F. Crispin, and a grandson
of M. W. Jackson.
Thus it will be seen that
three generations of the same family have
served as president of the institution.
It might be well to note that during the fifty
years the First National Bank of Berwick has
been oi>en for business it has passed through
periods of panics and depression unscathed.
The deposits have increased consistently and
remarkably, indicating the confidence mani-

A glance at the statefested by the public.
ments incorporated herewith will show that
the resources have doubled in each period of
twenty years. This is a record of which the
stockholders

may

well be proud.

ST.\TEMENT

50,000.00
25,000.00
30.282.56
7,597.i8
371 ,592.23

MARCH

I914

Resources
U. S. Bonds
U. S. Treasury
Real Estate, F. &
Other Real Estate
Overdrafts

Due from Banks
Loans and Bonds
Cash and Reserve

25,000.00
1,250.00
25,000.00
1.500.00
896.44
5,212.69
1,020,411.25
154,425.17

$1,233,695-55
Liabilities

Capital

$ 75,000.00

Surplus

100,000.00
25,000.00
32,309.66
28.970.14
3.270.68
969,145.07

Circulation

Undivided Profits (net)

Unearned Interest
Due to Banks
Deposits

Resources

157

$1,233,695-55

The bank began

to pay dividends June

1865, and has continued to pay dividends with
regularity.
The First National Bank of Berwick, Pa.,
was the first bank in Columbia county to pay

On Feb. 2, 1903,
interest on time deposits.
the board resolved to pay 3 per cent, per annum on time deposits. This was an important
factor in stimulating the savings habit in the
community and resulted in greatly increased
deposits.

$559,471-97

F. R. Jackson, president of the bank, died
June 22, 1909, after a service of twenty-seven
years as director and six years as president.

The board

at a

meeting held July 22, 1909,
elected as president M. Jackson Crispin, and

Messrs. Francis Evans and C. G. Crispin as
vice presidents, Mr. Evans it might be noted
being the only living director of the original
board.
.A.t this
meeting F. E. Brockway was
elected director to fill a vacancy on the board.

Three Generations Presidents.
Jackson Crispin, the present president,

— M.
is

The success of the bank has been due to
the fact that it has been conducted along the
most consen'ative lines and with one object in
view the mutual benefit of the stockholders
and the public.

—

A strong financial institution is the Berzvick
National Bank, organized April 3, 1902, with
a capital stock of $50,000 and a surplus of
$12,500. The first officers were: C. C. Evans,
president; S. W. Dickson, vice president; B.
This bank is located in
D. Freas, cashier.
the Dickson building, one half of the first
floor having been specially constructed for it.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

158
fitted up,

handsomely

and admirably adapted

to the needs of the business.

The Benvick Savings

Trust

Company

was founded

to fill the want of a savings bank
for the workers of Berwick, and it has grown
into strong popular favor.
Business was begun in 1903 with a capital stock of $125,000,
paid in, and the following were the first offiS. W. Dickson, president; O. F. FerIsaiah Beaver, vice presidents
B. D.
Freas, treasurer; C. C. Evans, solicitor. Directors: H. F. Glenn, H. R. Bower,
J. M.

cers:
ris,

;

Schain, J. U. Kurtz, W. W. Hanly, F. A. Witman, M. M. Harter, C.
Evans, Duval Dickson, B. H. Dodson, W. F. Lowry, J. J. Myers,
R. H. Davenport, O. F. Ferris. C. D. Eaton,
Isaiah Bower, F. Carkins, F. E.
Brockway,

L. Evans, S. W. Dickson.
located in the Dickson building, and conducts a general banking business, while the trust department acts as exE. Smith,

The bank

administrator, guardian and
and in all other fiduciary capacities.
ecutor,

trastee,

The Berwick Building and Loan Associawas organized in 1894 and has done a
good work in enabling persons of small means
tion

homes.

to acquire

1914 the association

had $65,625 outstanding on mortgages; $6,185
on association stock; a net profit of $4,019 for
the year, and 967 shares outstanding. The net
profits from the time of organization were
$28,782. The capital authorized by the charter is $500,000.
The officers for 1914 are:
A. D. Seely, president; James E. Smith, vice
president John W. Evans, treasurer John H.
Smethers, secretary James L. Evans, solicitor.
Directors: B. D. Freas, Frank Shive. James
L. Evans, C. C. Lockhart, A. D. Seely, John
A. Kepner, P. C. Currin, Charles F. Hartman,
James E. Smith.
;

;

OFFICIALS OF BERWICK

Berwick was incorporated as a borough Jan.
29,

1818, but the

names of the

first

officers

have become buried in the archives of the
past, too deep for the writer to unearth.
The officials in 1914 are: F. R. Kitchen,
burgess

;

C. E. Sitler, C. E. Ross,

T. Stout,

Thomas Morton, William Raup. E. A. Glenn,
Elliott Adams, councilmen. The city hall is located on Second street.

WEST BERWICK

was apand on Dec. 9th the final
West
Berwick
a
declaring
There were then seventy-five free-

petition presented Sept. 2, 1901,

proved on Sept.
decree was

borough.

5th,

made

holders within the limits of the town.
An
election was ordered held in February, 1902,
but on the 3d of that month the court annulled the decree on the ground that all the
requirements of the law had not been com-

new petition was filed, and on
1902, the borough was declared to
be legally established, the election day being
fixed as June 24th.
The election resulted as
Eli Sherwood, burgess J. M. Fairfollows
child, John Dodson. Walter Hughes, J. C.
plied with.

May

10,

;

Sponenberg, Clark Heller, William Zerinden,
councilmen Jacob Smith, Samuel Hess, O. F.
Ferris, George E. Laub, R. Funk, C. G. Crisman, school directors Wilson Bond, Chester
Marr, overseers of the poor. On Sept. 7, 1905,
the borough was divided into two wards.
The officials for 1914 are: Chief burgess,
C. W. Freas members of council, D. R. Farrell, George Knecht, Harry Rasley, Wesley
;

;

Fairchild,
overseers,

Helt,

James Levan

poor
Chester Marr
justices of the peace, Frank Fenstermacher,
Samuel Grouse.

Frank

;

Creasy,

The West Berwick

city

building, erected in 1903.
used for council meetings
for the fire department.

;

hall

The upper

frame
part

and the lower

floor

BERWICK WATER COMPANY
The Berwick Water Company, one

of the
oldest incorporated companies doing a public
in
service business
the eastern part of
Pennsylvania, dates its beginning as a chartered service company with the founding of
the borough of Berwick, within the territory
of which it has carried on its operations—
a contemporary indeed of the borough; for
the town of Berwick settled in 1786 was incorporated as a borough by act of Assembly
Jan. 29, 1 81 8. while the Berwick Water Company was incorporated Jan. 27, 1818.
Following the passage of the act providing for the incorporation of the company the
promoters of the enterprise began to secure
subscriptions to its capital. "A suitable book,"
as directed in the act, was provided and is
still in existence among the archives of the
company, in which the subscriptions of some
sixty persons are recorded in the original
handwriting. Among the names appears those
of many of the progenitors of the citizens of
this vicinity, for example: John Brown, Samuel Headley,

Thomas, Jesse and Christopher

Bowman, Samuel Jackson, Robert McCurdy,
Thomas C. Foster, Amassa Burlingame, John
Cooper. Hugh Thompson, Evan Owen, George
Mack,

The

.'^amuel Herrin.

incorporators early set about putting

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

159

cement pipe A 2-inch wrought
pipe was covered with a layer of cement of
the thickness of two or more inches, and over
this cement covering a layer of sheet iron
was placed and secured by bands of iron.

in operation their corporate privilege, namely
that of "introducing water into the borough by
means of pipes, trunks or acqueducts."
water main constructed of good-sized logs,
bored with a four-inch diameter opening, fitted
and coupled with iron bands, was laid from
the town out Market street along the road to
a stream near the little village of Foundryville, the water from this stream entering Briar

tion of this old

impounded and tapped and thus conveyed into the town. For several years this
system of supply was kept in operation, but

Cast iron pipe in varying sizes, 2, 3, 4 and
6-inch, succeeded this old log and cement pipe.
In 1883, when the late George Depew became superintendent of the company, an inventory submitted by him to the board of managers established the fact that the company

creek,

the

population

increased

eventually

proved inadequate, for according to the

testi-

mony of older citizens who recall this pipe
line the logs would become clogged or obThe pipe itself became rotten, the
structed.
different kinds of logs used at times making
repairs difficult and unsatisfactory. This condition probably contributed to the need for
securing water elsewhere, for it is also a matter of history that children of that day were
frequently sent to the springs in the river
below the old dug road and carried the water
therefrom to supply the family needs. The
quality and quantity of water in these springs
being of the best, the use evidently was very
early suggested to the citizens of that time,
and they early became the property of the
Berwick Water Company. The water was
into the mains by means of waterpower at the waste- weir at the locks at Berwick.
"The Works" were thus established

pumped

prior to the year 1848.
In 1852 the Legislature extended to the
Berwick Water Company the right previously
granted the Hydraulic Company of the borough of Berwick to use the waterpower at this
waste-weir.
This old method of pumping
water by means of an old-type turbine or

When

this

cement had hardened

sufficiently

the 2-inch pipe was withdrawn and the cement construction was in condition for laying.

had four and three quarters miles of pipe

lines,

all sizes.

The

car and manufacturing business located
the borough developed with great strides
after the Civil war and with this growth in
business the demands upon the water comin

pany's capacity to supply water became acute,
in turn the company was put to the necessity of meeting the increased demands for
water. Some time in 1884 and 1885 a standpipe was erected at Market and Third streets,
primarily to accommodate the Jackson &
Woodin Company. In 1899 and 1900 a reservoir was constructed on property located in
Briarcreek and Salem townships, at the junction of the Wolfinger and Cope creeks, which
gave capacity for the storage of 15,000,000
gallons of water. This is now known as the
Glen Brook resenoir. The reservoirs at Glen
Brook were known as No. i and No. 2. This
in turn was followed by the construction of
another reservoir in Salem township, on the
Varner creek, in 1895, known as the Salem
reservoir. No. 3, having a capacity of some

and

3,000,000 gallons.

less

The pumping equipment had always been

change and improvement until the late seventies
for "water wheel and pumping ma-

kept in proper condition to operate in conjunction with the storage supply at Glen Brook
and Salem reservoirs, and for a period of
approximately fifteen years had met the demands of a growing population.
In 1899, the large manufacturing interests
of the town having been incorporated in the
American Car and Foundry Company and a
boom in general business following, Berwick
experienced a great increase in population.
The new steel car plant, new foundries, machine shops and mills provided work for from
five thousand to six thousand men. with a dependent population of twenty thousand to
twenty-five thousand people in the boroughs of
Berwick, West Berwick and Nescopeck. In
1908 and 1909 a very large addition to the
storage capacity at Glen Brook was construct-

water-wheel was continued with more or
;

chinery'' appears in the balance sheets of
that day as one of the valued assets of the com-

pany.

Some
still

time prior to the Civil war, on land

owned by

Chestnut

the

company on Second and
was constructed

streets, a reservoir

for storage.
In 1883 a seven and a half
foot standpipe was added to this reservoir, and
its use was continued until about
1890, when
the reservoir at Glen Brook was completed.
the
in
which
era
Following
log pipe was used
the company constructed other conduits or pipe

of cement, and in late years these old
cement pipes have been at times excavated by the company's workmen. It is interesting to know the manner of construclines

log and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

160

ed, the old reservoirs excavated and enlarged,
built to impound a quan-

and a new reservoir

In
tity of 75,000,000 to 80,000,000 gallons.
1906 a 20-inch main was laid from the
reservoirs some three miles, connecting with
mains at the north end of Market street and
Freas avenue. This provided the requisite pressure for fire protection and distribution of the
increased supply. Upon the building of the
steel plant at the west end of the borough
limits,

the

and extending

new borough

into Briarcreek township,
West Berwick came into

corporate existence. In 1892, prior to the beginning of the new borough, the West Berwick Water Supply Company was incorporated and pipe lines laid throughout the town
of West Berwick.
Increase of population to
the east and north of the old borough limits
of Berwick made further demands upon the
company's water supply, and at that time the

West Salem
Water Supply Company and Briar Creek
Water Supply Company were incorporated in
1903 and 1904, respectively. The Nescopeck
Water Supply Company was incorporated to

supply companies were organized

supply water to the inhabitants of Nescopeck
in March, 1894, the water mains from Berwick being connected by a line through the

Susquehanna river, approximately 1,300 feet
length. These supply companies are controlled and operated by the Berwick Water
Company.
The erection of a new filter plant on the
in

property of the company alongside of the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad
Company's tracks at the foot of Market street
was begun in 1913 and at this date (1914) is
in operation and is furnishing filtered water
for the boroughs. The pumping equipment is
undergoing changes, the pumping capacity is
more than doubled, and is to be operated by
The company has its own laboraelectricity.
tory, and frequent examinations of water in
with
the present day demands are
compliance

made.

the past been identified with the upbuilding
of the property, and we find mention in the
old records of
Morrison E. Jackson, Jesse
Bowman, Mordecai W. Jackson, Seth B. Bowman, F. Nicely, William H. Woodin, Sr., H. C.
Freas, John W. Evans, G. L. Reagan, C. H.
Zehnder, S. P. Hanly, S. C. Jayne, Freder:

ick

H. Eaton,

Jr.,

Wm.

C. D. Eaton,

W. H. Woodin,

H. Hager,

W. W.

Hanly, Capt. F. E.

Brock way.

The present board of managers consists of
Clarence G. Crispin, vice president of the
First National Bank of Berwick Hon. Chas.
C. Evans, president judge of the Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania Judicial district W. S. Johnson,
general superintendent of the American Car
:

;

and Foundry Company at Berwick; Howard
C. Wick, and M. J. Crispin.

The officers of the company are: C. G.
C. C. Evans, vice presiCrispin, president
dent F. A. Witman, secretary and treasurer.
;

;

Hicks, who succeeded George Depew,
referred to elsewhere in this article, is the
very efficient superintendent of the company's
J. S.

operations.
From log and cement pipes to 24-inch cast
iron mains and laterals extending over thirtytwo to thirty-five miles of territory and
equipped with controlling valves from the old;

water-wheel to electrically driven
centrifugal pumps from simple diversion of
a stream into a log pipe line to the modern
style turbine

;

reservoirs constructed to impound upwards
of a hundred million gallons, as well as other
conditions that might be contrasted, measures
the activities of a company whose history
lacks only three years of reaching the century

mark.
FIRE PROTECTION

The first fire company of Berwick was the
Fearless, organized May 20, 1880, as a volunteer company.
They purchased a hand engine, two hose carriages and 350 feet of hose.

well financed.
the earliest to the present dividends have
been paid with regularity upon the capital invested, while the fixed interest charge on the
bonded indebtedness of the Berwick and West

R. W. Oswald, president;
officers were:
W. Dickson, treasurer; J. W. Fry, secretary; W. M. Boyles, foreman. This company

Berwick companies has always been paid with
punctuality. The tangible assets of the com-

are three

The company has always been

From

pany are

amount of the inthe report made to the
of Pennsylvania the pipe

easily twice the

debtedness.

From

Water Commission

mileage exceeds thirty-two miles. Water pressure is from eighty-five to ninety pounds, and
affords ample fire protection.
Prominent citizens of this section have in

The
S.

in a few years, the Rangers
In 1914 there
inheriting the fire apparatus.
fire companies in the borough.
The Rangers have a handsome club house
on East Front street, and use the old frame
Lutheran church as an engine house. Their
improvements upon the property have increased its valuation to over $9,000.
The Reliance Fire Company has a fine brick
building on South Mulberry street, erected in

was disbanded

1903.

A^JSp

TrHjE:: J^^jC,l^sSlQiN!

'/"eWSf :»1»', C

K,-

W/Q

WHEtt- SKOpV

0)D)l;l>lj

betrwich Pc^

!yiJ^\IN!t)tFA.,Efrrl)!^IN G! (EJQ).^
C C ^ AC^SO^
Vice PK

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

161

The Defender Hose Company has a brick the "Robb" stove, with open grate; a round
its own on Sixth street.
stove, with a bake oven on top, and the oldWest Berwick Hose Company has a frame time "Bull" plow, were undertaken. Tinware
home on West Front street. All of these fire and spouting were also made. The force was
building of

companies use the water from the mains for
fire purposes, as it has ample pressure for the
purpose.
LIFE STORY OF A GREAT INDUSTRY

The growth

of the

town of Berwick and

the prosperity and happiness of its people are
so closely associated with the great car works
there, which grew from a small foundry,
owned by two men, into the present gigantic
establishment, employing thousands, that the
story of one is the history of the other. With-

out this industrial development, brought about
by the energy and farsightedness of these two

men and

their successors,

Berwick might yet

be a village of but a few hundred inhabitants.
The foundations of the present immense
plant were laid in 1840, when Mordecai W.
Jackson and George Mack erected on the corner of Third and Market streets a foundry,
25 by 40 feet, with a small shed in the rear,
for the manufacture of agricultural implements. The firm remained Jackson & Mack

when

Mr. Jackson purchased
and took into partnership Robert McCurdy, adding to the manufacture of
agricultural implements that of hollowware.
About fifteen men were then employed, four
horses furnishing the power for running the
blower and lathe, the only machinery then in
until

1843,

Mack's

interest

Col. Clarence G. Jackson, afterwards
president of the company, was then a boy of
seven, and drove the horses that supplied the
use.

power.
In 1846 the firm of Jackson & McCurdy was
dissolved and M. W. Jackson continued the
business alone, adding to the foundry a blacksmith shop, under the charge of Louis Enke,
and commencing the btiilding of heavy wagons.
In 1S40 William Hartman Woodin, who
had established a furnace and foundry at
Foundryvillc in 1847 ^^r the manufacture of
stoves and plows, united with Mr. Jackson,
and thus the famous firm of Jackson &
Woodin was born. Mr. Jackson was an expert mechanic and a fine manager of men,
while Mr. Woodin was a broad-gauge man,
possessing farsightedness and selling ability
that soon made the firm prominent in the local
field and in time placed them foremost in
their line among the manufacturers of the
State.
small machine shop was added to
the plant, the horses supplanted by an upright steam engine, and the manufacture of

increased to twenty-five men, and in 1850
the contract was taken to cast the pipes for
the Berwick waterworks, between five hundred and one thousand pounds of iron being
melted in a day.
Rapid expansion followed, and in 1855 the
firm was making castings for the Lackawanna
& Bloomsburg Railroad Company, of which
Mr. Jackson was then a director and superMill gearing and stationary enintendent.
gines were also made, and in 1858, a contract being taken to furnish the bridge castings for the Philadelphia & Erie railroad, an
addition was built to the foundry, about a
ton of iron melted in a day, and fifty men

were given employment.
In the fall of 1861 an order was received
for the building of twenty cars of four wheels

W. Creveling in his
limestone quarry at Espy, Columbia county.
To prepare for this (then) large order a
shed about nine feet high, in which the plows
each, for the use of G.

were formerly painted, was boarded up, and
from this primitive car shop the first cars
were turned out. Two men were employed
on this branch of the work, and they succeeded in producing but one car a week.
The material was mortised, planed and framed
by hand, holes being cut in the roof to permit the insertion of the iron rods into the
frames. During the following summer small
lots of cars were built, sometimes two a week,
the wheels being pressed onto the axles by
means of a hand press.
In 1862 some machinery was advertised for
sale at the car works at Taylorville, Luzerne
county, and Mr. Woodin attended the sale,
there buying a crosscut saw, a fifteen-foot oneside bed planer, a tenoning machine, a hydraulic wheel press, and other pieces. These
he stored in a barn until needed. The purchase proved extremely fortunate, for in a
short time a contract came in for the construction of one hundred cars for H. S. Mercur & Co., Pittston. Anxious to complete the
order in the time set, the saw was brought
from the barn and attached to an inch-and-ahalf line-shaft. This was a wise move, and
proved such an advantage that in a short time
the planer and wheel press were also set up
and attached to the line-shaft. Thus was the
first machinery solely for the manufacture of
cars in Berwick set in motion. The tenoning
machine was next set up, and the work proceeded so rapidly that five four-wheel cars

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

162

were completed in one week.
Finally one
car a day became the capacity of the plant,
Mr. Woodin remarking that they "didn't want
But so
to build more than one car a day."
well did matters progress that additions were
made to the machine shop, foundry, car and
blacksmith shops, a planer double the size
of the old one purchased, wooden tracks for
handling the cars laid around the works, and
two four-wheel cars were turned out in a
day.

this

time the firm of Jackson

& Woodin

had acquired extensive repute as car builders, and soon increased contracts called for
expansion. Another car shop, 24 by 80 feet,
was erected alongside the railroad "under the
hill," a forty-horsepower engine installed, and
two box cars were made there each day, the
repairing of old cars being done at the old
works. In 1863 another addition was made
to the car shop, increasing

its

capacity to six

four-wheel cars and two box cars per day.
Thus step by step the plant grew, until in
the winter of 1865-66 five or six eight-wheel
coal cars for the Philadelphia & Erie railroad
were being built every day, and about 150 men

employed.

critical period in the history of the town
as well as the plant occurred when, on the
morning of March 17, 1866, the works were
consultation was
totally destroyed by fire.
held at the bank the following day, at which
were
of
the
present, and aftemployees
many
er a thorough discussion of the matter the

—

anxiously awaited decision was announced
Plans for
that the plant would be rebuilt.
the new buildings were at once prepared, machinery purchased, and out of the ashes arose
a better and more modem manufacturing establishment.
So rapidly did the works grow
after this date that the necessary additions
soon encroached on the farm lands of M. W.
Jackson, in the rear of the plant, and in 1869
the firm was employing 550 men.
In March, 1872, the Jackson & Woodin

Manufacturing Company was organized, with
C. R. Woodin, president; C. G. Jackson, vice

president; Garrick Mallery, treasurer; M. W.
Jackson and W. H. Woodin, executive committee. The senior members of the firm then
retired from active management of the afifairs
of the company to enjoy a well-earned period
of rest, leaving their sons to continue the
work of developing the plant. The first move
of expansion then made was the building of
the "long switch," to connect the works with
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railThis was completed in 1872, and ran
road.
from the main line up a ninety-foot embank-

ment, with a grade of 150 feet to the mile,
to the rolling mill (then in process of conPrevious
struction), thence into the works.
to the building of this switch the finished cars
were drawn by horses through Market street
to Canal, down Canal, with a grade of 400
a heavy toothed drag
feet, to the railroad
and a brake being used to prevent the cars
;

down

the

hill.

sliding
In the latter part of

1872 the rolling mill

was completed, thus enabling the firm to make
and shape their own iron work, which had
previously been done outside, and fill orders
for the general market.
From year to year
thereafter other additions were made, notable
them
the
among
being
pipe works, for the
casting of gas and water pipe.
C. R. Woodin retiring from the presidency
in 1892, C. H. Zehnder was made president
and general manager. Under his direction the

In 1896 he tengreatly.
dered his resignation and Frederick H. Eaton
was elected to succeed him.

company prospered

the organization in 1899 of the Ameri-

Upon

can Car and Foundry

Company Mr. Eaton
was made first vice president of the corporation, and W. H. Woodin, son of C. R.
Woodin, was appointed district manager of
the Berwick plant.
On June 27, 1901, the
newly elected board of directors met in New
York and elected Mr. Eaton to the presidency
of the corporation, and W. H. Woodin as his
assistant.
William F. Lowry, who had been
with the Jackson

& Woodin Company

for

years, was made district manager, in
charge of the plants in Berwick and Blooms-

many
burg.

Many

interesting

stories

are told

the

energy and versatility of the founders of the
works. At one time a Root blower was
broken, and the shipment of the part to the
West for repair would have incurred expensive delay, owing to slow
freight methods,
as the entire works depended on the
operation of the blower.
So Mr. Woodin took the
broken part to the factory himself, had it repaired,

and learned there how

to keep

repair afterward.
The old upright engine that supplanted the
horses for power in the first car works was
used for a time to run a chop mill near Espy;

then E. A. Sneidman used it to run his machinery in a blacksmith shop at Almedia.
Next the engine served as power on a coal
dredge for Hoffman & Custer, until 1912.'
They then sold it to a junk dealer at Bloomsburg.

American Car and Foundry Company, Berwick, Pa.

—Upper

Works

Soft Foundry, Wood Car Erecting Shops, Wood Machine Shops, Pipe Foundry,
Lumber Yards. General (Jffices and lierwick Store Co. to Left. 1903

American Car and Foundry Company, Berwick. Pa.
Rolling

;\Iill,

— Lower

Works

Smith Shop, \Mieel Foundry, Truck Shop and Paint Shops.
Car Department in the Background. 1907

Steel

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The Modern Car Works

When

the business of the Jackson

Manufacturing

Company

riveters

& Woodin

Berwick

was

taken over by the American Car and Foundry
Company in 1899, the Berwick plant was the
in the eastern
largest car building concern

was serving
part of the United States, and
the principal railroads of New England and
seaboard.
Atlantic
the
the tier of States along
There were then employed from two thousand
to two thousand five hundred workmen in the
upper and lower works. The upper works
included the car shops proper, equipped for
of
preparation of lumber and the building
freight cars of wood construction, of every
modern
railroads,
variety then current upon
an extensive lumber yard, a foundry for the
manufacture of grey iron castings and a foundry for the production of water and gas pipes
for city and town service. As an adjunct to
these an iron machine shop, fully equipped
with lathes, planers, drill presses and kindred
machinery, occupied the brick building on the
northeast corner of Third and Market streets,
now (in 1914) used as a storehouse for car
materials.

1899 were made up of
the rolling mill, forge shop and wheel foundry, producing materials used in wood car
building and supplying outside trade.
In 1902-03 the "Big Boom" came to Ber-

The lower works

wick.

The

railroads

of the country began

to call for a freight car of all-steel construction for the transportation of coal. The Amer-

163

and what not going

make up an

Over these aisles travel
up-to-date factory.
by electric power seven cranes of ten tons' capacity

lift.

the north end of the plant is situated
the storage yard for steel plates and shapes

This
arriving from manufacturing mills.
yard, 200 by 300 feet, has two overhead traveltenand
electric
cranes, ninety-foot span
ing
Thousands of tons of plates and
ton lift.
shapes are lifted from incoming trains of cars,
piled in the yards, and later transferred to the
shops adjacent, where the processes of shearerection
ing, punching, pressing, riveting and
are carried on until from the other end of the
with a
all-steel
car
finished
vast shop rolls a
capacity for carrying a load of 100,000 to 150,-

000 pounds.
Supplementing the shops just mentioned,
other shops were erected at the "lower works"
shops of steel and brick, 400 by 80 feet,
heated by steam, in which cars are painted
and lettered a shop 350 by 100 feet in which
wheels and axles are machined and mounted
and the completed trucks built to receive the

—

;

car bodies
storehouses, offices for superintendents and engineers, and many other buildings made necessary by the great operations.
Vast as the preparation was, the demand
for steel freight cars soon outstripped the capacity, so that 200 feet were added to the
length of the steel freight car shops, bringing
With this increase
their length to 930 feet.
;

more machinery was added

powerhouse and

shop equipment.

Car and Foundry Company gave a quick
response to that call and erected shops at St.
Louis, Detroit and Berwick, fitting them out
with the most up-to-date machinery and facilities for this new line of car building. This
meant a tremendous addition to the already
About three millions
large Berwick plant.
of dollars were spent in the purchase of additional land, erection of buildings and installaA central powerhouse,
tion of machinery.
equipped to furnish hydraulic, pneumatic and
electric power, was erected for the new steel
plant.
Preparation, construction and erection
buildings of steel, brick and glass, of most

The erection of the "steel plant" demanded
greater railroad facilities than those supplied
by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
alone, especially as that road had to be reached
over a switch two miles long down a steep
grade. The demand was met by the building
of the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick
railroad, which runs between departments of
the plant of the American Car and Foundry
Company, reducing the private switching of
cars to a minimum.
The railroads, having seen how good is a

erected. These were 730
with three aisles of 100 feet
width, or 300 feet. In these were set up hydraulic presses exerting a power of one thousand tons pressure per square inch, great

the

ican

modern

plans,

were

feet in length,

shears capable of cutting steel plates one
inch in thickness by ten feet in length, power
punches planned to punch seventy-two holes
at one stroke, together with innumerable other
and smaller presses, shears, punches, drills.

steel freight car, must have also an all steel
passenger car. Again the Berwick plant of

American Car and Foundry Company
answered the cry of its customers. The subways of New York contain the earliest product

along this line, delivered in 1904, while in
1905 the first all steel passenger car ever produced for standard railroad service was turned
out of these shops.
Many orders from the
leading Eastern railroads were booked and
passenger car shops of Berwick plant standards, steel,

brick,

glass,

cement floored and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

164

steam-heated, were erected alongside the
The passenger car finishfreight car shops.
ing, equipment, painting and varnishing shops,
in part two stories, are i,oio by 130 feet.
The several departments of the works are
connected by standard railroad tracks, which
with tracks for storage measure more than
thirty miles, on which are operated four locomotives, two locomotive cranes and two hundred railroad cars owned by the plant for the
inter-transfer of materials.
Up-to-date storage battery electric engines are also in service
at special points about the works.
In 1907, when railroad buying in the United
States reached its maximum, the Berwick plant

was employing 5,500

men and produced
November

its

of that year,
greatest output.
with twenty-five working days, a total of 2,550
cars was built, an average of 102 for each
working day, made up of all steel passenger
cars, all steel freight cars and steel under-

Fifty thousands of dollars have been expended in the last two years to safeguard machinery and prevent accidents to workmen, and
the end of the expenditure is not yet.
The
management hopes to attain the high point
where the works are "fool proof" in their
operation, so that even the careless may not
be in danger.
Temperance in Columbia county has its
strongest advocate and support in these works.
Men given to the drink habit are excluded and
the so-called moderate drinker finds he must
change his plan of life or look elsewhere for

employment.

Among
Timers"

—thethe

are many "Old
too long to be given in

employees
list

detail in this article.

The
tion

local management and shop organizamade up of young men, comparatively

speaking, and a very unusual fact is that the
leaders are either native Berwickians or have
been connected with the plant all of their business careers.
few of the names, with the

frames with wood superstructures. This is
equivalent to four average freight trains per
positions into which they have grown through
day.
During the process of continued develop- the years, are appended
William F. Lowry, district manager; C. G.
ment to this writing in 1914 many changes
have occurred in the plants. When a fire de- Crispin, assistant district manager William S.
stroyed the grey iron foundry at the upper Johnson, general superintendent Frank Faust,
works a new and modern foundry took its superintendent car department J. H. Catterall,
place, located at the extreme north of the superintendent rolling mills John A. Kepner,
lower works. An iron machine shop 300 by superintendent wood shops L. E. Hess, super90 feet was erected and in it grouped machin- intendent steel car department J. Frank Long,
ery before scattered throughout other build- local auditor; W. J. Harris, supply agent.
nut factory fully equipped with novel
ings.
machinery, operated electrically, was erected The American Car and Foundry Company
for the production of nuts used in the many
The American Car and Foundry Company
plants of the company, east and west, supplywas incorporated Feb. 20, 1899, in New Jering also outside trade.
The plant of to-day covers eighty-two acres sey, for the purpose of manufacturing railof land, has modern shops, equipped with ma- way cars and supplies, pipe and lumber. The
chinery of highest efficiency, is the largest sin- company manufactures cars of all types,
gle plant of the fourteen owned by the Ameri- classes and construction also cast iron water
can Car and Foundry Company, the only one pipe, car wheels, merchant bar iron, pig iron,
producing both passenger and freight cars, and castings, forgings, interior woodwork, car
embraces within itself more varied depart- floats, repair parts and various other articles
ments than any other. It has a capacity of and supplies of a miscellaneous character. The
two finished passenger cars daily sixty all following plants have been acquired from time
steel coal cars of fifty tons' load, or their equiv- to time, those marked with an asterisk being
alent in the varied cars of other designs; 600 acquired at the time of incorporation
wheels for freight cars; 300 wheels for mine
Bloomsburg Car Mfg. Co.. .Bloomsburg, Pa.
cars 200 tons of bar iron 50 tons of flanged *Buft"alo Car Mfg. Co
Buft'alo, N. Y.
Common Sense Bolster Co
Chicago, 111.
pipe; 100 tons of grey iron castings, forgings,
The plant has *Ensign Mfg. Co
nuts and kindred products.
Huntington, W. Va.
never known an absolute shut down, the diIndianapolis Car Co
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jackson & Sharpe Co
Wilmington, Del.
versity of products, in the dullest times, keepWoodin
of
workmen
em&
Co..
.Berwick, Pa.
*Jackson
Mfg.
ing a comfortable percentage

;

Co
"Safety First" is to-day a watchword on Missouri Car & Foundry
the lips of all superintendents and foremen. *Murray, Dougal & Co
ployed.

*"Michigan-Peninsular

Detroit, Mich.
Co.. St. Louis, Mo.
.

Milton, Pa.

Steel

American Car axd Fhuxdry Company, Bervvu k, Pa.
Car Department Freight and Passenger. Iron Machine Shop. Xut Factory
and Soft Foundry in the Background. 1913

—

Berwick Store Company's Dep.\rtment Store, Berwick, Pa.

COLUMBIA- AND
Niagara Car Wheel Co

MONTOUR COUNTIES

Buffalo, N. Y.

*Ohio Falls Car Mfg. Co.. .Jeffersonville, Ind.
*Pennock Bros, (dismantled) .Minerva, Ohio
St. Charles, Mo.
*St. Charles Car Co
Southern Car & Foundry Co. Memphis, Tenn.
*Terre Haute Car & Mfg. Co
Terre Haute, Ind.

*The Wells & French Co
*Union Car Co

Chicago,

111.

Depew, N. Y.

plants owned and operfollowing: Four passen-

The manufacturing

ated consist of the
ger car plants; sixteen freight car plants;
twelve grey iron
eleven wheel foundries
foundries two water and gas pipe foundries
one malleable iron foundry; one brass foun;

;

dry; two sawmills; three rolling mills and
an architectural wood-working mill,
forges
and a plant for building and repairing car
The works
floats and light capacity vessels.
aftd store yards cover over 530 acres of
ground.
When running to capacity the company employs over 25,000 men and its annual sales
The comare approximately $100,000,000.
pany has purchased a large tract of land at
to
the
new
works
of the
Gary, Ind., adjacent
;

United States Steel Corporation, -with the
view of constructing there a plant with a
daily capacity of about one hundred steel
cars.

The annual capacity of the plants is 125,000 freight cars; 1,500 passenger cars; 350,000 tons of wheels 300,000 tons of forgings
150,000 tons of castings; 300,000 tons of bar
;

;

iron; 30,000 tons of cast iron pipe; 75,000
tons of bolts and nuts and 30,000,000 feet of
lumber.
;

The American Car and Foundry Company,
it
did eighteen matured carbuilding plants, had in it the germs of a most
successful business proposition, but the problem of consolidating and amalgamating the
diverse methods in vogue so that the maximum economies would result called for
marked executive ability. The company was
fortunate in having at its command talent of
the highest order, and under the tutelage of
W. K. Bixby, of St. Louis, who was its president from 1899 to 1901, and of Frederick
H. Eaton, of New York, Mr. Bixby's successor and its present president, it has realized
The company stands today
fully its destiny.
With its
the premier institution of its kind.

combining as

known in every civilized country, it
the greatest manufacturer of cars in the
world.
During the life of the American Car and
Foundry Company railroad carriers have

165

been revolutionized. When it came
ence 60,000-pound capacity wooden cars, with
their limited life and high repair costs, and
wooden passenger coaches with their limited
protection to passengers, were standard everywhere. The company has matured and cominto exist-

car

mercialized the high-capacity
freight
—
an economic advance of inestimable value
steel

has originated and develto the railroads.
oped the non-flammable steel passenger coach,
the greatest guarantee of safety the traveling public has known.
Concurrent with the technical development
of its art has taken place an equally satisfactory development of the financial strength
of the company. New plants have been built,
It

plants modernized and the entire property built up and maintained at a high pitch
of efficiency. The varying nature of the demand for its product necessitates a large workold

ing capital, which is being successfully met
by accretions from earnings from time to

—over $13,000,000 having been added

time

the formation of the company. Satisfactory dividends have at the same
time been distributed to the stockholders of
the company.
Aggressiveness has been tempered with conservatism, resulting in an institution which is held throughout the world of
this

way

since

commerce to be
The capital of

a model industrial creation.
the American Car and Foundry Company is fixed at $60,000,000 and the
number of plants in the consolidation is eighteen, of which the Berwick plant is the third
The general offices are in New York
largest.
City and the present officials are: Frederick

H. Eaton, president; William H. Woodin,
sistant to the president; J.

M. Buick, W.

Dickerman and Clarence Price, vice
dents
William M. Hager, secretary

presiS.

;

as-

Delano, treasurer; N. A. Doyle, auditor;
Charles J. Hardy, general counsel.
The executive committee is composed of
Frederick H. Eaton, C. R. Woodin and H. R.
Frederick H.
Duval.
The directors are
Eaton, Berwick W. G. Oakman, New York
Thomas H. West,
S. S. Delano, New York
St. Louis; J. M. Buick, St. Louis; A. P. Hepburn, New York; E. F. Carry, Chicago; H. R.
Duval, New York; C. R. Woodin, Berwick;
Gerald Hovt, New York George H. Russell,
:

;

Detroit William H. Woodin, New York William M. Hager, Roselle, N. J.; W. N. AtacMillan, London, England.
;

;

product
is

BERWICK STORE COMP.\NY
Closely identified with the history of Berwick, and therefore of Columbia county, is

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

166
that of the

founded

Berwick Store Company, which,
though large

in a small partnership,

period, has kept pace with every
stage of the town's growth. Its business has
developed into a store of some thirty departments, with a floor space equalling if not exceeding any modern establishment in the other towns and cities within a radius of fifty
miles. The extent of this store's merchandise
distribution may be understood when it is

for

the

stated that

will

a customer any and
for personal and house-

sell

everything needed
hold requirements.
Some time prior to the building of

Lackawanna & Bloomsburg

railroad,

the

when

the merchant of that day traveled by packet
to the city to "'lay in his stock of goods," and
before the Civil war, the predecessor of the
Berwick Store Company, the "old grocery at
the canal," had its beginning. Located alongside of the canal, in those days the "main artery of travel," the old building and its wharf
The old store
occupied an ideal situation.
was built primarily to cater to the canal
trade, but the disposition of the owners to
enlarge their activities soon made it a center
for a wider trade.

The foundryman

of that
day found it necessary in "the course of trade"
to finance his business by the exchange of
groceries and dry goods for labor and the
products of the foundry; for not until the
Civil war period of the sixties did the banking system of the country assume any kind
of connected existence. The old State banking system with its uncertain currency and
scarcity of ready money made it necessary
for every man doing business to resort to
the old method of barter and trade, and such
were the conditions that made it necessary
for M. W. Jackson and W. H. Woodin, who
composed the firm of Jackson & Woodin, to
establish a store which in the process of time
was destined to a development characteristic
of many of the great business places of the

country at large.

The recollection of the little old two-story
building, across the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg railroad tracks, near the foot of the
"old dug road," with its associations, lives in

Among the hardships and inconveniences
which attended the business of keeping store
from the scarcity of ready
money, it is recalled that many a time, and
particularly during the "high water of 1865,"
in that period, aside

the cellar of the old building was flooded;
that the mackerel and mess pork floated freely
and unopposed in the depths until the "pumps
were manned" and the place drained also,
that the hams and shoulders stored in the
dark room on the second floor were periodically removed, inspected, and freed from the
onslaught of the germs of that day, afterwards carefully replaced, and sold no pure
;

—

food inspector under high government commission being in reach to decree otherwise;
that the clerks with congenial associates
roomed and slept peacefully on the second
floor next to the old meat room, disturbed perchance only by the ripple of the "Falls of the
Susquehanna" near by.

Sometime in 1872 or 1873 the caqal store
was abandoned and its stock of merchandise
transferred to more commodious quarters in

new building of the Jackson & Woodin
Manufacturing Company on Market street,
late Hon. M. W.

the

next to the homestead of the

The store occupied the first floor
Jackson.
of the new building, while the Jackson &

Woodin Manufacturing Company's

general ofoccupied the second floor, together with
the banking firm of Jackson, Woodin & Jackson.
Later the Young Men's Christian Association opened rooms on the second and
third floors of this building and here first
conducted its work for young men and boys
fices

in especially equipped reading rooms and library, the latter for that time comprising a
very well selected collection of books in charge
of Mr. Albert G. Kimberley, whose early training in the libraries of Birmingham, England,
well equipped him for the position of librarian.
Here began the annual courses of lectures and
entertainments which from the beginning to
the present have been continued over a period

embracing some

thirty-five years.

store, there
the employ of the present store
Mr. John H. Taylor. With George B. Thompson, of Pittston, Pa., Joshua F. Opdyke, of
Easton, Pa., Garrick Mallery, of Philadelphia,
Pa., the late S. P. Hanly and R. G. Crispin,
he was early associated with the original Jack-

In this new environment the store business rapidly grew and became the leading
trading place for Berwick and the surrounding country, under the superintendence of J.
F. Opdyke and R. G. Crispin, and, for some
twenty odd years, Mr. C. C. Long; under
Mr. Long's supervision two additions were
made to the building, enlarging the facilities
for handling feed, grain and surplus stocks
of merchandise.
On Aug. I, 1 891, the old store's interest
was sold, together with the store building,

son

the

memory

many

of the present genera-

tion.

the

remains

employees of the old

& Woodin

store.

new

partnership formed under an act

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of Assembly, and continued its progress for
a brief period under the name of the Berwick Store Association, Limited, its original
incorporators being W. F. Lowry, C. H. Zehnder, F. H. Eaton, W. H. Woodin, S. P. Hanly,
S. H. Watts.
In December, 1892, this association liquidated its affairs and in its place a new partnership, the Berwick Store Company, Limited,

came

into existence.

In 1896, Mr. Long having resigned, he was
succeeded by R. H. Davenport, who had had
several years of association with the business.
decided enlargement of the company's
operations took place at this time, it being
a period of rapid growth of the boroughs of
Berwick and West Berwick, as well as the
neighboring borough of Nescopeck across the
river.
The transfer by purchase and sale of
Berwick's foundries and general car manufacturing business having taken place in 1899,

boom in business and in consequence the
rapid growth in all phases of the community's
life made opportunity for the further enlargement of the store company's establishment.
new addition to the present store
building in the rear, making a total depth of
approximately 150 feet and a new office and
store room alongside of the original building,
more than doubled the original capacity and
enabled the company to add many new dethe

Mr. Davenport having resigned

to enter oth-

er business, the management passed in May,
1905, to W. C. Garrison, who having had large
experience in department store practice in
the West brought to the expanding business
ripe experience and ability, and as a result
the resystematizing of the business was put
into effect with marked expedition and success.
In addition, a readjustment of the accounting system and the rearranging of the
store's departments, with further

•

enlargement

and modifications of the buildings, was accomplished in 1905, greatly enhancing the
value of the floor space and otherwise making for economical operation.

The stables and warehouse of the company, situated on Bowman and Third streets
within easy access of the main store buildand occupying approximately two acres
were erected under the present
management in 1907, and comprise a very nec-

ing,

of ground,

essary adjunct in the storage of merchandise;
in the selling of horses, of which seventy head
can be housed at one time and for the storage
of all classes of vehicles, including automo;

biles, a large

ness being done in the handling of automobiles.

The meat department does probably the
largest single business of its kind in this part
of the State. The thoroughly equipped modern abattoir, near Oak and Ninth streets,
along the tracks of the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick Railroad Company, erected
in 1907, also forms a part of the company's
Mr. T. B. Brobst, the manager of
plant.
this department, buys
a carload of cattle
two
weeks, and in season a carload
every
of hogs a week. Forty steers can be dressed
one time and refrigerated.
store rooms have a frontage of
100 feet, large plate glass windows admit

The main

the display of a great variety of attractive
merchandise, and the interior as well as the
window displays are marked features of the
store's publicity policy, in charge of C. J.
Gilds, the decorator.
The spacious floors encompass the activities of twenty-six departments, and the departmental arrangement includes the following classification of merchandise Dress goods
and silks, domestics, wash goods, notions,
fancy goods, ladies' hosiery, corsets and un:

derwear, men's

furnishings, infants' wear,
stationery, drugs, groceries, hardware, house furnishings, furniture, wall paper,
tobacco and cigars, candy, meats, flour and

jewelry,

feed, green groceries,

partments.

and increasing volume of busi-

167

wagons, horses, automo-

biles, coal.

complete elevator service and a well arranged delivery system augment the conveniences in all the departments. Eight delivery
wagons, five meat wagons, ten coal wagons,
and six auto trucks are used in the transfer
of goods from counter to customer. The use
of the telephone in the attention given to the
Store Company's large trade is a feature that
the Store Company very early began to adopt,
and "order by telephone" has grown to be
a settled method through which the store
gives special accommodation to its customers.
Frequent renewals and repairs to the Store
Company's buildings and equipment operate
to keep the properties in a well maintained condition, for the convenience of customers and
the anticipation of their requirements.
The refrigerator plant in the main building,
with five or six large refrigerators for the
storage of meats, fruits and vegetables, is
kept continuously in operation. For the upkeep of the property, the refrigerating machinery, light and heating, etc., an engineer
and carpenters are constantly employed.
The volume of business done enables the
company to buy in large quantities at first

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

168

hand, and thus always insures to the customers the freshest, newest and best goods at
the lowest available prices for instance, sugar
is bought in carload lots
canned goods are
contracted for before the vegetables are actually planted, and large shipments are received
and find their way to the company's warehouse. This can be said also about flour and
feed and other merchandise largely con;

;

sumed.

The above narrates in a historical way the
beginning, changes and growth of a business
the e.xact counterpart of which it would be
difficult to find
the early situation as to the
manner of conducting trade that surrounded
the efforts of the founders of Berwick's
large business enterprises and the logic in
holding on and developing a well earned and
established place.
The purpose and policy of the Berwick
Store Company as announced in its advertisement, namely, to furnish "everything to every;

body," states its principle to present its merchandise to everyone in clean and attractive
condition and in courteous and expeditious
manner customers have always been given
full value at right prices.
Fresh goods are
always kept on hand, and the store stands
;

ready to return cheerfully the money paid for
goods which for any reason have not proved
satisfactory.

The popularity of the store is attested by
the attendance on the special sale occasions
by residents from surrounding towns and the
large territory contributing to the town's general business.
The oldest employee in the service of the
company is Mr. John H. Taylor, who has
been connected with the business, as previously stated, since the early days at the foot of
the "old dug road" on Canal street.
Others
who have seen many years of service in the
company's employ are Messrs. Oscar E. McBride and Harry M. Evans.
In November, 191 1, the limited partnership under the title of the Berwick Store Company, Limited, passed out of existence by
sale to the

newly incorporated company, the
present Berwick Store Company, the personnel of this concern being: W. C. Garrison,
president and manager; F. A. Witman, treasurer and secretary; R. L. Kline, credit manager; C. E. Ferris, assistant manager; C. J.
Gilds, artist and decorator; T. B. Brobst, manager meat and automobile departments.
The United States Lumber
Supply Company, a Virginia corporation, which has a
branch office in Berwick, has here a fine four-

story planing' mill and lumber yard, to sup-

ply the local trade in building materials.
two-story novelty plant is attached, in which
many articles used by builders are made. The

yards and buildings are on Second street.
The Standard Shirt Factory in the north
end of Berwick, owned by I. B. Abrams, is

two

stories in height, electrically operated,

ploys

seventy-five people

and produces

emfive

hundred dozen fine shirts weekly. The factory was established here in 1902 by Mr.
Abrams, in a small building, but in three years
had outgrown its quarters to enter the present fine building.

The Berwick Silk Throiuing Mill of the
Universal Industrial Association, a New York
concern, is located in West Berwick. It was
formerly the Baer Silk Mill, until 1914. About
sixty employees are engaged in the manufacture of silk yarn.
The building is of brick,
three stories in height, and is one of the prinindustrial
establishments
of the borough.
cipal
Edward J. Hartman, son of the founder of the
mills at Danville, is the present manager of
the Berwick mill.

The Berwick Granite and Marble Works
were established in the town in 1870 by Levi
Kurtz, and are now in the control of his son,
Mr. Kurtz is an exceptionally
J. U. Kurtz.
artistic carver and designer, and his work is
to be found all over this section of the State.
He erected the soldiers' and sailors' monument at Bloomsburg.
SCHOOLS

The

Berwick schools
will probably never be told, for time has
erased all evidences of the old buildings, and
those whose memories bore records of the
old-time teachers and their pupils have also
early history of the

passed away.
The first recorded school in Berwick was

opened by Isaac Holoway in the brick Quaker
From that time until 1837
meeting house.
this and the market house were the only
for
used
buildings
purposes of education.
Prominent among the teachers of the period
prior to 1818 were David E. Owen, son of
the founder of Berwick. Drs. Dutlon and Roe,
David Jones and James Dilvan. Between 1818
and 1837 the teachers were Rev. Mr. Crosby,
Simon Haik and Messrs. Comstock, Hoyt and
Richards.

Berwick Academy, "for the education of
in the English and other languages, and
in the useful arts and sciences and literature,"
was incorporated June 25, 1839, the trustees
being Marmaduke Pearce, John Bowman,
Thomas McNair, A. B. Wilson, George Mack
and A. B. Shuman. Rev. John R. Rittenhouse
youth

Old Methodist Church AxNd Academy,
Berwick, Pa., in 1840

1'riexds" ^Ieetixg House, Catawissa. Pa.,

Passenger Boat on the Pennsvlv.vnia C.\.nal in

i8C)8

Erected in 1775

& W'oodin Store on the
River and Canal Taken in 1865,

First Jackson

—

During High Water

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and Miss Jones, of Troy, N. Y., were the
first teachers.
George Waller and Joel E.
Bradley were also among the instructors connected with this institution during its thirtyframe building
three years of existence.
for the academy was erected in 1839 ^Y
Thomas Connelly on the site of the old market house, but was removed in 1873 and the
The
proceeds applied to school purposes.

mathematics,
sciences,
higher
languages,
music, drawing and painting were taught, and
the academy ranked as a very fine educational
institution.

school building was
erected in 1870. In 1875 the Sixth street addiin
was
and
tion
built,
1893 the Fifth street end
was added. The directors under whose care
the present handsome edifice was completed
were: J. U. Kurtz, C. C. Evans, Dr. A. B.

The Market

MacCrea,

street

Rough, John

The Berwick Academy was abandoned

1870 and the classes were removed to the
Market street schoolhouse. This school gradIn January,
its first classes in 1871.
1887, the high and grammar grade pupils entered the (then) new high school building on
Third street.
The school at Foundryville
which had supplanted the one taught previously in the old Quaker church was installed
in the Market street building, which accommodated all grades up to the sixth, inclusive.

uated

The Market

street

schoolhouse accommo-

the grades and the high school until
1886.
In that year C. R. Woodin donated
the lots on Third street upon which the present high school stands, and the main portion
of the building was then erected. The classes
were moved from the Market street school in
the fall of 1886, and in June, 1887, the first
class was graduated, under the principalship
of Professor Clark.
The addition to the high school was made
in 1901.
The school directors of that time
were: Dr. F. P. Hill, Thomas Sherwood, S.
W. Dickson, H. E. Walton, J. E. Smith, W. S.
all

Johnson.

From 1887

i8go the principal of all the
supervision over the
Since the removal of

schools

had personal

Market

street school.

the high school in 1890 the principals of the
Market street school have been as follows
:

Orval H. Yetter,
Bullard, 1890-93
1893-94; A- U. Lesher. 1894-1912; Eckley
Hoyt, 191 2 to the present time.
The Chestnut street schoolhouse was
erected in 191 1. The school directors of that
date were: Henry Traugh, W. S. Johnson,
Lloyd

;

H. Bower, J. E. Smith, Walter Suit, H. P.
Field, Jr., L. E. Hess, Dr. F. P. Hill, Harvey
The principals of this school have
Doan.
B.

been John Hause, Atlee Cryder and Howard
F. Fenstermacher.
On April 16, 1913, a bronze tablet at the
entrance of the Market street school in honor
of Professor Lesher, who died the summer
previous, was unveiled by- Helen Lesher, the
The tablet bears the
Professor's daughter.
following inscription
:

Memory

of
Prof. Albert Ulysses Lesher,
Scholar Poet Patriot
Principal of the
Market Street School
From Sept., 1894, to June, 1912,
This tablet is placed by the teachers,
pupils, directors and friends of
the Berwick public schools.

Teacher

—

Evans, C. C.

Fenstermacher.

dated

169

Songs composed by Professor Lesher were
sung by children and addresses made by Prof.
R. M. Ebert, Rev. E. A. Loux, J. U. Kurtz,
William F. Lowry, Rev. B. S. Botsford, Rev.
E. A. Long and Rev. J. K. Adams.
The principals of the high school have been
Timothy Mahoney, 1858; Michael Whitmire,
1859; Joseph Yocum, i860; Henry Keim,
:

1861 J. G. Cleveland, 1862; Samuel E. Furst,
1863; Reece W. Dodson, 1864; William Patterson, 1865; J. H. Hurst, 1866; S. C. Tayne,
1867; H. M. Spaulding, 1868; H. D. Albright,
until 1872; J. G. WilHams, 1873; H. D. AlA. H.
bright, 1874; C. F. Diffenderfer, 1875;
Stees, 1876; W. E. Smith, 1877-81; J. T.
Bevan, 1882; L. T. Conrad, 1883; Amelia
Armstrong, 1884-85; Henry G. Clark, 1886;

88 (resigned) Andrew Freas, April, 1888, to
June, 1889; Charles Dechant, 1889-91; E. K.
Richardson, 1891-97; Elmer E. Garr, 1897-99;
Charles H. Winder, 1899-1902; John W. Snyder, 1902-06 (resigned); James S. Sigman,
1907-13 (resigned) E. R. Ebert, January to
June, 1913; S. Irvine Shortess, September,
was
J. Y. Shambach
1913, to present time.
elected supervisory principal of the schools
in 1913 for three years.
The principal departments of the schools
which have been added since their establishThe English department, added in
ment are
1900, with Miss Marie Kschinkia in charge,
to the high school; the primary department,
added in 1901 as a special branch. Miss Sarah
M. Hagenbuch being given the position of supervisor, which she has held ever since drawwith
ing, introduced in 1902 in all grades,
;

;

Miss Grace Conner as instructor; the commercial course, established the same year in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

170

the high school, under the charge of Miss
S. Liggett
music, which became a
part of the course in all the grades in 1906,
Miss Bertha A. Bartley presiding; manual
training and penmanship, introduced in 1913,
under the direction of Frank Titman.
Having given the lot for the Y. M. C. A.
extension in 1894, Mr. C. R. Woodin desired
to do something for the girls of Berwick also.
He therefore offered to bear half the expense of the course if cooking was introduced
in the schools as a regular part of the work
of the girls. This offer was accepted and in
September, 1894, the course was started. But
at the end of three years the sentiment of the
people was so antagonistic to the course that

Emma

WEST BERWICK SCHOOLS

;

was abandoned.

Ferris Heights school was built in 1908,
and the West Berwick high school in 191 3,
on the same hill. Prof. Harlan R. Snyder is
principal of the high and grammar schools,
the Ferris Heights school being on the same
lot with the high school, and under the principal of the latter. William C. Belong is principal of the Fairview school.
The school directors of West Berwick borough are Frank Wenner, Harry Fahringer,
:

Walter Hughes, Thomas Hutchings, N. D.
Peters, William Fairchilds, E. M. Ritter.
RELIGIOUS

Mrs. Fred Richardson was

the instructor at this time.
In 191 3 a reversion of feeling brought the cooking course
into favor again, and it was reintroduced in
connection with sewing, under the charge of
Miss Robertson. Mr. Woodin, however, did
not renew his offer, so the course is not as
complete or as thorough as at the first introduction of the work.
Miss
S. Liggett, the former instructor of the commercial course in the high school,
is now with her sister, Isabella, in the
Ching
Hua College, Pekin, China, having accepted a
second term of five years, the first term being for three years.
Previous to the Boxer uprising in China
the government had sent many boys to American colleges to gain a knowledge of occidental
manners and language. After the suppression
of the rebellion the property of the principal
Boxer chief was confiscated and on the site
a college was erected for adult scholars, the

Emma

money coming from America, which had

re-

turned the indemnity given by China for the
damages Jo American missions and citizens.
As a measure of gratitude for this fairness
the Chinese government selected all of the
eighteen teachers from America. Miss Emma
S. Liggett and Miss Isabella Liggett being
two of the number.
Most of the scholars are married men and
form the leading class of reformers of modem
China. The old Chinese school calendar has
just been superseded by the Western one in
Letters from the school come by way
1913.
of Siberia and Europe and take twenty-seven
days for the trip.
The school directors of Berwick are Henry
F. Traugh, B. H. Bower, L. E. Hess, J. B.
Fulmer, N. G. Baker, James E. Smith, W. S.
:

Johnson.

The

The church growth
marvelous, and no city
State possesses

loyal congregations.

Berwick has been

in this section of the

active ministers or

Thirteen denominations

are represented, there are eighteen resident
ministers, and twenty churches, including three
missions.

The

religious

growth has kept pace with

the growth of population.
Ministers of Berwick foresaw the expansion into outlying districts, and in many instances lots were purchased before a house was built where now
the church building is the center of a built-up
community. Since Berwick's last boom there
have been eleven new congregations organized,
ten of which have erected churches, and four
parsonages. There have also been three new
churches erected by congregations which outgrew old quarters, and one church built by a
congregation which had been for some time
organized, but not strong enough to undertake the construction of a home.
That Berwick is a church-going community
is shown by the size of the congregations and
the expansion of the pastorates. Revival serv-

have also reaped large results, an examStough campaign of 191 3, in
which the Bower Memorial Evangelicals
gained 125 converts; the Methodists, 210; and
the West Berwick Evangelical Church, 100
ices

ple being the

also.

Quakers

The first to erect a house of worship in Berwick was the Society of Friends, who purchased on Oct. 21, 1799, the ground on which
in 1801 they built a small brick meetinghouse.
On Nov. II, 1800, a request was laid before
the Catawissa monthly meeting for permission
to hold services in Berwick on the first day of
each week, signed by Aquilla Starr. On April

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The first
25, 1801, the request was granted.
attendants were Evan Owen, Joseph Stackhouse, Andrew Shaner, William Rittenhouse,
Joseph Pilkington and Joseph Eck. The old
meetinghouse was used for a few years and
then abandoned. In 1837 or 1840 it was torn
down, the site now being occupied by the residence of C. C. Evans.
First Methodist

Church

To a narrative prepared for and published
by Rev. Martin L. Smyser, then pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Berwick,
in "The Berwick Methodist," under date of
March

18, 1882, the writer of this sketch is
indebted for the facts relating to the history
of the local church from the beginning to the

year 1882.

Origin.

— Methodism entered Berwick amid

the fervor of a religious revival in Briarcreek valley, about four miles distant from
Berwick, where resided Rev. Thomas Bowman, an ordained local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a man of zeal and
eloquence, who, with his brother. Rev. Christian Bowman, sowed pure Methodist seed in
In order that his
all this region of country.
neighbors might have the regular ministrations of the gospel he fitted up the third story
of his dwelling, a stone house (still standing
together with the original stone church near
Fowlerville in Briarcreek township), as a place
of worship, and invited the Methodist itinerHere in the
ants to hold services therein.
year 1805, under the ministry of Rev. James
Paynter and Rev. Joseph Carson, occurred a
revival of great power and widespread influence.
As an immediate result of this religious awakening a Methodist class was organized in Berwick, then a small settlement on
This class conthe frontier of civilization.
William
sisted of the following members
Stahl, leader
Jane Herin. Rachel Traugh,
:

;

171

eled by Revs. James Paynter and Joseph Carson, who made its extensive rounds once in
every four weeks. Rev. Anning Owen, a converted blacksmith of Kingston, Pa., and a
zealous evangelist of Wyoming valley, was

presiding elder, and was untiring in labor to
plant Methodism along the Susquehanna river

and

its

tributaries.

Northumberland

—

regularly

appointed

Circuit. In 1806 Berwick was attached to what was known as the
Northumberland Circuit, with which it stood
connected until 1831, and was served by the
following

ministers

Swartzwelder
1808,
1807. Nicholas Willis, Joel Smith;
Thomas Curren, John Rhodes; 1809, Timothy
Lee, Loring Grant 1810, Abraham Dawson,
Isaac Puffer: 1811, B. G. Paddock, J. H.
1812, George Thomas,
Baker, R. Lanning
Ebenezer Doolittle 1813, Joseph Kinkead, I.
Chamberlain 1814, John Hazzard, Abraham
Dawson: 1815, R. N. Everts, I. Cook; 1816,
John Thomas, Alpheus Davis; 1817, Benjamin
Bidlack, Peter Baker; 1818, Gideon Lanning,
Abraham Dawson 1819, John Rhodes, Darius
Williams
1820, John Rhodes, Israel Cook
1806,

Robert

Burch,

John

;

1821,

Marmaduke

Pearce,

Thomas;

lilordecai

1822,

John Thomas,
Barry 1823, J.
Shepherd, M. Barry; 1824, R. Cadden, F.
Robert Cadden,
R.
Bond;
1825,
Macartney,
;

R. Bond; 1826, John Thomas, George Hildt;
1827,

John

Thomas, David Shaver;

1828,

Charles Kalbfus, William James; 1829, James
W. Donahay, Josiah Forrest 1830, James W.
Donahay, A. A. Eskridge.
Berwick Circuit. Owing to the enlarge;

—

ment of the work, incident

to the opening up
of the country, advancing population, multiplied congregations, and increasing demands
for ministerial service, in 1831 Berwick Circuit
was formed, embracing twenty-eight
preaching places in Columbia and Luzerne
counties north of the river and including the

Bloomsburg,
charges
Jerseytown, Benton, Orangeville,

pastoral

following

Hugh Thompson, Nancy Thompson, Robert Buckhorn,

James Herin, William Espy, Light Street, Mifflinville, Beach Haven,
Pettit and Benja- Bloomingdale, Muhlenburg and Berwick, all
min Doan. Previous to this, however, occa- within the bounds of the Baltimore ConferThe following pastors served this cirsional visits were made by Revs. William ence.
William Prettyman, Wesley
Colvert, James Paynter, ]\Iorris Howe and cuit:
1831,
Robert Burch, who, if they attempted to or- Howe; 1832, William Prettyman, Oliver Ege
Brown, Samuel

Steele,

Sisty, INIary Sisty,

Andrew

;

ganize a class, did not receive the encourage- 1833, Marmaduke Pearce, Alem Brittain;
ment necessary to success.
Following the 1834-35, J. Rhodes, J. H. Young; 1836, J.
organization of this class Berwick became a Sanks, J- Hall; 1837, T- Sanks, George Guyer;
regular appointment on the Wyoming Circuit, 1838, Charles Kalbfus, J. Hall 1839, Charles
which then extended from "near Northum- Kalbfus, Penfield Doll 1840, James Ewing,
berland in the State to Tioga Point in the William R. Mills; 1841, James Ewing, W. T.
State of New York." This circuit was trav- D. Clemm 1842, Thomas Tanneyhill, Joseph
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

172

A. Ross; 1843, Thomas Tanneyhill, Thomas
1844, Francis N. Mills, W. L. Spotts-

Bowman

;

territory equaling a quarter of the

Common-

wealth of Pennsylvania, while at an earlier
period the circuit formed part of a district
which extended from Montreal in Canada to

1845, John Bowen, W. F. Pentz, T.
Bowman: 1846, John Bowen, J. W.,Bull, T.
Bowman 1847, A. Brittain, J. S. McMurray, Berwick and Clearfield in Pennsylvania. The
T. Bowman; 1848, A. Brittain, N. S. Bucking- Berwick Methodist Church has been connected

wood

;

1849, Philip B. Reese; 1850, P. B.
Reese, B. B. Hamlin; 1851, H. G. Dill, Justice
A. Melick 1852, H. G. Dill, James Curns

with three Annual Conferences, the Baltimore,
the East Baltimore and. the Central Pennsylvania. The itinerant ministry has given Ber-

1853, John Moorhead, J. Curns; 1854, John
Moorhead, Thomas Sherlock; 1855, Thomas
Barnhart, Samuel Barnes
1856, Thomas
Barnhart, M. L. Drum; 1857, H. ,G. Dill,
Thomas Sherlock; 1858, H. G. Dill, John
Guss; 1859, A. W. Gibson, C. H. Savidge;

wick a large number of ministers of diversified
talents, some of whom were giants in their
day and prominent in the councils of the
church. One of her ministers, born in Briarcreek, near Berwick, Rev. Thomas Bowman,
who was attached to the Berwick appointment
in early manhood, became president of Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., and

ham;

;

Gibson, S. L. Bowman; 1861,
1862, A. M. BarJ. F. Porter
nitz, W. C. Hesser; 1863, A. M. Barnitz, F.
E. Church; 1864-65, M. P. Crosthwaite, S. C.
Swallow; 1866, John A. Gere, W. H. Nori860, A.

S. L.

Bowman,

cross.

Berwick Station.

;

—

Berwick having grown
and importance, and the church requiring the entire time and service of a pastor, the

in size

members

petitioned the presiding bishop of

the East Baltimore Conference (Bishop Kingsley) in 1867 to set aside Berwick as a separate
Accordingly, Berwick Station was
charge.

DePauw

later the president of
University, at
Greencastle, Ind., and subsequently, in 1872,

was elected a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death at the advanced age
of ninety-six years occurred in 1914. Another,
Rev. Jesse B. Young, D. D., soldier, preacher,
author and editor, was born in Berwick and
entered the ministry from the local church,
filling many appointments, was elected editor
of the "Central Christian Advocate" of St.

Louis, and in quite recent years published a
history of the battle of Gettysburg, pronounced
by critics a most accurate and comprehensive
account of this great battle.
Property. For a few years the Methodists
a membership of about 140, was thoroughly
organized and equipped for the work before occupied as a preaching place the second story
of
the old Market house (also used for school
The official board of the new charge emit.
braced the following well-known persons
purposes), which stood in the center of MarJesse Bowman, William H. Woodin, Morrison ket street immediately opposite the site of the
Afterwards an old
E. Jackson, Mordecai W. Jackson, Clemuel present church building.
R. Woodin, Henry C. Freas, Paul Fortner, log building, originally erected as a dwelling,
William J. Knorr, E. B. Hull, J. W. Bowman, later arranged as a storeroom, became the
James Jacoby. William H. Woodin was sanctuary of these devout people. In 181 1, on
elected recording steward and Sunday school the completion of his new dwelling on Second
superintendent and in both capacities he served street, Hugh Thompson tendered to the growthe church with marked fidelity and success. ing society the use of his "best room" for diThe ministers from this period forward have vine service, and, being accepted, the "old log
On special occasions
been as follows:
1867-68, John A. Gere; building" was vacated.
1869-70, Finley B. Riddle; 1871-73, William of extraordinary interest, the house not afW. Evans; 1874-75, Samuel Creighton 1876- fording sufficient accommodation, the congreEncouraged
78, Tames H. McGarrah; 1879-82, Martin L. gation worshipped in the barn.
Smyser; 1882-84, William W. Evans; 1885- by the increase in membership means were
lot
1888-90, Benjamin H. taken towards the erection of a church.
87, Ezra H. Yocum
Mosser; 1891-93, Richard Hinkle 1894-96, on the corner of Mulberry and Third streets
in
a
brick
edifice
was
secured
and
was
Alexander
R.
MilT. L. Tomkinson; 1897-99,
1817
This building
ler; 1900-06, Richard H. Gilbert; 1906-10, raised thereon and dedicated.
The
still stands, now occupied as a dwelling.
Orlando G. Heck; 191O-15, J. Howard Ake.
CONNECTIONAL SYSTEM AND THE ITINER- increasing congregations and growth necessiANCY. The Methodist Church of Berwick in tated a more commodious and better arranged
1867 was connected with a large district with edifice. The lots on the corner of Market and
established, with Rev. John A. Gere,
D. D., as pastor. Under his wise administration and superior management the station, with

duly

—

;

—

many appointments and

in extent

embraced a

.Second streets, then valued at $400, were do-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
nated by Robert McCurdy and a two-story
brick church was erected having a seating capacity of 350, the entire cost of the structure,
then the finest church of the denomination in
It was dedithe county, aggregating $5,000.
cated in the year 1845, under the pastorate of
Revs. John Bowen, William F. Pentz and T.
Bowman. In 1870, under the pastorate of

Rev. Finley B. Riddle, this church gave place
to another, of symmetrical elegance, dedicated
Sabbath, Feb. 19, 1871, bv Revs. Thomas Bowman, D. D., and Robert L. Dashiel, D. D. The
whole cost was $26,000. In subsequent years
this building was improved and enlarged and
a pipe organ, the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth S.

Jackson (wife of Col. C. G. Jackson), was inIn the spring of 1902, under the passtalled.
torate of Rev. Richard H. Gilbert, D. D., the
church
third
building to occupy the present
site, the fourth to be owned by the denominaIt is a beaution in Berwick, was begun.
tiful

and commodious stone

edifice,

and was

1903, with appropriate services lasting over a week, the late Bishop
(Chaplain) Charles C. McCabe conducting the
services of dedication. The finances were directed by John W. Powell, of Buffalo, N. Y.
The cost of this structure was $50,000. The

dedicated in

May,

present parsonage on Market street was
erected under the pastorate of Rev. W. W.
Evans, D. D., in 1883.
Organizations. The first Sunday school
was organized about 1825 and was held in the
Methodist Church at the corner of Mulberry
and Third streets. Daniel Bowen, a Presby-

—

was superintendent.

Shortly after its
organization, about 1828, the Presbyterians
withdrew and the school became a Methodist
school,
though the superintendent, Daniel
Bowen, continued in his relation as superin-

terian,

The Epworth League was organized
The school and league have been
and are great factors in the life of the church.
The growth of the school has been commensurate with the growth of the community and
under the energetic pastorate of Rev. J. Howard Ake ranks numerically the second in the
county, having an enrollment of over 1,400
persons in all grades. The Sunday school can

tendent.

about 1894.

soon celebrate

its centennial.
Much attention has been given the musical
features of the church services. The several
choirs through the years past, as at the present, have proved greatly attractive to the citizens of the community.
Space prevents more elaborate mention of
many individual men and women, as well as
its present day officials, ministers excepted.

173

who have been and are identified in lay capacity with her activities. The membership of
the church has included many of the most
progressive business men of the region. The
policy of the church in spiritual and temporal
matters was molded by these men. To their
example the church owes its spirit of benevolence.
In a very liberal way she has supported the benevolent enterprises of the
church.
Some of her members have been
prominent in the affairs of the State. Several
of her laymen have represented the Annual
Conference at the General Conference, together with several of her ministers. One of
her pastors, Rev. Richard H. Gilbert, D. D.,
whose service in the inception and consummation of the plan leading to the present church
building, deserves acknowledgment, was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of Meth-

odism
church

London, England,

1901.

The

to-day is thoroughly representative,
well organized, well appointed, centrally located, evangelical in spirit, and seeks the best
interest of the Greater Berwick in which it
serves.

The membership

1,100.

St. John's Ltitheran

Church

In the year 1794 Evan Owen, the founder of
Berwick, donated a lot about in the center of
the town to Jacob Kisner, William Martz and
Sebastian Seybert, in trust, for the German
Lutheran Church of Berwick. This lot was

subsequently exchanged for another, on Market street, in 1873.

There was no substantial organization of
church before 1892, although several pashad preached in the town hall and the Y.
M. C. A. building before that date. Among
these pastors were Revs. Bahl, Fox, Henry,
Steck and German.
In 1892 Rev. Mr. Stupp became pastor of
this parish and moved into the parsonage, now
the club room of the Rangers, on East Front
street.
He soon took in the situation and began to canvass the town for Lutheran people.
His energies proved fruitful, and on the evening of Nov. 30, 1892, an Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized, with twenty
members. The first services were held in the
parlor of the parsonage, but later the Y. M.
C. A. hall was secured for regular services.
On Feb. 13, 1893, the court granted the peti-

this

tors

for incorporation.
Arrangements were
9, 1893, to build a chapel on
the ground next to the parsonage, and the
completed building, a frame, was dedicated
tion

made on April

Dec. 10, 1893.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

174

In 1894 Rev. Mr. Stupp accepted a call to
another congregation, and Rev. G. G. Kunkle
was called to the parish, where he labored for
two years. In x'\pril, 1897, Rev. N. Scheffer
was called, serving faithfully for seven years.
He was succeeded in August, 1904, by Rev.
J. A. Schofer, who worked in this field for

Near the close of his pastorate
three years.
the charge of five congregations was divided,
and the old chapel and parsonage sold to the
Rangers Fire Company.
The three congregations of St. John's BerSalem township, Luzerne
County, and St. Peter's, Briarcreek township, Columbia county, formed the new BerSoon afterwards the
wick charge in 1906.
formation of a Lutheran congregation in Nesthe
river
from Berwick, so
across
copeck,
depleted the membership of St. John's that it
was taken over by the Mission board, and has
St.

wick,

Paul's,

since continued a mission.
In 1907 the three congregations

built

ground by the Cemetery Association, having
been partially used for interments.
Services were held in Berwick intermittently
March 31, 1902, when St. Mary's mission
was organized, and thereafter regular services
were held by Rev. Frederick Wenhani in the
Y. M. C. A. building. In the spring of 1903
the present frame church was built at a cost
of $2,100, the first services being held April
22d.
When dedicated the church was given
the name of Christ. At that time there were
until

117 baptized persons and 45 communicants in
the church.

During 1905, under the rectorate of Rev. M.
Jr., the church was renovated and
In 1906 the final payments on the
repaired.
were
made and the church was adbuilding
mitted to the convention. The parish house
was built in 1914 at a cost of $2,000.
A. Shipley,

Rev. C. C. Kelsey, a native of England, took
the charge on Nov. i, 1912, and during his incumbency the debt of the church has been

The communicants now
Sunday school is growThe frequent promotion of heads

parsonage on East Eleventh street, and St.
John's laid the foundations for a new church
building at the corner of Eleventh and Pine

materially reduced.
number loi and the

streets.

of the American Car and
Foundry Company, many of whom are members, and their consequent removal from town,
has kept this church from growing as fast

July

19,

called to the pastorate.
ices

were held

in the

members

Berk was
For ten months serv-

1908, Rev.

II.

new parsonage,

there be-

good standing in attendance during that time. In May, 1909, the new
church building, which cost $5,500, was dediThe present
cated and occupied thereafter.
church membership is loi, that of the Sunday school, 95.
ing thirty

ing rapidly.
of departments

as others in Berwick.

Besides those named. Revs. J. W. Diggles
and C. R. Fessenden have served as rectors of
this parish.

Benvick Presbyterian Church

Protestant Episcopal

The first organization of the Presbyterians
of this town was made at a meeting held in the

Although the Episcopalians were in Berwick in sufficient numbers to have had an organization of some kind sufficient to own
property in 1804, there is no record of services
On
here before that date, nor until 1870.
Dec. 26, 1804, Evan Owen deeded two lots to

Brick Meeting House on Nov. 24, 1827, by
Rev. Joseph M. Ogden. The members of this
congregational meeting were: William
and Sarah Wilson, Daniel Bowen, Isaac and
Abigail Hart, Mary and Eliza Pollock, Thomas
and Eleanor Lockart, Emanuel Kirkendall,
Rachel wife of Nathan Beach, Klonah wife
of Christian Kunkel, Frances wife of H. B.
Wilson, A. B. and Mary E. Shuman, Thurma

the "Society of the Episcopal Church of England," represented by Robert Brown, John
Brown and William Cox, for use in erecting a
church and schoolhouse, and for a burying
ground. Nothing was heard further regard-

ing this donation until 1873,

when

Col.

John

G. Freeze investigated and found that both
had been appropriated by Jesse Bowman
and the Berwick Cemetery Association.
lots

After a friendly suit Mr. Bowman transferred to the church the lot on the corner of
Market and Jackson streets, in return for the
The lot in the cemetery was
lot he had taken.
allowed to remain in its use as a burying

first

and Nancy McMaer, Benjamin F. Rittenhouse,
John H. Rittenhouse, Hannah H. Rittenhouse, Rachel Perkins, Sarah Sink, Rachel
Traugh, Elizabeth Palmer, Sarah Ann Solt,
Margaretta Traugh, Eliza and Nancy Adams,
Anna, Mary McNair, John Drake, Hamett
Drake, Thomas Edunder, William Edunder,
Mrs. David Walker, Isaiah Styles, William
Reed, James Evans, Andrew Seely, William
Sink, Samuel Pollock and wife, Matthias
Harns, Sr., Mrs. Jane Edwards, Mrs. William

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Edwards, Mrs. David Sink, Mrs. E. Harris,
Miss Susanna Kiinetob, Miss M. Remaley,
Miss Hannah Shinly, Miss Melinda Dennis,
Miss Harriet Pollock, Miss Eleanor Kiinetob,
James Lamon, William Adams, Evan Adams,
Mrs. Hannah Lamon, Mrs. J. Moyer, Mrs.
Solomon Bower, Mrs. Andrew Seely, Mrs.
Anton Bowman, Hudson Onin, Clinton Trow-

Shuman, Alfred Longshin,
Robert F. Russel, Mrs. Samuel
Catherine
Adams, Mrs. Sidney
kelchner, Mrs.
Pollock, Mrs. Clement Jones, Mrs. Kiziah
Brundage, Miss Martha C. Walker, Mr. and
Mrs. William Lindsley Walker, Christian
Kunkle, Mr. and Mrs. William Pollock, Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Deprey, Nathaniel L. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell, Sr, Mrs.
Silas Tacobs, Hannah Bonhams, Mrs. David
Hart, Mrs. Alexander Heltezton, J\lrs. John
Pollock, Mrs. Elizabeth Freeman, Mrs. Jane
Oilman, Mrs. Lyden Reder, Mrs. Hannah
Baird, Mrs. Hannah Kiinetob, Mrs. Sarah
Freas, Mrs. Lydia Freas, Mrs. Ephmain
Evans, Mrs. Mary Thompson, Mrs. Massy
Evans, Mrs. Elizabeth Nihart, Miss Rebecca
Adams, Jacob Cope, Frances Evans, John
McAnall,"Stephen H. Miller, Leonard Kirkendall and wife, Samuel J. Seely, Cornelius
Kirkendall, Miss Mary Kirkendall, Miss Elizabeth Grover, Miss Sarah Beck, Sarah A. Deprey Rober, Mrs. Mary F. Pollock, Samuel
Pollock, Mrs. Paul Kirkendall, Mrs. Anna
Charity Evans, Mrs. Margaret Adams, Mrs.
Leah Bredbender, Miss Celinda Deprey, Miss
Mary E. Patterson, Miss Nancy J. Cortright,
Miss Sarah L. Patterson, John Pollock, Mrs.
Dekonah Doak, Mrs. Jacob Cope, Mrs. Andrew Seely, Mrs. Mamina Walton, Jacob Pollock, Albert Kiinetob, Mrs. Sarah Adams,
Miss Elizabeth Seybert, Miss Susan Ranbach,
John Schleppy, Mrs. Sarah Counos.
On the following Sabbath Daniel Bowen,
Isaac Hart and Thomas Lockart were installed
bridge,

Tames

Solt,

as ruling elders.

On July 30, 1839, Rev. David J. Waller
preached in Berwick and entered on the minutes of this congregation that the church had
for a long time been without a pastor; "and
though their number was small, they with
That they would
great liberality, resolved:
unite with Bloomsburg and Briarcreek in the
support of a minister. Mr. D. J. Waller, a licentiate of New Castle Presbytery, was invited
to take charge of these congregations and was
ordained by the Presbytery of Northumberland and installed Pastor of the church in
Bloomsburg, with one-half of his time at his
discretion." Rev. D. J. Waller served the Ber-

wick Church
A. H. Hand

in this

way

175
until relieved

by Rev.

in 1842.

his own recjuest Rev. A. H. Hand took
congregation into his extensive charge,
entered upon his duties July 17, 1842, and at
once took steps to revive the church also
ministering to Briarcreek and Salem churches.
He succeeded so well that in the following year
a completed brick church with basement was
dedicated by the Rev. George W. Yeomans,
President of Lafayette College. In 1881 this
building was improved by the addition of a
tower and was remodeled.
Rev. A. H. Hand resigned on account of ill
health and Aug. i, 1845, Rev. Alexander HebHe was followed by
erton became pastor.
Rev. James F. Kennedy, who served from Jan.
In turn he was
23, 1848, to April 27, 1850.
followed by Rev. T. K. Newton, who served
from August 18, 1853, to Sept. 29, 1855. R^^.
P. W. Mellick was pastor from (October, 1863,

this

;

to 1865.
this time

The preaching appointments were

Berwick, Briarcreek, Stone Church,
Moore's Schoolhouse and Lockport (now
Beach Haven). The ne.xt minutes were entered on Oct. 24, 1868, by Rev. James Dickson,
who served until Nov. 2, 1879. Following pastors were: Rev. L. M. Kumler, 1880-88; Rev.
George H. Stephens, 1890-98; Rev. Joseph
Hunter, 1899-1905; and Rev. Edward A.
Loux, 1905-14. At different periods Rev. A.
M. Morgan, Rev. J. F. Kennedy, Rev. Joseph
Marr, Rev. Edward Kennedy, Rev. James M.
Salmon and Rev. James R. Gibson have sustained pastoral relations with this church. Rev.
Edward Franklin Reimer, A. M., B. D., a
graduate of Lafayette College and Princeton

Seminary, who also spent a year in postgraduate study in Princeton University and
Princeton Seminary, receiving then his divinity
degree, was installed pastor Oct. 31, 1914. He
is a native of Easton, Pa., and has had extensive experience in evangelistic, missionary and
literary work.
The congregation has grown greatly in modern years, and at present numbers over 500
persons, with a Sunday school of 350 attend-

The cornerstone of the present handsome brick building was laid in 1895, and the
completed building was dedicated the following
year, during the pastorate of Rev. George H.
Stephens. It is an attractive edifice, of modern
design and fittings, and is exceedingly commodious and artistic.
The church officials in 1914 are: Elders
Francis Evans, William F. Lowry, O. F. FerTrustees
ris, Horace Breece, James E. Smith.
T. Harv.ey Doan, Fred W. Bush, Thomas
ants.

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

376

Morton, Willard Smith, George Henkleman,
C. E. Ferris, W. S. Johnson, John H. Smethers, Charles C. Evans.
Baptists

Preaching was held in Berwick in 1841 by
Rev. J. S. Morris for the Baptists of the growing town, but it was not till the coming of
Rev. William S. Hall in 1842 that a regular organization was effected. The sermons of Mr.
Morris were delivered in the Methodist church,
but Mr. Hall held a series of meetings continuously in the storeroom of Samuel F. Headley, corner of Second and Mulberry streets,
the result being forty-two conversions.
On
Sept. 25, 1842, the congregation was organized
in Williams Grove, Nescopeck, with thirteen
members, as follows J. T. Davis, B. S. Brockway, J. S. Havner, Levi L. Tate, Abram Miller, J. B. Dodson, Casper Reed, Joel E. Brad:

Jacob Rider, Perry Gilmore, Thomas P.
Coles, Thomas Wilford and John Whitman.
The first deacons were Messrs. Davis, Miller

have been: William S. Hall, 1842; Roswell R.
Prentiss, 1845; Levi Hamlin, 1849; John S.
Miller, 1850; John H. Worrell, 1852; E. M.
Alden, 1854; John R. Shanafelt, 1858; William W. Case, 1863; William Leacock, 1865;
George J. Brensinger, 1866; O. S. Rhoads,
1868; Walter Cattell, 1870; R. C. H. Catterall,
1880; William T. Galloway, 1884; P. S.
Brewster, 1889; Albert Hatcher Smith, 1894;
N. C. Naylor, 1901 W. Gordon Jones, 1906;
;

Horace

C. Broughton, 1907; Charles E. Mil1909.
The officials for the year 1914 are: Deacons

ler,

— Hiram Eveland,
W.

M. Kocher, Harry Fah-

—

Harris, J. F. Birth. Trustees
J. H. Catterall, president; O. K. McHenry,
secretary W. J. Harris, E. M. Kocher, Joseph
Kirkendall, J. F. Birth, Stephen Knelly, J. G.
ringer,

;

Welch, Walter Swank.

Bower Memorial Church

ley,

and Tate.

As the Baptist cause prospered, need of a
permanent place of meeting became imperaA charter for the new church was setive.
cured, and a site for the new building, located
on the south side of West Front street, between Mulberry and Vine streets, was donated by Sister Ann P. Evans and a frame
;

structure,

with a seating capacity of about
erected, dedicated July 4,

two hundred, was
1843-

At a time when the church had
paying

ofif

just finished
a debt of $1,400 for repairs, at an

early hour, on Wednesday morning, Aug. 14,
1878, the building was burned to the ground.
It was decided to rebuild at once
funds were
solicited, and the cornerstone of the new
structure was laid on Sept. 27th of the same
;

year.

The cornerstone of

Bower Memorial United Evangelical Church
was established in March, 1871, with Rev. P.
H. Rishel in charge. At that time a class, composed of Isaiah Bower, Hannah Bower, Henry
J. Clewell, Susan Clewell, Elizabeth Clewell
and Fannie Kirkendall, met in the town hall
and held services there weekly until 1874. In
Alarch, 1871, Rev. W. H. Buck was placed in
charge, remaining until 1872. Rev. E. SwenIn 1873 Rev. W. H. Buck
gle followed him.
returned, and the congregation having increased greatly it was decided to build. During that year the first church, of brick, was
begun, and in January, 1874, was finally dedicated by Rev. H. B. Hartzler (now Bishop),
Revs. M. J. Carothers, George Hunter, S. T.
Buck and H. W. Buck assisting. That building cost $5,750, and was located on Second,
between Pine and Chestnut streets.
The congregation has been served by the
following pastors since its foundation H.
Buck, 1871-73; S. P. Reemer, 1874; W.
Croman, 1875-76; J. A. Irvine, 1877-78; J
M. Ettinger, 1879-81 H. W. Buck, 1882-84
J. J. Lohr, 1885-87; E. Crumbling, 1888-90;
G. E. Zehner, 1891-92; A. Stapleton, 189394; J. C. Reeser, 1895-98; J. J. Lohr, 18991901 H. W. Buck, 1902-04; J. W. Thompson,
1905-08; I. E. Spangler, 190S-12; W. B. Cox,
1912-14.
During the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Thompson it was decided to replace the old building
with one of larger size and modem construction, and this resulted in the dedication of
the present beautiful church on Sept. 23, 1906.
The congregation unanimously decided to
:

the

present

church

building was laid on Thursday, June 6, 1894,
the sermon being preached by Rev. Dr.
Woods, of Williamsport. This was made
necessary by reason of the fact that the old
building had been found to be unsafe
Within the last five years extensive improvements have been made to the church a
slate roof put on, a steam heating plant installed, the Sunday school room and auditorium frescoed, the church recarpeted, the basement remodeled, and other lesser improvements made. The present pastor, Rev. Charles
E. Miller, came to Berwick in 1909.
Pastors of the church since organization
;

W
M

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
change the name to Bower Memorial Church,
in honor of Rev. Isaiah Bower and his wife
Hannah, who had contributed not only their
services to the upbuilding of the church, but
given the sum of $10,000 towards the construction of the new home. The total cost of
the completed edifice was $48,000. The building is located on the corner of Pine and East
Second streets and is of orange terra cotta

trimmed with Hummelstown brownThe brick were especially burned for
the work at Green Grove Furnace, Adams
brick,
stone.

A $2,000 pipe organ supplies the
county.
musical requirements of the congregation, and
the interior
utilitarian

On May

finished in a

most

artistic

and

manner.

1913, the last dollar due upon
the building was paid, although the congregation has no wealthy members and has a
clause in its constitution forbidding such expedients as raffles, lawn parties, suppers or
4,

entertainments at which admission

charged.

The following Monday

after the payment of
the last note the church decided to build a
parsonage, with the result that the present
orange shale brick dwelling was erected on the
corner of Pine and East Front streets at a
cost of $10,000, including the lot.
This congregation has enjoyed a number of
extensive revivals. The first meeting held in
the town hall resulted in the conversion of
100 persons; under the ministrations of' Rev.
Mr. Reeser there were 200 conversions Rev.
;

Mr. Spangler obtained 140 converts during
his ministry; and in 1913 there were 148 conversions under the ministrations of Rev. Mr.
Cox. During the latter's pastorate there have
been 393 accessions to the church in two years,
181 of these being partly through the union
revival campaign of Rev. W. H. Stough. At
present there are 765 members in the church,
and 800 in the Sunday school. This is the
largest congregation in the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Evangelical
Church. Since the founding of this church in

Berwick eight young men have been given to
the ministry from the congregation.

North Berwick

appointment in April, 1901. In December of
that year the cornerstone of the present frame
building was laid, the completed edifice being
dedicated
12

July

building was $3,500. In 1904 a parsonage was
built at a cost of $2,500.
The church was constituted a mission, in
connection with the West Berwick Church, in
March, 1903, but in March, 1904, it was detached. In March, 1914, it was changed from
a mission to a station and made self-supporting.

Rev. E. E. Shaiifer (now deceased) continued pastor until March, 1907, when he was
succeeded by Rev. Noah Young, the present
pastor.
During the summer of 1913 the

church was enlarged and much improved, at
a cost of $3,000. The remaining debt in 1914
is $1,100.
The present valuation of the church
is $8,000, and of the parsonage, $2,000.
The
membership of the church is 360, and 425
children are attendants of the Sunday school.

Holy

1902.

The

cost

the

Trinity Lutheran

Church

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
was organized Jan. 15, 1893, '" the Y. M. C. A.
building, by Rev. C. M. Aurand and wife,
Gertrude Aurand, P. E. Bergeman, Simon
Berry, Mrs. Simon Berry, Sarah Berry, John
Berry, Charles Berry, B. F. Driesbach, Mrs.
B. F. Driesbach, Mrs. Ira Hampton, A. T.
Ibach, Mrs. Daniel Loudenslager, A. F. Martz,
Mrs. A. F. Martz, Maggie Martz, Mrs. John
H. Martz, Mrs. A. T. Ibach, Mrs. C. E.
Miller.

The present church building was dedicated
Dec. 16, 1894. It is of brick, of commodious
size and artistic design, and together with
the lot cost $10,000.
The present membership is as follows: Communicants, 200;
The Sunday
confirmed, 290; baptized, 412.
school enrollment, including officers, teachers
and scholars,

462.

The successive pastors have been Revs. C.
M. Aurand, 1893-98; M. M. Allbeck, 18991904; W. Morgan Gross, 1904-05 J. B. Focht,
supply in January and March of 1906 and the
present pastor, Rev. C. R. Botsford, who came
;

;

in 1906.

First

United Evangelical Church

During the pastorate of Rev. E. E. Shaffer
on the Columbia circuit the congregation was
organized in North Berwick, being made an

177

Christian

Church

This church was organized

May

17,

1903,

rooms of the Young Men's Christian
Association of Berwick, by Rev. L. O. Knipp,
in the

late of

Plymouth, Pa., the movement having

culmination through the efforts of Mrs.
Jennie Whitesell and Mrs. C. E. Trescott.
The first members were A. P. Girton, G. C. B.
Whitesell. Mrs. Jennie Whitesell, Mrs. Ada
Boyd, A. W. McHenry, Mrs. Alice McHenry,
its

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

178

W. Harvey, William Berkey, Mrs. Jennie
Berkey, Miss Blanche Berkey, Miss Maine
Berkey. Mrs. O. M. Hess, Miss Ida Berkey,
Albert C. Young, Mrs. Jessie Young, Harry
O. McHenry, Mrs. VV. F. McEwen, Mrs. Jennie Mann, Mrs. Lizzie Hartman, Mrs. Elnora

ice in the

L. Trescott.

ties

Austrian army. His successor was
Father John N. Danneker, of Lock Haven,
Father PetroPa., who took charge in 1914.
vits spoke and read nine languages
Father
Danneker speaks only three. These requirements are necessitated by the many nationali;

The present church, a neat frame, seating
about 225 persons, was erected in 1905 and
dedicated July 29, 1906.
Its total cost was
The congregation is about 200, and
$7,000.
the Sunday school, 150.

The

pastors have been Rev. L. O. Knipp,
who preached for a time as supply Rev. H.
J. Dudley, the first settled pastor; Rev. George
C. Zeigler; Rev. Theodore B. Shaffer, who was
accidentally killed while assisting at the construction of a tabernacle in 1913 for the
Stough evangelistic campaign and Rev. C.
:

;

Salvation

M. lams, who came

March, 1914, and

occupying the

pulpit.
elders of this church in

The
1914 are: K.
McHenry, S. S. Michael, A. C. Young, O.
M. Hess; deacons: Milton Sitler, Levi Blank,
Luther Coates, Charles Zimmerman, Charles
Woolley, Charles McHenry, John Hartman,
John Kyttle, John Wilson, Charles ChamberP.

The Salvation Army has been

established in

derson.

WEST BERWICK CHURCHES
With
ten or

a large foreign population, speaking
different languages or dialects,

West Berwick
churches,
built

most

since the

provided with

small

many

them missions, and all
growth of the population of
of

Berwick forced the laying out of
borough beside the older one.

this separate

Grace Lutheran Church

lain.

Zwingli Reformed Church

was

Army

Berwick for ten years and has done excellent
work among the poor and needy. The local
corps is under the charge of Captain Hen-

;

still

represented in the congregation.

1903 and the same year the
frame building on Vine street was built. The
numbers
about ninety, and the
congregation
established in

present pastor

Rev. D.

Roman

Ely.

Catholics

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was established in 1902, and the present handsome

frame church on Mulberry and Cemetery
Some services
streets was built in 1903.
were held in Berwick during the building of
the canal, but the departure of the workmen
who had formed the congregation caused the
services to be abandoned for a time.
Father J. R. Murphy, pastor of the Bloomsburg Church, organized a mission in Berwick in 1902, and in the following year succeeded in getting together funds for the erecHe continued to
tion of the present church.
serve the Berwick Church until his departure
for Hanover, Pa., where he is now in charge
of St. Vincent's Church.
Father Joseph Petrovits was the next pastor, serving until the beginning of the great
European war, when he volunteered for serv-

Rev. M. M. Allbeck, the pastor of Holy
Trinity Lutheran Church of Berwick, made a
canvass of the territory now known as West
Berwick and, as a result of his labors, organized a Sunday school May 26, 1901. The first
session was held in the old "White schoolhouse" in the afternoon with fifty-three perRev. Mr. Allbeck first
sons in attendance.
acted as superintendent, until the election of
Rufus Funk to fill the position. The other
officers were as follows
Adam Smith, assistant superintendent; A. G. Birt, secretary; W.
C. Bond, treasurer; Miss
Pullen, or:

Emma

ganist.
4,

After the session of Sunday school on May
1902, Rev. Mr. Allbeck issued the call for

constithe organization of a congregation.
tution and by-laws were at once adopted. The
as
were
elected
and
installed
following persons

the

Elders

—

Deacons Dean
church officers
W. Hildebrand, William Pullen.
Charles Pullen, George H. Myers,

first

Funk,

—

Samuel Michael.
The charter members of the congregation
were: Dean Funk, George H. Myers, Mrs.
George Myers, Samuel Michael, Mrs. Samuel
Michael, Willard Michael, William Pullen,
Mrs. William Pullen, Charles Pullen, Emma
Pullen, Z. T. Beagle, F. W. Hildebrand.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The meetings

still

continued to be held

the schoolhouse until the church building was
erected on the corner of Arch and Fairview
avenues, and was formally dedicated to the
service

and glory of God on Dec.

28, 1902.
too large for Rev. Mr.
Allbeck to take care of the field along with his
own pastorate, it was decided to call a reguRev. H. E. Harman was called
lar pastor.

The work growing

and took charge on April 15, 1903.
The Sunday school outgrew its quarters, and
Sept. 18, 1904, ground was broken for the
annex to the church building. The dedicatory
service was held Jan. 24, 1905. The basement
was also fitted up for church use. The parsonage was commenced July 3, 1905, and was
occupied by the pastor and his family on
Feb. I, 1906.
Since its founding the church has had the
following pastors: M. M. Allbeck, 1901 until
April 12, 1903; H. E. Harman, April 15, 1903,
until Fek i, 1912; Clarence E. Arnold, April
10, 191 2, to the present time.
The membership of the church is 250, and
of the Sunday school, 325. The present offiElders D. B. Beck, N.
cers are as follows
H. Ney, T. C. Kocher, William Pullen. Deacons
I. H. Shellhammer, Charles Hock, Roy
Beagle, Andrew Beck.

—

179

under the charge of Rev. George Olejar and
is attended by many different branches of the
The frame church was built
Slavonic race.
in 1909.

The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church in
West Berwick is dedicated to Saints Cyril and
Methodius, and

Roman Holy

See.

under the control of the

The

services are held here

from Wilkes-Barre. The
congregation numbers over 300 and is composed of many nationalities. The frame church
was built in 1907 and has been greatly enregularly by priests

larged in 1914.

The

total cost will be $8,000.

Russian Greek Calholic
Church of the Annunciation, West Berwick,
was organized in 1909, under the charge of
The congregation is
Rev. A. Boguslavsky.
composed mostly of Russian Slavs from Austro-Hungary and numbers about six hundred

orthodox

persons, speaking many diflr'erent dialects. The
church is a fine frame, the interior being
decorated with excellent oil paintings of Byzantine character, on sacred subjects. There
are no pews in the church, a few seats being
])laced around the sides for the old people, but
the main body of the congregation stand all
The cost of the
during the long services.
church was $10,000 and it was erected in 1910.
A school is conducted on Saturdays in the
The successive pastors have been
building.
Revs. Peter Shiskin, N. Borisoff, J. Stephano,
John Dzvonchik, Paul Bezkishkin, and the
present pastor, a native of Wilkes-Barre and
of Russian descent. Rev. Andrew \'anyush.
:

Other Churches
St. Paul's Evangelical Church of West Berwick was organized in 1903, and the frame
church erected in that year at a cost of $5,500.
There are 302 members in attendance, and

number of scholars in the Sunday school
The present pastor is Rev. W. C.
450.

YOUNG men's CHRISTI.\N ASSOCIATION

the
is

Hoch.

The Methodist Protestant Church in West
Berwick was built in 1903 on Park avenue and
Front street. There was no regular pastor,
the congregation having slowly reduced in
numbers, and the services here were abandoned
in 191

Episcopal Church of
frame building, erected
in 1904 and remodeled in 1907.
The church
property is valued at $7,200, the parsonage at
It is a mission church and is under
$3,000.
the charge of Rev. John E. Beard.
The
membership is 148.

Calvary

Methodist

West Berwick has

The Chiesa Evangelica

Presbyteriana, or
Italian Presbyterian mission of West Berwick,
is under the charge of Rev. Arture D'Albergo,
who serves a large congregation. The frame
church was built in 1907.
St. Peter's

Staviansk\ Methodist Mission

The Young Men's Christian Association of
Berwick was organized Jime 9, 1878, in the
basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
by C. H. Zehnder, of Danville, secretary of
what was known at that time as the Seventh
I'ennsylvania District, assisted by George S.
Rippard and George S. Bennett, of WilkesBarre, all of whom were connected -with the
Y. M. C. A. movement at that period. The
meeting was public and was attended by the
representative men of the town. An organiza-

was effected by the election of Col. Clarence G. Jackson, of the Jackson & Woodin
Manufacturing Company, as president and
tion

Isaiah Bower, as vice president.
The third floor of the Jackson

& Woodin

Manufacturing Company's oflice building was
up and placed at the disposal of the Association free of charge, and here the first
Young Men's Christian Association rooms
were opened, with the beginning of a library
fitted

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

180
that has
volumes.

now grown

to some five thousand
There was donated by the Jackson

& Woodin Manufacturing Company

a very
choice selection of over one thousand books,
considered by good authority to be one of the
most complete in the possession of any of the
smaller libraries of the country, and chosen
largely through the advice and supen-ision of
Albert G. Kimberley, who had been connected
with the public library of the city of Birming-

ham, England, and who at that time had taken
up iiis residence in Berwick. This was about
1880.

In 1879 ^^•'- C. H. Zehnder was elected secretary of the Association and served for some
considerable time, until the Association got
The Association
well started in its work.
thus very early became fi.xed on a firm foundation.

The question of a building for Association
purposes was agitated about 1883. The Association was incorporated in that year, the
board of trustees being: W. H. Woodin, M.
W. Jackson, C. R. Woodin, B. F. Crispin, F.
R. Jackson, S. P. Hanly, L. F. Bower, S. C.
The following year,
Jayne, C. H. Zehnder.
1884, C. R. Woodin deeded to the trustees
three lots on the corner of Market and Second
homestead of the late Jesse
Bowman, and also gave the sum of $11,000.
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Jackson, whose husband, the

streets, part of the

Jackson, was the first president
of the Association, donated a dwelling house
on Market street, and also made cash subscriptions of over $2,000.
Steps were at
once taken to utilize these donations, and
the State secretary, Samuel W. Taggart,
late Col. C. G.

came

Berwick and

solicited

subscriptions
for this purpose.
So well did the public
respond that in the spring of 1885 a
new building was completed and the association took up its quarters therein. This building was dedicated April 7, 1885.
From this period the Association grew
steadily in numbers and power for good in
the community.
The library was a special
feature, while baths and reading rooms, together with the hall on the third floor, were
all agencies used to make pleasant and useful
quarters for the Association work.
For a number of years Rev. Henry S.
Mendenhall was the employed librarian and
did much to direct the reading of the youth
of the town who patronized the library.
The following persons have filled the office
of president: C. H. Zehnder, 1885; S. W.
Dickson, 1886-87; James E. Smith, 1888-90;
S.

Dickson, 1890-93;

J. S.

Hicks, 1893-95;

John A. Kepner, 1895-98; S. W. Dickson,
1898-1900; John A. Kepner, 1900-05; S. W.
Dickson,

1905-11;

Johnson, 1911-13;

Leslie E. Hess, 1913-14.
The employed secretaries

S. T.

Dimmick,

1884-86; W. N. Multer, 1886-89; H. A. Lord,
1889-93; Horace Breece, 1894-1903; John R.
Riebe, 1903-06; E. A. Jesson, 1906-07; R. E.
Bomboy, 1907-13; W. B. VanScoter, 1913-14.
From the opening of the building in 1886
to 1907 the Association performed a very ex-

work for young men and boys. The
increase in the population of Berwick by reason of the chief industry of the town having
made large additions to its mills and car
shops, made it very apparent that the Association needed increased facilities and larger
quarters for the carrying on of its work, and
in the period between 1907-14 the Association
therefore has received its greatest impetus.
The membership was increased to over one
thousand and subsequently the building was
remodeled and refurnished, a third story added, and an addition of 50 by 86 feet built in
the rear, together with a gymnasium 47 by 69
cellent

feet,

third

equipped with modern apparatus. The
story is furnished with dormitories,

while a swimming pool and bowling alleys
complete the equipment in the basement. The
Association has other property from which a
small revenue is derived.
Besides the Library features, that is, the
library and reading rooms, the Association has
from the beginning extending now over a
period of thirty-five years conducted a series
of lectures given by the best talent on the

—

American

—

lecture platform, every winter, and
looked forward to by the

their courses are

public and patronized very substantially and
liberally.

The Association maintains classes in commercial and technical work for boys and men
who are employed during the day. Free lectures are also given, and in numerous other
ways it seeks to exercise a leading part in
the community in the moral and spiritual uplift of its members.
In 191 1 there was a reorganization of the
board of managers with the following result:
W. S. Johnson, president; J. H. Smethers,
treasurer; G. B. Vance, recording secretary;
directors, S. W. Dickson, J. A. Kepner, J. S.
Hicks, E. M. Kocher, L. E. Hess, F. W. Bush,
W. C. Garrison, J. H. Catterall, R. L. Kline,
C. E. Ferris, E. A. Glenn, M. D., J. W. Sheffer, J. B. Landis.
The demands of the Association were such
that this board was selected with more than

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

181

moving picture projector and optical
By means of this outfit many inlectures were given.

usual care to handle to the best advantage
new and growing conditions in the Associa-

ing of a

tion work.

teresting

Vanreport of the secretary, W. B.
Scoter, for the year 1913-14 shows a total of
men and
972 members, of whom 786 were

was formed a Boy Scout Troop, which has
helped in the work of developing the boys

lantern.

Besides the regular physical classes there

The

The average daily attendance at
186 boys.
the building was 350, and thirty men were
Free tuition in
residents of the dormitories.
the different classes was given to members,
and 312 students were enrolled in these different classes, to the number of sixteen. The
subjects taught include arithmetic, shorthand,
bookkeeping, typewriting, mechanical drawing,
freehand drawing, shop mathematics, electricschool branches for foreignity and common

ers there is also a day class for men who are
employed during the night. The Association
also provided rooms for a kindergarten which
was conducted by Miss Grace Hill from 9
to 12 A. M.
Thirty-one practical talks were
the lecture
given to men and boys besides
course herein referred to. One Book per day
during the year was the number donated by
friends of the library, and 1,825 books were
;

drawn out by the

readers.

organizations that used
building as a meeting place were the
Women's Christian Temperance Union, the
Twentieth Century Club, Sunday School
League, Ministerium, Patriotic Order Sons of

Among

the

many

the

America, Retail Clerks' Association, Personal
Workers' League, Daughters of the American
Revolution, Civic League, King's Daughters,
The Ladies'
and the Anti-Saloon League.
Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Asas a
in
existence
has
been
which
sociation,
separate organization since the time that the
first building was opened, and which has always rendered effective help in the management of the Association, has frequently used
the

rooms

to give

delightful

entertainments

and furnish refreshments during the year.
The religious work also has been a great
Fourteen
benefit to those who participated.
different Bible classes were held, with an attendance of 530 men and boys and a force of
sixteen teachers and assistants. Twenty-four
Sunday meetings were held, with an attendance of 3,945 young men and boys.
Shop
meetings are a feature and are largely attended, while two shop Bible classes were
continuously conducted.
The work for the boys was both educational
and religious, and an important addition to

equipment was donated by Mrs. Jane
Jackson-Gearhart, in honor of her mother,
the late Mrs. Elizabeth S. Jackson, consistthe

into men of credit to the community.
In the
gymnasium the attendance for the year was

men and boys.
In 1913 the entire basement

7,281

was remodeled
alleys added, also a
men's game room.
The total expenditures
for the year were $9,691, the receipts being
The Association, however, is
slightly less.
and two new bowling

self-supporting, the small difference being
caused by the expense of numerous improvements and additions. Such is a brief statement taken from the last annual report, 1913,
and indicating in a general way the activities
of this modern Association.
The officers and board of managers for the
Leslie E. Hess, president John
present are
:

;

H. Smethers, treasurer; Bernard G. Vance,
secretary; J. B. Landis, E. A. Glenn, M. D.,
lohn Sheffer, C. E. Ferris, R. L. Kline, E. M.
kocher, J. S. Hicks, W. E. Elmes, John A.
Kepner, Frederick Bush, W. S. Johnson, W.
C. Garrison.
W. B. VanScoter is the general secretary of the Association and with
him is associated B. T. Pond, the physical
director.

In addition to the board of managers, the
property of the Association is vested in the
C. R. Woodin, Frederick
following trustees
H. Eaton, S. W. Dickson, W. H. Woodin, R.
L. Kline, Francis Evans, W. C. Garrison, C.
G. Crispin, F. A. Witman.
:

The money
is,

the

invested in the property, that
the buildings, its library and furrepresented originally the sum of
With the addition in 1907-08 with

lots,

nishings,

$30,000.
new furnishings and bowling alleys in 1913,
there is now invested a sum equaling in round
For all this the Association
figures $100,000.
has been indebted through the years to the
enterprise of the citizens of greater Berwick
;

and its neighborhoods, but more largely indebted to the members of the trustees board
in control of the large car

facturing business

most

and foundry manuin the town for

located

liberal financial contributions to the in-

vestment and the maintenance of the Association's work, without whose support it would
not be possible to maintain the standard set up
nor to make good the title, the Industrial
Young Men's Christian Association of Greater
Berwick.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

182

TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB

organized

Mrs.

being elected:

The
19, 1912.
for the reason that Moses
a resident for many years

Berwick Feb.

of the section immediately west of Berwick
and his achievements were part of the history
Van Campen
of this section of the State.
was born Jan. 21, 1757, and died Oct. 15,

officers

name was adopted
\an Campen was

The first step towards the organization of
women for the undertaking of chib work was
taken under the leadership of Mrs. S. P.
the Y. M. C. A.
Hanly. Ten women met at
Oct. 20, 1898, for the purpose of estabhshing
Curdiscussions.
systematic readings and
rent Events Club was the result, the following

Some account of his life and acts will
1849.
be found in the earlier chapters of this work.
This branch of the D. A. R. meets the first
Friday of each month, from October to May,
at Berwick, and at these meetings addresses
are made and papers read on matters pertaining to the history of America, the L'nitcd

Hanly,

H. F. Glenn, vice president;
president; Mrs.
Mrs. S. C. Jayne, secretary, and Mrs. W. H.
Woodin, treasurer. Looking over the outline
of work, the first three years' study consisted
of discussions of inventions, politics, music,
interests and religious
art, stage, educational
Certain periods were also spent in
interests.
works of
reading portions from standard
literature, principally those of Shakespeare,
Dickens and
During the third

States and the section of the State

now

in-

cluded in the counties of Columbia, Montour
and Luzerne.

The first officers elected by this chapter
were
Mrs. Clarence G. Crispin, regent
Mrs. C. E. Ferris, recording secretary Miss
Longfellow.
a
and printed,
Sarah M. Hagenbuch, corresponding secreyear programs were arranged
each succeeding
Miss Harriet J. Alexander, registrar
plan which has been followed
tary
Mrs. A. C. 'Jackson, historian; Miss Doretta
year.
In 1901 the club joined the Federation of Distelhurst, treasurer; Mrs. E. A. Loux, chapClubs of Pennsylvania Women as the Twen- lain. The only change made since organizatieth Century Club of Berwick, Pa. The memtion has been the election of Mrs. A. T.
Mrs. E. Adams,
bers comprising the club are
Lowry as registrar in place of Miss Harriet
Mrs. F. K. Crisman, Mrs. F. R. Clark, Mrs.
J. Alexander, who became vice regent.
C. G. Crispin, Mrs. A. L. Canavan, Mrs. DisThe charter members of the chapter were
Belle
Harriet Jenkins Alexander, Bessie
telhurst, Mrs. T. H. Doan, Mrs. C. C. Evans,
Mrs.
F.
Mrs. J. W. Evans, Mrs. B.
Evans,
J.
Bishop, Elma Caroline Bishop, Mae L. Crispin,
C.
W.
F.
Mrs.
Garrison, Louise W. Crisman, Grace E. Distelhurst,
L. Evans, Mrs.
Faust,
Mrs. Eudera Hanly, Mrs. L. E. Hess. Mrs. A. Doretta Chandlee Distelhurst, Gertrude May
C. Jackson, Mrs. Anna Kirkendall, Mrs. E. A.
Follmer, Carrie K. Ferris, Harriet Arabella
Loux. Mrs. William McKinney. Mrs. W. F. Ferris, Adelaide Lepha Ferris, Martha Jeane
Freas, Sarah Margaret Hagenbuch, Edna K.
Lowry, Mrs. J. H. Taylor; associate members
Mrs. Theodore Berger, Mrs. S. W. Dickson, Jackson, Anna C. Loux, Caroline H. Sponsler,
Miss Dodson, Miss Elizabeth Glenn, Miss Helen Emily Trescott. Martha W. Williams.
Dickson, Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, Miss JameBERWICK ATHLETIC AS.S0CIATI0N
son, Miss Anna Oswald, Mrs. H. F. Glenn,
Mrs. Elizabeth Oswald non-resident members,
Mrs. M. M. Allbeck, Monongahela, Pa. Mrs.
The purposes of this organization, as stated
M. J. Crispin, New York City; Mrs. F. H. in the charter of April 15, 19 10, are the purEaton, New York City; Mrs. W. M. Hager, chase and maintenance of a private park and
Mrs. Emma Jackson, Tiffin, facilities for baseball and other innocent athRoselle, N. J.
Ohio Mrs. T. S. Lewis, Philadelphia, Pa.
letic sports, including clubs for that purpose.
Mrs. R. H. Davenport, Kansas City; Mrs. C. The yearly income of the association is reD. Eaton, Plainfield, N. J. Mrs. N.'C. Naylor, stricted to $20,000 from other sources than
Mrs. Elizabeth Reber, real estate.
Shenandoah, Pa.
The number of directors is fixed at nine,
Bloomsburg, Pa. Mrs. C. L. Rodgers, Sligo,
Mo.: Mrs. N. Scheffer. R/feadville, Pa.; Mrs. the first board being J. U. Kurtz, M. C. Hetler,
A. H. Smith, California; Mrs. P. Sturdevant. Freas Fowler, George Confair, J. N. Harry,
Passaic, N. T- Mrs. C. R. Woodin, New York \\'illiam Linden, John C. Crisman, J. W.
The capital
City Mrs. W. H. Woodin, New York City. Evans, Charles C. Lockhart.
Mrs. F. Faust is the president in 1914.
stock was fixed at $5,000 and divided into 200
;

;

D.\UGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Moses Van Campen Chapter, D. A.

R.,

was

shares of $25 each: At present there are about
eighty-five stockholders.

The

first officers

were

N. Harry, presi-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
John H. Sniethers. secretary Mahlon
treasurer and business manager.
The present officers are
John C. Crisman,
president George Linville, secretary George
Confair, treasurer; M. C. Hetler, manager.
In the spring of 1910 the association leased
for five years a plot of ground in West Berwick from Freas Fowler, calling it Fowler
This property is valued at $9,CX30, and
Field.
the association has an option on it and has
made $6,000 worth of improvements, including a grandstand. Here are held bicycle and
athletic meets, which attract crowds averdent

;

Hetler,

;

aging 2,500 persons, several times a year.
When the Susquehanna Baseball League of
clubs was formed the association supported the home team. The league first consisted of the Nescopeck, Shickshinny, Nanticoke.
Bloomsburg, Berwick and Danville
clubs, for one year. The next year the NescoNanticoke
clubs
and
Shickshinny
peck,
dropped out, and the Sunbury club was added.
members
former
of
the
of
the
league
Many
six

later

played

the

big

national

baseball

leagues.

THE BERWICK MARATHON ASSOCIATION
The Berwick Marathon Association has held
meets for seven consecutive years, at which
only the highest grade athletes have been seen,
in many contests for prizes, consisting mainly
of diamonds. The principal event is the tenmile foot race, in which the fastest records
in the Union have been made. The first meet
took place in 1908 on Thanksgiving Day, which
has been the day set for all the meets which
have taken place since. The officers of the
A. E. Domrelle, Detroit,
association are
Prof. James Y. Sigman, Ph. G..
president
Berwick, vice president; C. N. MacCrea, Ber:

;

wick, secretary-treasurer.

THE grinders' CLUB
This unique organization combines fraternal
social objects with literary and athletic

Grinders' Club

183

won

the pennant in the Pennclubs.
In the
same year they pulled down the team prize in
the Berwick Athletic Association, also winning
the shield for the relay race, running against
a formidable field in both events.
In 1913 the club won the first prize in the
New Year's celebration by parading a complete "Uncle Tom's Cabin'' troupe, sixty
strong, including the bloodhounds, as well as
Eva and Topsy. The Grinders, Jr., a branch,
won the boys' prize in the parade with a com-

sylvania

plete

League of baseball

Zouave company.

In the following year the club was winner
New Year's parade with a company of
Jackson's soldiers of the war of 1812, comThe
pletely uniformed, even to the buttons.
"Grenadiers." an offshoot of the Grinders, Jr.,
of the previous year, won the boys' prize over
in -the

all

competitors.
In the summer of 1914, after a bad start,
the Grinders' team won both series of the City
League, after a grueling finish. Their manager was Ed. Tustin. The club also won a
number of debates that year and were successful in the checkers and pinochle tournaments.
In the season of 1913-14 the members won
the bowling championship of the City League,
under the management of V. R. Cousins.
Each year a banquet to the members and
their lady friends is given at the "St. Charles
Hotel."
The club has presented flags to all
the public schools of both boroughs initiated
the custom of celebrating Surrender Day by
a reception in the town hall to the surviving
veterans of the Civil war; and made a national
reputation by establishing a camp. at the historic battleground on the celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of the battle of GettysThe club has always been ready to
burg.
respond to appeals for help from the two boroughs and has also furnished a room in the
new Berwick hospital at an expense of several
;

hundred

dollars.

The first president of the club was P. B.
Originally Lowry and the second Clyde Croft. William
aspirations of varied character.
Sherman
was the first secretary-treasurer.
organized by a few young men in West Berwick in December, 191 1, as a debating society, The present officers are John A. Beeber, past
it has since expanded its arms to include mempresident Edward Foster, president W. B.
The Croft, vice president; Frank M. Carey,
bers from Bei^ick and Nescopeck.
and

;

charter contains a clause prohibiting the sale
by the club of intoxicants and the by-laws
provide that gambling and the bringing of intoxicants into the clubrooms will be the cause
for expulsion of members.
Card and game
playing on the Sabbath are also prohibited.
In the summer of 1912 members of the

;

Clyde K. Croft, recording
secretary J. J. Kallbach, treasurer.
The club is located in commodious quarters
on Front and Orange streets, but a program
of larger scope is being prepared for the coming year, which will necessitate the building
of a home of its own.
financial secretary;
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

184

THE BERWICK CLUB
With handsomely furnished and equipped
rooms, the Berwick Club plays an important
The club was
part in the life of Berwick.
1894, and its popularity
the membership, which comprises many
of Berwick's most representative citizens, has
been constantly increasing.
Reading room,
card room, pool room and grill room comfloor
of the Evans
on
the
second
the
suite
prise
building which has been occupied by the club
since its organization.
Among the members
are some of the best pool shots in this section,
and pool tournaments are always a feature
during the winter.

organized in May,

among

MILITARY MATTERS
"Training Day," coming in the latter part
of May, was one of the important periods of
the year when the memory of the Revolutionary and border wars was fresh in the
minds of the people. A motley crowd of men

and boys would gather in the streets and
march around to the tune of the fife and the
An ancient cannon was
roll of the drum.
generally procurable, and this was cleaned,
loaded, primed and fired amid the delighted
shouts of the small boys and the shrill screams
of the ladies. Among the leaders of the past
on these occasions are recalled the names of
Capt. Matthew McDowell, the organizer of
the first military company James Pratt, the
;

drillmaster; John M. Snyder and John Bittenbender, colonels and George Kelchner and
Christopher Bowman, majors.
Berwick furnished a full quota of soldiers
in the Civil war, a company of thirteen enlisting in May, 1861, and twenty-three a short
time afterwards, while many others joined the
armies during the progress of that great
number of soldiers repose in the
struggle.
cemetery at Berwick, two of the number,
Moses Davis and James Pratt, being veterans
of the Revolution three of the war of 1812,
and two of the Mexican war.
number of military organizations existed
in the town in the past. The Jackson Guards,
The
organized in 1871, disbanded" in 1880.
Berwick Guards, organized by Julius Hoft, a
student of the Prussian military academy, in
1886, with C. G. Jackson as captain, was
chiefly a juvenile company and had a short
;

;

George A. Buckingham, J. T. Chamberlain,
Samuel Simpson, D. W. Holley, Abner Welsh,
Reuben Moyer, George Keener, W. H. Morton, John Withers, R. H. Little, W. C. Barnard, Minor Hartman, Martin 'McAllister,
Leroy T. Thompson, Tighlman Moharter, i.
C. Jayne, A. D. Seely,

Thornton,
This post

Scott,

Michael

Wooley, E. D. Lipkicher.
the successor of the one forknown
as
W.
W. Ricketts Post.
merly
John H. Styer Camp, No. 25, Sons of
Veterans, was instituted May 29, 1862, with
D. C. Smith, captain; E. P. Wolfe, first

John

Harry Lowe, second lieutenant;
Thomas, chaplain Augustus Lowe,
surgeon George Hoppes, orderly sergeant
Harry Barnato, sergeant of the guard; David
Thomas, quartermaster; Jerome Pifer, color
sergeant; Albert Lowe, corporal.
lieutenant;

David

;

BERWICK CORNET BAND
Charles H. Stoes, the famous bandmaster
of Danville, came to Berwick about 1857 ^nd
gave private lessons to a number of musically
inclined young men of the town.
He also
organized a band and purchased a number
of instruments. For a time the band participated in many of the events of the day, but
the interest finally lagged
followed. The instruments
until 1868,

when

interest

and disbandment
were stored away
was revived, and the

permission of the surviving members of the
old band being obtained, the instruments were
given to the new organization.
The Berwick Cornet Band was organized in
April, 1868, with the following members: E.
M. Klinger, Capt. A. H. Rush, William Ruch,
Isaiah Bower, Dr. R. H. Little, Joseph Faust,
Col. A. D. Seely, Hiram A. Bower, Riter Keck,
Daniel Reedy, Isidore Chamberlain, Lyman
Fowler, Alem Connelly, Theodore Weingarten, Charles Becker, J. R. McAnall, J. F.
Opdyke, Theodore Fowler, Fred Spiker, Mordecai Bropst, Joseph E. Fry.

Under Harry Grozier, as leader, the band
made its first public appearance on Decoration Day, May 30, 1870.
They marched
proudly to the top of the hill, and the signal
But scarce had
being given, began to play.
the first note been blown allien Col. Frank

Suit, who had planted his fieldpiece at the left
of the hilltop, pulled the lanyard, and a tremendous explosion shook the earth, stopped
the band music and split the lips of most of
life.
Thereafter the music was of a
Capt. Clarence G. Jackson Post, No. 759,. the players.
Grand Army of the Republic, was chartered very poor quality and volume.
members:
Mr.
Grozier
with
the
following
resigned after a few years and
Jan. 26, 1886,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of
George Rupert was elected to the position
He was followed by Richard Stout
leader.
and Prof. Adam Schalles, of Stockton, Pa.
During the latter's term (in 1888) the_ band
was incorporated, owing to the necessity of
from loss and damage.
protecting its property
The next leader was Prof. J. O. Boyles,
who has been connected with the band since
he was a small boy, and under him the band

has reacht;d its present high position in the
musical world. The band has received prizes
at six county firemen's conventions, at Bloomsburg, Scranton, Mahanoy City, Hazleton,
Danville and Milton; first prizes at the Red
Men's conventions at Williamsport and
Shamokin first prizes at the Elks' conventions
;

Mahanoy City and Milton, and prizes at the
P. O. S. of A. convention at Scranton.
The first quarters of the band were in a

room over the wagon shop of Jeremiah Seesholtz, where the Fenstermacher photograph
studio is now located. Next they located over
Wilson's drug store, now the Levy building,
and were then successively on the third floor
of the original Jackson & Woodin building,
over the stable of the "Warnett Hotel" (later

"Fairman Hotel"), in the Thiel Pottery
building on Sixth street, in the Adams buildnow occupied by Smith Brothers; in the
the

ing,

C. Furman blacksmith shop, over Joseph
Faust's carpenter shop, on the third floor of
the "Morton House," in the Town Hall, on
Second street and lastly in the brick building
belonging to the American Car and Foundry

;

Company, on Market

street,

which they now

use free of rent.
a

The Berwick Band, as it is now called, has
membership of fifty-five musicians, and an

equipment of the latest make of instruments.
They wear blue fatigue uniforms and scarlet
and white parade dress, and the entire equipment is valued at $8,000. The present officers
are:
Boyles, director and manager;
J. O.
Christopher Tubbs, president; W. E. Adams,
secretary;

Harry Hayman,

Fry,

assistant

secretary;

Berwick has

F.,

was

S. W. Dickson, W. A.
following members
Ross, C. A. Croop, S. C. Marteeny, F. R.
Kitchen, C. E. Ross, H. C. Learn, F. S. Hart:

man, Anselm Loeb, Will H. Owen, W. M.
Hampshire, Conway Dickson, J. U. Kurtz, J.
S. Hicks, Charles W. Freas, F. P. Hill, George
B. Kester, J. C. Dietterick, John W. Morehead, J. C. Reedy, J. M. Witman, M. E. Rittenhouse, William F. Rough, A. J. Learn, F.
In
Hull, J. E. Fry, A. Z. Hempfield.
1886, the fine hall now used by the
the
It
was
built
by
camp was first occupied.
Odd Fellows in 1868 and purchased by the
P. O. S. of A. soon after the fire which parThe building was
tially destroyed it in 1880.
rebuilt and is now used for meeting purposes
and as a location for a motion picture theatre.
In 1914 the lodge reached the even figure
of 700 in membership, and was in exceptionThe officers for
ally fine financial condition.
G.

April,

J. W. McElwee, president;
Arthur
Spangler, vice president
Bechtel, master of forms; Walter Miller, conductor; Samuel Garrison, inspector; Adam
Miller, guard; Cyrus Smith, trustee; Irvin
Spangler, secretary. The board of directors
were
C. E. Ross, J. O. Edwards, F. R.
Kitchen, A. N. Sheerer, H. E. Rabert, C. J.
Cortright, S. L. Hess, Guy Henrie, H. H.

that year were:

Gaylord

;

Pursel.

Berwick Lodge of Elks
Berwick's new lodge of Elks has handsomely furnished club rooms on West Second
street.

The

large

John W. Evans dwelling

There
particularly popular.
large game room, reading room with
papers, and a pool room. The lodge room and
the ladies" parlor are on the second floor. The
building throughout is finely fitted with mission furniture and the appointments of the
meeting room are particularly fine, being of

secret

and

ritualistic

than any other town in Columbia

Fellows.

O. O.

makes the club

or Montour counties. These societies include
within their circles the most substantial members of society in the town and exert a tremendous influence for good throughout the
community. The oldest of the organizations
and one of the strongest is the local lodge of

Odd

Jan. 23, 1847, the first members
being: Isaiah Bahl, O. H. P. Kitchen, Aaron
Dietterich,
James S. Campbell, Stewart
Pearce, G. VV. Nicely, William Brewer, B. S.
hall was built by the lodge in
Gilmour.
1868 at a cost of $12,000.
Washington Camp, No. 105, P. O. S. of A.,
was established in 1869, but disbanded in 1878.
On Feb. 27, 1880, it was reorganized with the
instituted

house has been converted into a home that

treasurer.

SECRET SOCIETIES

societies

Berwick Lodge, No. 246,

185

hardwood. The lodge has been rapidly growing in membership and with excellent quarters,
a fine location and the high personnel of its
membership promises to be an ever-increasing
factor in the life of the community.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

18G

men of the community. Three of the members of this commandery were also members
of the Supreme Commandery of the Continent
of America, A. E. Shuman, John R. McAnall
and George W. Suit (deceased). The grand
commandery of Pennsylvania held the annual
session in Berwick in 1893, with W. J. Rough,

Masonic

Knapp Lodge, No. 462, Free and Accepted
Masons, of Berwick, was constituted March
2, 1870, with the following officers and members:
John W. Taylor, worshipful master;
Frank E. Brockway, senior warden George
B. Thompson, junior warden. Charter mem- grand commander.
The commandery now
bers: John H. Taylor, Frank E. Brockway, meets every Thursday evening in the Odd FelGeorge B. Thompson, Clarence G. Jackson, A. lows' hall. Reagan 13. Johnson is the present
B. MacCrea, Henry C. Freas, Clemuel R. commander, and I. L. B. Martz, recorder.
Anak Siesta, No. JJ, Princes of Bagdad (a
Woodin, Samuel Hetler, Hudson Owen,
Daniel Reedy, William H. Woodin, Adrian side degree of the Knights of Malta), was
R.
H.
W.
Dreisbach, organized in 1907, with a membership of
Vanhouten,
Little, J.
Nicholas Seybert, George W. Fisher, Joshua eighty. It has had a steady increase in memF. Opdyke, Joseph H. Hicks, Seth B. Bow- bership and has proved the cementer of bonds
man, N. W. Stecker, Benjamin Evans, William of brotherhood between the younger members
;

Ross.

of the knights.

Meetings are held on the
each month

Friday of
the Evans building. The 1914

first

Worshipful master, Roland
senior warden, Ernest H.
Brockway
Stiner junior warden, Herman T. Waldner;
treasurer, John W. Evans, P.M.; secretary,
James E. Smith, P. M. trustees, Charles T.
Steck, P. M., Stephen C. Seiple, P. M., Miles
S. Bredbenner, P. M. representative in grand
Past masters
lodge, John C. Crisman, P. M.
by service
John H. Taylor, Frank E. BrockF.
F.
Hicks, J. F. BitWoodin, J.
way, John
tenbender, David H. Thornton, William A.
officers

were

;

C. Angstadt,
Crispin, Jr.,
Robert G. Crispin, William E. Smith, Julius
Hoft, John W. Evans, J. Simpson Kline, Elias
P. Rohbach, John A. Kepner, William T.

Baucher,

Other Lodges

Heller,

Henry

John W. Everard, Benjamin

Berwick Encampment, No. 131, Knights of
Khorassan Berwick Council, No. 176, Royal
Arcanum; Pewaukee Tribe, No. 240, Improved Order of Red Men Tuscawilla Council, No. 156, Daughters of Pocahontas; Berwick Council, No. 698, Junior Order United
American Mechanics Berwick Castle, No.
Berwick
249, Knights of the Golden Eagle
Conclave, No. 783, I. O. H. Aerie No. 1281,
Fraternal Order of Eagles Berwick Tent, No.
282, Knights of the Maccabees.
;

;

Emery, James E. Smith, Charles T. Steck, G.
Fred Miller, Elmer E. Garr, Je"nnings U.
Kurtz, William L. Houck, Barton D. Freas,
William D. Kline, Jesse Y. Glenn, Charles H.
Dorr, Henry P. Field, Jr., William E. Elmes,
Frank E. Patten, Nelson W. Bloss, Stephen
C. Seiple, Horton J. Kirkendall, Miles S.
Bredbenner, Dayton L. Ranck. John C. Crisman.
Non-affiliated past ma'ster, Olaf F.

BERWICK CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
This association was composed of plot
holders in the old cemetery and was formed in
1873 for the purpose of securing control, by
purchase or otherwise, of the grounds, thereby
to be enabled to improve and care for the
graves. The land had been given to four reIn
ligious denominations by Evan Owen.
May, 1 88 1, the association acquired control of
the land and immediately commenced the work
of improvement, which has gone on without
interruption up to the present time. The first
officers of the association were
H. C. Freas,
president; C. B. Jackson, secretary; O. H. P.
Kitchen, treasurer and superintendent.

Ferris.

Knights of Malta

Susquehanna Commandery. No. 18, Ancient
and Illustrious Knights of Malta, was. instituted at Berwick Aug. 25, 1887, with A. E.
Shuman as commander. Starting with a membership of seventy-two,

has grown steadily
it numbers
230

and substantially until in 1914
members.
Being a religious,

beneficial

and

fraternal organization, it has drawn to its
roster many of the best and most influential

BERWICK HOSPITAL

The Berwick Hospital Association was organized in January, 1905. The ladies of Berwick were instrumental in collecting the funds
to furnish the first building, which was owned
by C. R. Woodin and accommodated twentytwo patients. The first officers of the associa-

Berwick Hospital. Berwick, Pa.

Bloomsbukg Hospital, Bloomsburg, Pa.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

187

Mrs. S. P. Hanly, president;
were:
Mrs. C. C. Evans, first vice president; Mrs.
R. L. Kline, second vice president Miss Elizabeth Glenn, secretary; ]\Iiss Ella Moyer,

during the first five months after the occupation of the new building was $5,000.
The officers of the Hospital Association for
1914 are: J. H. Catterall, president; J. U.

treasurer.

97 ^y 37

Frank Faust,
Kurtz, first vice president
second vice president; B. D. Freas, treasurer;
W.
Dickson, secretary. The trustees
Conway
are: J. M. Schain, B. D. Freas, H. E. Walton, John W. Evans, Walter Hughes, J. H.
Catterall, A. N. Sheerer, three years; M. C.
Metier, J. U. Kurtz, C. W. Dickson, Wilson
Harter, Frank Faust, Wilbur Smith, James
Lee, two years; M. J. Crispin, M. F. Williams,
J. N. Harry, Jason Rhoades, J. W. Roberts,
Harry Fahringer, C. G. Crispin, one year.
The following are life members of the association
C. W. Sones, C. C. Lockhart, C. A.
Raseley, James Fox, A. C. Jackson, I. B.
Abrams, C. E. Sitler, M. C. Hetler, W. A.
Hughes, H. H. Long, J. A. Rhodes, M. G.
Smith, B. D. Freas, J. W. Roberts, Jacob
Kupsky, John M. Fairchild, J. C. Oberdorf,
H. E. Walton, S. C. Jayne, R. E. Warntz,
John Murko, W. F. McMichael, S. E. Fenstermacher, E. W. Garrison, Jacob S. Garrison,
R. O. Bower, Jno. W. Evans, George Unangst,
Elliott Adams, A. A. Lerch, F. A. Witman,
W. C. Garrison, J. F. Pfahler, Herbert Levy,

attic.

tion

;

hospital six nurses were
graduated yearly, all of whom lived in the
building; but soon the quarters became overcrowded and in 1912 a meeting was held to
secure funds for the erection of a larger
I-'rom

the

first

building.

Much enthusiasm was aroused in the campaign for funds, and the erection and furnishing of the new hospital became a community
which all classes participated. The
American Car and Foundry Company gave
large sums, workmen gave a day's wages to
the fund, and the Odd Fellows, Elks, P. O. S.
of A., Grinders' Club, Salem Grange, Frances
affair in

Willard liible Class of the Methodist Church,
and a number of other organizations, each
furnished a room in the hospital, at an average
cost of $150.

The new

building was completed in 1913 at
and the old building abandoned in January, 1914. The building is of
Bloomsburg brick, with limestone trimmings,
a cost of $28,000,

feet, with two floors, basement and
There are four large wards, with a

Sitler,

Frank Fahringer, Hugh ThompGeorge W. Seybert, John K.

capacity of thirty beds, ten private rooms,
space for four cribs for children, and rooms
for fourteen nurses and hospital help.
The
training school will educate ten nurses, who

son, J. J. ;\Iyers,

graduate in 191 5. The new building is
on Mulberry street and Garfield
avenue, in the north end of the town, while

R. Bower, Mary A. Lockhart, Conway Dickson, C. T. Steck, J. H. Bowman, W. C. Hensyl,
Jos. M. Schain, E. L. Davis, H. T. Waldner,

will

located

the old building

was situated on Maple

street.

The number of free patients in 1913 in the
old building was 201 pay patients, 161 number of deaths, 23.
The cost of maintenance
;

;

Wm.

J. Fairchild, R. L. Kline, L. I.
Clewell, P. C. Currin, John N. Harr>', T. Harvey Doan, James L. Evans, T. B. Brobst, H.

Adams,

Joseph Cohen, M. F. Williams, John Frank,
Frank Faust, J. U. Kurtz, J. H. Catterall,
Wilson Harter, Jas. Harman, W. S. Johnson,
J.

L. Halyburton.

CHAPTER XVI
CATAWJSSA BOROUGH— CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP
Catawissa township was formed from Augusta in 1785, and originally included all of
ijeaver, Lonyngham, trankhn, Locust, Main,
Mittim, Mayoerry of Montour county, and
part of bnion township in Schuylkill county.
it was reduced in size by the lormation of

Roaringcreek township
1843, and Main in 1844.

1832, l^'ranklin in
the oldest subcontains the oldest

It is

division of the county and
settlements.
Authorities differ as to the

Indian

meaning of the

time the chief of the village was the famous
Soon after this
Lapackpitton, a Delaware.
date the place seems to have been abandoned
by the savages as a place of residence.
The first settlers in the Catawissa valley
were a number of English Quakers, from

Maiden-creek and Exeter in Berks county, whocame by way of the valley of the "North
Branch."
They arrived between 1774 and
Before their arrival a number of per1778.
sons had obtained patents

ham, after whom the
was called, stated that the Piscatawese had a
Stewart Pierce stated that
settlement here.
the Shawanese had a town here in 1697. The
word "Catawese" occurs in several of the
Indian dialects, and means "pure water." The
greater part of the eastern portion of the
township is occupied by the majestic Catawissa
mountain, the brow of which overshadows the
town. In the summer many parties are made
up to visit this eminence, from all parts of
It was a favorite resort of the
the county.
Indians. Within a short distance of the summit is a fine, ever-flowing spring. Beside this
stood for many years an immense gum tree,
the only one for miles around, which was
looked upon with reverence by the savages.
The tree was overturned by a high wind some
years ago and has rotted away, but younger
descendants of the forest monarch are springing up to take its place.
The first European to visit Catawissa was
James LeTort, a French trader, who bore messages of amity to the Delaware chieftains and
the celebrated Madame Montour in 1728, presenting each a "strowd match coat," as a token
of friendship. After the visit of this French
trader no mention is made of the place until
Morav1754, when Conrad Weiser, the noted
ian missionary to the Indians, writes from
Shamokin, mentioning in the letter the Indian

Mears, Isaiah Willits and John Lloyd.
settlers arrived at different periods,

Other
most of

them following the

trails over the Broad, Blue,
mountains on horseback. The
the vicinity of Catawissa was
built by Moses Roberts in 1774.
Among those who reached Catawissa in 1782

Locust and
first house

Little
in

were Michael Geiger, Joseph Mclntyre, John
Furry, Thomas Wilkinson, George Huntzinger
and Conrad Wamphole. Soon after their arrival a party of Indians came and occupied the
old site of their town. Their fishing operations
were interfered with by Wilkinson, who was

made

to swim the river to escape their arrows.
tried to explain to his friends that he was

only gauging the depth of the water, and thus
earned the nickname of "Tom Ganger." In
the same year a party of Indians made a raid
on the settlement, scalping and killing John
Three
Furry, his wife and two daughters.
sons, John, Jonas and Lawrence, were absent
at the gristmill at Sunbury and thus escaped,
while another son, Henry, was taken captive.
Years later the three brothers met Henry in
Montreal, Canada, where he had developed into

prosperous trader after his imprisonment
there by the French had ended.
This was the era of the "great retreat," during which most of the settlers of'the valley fled
from their homes in fear of Indian raids. The
Quakers, owing to their confidence in the Ina

of "Oskohary," which was identical
with the Catawissa of the present. At that
188
village

from the Penns,

Redmond Conyng- among them being William Collins, William
township of that name Hughes, James Watson, John Lore, John

name "Catawese."

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
dians' promises to the Penns, remained. This
confidence was never betrayed.
In 1787 VViUiam Hughes laid out the town of
"Hughesburg, in the County of Northumberland, State of Pennsylvania, North America,
on the banks of the northeast tract of the river
Susquehannam near the mouth of Catawessey
creek, about twenty miles above Sunbury and
about one hundred and si.x miles above Phila-

delphia." William Gray and John Sene were
the surveyors. According to the custom of the
day the lots were disposed of by lottery. William Henry was the original owner of the tract
in 1769, the patentees were later Edward and
Joseph Shippen, and from them the title was

transferred to William Hughes. In 17S9 John
Mears, a physician and justice of the peace,
In 1796 the
secured title to sixty-five lots.
Roberts addition was laid out by James

Watson.
Although the original town plot was large

was but thinly settled. The first industry
established was the tannery of Isaiah Willits,
in 1780, at the corner of Third and South
it

streets.

berger

The

ferry

Willits.

was then run by KnappenThe first merchant was

Isaiah Hughes, who opened a store at an early
date on the river bank near the foot of South
street.
Joseph Heister followed with a store
on Water street, near Main. He sold out to
John Clark, who kept it for some years.
The history of the township is so wrapped
up in that of the town that it is necessary to
include both in this sketch. The few farmers
remained near the town, for better protection
from the Indians, the most prominent ones in
those days being the Watsons, Jacksons,
Lounts, Lloyds and Hayhursts. The first justices of the peace were George Hughes and
William Mears. The first mill in the county
was liuilt on Catawissa creek in 1774 by a member of the Societv of Friends whose name
cannot be ascertained. It was so crude in construction as to be frequently out of repair, in
which event the farmers had to go to Sunbury
In 1799 Christian
to get their grist ground.

189

quarter of a mile above the former mill, on
same side of the creek. The Shoemaker
mill was purchased by John Clark and Benjamin Sharpless in 1809 and the machinery
removed to the stone mill (McKelvey mill,
now the oldest standing in this section) across
the creek, which they had just built.
In
1811 Mr. Sharpless established a paper mill
in the old Shoemaker mill, which was later
enlarged, and then torn down when the owners rebuilt on the present site
a group of
four large brick buildings on the north side
At the time of the rebuilding
of the creek.
of the Brobst mill there was a regular line of
boats on the Susquehanna and the proprietor
became the chief man of the town of Catawissa, operating the mill, a store and other
the

—

enterprises.

Other merchants of the days of the town's
growth were Thomas Ellis, Stephen and
Christopher Baldy, Daniel Cleaver, Jacob Dyer
and Samuel Brobst. There was little money
then in circulation, trading being conducted by
The
the interchange of products and goods.
shad fisheries ranked among the principal
sources of income, fish being exchanged for
early

the rate of six cents each.
old magazine in the possession of
the Columbia County Historical Society the
is
fact
gleaned that in August, 1801, there were
but forty-five houses in "Catawissy," one of
which was stone and the rest mostly log. At
that time an old Indian burying ground near
the river had washed out and some of the skeleThe writer had
tons were exposed to view.
made the trip from Reading in that month,
stopping on the way at "Lavenberg's," on the
salt, at

From an

road near Little mountain.
One of the first buildings in the town was a
market house, built soon after the village was
There appears to have been
laid out in lots.
but little need for this public building and it
soon became a home for the stray cows and

hogs of the place. An old resident said that
it was a noted resort for the elusive flea and

was declared a public nuisance. It was decided
was later operated in 1820 to demolish it, and a short time thereby Hollingshead & Scott, and last by T. M. after a loud explosion in the night sounded the
It
knell of the building.
Fields, who received it from his father.
Slight effort was made
was burned in IQ12, and is now but a ruin. to discover the perpetrators of the deed, and
The fall of water was slight, so the wheel was the building was not replaced. In 183 1 a propone of the widest and smallest in diameter of osition was made to build a town hall and
any in the county. In 1797 a mill was erected on market house on the site, but the proposal
the north side of the creek (but a few steps brought on an acrimonious discussion which
Brobst rebuilt this

mill.

above the present paper mill), by Jonathan
Shoemaker, and at once received the cream of
the patronage of that section of the town. In
1700 Christian Brobst built a mill about a

defeated the nroject and caused the dissolution
of the onlv fire company in the town.
From an old history, published at Philadelphia in 1847, the information is had that in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

190

1840 Catawissa had a population of Soo, exceeuing that of Bloonisburg by 150. The town
then contained tliree churches, several stores
and taverns and upwards ot two hundred
There were a loundry, a paper mill
dwellings.
and several tanneries in and near the town.
I'he Germans predominated in the population
then.

THE BOOM DAYS
The building of the Catawissa railroad, a
description of which is found on another page,
was a blessing to the town and caused a rapid
increase of population. Six months after the
opening of the road the headquarters were
established in Catawissa and extensive repair
shops built in 1864. Thus the town became the
home of many operatives, and as the other
roads came in became quite a railroad center.
These operatives brought their families, established homes and became important factors in
the growth of Catawissa for a number of years,
until the extension of the Reading road from
Shamokin to Milton caused a removal of much
traflk from the Catawissa division and reduced
the number of employees in the repair shops.
There are still a number of employees of the
Reading and Pennsylvania roads in the town,
but few compared with the past.
The rapid increase of population and the demand for homes was the cause that led to the
organization of the Catawissa Land and Building Company and the Catawissa Mutual BuildAssociation, in 1865 and 1870, reThe result of their formation was
spectively.
a period of building activity, extending from

ing

Fund

1869 to 1S73, during which many persons who
otherwise could not have obtained money were
enabled to own homes. The demand for homes
and lots caused F. L. Shuman to purchase the
Zarr farm and lay out the Shuman addition in
1882.

were appointed, and the following officials
C. C. Willits, chief burgess O. D. L.
Kostenbauder, C. O. Brown, E. B. Guie, I. H.
Seesholtz, T. E. Harder, William Hartman,
councilman. The first school board consisted
of J. B. Yetter, L. B. Kline, S. Raup, C. E.
tion

elected

;

Clewell, J. J. Lewis, A. S. Truckenmiller.
The present borough officials are: A.

were built by him.
David Cleaver, a pioneer merchant of the
town, built the "Susquehanna House" in 1868,
It is now
and leased it to several parties.
operated by William Goodhart.

MUNICIPAL INCORPOR.VTION
first

movement

borough was taken

in 1885,

make Catawissa a
when a petition was

Sharpless, burgess; W. H. Vastine, president
of the council: J. Berninger. Daniel Knittle,

Edward

Billig, Alexander Lillie, Joseph Hartcouncilmen G. H. Sharpless, clerk L. C.
Mensch, solicitor.
The postmasters of Catawissa borough have
been as follows, together with the dates of their
zell,

;

appointments
John Shoemaker, July i, 1802; John Clark,
1821
July I, 1803; Joseph Paxton, Nov. 3,
Michael Fornwalt, June 23, 1829; C. A. Brobst,
May 18, 1841; Paul R. Baldy, Dec. 6, 1844;
John Schmick, Dec. 26, 1846; Charles Hart:

;

man, Feb. 15, 1849: John .Schmick, Jan. 27,
1853; Casper Rhawn, May 6, 1853; Levi
S. D. Rinard, Oct. 12,
Keiler, Jan. 17, 1861
1861 George H. Willis, Aug. 24, 1869; Luther
B. Kline, Sept. 24, 1878; Calvin Clark, Oct. 24,
;

;

1878: Joseph B. Knittle. Sept. 15, 1885; William H. Berger, April 27, 1889; J. H. Geary,
Dec. 20, 1889; Charles L. Pohe, May 6, 1896;
Christian E. Geyer, June 5, 1900; Charles M.

Harder, Aug.

of the prominent citizens of Catawissa
F. Harder, who built the planing
He made it one of the chief inmill in 1866.
dustries of the town, and in 1885. during the
building boom, put up seventeen houses, furnishing his own materials from the mill. Most
of the better class of residences of that date

One

was Clark

The

presented to the proper court. It was opposed
by some who feared added taxation, and by
others who did not wish to be left out of the
town.
The grand jury of that year disapproved the petition. Again in 1887 a similar
On Sept. 26,
petition met with a like fate.
1892, a third petition was presented by 250
that
in
December
of
freeholders, and
year confirmed by the court.
The necessary officers for holding an elec-

C. S.

191 3.

Fox' was mercantile appraiser in

1899.

P0PUL.\TI0N

According to the United States census figures
the population of Catawissa township in 1820
was 2,520; in 1830, 3,130; in 1840, 2,060; in
in
1S50, 1,143: in i860, 1,176; in 1870, 1,627;
1880, 2,003: in 1890, 2,348; in 1900, 560; in
1910, 503.

The population of Catawissa borough was
2.023 in 1900, and 1,930 in 1910. This gives
evidence of the fact that most of the population of the township resided in the borough
in the early days.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
INDUSTRIES

Christian

Brobst,

short

above Catawissa, on the creek.

distance

They ran

for a short time only, the cost of transportthe ore and coal being prohibitive, in
competition with the furnaces at Danville and
Bloomsburg. There was also the foundry of
O. D. Leib & Co., which made a specialty of

ing

"ten-plate" stoves.

were

its last

Owen and George Hughes

owners.

The largest manufacturing establishment in
Catawissa was the paper mill established in
1811 by Benjamin Sharpless. He was a resident of Sunbury, and while on a visit to a
brother in Ohio became acquainted with the
process of papermaking. Returning to Catawissa he formed a partnership with John Clark,
bought the old Shoemaker gristmill and altered
it

accommodate the new industry. The
was used, the raw mate-

ancient hand process

After passing through different hands and being greatly enlarged the
mill came into the possession of William Mcrial

being rags.

Kelvy, and was operated by his son, C. W.
McKelvy. At the death of the proprietor the
plant was managed by E. B. Guie, for the
it was sold to Edward and John
McCready, of Philadelphia. It was destroyed

estate, until

fire in

These toys they have designed and
child.
patented themselves, and from a small beginning have built up a trade that covers the entire
Union and reaches into some foreign countries.
Starting in 1912 with a small workshop, they
now have a capacity almost unlimited and employ in the busy season sixty hands.
any

One of the first of the nidustries of the town
was a nail factory, operated by Thomas Hartman, the product being handmade. In 1845
Fincher & Thomas, owners of the Esther furnace, erected the "Penn" furnace near the
mill

19]

1882, but soon rebuilt for the exclus-

manufacture of wood pulp.
McCready
Brothers met with financial reverses and the
plant was sold at sherifi^'s sale to a syndicate,
which reorganized it as the Pennsylvania Paper
Mills in 1900. After three years' operation the
mills closed down to install modern machinery
to double the output, but the new equipment
was mainly experimental and did not fulfill
ive

expectations, so that after an expenditure of
$275,000 the mills passed into the hands of a
receiver.
The plant was then appraised at

The receiver failed to rehabilitate
$396,000.
the mill and at the end of two years it was sold
order
of
court to the New York & Pennsylby
vania Paper Company, owners of five other
mills.
They dismantled the mill, distributed
the machinery among other plants, and in 19 13
sold the buildings to Mrs. Josephine Beckley.
A portion of the plant is now used by Clinton
E. and Frederick R. Long as a manufactory.
They produce the Panama Canal Puzzle, a simply constructed glider for children and an adjustable stilt which can be made to fit almost

The

Knittle Flouring Mills were established
Catawissa by Jacob Berninger more than
thirty years ago, since which time they have
passed into the hands of D. F. Knittle, a promBesides the milling
inent citizen of the town.
business he has a large grain elevator, with a
thousand
bushels, and deals
capacity of five
in coal, lumber and builders' supplies.
One of the valuable industries of Catawissa
is the marble and granite works of H. T. Young
& Sons, where modern compressed air machinery and methods are used to design and comin

plete

many

of the most artistic monuments
to be found in the cemeteries

and tombstones
of the county.

The Catawissa Knitting Mills were incorporated in 1911, with a capital of $20,000, stock
being held by various parties. The product

was several varieties of cotton stockings. The
were T. E. Hoover, president Luther

officers

;

C. P. Pfahler, treasurer
secretary and manager; H. S.

Eyer, vice president

Laubach,

;

J. Fisher, M. J. Grimes, directors.
enterprise failed in 19 13 and the plant was

Grove, C.

The

closed.

In 1914 the plant was leased from the Catawissa Knitting Mills Company by Harry West,
of Plymouth, Pa., for a term of five years. He

machines for the
manufacture of half-hose, thus doubling the
capacity of the works, and re-employed most
Mr. West is a son of
of the old operatives.
Thomas West, who made the town of Plyinstalled thirty-five additional

mouth noted

for

its

production

knitted

goods.

The Shoe Factory

The most important industrial plant now in
Catawissa is the All W'ear shoe factory. The
manufacture of shoes was established in 1889
by a company composed of W. F. Creamer,
H. B. Anthony and Charles O. Brown, the
first named a native of Catawissa and the latA building was erected
ter of Camden, N. J.
on land of Frank L. Shuman and machinery
installed.
From eighty to one hundred and
twenty emplovees were occupied constantly in
the production of ladies', misses' and children's
shoes to the number of from five hundred to
seven hundred pairs a day. The 1897 panic

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

192

caused an embarrassment of the firm and the

business was closed out by creditors.
The All W'ear Shoe Company is composed
of D. J. Finkelstein, president; L. C. Mensch,
treasurer and C. E. Kreischer, secretary. The
factory is fitted with modem shoe machinery,
housed in a fine concrete block building near
the Reading tracks, built in 1905, and produces
a medium grade of McKay sewed shoes for
misses and children, five hundred and fifty
pairs per day being the product, and eighty-

now found.
The merchants

;

one persons employed.
The superintendent
of the factory is A. C. Boyer, and the office

man

E. D. Weiser.

was remodeled

The

old factory in 1914

into a dwelling.

Mercantile

few of which are

artist of the old school,

Catawissa include the
—ofPaul
R. Berger, D.
Finfol-

lowing: Clothing

Shoes— E.
kelstein, H. Marks, O. F. Miller.
G. Walter. General Stores— H. R. Baldy, J.
R. Deimer, Charles Pohe. Saloons Daniel E.
Fegely, L. P. Hause, J. D. Yeager, D. P. Kistler.
Pool Rooms A. Hollinshead, E. E. LonRestaurants A. E. Baer, P. B.
genberger.

—

—
—
Erwin. Druggists —
Fisher, John Wat& Co. Confectioneries — C. A. Baker, P.
B. Erwin, G. W. Yetter.
Meat Markets— O.
P. Kostenbauder, W. H. Roberts.
Junk—
Morris Engle, Jacob Liptzer. Feed — W. A.
McCloughan. Undertakers — T. D. Berninger
& Sons. Livery — M.
Grimes & Bro.,
E.
Roberts. Stationery — A.
Truckenmiller, H.
R. \'anDorster. Tinners — K.
Clever, Warren Rhawn. Coal — E. B. Guie, D. F.
—
Autos Gunther &
M.
Grimes &
Bro. Jeweler — David Hons. Milliner — Clara
—
E. Young.
Hamlin. Hardware
F.

ters

Prominent among the representative business houses in Catawissa is the department

owned and conducted by H. S. Grove on
street, which was established in 1902 by
Mr. Grove. The premises occupied consist of a
large two-story frame building, with the entire
first floor and part of the second in use, and
containing upwards of five thousand square
store

Main

Knittle.

Knittle,

Financial

feet of floor space. At the front of the store
the well stocked dry goods department. The

The First National Bank of Catawissa is a
successor to the Catawissa Deposit & Savings

grocery department is modernly equipped and
stocked with groceries and family provisions.
On the second floor are footwear, kitchen utensils and men's furnishings.
The furniture trade in Catawissa is well represented by Thomas E. Harder, whose fine
store on Main street occupies a six-stor\- building, built in 1883, at a cost of $15,000, having
a floor space of twenty-five thousand square
It is fitted with all conveniences and
feet.
stocked with the best makes of furniture and
house furnishings, including carpets, rugs, cur-

Bank, incorporated May 26, 1871. The present
was adopted the following year. John K.
Robbins was made president, and B. R. Davis,
cashier.
The capital stock has always been

It is the largest store of this chartains, etc.
acter in this section and the best equipped and

appointed, the entire building being used in
display and for storage purposes. Mr. Harder
is

also an undertaker

full line

and embalmer, carries a

of caskets and other funeral requisites,
his own funeral car.

and owns

The Catawissa Marble and Granite Works
was established in 1871 by Frederick B. Smith,

who

the pioneer marble and granite worker

Mr. Smith came to this country from Germany, where he learned his business, of which he is a past master. He erected
the Soldiers' monument at Catawissa, which
in this section.

is considered one of the best pieces of work of
the kind in this part of the country, and compares with the work of great sculptors. He is

title

In 1891 the bank
The present
national charter.
handsome quarters are owned by the bank, and
the officials in 1914 are: J. T. Fox, president;
W. j\L \'astine, cashier Luther Eyer and W.
H. Roberts, vice presidents J. M. Vastine, C.
E. Kreisher, Wilson Rhoads, K. P. ReifsnyThe bank has a surplus and
der, directors.
undivided profits of $16,000 and deposits to
the amount of $240,000.
The other financial institution is the Cata-

$50,000 up to the present.
received

its

;

wissa National Bank, chartered April 30, 1904,
with a capital of $50,000. It has now a surplus and undivided profits of $26,000, and deThe first
posits to the amount of $310,000.

were: C. J. Fisher, president; C. P.
Pf abler, vice president C. S. W. Fox, cashier
N. P. Vastine, assistant cashier C. J. Fisher,
C. P. Pfahler, Lloyd Burger, Ambrose Shuman, Jeremiah Kester. John L. Kline, I. H.
The same officials are
Seesholtz, directors.

officials

;

in charge, with the exception of directors
Kline and Seesholtz, deceased, whose places
filled by W. T. Creasy and Ir\-in Kreisher.
The bank erected the fine brick building on
still

are

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
street in which it is located, sharing the
floor with the post office.

Main
first

HIGHWAYS
fortunate in having the finest
It is
street of any town in Columbia county.
was
part of the State highway to Reading, and
built in 1913 under the direction of R. A. Mc-

Catawissa

Cachran, assistant to Engineer Arthur S. Clay
of Bloomsburg. It is of brick, with a concrete
base 2,000 feet long, and runs from the river
bridge to the forks of the streets in the southern part of the town, where it connects with a
feet long, running to
latter bridge was also

tar-macadam road 2,240

the creek bridge. The
built by the State in 1905, and from it may
be had one of the finest views of natural scenery in the county.

193

H. Shuman, who now is the sole owner, and
gives every detail of the works his personal
supervision. Nature and man's ingenuity have
combined to give Catawissa its pure water supply, which is drawn from springs in the Catawissa hills and runs by gravity system into the
reservoir, which has a capacity of 330,000 gallons, and from there is fed into pipes that supply the town, the gravity pressure being sufficient to answer all purposes.
In addition Mr.
Shuman has sunk several artesian wells, which,
if necessary, can be used during a
very dry
season, and has a modern equipped pumping
station fitted with high

power

air

compressor

and force pumps.

THE BAND
The Catawissa Silver Cornet Band Associawas organized April 7, 1869, with these
members: Monroe Seitzinger, Jeremiah S.
tion

FIRE PROTECTION

Cornelius, Allen L. Brandt,

The Catawissa

Fire

Company was organ-

May 17, 1827, at the hotel of Stacy Margerum, witli Joseph Paxton, president, and
ized

Ezra S. Hayhurst, secretary.
consisting of Christian Brobst,

committee,

George Hughes,
Stephen Baldy, George H. VVillits and Jacob

Emery Getchey,
Charles Schmick, Perry Walters, A. Z. Lewis,
M. Walsliaw, Luther Eyer, F. D. Berninger.
Charles H. Smith, the efficient leader, has held
that position for more than twenty years, and
the band has the deserved reputation of being
one of the best trained and cultivated musical

Rupert, was appointed to draft a constitution.
Four days later the document was signed by
Meetings were held quarfifty-four persons.
terly at Margerum's and an assortment of
buckets, ladders, hooks and chains secured and
distributed at proper places. The utmost har-

The
organizations in central Pennsylvania.
association owns the building it occupies.
fine "Boys' Band" is connected with the association, organized and conducted by Prof. John
T. Berger, from which members are drawn for
the adult band as soon as the boys become pro-

prevailed in the organization until the
building of the town hall was brought up, when
in February, 1832, after repeated adjournments without agreement, the company was

ficient.

mony

disbanded.

At present

the protection against fire con-

sists of a chartered volunteer company and a
hose reel and ladder truck, housed in the town

soldiers'

monument

Catawissa, which has often been in the lead
matters civic in Columbia county, was the
first to honor the memory of the brave men who
in

gave up on the

— — for

battlefield their choicest posses-

the services of their country,

hall.

sion

In Catawissa the water supply has been
solved to the entire satisfaction of the people
by the Catawissa Water Works, owned and

by erecting a monument in the union cemetery,
at the site of the old Lutheran church. It was
dedicated Oct. 7, 1899. The shaft is 28 feet
high and bears a statue of an infantryman.
It is surrounded by a wide lawn, the angles
being marked by wartime relics in the shape
of mortars and cannon balls. The cost of the
monument was $4,000, and it was the work
of Frederick B. Smith, proprietor of the Catawissa Marble & Granite Works. Those having
the matter of gathering the funds in their
charge were: Maj. I. H. Seesholtz, G. W.
Reifsnyder, A. H. Sharpless and George Waters.
All of the money was raised by the members of Lieut. H. H. Hoagland Post, No. 170,

operated by P. H. Shuman, whose plant and
reservoirs are of sufficient capacity to take care

The Catawissa Water Works was
all needs.
organized and chartered in 1882, the original
members of the company being F. L. Shuman,

Reuben Shuman, W. H. Rhawn, P. H. Shuman
and Gideon Myers. These gentlemen soon had
the works in operation, and the mains laid
through the streets of the village giving the
best of service, which has been maintained since
the water was first turned on. Some years ago
the entire property came into the hands of P.
13

life

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

194

G. A. R., and their friends, without an appropriation from any source.
At the dedication Governor Stone was present and delivered an address, Rev. G. M. Klepfer, on behalf of the Post, presented the monument to the borough, and Miss Theresa Waters
unveiled it, W. H. Rhawn making the speech
of acceptance for the borough council.
parade took place in the morning, in which the
local and visiting Posts, the Sons of V'eterans
and several secret societies participated, the
Catawissa Band leading all the others. It is
estimated that over five thousand people were
in attendance.

J. B. Knittle, W. H. AbMonroe, John K. Robbins, C.
B. Brockway, John Thomas.
A brick building was erected at the head of Main street, the
cornerstone being laid in 1869 and the com-

Scott,

B. Koons,

bott, C. Ellis,

pleted structure occupied in 1870. The cost of
the building was $19,000. Storerooms occupy
the lower floor, a meeting hall the second, and
lodge rooms the third floor. The association
became involved financially in 1879 ^'""^ the
building was sold in July to George S. Gilbert
and A. H. Sharpless & Sons. In 1888 Gilbert's
interest was sold to the Sharpless family.
In

K. Sharpless, Jr., bought his father's
and in 1904 transferred it to his
brother and sister, Harold and Mary Sharpless.
This interest was later acquired by the
Masonic lodge, and the interest of J. K. Sharpless, Sr., conveyed after his death to Desde1895

interest,

SOCIETIES
Lieut. H. H. Hoagland Post, No. 170, Grand
of the Republic, was organized in OctoM. M.
ber, 1868, with the following members

Army

mona, widow of Dr. L. B. Kline. The title to
the hall now rests in Ambrose H. Sharpless,
the Kline heirs and the lodge.
Clark Harder, Henrv Thomas, Arthur Harder,
Catawissa Council, No. 96, Order of United
T. P. House, B. B. Schmick, George W. American Mechanics, was chartered Oct. i,
Simon Raup,
Waters, John R. Brobst, John Reicheldeifer. 1866, with this membership
In 1876 it was disbanded and in 1880 reor- Charles Garner, J. Q. A. Brobst, Henry S.
ganized with practically the same member- Geiger, Valentine Betz, Jacob Millard, Nathan
ship. Many of the members have passed away Northstein, John Getchey, C. P. Reese, Gideon
in the years since, but a few of them are left Haldeman. John M. Gordon, Andy Bowers,
Charles H. Letteer.
This body is now disto answer the roll call.
Concordia Lodge, No. 60, Independent banded.
Order of Odd Fellows, was organized Sept.
Washington Camp No. 132, P. O. S. of A.,
24, 1838, and has held regular weekly meetings was organized April 3, 1870, with the followsince that date. The first officers were Owen ing membership
W. H. Imhoff, Jacob Cool,
D. Leib, noble grand John F. Mann, vice J. K. Rhawn, Harry Yeager, Charles H. Bibby,
grand; Michael Farnsworth, secretary; Joel E. Jacob Morrison, Samuel H. Young, C. P. PfahBradley, assistant Christian A. Brobst, treas- ler, C. D. Hart, George L. Kostenbauder, \V.
urer.
Meetings were at first held at the home K. Russell, P. A. Brown, Thomas E. Harder,
of Mr. Brobst, until 1882, when the Pine street Dennis W'aters, W'illiam F. Bibby, Thomas B.
schoolhouse was used, having been purchased Cullinan, A. W. Stadtler, Charles D. Cool, W.
This is the building H. Abbott, O. D. Kostenbauder, Jacob Kostenthe previous year.
now occupied by the lodge as a place of meet- bauder. The officers in 1914 are: Edward
It is the twentieth oldest lodge of the Riegel, president
Herbert Y. Harman, vice
ing.
Frank Riegel, master of forms
order in the State, and is one of the permanent president
The members are Paul Schlieder, conductor Ross Ervin, inspecinstitutions of the town.
very proud of their long record of usefulness. tor; Charles Sassaman, guard; R. Bruce
No.
Catawissa Lodge,
349, F. & A. M., was Wheeler, trustee; R. B. W'heeler and Dr. L.
:

Brobst, Samuel Walters, Daniel Walters, John
G. Forborg, Thomas Harder, I. W. Willits,

;

granted a charter Dec. 5, 1864. The
ficers were: John Sharpless, W. M.

Monroe,

;

Walter

Scott, J.

;

first

of-

\V.

Catawissa Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, was
instituted Feb. 19, 1855, with James D. Strawbridge, high priest; John K. Robbins and J.

Boyd McKelvy were other officers.
The Catawissa Masonic Association was organized Dec. 8, 1869, by the following members
of the chapter and lodge:

M. V.

George

Gilbert,

B. Kline, delegates to eight-county convention
C. A. Paul, delegate to State camp. The number of the camp is now 540.
Catawissa Grange, No. 216, Patrons of Hus:

was chartered April 30, 1874. The
members were: Matthias Hartman, JoRoberts, E. M. Tewksbury, Solomon Hel-

bandrv',
first

siah

wig, Martin T. Hartman,

Samuel Fisher, John

The Catawissa Grange and Hall
H. Seeshohz, Association was incorporated May 25, 1883,
Kline, Walter and a commodious brick building was erected
S.

Mensch.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

195

by them the following year at a cost of $6,cxx3.
Hon. William T. Creasy was the first president of the stock company which was formed

house on land later owned by John Keififer.
His scholars came from Mainville and other

to take

charge of the property.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles has a fine
brick hall near the river bridge, but the local
membership was sadly depleted by the removal
This hall was once
of the Reading shops.
the residence of William Eyer, and is two

This school was in the eastern end of the townSuccessive
ship, on the road to Bloomsburg.
teachers were John Stokes, Joseph Gittling
and Thomas Ellis. The present school near
this spot is located on the brow of the hill
amid a grove of trees, one of the beauty spots

stories in height.

of the township.

SCHOOLS

—TOWN

AND TOWNSHIP

The beginning of school work in the townwas made in June, 1797, when a school
was established under the direction of John
Mears with funds derived from subscriptions
among the Friends of Philadelphia. He bought
ship

Philadelphia, donated twenty pounds
the encouragement and support of the
This school continued to be attended
denominations until the dissolution
monthly meeting of the Friends.

The Germans
school

question,

school.

made

by
of

all

the

also took an interest in the
being anxious to preserve

and opened a school in 1800
in the home of Martin Geiger, it being conducted later at Joseph Mclntyre's and still
later at E. M. Tewksbury's, at the lower end
of the township. This school was taught by
Martin Stuck, of Hamburg, Berks county. The
following year he removed to a building
their language,

erected

for

the

purpose,

nearer

Catawissa

There were no school directors then,
but he was employed by Peter Fornwald,
Archibald Hower, Frederick Knittle, Thomas
Fester, and other neighbors.
In 1804 Mrs. Mary Paxton opened a school
creek.

in her residence near the Friends meetinghouse, where she also taught sewing and knitfirst manual training
ting, being thus the
teacher in the county. Her son Joseph Paxton
afterward built an addition to his home, in

which

his

daughter Ruth

Ann

The year 1838 marked the beginning of organized school work, imder the act of 1836.
That year an academy was founded by Joel
E. Bradley, who had for some time taught
He continued to uphold
school in the town.
a high standard of learning until 1842, when
took his place and carBrower
Teremiah J.

toward

lot

year John

from the town of Catawissa.

on the work until 1848.
first board of school directors was
elected in March, 1838, and consisted of William Clayton, Isaiah John, Ezra S. Hayhurst,
Caspar Hartman, Christian A. Brobst, Milton
Boone. At their first meeting provision was

of ground and placed it in the hands of
John Lloyd, Robert Field, Charles Chapman
and Ellis Hughes, as trustees. The following
Pemberton, a prominent Friend of
a

points, as well as

taught a school.

frarne house was built about this
time near the residence of Frederick Pfahler,
and
by the Friends, in which Elijah Barger
In 1815 a high school
Ellis Hughes taught.
was opened in the Keller home by a Mr. Kent
of New York, who was succeeded by a Mr.

small

Ely, of the same city.
in 1818 the largest educational institution
at that time in the county was opened by
Thomas Barger in the second floor of a spring-

ried

The

for the erection of ten schoolhouses, to

from $185 to $210. During the following
year more than four thousand dollars was
expended for school purposes, and although the
money went to found much needed educacost

tional facilities, the taxpayers, as

common

days, complained greatly, and almost defeated the continuance of the work at
the following election.
However, by 1846,
the work had become so important and necesthat
four
but
dissenting votes were cast
sary

modern

at the regular election in

May.

charter for the Catawissa Seminary was
obtained in 1866, the trustees being George

W. McKelvy, Samuel

B.
Isaiah John, Henry
K.
Robbing.
Hollingshead, David Clark, John
Professors Lance, Forsyth and Case were the
The school started out well,
first teachers.
but the patronage grew gradually less, and it
closed and was sold in 1879 to the Episcopal
This circumstance assisted in arousChurch.
ing the people to the needs of the schools and
Willitts, Charles

Diemer, George

Scott,

resulted in the building of a fine brick school-

house at the head of Main street in 1882. The
architect was W. W. Perry and the builder

The school directors of the
E. B. Guie, B. R.
time were
Davis, G. W. Reifsnvder, J. B. Yetter, Luther
Eyer, Dr. W. Walter. Charles H. Albert was
the first principal and E. B. Guie his assistCharles Krug.

township

at this

ant.

At present the borough has twelve school
grades, with 416 scholars in attendance, while

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

196

the township has three schools

and loo schol-

ars.

ing of the Catawissa branch was held April
1796, and was attended by Ellis Yarnall,

23,

The school directors of Catawissa borough
are: W. A. McCloughan, Charles Berger, C.
E. Barwick, Ralph Young, Herman Bucher.
The school directors of Catawissa township
are:
Mayberry Achy, J. W. Rider, J. J.

Arthur Howell, Henry Drinker, John Morton,
James Cresson, David Potts, Thomas Lightfoot and Benjamin Scarlat, all of Philadelphia;
and by Amos Lee, Jacob Thomas, Owen
Hughes and Thomas Parson, from Exeter.
These effected an organization by the election
Cherington, C. M. Young, Oscar Leighow.
The principal of the high school is F. A. of Isaac Wiggins as clerk. Among other
Frear and his assistants are Ella Knittle and business transacted was the appointment of
Helen Margerum. The teachers of the pub- Ellis Hughes and William Ellis to prepare all
Ida Walter, Hattie Abbott, marriage certificates, and of James Watson,
lic schools are:
Bessie Grimes, Nellie Harder, Mary Fegley, John Lloyd, Joseph Carpenter, Benjamin
Bessie Long, Lucie Waters, Sarah Hamlin, Warner, Thomas Eves, Reuben Lundy, Nathan
Lee and John Hughes to care for the Friends'
Mrs. Hester Derickson, Lulu C. Tyson.
RELIGIOUS

The Quaker Meetinghouse

Upon a low hill, surrounded by massive oaks
and half hidden by their luxuriant limbs, stands
the oldest place of worship between Sunbury
This little log building at
and Wyoming.
Catawissa is the first home of the sect of
It has never
Friends in Columbia county.
been definitely determined how long the building has stood here. It is severely plain in appearance and bears the scars of many a temWithin, the fittings
pest and winter's frost.
few wooden
are very plain and simple.
desk
are all that the
benches and a table and
founders considered necessary to the worship
of God. All of these wooden articles of furniture, as well as the partitions which separated the men from the women, are handmade
and have neither nail nor bolt to hold their
parts together. These fittings are for the most
part older than the edifice in which they are
housed, and are of interesting character, owing

and age.
Because of the aversion of the Society to
self-advertising it is hard to fix the age of
the building, there being no cornerstone or
other monument to mark the site and the date

to their oddity

of erection.

The

first

record of services in

vicinity is that of 1787, when William
Collins, William Hughes, James Watson, John
Love and other Friends resident in Catawissa
this

were granted permission to hold services at
this place by the Exeter (Berks county) Meetthe time. At
ing, under whom they were at
the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting of No-

burying ground.
This series of monthly meetings continued
for twelve years, but by that date the number of members was so reduced by emigration
to points further west that the regular meetings

were abandoned and the meeting dissolved

formally on Dec. 24, 1808. From that time a
few earnest members met in the building at
irregular intervals until 1814, after which the
old meetinghouse was closed and for a time
abandoned to the silence of the forest that
surrounded it. For years it stood alone and
neglected, the property the resort of the loose
live stock of the town and a dumping ground
for the careless villagers.
But this state of neglect was not to be the
final fate of the historic old home of the
Quakers, for in the spring of 1890 there came
to Catawissa from Elysburg a maiden lady of
the sect, Mary
Walter, who had determined to make the care of the old church
and the little cemetery beside it her especial
duty for the rest of her days. Quietly she
took up the task of clearing away the luxuriant
growth of weeds and grass from the graves
of her parents and the others who were laid
at rest there, and cleansing the old building
from the accumulations of years, restoring it
to a semblance of its former dignity. Among
the occupants of the lot on which the church
is located she found a pugnacious goat, who
had appropriated the plat as his special demesne
and resented her guardianship. But she used
firmness and kindness and soon shut out the
horned depredator, as well as the human

Emma

loungers

who had

previously spent their idle

But the predacious youth of the
village and the careless householder were still
vember, 1795, the Exeter Friends reported the to be reckoned with, and finding her efforts of
necessity of this meeting in Catawissa, having no avail to restrain them she suddenly appeared
existed for some time previous, and at that one rainy day at the meeting of the town countime the monthly meeting at Catawissa was cil, quietly but firmly laid her cause before
The first official meet- the members, and as silently departed. Her
definitely established.
hours there.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
was unanimously granted and from that
day her troubles ceased, the people of the town
vying with each other in assisting to care
for the grounds and taking a pride in their
preservation. Among the most enthusiastic of
the volunteer caretakers are the railroad men,
who keep the grass cut and the fences and
gates in proper shape.
The property is still owned by the Philadelphia Society and each year a meeting is held
In the
here by delegates from that city.
meantime Mary Emma Walter holds regular
solitary service in the old building on the first
day of the week, and during the period of her
residence here she has missed but two SabShe is
baths, owing to the severe winters.
the daughter of John Walter and Eliza Violetta
Hicks (his second wife), was one of ten children, and was born Sept. 4, 1841, near ElysHer father was from Devonshire,
burg, Pa.
England, while her mother's ancestor, Robert
on Long Island in 162 1. He
settled
Hicks,
did not come over in the "Mayflower," owing
to the lack of room in that famous vessel, but
took a following boat. Arrangements will be
made to care for this famous meetinghouse
plea

in the

event of the death of the self-sacrificing

custodian, through the Columbia County Historical Society and the Society of Friends.
When a new roof was put on the old church

and some repairs made in 1914 it was found
that the white pine boards of the gable ends
had been worn down from one and one-eighth
inches to but three-eighths of an inch by the
storms and snows of 139 years. In the center
of the upper floor or garret was found a yellow pine girder 12 by 15 inches in size and 30
The
feet long, which was perfectly sound.
rafters 3 by
joists were 3 by 7 inches and the
mortised and
5 inches, all of yellow pine,

fastened together with wooden pins.
The old hand- forged nails which fastened
the weatherboarding on were made at the time
the building was erected by some blacksmith,
from charcoal iron. These were preserved
and made into breastpins as souvenirs. The
wooden lock which had been used at first upon
the door was replaced in position, and the door
was lined with heavier boards to preserve it.
The grounds surrounding the old meetinghouse are now used by the citizens of Catawissa as a park, in the absence of a public
Within
place for gatherings and exercises.
the meetinghouse are two interesting stoves
so named from havof the "tenplate" variety
ing ten sections, fastened together by long
rods.
One of these stoves was made in the
foundry of O. D. Leib & Co., Catawissa, and

—

197

the other at Valley Forge.
Both are in fine
shape and the custodian says they will still
heat the room or bake a loaf of bread.

Lutherans

When

came to Catawissa
1795 he was accompanied by Rev. Mr. Seely,
a Lutheran minister from Berks county. On
May 1st of the following year (1796) the first
recorded communion was held in Brobst's
Christian Brobst

the following persons participating:
Michael Raup, Michael Hower, Daniel Geiger,
Christian Brobst, John Wirts, Jacob Yocum,
Conrad Geiger, Catharine Wirts, Barbara
Brobst,
Regina Hartel, Maria Gillihans,
Catharine Hower. On Jan. ist of that year
the following children were baptized
Joseph,
son of Christian Brobst Edna, daughter of
Frederick Knittle
and Maria, daughter of
Daniel Yockum. Thereafter until 1802 services were held in the old stone house on the
Kostenbarger farm, and between 1802 and
1804 in a barn at the foot of the hill on the

cabin,

;

farm now owned by P. H. Shuman.
During 1802 Rev. G. V. Stochs was pastor
of the Lutherans, and in 1808 Rev. John Dietrich held the services for the Reformed conwhich affiliated then with the
gregation
Lutherans. By a deed of Sept. 4. 1802, Christian Brobst and his wife Barbara gave to Jacob
Yockum and Harman Yost, in trust, an acre
of ground near the town of "Hughesburg or
Catawese," for the use of the Lutheran and

(German Reformed) denominaon which to build a union church and

Presbyterian
tions,

On March
establish a free burying ground.
10, 1804, articles of agreement were entered
into by both denominations for the joint ownership of a house of worship, signed by Michael
Hower, Jacob Yockum and Harman Yost,
elders and Samuel Felter and Daniel Geiger,
In that year the old stone union
deacons.
church was built on the site of the present soldiers' monument.
It was of the usual style
of architecture of those times, having galleries around three sides and a "wineglass" pulpit.
It was occupied until 1852. when the second
church, a brick structure, replaced it.
The increase of English speaking members
by 1845 caused a separation of the congrega;

two parts, St. John's and St. Matformer retaining the old brick
church property, in partnership with the Reformed congregation. In 1881 the Lutherans
bought out the interest of the Reformed
Church and in July, 1890, laid the cornerstone
tion into

thew's,

the

of the present brick building on a

lot directly

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

198

opposite their old site. The completed buildIt has been reing was dedicated in 1893.
peatedly improved and enlarged, and in 1914
an addition was made to the Sunday school of
a gj-mnasium and meeting halls, costing $10,000.
The value of the church building alone
is

placed at $18,000.

During the 118 years of its existence this
church has had but fourteen pastors, and but
four since

occupation of the present buildRev. Mr. Seely, 1795; Rev.
G. V. Stochs, 1796; Rev. Frederick Plitt, 1808;
Rev. Peter Hall, 1817; Rev. Peter Kessler,
Rev.
1820; Rev. Jeremiah Schindle, 1831
William J. Eyer, 1837; Rev. William Laitzel,
Rev.
L.
Rev.
Lindenstreuth, 1878;
1874;
J. H.
Neiman, 1881 Rev. E. L. Reed, 1892; Rev.
Peter Altpeter, 1898; Rev. William J. Nelson,
1906; and Rev. J. H. Sandt, the present pastor,

ing.

its

They were:

;

who came March 28, 1909.
The present officers of

the church are
J. H. Sandt, C. L. Pohe
G.
Nelson
(president), J.
(secretary), John
B. Fortner (treasurer), D. E. Billeg, H. A.
E.
E.
Billeg,
Longenberger, D. E. Nuss, P. J.
Deaner, P. H. Shuman, N. C. Creasy, C. E.
Kreisher, Dr. A. Shuman, Paul Henry, John
Miller, William Fedder, Burton Fortner, G. A.

Church council

— Rev.

—

Eckroat, James Hartman. Trustees William
T. Creasy, J. E. Clayton, E. F. Weaver, C. G.
Smith, Samuel Eckroat, J. W. Kitchen.
The large membership of the church council
is due to the fact that many of the members
are railroad men, liable to calls of duty at any
hour, and there is danger of the lack of a
quorum at called meetings of the council. The
membership of the church is 420, and of the
Sundav school 350. Financially the church
is

very prosperous condition.
St. Matthezc's

Church

The rapid increase of English speaking persons during the term of Rev. William J. Eyer
caused him to suggest a division of the congregation, and a meeting was held for this purpose June 25, 1845, a committee w-as appointed
to draft a constitution, and in 1830 St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran congregation was
incorporated, the members being: William J.
Ever, pastor; Stephen Baldy, Peter Bodine,
elders C. G. Brobst, Daniel Clewell, deacons
Michael Brobst. treasurer; members, J. B.
Kessler, William Yoder, Francis Dean, Jacob
Kreigh, John Hartman, S. D. Reinard, Peter
;

Strieker,

Ephraim Brobst, Joseph Breisch,
Miller.
the time of the organization of this

Benjamin

From

congregation it continued to worship in the
parent church, with Rev. William J. Eyer as
pastor (preaching every two weeks), until the
English church was completed, the building
of which was commenced by taking up subThe
scriptions on the 3d of August, 1849.
list was headed by Stephen Baldy with $100,
or a lot on which to build the church. The lot
was taken on which the church now stands.

Quite a number of subscriptions followed,
After
ranging in amounts from $75 down.
having received in cash and subscriptions at
home some $2,500, which w^as not enough,
resort was had to ask aid from friends abroad.
A second subscription list was written, which
commissioned Hon. Stephen Baldy to receive
such donations as the liberal minded were disposed to give into his hands.
Equipped with this document Mr. Baldy
went to Philadelphia and collected from his
merchant friends and others between three
and four hundred dollars. This in addition
to that collected at home warranted the congregation to commence building. The church
was finished some time in 1850, and either in

January or February, 1851 (no records), was
dedicated, the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Rev. P. Willard, of Danville, Pa.
The congregation continued to be served by
Rev. W. J. Eyer until 1862, when he resigned
because his pastorate was entirely too large,
being composed of four or more congregations.
Rev. J. F. Wampole succeeded Rev. Eyer in
July, 1862,

came Rev.

in July, 1864.
Next
D., in August, 1864,
1866.
It was during his

and resigned
J.

and remained

Dimm, D.

until

pastorate that the congregation left the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and united with the
East Pennsylvania Synod. It has since united
with the Susquehanna Synod. Rev. D. Beckner took charge of St. Matthew's, also of the
\"ought Church, May 12, 1867, and left the
charge in 1869. Rev. S. S. Curtis became pastor in 1870 and served until the spring of 1872.
student of theology from Selinsgrove by the
name of C. S. Coates was then called to supply
the congregation for three months, commencIn September, 1872. Rev.
ing June 9. 1872.
R. F. Kingslev was elected and took charge,
remaining but one year. Then a long vacancy
occurred, with several unsuccessful attempts
to elect a pastor, until the election of Rev. E. S.
Leisenring, who served as a supply until June,

1875, when he accepted, and remained until
1878. It is on record that Rev. F. P. Manhart,
D. D., supplied the church in 1878 for a period
of six months. On Feb. 2, 1879, the congregation elected as pastor Rev. J. F. Diener, who

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
took charge some time in the same year. Durit was resolved by the congregation to purchase a lot and build thereon a
suitable house for the use of the pastor.
lot was bought of C. F. Harder, and a contract
was made with him to build a parsonage on
the same, which he finished in October, 1880,

ing his pastorate

and on the nth of November, 1880, the pastor,
Rev. Mr. Diener, with his family moved into
In 1881 the parsonage was enlarged, and
it.
in many respects improved and beautified.
Unpleasant relations sprang up between Rev.
Mr. Diener and the congregation, so much so
that he was urged to resign, which he did,

some time

leaving

on Dec. 17, 1882, then the
congregation, unanimously concurred in calling Rev. D. M. Henkel, D. D., to take charge of
the congregation as supply (preaching but
once a Sunday) until a pastor could be secured,

which proposition Rev. Mr. Henkel consented and at once took charge, continuing until Rev. U. Myers accepted and took charge of
to

the congregation

May

The storm of Sept.
so much ruin in many

15, 1883.

30, 1896, which wrought
parts of our land, struck

Catawissa with unusual fury. The long wagon
bridge across the Susquehanna was swept from
its foundations into the river, trees were torn

up from the

down

roots,

and many buildings blown

or badly damaged.

Among

the latter

Matthew's Lutheran church. One of
was blown down, some of the bricks
landing in an adjoining house; the roof was
torn of?, a large memorial window blown in
and destroyed, while the pouring rain added
greatly to the damage. A few hours after the
storm had subsided the council was in session,
and resolved to re-build at once the waste
The parts blown away
places of their Zion.
were replaced with new material. A metal

was

St.

the towers

ceiling

was substituted for the damaged

plaster,
re-

and the entire auditorium repainted and

including a new velvet carpet, all at an
Sunday, Dec. 20, 1896,
expense of $1,100.
was the day set apart for rededication. Rev.
in
J. H. Weber, D. D., of Sunbury, preached
the morning and assisted the pastor in conof
of
the
finances.
Most
the
pastors
ducting
Catawissa closed their churches and attended
this service.
At 2 :30 p. m. a Sunday school
service was held, and addresses made by a
number of the ministers present. At 6 o'clock
the Lutheran Alliance held a special service,
and an hour later Rev. R. G. Bannen, of Williamsport. preached the dedicatory sermon, and
Rev. Dr. J. H. Weber, as president of the Susquehanna Synod, conducted the dedicatory
fitted,

The amount asked for at the mornSo
ing service was eleven hundred dollars.
liberally did the people respond that at the
close of the evening service about $1,600 had
been paid in cash or subscribed, leaving a surplus of $500 for use of the council in making
other improvements and repairs on the parsonage, which also was damaged by the storm.
In 1900 a magnificent Gothic altar, 14 feet
high and 7 feet wide, was placed in the church
It has a
through the efforts of the ladies.
services.

statue of Christ, by Thorwaldsen, in front.
Rev. Dr. Myers has continued as pastor of
the church up to the present time. On March
2^, 19 14, a

in 1882.

First the council

199

meeting commemorating his thirty-

years of service was held in the church, the
services being in charge of the Bloomsburg
Ministerium.
On the twentieth anniversary of his pas-

five

torate a fine pipe organ was installed, and in
191 4 the entire church was remodeled at a
cost of $5,000, the entire amount being raised

four weeks.
At the first communion service held in Catawissa by Dr. Myers there were thirty-seven
The present membership is 300,
attendants.
in spite of the removal of the Reading railroad headquarters, which at one time took
away one hundred members and at another
fifty more.
The following charter members signed the
constitution on July 13, 1845. The names are
in

placed in the order in which they are found on
the church record and the spelling is closely
followed. One name only was added, having
been omitted at the time of signing: Christian

Stephen Baldy, Michael Breckbill,
Michael Brobst, Joseph Brobst, Hiram B. Ely,
Peter Bodine, Anna Margaret Bodine, Christian G. Brobst, Willimena Zehender, Caroline
Zehender, Sarah Ely, Hannah Kruck, Caroline
Brobst, Jane Kreigh. Sophia Hartman, Susanna Yoder, Catharine Baldy, Susan Baldy,
Elizabeth Bodine, Mary Rinard, Nancy Brobst,
Mary Brobst, S. D. Rinard. Jane Brobst,
Joshua Evans, Sarah Brobst, Ephraim Brobst.
C. Heister Brobst, Barbara Brobst. Jacob
Kruck, Susanna Kruck, Williammina Moyer,
Maria C. Moyer, Daniel Knittle, Mary Knittle,
Jacob Kreigh, John Hartman, Catharine Hartman, Elizabeth Moyer. Sue C. Eyer. Peter
Strieker, Elizabeth Breckbill. Rebecca Breckbill. Sarah Breckbill. George Strieker. Amanda
Daniel Geiger,
Strieker.
Brobst. Susanna
Sarah Geiger. Isaiah Brobst. Francis Dean.
H.
Brobst. Wm. Yoder,
Deborah Dean, Mary
Daniel Clewell, George Manhart, Hannah B.
Brobst,

Mench.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

200
St. John's

Reformed Church

John's parish was formed, and George S.
Walter Scott, Isaac H. Seesholtz, William Abbott and S. E. Jones were elected wardens and vestrymen. They applied for a charter in that year, but did not receive one until
St.

Gilbert,

After the pastorate of Rev. John Dietrich
Adams, which commenced in 1808, the successive Reformed pastors up to the year 1886
were Revs. Diefenbaugh, Knable, Tobias,

1874.

The

Fursch, Steeley, Daniels, Moore, Dechant,
Derr.
During Mr. Dechant's pastorate, the
joint ownership of the Lutheran church was
dissolved, and in May, 1882, the cornerstone
of a new St. John's was laid.
Mr. Dechant
himself conducted all the building operations

Rev. Joseph L. Colton, came
and opened a paroIn January the congregation
chial school.
bought the Catawissa Seminary, but worshipped in the Masonic hall until the building
could be altered to suit its new uses. The rec-

and

tor held the first

in May, 1883, the completed edifice was
dedicated, Revs. O. H. Strunck, of Bloomsburg, and Rev. William C. Scheaffer, of Danville,

participating.

Mr. Dechant's pastorate continued over thirteen years and his successors have been
Rev.
Joshua H. Derr, 1886-90; Rev. Raymond E.
Butz, 1891-95; Rev. Harry W. Wissler, 189599; Rev. A. T. G. Apple, 1899-1903; Rev. Alfred M. Schaffner, 1904-11; Rev. Charles E.
Rupp, the present pastor, who came Nov. i,
:

to the

first rector.

town

in April, 1872,

communion

in June,

1872,

two weeks the congregation worshipped
own building, but the deed was not
given till 1879. On July 21, 1878, Mr. Colton
resigned, and his place was not filled until 1880
and

their

by Rev. Charles E. Fessenden, who only remained for six months. Thereafter, at various
times when the parish was without a rector,
services were held by Rev. L. Zahner, Rev. W.
C. Leverett and Rev. D. N. Kirkby, successive
rectors of St. Paul's Church, Bloomsburg.

1911.

The

present church officers are:
Jere S.
Pifer, Harry H. Keifer, H. M.
Gellinger, elders Jacob H. Gross, Charles N.
Keifer, Howard N. Gunther, George Vastine
Fisher, deacons.

Methodist Episcopal Church

Shuman, A. B.

The home of Joseph Mclntyre, where the
school in this township was opened, also

;

The congregation owns

a splendid parsonage
street, the purchase of which was
the
will
of Mrs. Mary E.
possible by

on Third

made

$1,000 and rededicated in
the fall of that year, Revs. George W. Richards,
of Lancaster, Cyrus Musser, of Philadelphia,
and former pastors Butz, Wissler and Apple,

1909

at a cost of

participating.

The
140,

present membership of the church is
and the congregation is noted for its mis-

The Sunday school for
sionary enterprises.
twenty-five years has supported Prof. T. Demura, a native preacher and teacher in Japan.
St.

saw the

first

services of the

Methodist de-

beginning of the last century. Bishop Asbury, the founder of Methodism in America, stopped here on a trip from

nomination

in the

The church was completely renovated Sunbury

Ritter.
in

first

John's Protestant Episcopal Church

The first services of the Protestant Episcopal denomination in Catawissa were held in
i860 by Rev. E. N. Lightner, rector of Christ
Church, Danville.

Some

years later Rev. T.

to Wyoming and held services which
resulted in the conversion of the entire family
and some of the neighbors. He was followed

years by Nathaniel Mills, James Paynand Benjamin Abbott, itinerant preachers
of that denomination. In 1828 a church was
built near the road, on land donated by Mcin later

ter

lntyre, in the southern part of the township.

in 1869 and is
present served
by Rev. John H. Greenwalt, of the Roaringcreek circuit. The Mclntyre family celebrated
their eighteenth annual reunion in 1914 at the
old church, by a picnic and social services, the

second church was dedicated

the one there in 1914.

It is at

attendance being very large.
The Catawissa Methodist church was built
in 1834 by members of the above church who
had migrated to the town earlier. A second
in 1854 and the last one in
The latter was dedicated in February,
1884.
1885, Revs. Vincent and Upham participating.
The building committee were: Rev. R. E.

H. Cullen, rector of St. Paul's, Bloomsburg,
held services monthly and administered baptism. In 1870 his successor. Rev. John Hewitt,
conducted bimonthlv services in the Masonic
hall, alternating with Rev. J. M. Peck of Danville.
During this time the Right Rev. Wil-

house was built

liam B. Stevens, bishop of the diocese, offiIn May, 1871,
ciated at two confirmations.

B. Kline.

Wilson, H.F. Clark. W. W. Perry, J. M.
Smith, C. C. Sharpless, Jesse Mensch, Dr. L.
Pastors of this church have been

Revs.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

201

M. Barnitz, William Moses, Barbara, was born Sept. 21, 1767, and died
Mann, George M. Klepfer, Samuel D. Dec. 24, 1847. Many of the ancestors of the
Wilson, A. Lawrence Miller, Robert M. present residents of the town are also buried
Snyder, William R. Picken, J. M. Johnston, here, and the grounds are very well kept, conR. E. Wilson, A.

and the present pastor. Rev. R. H. Stine.
sidering their age and public ownership.
The church has been repeatedly improved
and remodeled, the latest expenditure, in 1913,
CATAWISSA BIBLIOPHILES
being $1,500. In 1906 a $2,500 pipe organ was
installed, half of the cost of which was contributed by Andrew Carnegie, the ironmaster.
Organized for the social as well as for the
The present membership is 340 and the Sun- intellectual benefit, along literary lines, were
day school has 300 attendants, the superintend- the Bibliophiles the booklovers of Catawissa,
The
ent being R. M. Graham. The trustees of the consisting of fourteen ladies, in 1908.
church for 1914 are: Charles S. Kline, R. M. club has flourished and since then meetings
which
works
Graham, Dr. L. B. Kline, C. J. Fisher, O. P. have been held weekly, at
literary
Kostenbauder, H. C. Oberdorf, D. E. Murray. have been taken up, studied and discussed at
The stewards are
M. J. Grimes, John R. length. No definite line of work is laid down
Deemer, William C. Kuster, M. E. Irwin, for the club. Each succeeding work is taken
Oscar Miller, S. M. Miller, William Eveland, up as the members desire, and the programs
Mrs. interspersed from time to time with social
John Fenstermacher, Perry Heacock.
M. E. Irwin is president of the Ladies' Aid gatherings and discussions of contemporary ficSociety, and Miss Mary Fegley is president tion, as well as more elaborate entertaintnents.
The meetings are held at the homes of the
of the Epworth League.
members in turn, on Monday evenings. The
first members of the club were the following:
CEMETERIES
Mrs. A. S. Truckenmiller, president Mrs. C.
Catawissa is well supplied with burying E. Randall, Mrs. Harry Fahringer, Mrs.
In the one adjoining the Quaker George Schmick, Mrs. Harry Yetter, Mrs.
grounds.
meetinghouse lie many of that sect, as well Maude Beminger, Mrs. C. E. Geyer, Mrs.
as those of other denominations. Next to this F. A. Frear, the Misses Sue Berninger,
Near the upper Hattie Abbott, Jane Harder, Helen Baldy,
is a more modern cemetery.
end of the town is the Union cemetery, do- Berd Walter, Ida Walter. The officers for
nated to the public by Christian Brobst in 1802. 1914 are: Mrs. C. E. Geyer, president; Mrs.
Here lie the remains of himself and wife under F. A. Frear, vice president Mrs. C. E. Rana massive slab of marble. He was born .Sept. dall, treasurer. The membership has been inHis wife. creased to sixteen.
14, 1767, and died Jan. 14, 1849.

—

;

CHAPTER XVII
CENTRALIA BOROUGH— CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP
This extreme southernmost township in
Columbia county was in 1856 separated from
Locust township and made a division unto
itself, being named after the then presiding
judge, John Nesbitt Conyngham. The session
over which the Judge presided when the township was erected was the last one of his term.

Conyngham township

almost every re-

spect unlike the other divisions of Columbia
county. Having no railroad communication by
direct route with the county seat, and separated
from the rest of the county by towering and

rugged mountain ranges, it is practically cut
off from its sister townships.
To reach the

residents of Centralia are
obliged to travel by one of two roundabout
railroad routes, six times the distance by the
The latter road is in
direct public road.
such a state of disrepair as to be almost imIn addition the heavy grades make
passable.
the journey long and hazardous to the traveler.
To a great degree the people are dependent
on the towns in Schuylkill and Northumberland counties for supplies and interchange of

county seat the

social courtesies.

The township

cultural possibilities,
coal deposits therein

almost destitute of agriand but for the immense
would have remained for

202

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

indefinite years a wilderness of forest

and

glen.

separated from Locust township on the
north by Little mountain, and on the south lies
Locust mountain, whose southern slope exThree smaller
tends into Schuylkill county.
ridges lie between these two elevations, causthe
to
be
cut
into
alternate hills
ing
country
up
It is

hope of uncovering deposits of iron ore. He
began the construction of roads and bridges
and opened a few drifts, but failed to find any

iron.
For twenty-five years the property remained undeveloped and then the Locust
Mountain Coal & Iron Company opened the
Mine Run colliery. They had organized in
and valleys, all having an east and west trend. 1842. The same year the Locust Run and Coal
In the summits of these elevations lie the great Ridge collieries were opened. The Hazel Dell
anthracite coal fields, the only ones in Colum- colliery was completed in i860 and the Cen-

bia county.
During the years

when

the

settlers

came

tralia colliery in

1862.

was opened

in the

liery

The Continental

col-

following year.
laws prohibiting
State

from Berks county to the Catawissa valley a
Notwitlistanding
constant stream of vehicles and horsemen ownership of coal mines by railroad companies
the
Conit
is said the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company
over
mountains
and
through
poured
yngham, by way of the old Reading road, but has gradually acquired control and ownership
never a one paused to give more than a cursory of all the mines in Columbia county and
view of the landscape, heaving a sigh of relief operates them under different corporate
when the last declivity had been passed and the names. This road owns the transportation
broad valley northward was revealed to sight. lines into Centralia and Aristes.
Little did they reck of the enormous treasures
concealed within these hills and awaiting but
CENTRALIA
the scratching of the surface to bgcome availOn one of the few level spots in the townable to mankind. It was more than sixty years
after the Quakers passed through this town- ship the "Bull's Head" tavern was built in
ship that the mineral treasures were developed 1841 by Jonathan Faust, about a mile from
in a practical way.
the "Red Tavern" and on the Reading road.
Until the year 1830 the township was a This was the first house on the site of Cenhaunt for the deer, fox and other wild crea- tralia. The tavern later came into the hands
In 1914 it was partially
tures. It was not an entirely unknown region, of Reuben Wasser.
In 1855
for the "Red Tavern," on the crest of Locust removed to make way for a store.
in
the
first engineer of the
erected
Alexander
W.
Rea,
mountain,
by John Rhodenberger
1804, was a famous and popular place of rest Locust Mountain colliery, built a cottage above
for travelers on the Reading road.
Settlers the tavern and brought hither his family from
were shy of stopping longer than a night or Danville. He made surveys in his spare time
two in this section, however, until the discov- for streets and lots, and in the same year
ery of coal made the land valuable. Then there built a number of homes for the workers in
was an influx of settlers of much different the mines. This was the beginning of the
nationalities frorn those of the rest of the town. In i860 Jonathan Hoagland opened the
Perhaps no portion of the county first store opposite the tavern and two years
county.
can show so varied a list of races and nation- later became the first postmaster. The village
It is a typical mining had been called "Centerville" for some time
alities as Conyngham.
region, with all the characteristics of such previous, but the name was changed to Centralia owing to conflict with another town of
communities.
Most of the land in this township was sur- the former name in the State. Three years
veyed in 1793, but property titles have been later the Lehigh & Mahanoy railroad was built
clouded by the many warrants issued by un- through the town.
The advent of the railroad brought many
scrupulous owners when they found the lands
Some portions of this persons to the town and several collieries were
underlaid with coal.
township have been found to bear at least soon opened. This caused an application to be
three separate titles from the Commonwealth. made for incorporation, and at the February
All of the titles have been settled either by session of court in 1866 the borough of CenJames B.
agreement or by legal proceedings. The first tralia was formally established.
to develop this section was the famous Stephen Knittle was elected president of the town counGirard, founder of the great college at Phila- cil L. S. Boner, town clerk James Dyke, chief
delphia. In 1830 he bought an extensive tract burgess. These officials soon had their hands
on Catawissa and Mahanoy creeks from the full in attempting to quell the spirit of lawtrustees of the Bank of Philadelphia, in the lessness that had developed among the numer:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ous nationalities working

in the

mines.

The Union now has

entire control of the labor situation and peace has descended upon the field.
Centralia is connected with Mount Carmel

was the "Molly Maguire" murders, of which a complete sketch
chief of these troubles

given

bar history of this county.
a victim to the assassin's bullet

in the

first to fall

203

The and Ashland,
was

kill

Northumberland and Schuyl-

counties,

respectively,

by a trolley line,
in order to over-

Alexander W. Rea, who was practically the
founder of the town. Michael Lanahan and
Thomas Dougherty followed as victims soon

come

after.

miles.

Another trouble was the frequency of inBetween 1872
cendiary fires in the village.
and 1878 scarcely a year passed without a
severe and extensive fire amongst the dwellings and stores. This has now been suppressed,
and the town has experienced a comparative
rest from conflagrations for a number of years.
Centralia is characterized by the large number of saloons within its corporate limits, one
There are
for every two hundred persons.
twenty saloons, two drug stores, seventeen

Occasionally subsidences of the ground in
portions of the town, due to the removal and
rotting of mine supports, have caused damage
to buildings and roads, but the State Mine

general stores and groceries, one jeweler and
two butchers in the town.

which makes a long detour
cents

the
is

grades.

steep

charged for the

Commission

fare of

trip of less

sixteen

than three

preparing to have this reme-

died.

At present

the two important collieries of
Centralia are the Continental and Repellier,
both of which are operated by the Lehigh

Valley Railroad Company. Some stripping is
being done at the old Locust Mountain
Coal Company's mines, inside the corporation.
still

Financial

Water Supply

The Centralia Water Company was chartered in 1866, a reservoir was built on the side
of Locust mountain and wooden mains laid
through the town. The company later became
financially invoh'ed anfl the property was sold
in 1876 to William Brydon.
By this time
the mains had rotted and the supply of water
was very inadequate. Brydon improved the
propertv and service greatly. After his time
the works were successively owned by A. B.
Fortner, David C. Black, Edward Williams,
A. K. Mensch, O. B. Millard, John W. Fortner,

and others.

Owing

to the

pumping

plants of the mines

supply the Locust Mountain
in 1881 for the
of
building a dam across Brush Valley
purpose
nm to conserve the supply in a permanent manner.
Thev constructed a reservoir on top of
the mountain and laid several miles of mains.
This removed the possibility of a water famine.
The fire protection of Centralia consists of
a volunteer company and a hose and ladder
truck, but poor water pressure hampers the
aiifecting the w^ater

Centralia has a strong financial institution,
the First National Bank, having a capital of
$25,000 and deposits aggregating over $106,000.
It was organized Sept. 29, 1909, with the folL. Fetterman, O. B. Millard,
lowing directors
W. E. Davis, ]. M. Humphrey, T. W. Riley,
:

Dr. R. M. LaShelle, J. A. Moran, M. J. McDonnell, H. J. Hefifner, J. W. Fortner, I. C.
Johnston. It opened for business Dec. i, 1909,
with C. S. Henderson as the first and present
cashier. The present directors are T. W. Riley, M. I. McDonnell, O. B. Millard, J. W. Fortner, G.'C. Blass, H. J. Hefifner, D. E. Keller, J.
T. W. Riley is
Marsh, Edward Williams.
president,
dent.

and M.

McDonnell, vice presi-

Water Company was formed

fire fighters greatly.

MISCEr,I..\NEOUS

MATTERS

Centralia is populated chiefly by persons of
descent, while many nationalities are
employed in the mines. There have been three
strikes in these mines since their onening,
Irish

1868,

1897

and

1900.

The

Miners'

Capt. Jack

Crawford

Back in the early sixties, when the country
was on the verge of the Civil war, Centralia,
little hamlet, took a prominent part
furnishing soldiers, and none has won more
enduring fame than Capt. Jack Crawford, the
"Little Johnny." as he was then
poet-scout.
known, ran away from his home in Centralia

then but a
in

and enlisted at Minersville. and later became
one of the famous heroes of the great struggle
He was a
between the North and South.
member of the 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania
\^olunteers, and is still living.
Of the many Centralia veterans who have
passed awav durine the last half century there
are nine buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

204

and eleven

Tlie surin St. Ignatius cemetery.
Capt. John
viving veterans in the town are
B.
Treasurer
O.
R. Porter, Borough
Millard,
John W. Fortner, Lafayette Fetterman, John
Brennan
and
Sr.,
Clews,
James
Curray, Joseph
:

George Malley.
Societies

Centralia Lodge, No. 586, I. O. O. F., was
chartered Sept. 22, 1866, but the charter being
burned another was issued Nov. 25, 1872. The

J. A. Dixon, C. D. Mc Williams, S. R.
Nankervis, A. C. Crosthwait, H. B. Fortner,
Samuel Barnes, A. H. Mensch, G. W. Larner,
N. S. Buckingham, G. W. Marshall, T. H.
Tubbs, J. P. Benford, R. L. Armstrong, J. S.
Buckley. The present pastor is Rev. Robert
W. Bryner. After 1883 this church was made
a separate station. The church was completely rebuilt in 1886 and is a commodious frame
building in the eastern part of the town, on

Riddle,

the trolley

were James Thomas, James
officers
Thompson, C. B. Spurr and Seth Thomas. The
membership is about one hundred now. The

line.

first

meeting hall on Centre street, above Locust, is
valued at $4,000.
Washington Camp No. 106, P. O. S. of A.,
was organized in 1866 with thirty-six members and these officers
J. P. Hoagland, presi:

dent

;

C. G. Freck, secretary

;

F. Scott, treas-

It was reorganized in 1872 and rechartered in 1883, with twenty-four members.
This order is now in a prosperous condition

urer.

and owns its own hall.
The branch of the United Mine Workers of
America at Centralia has a membership which
includes practically all the men employed in
the coal mines and possesses a full treasury,
from which various benefits are paid to the

members

in sickness, injury or old age.
Council No. 1006, Order of Independent
Americans, has a large membership in Cen-

tralia

and the surrounding

villages.

RELIGIOUS
In the schoolhouse at Centralia, built in
1858, the organization of most of the religious
denominations of this township occurred. In
this building services were held for some years,
until it became engulfed by the caving in of an
old

mine working.

The Methodists were
services in

the
of

first sect to

hold

Conyngham. In
Morris Lewis was appointed

the bounds

January, 1863,

leader of a class of eight persons by Rev. W.
M. Showalter, pastor at Ashland. Two years
later Rev. N. W. Guire organized the congregation and appointed William M. Hoagland as
leader. For three years thereafter Rev. J. M.
Mullen was in charge. In the summer of 1866
John James and Joseph Steele excavated the
foundations for a church building at their own
expense, and in the autumn the cornerstone of
the building

by Rev. W. A. Stephens.
completed in 1871.
Revs. J. B.
church have been

was

laid

The church was
Pastors of this

finally

St. Ignatius'

The parsonage

beside

it.

Roman

Catholic

Roman

Catholic Church of CenHarrisburg. Rt. Rev.

tralia is in the diocese of

F. Shanahan selected Very Rev. D. J. McDermott to organize it in 1869. He celebrated
two Masses in the schoolhouse in April and

on July

8th the cornerstone of the church

was laid by Bishop Shanahan. Four lots on
which the church was built were donated by
the Locust Mountain Coal & Iron Company.
The building was completed in 1870 and the
pastoral residence in 187 1. By 1872 the number of souls in the congregation had reached
1,500, with Rev. Edward T. Fields as pastor.
Rev. James I. Russell entered into the charge
in

1884.

The present pastor
The church has been

Rev.

constantly improved and repaired and is in fine condition
now. The convent beside it and the school
and meeting hall across the street were built
in 1880. The electric line runs in front of these
buildings and the street has been paved and
sidewalks laid by the church, making this part
of Centralia quite metropolitan in appearance.
Crotty.

The present congregation is large, and
posed of manv nationalities.

com-

Episcopalians

The first resident missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Centralia was Rev.
Otto H. Fryer, who served there during 1864
Services had been held there
and 1865.
previously by clergymen of the Ashland
Church.
visit of Rev. D. Washburn of
Philadelphia in 1865 culminated in the organization of the Church of the Holy Trinity in
May, 1869. The first rector here in 1867 was
Rev. J. P. Fugett, who was stationed at Ashland, and served for one year.

In August, 1867, Rev. Mr. Washburn returned for a time to recuperate his health, and
at the request of the Bishop reorganized the
church and established the first Sunday school,
In
in a room opposite the "Centralia Hotel."

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

205

following year the church was officially first of the year 1886, and after a vacancy of
organized, and in 1869 Thomas R. Stockton, a little more than two months he was succeeded,
superintendent of the Locust Mountain Col- on March 21st, the second Sunday in Lent, by
whom the Rev. David Howard, who continued to serve
liery in place of Alexander Rea,
Mollie Maguires had murdered, took the this people until May 22, 1887, when he resuperintendency of the Sunday school and signed, and without any interruption in the
entered into the work of lifting the dark cloud services Rev. Benjamin F. Thompson took
of horror that seemed to overshadow the charge of the work. In the year 1887-88 a new
Through him the Colliery Company carpet was purchased and placed in the church.
people.
donated four lots, the plans were donated by On May 31, 1890, this mission had seventeen
Edward T. Potter, son of the Bishop, and families, twenty-four communicants, with
the cornerstone was laid July 29, 1869.
forty-six members in the Sunday school, and
The building is a large frame, with belfry, a church free of debt. Rev. Mr. Thompson
and has an addition upon the north side for resigned the latter part of the summer of 1891,
Sunday school purposes, built some years later. and was shortly afterwards succeeded by Rev.
The chancel window is the donation of Robert William W. Mix. The work here, however,
Gorell and bears his monogram. The church was largely done by Mr. Otho Brant, who had
was consecrated Sept. 4, 1870, by Rt. Rev. been appointed lay-reader by the bishop.
William Bacon Stevens, D. D.
During the year 1892-93 Holy Trinity was
In 1868 Holy Trinity had been so far estab- united with Mount Carmel, which gave this
lished as a mission as to be admitted into union mission twice the number of services it rewith the Convention of the Diocese of Penn- ceived prior to this time. On Feb. 9, 1894,
new church had been erected Rev. A. T. DeLearsey, D. D., took charge of
sylvania.
This mission having again
here, and was served by Rev. Daniel Wash- the work here.
burn, in connection with Ashland. But after become vacant. Rev. Frederick Charles Cowper
a little time Centralia, meeting the larger por- became priest in charge on Nov. 15, 1895. In
tion of the support of a non-resident clergyman, February, 1899, the mission doubled the recbecame dissatisfied. Hence Rev. Mr. Wash- tor's salary. On May 31, 1900, Holy Trinity
burn secured for them a deacon. Rev. P. P. had eighteen families, seventy baptized persons,
Reese.
During the year 1873-74 the interior forty-one communicants, thirty-three members
of the church was improved and beautified. in the Sunday school, and a church property
The lack of work, in 1875-76, throughout the valued at $10,000, free of debt. About the ist
great coal fields of Pennsylvania, played sad of March, 1901, Rev. Mr. Cowper resigned, and
havoc with the church in this region. The serv- was succeeded, the last of the year, by Rev.
the

in Centralia, however, were continued Alfred Samuel Hill Winsor.
The church work here was very much cripwithout any interruption during this time. In
the spring of 1878 Rev. Mr. Washburn re- pled, during 1902-03, by removals, as frequently
signed, and was succeeded by Rev. C. E. D. occurs in most mining towns. Although CenThe burning down of the Centralia tralia was for many years a part of the archGriffith.
coal breaker during the Conventional year, deaconry of Reading, yet upon the division of
1879-80, almost broke up the mission here, for the diocese it geographically and canonically
the time being, because of the removal of a fell within the limits of the archdeaconry of
large majority of the members. Owing to the Williamsport, and therefore became a part of
fact that the few people who were left were un- the diocese of Harrisburg. This change caused
able to support the work, Rev. Mr. Griffith was a vacancy of considerable length, but the servobliged to withdraw in the early part of the year ices were continued during this time by the efAt this time Holy Trinity had twelve ficient lay-reader Mr. James Simons.
1880.
Rev. Leroy F. Baker, the general missionfamilies, sixty-eight baptized persons, twenty
communicants, thirty-seven members in the ary of the diocese of Harrisburg, began giving
Sunday school, and a church valued at $4,000. regular Sunday afternoon services here the first
From the time of the resignation of Rev. Sunday of December, 1905. On Sunday, Jan.
Mr. Griffith this mission continued vacant for 6, 1907, an effort was made to reorganize the
about two years, or until in the spring of 1882, Sunday school, which had been discontinued
ices

But as there
for several years prior to this.
were no children, the few adults present agreed
meet every Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock
again suffered very much by removals. Rev. and spend an hour in the study of the Bible
Mr. Kline withdrew from the field about the and the Book of Common Prayer, with Mr.

when

the rector of St. John's Church, Ashland,
Kline, took charge of the
In the year 1884 Holy Trinity
here.

Rev. Robert H.

work

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

206

James Simons as leader. During the Lenten
season of 1907 Mr. John Costello gave very
acceptable lay services every Thursday eveIn 1909 the general missionary still continued in charge.
In December, 1909, Rev. Robert R. Morgan, rector of St. Stephen's Memorial Church,
Mount Carmel, took charge of the work and
still (September, 1914) continues as minister
in charge.
In 1911-12 the whole interior of
the church was remodeled and refurnished at
considerable expense and a large two-story parish house erected. The property is entirely free
from debt and has a small endowment. There
are now forty communicants, one hundred baptized persons, and a Sunday School of sixty.
Services are held every Sunday.
ning.

Presbyterians

Other Denominations

The Greek Catholics have an imposing frame
church on the south side of Locust mountain,
A nuoverlooking Centralia, built in 1900.
merous congregation of ditterent nationalities
attend there and are served by priests supplied
from surrounding mining towns.
The Polish and Lithuanian Catholics attend
St. Ignatius'

"MONTANA" OR ARISTES
The "Red Tavern,"

Aristes, as

Three of them

The

;

Whitaker and

William O.

Howerter.

about

1800 by

Locust mountain, to catch the trade of travelers on the Reading road, the only route then
to the northern part of the county, was the
first building on the site of "Montana," or
place

;

built

John Rhodenberger pn the northern brow of

This church was organized in Centralia July
31,
1867, with eighteen charter members.
still survive in 1914, two attending the Centralia Church, Robert White
and Sarah Black while the third, Mrs. Matilda
Richards, is a member of the Ashland Church.
The first elders of the church were Daniel
The church
Buchanan and David Black.
building was erected in 1869 at a cost of $3,000.
During the forty-seven years of its history
this church has had eleven pastors, as follows: Rev. L. L. Haughawout, 1868-69; Rev.
J. H. Fleming, 1871-72; Rev. R. Caldwell,
1875-77; Rev. A. T. Stewart, 1883-87; Rev.
Rev. J. R. Mann,
J. W. Williams, 1890-91
1891-94; Rev. F. S. Hort, 1895-98; Rev. E. E.
Lashley, 1898-1902; Rev. A. T. Schleich, 190405 Rev. W. A. Clemmer, 1906-10 the present
pastor. Rev. G. A. Leukel, took charge of the
church in 191 1 and is also pastor of the Ashland Church.
The present elders are Robert White, David

Church.

now

mentioned

called.
in

Rhodenberger's
in an old

article

printed in 1802 in Philadelphia.
writer tells of stopping over night at
"Lavenberg's," on Locust mountain, and
probably made a mistake in the spelling of
the name. Among the later owners of the old

magazine

"Red Tavern" were
Joseph Miller, William
Hughes, Joseph Zimmerman, Isaac Betz, Jacob
Zimmerman, Adam Clayberger, John Jones,
Peter Hower, Samuel Leiby, William Good:

man, Isaac Edwards, Daniel E. Kelnes, Jonathan Faust and George W. Billman. The old
building was torn down in 1890 and a more
modern hostelry erected on the site by U. F.
Fetterman, the last owner, who ran it as a
public house. It is now closed.
There are two other hotels in Aristes, both
of which are operated merely as saloons. There
are three stores in the village, owned by D.
Goodman, James A. Miller and G. W. Weller,
The Order
the latter being also postmaster.
of Independent Americans has a frame hall
here near the "Red Tavern."

The board of
The village was laid out in 1865 by Samuel
I. W. HowerLeidy, owner then of the "Red Tavern." He
Thomas Smith, Francis Michael, Edward was led to the step by the opening of the Reno

clerk of the session.
trustees are: Henry Whitaker,

Mayer

ter.

Keeler, Walter Dunlevey, Theo.
liam O. Mayer
Lewis Reb
;

William O. flayer

Riley, Wiltreasurer.
superintendent of the
is

Sunday school Walter Howerter, secretary
and Edward Keeler, treasurer. The church
organist is Miss Adelaide Black. The present
membership of the church is forty-eight. The
church was rededicated in February, 1912,
;

;

after extensive repairs. Robert White, one of
the elders and a charter member, was eightynine years of age in August, 1914, and stillable to attend to his religious duties.

by Morris Robinson & Co., which
brought a large population of mine workers to
this spot.
This colliery is now abandoned.
The United Brethren Church here was organized in 1871 by Rev. J. G. Fritz, of Mount
Carmel, and meetings were held in the schoolhouse until the present church was built, in
1887. The present pastor is Rev. B. F. Goodman, who serves the Catawissa circuit, consisting of the churches at Aristes, Midvalley
and Freewill, all in Columbia county.
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church was
colliery

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
organized in 1893 by Rev. F. A. Weicksel and
was built in 1899 at a cost of $5,000.
The parsonage, of concrete block construction,
was built in 1910 at a cost of $3,000 and is
modern in every respect. The membership of
this church is now small, but in the days of the
operating of the mines here the number of
members was large. Rev. Milton M. Dry was
the last pastor of this church, in 1913, the conthe church

The
gregation now depending on supplies.
Emanuel Levan, W. F. Rhoads,
elders are:
Isaiah Kreisher,

Harry Wright, Sylvester J.
Beaver, Charles Beaver, Reuben A. Beaver,
James

Miller,

Wilson Yoder.

The Midvalley mines Nos.

i and 2 are situated a short distance above Aristes and furnish the bulk of the population with employment.
These mines, as well as the railroad
line to the town, are owned by the Lehigh

Valley Railroad Company.

SMALLER TOWNS
a cluster of houses on the
hill below Centralia, once called the "Upper
Shanties." It is populated by persons of Irish
descent who work in the mines. Below here,
at the site of the abandoned Repellier mines,
arose another settlement, called Gcrmanioivn,
from the first families of that nationality who
The Irish have
built homes there in 1857.
complete control now. Both of these settlements have the usual preponderance of saloons.

Byrnesville

in Columbia
is only partially
most of it being in Schuylkill and
first
counties.
The
Northumberland
building
here was erected in 1856 by George C. Potts &

207

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church of
Locustdale was moved across the street in
1914 in order to get into Columbia county and
the diocese of Harrisburg.
Father Connaghan, the pastor, raised funds for the moving

and for the erection of a

fine

parsonage.

SCHOOLS

The

first schoolhouse in this township was
1840 at the site of Aristes. It had few
soon passed into disuse. The next
and
pupils
schoolhouse was built in 1851 at Germantown
by Alexander W. Rea. The school building
at Centralia was erected in 1858 as a general
place of meeting as well as a temple of learnThe first Locustdale school was opened
ing.
in 1859 by John Wagner.
There are eight grades to the schools of
Centralia and 311 scholars in attendance.
In
the township outside the borough there are
eighteen schools, attended by 644 scholars. The

built in

great majority of these children are of foreign
parentage.
The school directors of Centralia borough
are
Samuel Cartwright, Michael Madden,
:

H. J. Hefifner, John
Dempsey.

The
ship

Reilly,

school directors of
are
Richard Kane,

Martin

Edward V.

Conyngham town-

Fennessy,

Monahan, Hiram Watson, Anthony

Mohan.
POPULATION

Locustdale

county,

Co., for

office.

In the following year the

The population of Conyngham township

i860 was 1,326;

in 1870, 1,960; in 1880, 2,183;
in 1890, 2,739; '" 1900, 3,037; in 1910, 3,127.

was opened, with T. L. Beadle as man- This is the only township that has shown a
There was a hotel near here in 1840, steady gain in population in late years.
ager.
The population of Centralia was 1,340 in
The first storeoperated by Jacob Brisel.
keeper was A. S. Morehead, of Pottsville, in 1870; 1,509 in 1880; 2,761 in 1890; 2,048 in
1900; 2,429 in 191a
1859-

colliery

CHAPTER

XVIII

BEAVER TOWNSHIP
This township, formed
in order of organization

in 1845, was the fifth
in Columbia county,

and was named from the

Uttle

run which flows
througli the central valley between Uuck and
McAuley mountains. North of this lies the
valley of Scotch run, above which on the north
towers Nescopeck mountain. This region of
elevations and depressions did not attract early
settlers and was not occupied until the more
and fertile lands to the westward were
taken up. In 1774 Beaver valley was occupied

level

whose mysterious
described in the sketch of Locust townHe retired from this Indian infested
ship.
region in 1776, but a neighbor, Andrew Harger,
was captured by the savages and kept in bondage for almost a year.
No further attempt was made to inhabit the
"Beaver Swamps" until 1799. At that date
there appears to have been an Englishman by
the name of Thomas Wilkinson living a hermit's existence in a cave along Catawissa creek.
Among the settlers of the following years were
James Van Clargan, and the Klingaman, Oaks,
by Alexander McAuley,

fate

Nuss

office,

Charles Reichart.
The latter kept the mills
1885 and then sold to Dr. A. P. Heller, of
Millville.
Sherman Heller, the son, ran it
until 1886 and tlien sold to McHenry & Heller.
D. W. Shuman is now the proprietor in 1914.
The mill has an overshot wheel of 35 horsepower, and a capacity of forty barrels of flour
per day. It is a buckwheat mill.
till

Rarig, Mensinger, Swank, Longenberger and
Fisher families. At this time a dispute arose

between Daniel Oaks and Reuben Eyerly as to

Soon after the
the title to a piece of land.
Oaks family were burned in their house. Eyerly
was arrested for the atrocity, but released for
lack

built a gristmill at Beaver Valley
which was burned in 1876, while
the proprietor, F. L. Shuman, was in PhilaHe rebuilt it and sold it in 1881 to
delphia.
J.

post

evidence.

was,

however, later

hanged for a similar crime. John Dalious settled at the foot of the mountain on Catawissa
creek.
He was from Berks county, as were
John Rarig, Ludwig Mensinger and John
Hootz, who followed him some time later.

BEAVER VALLEY
Beaver Valley and Shumantozim are practically the same, one being on the hill beside
the railroad, and the other in the valley below.
The mountains tower above the valley and
Catawissa creek makes many a sharp turn here,
at one point breaking through the natural barriers and forming a gorge of great beauty. The
Reading railroad here has a tunnel through
a spur of Buck mountain. Just below is the
pumping station of the Tidewater Pipe Line
Company, which buys in the oil regions,
pumps the oil through its lines, and sells it to
the Standard Oil Company at Tidewater.
The tanks and engine house are located on a
The oil is elevated to the
tract of five acres.
top of the hill, a height of 1,325 feet, whence
it flows towards the southwest.
The present
superintendent of the plant is J. E. Paisley.
The storekeepers at Beaver Valley are W. F.
Bredbenner, L. H. Michael, Levi Michael,
T. J. Shuman and Charles Ney, the latter being
also postmaster.
John P. Fry.

INDUSTRIES

The
The

industries of this township in early
times, as well as the present, were few and insignificant.
John and Christian Shuman ran
a sawmill and tannery on the site of the present
station

Shmnan

before

1868,

Hause had another sawmill near
of Beaver run.

and James
the source

"Shuman's Hotel"

run by

chief place for public meetings in the

village is the P. O. S. of A. hall of

Washing-

ton Camp No. 540. The officers of the camp
Edward Riegel, president: H. Y. Harare:
man, vice president Frank Riegel, master of
forms; Paul Schlieder, conductor; Ross Ervin,
inspector; Charles Sassaman, inspector; R. B.

Wheeler, trustee.
208

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

ers than those of the coal operators of the past

COAL MINING

The height

McAuley mountain

209

brings
con-

within the Hmit of the
it
glomerate, which hes together with the strata
These deposits are the only
of anthracite.
ones in the county outside of Conyngham
township, and are small in area and difficult to
mine, owing to their great height above the valnoted in 1826, during
ley. This coal had been
the surveying of the Catawissa railroad, but it
was not till the opening of that road in 1S53
that the capitalists turned their attention to
Pottsville

were.
In Buck mountain, in the southeastern part
of this township, are mines which for many
years were worked by the Buck Mountain
Coal Company, in more recent years by Coxe
Brothers & Co., but now operated by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, which has them
leased.
The coal is loaded on cars at Gowen

and sent

to Hazleton,

where

it is

prepared for

market.

At the time of the opening of the railroad
and coal mines a town was laid out in, Scotch
The McAuley railroad was valley and named "Glen City." At one time
these deposits.
of workmen
incorporated in 1854 to run through Beaver it boasted a number of residences
and a post office. The station of the Pennsylvalley and connect with the Catawissa road, a
In 1855 Charles B. PenLee W. Buffington and John C. Sims
formed the Columbia Coal and Iron Company,
with a capital of $500,000, and in 1858 they
took in the railroad company. The building
of the road and breakers and the opening of
mines were accomplished in the succeeding
were
years, and in 1867 the first coal shipments
made from the McAuley coHiery. The bright
prospects of the companies were not to be

now a half mile east of the
that remains of the projected
a long siding, for passing freight trains.
The station is now called Scotch Valley, and
has three houses and a store. There is scarcely
room between the mountains for anything else.

distance of five miles.

vania railroad

rose,

town
town

site

and

all

The gristmill at MifHin Crossroads is entirely
gone and there are but a few houses to mark
the site of that once prosperous village. Near
the edge of the county, partially in Luzerne,
realized, however, for in five years after the were the grounds of the Mountain Grove Camp
were
first shipment of coal the mines
prac- Meeting Association, which met annually there,
The railroad tracks and being attended from this and adjoining countically exhausted.
These ties. The association dissolved some years ago.
the breakers were removed in 1869.
mines thereafter were operated solely for local Here the valley opens out into the fertile
farms of Luzerne county, in great contrast to
consumption, under lease.
The mines on the north side of the mountain the narrow valleys and high mountains of the
were opened when the Danville, Hazleton & eastern part of Columbia county. H. M. Hess,
Wilkes-Barre railroad was completed. Simon from Sugarloaf township, has settled here on
P. Kase, one of the promoters of the railroad, the edge of the county, having the last farm
built the breaker of the Beaver Valley Coal on the end of McCauley mountain.
Company in 1864. and owing to the refusal of
RELIGIOUS
the Catawissa railroad owners to run a line
along the Scotch valley he promoted the

new

leased the colliery to J. H. Losee in
It was then idle for five
1871 for ten years.
In 1886 James and Mary McAlarney
years.
road.

undertook to operate it, and were followed by
Joseph Donnellan. It is at present being operated by E. M. Cook, of Boston, Mass., the local
The
superintendent being Harry E. Keiper.
work is being done by means of a steam shovel,
and consists of stripping ofif the top layers of

and soil to get at the upper layers of coal
by former workers. When this layer is
removed the mines will be entirely exhausted.
As the first miners did not know that the
rock,

left

coal deposits

were

in basins they

mined

in a

haphazard way, thus making the work of the
later owners very difficult.
Modern methods

may prove more
14

profitable to the present

own-

The first Methodist sermon heard in Beaver
township was delivered in 181 5 at the home of
David Davis, on the road crossing Catawissa
creek in the extreme southeastern part of the
township. Revs. Dawson, Rhoads, Taneyhill
and Monroe preached there for some time, the
latter in the years 1822-23 organizing a congregation and building the present church near
The Methodist congregation
the county line.
disbanded in 1872 and the Evangelical denomination has since held services in the church,
the pastors coming from Schuylkill county.
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
formerly called Harger's Church, is located on
the side of McCauley mountain, on one of the
coldest spots in the township during the winter.
It is the only union edifice in the southern part
of Columbia county, being used also by the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

210

Reformed denomination. The Lutherans organized in 1848, and for a time held services in
a barn. Before that the members had to cross
Nescopeck mountain

to attend the Miiflinville

Church. The first regular place of worship
was a log schoolhouse. The first union church
was built in 1849, ^"d the second one in 1892.
Services are held here by the Lutherans alternate weeks. Pastors since the beginning have
been Revs. J. Benninger, Isaiah Bahl, R. S.

Wagner,

Renninger,

P. German, W.
Bartholomew, C. F. Dry.

Weicksel,

S. S. Kline, H.
H. Geiger, O. D.

in a

dwelling near the church, on the road from

Beaver to

and

Mainville,

Adam

Holocher

taught another in a building on the land of
Charles Michael.
school was later taught
on the land of Joseph Lehr. All of these
schools were at first devoted to instruction in
the German language, but later English was introduced.
The number of schools in the township in
1914 is seven, and 183 scholars of both sexes
attend. The school directors are Oscar Bred-

benner, Ellis Klingaman, John Fritz, C.
Stead, Miles Rittenhouse.

SCHOOLS

POPULATION

The

school in Beaver township was
taught by Isaac Davis in the Kostenbauder
Four years later he opened
gristmill, in 1821.
another in his home, on the site of the present
Davis church. In 1825 Henry Schell taught
first

The

population of Beaver township in 1850
in 1870, 969; in 1880,
in i860, 901
1,221; in 1890, 1,039; in 1900, 886; in 1910,

was 672;

;

842.

CHAPTER XIX
BENTON TOWNSHIP— BENTON BOROUGH
This

was planted is still to be seen at that point. James
Peterman and Jesse Pennington also came
about the same time. The latter built the first
sawmill in the township, on Upper Fishing
first the dense forests caused the building of
A Mr. Robbins built the Swartwout
creek.
many sawmills to utilize the abundance of mill before 1850. It was later operated by J.
timber.
Swartwout and Bent Cole. Isaiah Cole built
The most interesting item regarding the the mill on the creek a short distance above

named

township,

established

1850,

honor of Thomas H. Benton, then
at the height of his political power.
It has
always been a farming district, although at

lands

township concerns the establishin 1769 of one of the famous "Manors" of the Penn family. These divisions of
land were set apart for the exclusive use of
the Penns themselves, and in many instances
were the last of the lands in the Commonwealth
to be disposed of. The Manors here were two
tracts of 530 acres each, and were "situate on
a large branch of Fishing Creek, eight or ten
miles above the end of Fishing creek mountain," that is, about two miles north of the
present town of Benton. In the original survey the name of "Putney Common" was applied to those lands.
The first recorded settler in this township
was Benjamin Coleman, who bought land from
Daniel McHenry and founded what was later
the Laubach farm. Jonathan Colley was another settler who came to this section prior to
1797. The house in which he lived was built
near the Swartwout mill, and the orchard he
in this

ment here

Benton borough about 1806. A cloudburst in
1848 destroyed both this and the Swartwout
The Thomas mill on West creek, built
in 1865, is now operated by N. B. Cole.
Others of the first settlers were Joshua
Brink, Robert and John Moore, William Eager,
Samuel Rogers, John Keeler, Daniel Whiteman, Peter Robinson, Jonathan Hartzell and
Daniel Jackson. The house of the latter for
some years after 1833 was all that existed of
mill.

After the settlement
the village of Benton.
of Sugarloaf and the growth of the second
generation of the families, the McHenrys,
Hesses, Laubachs and others of that township moved into and helped to populate Benton township. Many of their descendants are
still living on the old farms.

GROWTH AND SETTLEMENT
Early in the history of Benton township the
tiny hamlet of homes located within what is

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the Benton borough limits was destined
its geographical position to be its prinDuring the last year of the
cipal settlement.
eighteenth century two families had pene-

down the gentle incline of its
way to the broad Susquehanna.
the
beautiful stream passes along
place
the base of a majestic and pine-clad slope, at
another it dances through a verdant meadow,
or perchance slips quietly and musically along
beside a well traveled thoroughfare. The physical environments of Benton are of peculiar
charm. No craggy masses rear their lofty tops
The scenery is unmarked by the
to the skies.
grandeur of sublime heights or the varying
contrasts of sylvan dells and bold precipices.
On the contrary, the surrounding hills are of
gently undulating nature and the broad plateau
of its setting sweeps in straight lines to their
bases. Wooded slopes climb to the top of the
sun-kissed hills and well tilled fields, particularly during the days of harvest, which ripen
into colorful charm the varying hues of their
fertile garmenture, and bring out the perspective of a scenic picture, exquisite, which
lingers long in the memory.
The community of the present has probably
suffered more, size and condition considered,
than any other town of its class in the Union.
Numerous fires have robbed it of many industries and a far reaching financial upheaval has
visited many of its principal business interests
Shock after
and devastated many homes.

now

place, sparkling

through

course on the

trated

up the valley of Fishing creek and had

In the tirst sixty
sites in the vicinity.
years of the nineteenth century the growth of
the community was hardly perceptible to the
passing generations. By 1868 the settlement
had grown into a considerable village. Some
a tavern, a
fifty houses clustered around
church, a schoolhouse and a sawmill. The post
office had been established in 1852, and Daniel
Hartman, who had started the first store, was

chosen

appointed postmaster.
From 1868 to 1886 Benton grew slowly. The
number of dwellings increased to sixty or more,
two churches ministered to the religious needs
of the community, entertainment and accommodations for the wayfarer were furnished by

and several stores supplied the reThe "Exchange
of residents.
Hotel," which was destroyed in the great fire
of 1910, was built by Hiram Hess in 1872 and
two

hotels,

quirements

opened to the public early in the following year,
and for a long time was the most important
hostelry in upper Columbia county and adja-

The last owner of this hotel
was Daniel J. Donavan, who remodeled the
structure and entered upon a career of prosSince
perity which was cut short by the fire.
that event the hotel has never been rebuilt.
cent territory.

Benton's
second
House," was erected

McHenry, much

hotel,

the

"McHenry

1886 by James Boyd
of the planning of its interior
in

being done by his wife, a lovely and estimable
woman, who still resides in Benton. This hotel
passed unscathed through the fires of later
years, and is now operated by F. V. Zwilling,
who caters to a large trade from all parts of

and surrounding counties.
old "Travelers Inn" stood on the west
side of Main street some distance above the
other hotels, and was in its day a famous
meeting place for the residents of this section.

this

The

The building

now used

for other purposes.

BENTON BOROUGH
The Benton of the present day, despite the
ravages of several disastrous conflagrations, is
a smiling little town, set in level swards of
meadow land, and one in contemplating its
and tree-embowered aspects, from the
heights of the adjacent hills, is instinctively reminded of Oliver Goldsmith's "Sweet Auburn,
Beautiful
Loveliest Village of the Plain.''
Fishing creek passes through the heart of the
level

211

At one

shock has been bravely met. Misfortune upon
misfortune has swept the town, until the townspeople, looking around in temporary despair,
have asked one another, "what next?"
Prior to the completion of the Bloomsburg
Sullivan railroad, in 1887, but few industries
One of the first was
flourished in the town.
the plant established by N. P. Moore in 1848
for the purpose of manufacturing wagons. In
these modern days the application of that word
to the industry then conducted by this wheelwright would undoubtedly be a misnomer, as
his lousiness, the time and date considered, must
have been conducted under primitive conditions which perhaps would hardly justify the
name of "shop." In any event, the work of
producing wagons at the Moore place contin-

ued from 1848 to 1862.
For several years Benton borough has been
in the public eve as a genuine, bona fide hardluck town. Disaster after disaster has swept
Interwoven in the warp and
the communitv.
woof of its later days one man played a prominent part, a man gifted with great personal
charm, ambition and an intellect unusually
acute.

did

to build the

community up

than any other factor, and the unfortunate
ending of his various enterprises did still more
a condition which, happily.
to pull it down

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

212

soon was remedied by the stern fiber and loyal
hearts of its citizens.
As the son of Rohr McHenry, who descended from one of the families who were

facilities could not take care of them
was necessary to replan and build other
utilities to accommodate the increase of business, in 1905 the concern, which had been inthe first to move into the upper sections of corporated under the name of the Rohr McColumbia county, John G. McHenry early in Henry Distilling Company, was booming and

life

displayed signs of unusual business abil-

creased

and

faced a future of infinite promise. Its adopted
1812," was aiding in bring-

and creative instinct. For many decades trade mark, "Born
Rohr McHenry had conducted the business of ing in the results
The product had long en- crued through the
distilling whiskey.

— results

ity

joyed a local reputation and the "Still House,"
back of "Whiskey Hill," perhaps a mile and
a quarter from the village, was the objective
point of many farmers, who filled their jugs
with spirits whenever they were in the vicinity.
The first McHenry engaged in the manufacture
and sale of whiskey at Benton had established
the business in 1812 and the product gradually
gained a reputation for purity and medicinal
Towards the end of the nineteenth
qualities.
century McHenry whiskey, because of these
qualities, began to be known far beyond the
confines of the county. Rohr McHenry recognized the commercial possibilities of his production to a certain extent only, and under
his ownership the plant grew steadily but
Meanwhile, his
slowly, in amount of output.
sons were receiving excellent educations, and
John G. was preparing to fulfill the functions
of his subsequent successful administration of
the plant.
During the closing days of the nineteenth
century and the early part of the twentieth
changes in the business were manifested. Plans
for a greater future production were discussed
and the advertising possibilities of the long
and honorable career of the firm were developed. This was due to the active association
in the firm of John G. McHenry, who essentially was of the modern type of business man.
Mr. McHenry at once appreciated the value
of the phrase "Born 1812," and began the exploitation of the term by comprehensive and
nation-wide advertising. When the death of
his father occurred, he naturally assumed the
sole jurisdiction of the then rapidly growing
business, and began to increase the daily output, necessary to meet the additional demand,
He crein a careful and systematic manner.
ated an executive organization of high efficiency
the
finanto handle the selling end, administer
cial affairs and supervise the manufacture of
Mr. McHenry maneuvered his
the product.
advertising campaigns with bold and successHe distributed enormous sums
ful strokes.
of money all over the United States. Orders
more than the plant could handle rolled into
Even the inthe offices in a golden stream.
,

that naturally ac-

superiority of the product
over others of a similar nature. Had its young
executive continued to devote his singular busi-

ness talents and acumen to the further development alone of this proposition a business
which had come to him, through his forefathers
and one of long and honorable record the extent of still further growth was immeasurable
and only the hand of time could have marked
the limit.
But he was a man of altruistic vision, a mod-

—

est

and unassuming philanthropist

some

ways, and even in the days of his greatest business promise of a decade ago his mind was
planning visionary schemes, which he hoped

would better the living conditions and financial
status of his community.
Casting about for a
way in which he could best attain the necessary
position of power, from which he could put
his ideas into eff^ect,
field

he decided to enter the

At the conclusion of a mascampaign he was elected to Congress in

of politics.

terly

He served his constituency with the
1906.
utmost brilliancy and efficiency and his abilities were
early recognized by Democratic
House leaders, who appointed him to service
on the important Congressional committees.
Mr. McHenry's business success and his rise
power as Congressman materially aided his
popularity, and he grew to be the most beloved
man in the section. His well known progressiveness attracted further investments in his
business. He had a natural aptitude for banking and finance, and one of his earliest achievements was the founding of the Columbia
to

County National Bank, of Benton, an institution he served in the capacity of president for
many years. He was the factor that estab-

Grange banks throughout the
planning them as nuclei for similar
banks to be founded in every State and comlished a series of
State,

munity, and thus build up a
trolled

money power

by agricultural interests which

would equal the

contime

capitalization of State savings
commentary on the falhuman endeavor is that these banking
institutions which he founded at the expense
of great personal endeavor and investment survived the crash of the later financial ruin in

banks.
lacy of

singular

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

—

which he and his estate were involved singubecause his bank investment, which was
comparatively small, survived, while his personal business with its allied industries crashed
down to ruin and oblivion.
Shortly after he entered Congress Mr. Mclar

Henry organized the People's Department
The whole countryside subscribed to
Store.
stock in the corporation, which had announced
novel ideas in merchandising goods and trad-

ing with customers. This venture stimulated
the wholesale and retail business in Benton to
a marked degree and the community derived
inestimable benefit in dealing at the store, because of the unusual trading facilities offered
that of trading in stock and produce for

—

household

and

personal

necessities.

Some

three hundred stockholders became associated
with Mr. McHenry in the enterprise, which at
its inception was apparently to be successful.

The shortcomings of Mr. McHenry 's judgment, so evident in later years, were soon to
be demonstrated in the administration of this
co-operative business. He had chosen an executive for the store who stocked it with a
quantity of unsalable goods and who was waste-

213

the large holdings were worked from a purely
scientific standpoint.
great orchard of 30,000
peach trees was planted, buildings for the incubating and breeding of poultry on a large
scale erected, and investments in utilities that
would simplify and aid intensive farming were
consummated.
The fame of the "Pioneer
Farms" spread throughout the State. Because
of its unusual size, the vigor with which the
proposition had been developed and the modern

methods employed

in its

maintenance,

its

broad

acres provided a Mecca for the purely curious,
In September,
the interested or the envious.
19 12, the first whimper of financial embarrassment of the company was bruited about,
through the difficulty in meeting the payroll
of the twoscore or so men employed about the
various units of its holdings. The illness of

Mr. McHenry, which had come to be regarded
by that time as serious, prevented any actual
co-operation on his part to relieve the stringency, and matters rapidly drew to a crisis. In
July, 1912, insistent

rumors of the insolvency

Rohr McHenry Distilling Company, the
parent concern, and one from which the side
issues sprung, were prevalent. They were cir
of the

The
ful and extravagant in his supervision.
consequent deficit grew each year until the big
fire of 1910 wiped the store out of existence,
and the insurance salvage barely paid the outstanding obligations, leaving the stockholders
without store, stock or money.

culated with alarming persistency, though few
believed that they were true.
During that

Surrounding the many buildings of the displant were hundreds of broad acres of
farming lands which had been put to
agricultural usage by the McHenrys for scores
These lands had been farmed in a
of years.
primitive manner, according to the theory of
John G. McHenry, who through his interest
in Grange matters and because of his nativity
had given the subject of agriculture serious

inated Woodrow Wilson to the presidency of
the United States. Upon his return to Benton his friends were shocked at his appearance.
He spent a few moments in his office,
and was taken to his home "on the hill." Later
he entered a sanitarium in New York State,
recovering sufficiently to be able to go to Atlantic City, from which place he went to the
Mercy hospital in Philadelphia and then was

tilling
fertile

month Congressman McHenry came and went
in his usual fashion, and about the last public
function that he attended was the Democratic
National Convention at Baltimore, which nom-

Among the many pursuits of taken to his home in Benton to die.
Meanwhile his affairs in Benton were getenvironment that of farming appealed to
him greatly, and he was anxious to get back to ting into a deplorable shape. The first official
the soil and demonstrate in a small way that notification that substantiated the rumors which
scientific methods, technical treatment and had been current came from the Columbia
modern cultivation would prevail against the County National Bank, which announced that
old-fashioned manner of farming. He put his a receiver was about to be appointed for the
ideas in effect modestly, by engaging a highly Rohr McHenry Distilling Company and stated
recommended State College graduate. At the that the bank was in no way involved. The
beginning of the experiment Mr. McHenry crash in the affairs of the great concern came
exercised considerable jurisdiction over the two or three days later, when receivers were
work of his expert. The outcome of the ex- appointed by Judge Witmer in the United
The "Pioneer
periment was an enlargement of his plans and States court at Sunbury.
the organization of the "Pioneer Farms," a Farms" toppled and then went under. A favfarms
in
Benored
of
the
employee
distilling
company
company which purchased many
Great ac- held a note given by the farming corporation
ton and neighboring communities.
for
that
had
assumed.
various
tracts
lands
The
ensued.
making up
they
Becoming
tivity
consideration.

his

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

214

frightened at the receivership of the distilHng

company, this employee foreclosed on his
paper and an attachment was placed upon the
goods and chattels of the farms, whose treasury
was already weakened by the continued with-

of Benton's fires which destroyed the gigantic
ten-story brick warehouse of the Rohr McDistilling Company in Alarch, 19H, was
the beginning of the trouble which eventually
caused the breaking of the various enterprises

Henry

drawals made for development. In the interim .with which Mr. McHenry was connected. The
between the receivefship of the distilling com- structure cost about $50,000 and was a modern
pany and the sheriff's sale of farming property and supposedly near-fireproof building. In it
Mr. McHenry returned to Benton. 'I he most were stored 17,000 barrels of ripened or parcontradictory rumors were circulated regard- tially ripened whiskey, and but one was saved.
ing his condition.

Word was passed from

lip to

moment

that he was going to get well,
and the next the rumor that he was about to
On the day of the public
die was prevalent.
sale of the farms property, hundreds of friends
and neighbors gathered on the scene. They
had to pass his home, and a few close intimates
lip,

one

The burning of

the McHenry warehouse was
the second of a series of disasters caused by
fire from which the town of Benton has suffered.
On July 4, 1910, a careless celebrant
discharged the roman candle that started a
fire which destroyed in a few hours thirty-eight
residences and stores and forty-eight barns.
Among the burned buildings were the post of-

upon him.
That night John G. McHenry passed away. fice, bank, "Exchange Hotel," People's DepartMany believe that it was the shock of the ment Store, Odd Fellows hall, and a number
forced sale that killed him the crumbling of a of smaller places of business. The loss was
cherished institution. His body was laid to rest almost $300,000, with but little insurance. Fires

called

—

with impressive ceremonies in the presence of

followed each other with unceasing regularity.

whose voices for the nonce were They were always of mysterious origin. One
criticism and hushed in sorrow took place in 191 3 which caused universal sorover the departure of a beloved friend. Many row throughout the community and county.
of Mr. McHenry's Congressional colleagues It destroyed the beautiful Presbyterian church,
were present and the little Benton cemetery the gift of Mr. McHenry to the congregation
was thronged with a large concourse of peo- in memory of his mother, and one of the finest
of edifices of worship in the county. Traces of
ple, many of whom had been the recipients
innumerable acts of friendship which he had incendiarism were plainly evident, and the
State fire marshal was summoned to investiextended in an unassuming way.
After a short interval chaos ensued. Cred- gate the case. The loss from this fire was over
itors of the various enterprises, many of which $20,000.
The large planing mill of R. T. Smith and
are not mentioned herein, descended upon the
The Benton Electric Light, Heat & Son in the same year fell a prey to a midnight
estate.
Power Company defaulted payment of inter- fire. It was about the only industry- left to the
est on bonds and collapsed the Sentinel Print- community, and a feeling of deep gloom perwent into the hands of a vaded Benton until its public-spirited citizens
er>', of Bloomsburg,
receiver the Hummer & Yorks Lumber Com- made possible the continuance of the business
pany, of Elk Grove, declared itself insolvent; by subscribing to its stock and paying for it by
action for an accounting in a guardianship working on the construction of a new plant and
which the deceased held was brought through furnishing the essential supplies.
Another conflagration later destroyed the
the courts; former business associates suffered through their indorsement of paper and shirt factory and adjoining dwellings.
This series of fires had an effect on the
were forced to meet the obligations by public
sale of properties his estate became involved growth of the town which it will take years to
almost
in a maze of legal tangle, and
every- efface. The first to rebuild was the bank, the
thing with which he was connected became a next the planing mill, then the shirt factory,
financial wreck and was forced to the wall. and now the church is being rebuilt on the old
The Rohr McHenry Distilling Company has site. Other store buildings are taking the
A bondholders places of the burned ones and the town is ennever resumed production.
committee is slowly liquidating the great deavoring to recover from these almost overstock of whiskey on hand and the future of whelming disasters.
the plant, which is roughly valued at three
Industrial and Commercial
hundred thousand dollars, is entirely problemWith the advent of the Bloomsburg & Sulatical.
The consensus seems to be that the second livan railroad, in 1887, Benton showed marked
a multitude,
stilled

from

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

215

and improvement. Previous being bent, instead of sawn. The establishtown had been sixteen miles ment is valued at $10,000 and on an average
from a railroad and the only public conveyance twelve workmen are continuously employed.
The Benton Store Company has one of the
was the stage to Uloomsburg, the trip taking
some hours over rather poor roads. After the leading establishments in this part of the
railroad opened up communication a planing county, occupying a large brick building in the
The officers are
R. T.
mill was established by Wesley & Smith (later center of the town.
R. T. Smith & Son), the flouring mills of John Smith, T. C. Smith, W. A. Butt, P. G. Shultz.
Other merchants of Benton are
of the small
J. W.
J. Mather were built, and 'many
industries grew into large establishments.
Belles, H. W. Biddle, H. W. Belles, C. L.
Among the more recent industries started in Davis, F. G. Dodson, C. A. Edson, C. J. Hess,
Benton which thrived, was the shirt factory Hess & Smith, Ma.x Herr, Keller & Conner,
which J. D. Sallade established in 1907 and B. G. Keller, Ray B. Keeler, Elwood Knouse,
which was swept out of existence by one of the Pennington & Seely, Fred Wood, John F.
fires which raged in 1913.
Wright, George Yost.
The Benton Manufacturing Company and
The Benton Mill was converted into a flouring mill in the early seventies, having previ- W. P. Kline are manufacturers of fruit and
ously been operated as a planing mill by John vegetable crates and do a large business.
Chapin. The owner since then has been John
J. Mather, who has also served for twelve years
Banking
signs of growth
to that time the

The mill is of four
with the Ellis system of roller
milling, has five double stands of rolls, steel
attrition mills for grinding chops, and a daily
capacity of 150 barrels of buckwheat and 60
as Benton's postmaster.
stories,

fitted

wheat flour. The elevator capacity
10,000 bushels of grain. The plant is operated by three turbines, with water from a dam
of concrete, built in 1908 at a cost of $2,000.
A steam plant is also in operation during low
stages of water.
The Benton Shirt Factory was opened in
1907 by J. D. Sallade, and was burned out in

barrels of
is

The Columbia County National Bank, Benwas chartered in 1902 with John G. McHenry, president; and J. Boyd McHenry,
Alfred McHenry, Charles A. Wesley, Russell

ton,

Karns, C. F. Seely, George B. Hummer, W^ L.
Yorks, directors. The capital was placed at
$25,000. The bank occupied a frame building
next to the site of the present post office, until
of 1910. The present attractive and
brick building was erected immediately
after the fire, and cost, including the interior
The bank has defurnishings, over $16,000.
the

fire

modern

The present proprietor, W. W. Smith,
1913.
has built anew, and is doing a successful busi-

posits at present of over $154,000 and a large
A. R. Pensurplus fund. The officers are
and
ness, employing thirty-five girls
producing nington, president; S. B. Karns, cashier; A. R.
H.
C.
F.
H.
a fine grade of dress shirts for men.
Kline, directors.
Pennington,
Seely,
The placing mill of R. T. Smith & Son was
Watenvorks and Fire Protection
one of the largest in the county when it was

destroved by the
partially rebuilt
business.

fire

of 1913.

The

firm has

and has a rapidly growing

The Long Wagon Works came from

New

Columbus, Luzerne county, where they had
been established in 1874 by O. M. and J. F.
Long, and located in 1909 in a building beside
the railroad tracks, on Market street, Benton.
The firm was embarrassed badly by the failure

Owing to the numerous fires in Benton the
townspeople have been aroused to the necesSome years
sity for adequate protection.
before the fires occurred the charter of the
was
water
secured, in order
present
company
to prevent speculators preying on the town by
means of "fake" organizations. After a time
the

charter

was transferred

company

which proposed to drill a well and lay pipes in
the town. This company, however, was without sufficient funds and did not carry out the
contract.
The wooden pipes brought on the
ground were sold by the constable in 1914 to
Finally the people took
satisfy a judgment.
the matter into their own hands and formed
timber even being a product of this section. a company under the old charter to supply both
The wagons are in many respects superior to water and lisrht to the town. This company,
those of larger factories, all of the woodwork the Benton Water Supply Company, is build-

of the Rohr McHenry Distilling Company, but
has now recovered a measure of prosperity.
The present proprietor is Stanley P. Long. The
works are second in size to any in the county,
The
that of John Eves of Millville leading.
product is solely farm wagons, and all of the
work in wood and iron is done in Benton, the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

216

dam above town on West

In the early part of I902 three services were
creek and inpowerhouse and pumps, so that in held by the Presbyterians of Benton in the
the future Benton will not suffer for lack of Christian Church building, at one of which a
The president of the proposition was made to organize and build a
protection from fires.
company is John F. Stone. So satisfactory are home of their own. The Presbytery of Norththe arrangements for fire protection to the in- umberland was appealed to and appointed Rev.
surance companies that they have voluntarily G. H. Hemingway, of Bloomsburg, Rev.
reduced the rates on property in 1914.
Joseph Hunter, of Berwick, and Elder John E.
Two volunteer fire companies and the same Sterling to assist in the organization. They
number of hose and ladder trucks constitute met on April 28, 1902, and elected Dr. I. E.
the fire fighting resources of Benton.
Patterson, Dr. I. L. Edwards and D. W. Kramer as ruling elders. Soon after this the following trustees were elected
John G. McIncorporation
Henry, Dr. J. B. Laubach, I. K. K. Laubach,
An effort was made in 1890 to have Benton Norman Hess, S. B. Karns, Dr. I. L. Eding a

stalling a

incorporated as a borough, but failed. Finally
1894 the grand jury approved the application
and the town was regularly incorporated. On
April 2d of that year the following officials
were elected
Burgess, A. L. McHenry councilmen, C. B. McHenry, R. T. Smith, C. A.
Wesley, Alfred McHenry, B. G. Keller, W. M.
in

;

Appleman.

The council for 1914 is composed of C. E.
Yorks, burgess; G. D. Yost, W. S. Laubach,
R. T. Smith, councilmen.
Many improvements were made after incor-

among them being the building of
sidewalks and the improvement of the streets,

poration,

and contracts were

let

for light and water

supply.

The town is supplied with electricity by a
company of which Charles Bellas is president
and manager; C. B. Whitniire, vice president;
G. L. Hess, secretary and treasurer. A concrete dam, 280 feet long, has been built at the
site of the old Swartwout mill, and the powerhouse contains a 75-kilowatt generator, operated by a lOO-horsepower turbine.
RELIGIOUS MATTERS
Presbyterian services were held in St. GabriChurch, Sugarloaf township, as early as
1812. In 1859 a number of persons from Coles
Mills petitioned the Presbytery of Northumberland for a church organization, in response
to which John Doty, D. J. Waller and John
el's

Thomas were appointed a committee to
They met in the

quire into the matter.
Christian church at the

in-

log

site of Benton borough
1859. and organized a congregation consisting of Earl Boston, Frederick Lau-

on Aug.

12,

bach, James Wilson, Simon W. Tubbs, Freas
Conner, and others whose names are not reServices were held in the Hamline
corded.
church until 1874, when the building at Raven
Creek was dedicated.

I. E. Patterson.
pastors of the church until 1913 were
Revs. F. V. Frisbie, W. Hays Topping and

wards, Dr.

The

Robert P. Howie.
The first church was erected in 1903 at a
cost of $23,000, and was a pretentious strucIt was of wood,
ture for so small a town.
with brick veneer and brick and stone buttresses.
On May 16, 1913, it was burned to
the ground, leaving only the outer shell of
In this condition it
brick partially standing.
stood until the fall of 1914, when the congregation began to rebuild, having a fund of
$3,800 from the insurance on the burned
building as a foundation. The new structure
is to be similar to the old one in some respects.
The list of the first members of this church
I. E. Patterson, M. D., and
is as follows:
wife, I. L. Edwards, M. D., and wife, Mrs.

Agnes Alexander, Miss Mabel Alexander, J.
S. Baker, Miss Effie Edwards, Peter U. Farley
and wife, Norman W. Hess, Mrs. Lelia S.
Hess, S. B. Karns and wife, Daniel W. Kramer and wife, Mrs. Russell Karns, Mrs. William Kline, H. A. Kemp and wife, Mrs. Rebecca Mather, Mrs. Mary Morey, J. B. McHenry
and wife, J. G. McHenry and wife, Dr. J. B,
Laubach and wife. Miss Estelle Laubach, Mrs.
Agnes McHenry, Mrs. James Smith, Fred
Wood and wife, George D. Yost and wife,
Mrs. J. S. Baker, Myron P. Edwards and wife.
The Christian Church was organized at
Benton in 1849 by Rev. John Sutton, with
thirty members. Robert Colley and Elias McHenry were elected elders and served until
1889. The first meetinghouse was of logs, and
stood on the hill across the creek, southeast of
the village. It was built in 1856 and torn down
in 1890, that year the present church in the
town of Benton being built. This building is
a frame and has had many repairs made on it.
Steam heat and other modem improvements
have been since added. It is valued at $8,000.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The pastors of this church serve the congregations at Derrs, Cambra, Rohrsburg and
Since Rev. John Sutton they
Stillwater also.
have been Revs. Theobald Miller, Jacob Rodenbaugh, J. J. Harvey, J. G. Noble, Zephaniah
Ellis, E" E. Orvis, C. M. Cooper, D. M. Kinter, J. W. McNamara, H. L. Waltman, G. P.
Morse, R. A. Sawtelle, Vernon Harrington,
P. Topping, W. I. Burrell.
The membership of the church is i6o, and of
the Sunday school, I So.
The elders in 19 14
Samuel Appelman, William Appelman,
are;

Carl

McHenry, Thomas McHenry,

Ira

Mc-

Henry, Thomas Coleman, George McHenry.
The Methodist Protestant denomination
built a church in 1872, through the exertions
of Rev. A. E. Kline, a native of this section,
then in charge of the Pine Creek circuit. The
congregation disbanded in 1886 and the building was

The

sold.

first

Methodist class

Benton town-

ship was formed in 1835, with Charles Snyder
as leader.
Their first house of worship was
the old Hamline church, built in 1S45.
This
was rebuilt in 1879.
class of sixteen persons formed the first Methodist congregation

217

SCHOOLS

During the year 1799 but two families resided in the space wiiere Benton now stands.
However, there being enough children to warrant it, Isaac Young opened a school in one
of the dwellings. Afterwards he moved it to
a house on the site of Eli Mendenhall's barn
of later date.
Subsequently the first two log
schoolhouses in the township were built, one
on West creek and the other where Stephen
Lazarus resided in years following. One of
the first members of the school board was Hon.
Alexander Colley, who was born

1786 and

He was a surveyor, a school
died in 1881.
teacher and a member of the Legislature.
The school directors of Benton borough in
William C. Hosier, T. C. Smith,
1914 are
P. G. Shultz, T. J. Coleman, L. F. Hartman.
The school directors of Benton township
are
Jasper N. Shultz, Hosea Ash, S. H.
:

O'Brien, Rohr M. Shuhz, William J. Yocum.
A high school was established in Benton in
1896, of which L. Ray Appleman is the present principal. The successive officials in charge
E. E. Beam, Carsince the opening have been
roll Champlin, Bruce Albert, L. Ray Apple:

Benton village in 1870, with William Y.
Hess as leader. The first church building was man.
erected in 1872.
Rev. Gideon H. Day was
the first pastor, and Rev. John F. Brown had
POSTAL SERVICE
charge when the present church was built.
Rev. H. B. Fortner was pastor when the HamThe first postal service in this section was
line church was rebuilt and his successor was established in 1836.
Benton was a delivery
Rev. S. P. Boone. The present pastor, Rev. station on a mail route which ran from FairHarry W. Newman, serves the churches of mount Springs, Luzerne county, to TaneyOther delivery points
Benton, Hamline, Waller and Stillwater.
ville, Lycoming county.
The Evangelical congregations at Benton were Coles Creek, Campbell and Division. The
and Waller are served by Rev. E. E. Haney.
mail was delivered and collected by contract
and the route covered forty miles. James N.
MEDICAL
Park was the first man to handle the contract
and assigned the actual work to his son Orrin,
The first physician to locate in Benton town- who covered the long circuit each day, winter
It was not until 1848 that the
ship was Dr. Thomas C. McHenry, in 187 1. and summer.
Dr. J. A. Chapin came soon after, and Dr. I. E. amount of mail was great enough to warrant
Patterson arrived in March, 1874. Drs. Pat- the use of horses. In 1852 Mr. Park assumed
terson and Chapin rode the circuit of this and the route also which connected Pealertown (or
nearby counties for a year, and then Dr. I. L. Forks) with Stillwater, Benton, Coles Creek,
Edwards came and united with Dr. Patterson, Central and Division. The postmasters of
Daniel
the partnership lasting for four years. Their Benton from the first have been
John J.
riding covered a radius of forty miles around Hartman, appointed April 25. 1835
Benton and entailed much hardship in the Stiles, Jan. 7, 1857; Samuel Heacock, July 31,
Both of the latter 1861 John J. McHenry, Aug. 29, 1866: Samlong and stormy winters.
doctors are still in practice, but do not attend uel Heacock, March 23, 1869; John Heacock,
Ella E. Appleman, Sept. 14,
patients beyond the confines of the town. Jan. 27, 1881
Other physicians resident in Benton are Drs. 1885; John Heacock, April 20, 1889: Charles
H. W. Biddle, J. B. Hess, J. S. Hoffa and Wil- B. McHenry, June 5, 1893 John G. McHenry,
liam J. Smith.
Resident dentists are Drs. April II, i8q6: Samuel S. Harvey. March 31,
Freas Colder and J. B. Laubach.
1898; John J. Mather, Jan. 22, 1904.
at

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

218

The Raven Creek
in 1872,

post office

with Peter Laubach

was

established
R. T.

in charge.

Smith was appointed to the Taurus post office
1886.
These two offices had a tri-weekly
service, and in winter it was a try-if-you-can
service, owing to the bad roads. There is not
a single post office in Benton township now,
all of them having been abolished at the time
in

rural free delivery was established. Deliveries
are made from the borough post office.
Outside of Benton borough there is but one
settlement in this township, that of Ravencreek, where C. R. Shultz is the sole storeThere are a few houses here and a
keeper.

Presbyterian church.

VETERANS

The Fishingcreek Valley Veterans Associawas organized in 1914, with the following
Alexander Knouse, of
officers and members
tion

Benton, president

B. D. Cole, of

Jamison City,
vice president John R. Keeler, of Benton, secof
S.
Benton, treas. The
Larish,
retary A.
;

;

A. R. Pennington, G. W.
Harvey, J. E. Edson, George
Gibbons, Peter Shultz, Joseph Ash, of Benton
Terry \''ansickle, Aaron Vansickle, John
Klinger, Wesley Harvey, of Sugarloaf townFrank Lutz, of Cambra. All of the
ship
other

members are

Knouse,

;

members

are veterans of the Civil war.

Other societies of Benton are the Russell
Karns Camp, Sons of Veterans, No. 319;
Washington Camp, No. 123, P. O. S. of A.
and Benton Lodge, No. 746, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, which had the follow-

outside

;

Fritz,

inside

guardian;

Remley,

warden.
Rider,
There is also a flourishing lodge of Masons.
The Benton Band is an important organization of the town, and has calls for its services

Ray

supporters;

from rnany distant

points.

THE PRESS
The Benton Argus
and

now

in its twenty-fifth

year of 1914 housed in a
new building on Center street, erected especially for newspaper purposes by the Columbia County National Bank. The site is that of
year,

in this

the store of Miah Cole, which was destroyed
in the Benton fire of 1913.
Mr. Cole has also
passed away in death. The new quarters consist of an office, composing room and press
room, and the plant is increased in capacity by
the addition of a Unitype typesetting machine.
Percy Brewington, the editor, has been associated with the Argus since 1910, having assumed ownership after the death of John G.
McHenry. He has been in active charge since
the death of William H. Smith, the founder,
and has built up the paper into a power
throughout the northern part of Colinnbia

The Argus was founded in 1S89 by
William H. Smith. It was issued from the
Smith building until the fire of 1910, after
which the home of the paper was in the borough hall until 1914.
county.

POPULATION

;

ing officers in 1914: Percy Brewington, noble
grand R. E. Hess, vice grand P. L. Appleman, treasurer S. S. Fritz, chaplain Ray

Charles

guardian;

Search,

The ponulation

of Benton township in i860
1870, i.oso; in 1880, 1,062; in
1890. 1.252; in igoo, 857; in 1910, 769. The
population of Benton borough in 1900 was 635,

was 893;

Warren Thompson, and

1910

was

719.

CHAPTER XX
BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP
In 1797 the "Township of Green Briarcreek" was formed from territory formerly
In 1844
included in Fishingcreek township.
the erection of Centre township reduced it to
The borough of Berits present dimensions.

wick was separated from

in 1850.

The settlement of the township followed
soon after the founding of Berwick. A number of families removed there from Mount
Bethel, Northampton county, among them
being found the old family names of Freas,

Bowman, Hutton, Rittenhouse, Cauley and
They emigrated in a body, entering
this region in 1793, coming by way of BethleMack.

hem, Nazareth and Beaver Meadows. In this
way they were of mutual assistance in the
clearing of the land and erecting homes.
Thomas Bowman built the first stone house
His brother Jesse
in this township in 1802.
settled at the junction of the river road and
William Rittenhouse obtained
Briar creek.
title to an extensive tract lying on both banks
•

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of the creek to a considerable distance above
This tract is now in the hands of
the forks.
numerous persons. Jacob Mack was the first
of the contractors in this section to take up
the business exclusively.
Among those who
came later to settle in the township were the

Bower, Millard, Evans, Engle, Adams and
Martz families.

Among

the industries of the pioneer days

were the fisheries, those in Briarcreek townPlains"
ship being the "Tuckahoe" and "Jacob's
locations on the Susquehanna. Fishing is now
almost a lost art on the river.
The early industries of the township were
few. William Rittenhouse built the first mill
west branches
dams in both
He also put up a woolen mill and
streams.
a sawmill. The fulling mill was later run by
Andrew Ilunlock in 1833 and by a man named
at the junction of the north and
of Briar creek in 1800, having

Millard at a later date. During the sixties it
was destroyed by fire, and at present nothing
but a few timbers of the frame are standing

One

of the largest community cider mills in
the county is here operated in the season by
Jacob Suit, the many orchards of the neighborhood affording an ample supply of apples.

MARTZVILLE

About the center of the township is the
settlement of Martzville, named from the number of members of that family living there.
few pretty cottages and an old Lutheran
church, with a quaint steeple, constitute the
prmcipal buildings of the village. An ancient
burying ground adjoins the church, and from
this elevated point a view may be had of the
town of Berwick, and through the gap in the
hills a distant glimpse of Luzerne county is
caught. An occasional gash in the verdure of
the intervening hills gives evidence of the industry of the lime burners of the past. Rev.
C. E. Arnold of West Berwick serves the
spiritual needs of the people here.

BRIAR CREEK

there.
'

219

Near the mouth of Briar creek is a village
bearing that name, consisting of about fifteen
In the upper part of township, at the forks neat residences, a store, a gristmill and a disof Big Briar creek, James Evans built a saw tillery. The gristmill was built about 1820 by
and grist mill and soon a cluster of houses Jesse Bowman and burned in 1874, soon after
formed around it, thus evolving the little vil- coming into the hands of George Ruckle and
Evans family held a Charles Ash. They rebuilt it that year and
lage of Evansville. The
monopoly of the industries of the village for ran it until 1880, when Ruckle's interest was
few years after his settlement purchased by George W. Ash. Thereafter he
many years.
there George Evans was operating a tannery and his father operated the mill until 1890. At
and Tames Evans carried on the business of that date it came into the hands of A. M. and
It is a large
making linseed oil. Both of these industries W. C. Ash, sons of George W.
had languished by 1870. The last operator of building, fitted with modern machinery,
and has
who
12-foot
overshot
a
wheel,
the gristmill at this spot was Silas Mover,
operated by
abandoned it some years ago owing to the a capacity of 125 barrels of flour per day.
The
The Briar Creek Distillery was built in 1883
destruction of the dam by freshets.
In 1886
Rev. W. by George W. and William Ash.
Evangelical Church here is served by
One of the finest George W. Ash ran it alone and in 1906 sold
C. Hoch, of West Berwick.
farms in this neighborhood is that of O. M. to James Barrett, who now has remodeled the
Bower, who makes a specialty of poultry. entire plant and carries on a wholesale busiFrom his hillside home may be had as fine a ness in connection. The capacity of the disview of the vallev of the Susquehanna as that tillery is four barrels of rye whiskey per day.
afforded at any point in the county.
The general store and post office at Briar
East of Evansville and north of Berwick is Creek is conducted
by W. S. Ash & Sons.
Summer Hill. The only buildings of note here Briar Creek post office was established in 1858,
are the Methodist and Evangelical churches,
the Lackawanna &
just after the opening of
both of frame construction, the former built
Bloomsburg railroad. John G. Jacoby was the
in 1882 on the site of an older building, and
Near here are the large sales
first postmaster.
the latter built in 1803. Rev. Hueh Strain is
W. C. stables and farm of Elmer ShafTer, who holds
pastor for the Methodists and Rev.
auctions which are attended by buyers
Hoch, of West Berwick, attends to the spir- monthly
The store- from all over Columbia, Montour and surof the
EVANSVILLE

itual

wants

Evangelicals.

keeper and postmaster here

Joseph L. Bower.

rounding counties.

220

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
FOUNDRYVILLE

Martz, Henry H. Martz, George

The village of Foundryville, a short distance
northeast of Berwick, has had quite an interHere William H. Woodin
history.
opened the foundry in 1847 which gave the
town its name. Here in 1800 Abraham Zaner
built a small distillery, which afterwards was
owned by D. Seybert, the upper miller. A gristmill and wagon shop were operated in the
lower end of the village by Peter Hayman, and
a tannery by O. Stokes. Mr. Woodin's successor in the ownership of the foundry was A. W.
esting

Eaton, father of the present president of the
American Car & Foundry Company, at Berwick. The charcoal iron furnace at Foundry-

was built in 1835. Ore was brought from
Bloomsburg by way of the canal and teams.

ville

All of these industries have passed into oblivion and the village will soon be a suburb
of the rapidly growing town of Berwick. The

Methodist Episcopal Church here

served

from Berwick.
RELiniOUS

A detailed history of the churches of this
township is included in the sketch of Berwick,
as most of them are served (only occasionally)
by the pastors from that city.
The foundations of the Evangelical denomination in Briar Creek were laid in 1826 by
Revs. Seybert and Noecker, who conducted
services in the home of George Zahner. After
that date Daniel Kahr, Simon McLane, James
Dunlap and others continued to preach at priThe first Summer Hill church
vate houses.
was built in 1849, the present one in 1893 both
;

Martz, Z.

T. Martz, Lydia Martz, Disiah Martz, Leah
Martz, Jane Moharter, Mary Hill, Elizabeth
The membership at present is thirtyJones.
six, and that of the Sunday school, seventy-

The pastor is Rev. C. E. Arnold, who is
charge of the congregation at West Ber-

five.

wick.

No definite records are extant of the first
meetings of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations who in 1807 built the union log
church one mile from the Susquehanna and
four miles from Berwick.
The first known
pastor of the Lutherans was Rev. M. Carl
Solomon
Revs.

Fridrici,

and

his

successors

were

Engel, Peter Hall, J. K. Haal, Peter
Kessler, Isaiah Bahl, W. B. Fox, S. S. Henry,
Thomas Steck, J. P. German, S. B. Stupp, G.
G. Kunkle, N. Scheffer. The congregation at
present is served by the pastor of St. John's
Church at Berwick, Rev. William Berk.
Zwingli Reformed congregation is served by
Rev. D. J. Ely, The first "Freithof" day, or
free-house day, was celebrated in this church
in 1914, about 350 persons attending. The old
church is in a good state of preservation, considering its age and the moderate expense of
construction, it having been built on the site of
the log one in 1850, of brick, at a cost of $1,000
J. F.

only.

SCHOOLS

The first school in Briarcreek township was
held in the old stone Methodist church, four
miles south of Berwick. In 1810 this school
was removed to a building erected for the purCordelia A. Preston,
pose at Foundryville.
Daniel Goodwyn, Morris Hower and John
Arney were the teachers in this school at
various periods.
At present there are fourteen schools in the

were of frame construction. The Evansville
church was built in 1854. These charges are
now served from West Berwick. The sucRevs. Jacob Hartcessive pastors have been
zell, John Young, George Hunter, A. H. Irvin,
township, taught by fifteen teachers, and 478
S. D. Bennington, P. H. Rishel, H. W. Buck, scholars are on the rolls.
S. P. Remer, A. W. Shenburger, W. W.
The school directors of Briarcreek township
are
Bruce Lanning, Levi Kocher, William
Rhoads, I. W. Pines, D. P. Kline.
The date of organization of St. Paul's Evan- S. Ash, Claude Bower, J. O. Grasley.
gelical Lutheran Church of Martzville is not
POPULATION
known. The first communion service was held
there in 1861. The congregation first met in
The population of Briarcreek township in
the schoolroom, just below where the present
church building stands, until 1867, when the 1820 was 1,719; in 1830, 1,706; in 1840, 1,451
present church was built. The members then in 1850, 1,091; in i860, 1,734; in 1870, 1,089;
were: John Martz, Abraham Martz, Daniel in 1880, 1,172; in 1890, I, 292; in 1900, 1,833;
Martz, Nathan Martz, D. W. Martz, John H. in 1910, 2,761.
:

;

CHAPTER XXI
CENTRE TOWNSHIP
This township was formed

1844 from

portions of Briarcreek and Bloom townships.
Two distinct ranges of hills, extending in a
direction parallel with the Susquehanna, diversify the surface of the land.
narrow,

their old location, expecting to
build the cabins unmolested.

remain and

re-

Unfortunately
for them a party of Indians and Tories had

moved down from the Wyoming valley to the
A
neighborhood of Fishing creek. The party arLee
mountain
rived at their farms and had been there five
from
rugged valley separates
the Summer hills, and between these and Lime days when they were surprised by the Indians,
Ridge is one of the most fertile valleys in the who killed and scalped the father, brother and
county, in which the west branch of Briar uncle of VanCampen, and made prisoners of
creek takes its rise.
South of the ridge the the rest of the party.
The Indians then
land slopes gradually to the river.
marched up past Huntington creek and over to
This region was among those sections first the headwaters of Hunlock creek. Here they
settled in Columbia county.
Here on the captured Abraham Pike, but after painting the
west branch of Briar creek the VanCampen, wife sent her and her child away unharmed.
Salmon and Aikman families built their homes After several days the party came to the north
and laid out their farms, only to be subse- branch of the Susquehanna, about fifteen miles
Here VanCampen and
quently involved in the devastation which fell below Tioga Point.
upon the flourishing colony at Wyoming, in his companions succeeded in surprising and
the year of the terrible massacre.
Alexander killing their captors and escaped down the river
Aikman emigrated from New Jersey in 1777 to Northumberland.
and built a cabin on the bank of the run now
Joseph Salmon, who settled on the run at the
known as Cabin run. He spent the summer same time as the VanCampens and Aikmans,
here, but in the autumn returned to New was made a prisoner by the Indians at the time
Jersey, fearing the Indians. This was a wise they burned their homes in 1778. Salmon was
move, for in the years intervening between in the field and saw the Indians surrounding
his return in 1781 the savages burned his cabin the cabin.
He hastened there in time to perand committed many outrages upon the un- suade the savages to spare them. In return
fortunate settlers who had remained.
After they agreed to hold Salmon as a hostage. They
Aikman's return with his family in 1 78 1 he re- carried him with them for about a year as a
built his home and became a permanent homecaptive, and finally returned him to his home,
steader. His descendants still live at and near unscathed.
the old site of his house.
One of them, John
Fort Jenkins, built in 1778, is described in
H. Aikman, has a charming home almost on the sketch of the forts of this county on anthe site of the first cabin. The silvery spring other page.
The site was the home of two
which afforded unfailing refreshment to his brothers of that name, whose first names have
ancestor still flows below the house.
never been ascertained.
They were settlers
Moses VanCampen, who had arrived a short contemporaneous with the families mentioned
time after the first visit of Aikman in 1777,
was driven from his cabin in the following
year and the savages burned

above.
site

In 1792 Frederick Hill purchased the

from the Jenkins' and erected the

first

running ofif all public house in the township.
his stock.
After spending some time in the
An interesting and romantic incident was
refuge of Fort Wheeler Moses VanCampen, the marriage of Benjamin Fowler, an English
his father, a younger brother, an uncle, and soldier who had surrendered with Cornwallis
the latter's son, about twelve years old, to- at Yorktown in 1781.
The following year he
gether with a hunter, Peter Pence, started for rode through the valley of Briar creek on
221
it,

222

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

horseback and there met and fell in love with
Deborah, daughter of David Fowler, the

twenty-four acres of land on the canal and
it out into lot?
They also erected a warehouse and wharves and soon a thriving settlelaid

names first attracting his attenHere he stopped and entered into the ment sprang up.
life of the settlers, continuing his
The principal quarries here are owned by
courting in
the intervals of rest from the arduous labors Low Brothers & Co., and have been
operated
of clearing the land and working at his trade by members of the same family since 1846.
of blacksmith. The year following his arrival The capacity of their plant is 1,200 bushels
he made the journey with the girl and her of lime per day, nine kilns are in use, and
friends to Reading, where the wedding was twenty-five men are employed. In connection
solemnized with great eclat. The descendants with the plant is the hydrating department of
of this couple are among the substantial resi- the Paragon Plaster & Supply Company of
dents of the township in 1914.
Bloomsburg. Here the lime is partially slacked
After 1793 a number of persons came and and absorbs sufficient water to prevent it airsettled in this township, among them being slacking during shipping.
It is used largely
John Hoffman, Xehemiah Hutton, James Cau- in the way of an addition to concrete mixand
The
latter
to
make
them
a
smoother
and more adsecured
tures,
ley
Henry Hidlay.
similarity of

tion.

large tract of land, on a part of which the

hesive.

Hidlay church is now located.
Travel along the river had increased so much
by 1799 that in that year Abram Miller established an inn, which from its position, midway
between Bloomsburg and Berwick, was later
called the "Half-Way House."
When the
stage line was established between Sunbury
and Wilkes-Barre this inn was a famous stopping place for travelers. Thomas Miller succeeded his father, but the place gained its
greatest repute during the ownership of

At one time Centreville was quite a village,
but at present it is simply a charming suburban
station on the line of the North Branch Traction Company.
It contains the stores of Low
Brothers, G. B. Dennis, Charles Heaps, G. E.
Sponsler, John S. Scott and Harry Wertman.
The postmaster is Tilden Weiss.
Columbia Park, an amusement resort
operated by the trolley company, is located
west of Lime Ridge. The land was formerly

the John P. Conner farm, and was leased some
Samuel Harman, who managed it when the years ago by J. R. Fowler, e.x-county treasstagecoach was the only means of travel, just urer, who established the park. Colonel Freeze
previous to the introduction of the railroads. naming it Shaivnee Park, from the tribe of
in 1858 the Indians who formerly made their home there.
"Half-Way House" slackened and The railroad company seems to have liked the
it was used as a private dwelling.
name of Columbia better, although the Indian
It was a
The Traction
building of quaint appearance, with broad name is more appropriate.
porches and low-ceiled rooms. It was finally Company has fitted it up in the most approved
torn down and now a fine residence, the home resort style, with amusement devices, swings,

After the opening of the railroads
trade at the

of Pierce Kiefer, stands upon the site of the
old hostelry.
Abram Miller, the innkeeper, was the first
to open the limestone deposits of this portion
of the county.
Part of his old kiln along
Lime Ridge is still to be seen. Much of the
lime produced there was used in buildings at

Wilkes-Barre, whither it was transported by
way of the canal. Later the limestone was
shipped to the furnaces at Danville, Bloomsburg, Hunlock Creek, Shickshinny and W'ilkesBarre.
The first kilns were operated by the
Miller brothers at the west end of the ridge.
John Knorr opened the mines in the central
portion, and John Jones those in the eastern
The opening of these quarries soon
portion.
brought a number of families to the neighborhood, and from this nucleus the town of

CentrevUle, or Lime Ridge, was formed.
About 1845 some of the lime operators bought

pavilions and other features for enjoyment.
Here most of the Sunday school picnics and
family reunions of the county are held. Admission is free to all.
The remainder of the villages and settlements of this township are few in number and
were formed around various industrial establishments of the past, ll'liituiire, named from
members of that once numerous family, was
the site of the gristmill of Daniel Zaner, built
in 1816.
He ran it up to 185 1 and sold to
West of the
J. L. Wolverton, the last owner.
village, on the branch of Briar creek, Andrew
Creveling carried on a tannery from 1850 to
1862, when he sold to Jacob Rink.
J. P.

Conner was the last owner. Andrew \\'hitmire for a number of years operated a brickyard on his farm in the northwestern portion
of the township, but it is now abandoned.
Fozvlen'ille, named from Gilbert H. Fowler,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

223

son of the English soldier mentioned before, Creveling, James Hutchison, Joseph Brittain,
located near the Briarcreek township line, Joseph
Salmon, Ephraim Lewis, William
on the land of the pioneer of the family. Gil- Oman, Josiah McClure, James Fowler, Benbert H. Fowler was the first postmaster and jamin Fowler, John Stewart, Henry Hidlay,
storekeeper here and was succeeded by his Levi Aikman, John Brittain.
The present storekeeper
In 1792 the Presbytery of Carlisle appointed
son, Z. T. Fowler.
is Henry Bower, but the post office has been
Rev. Mr. Henry to supply the congregation.
A Two years later he was succeeded by Rev.
superseded by the rural mail service.
The succeeding pastors were
chopmill and store are kept by Marvin W. John Bryson.
Colder.
Asa Dunham, Samuel Henderson,
Revs.
Willow Grove, or Willow Springs, is a flag Matthew Patterson, Robert Bryson, J. P.
station on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- Hudson, D. ]. Waller, Sr., Mr. Williamson, A.
ern railroad and the terminus of the Miftlin- H. Hand, G. W. Newell, James M. Salmon,
Here is the handsome brick home P. W. Melick, John Thomas, James Dickson,
ville bridge.
of J. C. Cryder and just below it, under the Nathaniel Spear, C. K. Canfield, R. H. Davis,
bank of the old canal, is one of the largest James Martyn, until 1886. The church is
and most beautiful springs in the county. As still used as a place of worship by the Lutheran
the bridge is of recent construction and the and Reformed congregations, and Rev. O. E.
electric road has a station here, it is to be exSunday, of Espy, is the Lutheran pastor.
William
The successive elders have been
pected that a village will some day stand upon
this spot.
Sloan, William Hutchison, Daniel McCarty,
The Briar Creek Farmers Mutual Insur- Samuel White, William Baird, William
ance Company was organized Jan. ii, 1875, Wardin, Daniel Melick, William White, Levi
Samuel Ney- Aikman, Elias Smith, John White, A. M.
with Levi Aikman, president
hard, secretary
George Conner, treasurer. White, J. H. Aikman, A. W. Spear.
for
held
their
offices
The Methodist Church at Centreville was
many years with
They
The present officers are
A. W. organized in 1832 by Isaac Low, George Sloan,
success.
Spear, president; H. H. Brown, secretary; C. Henry Trembly and Aaron Boone in a schoolH. Dildine, treasurer. The company is still house near the village. In 1842 the brick buildin prosperous condition.
ing at the town of Lime Ridge was erected.
The societies of the township are Centre The Fowlerville church was built in 1867.
Grange, No. s6. P. O. H., and Camp No. 517, Both of these churches are served from Espy,
P. O. S. of A. The latter has a fine hall, built the present pastor being Rev. Edmund J.
in 1898, southwest of Whitmire.
Symons.
is

;

The
CHURCHES
Hidlay Presbyterian Church has a history
contemporaneous with the settlement of the
township. On Aug. 19, 1796, Henry Hidlay
conveyed to Andrew Creveling, George Espy
and Conrad Adams, trustees of the Briarcreek Presbyterian Society, an acre of ground
for the location of a house of worship. It is
probable that the first building was erected
This building was used
the following year.
also by the Reformed and Lutheran congreIn August, 1838, a
gations for many vears.
large frame building replaced the smaller old
In
the
old
one.
burial ground adjoining are
the graves of many of the original members.
William Sloan, John Freese,
They were
Moses Oman, William Hutchison, William
Park, Samuel Webb, Hugh Sloan, Samuel
:

Belles, Alexander Aikman, William Aikman,
William Henderson, Benjamin Boone, Andrew Creveling, Daniel McCarty, John Kennedy, William Martz, John Bright, Samuel

Evangelical

congregations

Lime

Ridge and Whitmire were organized between
1845 ^"d 1849. The Whitmire congregation
built two churches, the first in 1849 and the
second in 1880. They are served from West
Berwick at present.
The Lutheran and Reformed congregations
in this township are also served from West
Rev. Isaac Shellhammer was the
Berwick.

Reformed minister to preach in the old
Hidlay church in 1846. Rev. William Fox
first preached in the same building about 1850
The first Lutheran pastors
to the Lutherans.
at Centreville were Revs. Sharretts, Dimm and
Lutheran
these
Both of
Bergstresser.
Churches belong to the West Berwick charge.
was
Church
The Whitmire Baptist
organized in 185 1 with Rev. John H. Worrell as
It
been
has
members.
with
and
thirty
pastor
served from Berwick since the beginning.
first

SCHOOLS

The

earliest

were taught

schools

in private

in Centre township
homes. One was lo-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

224

cated near the ferry and was taught by Solomon Federici another was at Lime Ridge

;

and another, on Hiram Schweppenheiser's
land, was taught by John Dietterich. The first
at Centreville was erected in
1810, destroyed by fire after a few years and
rebuilt at the lower end of the village.
Solomon Neyhard, father of Samuel Neyhard,
the surveyor, died in 1879, aged eighty years,
the oldest member of the first school board.
In 1875 the Grangers erected a hall near Fowlerville, and fitting the lower floor up for a
school employed Professor Lockard to teach
This school was continued until the public
it.
school near there was built.

The number of

schools in this township in
and the attendants are 252 scholschool is taught by G.
R. Hartman, E. R. Kline and Jane Shuman.

1914

ars.

The Lime Ridge

ten,

The

schoolhouse

school directors of Centre township
E. E. Low, J. J. Davis, C. H. Creasy, J.

are

Sitler,

Whitmire.

POPULATION

The population

of Centre township in 1850

1,019; in i860 it was 1,360; in 1870, 1,320;
in 1880, 1,256; in 1890, 1,195; in 1900, 1,189;

was
in

1910, 1,233.

CHAPTER XXII
LOCUST AND CLEVELAND TOWNSHIPS

Conyngham

Alexander McAuley, after whom the mounBeaver township is named. He first
In 1783 he
settled in Beaver valley in 1771.
came through the section now comprising
Locust and Cleveland townships in search of

Scott,

some strayed

Locust township was formed by an order
of the court in 1842 from the southern part
of Catawissa township, and embraced at that
time all of what is now Locust, Cleveland and
townships. It was at first named
but as one of the townships on the
north of the river already bore that name it
was in a month changed to Locust. The call
of the northern boundary of Locust at the
time of its formation was from a black oak
tree in the line of Roaringcreek township by
various courses and distances to the mouth of
Musser's run on the line of Northumberland
county.

From the territory of Locust township the
township of Cleveland was formed in 1S93,
being named from the president who had just
been elected. The early history of these two
townships is so intermingled that it will be
necessary to treat them in one sketch.
The Purchase Line of 1768 is almost identical with the southern boundaries of these
townships, and earliest land warrants were

tain in

He was

seen at a
that date
no definite trace of him has been found. In
1808 a number of silver buttons and twenty
Spanish silver dollars were found in a deep
Bear Gap, Northumberland
near
ravine
county, which are supposed to have been his
property, although no bones were discovered
His daughter, Jeannie McAuley,
at the spot.
was the first bride in Locust township, in 1794,
her husband being Alexander Mears, son of
Samuel Mears, an old settler of the townhorses.

house near Roaring creek.

last

From

ship.
I

NDUSTRIES

SL.\BTOW N

It was not till
issued in the following year.
1785, however, that the Quakers came from
the settlements of Exeter, Maiden-creek and
Reading, in Berks county, to this section of
Columbia county. The names of many of
these first settlers are lost, as they were averse
to self-advertising and left little in the way of
records.
Among those who are now in the
townships are the Siddons, Bonsalls, Whiteheads, Hughes, Lees, Williams, Millards and

In 1789 Samuel Cherrington, a millwright of
Mill Grove, Roaringcreek township, erected a
mill for Thomas Linville on the site of Slabtown. After he began to saw lumber for the
neighbors a number of "shacks" were built
of the slabs, thus causing the resultant village
to gain the name of "Slabtown," which it has
always since retained. Linville sold a part of
his land to Andrew Trone, who built himself
thereon a log house just previous to the erecHere he opened a tavern,
tion of the mill.
which he ran until 1804 and then sold to John
Yeager carried on the tavern for
Yeager.

Starrs.

many

One

of the

first

arrivals in this section

was

years, also having a primitive post office,
He was apconsisting of a box on a post.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
pointed postmaster there, and continued to
serve until 1847, when the office was moved
in 1855 it was restored to Slabto Newlin.
town, the official name of Roaringcreek
being given it. The present postmaster is E.
C.

\ eager.
The Meager

now called the "Nasuccessively run by Isaiah
and Wellington Yeag'er, and John Rivers. The
present proprietor is A. L. Merkle. "Brookside Hotel," above the town, is conducted by
R. Bibby.

at Slabtown was built in 1835
Yeager, operated afterward for a
number of years by M. & L. Yeager, and

The tannery

by John

finally closed in
is

occasionally

1885.

The

Linville gristmill

run in the season by Peter

Olshesky.
The present storekeepers at Slabtown are
H. D. Leiby, E. C. Yeager and John Snyder.
The population is about two hundred.
The first bridge across Roaring creek at
Slabtown was built in 1874, at a cost of $1,500.
This was removed in 1913, and replaced by one
of the most artistic and substantial small
bridges in this part of the State, constructed
of concrete and steel, at a cost of $5,500.
About 1789 a mill was built by Samuel
Cherrington for Nathan Lee, on Roaring creek,
a short distance from the Friends church, and
about two miles southeast of Slabtown. All
of the machinery was brought from PhiladelThis mill was
phia over the Reading road.
the only one in the lower end of the county at
in the winter
burned
and
when
it
was
the time,
of 181 1 almost a famine was caused by the
loss of

most of the grain there. John Lee and
Snyder were later owners of the

Jeremiah
mill.

oline engine, as well as a turbine,

only occasionally operated
by the present owner, a Polander.
It' is

now

NUMIDIA
This village is the principal one in Locust
township, being surrounded by some of the
finest farms in the county.
Nathan Lee was

owner of this spot of land, and his sonin-law, Peter Kline, built the first house in the
store was opened in this house in
village.
the

definitely laid out in
1835 by Elijah Price, who changed the name
of Leestown to Neiv Media.
This has been

corrupted to Numidia. Anthony Dengler built
a store here in 1842, and was appointed postmaster in 1847. The present postmistress is
Mrs. Charlotte Daniel, who also continues the
store left her by her husband, the former postmaster. The other storekeeper is William J.
Beaver, who occupies the lower floor of the
Odd Fellows building.
The first physician at Numidia was Dr. J.

H. Vastine, who carried on practice for twentyone years, until his death here. Other physicians thereafter were Drs. G. W. Mears, Pius
Zimmerman, John Rhodes, J. H. Shirey, and
the present residents, Drs.

built a tavern

on the

site at

He gave the
session of John Kern in 1840.
of Kernsville to the little settlement of
about ten houses, but in 1884 the post office
here was named Newlin and Elias W. Whitner
placed ill charge. The post office is now abolname

name

still

sticks.

on the creek here was built by
a Mr. Cherrington, who sold it, the purchaser

The

gristmill

selling to Benjamin Bahm, and it was afterwards owned bv Elias Snyder. The present
proprietor is William L. Snyder, who bought
it from Elias.
The mill is operated by a gas15

C. Wintersteen

Dr. Wintersteen has resided
Carl.
here for twenty-three years.
The hotel is kept by M. Yeager & Son, who
have a reputation for capability extending all

over this and surrounding counties.
Good Will Lodge, No. 310, I. O. O. F., of
Numidia, has grown with the town's prosper-

having 136 members at present,

trast to but eleven in 1886.

the forks of the middle branch of Roaring
creek about 1830, which came into the pos-

and A. V.

owns
Caspar Rhoads

The town was

1832.

ity,

NEWLIN

ished, but the

and the out-

put is buckwheat liour, about seventy bushels
of grain being ground per day.
Newlin at the present time is even smaller
than in the past, having suffered a loss of population while Numidia has grown larger. The
only store at Newlin is kept by B. S. Bodine.

was

tional Hotel,"

tavern,

225

its hall,

The

con-

organization

the largest building in the town,

having a storeroom below.

The estimated population of Numidia

350, and there are few old buildings here, a
fire having consumed many of them not long
ago. Most of the residences are attractive and
in construction, while some of them
are quite metropolitan in appearance and inThis is the largest town
terior furnishings.
between Catawissa and Centralia and draws
upon a fine farming community for support.

modern

ESTHER FURNACE
This charcoal iron furnace was built in
1822 by Samuel Bittler, son of Michael, the

226

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and was owned by Burd PatterW. F. DeBerg, of Pottsville. They
sold it in 1844 to Fincher & Thomas.
Slabtown creek, a short
Its site was on
from the junction with Roardistance
A waterpower sawmill had
creek.
ing

CHURCHES

pioneer,

son and

The

church building in Locust township
was erected by the yuakers, half way between
Newlin and Slabtown, in 1796. They had been
holding weekly meetings for ten years previous.
been built here over the little creek by The year of the erection of the meetinghouse
Simon Shive a few years previously. There a preparative meeting was established here
was no supply of ore or coal at hand, but an under the name of "Roaring Creek Preparaabundance of timber for charcoal with which tive." Joseph Hampton was the first overseer,
The ore was secured followed in 1802 by Amos Armitage, in 1804
to operate the furnace.
from the Fishing creek valley. The product by Thomas Penrose, and in 1808 by Bezaleel
of this furnace was exclusively pig iron, al- Hayhurst. The title to the property was held
though earlier writers have stated that stoves in trust for some years by dift'erent local resiand plows were made here. Isaiah John and dents, but is now in the hands of the PhiladelSamuel B. Diemer leased the furnace from the phia Society. The Catawissa Meeting was disBittler heirs in i860 and ran it until the Civil continued in 1808, but in 1814 restored under
war came on. Then they shipped a lot of iron the name of Roaring Creek Monthly Meeting.
to New Jersey, from which place it was sent Sessions are held now in the old church m
to the South, captured by the Confederates Locust township monthly, with the exception
and lost. This caused the failure of the lirm of the June meeting, which is held at Catawissa.
and the abandonment of the furnace. Other Meetings are also held half-yearly at Millville.
earlier operators of the furnace were Lloyd There are but few members now attending
Thomas, John Richards and D. J. Waller, Sr. these services, the principal families connected
The furnace is now completely destroyed and with this sect being the Kesters and the Beabut a pile of stones, overgrown by trees and vers.
The old meetinghouse is located about a
bushes, marks the site.
mile south of Slabtown on a hill, with the
small burying ground beside it.
A woodenROADS
roofed stone wall surrounds the spot where
the bodies of deceased Friends lie, marked by
The first roads of this township were merely a simple rough fragment of stone, unnamed
bridle paths to Catawissa, the only source of and unrecorded, and often unknown.
OccaAfter the coming of the Quakers a sionally a more pretentious marker of quaint
supplies.
number of Germans came from Berks county design and simple lettering is seen, but the
by way of a road which they opened from majority of the graves that have carved tomi)Reading across the mountains. This Reading stones bear only the initials of the occupant.
road was much used after 1812, and in 1817 a The old building is in a fair state of preservasum of money was appropriated by the county tion, and is carefully looked after by the few
This occasioned much bitter- who attend the infrequent services there.
to improve it.
In the year 1808 both the Lutherans and
ness between rival innkeepers. Caspar Rhoads
induced the viewers to decide on improving the Reformed denomination had a foundation
the upper road past his hotel, but the stage in Locust township. In the barn of John Heldrivers refused to use it, so the lower road wig a short distance north of the site of Nuwas also improved. This caused Rhoads to midia, Rev. John Dieterich Adams and Rev.
open another tavern in 1832 on the lower road, Frederick Plitt had previously held services
in the house built three years before by Ben- for the Reformed and Lutheran adherents resSoon a few houses arose ident here. In 181 5 Rev. Jacob Diefi^enbach
jamin Williams.
around this spot, causing it to acquire the name came and began plans for a church building.
A post office was located The building committee, Caspar Rhoads,
of Rhoadstozvn.
here from iSs? to 1864.'
George Miller and Matthias Rhoads, bought
In 1825 a line of stagecoaches appeared on a lot from Jacob Kline on the road east of
Weaver.
Numidia.
Here a building was begun, the
the Reading road, operated by Joseph
Benjamin Potts started an opposition line in cornerstone being laid July 5, 1816, but the
1839, and for some years both lines changed edifice was not completed until fifteen years
Services were held here once
horses at John Yeager's hotel, at Slabtown. had elapsed.
They both ceased operations after the build- a month. In 1870 the two congregations being of the Catawissa railroad.
gan another church, using the old cornerstone,
first

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
was laid on
it
with additional inscriptions
The building committee consisted
Oct. 13th.
of Reuben Fahringer, Leonard Adams and
Henry Gable, and the cost of the brick church,
which still stands there, was $7,000.
For a time the two denominations remained
in harmony, but in 1886 dissensions arose, the
result being the offer of the Lutherans to sell
This
their share to 'the other congregation.
was refused by the Reformed members, and
;

the result

that the Lutherans

interest in the building,

still

own

a half

although using a new

church elsewhere. The permanent separation
between the congregations occurred in 1888,
after a lawsuit which decided nothing, and in
1889 Lutherans erected the present beautiful
and commodious frame church nearer to the
village, at a cost
built -in 1893.

of $8,000.

parsonage was

This church bears the name of St. Paul's
Lutheran Congregation and the
membership is 375, while the Sunday school
The pastors have been
has 280 attendants.
Revs. J. Benninger, j. Schindel, William J.
Eyer, W. G. Laitzle, L. Lindenstreuth, J. H.
Neiman, F. A. Weicksel and the present pastor, Rev. William J. Masser.
After using the old brick church for a time
Evangelical

Reformed congregation repaired it and rededicated it in 1893 under the name of St.
Paul. The pastors of the Reformed denomination here have been Revs. Knable, Tobias,
Fursch, Steeley, Daniels, Moore, Dechant, and
The
the present pastor. Rev. John F. Bair.
membership is 300, and the Sunday school has
the

234 attendants.
Methodist services were

first

held in this

1835 at the homes of Nathaniel
Purdy and Michael Phillips, near Rhoadstown.
The first pastors. Revs. Oliver Ege and Thomas
section

The SlabTaneyhill, were from Sunbury.
town congregation worshipped in the Reformed
church at that place, built in 1848. Three years
campmeeting of the Methodists resulted
the conversion of most of the Reformed
members and since that time the church has
been exclusively a Methodist one. The preslater a
in

was erected

1895 on the site of
frame structure, and
the congregation is served by Rev. John H.
Greenwalt. He also serves Trinity Church at
Numidia, whose house of worship was built in
ent building
the old one.

It is

a fine

1872 at a cost of $2,250.

The

first

Revs. Franklin E. Gearhart, Henry S.
Mendenhall, John F. Brown, T. A. Clees, John
:

Thomas Owens, W.

Hamlin.
The United Brethren denomination came into Locust township in 1862, St. Paul's congregation being then served by Rev. John Swank.
The land on which their church was erected
that year was donated by John Richards, owner of the Esther Furnace, and included the
summit of the hill above. This church, now in
Cleveland township, was rebuilt in 1907 and
is a large frame building, with a belfry, of
modern design. The first pastor of this church
and of the one at Fisherdale, built a few years
after the first one, was Rev. J. G. M. Herrold.
Freewill United Brethren church, on the
northeast edge of Locust township, was built
in 1876 and remodeled in 1914.
Soon after
the repairs were completed it caught fire from
a gasoline explosion, Sunday, Oct. i8th, and
was totally destroyed. It was a frame building, 28 by 40 feet, and the loss was estimated
at $3,000, with $1,000 insurance in the Locust
Mutual Insurance Company. The congregation is occupying the Strausser schoolhouse,
preparatory to rebuilding.
The present pastor of these three churches
above mentioned is Rev. B. F. Goodman.
In 1840 a number of Welsh immigrants
came to Locust township and bought farms,
among them being the Watkins, Evans, HumIn 1850
phreys, Reese and Jones families.
James Humphreys and Michael Phillips gave
a plot of land on the road to Ashland, about
two miles south of the present village of
Numidia, for the use of the Baptist denomination. A church was erected there in that year,
and the first pastor was Rev. William Jones.
This church was used by the Baptists for about
ten vears and then sold to the United Brethren
denomination, most of the Welsh families
In 1908 the old
having gone to Canada.
church was abandoned by the Brethren, and
It was long known
in 1909 it was torn down.
as St. John's Church.

The latest addition to the religious edifices
of this township is the church of Our Lady of
Mercy, built at Slabtown in 1914 at a cost of
There are fifty-five families here, of
$4,000.
Slavic and Polish ancestry, and the first pastor
in charge is Rev. Father N. B. Strickland, upon whom devolved the work of gathering funds
and supervising the erection of the church.

trustees

were Isaac Dyer, Daniel Levan, Thomas Seaborne, William Kline. Successive pastors have
been

Guss, John Z. Lloyd,

227

SCHOOLS
school in Locust township was that
of the Friends, near their meetinghouse be-

The

first

tween Slabtown and Newlin.

William Hughes

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

228

was one of

the

first

teachers.

was

estab-

Hshed soon after the coming of the Quakers
and in 1796 passed into the care of the Catawissa Monthly Meeting, being continued after
that date for twelve years. Other schools were
later opened by the German population at Slabtown, Kerntown and Esther Furnace, the teachers of which were James Miller, Samuel Bittler,
Joseph Stokes, Alexander Mears. Joseph
Hughes, Isaac Maish.

township, attended by 242 scholars.

The

school

David E. Yeager,
James M. Leiby, John Huglies, James Yeager.
directors are

Cleveland

E. Stine,

township

there

are

seven

schools, attended by 447 scholars. The school
directors
are:
Samuel Shuler, Edward

Rhodes, Henry Adams,
Rhodes.

Herman Rupp,

Isaac

POPULATION
j

The

public school system was adopted in
1839 by a majority of but one vote. During
that year the Numidia, Beaver, Miller, Fisher,
Wynn, Leiby, Eck, Deily and Furnace schools
were established.
There are now eleven schools in Locust

The population of Locust township

i860

was 1,897;

in 1870, 1,550; in 18S0, 2,014; in
1890, 1,973; in 1900, 1,200; in 1910, 1,191.
The population of Cleveland township in
1900 was 899 in 10 to, 909.
;

CHAPTER

XXIII

FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP— STILLWATER BOROUGH
Being divided almost in half by the waters
of Fishing creek, this division of Columbia
county, formed in 1789, was given the same
name. It was once of much larger size, but
the erection of Briarcreek, Greenwood, Sugarloaf, Benton and parts of Mount Pleasant
and Orange townships at various periods
greatly curtailed the area.
The settlers of this portion of the county
were mainly of English, Irish and Scotch descent, but a number of Germans also settled
here. There was sufficient of different nationalities to cause much dissension regarding the
names of creeks and villages, the post office
of Fishing Creek being named by one faction

and Huntington creek, upon which it was situated, being named by people who settled
along that stream in Luzerne county. This
name came from one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence, and was given
by the settlers who came from Connecticut.
The first settler of this region was Daniel

McHenry, who came here

summer

in the

1783 and located above the site of the present
He was of pure Irish
descent and had been a resident of New Jersey.
In 1784 he brought his family here, and in
1785 his son, John McHenry, the first white
child born north of Knob mountain, saw the
light of earth.
Abram Dodder, from Muncy, came here in
1786 and settled at the mouth of Pine creek.

bastian Kisner located near Smith in 1808, and
the same year John Buckalew, father of John
M. Buckalew, established the farm later owned
by his descendants. After 1810 the arrivals

were Samuel Creveling, Samuel Cutter, Richard Brown, Benjamin Jones and John Paden.
Thereafter the immigration was rapid until
the township became one of the most thickly
populated portions of the county.

f
INDUSTRIES

sawmills were built in this township
years of settlement, one of the first
being that of John M. Buckalew on Pine creek,
in 1808; that of Benjamin Jones was erected
in 1809, at the site of Jonestown and that of
John Paden, at Forks, in 1810. A small fulling mill was also established in 1820 on Little
Pine creek by a man named Kennedy, but did
not run long. Later industries are treated in

Many

in the first

;

the paragraphs relating to the localities bearing distinctive names.

STILLWATER

village of Stillwater.

Ludwig Smith came

in 1800 and
Huntington creek near the county

settled
line.

This

and

Henry

the largest villa,ge in the township
of many members of the Mcfamily. The first store in the town was
is

the

home

opened bv Daniel and James McHenry in 1847.
Moses McHenry ran it next and was succeeded
by the present owner, M. McHenry, who has

his son in partnership with him.

Se-

Henry was appointed postmaster

Daniel Mcin

1854 and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
He has had
continued in office until 1886.
but two successors, his nephew John V. McHenry and the present postmistress, Mrs. Mirandy i>. Hess. There are at present three
post offices in this township, Stillwater, FishOther points are suping Creek and Forks.
plied by the rural routes.
The industries of the town are few,

them having been dependent on the supply of
timber in the past. The planing mill established by T. H. Edgar in 1877 was abandoned
in

Andrew McHenry

in turn.
It was then converted into a paper mill, using rye and oat straw
for the manufacture of wrapping paper, the
It
first to make paper being C. B. McHenry.
was then bought by C. A. and Perry D. Wesley
'

most of

1912.

229

and operated from 1894 to 1908. After that
C. O. Stauff'er ran it for two years, turning it
back to the Wesleys after that time. From
1910 to 1912 the Impervious Paper Company
of Scranton operated the works for the production of a fine grade of cartridge paper, after
which the factory reverted to the ownership of

West of the town was the sawmill of Peter the Wesleys for the last time. During the busy
Appleman, built in 1832 and operated first by 'days of the paper mill quite a large settlement
waterpower and later by steam. From 1836 to arose around the works, but after its closing
1890 it was operated by P. & M. Appleman. It down these homes were abandoned, and the
is out of use at present.
place has now but a few caretakers living near
B. Frank Edgar built a distillery at Van it. The Wesleys have the entire plant on the
Camp in 1874, in 1886 moved it to Stillwater, market, and should be able to dispose of it readran it till 1898 and then sold it to his son, Al- ily, for there is an abundance of raw stock at
fred H. Edgar, and Clem. G. Beishline.
It
hand and ample power to convert it into profitanever was a paying proposition here and was ble merchandise. The outfit of machinery is
finally closed.
complete and modern, consisting of two 48-inch
The village of Stillwater was cut off from paper machines, two 1,000-pound beaters, one
and
a
became
Fishingcreek township
borough Horn-Jordan engine for preparing stock, and
The power
Sept. 2~,, 1899. The first election held in No- a number of finishing machines.
vember resulted in the installation of these plant consists of three Alcock turbines of 25,
officials
Daniel McHenry, burgess Charles 40 and 115-horsepower, respectively; four
Wesley, B. F. Pealer, W. L. McHenry, Moses steam engines, a 200-horsepower Wright CorMcHenry, T. H. Edgar, J. B. Karns, J. N. Mc- liss, and one 140, one 35 and one 8-horsepower
Henry, councilmen Charles Wesley, I. W. Ed- slide valve engines. Three boilers of 100 horsegar, T. H. Edgar, E. P. Bender, A. B. Mc- power each form the steam making battery.
The Stillwater Inn is managed by George B.
Henry, E. E. Wagner, school directors M. M.
McHenry, E. B. Beishline, justices W. Girton, Dresher. W. J. Smith is a veterinary surgeon
D. W. McHenry, overseers of the poor.
resident in the town. Camp No. 551, P. 0. S.
In this small municipality of 179 inhabitants of A., has a hall here and a large membership.
there are two churches, a schoolhouse, a large
store, some shops, a planing mill and some
JONESTOWN
handsome and well kept residences.
Stillwater has been the home of a number
Notwithstanding its name, this village is
of the prominent and valuable citizens of the scarcely more than a hamlet in 1914.
In the
them
Daniel
county, among
being
McHenry, past, however, it was a somewhat pretentious
in 1S63 county treasurer, a man of sterling
place, having two names, one from its founder
worth E. J. McHenry, who represented the and the other given it by the post office departcounty in the Legislature from 1874 to 1878; ment, which established the office of FishingCyrus B. McHenry, an associate judge: Moses creek here in 1815, with Benjamin Jones as
McHenry, probably the oldest merchant in the postmaster. The present one is a descendant of
the first and bears the name of A. W. Jones.
county, still conducting a store in the town
and O. D. McHenry, an extensive lumber dealer He and Bolich Bros, are the storekeepers in the
and prominent in the affairs of the borough. village. There is also an excellent unlicensed
Miss May McHenry, a daughter of Daniel Mc- hotel here, kept by Mr. Kunkel.
Henry, lives in her father's old home with her
Benjamin Jones settled at the site of Joneswidowed mother and brother, O. D., and has town in 1809 and soon thereafter built a sawmore than local fame for her literary ability.
In 181 1 he added a gristmill, running it
mill.
A gristmill was built at the mouth of Raven until 1849, when he died and his sons, James
creek, just below .Stillwater, by one of the Pat- N. and Richard, inherited them. In 1857 they
tersons about 1865, and was successfully oper- separated, Richard taking the sawmill and
ated by E. J. McHenry, Andrew .\ikman and Tames N.. in
partnership with his brother-in:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

230

At the junction of Fishing and Huntington
law, John Merrill, rebuilding the gristmill.
The gristniill was operated thereafter by Jones creeks is the sawmill built in i8io by John
& Mears and then Mears & Thomas, until 1868, Paden. The next owner was Andrew Lauwhen Francis W. and James E. Jones, sons of bach, then came E. M. Laubach, next his
Richard, bought it. It is now operated by H. S. daughter, Mrs. E. A. Pennington. Now E. A.
Gruver.

Pennington, the oldest grandson, runs the

mill.

Jonestown derived some importance in the The old machines for manufacturing wooden
past from its position on the Susquehanna & pumps are still in use, as is the oldtime cider
Tioga turnpike. John M. Buckalew graded press, worked by a lever. A chop mill and a
one mile of this road for $150. The charter circular saw are run by the turbine, which has
of this

although the
years ago. The
road is now under the charge of the State,
which had a definite interest in the road from
the first, having contributed several thousand

company

still

collection of tolls ceased

dollars towards

its

in force,

many

construction.

FORKS
Although aspiring to be a village in former
times, this place is now simply a station on
the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad.
Rush
Harrison is the station agent, expressman,
There are but
storekeeper and postmaster.
three houses at the station, but around it and
the
the
summer resitwo creeks are
along
dences of many citizens of the larger towns
of the county, who form a considerable population in the warmer months.

replaced the old overshot wheel of the past.
pit is of cribwork and has an ancient
look in comparison with the more modern turbine it houses.
One of the largest sawmills in the county
was that of Evan and Eli A. Beishline, built
in 1881 at Van Camp, east of Stillwater.
It
scarcely had time to get under way before it
was burned in 1884, together with a large quantity of lumber there was no insurance on either
it or the mill.

The wheel

;

RELIGIOUS

The first denomination to hold services in
township was the Methodist, Revs. John
and Christopher Bowman, from Briarcreek,
this

Located at the immediate junction of Huntington and Fishing creeks, it is surrounded
by picturesque spots and has some fine trout
An artistic wire suspension
pools near by.
bridge connects the inn with the railroad flag

holding services in the home of Abram Dodder
some time before 1812. Preaching was continued at Dodder's until a schoolhouse was
built.
Meetings were also held at John Andrews' house, on the road from Asbury to
The Stillwater church
Jonestown, in 1836.
was organized about the same time at the home
of Alexis Good, some distance from the vilThe
lage, on the banks of Fishing creek.
Jonestown church was built in 1880, the one
at Stillwater in the same year, while the Asbury church, west of Jonestown, was built in
The first two mentioned are now in
1848.
the Orangeville circuit, while that at Asbury
is abandoned.
Stillwater Christian Church (Disciples) was
one of the first to be established in this county.
In 1835 Revs. John Ellis, J. J. Harvey and
John Sutton associated together to establish
preaching places from Union to Luzerne counties. Rev. John Sutton coming to Stillwater.
He preached here occasionally until 1838, when

station.

Bernard Ammerman settled at Forks about
and opened a store a little later. In
1855 he was made postmaster at that point, and
held the office until 1861, when it was transferred to Pealertown on Huntington creek.
In 1871 J. M. Ammerman, his son, became
postmaster there and continued to hold the
1820,

office until the installation of the rural routes.

90S the old

Ammerman home was

sold

to William H. Derr, of Bloomsburg, who obtained a hotel license, changed the name to
"Forks Inn," made many alterations and additions to it, and has converted it into an attractive hotel, the resort of auto parties and
fishermen from the surrounding country.

farther up Fishing creek is Williams
Grove, an equally popular resort. The beautiful scenery along these two streams has long
held out invitations to the lovers of nature,
and numerous cottages and camps line the
banks, summer seeing a throng of fishers,
boatmen and campers taking full advantage of
little

these

many

allurements.

monthly appointment was begun.

Moses

founders of this
church and was the first person in the township to be baptized by immersion.

McHenry was one

of the

Many protracted meetings preceded the organization of the church, which took place in
1838, with a list of twenty-nine members. The
first church and parsonage were built here in
1842, the latter being a log schoolhouse, rebuilt.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The second church was built in 1877. The
Revs. John Sutton, Theopastors have been
bald Miller, Jacob Rodenbaugh, J. J. Harvey,
J. G. Noble, Zephaniah Ellis, E. E. Orvis, D. M.
Kinter, J. W. McNamara, H. L. Waltman, G.
P. Morse, R. H. Sawtelle, Vernon Harrington, J. P. Topping and W. I. Burrell, most of
whom have also had the Benton charge.
The first Reformed preacher in this section

231-

SCHOOLS

was Rev. Jacob Dieffenbach, who occasionally
preached

private houses near the old Pealer

and Bellas graveyard, next to where St. James'
church is now located, in 1820-22. From then
to 1825 Rev. J. N. Zeiger preached in the same
place.

From

worshipped

then until 1840 the congregation
at

New

Columbus,

Montour

county. In 1840 they moved to the Creveling
crossroads schoolhouse, and in 1852 the St.
James church was built near Fishing creek,
between Stillwater and Forks, at what is now
Zaner station. Rev. Isaac Shellhammer was
their pastor until 1858, Rev. H. Funk the next.
Rev. W. Goodrich the next, Rev. E. B. Wilson
the next, Rev. A. Houtz for forty years, and

Rev. W. S. Gerhard until Rev. A. M. Shaffner
succeeded him, in October, 1914.
Zion Reformed congregation was formed in
1842 by Rev. D. S. Tobias in the Stucker
schoolhouse, near Van Camp, where he continued to preach until 1857, when Zion church
was dedicated there. Other pastors of this
church have been the same as those of St.

Christopher Pealer taught the first school
township at his home near the site of
Zaner station, in connection with his weaving,
about the year 1790. The first schoolhouse
was later built near here, and Jonathan Colley
in this

taught there. Henry Hess came to Stillwater
in 1794 to oversee some land for his father,
and later opened a school there. The second
school in the township was built near Zion
church.
In 1885 there were nine schools in
the township, in operation for six months, and
attended by 249 pupils. In 1914 there were
also nine schools, but although the term was
seven months in length only 200 were in attendance.
The school directors of Fishingcreek townJ. C. Karns, O. J. Hess, A. S. Mcship are
Henry, George Van Liew, A. F. Arnold.
The school directors of Stillwater are William J. Smith, A. B. McHenry, E. B. Beishline, Lloyd Bender, O. D. Hagenbuch.
:

POPULATION

The population
1820 was 502;

Fishingcreek -township

1830, 568; in 1840, 902;
in 1850, 1,110; in i860, 1,266; in 1870, 1,370;
in 1880, 1,447; in 1890, 1,447; >" 1900, 1,181;
in

in 1910, 1,031.

James.

CHAPTER XXIV
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
This township was formed in 1843 from
Catawissa township, and included the township of Mayberry, in Montour county, at the
When that county was separated from
time.
Columbia in 1850 Franklin township was taken
in 1853 a division was made which
but
along,
left the present area within Columbia county,
and gave to Montour the part now called Mayberry township.
This section was settled after the Catawissa
In 1783 Jesse Cleaver,
valley was populated.
a Quaker, came here from Chester county to
visit friends, and liking the site bought a tract
on the hills west of Roaring creek, near the
Susquehanna. He had intended to buy land
on the north side of the river, but the great
floods of that year deterred him. He brought

his family here the following year. The Claytons, another Quaker family, also soon came
Frederick Knittle, of Berks
to this section.

county, settled on the Esther Furnace road,
and in 1795 Daniel Knittle bought the adjoining tract. John and Peter Mensch settled near
the river, north of Roaring creek, Michael
Hoover on the hill road to Danville, and Christian Hartley (or Artley) near the site of the
present village of Willowvale.

INDUSTRIES

The only

industries past and present in this
township are the gristmills on Roaring creek,
near the edge of Cleveland township.
One
of these mills was built by Washington Parr

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

232

about i860, almost on the edge of the line. It dus Artley, Glen Shultz, John Wintersteen,
is now owned by Rider Brothers.
The other J. D. Fetterman.
mill was built later by Mendenhall Brothers,
about a mile below Parr's, and has been sucRELIGIOUS
cessively owned by Francis Pensyl, R. S. McThe Methodists are in the ascendancy in this
Henry and the Rider brothers. The latter mill
is now strictly modern in its mechanical
equip- township, although there are a number of
ment.
persons of different religious beliefs who attend the churches of Catawissa.
The Bethel Methodist Church built its house
WILLOWVALE
of worship in 1859 on the road from WillowThis village, sometimes called WiUozi' Grove, vale to Numidia. David Zarr, Jonas Berninger,
was formed by a cluster of houses around the Joseph Hartman, John Teitsworth, Nicholas
Mendenhall mill, now called the Franklin mills. Campbell, William Reeder, Peter Yocum and
A post office was established here at the store William Kiesle were the trustees at the time.
of Mendenhall Brothers, but there is no office
Mount Zion Methodist Church was built
here now, as the rural routes take its place. in 1874 at the forks of the road in the northThe office was at one time known as "Pensyl." ern part of the township. Its trustees were
William Fisher, Joseph Reeder, Peter G.

SCHOOLS

Most of

the scholars

Cleaver,
Jackson
Wellington
Cleaver, John Hile, Joseph Fisher, Sylvester
Cleaver, Eli Keilner. The church is a frame

Campbell,

from

section in

this

early times attended the Catawissa schools.
After the Mclntyre school in that township
was closed in 1804 a house was built just above
the foundry on Catawissa creek to accommodate the settlers. Daniel Crist and Daniel Rigler taught in this school, and several grownups were' numbered with his scholars. The
Clayton school was opened later near the home
of Joseph T. Reeder and taught by Joseph
Hbrlocker.
At present there are four schools in this
The
township, attended by 124 scholars.
school directors are
Emerson Creasy, Rolan:

building and is in good repair.
Both of these churches were formerly in
the Danville circuit, and were served by the
pastors of the times, whose names can be
found in the chapter on religions. The present pastor is Rev. John H. Greenwalt. of the

Roaringcreek

circuit.

POPULATION

The population

of Franklin township
i860 was 533; in 1870, 550; in 1880, 543;

in
in

1890, 522;'in 1900, 549; in 1910, 537.

CHAPTER XXV
GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP— MILL VILLE BOROUGH
This division of Columbia county
the

oldest

cluded in

and

first

settled.

Wyoming and

then

one of

Originally

in-

Fishingcreek

bought 1,200 acres for the sum of ii45,
in 1769 left his home at Mill Creek Hundred, Newcastle Co., Del., followed the Sus-

and

was formed as early as 1799.
quehanna to Sunbury, and from there proBenjamin Chew, a prominent Quaker of ceeded overland to his destination. He viewed
the land, returned home, and the following
of
two
thouPhiladelphia, became possessed
sand acres of land in the region around Mill- summer came back with his son Thomas, and
ville at various dates previous to the coming they built a cabin on the west bank of Little
The following spring he
of actual settlers. He had the largest hold- Fishing creek.
The site brought his entire family to the wilderness and
ings by one person in this county.
of the town of Millville was warranted to Wil- settled down to the task of reclaiming it. The
liam and Elizabeth McMean in 1769. Their settlers, being members of the Society of
tracts and others adjoining passed into the Friends, were never molested by the Indians,
hands of Reuben Haines, a brewer of Phila- although many west of them suffered from
delphia, and from him to John Eves in 1774. raids.

townships,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
This peace was rudely shattered in 1778 by
the warning given them by a friendly Indian
of the terrible Wyoming massacre. l"he family at once loaded wagons and fled by way of
Washingtonville, where a stockade was standing, and thence returned to their former home
in Delaware.
They did not return until 1785,
and then found their home in ashes and fields

233

make, and the turbine wheel is seldom used
for power except during high stages of water
This is one of the largest buckin the creek.
wheat mills in the United States, in 1913
grinding one half of one per cent of all the
buckwheat flour produced in the Union. All
of the grain grown in Columbia and Montour counties that could be bought, and quantities from other counties, was hardly sufficient to keep the mill in operation that year.
The production was fifty carloads of flour,
eleven hundred bushels of grain being required
for each carload, the price averaging 75 cents
per bushel, and the value of the flour being
in

overgrown with bushes. They at once built
two log houses and a gristmill, the latter standing for almost a hundred years thereafter.
From this family of Eves it is estimated that
more than one thousand persons have descended. They have always been among the
foremost in the development of the county and estimated at over $40,000.
The first store in the township was opened
are highly respected for probity and enterat Millville in 1827 by David and Andrew Eves,
prise.
Soon after the arrival of the Eves many David being appointed postmaster four years
others came to the site of Greenwood, among later.
Subsequent incumbents of the ofiice
them being the Lemon, Lundy, Link, Battin, were Andrew Eves, James, George and WilAfter that date
Oliver, Mather, Robbins, Patterson and Mc- liam Masters, until 1885.
Michael families. Jacob Link, in 1797, opened Uriah P. Henry was appointed, Jan. 25, 1886;
the first tavern in this township.
Ellis Eves, Aug. 12, 1889; D. F. Herring,
Until 1798 the Indian trail from Berwick to Sept. 2, 1893; W. C. Eves, Sept. 22, 1897;
the West Branch was the only highway of the Joseph C. Eves, Sept. 24, 1901. The present
settlers, but in that year a road was surveyed postmaster, J. S. Cole, is one of the few not
across the Mount Pleasant hills to the river. a member of the Eves family.
This road and the creeks during flood stage
Mail facilities have been greatly increased
afforded the means of transporting the lum- since the advent of the Susquehanna, Bloomsber and other raw products to the settlements burg & Berwick road, the first train of which
There
farther down the Susquehanna.
In 1820 an arrived at Millville on April 6, 1887.
effort was made to build an additional road was for some years a daily mail from BloomsAt present an autobus
through Greenwood, but it was not till 1856 burg by stage line.
that the State laid out and completed the road makes two trips a day each way, and a freight
from Bloomsburg to Laporte, in Sullivan wagon makes one trip each way.
There are a number of flourishing induscounty.
In 1813 John Watson started
MILLVILLE
tries in Millville.
a woolen factory, the plant comprising a fullThe gristmill which gave rise to the name ing mill and two carding machines. Wool was
of the town of Millville was operated after brought to the mill by the farmers to be cleaned
the death of John Eves by his son Thomas. and carded, the weaving into "homespun" beThe latter built the first dwelling house in the ing done in the homes, after which the cloth
town. David Masters bought the mill site in was returned to the mill to be dyed and pressed.
1830 and rebuilt the mill. His son George ran Chandlee Eves succeeded Watson and built
it till 1840. when fire destroyed it.
Masters a large brick mill on the opposite side of the
and John Betz rebuilt the mill on a larger scale creek. He did not make a great success of
and made a success of its operation for a num- the project and the plant stood idle for a time,
ber of years.
Later owners were Masters being finally occupied by the Enterprise
& Heacock, in 1872, McHenry & Heacock, Worsted Mill. The latter corporation was
from 1874 to 1883, and the mill is now in originated in the basement of the Magee Car1914 in the hands of Reece & Greenly, the pet Mills, at Bloomsburg, by Midgely & Haley,
members of the firm being J. L. Reece and in 1891, and several years later moved to MillEllis Greenly. They have added a brick power ville.
The mill was later operated by Edward
house, with a 140-horsepower engine and Thorpe until his death, when the present corThe
boiler, and otherwise increased the mill's ca- poration was formed and took it over.
A. J. Skerry, Jr., president, and
pacity, which is two hundred barrels of buck- ofiicers are
wheat flour and fifty barrels of wheat flour J. A. F. Simpson, treasurer. The product in
per day. All of the machinery is now modern former vears was woolen blankets for the
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

234

United States army, but at present it is ex- $25,000 and the deposits over $285,000. In
clusively woolen yarns, the output of five thou- 1914 the bank built its own home on a corner
sand pounds per week being sold direct to mills of the two main streets of the town. It is of
in New England and Philadelphia.
The plant Indiana limestone and gray brick, with brick
is a strictly modern one and is housed in a
lining, three stories high, and architecturally a
three-story building of brick, the power being credit to the bank and the town.
both steam and water. The employees number
The Millville Water Company was chartered
about fifty. William J. Koehler is the manager April 5, 1898, with a capital of $16,000. The
of the mill.
projectors were William Masters, Ellis Eves,
The fame of the Millville wagons made by J. J. Robbins, H. G. Frederick, C. W. Miller.
Eves
and
his
son
The supply of water, which is excellent in qualCharles
has
all
John
gone
over the State and enabled the firm to build ity and abundant, is obtained from a large
a factory in the town that employs twelve persons. An i8-horsepower turbine operates the
machinery, and there is also an additional steam
Farm and
plant for use in the dry season.
lumber wagons are the products of the factory.
and
William
Henry Getty
Greenly started a
planing mill in i88i which is now operated by
Charles Cutler. Three years later Shoemaker
& Lore built another planing mill. This latter
is in the hands of Edward Buck, who
operates

a wagon works.

The

Creamery has had a steady
and prosperous career. It was started in 1887
S.
by
J. Eckman, who operated it for several
Millville

Later he sold it to his sons, W. J.
years.
and C. W. Eckman, who have developed
an immense trade, the output being butter,

The
spring, being pumped into a reservoir.
William Masters, prespresent officers are
ident; C. M. Eves, treasurer and secretary;
William Masters, Ellis Eves, Josiah Heacock,
Watts Heacock, C. W. Miller, directors.
tannery was started in 1907 by Heller &
Cutler, who sold it later to the Millville TanIt is now operated by the
ning Company.
Kirkpatrick Tanning Company of Philadel:

The product is strictly sole leather.
The Mutual Fire Insurance Company

phia.

was incorporated Sept. 7, 1875, with
J. W. Eves, president, and Ellis Eves, secretary.
They have continued since then to carry
on a conservative and successful business, havMillville

ing over $5,000,000 in force in 1914. The present officers are: Cyrus DeMott, president; J.

cream, eggs, poultry and meats. The creamery has many wagons on its many milk
routes, and the meat wagons cover a large

Fred. Eves, secretary.
Freeholders of Millville
a borough charter on May

The first building
portion of the county.
erected was only 24 by 36 feet in size, but was
then ample for the requirements. The present building is 70 feet square and two stories
in height, and the business occupies all of the

reported favorably by the grand jury. In September exceptions and remonstrances were
An
filed, and on May 4, 189 1, were dismissed.
appeal was taken to the Supreme court, which
on April 14, 1892, decided in favor of the incorporation, the objectors having failed to continue the fight. The first borough election resulted as follows: Joseph W. Eves, burgess;
R. J. Hess, J. C. Eves, C. W. Eckman, S. W.
Kester, H. W. Kisner, E. T. Eves, councilmen W. M. Eves, V. P. Eves, justices of the

its fullest capacity.
The plant and
methods are modern in every respect. On
June I, 1913, a corporation was formed, of
which W. J. Eckman is president and C. M.
Eves is the treasurer.

space to

The First National Bank of Millville is a
successful financial institution and a great convenience to the business men and farmers of
that section of the county. It opened its doors
on July I, 1900, with a capital of $25,000, and
a surplus fund of $5,000.
Its first board of
directors were: Wilson M. Eves, John Eves,

W. W.

Dr.

Eves, J. W. Eves, Dr. H. S. Christian,
E. Shuman, Josiah Heacock, Ellis Eves,

The present board consists
Dr. H. S. Christian, J. Heacock, C. R. Henrie, J. W. Eves, F. C. Eves,
Ellis Eves, A. W. Eves, William Masters. The
officers are
William Masters, president J. W.
Eves, vice-president C. M. Eves, cashier C.
R. Henrie, secretar}^ The surplus fund is now
William Masters.
of

W. Bowman.

;

filed a petition for
5,

1890, which

was

peace.

W. W.
present borough officials are
Heacock, burgess E. T. Eves, Charles Cutler,
The

;

M. Eves, J. L.
J. W. Biddle, A. S. Ikeler. C.
Reece, councilmen C. L. Eves, Boyd Trescott,
B.
justices Grant Johnson, C. A. Kreamer, J.
Welliver, Charles Brumstetler, C. H. Henrie,
school directors.
An unusual feature at Millville is the fact
that there exists there an unlicensed hotel
which has been carried on for over thirty
vears. At one time an effort was made to procure a license, but failed. Burr Albertson, the
present proprietor, keeps an excellent place for
the entertainment of the traveling public.
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
is no place in the town where intoxicating liquor is sold.
An excellent system of sewerage, put in

There

1899 and 1901, is still in use.
is reached by the Pennsylvania railroad now, with two trains daily. The trolley
line, projected in 1900, consists now of a rusting track overgrown with weeds and supported
in

Millville

by rotting crossties, a monument to the credulity of local investors.
The storekeepers of Millville are
General
P. L. Eves, G. & D. Smith, J. C. ChrisStores
tian & Co., B. F. Cadman, G. W. Henrie, S.
T. Lewis, Grant Johnston, Heller & Fritz.

—

Harvey Smith, John Krepneck, John H. Mordan. J. P. Eves, in whose name the post was
organized, was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, died in the field hospital and was
buried in an unmarked grave on the Rappahannock river. He was a member of Company
136th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
of the post are in 1914
George W. Belig, Isaac M. Lyons, John ShafI,

The surviving members
fer, J. C.

Eves, Jacob Derr, John Mordan.

—

Clothing A. Frank. Restaurant H. J. Bowman. Druggist Charles S. Ely. Meat Markets
R. C. Kester & Son, Millville Creamery.
Livery Dildine & Kramer. Blacksmiths H.
W. Kisner & Bro., G. A. Stackhouse. Millville Laundry, Harry W. Buck.
The MillviUe Tablet is a five-column, eightpage paper, founded in 1887 by G. A. Potter,
who ran it till 1912, when Boyd Trescott took
It has a
the editorship and has held it since.
large circulation in that end of the county, and

—

235

—

ably edited and well printed.
number of fraternal societies have had
existence in the town since its founding, while
many others have passed into the history of
the "has beens."
Millville Lodge, No. 809, I. O. O. F., was oris

ROHRSBURG
This town was named from its early landowner, Frederick Rohr, who served in the
Prussian army against Napoleon, and who in
1825 bought the land on which the town is
situated from Samuel Shertz. The following
year the only building on this spot was the
blacksmith shop of Robert Campbell. In 1828
Peter Venett opened a store here, and Shoemaker & Rees soon after followed the lead
thus set. The first flouring mill here was built
by Joseph Fullmer, on Green creek. In 1832
a fulling and carding mill was operated on the
creek just north of the town by Joseph E.
Sands. In 1856 he moved it to Mordansville.
flouring mill was built below the town on

Green creek by Joseph Fullmer of Limestonethis mill was later
ville in the early days
owned by Jonas Hayman, and after him by
ganized July 29, 1872, with twenty-one mem- J. H. Ikeler.
bers, but surrendered its charter a few years
Lumbering was at one time the principal inIn 1S80 the charter was restored, only dustry in this section and continued to be until
later.
to be surrendered again in 1886, and finally re- the forests were practically exhausted. In 1820
stored in 1888.
Since then the existence of Joseph Lemon built a mill on the creek below
the lodge has been uninterrupted. The officers town, which was carried on until 1848 by his
for 1914 were
Charles Wagner, noble grand
sons Jonathan, Isaac and William. The steam
Perry Eves, vice grand W. O. Johnson, treas- sawmill and foundry of Matthias M. Appleman
was built in 1S35 and operated for many years
urer; Dr. H. S. Cliristian, trustee.
:

;

Recently a camp of the Woodmen of
World has been organized here.

the

Valley Grange, No. 52, P. of H., one of the
oldest in the State, was chartered with twenty
members, Feb. 4, 1874.
They own a fine
library in Millville and have a membership of
over one hundred and fifty. The officers are:
William Eves, Jerseytown, master Miss Sarah
Reece, secretary.
J. P. Eves Post, No. 536, G. A. R., was mustered Sept. 3, 1886, with the following roster:
James W. Eves, Henry Robbins. George W.
Belig, B. F. Fisher, Isaac M. Lyons, John
Shaffer, J. C. Eves, W. G. Manning, Emanuel
Bogart, Jacob Derr, Henry J. Applegate, John
Thomas, D. F. Crawford, Charles M. Dodson,
William L. Caslan, W. H. Hayman, Richard
Kitchen, George W. Perkins, John Applegate,
;

with success.

The pottery of Kester Parker in 1847, and
the tannery of Perry Smith in 1868, were other
industries of the past. Judge Iram Derr ran
a hotel here from 1838 to 1841. Jacob Berlin
was postmaster from 1862

to 1874.

present storekeepers are Frank Albertson, George Appleman, Carl Redline, E. E.
Parker.
Rohrsburg Grange, No. 108, P. O. H., was
organized Feb. 12, 1874, with thirty members.
In 1886 the membership had increased to

The

eighty-four, and

it is

now about one hundred.

eyee's grove

Located

the southeastern corner of the

township, this village was founded

i860 by

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

236

who built a gristmill and store on
the site of a similar structure erected in 1807

Jacob Eyer,

by Robert Montgomery. Successive owners
since Eyer have been William Kreamer, C. W.
Eves, Heacock

Masters, Dr. G. P. Gehring,

Hileman & Johnson and W. D. Hileman.

The

present mill has five stands of modern milling
machinery, operated by a 17-foot overshot
wheel of iron. The mill race is over half a
mile long and 40 horsepower is generated.
steam engine is tised in low stages of the creek.
The mill is a three-story red brick building of

imposing appearance.
The present postmaster and storekeeper

G.
ler.

until

nephew of the late Judge Ikehotel was run by different proprietors
1
19 3, Rudolph Yankee being the last
Ikeler, a

landlord.
Since the building of
hanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick
town has improved in commerce
about forty houses, a Methodist
in i860, and a fine schoolhouse.

the Susquerailroad the

and now has
church

built

lOLA

This village

just north of Millville on
Little Fishing creek and was started in 1828
by the building of a gristmill by John and Joseph Robbins. Elisha Hayman, who owned the
is

from 185 1 to 1880, named the town after
M. V. Gehring was a later
daughter.
owner, and the present one is Samuel Fought.
The mill is operated by a 10- foot overshot
wheel and the output is buckwheat flour and
chop.
Tola Lodge, No. 711, F. & A. M., was organized July 5, 1870, and in 1881 removed by spemill
his

dispensation to Pine Summit. An I. O.
O. F. lodge was founded here before the Masonic lodge and at one time possessed a fine
hall, but is now out of existence.

cial

RELIGIOUS

the

Hicksite branch,

wood post office are
The first services

while those at Greenof the Orthodox branch.
of the Methodists were

held in 1809 at the Eves mill in Millville by a
class of eleven.
Jacob Evans was appointed
leader.
For sixteen years services were held
in the

barn of William Robbins.

A church was

built in 1825 and occupied until 1857.
^t was
located at the forks of the road from Millville

second building was erected
1882 and the present one in
1897. It is a fine brick structure, with a belfry,
and cost $4,000. The pastors of this church
have been Revs. Joseph S. Lee, George H. Day,
D. Y. Brouse, C. W. Rishell, W. H. Hartman,
Joseph A. Bretz, A. C. Logan, Fred A. Goeler,
Zaccheus Weston, William A. Faus. The last
named gave up a more lucrative charge in order
to minister to the congregation at Millville, the
home of his mother, Elvira \\Tight. The mem-

to Rohrsburg.
at Millville in

bership at Millville is seventy-five and the
Sunday school about fifty. The charge includes the churches at Jerseytown, Eyer's

Grove, Pine Summit, lola and Ikeler's.
The Presbyterians organized at Rohrsburg
in
attended the
1847, having previously
Orangeville Church.
Among the first members were Philip Sibley, Elias Smith, James
Wilson and Charles Fortner. The congregation was served for many years by Revs. Williamson, Thompson and Boyd, the services being held in William Mather's barn until the
church was built in 1850, at a cost of $1,500.
This church has a membership of twenty-four
and is served occasionally from Benton.
The Christian Church at Rohrsburg was organized in 1870 by Elder J. J. Harvey, with a
membership of thirty-one. Services were held
in Appleman's shop until the house of worship
was completed in the following year. Elders
Harvey and Rodenbaugh held services occasionally in the seminary at Millville until 1880,
when the "Free Church" was built for the use
of all denominations. Josiah Heacock, S. B.
Kisner and R. M. Johnson were the founders
of this church. For some time other denominations used the church, but at present it is practically an exclusive Christian edifice. Rev. W.
I. Burrell of Benton is the pastor there at pres-

meetinghouse of the Society of Friends
1795 and in the following year William Ellis, Thomas Ellis and
John Hughes were appointed supervisors. In
1799 the Muncy Meeting was established and
In 1856 ent.
alternate sessions held at Millville.
the name was changed to the Fishing Creek
The Lutheran Church at Millville was orMonthly Meeting. In June of each year the ganized in 1 88 1 by Rev. F. P. Manhart and a
This record of charge was formed embracing also the church
session is held at Catawissa.
In 1894 a building was
unbroken meetings for almost 120 years has at Pine Summit.
never been equaled in this part of the State. erected for the congregation at a cost of
The present meetinghouse of the Friends is $4,800, and the membership has increased;
a neat brick building in a grove at the edge of the Sunday school numbers about one hunthe town. The Friends at Millville belong to dred. Rev. F. P. Manhart, now president of

was

built in Millville in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Susquehanna University, at Selinsgrove, Pa.,
serves the congregation regularly.
The Evangelical Church at Greenvk'ood settlement was organized in 1880 by Rev. W. H.
The folEli Welliver.
Lilly, at the home of
lowing year, through the efforts of David Albertson anil Wilson Kramer, the present church

was

built.

The appointment

hlled

from

Waller.

237

ers being John M. Smith, Harold Whiteacre,
M. C. Turrell and A. L. Tustin. In 1886 the

Fishing Creek Monthly Meeting of Friends
again became the lessees, and opened the school
with seventy-five pupils, under the principalship of Anna C. Borland, of Philadelphia.
Subsequent principals have been Edith H. Cutler, 1887-89; Henry R. Russell, 1890-93; Jennie Kester and Ellen Russell, 1894-95; Harry

W. Eves, 1 896- 1 900; Wilmer
09; Kathryn Eves, 1910-13.

EDUCATIONAL

W. Kester, 1901Many men and

women who

attained prominence in the varilife have been attendants at this
institution of learning. The buildings are now
in a state of disrepair and the school is poorly
Miss Mary Ridgway is the last
attended.

Friends religion and education
were closely connected. One end of their first
meetinghouse was partitioned off for a schoolroom and in 1798 Elizabeth Eves here in-

ous walks of

structed the children of the vicinity.
Jesse
Haines and John Shirley were her successors.
The first schoolhouse in the township was on
the farm of Jacob Gerard, in the eastern part.

principal.

With

the

was subsequently removed

Other schools were from time

Rohrsburg.

to time estab-

lished in convenient parts of the township.
In 1851 the Friends erected the Millville high
school, William Burgess being
the following year. He opened

made
it

principal
in the autumn

of 1852 with an enrollment of thirty, and conIn
tinued to be the head for twelve years.
1861 the Greenwood Seminary Company, with
a capital stock of $5,000, was organized, assumed all the liabilities of the high school,
added to the buildings, and placed the institution on a firm basis.
Prof. T. W. Potts, of Chester county, took
charge in 1865, and in 1866 the property was
Three years later
leased to C. W. Walker.
William Burgess returned, and remained until
1872, being succeeded by R. H. Whiteacre.
During the winter of 1874-75 the school was
conducted by Florence Heacock, of Benton.

Millville high school was built
1900 and already in 1914 an addition has
been built to accommodate the increase of attendance. The structure is a large two-story
brick and is strictly modern in every respect.
Present county superintendent Evans is of

The present

Quaker descent and takes

particular pride in

this school.

There were eleven schools

Greenwood

1912, with 271 pupils in attendA. W. Eves,
ance. The school directors are
W. F. Kline, Ralph Eves, J. W. Bowman, C.
F. Derr.
The school directors of Millville are: J. B.

township

Welliver, Grant Johnson, C. H. Henrie, Charles
Brumstetler, C. A. Kreamer.

POPULATION

The population of Greenwood township in
1820 was 1,078; in 1830, 1,110; in 1840, 1,217;

She was followed by Arthur W.
R. H. Whiteacre. From 1878 to 1885 the school

in 1850, 1,260; in 1S60, 1,470; in 1870, 1,585;
in 1880, 1,710; in 1890, 1,876; in 1900, 1,307;
in 1910, 1,221.
of Millville was 593 in 1900
The

was conducted only

and 611

Potter and

in the

summer, the teach-

population
in iqio.

CHAPTER XXVI
HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP
Early surveys included the section now embraced in Hemlock township in what was then
Wyoming township, Northumberland county.
The name of Hemlock creek was then men-

lands from the patentees, but few receiving
title from the State.
Henry Ohl, who was a soldier of the Revo-

tioned, and when this township was erected in
1801 the name was applied to both. It is one
of the original townships included in Columbia county when the latter was formed.
Part
of the present territory of the township was

cated on a

incorporated into Montour county at

first,

son,

earliest

Robert

warrantees were John NicholBogard, William Eike, Philip

Hahn, David Lynn, Elizabeth Gray, William
Patterson, Evan Owen, Michael Bright, Henry
Funk, Philip Gable, Samuel Emmitt, Sebright
Wagner, Alexander Johnson, James Ellis,
Daniel Duncan, Margaret Duncan, Thomas
Barton, Daniel Montgomery, Nathaniel Brader,
Peter Brugler, Andrew Waltman, John Lilly.
Peter Brugler was the first person to enter
on and improve his land, coming here between
1788 and 1790. His land extended from the
eastern part of Frosty valley to the west branch
of Hemlock creek, and embraced about six
hundred acres. He built his home on the slope
of Frosty valley, but it has long since vanished.
Peter and Philip Appleman came soon after
Brugler.

Through

a mistake they built their

house on the wrong
title

to this also.

tract,

but later acquired

They occupied

the

came

Duncan

1804. Michael Menninger loabove Fishing creek and Henry

hill

Wanich was the owner of the adjoining tract.
Most of their lands are now in the hands of
later settlers' descendants.

INDUSTRIES

but

after the act of 1853 the part thus separated
was returned.

The

lution,

Hemlock township was

rich in iron ore and
the mines produced a fair income for the owners of the land from which the raw material
was taken, but as the years passed the operators were compelled to go deeper after the
mineral and the expense of keeping the mines
free of water in this region of springs became
so great as to make unprofitable the further
Besides ore could
exploitation of the veins.
be purchased from the Michigan mines at less
cost than it could be mined here. This, added
to the necessity of radical changes in the methods of smelting, finally caused the closing down
of the furnaces and the abandonment of this

once highly remunerative industry.
Though somewhat hilly this township is a
fine farming section and is cultivated to the
limit, most of the forests being cleared away.
A good State road runs through the western
end of the township towards Danville and is
much used by automobiles. The scenery of

Hugh Mcown it.

this part is fine and worth the trouble of the
whose descendants still
trip.
The first mill for the production of boards
Other German families came soon after the
from
Berks
and
and timber was built at an early date in the
above persons, emigrating
Northampton counties. They came by way of Liebenthal a narrow valley in which flows
the Lehigh and Susquehanna turnpike, through the west branch of Hemlock creek, but the
tract, part of

which they sold

Bride,

—

its

northern terminus at Berwick. Their first
were usually bought at Catawissa and

supplies

Sunbury. Among these families were those of
the Ohls, Hartmans, Neihardts, Whitenichts,
Leidys, Girtons, Menningers, Merles, Grubers,

Yocums and Haucks.

They purchased

their

name as well as its location are now
forgotten. Other mills were later built at different points, served their purpose and passed
into oblivion.
Elisha Barton came to Hemlock township
atout 1 78 1 and bought a tract of land extendbuilder's

238

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ing
site

from the mouth of Hemlock creek to the
He and his
of the village of Buckhorn.

family lived in their

wagon

until their

home

After the house was completed and
several crops raised he built what was for

was

built.

years called the Hemlock mill, at the foot of a
hill about i6o rods from the mouth of HemIn 1842 this
lock creek, on the north bank.
mill was torn down by his son Isaiah and re-

name being changed to "Red Mill,"
from the color of the soil around it. Isaiah
McKelvy in 1885 purchased the mill and in-

built, tiie

Since then it has been
Sterner, R. R. Ikeler and the

stalled the roller system.

held by G. W.
present owner, John

Davenport.
About 1812 a mill was built on the upper
waters of the north branch of Hemlock creek
by a man named Pepper. It was operated by
a small overshot wheel and was similar to most
of the mills of that period. William Kline was
the next owner, being succeeded by Jacob Ziesloft.

The

latter's

daughter Maria

now

239

owners and producers being McKelvey & Neal
and William Neal & Sons, until the time when
the supply of ore was exhausted.
Part of these ore fields was owned by the
Farrandsville

Iron

Company, who shipped

their product over the Pennsylvania canal to
Centre township, but never reduced it, later

purchasers smelting it at Bloomsburg. When
the soft ore was exhausted a shaft was sunk
on the north side of Montour ridge in search
of the hard ore, but the enterprise did not prove
profitable.

Because of these iron mines and the indusconnection with them a large floating
population came into the township and the villages of Buckhorn and Wedgetown came into
tries in

being to cater to their wants. The loss of all
of the township's industries have relegated
these places to the status of small settlements.

Slate Quarrying

the

owner,
owing
washing out of the dam. The only improvements made since the beginning have been the
installation of a turbine and replacement of
the wooden gearing with iron.
The mill beside the road to Millville on the
banks of Little Fishing creek, in the northern
part of the township, was built some time after-

limestone quarry on the west bank of
Little Fishing creek had long supplied the iron
furnaces with fluxing material. About 1868
a clergyman from Northampton county while
visiting here noticed the shale on the sides of
the bluff and was led to organize a company
for the production of slate mantels and roofing

Beagle. It was a large building and
one of the best equipped mills in this section,
being operated by a large overshot wheel and
later by a turbine, but it was subject to damage
by repeated freshets and finally abandoned.
It is still standing, but in a ruinous condition.
Mines for the development of limestone as
flux in the furnaces and for agricultural purposes were operated at the junction of the two
Fishing creeks and along the line of Frosty
valley. None of these mines is now in use.
tannery was operated on the west bank

pany, bought twenty-three acres of land along
the creek, built a factory and installed some
machinery. Here a fine grade of slate was obtained and for a time the industry was vigorously prosecuted under the name of Suscjuehanna Slate Company, but in later years the
death of the president of the company, William
Milnes, and the poor management of his successors caused the closing of the plant and the
It has never been resale of the machinery.
opened, although the raw material is still plen-

but the mill is not in use,

ward by

to the

of Fishing creek, near Bloomsburg, by John
K. Grotz from 1850 to 1870.

The Discovery of Iron
About the year 1822 Henry Young, a farm
laborer, discovered iron ore on the farm of
Robert Green, at the point where Montour
ridge is severed by the waters of Fishing creek.
The peculiar character of the soil induced him
to open up a drift and have the mineral analyzed. This was the first of the mines in this
township, and the product was hauled across
the river to the Esther and Penn furnaces near
Catawissa. After 1844 the Bloomsburg Iron
Company took the product for ten years, later

material.

tiful

He formed

the

Thomas

Slate

Com-

and the market good.

BUCKHORN
In a museum at Allentown is preserved part
of a buck's antlers imbedded in a section of an
oak tree. This tree stood on the edge of a
swamp near the site of the present town and
marked the junction of a path from the forts
and settlements and an old Indian trail to North
mountain. Some Indian had hung the antlers
in a sapling as a mark for others on the trail,
and as time passed the tree grew and covered
over the last sign of the horns. In the early
seventies a woodpecker reopened the wound
in the tree and revealed the truth of what was
then considered simply a tradition. From this

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

240

buckhorn the name of the village now standing I. N. Maust, E. R. Kester, S. M. Girton, W. H.
here received its name.
McCarthy, E. Beagle, H. Hartman. The presTwo stores were opened in Buckhorn by ent school directors of Hemlock township are
V'aniah Rees and M. G. & \V. H. Shoemaker C. F. Girton, H. J. Traub, H. E. Jones, James
during the first days of its founding. These Gulliver, E. R. Kester. Maurice J. Girton is
stores are now operated by Charles H. Harris the principal of the high school at Buckhorn
and Roy Pursel. The first public inn in Buck- at the present writing.
horn was built by Vaniah Rees, the founder of
the town, in 1820, and received the patronage
MEDICAL
of the stagecoaches running from Bloomsburg
to Muncy.
It was the first house in the town
The first resident physician in Buckhorn was
and stood opposite the famous buckhorn tree. Dr. Hugh W. McReynolds, who served the
Twelve years later Hugh Allen erected another residents of the entire township from 1851 to
hotel opposite, which was last run by J Apple- 1876.
His successors have been Drs. Stiles,
man. The site of Rees's inn is now occupied by Christian Lenker and J. R. Montgomery. Dr.
the Pursel home, the largest building in the Montgomery moved to Bloomsburg in 1904,
and since that time Buckhorn has been without
town.
.

Hugh Allen was the first postmaster, his
successors being Marshall Shoemaker, Joseph
White, Charles Harris and Roy Pursel. Noah
Prentiss carried the mail twice a week from
1850 to 1866, when a tri-weekly service was
begun by Jacob Crawford. In 1883 the daily
mail service was begun and has been continued
since, despite the rural routes and the nearness
of Bloomsburg.
The first justice of the peace in the township after the formation of the county was
Henry Ohl, the Revolutionary soldier from
New Jersey. Jacob Harris served as the first
justice in Buckhorn, holding office for twentyone years. His successor was N. P. Moore,
the village blacksmith, who also served the public for many years.
Buckhorn now boasts a fine hall, built by
Hemlock Grange in 19 14 and dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies on June 27th of that
year. The Grange has a large membership in

a local pliysician.

RELIGIOUS

The spot where
now located, near

the V'anderslice cemetery is
the banks of Little Fishing

creek, was at one time the site of a combination
school and church, used by the Lutherans.
Here Rev. John P. Heister preached, and
Squire Ohl taught an English and German
school.
This church had passed out of existence and even memory by 1868.
The first religious services in the Hemlock
region were held by Rev. Frederick Plitt, a
Lutheran minister who came with the early settlers.
The Revs. Ball, Frey, Weaver and Oyer
also occasionally held services in private homes
in this section.
The first church building was

a union edifice, dedicated by the Methodists in
1848 and located at Buckhorn, on a lot of

SCHOOLS

ground owned by John McReynolds. Immediately after its erection services were alternately
held by Revs. Funk, Price and Consor, of the
German Reformed, Evangelical and Methodist

school in the township was opened
in 1801 in a dwelling on the road to Frosty
valley, a Mr. Davidson being the first teacher.
Another was soon thereafter opened by

denominations.
The Methodists were supplied regularly by
Revs. Hartman, Tannehill, Buckingham, Gearhart. Ross, Bolton, Warren, McClure, W. H.
Tubbs, Chilcoat, Bowman, Brittain, Ale, Sav-

this township.

The

first

Thomas Vanderslice near

age, T. Clees

and a third

pastor

Little Fishing creek,
in the Liebenthal near the limits
of the northern end of the township. The latter became a resort for the entire neighborhood as a place for singing schools and social
Other teachers of the early days
gatherings.

were

Henry Ohl,
Charles Fortner.

Jacob

Wintersteen

and

At present there are eight school buildings,
attended by 123 scholars, in the township. The
neat brick high school at Buckhorn was built
in 1905, the school directors at that time being:

and

Brown.

The

present

Rev. George Martin.

The

old Methodist church, having seen its
best days, was torn down in 1868 and the following year the present imposing two-story
The edifice has
brick building was erected.
a bell and tower and cost $7,000. The trustees
at that date were Thomas J. Vanderslice, John

Appleman, Jacob Reichert, John Kistler. A
few years later a fine parsonage was built
near by.

For a time after the erection of the new

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

241

church in 1848 the only denomination which
had regular services was the Methodist, the
Lutherans being occasionally served by Revs.

Rev. Henry C. Heathcox, a student at Selinsgrove. In 1872 the Espy charge, composed of
St.
Canby, at Millertown
John's, Espy

Ball

and Weaver. The latter's first regular
pastor was Rev. Mr. Frey, who was succeeded

Christ's,

by Rev. William J. Eyer. The latter succeeded
in adding a large number of members to the
congregation, and in the spring of i860 an
organization was effected with a membership

Columbia, called Rev. J. M. Reimensnyder to
be their regular pastor. In March, 1875, he
resigned and the church was without a pastor
for two years. Then Rev. William Kelley accepted the charge for a year. The next pastor

of sixty-three. During the Civil war the services were discontinued, but in 1867 Rev. J. M.
Rice came to the field, his charge including the

Espy and Millertown Churches. A reorganization was effected by the election of James Emmitt and Peter Werkheiser as elders, and
George Wenner and John H. Miller as deacons.

;

Buckhorn

;

and

St.

Peter's,

New

E. A. Sharretts, who remained eight
Successive pastors have been Revs.
M. O. T. Sahm, A. R. Glaze, Charles W.
Sechrist, Peter B. Fassold, H. W. Hilbish, W.
the present pasJ. Wagner, G. D. Strail and
tor. Rev. E. A. Chamberlin.
The parsonage, purchased from G. W. Hart-

was Rev.
years.

Lutheran Congrega- man and remodeled in 1894, is occupied by
became a part of the the pastor, whose charge also includes the
Espy charge, and the people took steps to sup- churches at New Columbia and Frosty Valley,
Montour county, and Canby and Mordansport a regular pastor.
In 1867 a building committee consisting of ville, Columbia county.
James Emmitt, Peter Werkheiser, John H.
Miller, Reuben Bomboy and George Russell
POPULATION
was appointed, and on Nov. 25, 1869, the present brick building was dedicated by Rev. E. A.
The population of Hemlock township in
The cost was about $5,000, all of
Sharretts.
1820 was 1,464; in 1830, 1,681 in 1840, 957;
which was settled for in a short time.
After Rev. Mr. Rice the congregation was in 1850, 1,087; in i860, 1,037; in 1870, 1,170;
"Christ's Evangelical
tion of Buckhorn" then

;

supplied occasionally by Rev. B. F. Alleman,
of St. Matthew's Church, Bloomsburg, and

in 1880,
1

1,080; in 1890, 946; in 1900, 927; in

9 10, 898.

CHAPTER XXVII
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
Greenwood and Sugar- who settled in this section at later dates were
was made in 1838, when Jack- the York, Colder, Waldron, Everhart, Campson township was formed from portions of bell and Parker families.
The industries of this township were few
In 1840 the section taken from Sugarboth.
loaf was returned and the present limits were and came into being after the opening of the
defined. The whole of the area of this town- first good road through the country from
Most of the
ship was at first owned by the Asylum Land Unityville to Benton, in 1828.
Company, a syndicate of land speculators first industries were small sawmills, as the
the
of
settlement
chief
an
whose actions prevented
pioneers was lumberoccupation
early
of their property. The lack of roads and the ing.
Judge Iram Derr built a sawmill on
creek in 1841 and soon the
hilly nature of the country were also important Little Fishing
settlement that grew up around it was given
hindrances to settlement.
Jacob Lunger came from Northampton his name. His son, Andrew J. Derr, ran the
county to this section in 1800 and settled on mill from 1861 until its abandonment in 1874.
Green creek. About 1805 Abram Whiteman He was the first postmaster here in 1879.
The first post office in the township was that
located at the headwaters of Green creek, four
miles from North Mountain. Jonathan Rob- of Polkville, established in 1848 at the home of
bins came in 1810 from Sugarloaf, where he John P. Hess, near Waller. Mr. Hess was the
had settled in 1795. In 181 1 Paul Hess, Levi first ofificial, and the next was Lot Parker, in

The

first

division of

loaf townships

Priest
16

and George Farver arrived.

Others

1863

;

1866 D. L. Everhart took the

office.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

242

it was discontinued, and then reestablished at the village, which had changed
in name from Polkville to Waller, as it is still
known, although the post office is lost to it,
being supplanted by rural delivery from BenWaller once consisted of a church, used
ton.
by various denominations, a schoolhouse, a
store and a few cottages.
This condition remains, with perhaps the exception of a slight
reduction in the number of inhabitants. Alfred J. Hess is the storekeeper here.
Derrs is slightly smaller, and has a Baptist
church and a school.
general store kept by
Charles Robbins, and a chop mill operated by
Arthur Cole," are just south of the Jackson

For a time

township

Greenwood township.

line, in

•

The

RELIGIOUS

Baptists were the

first

to visit this

Revs. Joel Rodgers, Elias
ship, in 1819.
son, Samuel Chapin, Brookins Potter and

town-

A. Rutan, Edward E. Orvis, Charles S. Long,
C. W. Cooper, D. M. Kinter. This congregais now included in the circuit that covers
Benton, Stillwater, Derrs and Cambra. The
church was built in 1879 near Derrs, at a cost
of $2,500.
The Evangelical denomination had two con-

tion

gregations in this township. The oldest was
formed at Waller in 1846 by Revs. James Dun-

and Jeremiah Young. The first class had
been formed earlier by Rev. James Seybert and
consisted of George Hirleman, Henry Wagner,
Michael Remley, David Remley and Frederick
Wile. The union church at Waller was built
in 1854.
The class in the southern part was
formed in 1876 with nineteen members. Revs.
James T. Shultz and C. D. Moore served the
lap

small congregation for a time. Both of these
congregations are now under the charge of
the pastor at Benton.

DodMer-

Harrison held monthly services on their
tours through this wild region in the years
afterward until 1845. John Christian was an

SCHOOLS

rit

early promoter of the cause and attempted to
have a church built, but died before he could
succeed. In 1852 Revs. A. B. Runyon and F.
Langdon held revivals here and their efforts
resulted in the erection of a church in 1853 ^t
Derrs. In 1859 the Benton Baptist Church was
organized with nineteen members. In 1859 it

was disbanded, and in 1869 reorganized, with
John R. Davis and Theodore Smith as deacons,
Pastors of this
and John F. Derr, clerk.
church have been

Revs. E.

M. Alden,

Shana felts, Furman, Zeigler, Stevens, Tustin,
Benjamin Shearer, Joseph W. Crawford.
Mr. Crawford continued as pastor from 1885

when regular services ceased. He
occasionally serves the pulpit when requested.
The Christian Church of this township was
organized in 1858 with eleven members, among

schools of this township were few at
first.
John Denmark opened a school in a log
dwelling near the union church at Waller in
the winter of 1821-22. The next year a building was erected here for school purposes. His
successors were John Keeler and William
Yocum. The first school in the southern part
of the township was built in 1825 at Derrs.
The diflferent teachers here were Cornelius

The

Calvin, Joseph Orwig and
There are now eight schools in
the township, taught by the same number of
instructors, and attended by 113 scholars.

McEwen, Helen
Peter Girton.

The

school directors of Jackson township
Jacob Sones, W^arren Kline, C. O. Hartman, S. L. Knouse, J. N. Fritz.

are

until of late,

them

being

Thomas W.
have been

Luther German, Iram Derr,
Young, Absalom Henry. Pastors
Revs. John Sutton, J. J. Harvey,

POPULATION

The population of Jackson township in
1840 was 265; in 1850, "374; in i860, 539; in
in 1900,
1870, 565; in 1880, 67s in 1890, 738;
700; in 1910, 552.
;

CHAPTER XXVIII
MADISON TOWNSHIP
Phineas Barber took up a tract on the oppoof that stream. The following year

This township, the most westerly in Columis noted as the only one which is
partially drained by the headwaters of Chil-

site side

bia county,

Hugh Watson

lisquaque creek. The "Divide," a sharp ridge,
separates this stream from the waters of
At the corner in the
Little Fishing creek.
northwestern end of Madison township, where
Columbia, Lycoming and Montour counties
meet, is the site of an old Indian town, and
the trail from the West Branch to Nescopeck
crossed the "divide" just above the village of
Jersey town.
In the year 1776 the VVhitmoyers, Billhimes
and Wellivers came to this section from New
Michael Billhime located on Muddy
Jersey.
run, where he built a cabin and cleared six
acres of land. Daniel Welliver selected a place
on Whetstone run, an affluent of Little Fishing
creek.
The Whitmoyers settled a short disWhen the Indian
tance west of Jerseytown.
outrages induced the settlers to take refuge
In
in the forts, the Whitmoyers remained.
March, 1780, some of the men went to a sugar
camp, leaving several of the women and a
son returning the folfew men at home.
lowing morning for a forgotten utensil found

lage

site,

Thomas

located a mile east of the vilas also did John Funston, and Evan

west of town. In 1786
Richard Demott located east of Jerseytown.
Lewis Schuyler, a Revolutionary soldier, came
in 1794, and George Runyon and Jacob SwishSwisher was the first
er followed soon after.
justice of the peace in the township, having
been appointed by Governor Snyder, and hold-

the whole family dead and scalped.
Fearing
for his life he fled to Fort Augusta. The next
day a party of rangers returned to the spot
and buried the bodies. The graves are on the

road from Jerseytown to Washingtonville.
In the autumn of 1780 the Billhimes and
Wellivers returned, accompanied by John,
Adam and Christopher Welliver, cousins of
Daniel.
Christopher bought land south of
Jerseytown, John located on the site of the
devastated home of the Whitmoyers, and
Adam occupied the site of Jerseytown. Michael
Billhime found his home in the possession of
another, and had to clear a new spot, on
Spruce run. About this time Joseph Hodge
and Peter Brugler also arrived from New
In 1785 William Pegg (or Pague)
Jersey.
settled on the Chillisquaque, two miles southwest of Jerseytown, and three years later

settled a little

ing the office until it became elective some
years later. He also started the first tannery.
Other settlers were John Smith, James Laird,
Thomas Laird, Henry Kitchen and Hugh McCollum.
After the peculiar methods adopted by the
land speculators who first controlled the titles
to tracts in this county had been aired by those
who had suffered from their dishonesty, the
former adojited more reasonable methods of
sale, and honest settlers came to this section
in increasing numbers.
By 1817 the growth of
population was such as to warrant a separation from the extensive township of Derry.
Accordingly the court at Danville ordered the
erection of the township of Madison, naming
it from the president, who had just completed
his second term. Since that time the township
has been twice reduced in area for the benefit
of other townships.

JERSEYTOWN
in
village of Jerseytown, the only one
township, was developed by the traffic on
Bloomsand
the stage roads from Danville

The

this

burg
1

Muncy.

The

first

store

was opened

79 1 by John Funston, and around

the vil-

lage grew up. It was founded in a somewhat
Funston and his neighbors
singular manner.
were in the habit of sending their wheat and
other products to Reading yearly by the former's son, and in return obtaining there a supOn one trip
ply of goods for the season.

243

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

244

bought six wool hats, and they found
such ready sale in the vicinity that the father
embarked in the business of supplying the
neighbors with goods and thus originated the

Tommy

first store.

and the

Conrad Kreamer was

first

his successor,

postmaster of the village.

Evan Thomas, son

Evan

the pioneer,

blacksmith shop. and later the
first
hotel, which was afterward run by
Andrew Hazlett and A. K. Smith. James N.

opened the

first

late sheriflf of Montour county, was
successively storekeeper, tanner and hotel proprietor in Jerseytown, before 1867.
The present hotel is operated by S. D. Rim-

Miller,

who

took charge in 1886, and obtained his

by,
license in 1893.

The tannery here was opened in 1827 by
Jacob McCollum his son Hugh succeeded him
in 1856, and twenty years later E. W. Mc;

two and a half miles from the former
place and one mile from the latter, an Episcopal church, the parish name of which seems
to have vanished from the recollection of the
oldest citizen as early as 1880. It was known
as Christ Church, Derry township, Northumberland county, and after the erection of
Columbia county came into the township of
Madison.
The road since then has been
changed, so that the site of the old church and
the weed-filled cemetery is now (1914) on the
farm of Thomas Mordan. The site was doville,

nated to Rev. Caleb Hopkins, Jacob Swisher
and Mathias Appleman, trustees of the church,
by Henry Kitchen, Sr., many years after the
church had been built, but no deed for the land
was ever executed. The subscription paper
was made out to John Funston and Mathias

Appleman and was in pounds, shillings and
became proprietor.
The last to pence, the current money of those days. The
Lawrence Miller, Wiloperate it was Warren McCollum, who sold subscribers included
out in 1903 to the Millville Tanning Company. liam Kitchen, Even Thomas, Jacob HenderCollum

1868 Jerseytown consisted of the tannery, two stores, forty houses, a church and a
It has scarcely gained in size
schoolhouse.
since that date.
The present stores are kept
by William E. Kreamer and Harvey L. Gingles,
the latter being also the postmaster.
The
In

Susquehanna, Bloomsburg

& Berwick

railroad,

now

the Pennsylvania, runs through the town,
but has not seemingly increased the population
to any appreciable extent.

The

Jerseytown was built by
in 1877, and sold to R. G.
Greenly in later years. Mrs. R. G. Greenly,
widow of the late operator, has leased the mill
to Rohm Brothers, who now run it. The mill
is three stories high, 45 by 55 feet, operated by
steam, and can produce forty barrels of wheat
flour and thirty barrels of buckwheat flour a
gristmill

Samuel Farnsworth

day.

It is strictly

modern

in its interior

equip-

ment.

Mathias Appleman for a time ran a distillery in Jerseytown, the only one in the township, but it soon passed into the realm of forgotten things.
One of the early industries in the township,
outside of Jerseytown, was the sawmill, chopmill and fulling mill of James Masters, later

operated by his son, David Masters, built in
For
1 79 1 on the upper part of Spruce run.
a time this was the only carding and fulling
mill north of Danville. The sawmill here was
operated as late as 1880.

Daniel

Weliver, Isaac Hendershott,
William Laird, Jacob Bodine, Jr., Joseph
Daniel
Dildine, Jr., Samuel Marr (or
Haynes,
shott,

Mann), Henry Kitchen,

Jr.,

Valentine Chris-

Richard Demott, Jesse Hendershott, John
Thomas, Jr., Joseph Kitchen, James Dunbarr,
Henry Kitchen, Sr., Edward Rorke, Thomas
Rorke, John Funston, Ebeneazer Davis, John
Hanna, Valentine Woollever, David Woollever,
Nathanil Kinney, William Miller, John Allen,
Michael Johnston, Joseph Williams, John F.
Wollevor, Hugh Watson, Peter Kinney, Jr.,
John Philips, William Snider, John Sommers,
Joseph Robison, Joseph Handeword, Joseph
Magill, Jacob Diline, John Moody, John
Haynes, John Wilson, Elijah Miller, Philip
Philips. Phinehas Barber, Peter Labour, William Brottain, Mathias Woodley, Samuel
Wooliver, Jr., John Cox, Joseph Hodage, Richard Kithchen, John Frochey, Jacob Rordene,
Jr., Peter Kinney, John Bacnian, John Kitchen,
John Seed, Ellexander Watson, Samuel KitchOn the flyleaf of the suben, Alex Stewart.
scription book the name of Jacob Rordene, Jr.,
was corrected to Jacob Bowdine, Jr., and another name, William Pagg, added. A page of
the book was torn out, so that the complete
All of the
list will probably never be known.

tian,

names are given as spelled, some of the members of the same families apparently differing
The total amount of
as to the correct way.
subscriptions is not known, neither is the total
collected, but with

whatever sum

may have

RELIGIOUS
been the trustees, John Funston and Jacob
Between the years 1793 and 1800 there was Langs, entered into an agreement, dated Dec.
built on the old road from Jerseytown to Mill- 24, 1796, with John Lee and Jesse Hender-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

245

shott, house joiners, to do certain work on the lot. Later the old building was torn down. In
church by the following March.
1899 the lot was sold.
Before the work was completed another
Many of the early settlers in Madison townsubscription was taken up, the new signers of ship were Baptists, among them being the
this sheet being Samuel Moore, Caleb HopDemotts, Runyons, Hulitts, Hodges, Wellivers
kins, Jacob Langs, William Aten, William and Swishers, so they soon prepared to estabIkeler, Jacob Wintersteen, Stephen Drake, lish a congregation of that faith in their new
William Hull, James Cochern, John Butler, home. On Sept. 27, 1817, Elders John WolWilliam Butler, James Campbell, James Win- verton of Shamokin, Smiley of White Deer
tersteen, Peter Wintersteen, PYederick Coder, township, and Simeon Coombs of Middleboro,
Abraham Shoemaker, Paul Lyde, John Coder, Mass., met in the union meetinghouse in MoreJohn Wats, William Harris, Elam B. Albert- land township, Lycoming county, and organson, Samuel Kennedy, Joseph Sampson, Law- ized the Little Muncy Baptist Church.
This
rence Sidrick, Henry Laport, Paul Eicke, Mar- society is one of the oldest in the Northumbertin Bogart, Andrew Irvine, John Lemons.
land Baptist Association, and at the formation
The old church was built of very straight, of that body in 1821 the delegates from Madhewn pine logs, and was quite large, with a ison were Revs. Henry Clark and Silas E.
gallery on three sides. It was chinked between Shepard, and James Moore, Richard Demott,
the logs with lime and sand. The pulpit was James Hulitt and Powell Bird, lay delegates.
well built and nicely furnished, and there was
The Madison Baptist church was built in
a raised sand box in the center of the room 1845 in the eastern part of the township, near
for heating purposes, charcoal being the fuel. Little Fishing creek. The pastors of the conIt is not known when the church was com- gregation have been:
Revs. Henry Clark, J.
pleted, but the last payment was made by Rev. Green Miles, Joseph B. Morris, Henry Essick,
Caleb Hopkins in December, 1798.
A. B. Runyan, Henry C. Munro, R. M. HunThe subscription paper refers to tfie church sicker. This church is now out of use, as the
as Episcopal and "Lutherian," but there are membership has been greatly reduced.
no records of services by the latter denominaThe first Reformed church, called the
tion, although undoubtedly many of the sign- "Heller" church, was built in 1826 in the southers were Lutherans.
ern end of the township, on the stage road to
Rev. Caleb Hopkins, the first rector, left Bloomsburg. Rev. Jacob Dielifenbach organthe church in 1812 and thereafter the services ized the congregation, and the attendants came
were irregular until 1821, when Rev. Charles from neighboring townships as well as this
Snowden took charge for about a year. After one. The second church was built in 1870.
him Rev. James Depuy (or DePue) was rector Other pastors here were Revs. Daniel S. Tofor two years, followed by Rev. Mr. Carter, bias, Henry Funk, William Goodrich, and
who ministered to the people for several years others from Orangeville and Bloomsburg.
after 1826. He first suggested the removal of
The Methodist church at Jerseytown was
the church to Jerseytown, and served in that built in 1832 about a quarter of a mile above
town after the removal. Then came the last the village. In 1900 the old building was reregular rector, Rev. Mr. Fury, and afterwards moved and a fine structure of native limestone,
services were held irregularly by Edwin and with a slate roof and bell tower, erected in the
Milton Lightner.
The last recorded min- heart of the town. The congregation is now
ister was Rev. William H. Bourns, who bapserved by the pastors from Millville, but four
tized May 19, 1844, Mathias, son of Esau and miles distant.
Sarah Girton, and Jane, daughter of Phillip
"Vandine" Lutheran Church was organized
and Jane Girton.
in 1869 by Rev. George Eicholtz, of LairdsBy 1829 the old church became dilapidated vilje, Lycoming county, and the next year a
and it was torn down and another built at building was erected in the extreme northern
Jerseytown, on an acre of ground donated by part of the township. The successive pastors
Revs. Miller, Bodine, BatJeremiah Welliver and his wife. When the here have been
The church is now supbuilding was erected cannot be definitely de- tersby, Hutchison.
It was used intermittently until 1844, plied from Buckhorn.
cided.
when it was abandoned. Conrad Kreamer for
:

a time stored his grain in the building, and in
1877 lis conveyed the title to another lot to
the Episcopal parish of Bloomsburg, in return
for the unlawful use of the old church and

SCHOOLS

The
at

first

school in this township was opened
in 1799 by a Mr. Wilson.
In

Jerseytown

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

246

iSio Leonard Kisner opened another in a
dwelling on iiis land, which was taught by
Thomas Lane.
third was opened in 1815
near where the Reformed church now stands,
in the southern part of the township.
fourth,
in the eastern part, near the Baptist church,
completes the list of early schools.
At present there are ten schools and the
same number of teachers for them in this
township, and they are attended by 173 schol-

The

school directors for 1914 are:
Jesse
J. G. Rishel, S. R. Howell, Cyrus
Hartline, Jacob Welliver.

Hunselman,

ars.

POPULATION

The population of this
1,330; in 1830, 1,554; in
714; in i860, 1,146; in
1,077; in 1890, 1,072; in
909.

township

1820 was

1840, 1,700; in 1850,
1870, 1,090; in 1880,
1900, 1,025; i" 1910,

CHAPTER XXIX

MAIN TOWNSHIP
Previous to 1799 Main township was included in the territory of Catawissa township.

For nearly fifty years thereafter part was included in Mifflin township and the balance still
remained in Catawissa. In January, 1844, the
township was formed with its present boundaries, that on the north being the Susquehanna and the southern limit being defined
by the towering height of Catawissa mountain.

river runs a bold hill which hems
Pennsylvania railroad, giving it scarce
room for one track to the east rises the crest
of Nescopeck mountain to the southwest lies
the Catawissa range, and between the two
Catawissa creek forces a passage with much
violence and many turns of its course. Probably one half of the territory of this division
of Columbia county is given up to nature, owing
to the abruptness of the hills and valleys.
It was while this region was known as
Augusta township and was included in Berks

Along the

a family of ten children was brought up in this
humble and scarcely comfortable habitation.
Among those who followed Isaac John and
settled farther up the creek were Peter and
John Klingaman, both of whom located at the
site of Mainville.
Jacob Gearhart settled on
the hill above, Jacob Bower on a tract nearer
the river, and a few others from the lower
counties came l^efore 180S, the Reading road
through the gap made by Catawissa creek
being their route of travel.

in the

INDUSTRIES

;

county that the first permanent settlers appeared within its limits. In 1 709 Saijiuel John
emigrated from Wales and settled in UwchHis son Samuel reland, Chester Co., Pa.
moved from there to Exeter, Berks county, and
from that place in 1772 his son, Isaac John,
with his wife Margaretta came to the valley
of Catawissa. having previously purchased
three hundred acres of land here. During the
summer of 1778 they were twice compelled to
leave their farm for fear of Indian, depredations, and they endured many other hard-

The

principal industry of this township in
the past was the manufacture of iron and its
products. In 181 5 the first charcoal iron furnace in Columbia county was built south of
the site of the present village of Mainville by
John Hauck. The advantages of the location
were the proximity to the Reading road, the
abundance of fuel, and the supply of ore in
the bogs of Locust mountain, near where the
town of Centralia now stands. Later on some
of the ore was obtained from around Light
Street. The pig iron was at first sent to Reading to be manufactured, but in a short time
Hauck began to cast stoves and plows, many
of which are still in existence, one stove in
particular serving at this late date to warm the
old Quaker meetinghouse at Catawissa.
In 1826 Harley & Evans built a forge on
the creek below the furnace, where the Kester

now, which was operated by them until
when Rudolph Shuman became owner.
FVom 1863 to 1883 it was operated by C. E.
The last one
ships incidental to pioneer life. They occupied Pennock & Co., of Coatsville.
the
door
half
a
to operate it was Charles Reichart.
and
a log cabin a story
high,
the
he
built
furnace
withOne
before
ladders
reached
roof
and
year
John
by
being in the
Hauck had taken advantage of the abundant
It is a well attested fact that
in and without.
mill

1854,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
on the banks of
In 183 1 Abraham Creesmer
was the proprietor, and also operated the furnace. The mills on the old site at present are
of modern design and are operated by Jeremiah Kester.
The Mainville Roller Mills, of which D. W.
Shuman is the proprietor, are located on the
creek between the two railroad bridges. The
mill was built soon after the Hauck mill, is
three stories high and in a good state of preservation.
Many additions and improvements
have been added in the past years, the roller
process superseding the old method of milling
in 1885.
John M. Nuss & Son operated the
mill from 1876 to the date of Shuman's purwaterpower

to build a mill

247

RELIGIOUS

Catawissa creek.

chase.

Mainville was at one time a thriving village,
having the furnace and two mills, the forge,
three stores and two hotels. Part of this prosperity came from the building of the Catawissa railroad, between 1832 and 1838. Many
parts of the line were graded and the high
trestle bridge over the creek and gap between
Nescopeck and Catawissa mountains was constructed at a great cost. The work ceased until 1853, when it was resumed, but the entire
structure

had

rotted,

necessitating

its

com-

This gave more work for
and a few years later the
Danville, Hazleton & Wilkes-Barre railroad
added to the temporary prosperity of the town
while in process of construction. Both of these
roads now have tall steel bridges across the
ravine and creek, the Reading (or Catawissa)

plete rebuilding.
local contractors,

railroad structure being directly over the old
one, the piers of stone still standing in fair
condition, but not supporting the new work in

any way.

The "Shuman Hotel" was owned by

that

family for a century. It is no longer a public
house.
The "Mainville Hotel" is an old-fashioned,
roomy structure in the lower part of the town
and has a reputation for good service and
ample accommodations. It has been kept by
Boyd R. Yetter for many years. W. M. Longenberger is postmaster, and also has a store

Another merchant is A. F. Deaner. P.
Camp No. 484 has a fine brick
meeting hall here. There is also a new frame
here.

O. S. of A.

high school in the town.
There are but three veterans of the Civil
war now living in Mainville
William Utt,

The oldest religious societies in Main township are the Lutheran and the Reformed. In
1813 they built a log church on the crossroads north of Mainville, calling it Fisher's
church, from one of the farmers who donated
the ground for the building and
cemetery. The
second church upon
in 1833.

The

this site

was

third church,

still

a frame, built
in use, was a

brick one, built in 1877.
It was badly damaged by a storm in 1896 (the Lutherans had
sold
their
share
to the Reformed
previously
congregation and built a home of their own
Frank Shuman dojust north of the town).
nated the land and a frame building was
erected in 1888, being dedicated in the following year. The cost was $4,300.
The donors of the ground upon which the
successive union churches were built were

Henry Fisher, Peter Bowman and John Neuss.
The Lutherans organized in 1822 and their
Revs.
pastors to the present time have been
John Benninger, Jeremiah Schindel, William
.1. Ever, W. G. Laitzle, L. Lindenstreuth, J. H.
Neiman, W. E. Roney and C. F. Dry. The
:

parish of Mainville now includes the churches
of Mifflinville, Mainville and Beaver Valley,
Rev. C. F. Dry having charge of them and reThe
siding in the parsonage at Mifflinville.
Mainville Church is now called Emmanuel's.
The membership is 125 and the Sunday school
has forty-five attendants.
The storm or cyclone which struck the union
church in 1896 blew in the gable and so damaged it that the congregation had it torn down.
The Lutherans having sold their interest in
the building, the Reformed congregation sold
the remains of the brick church and in 1896
erected a frame church building a short distance north of the site of the old one, at a
cost of $2,500.
The membership of this church in 1914 is
138, and there are fifty children in the Sunday
school. The present pastor, Rev. R. Ira Gass,
resides in Mainville.
His predecessors from
the first were Revs. A. J. Tobias, A. R. Hottenstein, Philip Steerv, G. B. Dechant, Lutin
Fetterolf, Charles H. Matchler, J. Alvin Reber,

Alfred

Herman, Frederick A. Cook.

officers of the

church are:

The

B. Nuss. S. C.

Beaele, M. M. Geiger, A. F. Deaner, Charles
B. Hawk, Peter Beagle, Henry Whitenite, D.
M. Miller.

Prior to 1S80 the Methodists held services

in the schoolhouse at Mainville and were inHenry Bredbender and Martin Van Buren cluded in the Mifflinville circuit. In that year
Kostenbauder.
a committee was appointed at the second quar:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

248

terly conference of the church to erect a house
of worship.
John W. Shuman donated the
ground and in October, 1881, the work was
The
building, a frame, was dedicated
begun.
in 1882, Rev. C. L. Benscoter being pastor at
the time. His successors were Revs. John W.

The present pasresides at Mifflinville, being also pastor of the church at that
Horning and

tor,

Rev.

K. Deaver.

W. McAlarney,

place.

SCHOOLS

When

township was included in the
Catawissa the school children were
compelled to attend the "springhouse" school
About
in the western part of that township.
the year 1820 a school was opened by Jacob
Gensel in George Fleming's carding mill on
Scotch run, southeast of Mainville. In 1824
John Watts opened a school in a log building
When that church
near the Fisher church.
this

limits of

was abandoned for the new one beside it the
school was removed to the rejected building,
which was fitted up for the purpose and used
the establishment of the public school
Daniel Krist was another of the teachers in this school.
During the year 1886 five teachers were
employed in the schools of this township at an
until

system.

average salary of $30 per month. At present
there are six schools in the township, attended
The rest of the statistics
by 114 scholars.
regarding these schools may be found in the
on
schools
of
the county. The present
chapter
school directors are:
B. R. Yetter, Miles J.
Fisher, D. W. Huntzleman, F. A. Shuman, S.

Goodman.

POPULATION

The population of Main township

in 1850
529; in 1870, 601 in 1880,
626; in 1890, 595; in 1900, 652; in 1910, 567.

was 581

;

in i860,

;

CHAPTER XXX
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP— MIFFLINVILLE
This township was erected in 1799, during
the last term of Thomas Mifflin, one of the
signers of the Constitution of the United
States, and governor of Pennsylvania from
1788 to 1799. It was one of the two divisions
of the county of Columbia at the date of its
formation, and was reduced to its present dimensions by the erection of Main and Beaver
townships in 1844 and 1845. The northern
boundary of this township is the Susquehanna,
and the crest of Nescopeck mountain on the
south forms a long and complete natural barrier between this and Beaver township.

The

date of the

first

settlement of this sec-

cannot be accurately determined there
were some families here in 1779, one of which

tion

;

was murdered by the Indians,

their

for-

tunate neighbors fleeing across the river to
Fort Jenkins for safety. The last Indian trag-

on the

road to Catawissa. Paul Gruver
settlement at the same time near the
base of Nescopeck mountain, and in the same

neighborhood Thomas Aten and Jacob Schwep-

The latter built the
penheiser also located.
first sawmill in the township on a branch of
Ten-mile run. On the ridge above this stream
were the Creasys, the Kirkendalls and John
and David Brown.
John Brown, in 1793,
located in the valley of the creek on a tract
of four hundred acres, purchased by his father
for $12 an acre. This tract included the site
of the present gristmill and the Frymire and
Snyder farms. Other old families in this section, who came here some time later, were the
Koder, Bowman, Kern, Hartzell, Mosteller,
Zimmerman and Mensinger families, most of

whom

INDUSTRIES

The second
built

tained.

Among the first settlers of this township was
Nicholas Angle (or Engle), who located on
Ten-mile run, southwest of the present town
This run obtained its name
of Mifflinville.
from the

fact that

were from Berks county.

when

a
1785,
edy in this section occurred
family of three was murdered on the "Mifflin
flats."
Their names have never been ascerin

hill

made a

oldest gristmill in the county

soon after the

was

Wyoming massacre by

John Brown, great-grandfather of J. C. Brown,
postmaster of Bloomsburg from 1902 to 1914.
The mill was operated bv a long line of Browns
John, Samuel, William, Freas and John.
This
the
ten-mile
marks
post The present owner is P. A. Fetterolf.

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
mill has changed but little since its erection
and still has the long wooden flume running
from the side of the hill to the second story of
the building. At one time a 22-foot overshot
wheel operated the machinery, but since 1881
a turbine has furnished the power. The mill
is three stories in height, and has three runs
of buhrs, with a capacity for grinding one
hundred bushels of buckwheat per day. This
is

now

the only mill in the township in regu-

lar operation.

Another mill was erected on Ten-mile run
1869 by George Nungesser, who ran it till
1881, when his son William J. took charge.
It is three stories high and 36 by 45 feet in
in

size.
The mill about a mile north of this one,
on the same stream, was built about the same
time by Peter Yohe, father of J. R. Yohe, who
Both of these
also ran a sawmill for a time.

mills
mill

were for buckwheat alone.
was burned some years ago.

The Yohe
The Nun-

gesser mill

is still occasionally operated.
the eastern border of the town stood the
and
brickyard of Freeze & Smith,
tannery
which flourished during the period of the
town's prosperity, but are now in a state of

Southeast of town
dilapidation and disuse.
is the large brick plant of the Nanticoke Brick

Company, which was

built to

produce

common

red brick, but after the discovery of a fine
stratum of shale in 191 3 the plant was altered
Some of the product
to make paving brick.
has been used on the streets of Bloomsburg
and Berwick. There are three kilns in operation.

In 19 14 the Creasy Brick Company was
chartered by Oden R. Lewis, Samuel W. Gillam,

James T. Brennan and James L.

Reilly,

with a capital of $75,000. They began in that
year the erection of a large paving brick plant
and acquired leases of the B. D. Freas, Robinholt and George S. Miller farms.

MIFFLINVILLE
This most beautiful and admirably located
village was laid out in 1794 by John Kunchel
(Kunkle) and William Rittenhouse, on the
"flats" almost in the center of the township,
upon the banks of the Susquehanna, directly
opposite a cleft in the Montour ridge on the
northern side of that stream.
The original
draft of the town's charter described it as
"situate on the south side of the river Susquehanna, opposite three islands (now gone) in
Catawissa township, Northumberland county
(of which it was then a part), about thirty

249

miles above Sunbury, and the same distance
below W'ilkes-Barre.'
The last part of this description reveals the
motive of the proprietors in founding the town.
The erection of Northumberland county in
1772, and of Luzerne in i/Sb, with their seats
of justice sixty miles apart, made it probable
that the formation of a county from adjacent
parts of each would eventually be necessary;
so these enterprising founders took time by the
forelock and built for the future, w'ith the desire of capturing tiie county seat.
This deAt
sire, however, failed of accomplishment.
one time it was hoped to secure the location
of the Columbia county courthouse here, but
it was merely a
suggestion of disgruntled politicians and had no effect on the final decision.
In 1808 an unsuccessful effort was made to
induce the projectors of the Mauch Chunk and
Towanda turnpike to locate its course through
the town, but the inducements were insufficient.
On a later map of this State by Reading Howell
this turnpike is traced through Mifllinville (or
Miftlinburg, as it was then called). This was
but an error of the maker of the map, however.
In laying out the town the founders were
most generous in the matter of streets and
Front street was laid out one mile in
alleys.
length and the town plat extended the same
distance to the rear. The streets were named
in a systematic manner, and a space of great
size reserved for the projected courthouse
and public square. All of the streets are wide,

Market and Third being 132 feet across. Ten
corner lots on Fourth street were reserved for
houses of worship, the title remaining in the
corporation, with a perpetual lease to occupants. Two lots were set aside on Third street
for German and English colleges, which failed
to materialize.
The first house in the village was built by

Peter Yohe, who came from Berks county. It
stood on a lot adjoining the present "Creasy
Hotel." He must have come from the home
county at an early date, as he was obliged the
first year to go to Wilkes-Barre for corn, his
Other old
crop having not yet matured.
houses were those of John Reynolds, Christian

Kunchel and Michael Wehr, located respectively on Race and Third, Market, between Front
and Second, and Front, above Market, streets.
Matthias Heller built the first tavern on Front
street, to cater to the trade

of the river rafts-

men. Later another public house was built by
Jacob Harman, who opened the first store in

The first regular physician to
the township.
locate in the town was Dr. Clement Millard,
of Philadelphia, in 1825.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

250

The

first

brought

iron

in tlie county was
by Samuel Smitn, who

plow

to Mitriinville

made

of the larger towns to the east
and west diverted any projected manufac-

attractions

for him in his native city of Ballocated at the eastern edge of the
town soon after its founding.
The building of the "North Branch canal"
might have greatly helped the town had there
been any convenient and rapid method of communication with the opposite shore. For many

tories or mills.
In 1855 a small powder mill
was opened in the town by Matthew Brown
and Samuel Snyder, to supply the nearby coal
mines.
The mill was blown up three days
after its opening, but rebuilt and operated as
as
the mines were operated m Beaver
long

years ferries had been operated at this point,
but the shallow stages of water, alternated by

The station of the Pennsylvania railroad
here is called Creasy, owing to the similarity
of the town's name to another on the same line
of railroad.
The bridge here was built in
1907 and a description of it will be found in
the chapter devoted to bridges and rivers.
There are but three survivors of the Mexican war in Pennsylvania and Mifilinville has
the honor of being the home of one of them,
John S. Myers, who served as a marine in the

had

timore.

freshets and ice gorges, made the Susquehanna
an unreliable means of communication. Efforts
were then made to have a bridge erected across

the river, but the project failed by a small
to receive iinancial backing. This disheartened the proprietors of the village, and
they ceased to supervise the affairs of the com-

margin

munity. The result was that many lots were
occupied without warrant or purchase, and
the titles of many at the present time are based
solely on "squatter rights." Many of the residents also encroached- on the wide streets,

and squares, the result being that in
places there was hardly passageway for
a single vehicle. The old spirit of civic pride
was not lost, however, and in 1835 a meeting
of thirty-one citizens was held to discuss the
propriety of opening the streets. Capt. S. B.
M. Yants was called to the chair, and Benjamin Seidle was appointed secretary.
town
committee was elected for six years and emtake
measures
to
to
powered
resurvey the
town, rent the public lots and call all necessary
meetings of the citizens. This committee consisted of John Keller, S. B. M. Yants, Benalleys

manj

township.

bombardment and capture

of \'era Cruz in
In 1914 he is ninety-five years old
1847.
the oldest man in the town, and one of the
liveliest.
Post No. 59, G. A. R., of Berwick,
has twelve members living at this time in

—

Mifflinville.

The town committee
Samuel
hold

J. Keller and
office indefinitely.

for

1914 consists of

Whitney Hess, who

RELIGIOUS

jamin Seidle, Samuel Harman and Charles
Hess.
Though never regarded as a legally
constituted body, these town committees were
never opposed in their actions.

The Lutheran and Reformed congregations
were the first to avail themselves of the generous donations of the founders of MifflinIn 1809 articles of agreement for the
ville.
erection of a union church at Race and Third
were signed. The building was begun
the same year, but not completed until 1813.
In January, 1882, the union between the two
congregations was dissolved, the Lutherans
preparing to build a home of their own, the
street's

The work of resurvey was given to Ezra E.
Hayhurst and so well did he accomplish the dedication of which took place
duty that the original plans of the founders
were practically duplicated. Thus the village

was again given the proud title of chief among
many lovely towns of eastern Pennsylvania. valued
The resurvey was accomplished in but five valued

the

This building

December,

at $3,000.
at $2,800.

The parsonage adjoining

The Lutheran congregation was organized

days.

An old magazine published in 1847 states
that "Mifflinburg" then contained about thirty
dwellings, several stores and taverns, a Lutheran and a Methodist church. At that period
the tanneries were the only industries of the
With no facilities for transportation
villasje.
until the construction of the North and West
Branch railroad, Mifflinville has never offered
anv inducements for the location of industries, and after that road was built the greater

the one standing at
present opposite the site of the first union
church. It was remodeled in 1892 and is now1883.

180Q as St. John's by Rev. J. P. F. Kramer.
Previous to that time the Lutherans had been
occasionally served by Rev. Mr. Shelhardt, one
of the pioneer pastors of the Susquehanna valThe successive pastors of this congregaley.
tion since Kramer have been Revs. Barnitz,
Kessler, T- Schindel, Isaiah Bahl, W. B. Fox,
in

Henry, Thomas Steck, J. P. German,
E. Roney. and the present incumbent. Rev.
The membership of the church is
C. F. Dry.
S.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
i66 and
Sunday school has 128 attendBefore i8yo the services here were held
ants.
every four weeks, the German and English
the

languages being used alternately.
For a time after the separation the Reformed
congregation worshipped in the old church,
calling it St. Matthew's, but in 1887 erected
the present building, a frame, similar in design to the brick Lutheran church directly opAmong the lirst pastors of this conposite.
gregation were Revs. Dieffenbach, Shellhamer,
and Hoffman.
Following were Revs. A. J.
Tobias, A. R. Hottenstinc, I'hilip Steery, G.
B.
Dechant, Lutin Fetterolf, Charles H.
Matchler, J. Alvin Reber, Alfred J. Herman,
Frederick A. Cook, and the present pastor,
Rev. R. Ira Gass, who took charge June 12,
The present congregation numbers but
1910.

and there is no Sunday school.
During the winter of 1859-60 a division of
the Lutheran Church in the western part of

thirty-eight,

the State on doctrinal lines caused a like dissension in Mifflinville, and a number of members separated, forming an English Church
under the control of the General Synod, the
main body being, as now, under the charge of

The seceding members
the General Council.
built a brick church on the public square and
were served successively by Revs. E. A. Sharretts, Henry R. Fleck, David Truckenmiller,
William E. Krebs, M. \'. Shadow and J. E. F.
Hassinger. After having been disused for a
number of years the church building in 1914
was converted into an amusement hall by the
young people of the town, who have repaired
and refitted it, with a stage and folding seats.
Methodist services here were first held in
the home of Samuel Brown, and when the

number of attendants grew
barn of Henry

Bowman.

too large, in the
In 1819 Samuel

Brown built a small frame house near his
It was
private burying ground, for a chapel.
small in size, and had a gallery around three
sides, which could be reached only by a ladThe pulpit reder, for the young people.
sembled a bird's nest and was affixed to the
It was
wall some distance above the floor.
a tight fit for the portly form of Rev. Marmaduke Pearce, who had to ascend to his perch
by a small ladder. During the years following 1 83 1 a frame church was built in Mifflinville on the present site and used by the con-

and in 1861 the present large brick
church was erected. Since then it has been
improved until its value now is over $4,000.
The old "Brown" church was torn down in
gregation,

1862.

The

early pastors of this church

were those

251

of the Danville district, and later it was served
by those having the dift'erent charges and circuits of which mention is made in the chapter
on religion. Since 1905 the pastors have been
Revs. J. W. Worley, £. J. Symons and the

present pastor. Rev. J. W. McAlarney. The
present membership of the church is 200, of
which sixty-four have been added since Rev.
Mr. McAlarney's coming by a revival in 1913.
The Sunday school has a membership of 235.
The trustees of the Methodist Church are
F. K. Smoyer, R. W. Smith, George B. Keller,
S. J. Keller, J. W. Creasy, A. F. Fedder.
The
stewards are B. E. Ervin, F. K. Smoyer, R.

Smith, George B. Keller, S. J. Keller, S.
Ruckle, Rash Wintersteen, Jerd WinterThe president of the
steen, James Hoglan.
Ladies' Aid Society is Miss Hattie Hutchens,
and Robert Miller is, president of the Epworth
League. The superintendent of the Sunday
school is B. E. Ervin.
Zion Evangelical church was at one time
located in the southwestern part of the township, near the Yohe mill, but is now gone.
The Hetlerville Lutheran church, about a
mile south of Mifflinville, is now out of use,
but at one time had a thriving congregation.
E.

Mrs.

Bringenberger keeps the store here.

THE ORPn.\NAGE

One

mile south of Mifflinville on a commanding hill is located the orphanage of the Patriotic Order Sons of America and Patriotic
Order of Americans. The building is of concrete block construction, with wide porches, is
three stories high, and was dedicated in May,
The orphanage is supported by the
1909.
camps of the State, Columbia county being one
of the strongest in membership of an}- division
of Pennsylvania. The order includes men and
women in its ranks, and most of the camps in
this county have homes of their own. Camp No.
6S4 of Mifflinville having a fine two-story brick
hall in the heart of the town.
The chief occupation of the Miffiinville town
committee is the care of the old cemetery in
the center of the town plat, with its roofedover stone wall and ancient tombstones. The
inhabited part of the town is located on two
long streets, while the balance of the plat is
devoted to truck gardens. The storekeepers
of the town are J. R. Berninger, J- W. Creasy,
E. R. Eisenhower, P. E. Housenick, W. H.
Kelchner, H. G. Miller, George S. Miller. The
only hotel is kept by C. M. Creasy, and the
barber shop by A. E. Harvey.
The village
blacksmith is f. H. Bastencheck.

252

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
At present

SCHOOLS

ship,

In the year 1794 a school was opened by
David Jones in a hut among the scrub oak
and pine trees below Mifflinville, on the land
of Christian Wolf. The alphabet was taught
by means of letters inscribed by the teacher
on a shingle, there being then no books on
school subjects available. Soon after a school
building was erected where the Lutheran

now stands. The present schoolhouse
located on the adjoining lot.

church
is

there are ten schools in this town-

with 264 scholars in attendance.

school directors are

Mowery, Harvey
Aaron Wolf.

Samuel

Slusser, J.

The

Keller, R. H.

H. Eisenhauer,

POPULATION

The population of

Mifflin township in 1820
1830, 1,791; in 1840, 2,143; in
1850, 1,024; in i860, 1,021; in 1870, 1,043; '"
1880, 1,038; in 1890, 1,022; in 1900, 1,043; in
1910, 1,142.

was 1,492;

CHAPTER XXXI
MONTOUR TOWNSHIP
Bearing the same name as the county beside road and Catawissa, ferrying across the river
Montour township lies in the sharpest bend to the spot where Rupert stands. Leonard
of the Susquehanna in its meanderings through Rupert did not long remain in the first rude
Columbia county. The river here has ample cabm of logs he had erected on his arrival, but
In ancient geological years reached out into the future and built him a
reason to bend.
the stream had a straight course through what home of three rooms in 1788, occupying it for
is now called "Dutch valley" and pursued this
thirty years; it still stands beside the more preway to the vicinity of Danville. But an obsta- tentious "Paxton" home. Rupert had the land
cle was encountered at the site of Rupert in from his father-in-law, Michael Bright, who
the shape of Fishing creek, which semiannually had it from John Spohn, he in turn having obpoured a flood of water and debris into the tained his patent from the proprietaries in 1769.
river at right angles to its course. Ages passed
Among those who followed Rupert were the
and the mound of gravel slowly choked the Tucker, Frey, Dietterich, Blecker, Hittle and
river, which in desperation turned to the south- Leiby families, most of whom went on into
it,

ward and aided by some upheaval

of the strata
that cleft a breach in the lofty hill carved a
new course, which poured the waters of both
streams past Catawissa and diverted the entire
flow of the river into a great loop. This "plug"
of gravel and sand is plainly seen along the
west bank of the creek and forms a high ridge,
in which for more than fifty years the surrounding towns have found an inexhaustible
supply of building materials.
The bluff below Rupert is an attractive example of stratified rocks and there a complete
story of the geology of the county can be read
This is one of the scenic
in God's own book.
spots of the county and is the resort of tourists
from all parts of the State.

SETTLEMENT

The first comers to this township were from
Berks and Northampton counties and their
nationality gave the name to Dutch valley. The
Ruperts came first, bringing their wagons and
all the household goods by way of the Reading

Dutch valley, since Rupert's land included all
the available soil in the angle of the creek, river
and mountain.
This section of the county was at first amply
supplied with the news of the outside world,
being on the main line between Sunbury and
Wilkes-Barre. Travelers took the ferry over
Fishing creek and passed west up Dutch valley
to the regions of IDanville and Sunbury, thus
leaving Catawissa to the south. The route to
Reading through the latter town also drew
travelers across the river ferry to Rupert. Thus
the town caught the travelers "going and
coming." This stream of traffic was foreseen
by Rupert, who opened a tavern here at an
early date, and his rooms have held some of
the famous men of the different periods since
The first ferry
the opening of this region.
here was established by William Hughes, who
was succeeded by a Mr. Clark. Both objected
to the toll charged by Rupert for running the
ferry on his landSj so Rupert started one of
his own, and, of course, soon absorbed the
others.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
1829 the "North Branch" canal was built
for a time affected the traffic of the stageThe work of running the canal along
the hills and across the creek was of sufficient
magnitude to employ the labors of many men
for two years, and of course Rupert profited
that is, the town as well as the man.
thereby

and
Iln
coach.

—

The opening of

the canal caused such a rapid

growth of the town and the near country as
;

The
cause a congestion in the schools.
people vainly tried to secure adequate schools
from the officials of Hemlock township, so in
to

1837 they separated from the parent division
and formed the township of Montour.
In the summer of 1853 the railroad bridge
across the river was begun, and in September,
The
1854, the first train came into Rupert.

Catawissa, Williamsport
j

iS:

Erie Railroad

Com-

pany opened an office here in that year and
Wesley Fleming was appointed the first freight
agent at Rupert, retaining the position for fifty
years, until retired by the company on a penHe died about 1908.
sion.

mines were located on Little Fishing creek,
had some time before 1871 endeavored to make
paint from the refuse of the works. In that
year they removed this department to Rupert
to avail themselves of the shipping facilities,
and the firm of Reay & Drehr took over the
But ten days had elapsed after the
work.
building of the factory here when fire destroyed
it.

However,

was immediately

the

only

railroad

point

north of the

dustries,

drawn here by

the fine shipping facil

INDUSTRIES

The first result of the traffic enlargement of
Rupert was the establishment, in 1861, by
Isaac S. Monroe, a lumberman of Catawissa,
of a factory for the manufacture of powder
kegs

for

the

as well as the present,
smith for many

village

establishments

Besides the

already noted,

at the time of its prosperity comprised
twenty-five houses, a store, two hotels,

Rupert

about
the marble works and the coal

office

on the

canal,

The
Betz,

stores at Rupert are conducted by I. M.
the postmaster, and Arthur Roberts.

The "Rupert Hotel"
Mensch. A. J. Duck

ities.

and

Dougherty was the proprietor. The former
stood near the railroad depot, and the "Montour Hotel" was located on the canal basin,
opposite the coal office of Paxton & Harman.
The latter buildings were incinerated in the
fire which destroyed the powder keg factory,
Two stores, and a blacksmith shop kept by
James Quick, were the limit of the smaller in-

river

Rupert then became a place of importance,
although when the first road was opened it was
simply a settlement of a few houses. After
This came
that time it grew quite rapidly.
about partly through the advent of many in

rebuilt

ran successfully for some years, but thefinancial depression of 1885 caused it to close, and
after selling off the stock on hand the business
was discontinued in 1890.
The traffic on the canal and the industries
above mentioned caused much transient trade
to pass through the town, and this was catered
to by the "Rupert House," kept by W. R.
Tubbs, and the "Montour Hotel," of which M.

For some years the passengers for Bloomsat Rupert for the balance of
the journey, but in 1857 the Lackawanna &
Bloomsburg road was opened to Rupert and dustries in the past
for some months was the southern terminus. Quick has been the
Later it was extended to Northumberland. As years.
burg took a stage

253

owned by Harry

the local coal dealer,
and there is a store at the north end of the
Catawissa bridge operated by R. B. Grimes &
Co. Rupert is now simply a railroad junction,
without industries. In its palmy days Paxton
& Harman conducted an extensive wholesale
is

Dupont Powder Company, of grocerv and provision business there.
At the eastern end of the town and

Wapwallopen. Pa., and Wilmington, Del. In
1866 his son, Washington M. Monroe, was admitted as partner, and in 1879 the death of
the father placed the works entirely mthecon-

The factory turned out ninety
thousand 25-pound kegs m a year valued at
$20,000, and gave emplovment to eleven men.
It was located beside the canal locks, over the
spillway, from which it took power to run an
overshot wheel in summer. In winter, when
trol of the son.

was emptied, the power came from a
steam engine. After many years of success
fire destroyed the plant, and it was not rebuilt,

the canal

The Susquehanna

Slate

Company, whose

in the
^ngle of the roads leading to the old covered
bridge across Fishing creek is the home of
^
g^^j formerly the Paxton residence,
^^ old-fashioned brick building, but supplied
^i^h all modern conveniences. It is surrounded
1,
j ^^ j
^7 spacious and well kept lawns dotted with

-...i.

ancient and lofty shade trees and beautified by
ornamental plants and flower beds. Beside the
dwelling is an ancient log building, the identical one in which Miss Harriet Rupert held the
first school.
In the corner of the lawn near the
creek is a stone and wood springhouse, vine-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

254

draped and venerable, which adds beauty to an
already charming ensemble.
Many residents of Bloomsburg now staid
and gray recall with pleasure the social fetes
that were given in the past by Mr. Lloyd Paxton, sometimes in the mansion and sometimes
on the illuminated lawn^ all events of delight-

—

ful

memories.

Just across the creek from Rupert and within
the boundaries of the town of Bloomsburg,
far

from

that

thriving

although apparently
town, is the "Aqueduct Mill," built by Lloyd
Paxton two years before the construction of
the canal, and subsequently owned by George
W. Keiter, whose death put it upon the
market in 1914. This mill has never lacked
for waterpower, being fed from a large dam
The
in Fishing creek some distance above.
water is carried under the old canal and operates two turbines of 58 inches diameter each.
The head of water is 8>4 feet, and the capacity
of the mill, which is fitted with the modern
roller process, is seventy-five barrels of flour

he placed a concrete wall around the entrance
of the race, to prevent danger of washing.

CHURCHES
Religious worship had its inception in the
hrst frame schoolhouse at Rupert, services being held there by pastors of the Bloomsburg

From

churches until 1884.

Bowersox,

Irvin,

1869 to 1872 Revs.

Shuneberger and Hertz con-

ducted Evangelical services there.
The first Methodist sermon in Rupert was
delivered in the home of James Famsworth by
Rev. Mr. Creever, of Bloomsburg, in 1870. In
September, 1884, the cornerstone of the Methodist church at Rupert was laid by Rev. G. W.
It was comStevens, pastor at Buckhorn.
pleted in the following winter.
church in the township, and is

the only
served by

It is

now

Rev. George Martin.

Lazarus Lutheran Church, just over the

line

Montour county, serves the people of the
At present
western part of this township.

there are no church services held in any part

daily.

Near the mill is what is known as the Reu- of the township, the nearness of the towns of
ben Hess farm, which was purchased by Mr. Catawissa and Bloomsburg rendering the mainKeiter some years ago and now is owned by tenance of local churches difficult.
the Guernseydale Stock and Fruit Farms, a
corporation engaged in the dairy business,
Durocfarming, raising Guernsey cattle and
Jersey swine, and fruit.
Outside of Rupert there is little to tell of in
the township. The iron mines and lime kilns,
in the northern part, constituted the only im-

Sons owned
portant industry. William Neal &
them at first. Since the exhaustion of the iron
ore the limestone is the only source of revenue
from the property. There are a number of
other small limekilns in operation along Montour ridge on the farms of the owners.
The "White" mill, near the mouth of Hemlock creek, was built by James Barton, son of
In its construction were
Isaiah, about 1842.
used some of the longest timbers found in
any mill in the county. Water was taken from
a dam below the tailrace of the "Red" mill to
Caleb
operate two 15-foot overshot wheels.
Barton, brother to James, took charge of this
mill in 1882, introduced the roller system and
of
replaced the old wheels with two turbines,
35 and 45 horsepower.

also

"Montour

followed milling

all

first school in the township was held in
frame shanty once occupied by the contractors who built the canal. Harriet Rupert was

The

teacher here, in 1831, but soon reclass to a log house on her father's
Later a schoolhouse was built
land nearby.
on the west side of the railroad, on a triangular
The
piece of land donated by Leonard Rupert.
present school building, the third on the site,
occupies the old position of the first one built

the

first

moved her

for school purposes exclusively.
At present there are four schoolhouses,

housing 122 scholars, in Montour township.
One is at Rupert, one at the settlement called
"Battletown," and the other two at the eastern
and western ends of the Danville road.
The school directors of Montour township

Frank Hagenbuch,
are:
Isaac Whitenight, Francis
Rechel.

Mills."

of his life and is constantly
In 1914
to the plant.

making improvements

Henry
Leibv,

Hummel,
William

changed the

Since his time the
mill has been run by Thomas J. Barton, Elisha
Drieshbach, George W. Keiter and the presMr. Girton has
ent owner, .\lfred Girton.

name

SCHOOLS

POPUL.\TION

Montour township in 1840
409; in i860, 485; in 1870,
1880. 662; in 1890, 638; in 1900, 618;

The population
was 809;
624:

in 1850,

in 1910, 625.

CHAPTER XXXII
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
In 1818 this township was constructed from
portions of Bloom. Greenwood and Fishingcreek townships.
Il has never been a very
important division of the county, although a

good farming section. The little villages of
Canby, Welliversville and Mordansville have
never developed into sufficient size to be classed
as towns. The township was noted in the days
of settlement of the county for the abundance
of timber and the unfailing character of its
water supply.
Most of the settlers of this region were of
English descent, and natives of New Jersey.
They did not come until after the Revolution
and the settlement of the Indian troubles. The
first to arrive were Peter Eveland and Jacob
Force, the former locating near the site of
Welliversville, and 'the latter near the spot
where the Kitchen church was later built.
Adam Welliver came soon after and settled
between these first two arrivals, the spot being
afterwards called Welliversville in his honor.
Frederick Miller, a German from Northampton county,

came some years

at the site of

later

and

settled

Canby, the post office established
here in 183 1 by him bearing at first his name
Millertoivn. This office was for a time discontinned, but revived in 1873 under the name of
Canby, from the gallant general whose death
occurred in the Civil war. This office is at
present replaced by the rural route. A dozen
houses, a Lutheran church and a schoolhouse
form the town in 1914. The first stone house

—

in the

township, built by Philip Kistler, still
stands near the village.
The present storekeeper is A. M. Shultz.
John Kester located on the hill above Mordansville, where many of his descendants now
reside.
ville.

John Kitchen

The

settled near WelliversVanderslices, Ikelers, Applemans,

Crawfords, Bittenbenders, Whites, Hartzells
and Howells were among the later arrivals.

lime kilns in the southern portion were the limit
of industries, outside of Mordansville, in the
early sixties.

MORDANSVILLE

The sawmill

of John Mordan, the first built
in the early days of settlement, gave this vilits
name.
For a time the place was a
lage
thriving spot, due to the woolen mills built here
in 1856 by Joseph E. Sands and Thomas
Mather. In i860 Mr. Sands became sole proAt first the farmers brought their
prietor.
wool to the mill to be carded, then spun and
wove the cloth at their homes, returning the
material to the mill to be fulled and pressed.
Later Mr. Sands installed the necessary looms
and for many years did a fine trade with the
mining regions of the State. In 1881 he died
and his son, Charles L. Sands, took charge,
introduced improved machinery and increased
the capacity of the mills. In 1886 he took into
partnership William R. Hagenbuch and M. J.
Elder, calling the firm C. L. Sands & Co. In
1898 Mr. Elder retired, and in the year 1905
the mills were burned. They were never reThe capacity of the mills had grown
built.
from 6,000 to 25,000 pounds of wool per year,
Joseph E. Sands established the first store
there and was the first postmaster, the office

being

at first called

Bear Run.

At present

the only industry in the little
the saw, shingle, planing and chop
village
mill of John V. Kline. It is run by steam.
is

The

old

Sands home has been converted

into

a hotel, operated by Harry W. Johnson. Previous owners of the property were E. B. Hagenbuch and, before him, Joseph E. Sands.
John McCaslin, a native of Missouri, opened
a store here in the old Frank Kindt home in
19 14. The village blacksmith is R. C. Kindt.
There is no post office here, the rural route

The Susquehanna, Bloomsits place.
burg & Berwick railroad (now owned by the
runs
Railroad
Company)
Pennsylvania
through the village.
255

George Van operated a small woolen mill for
a few years on a run in the eastern edge of
the township, and a number of sawmills and

taking

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

256

CHURCHES

Oman

formed the

first school in his
a teacher at his own expense, his neighbors' children as well as his
own being instructed. The first three school-

Peter

home and employed
The Methodist churches in this township are
located on the old Mount Pleasant road, one
in the southern end and the other in the north,
The former is called the
near Wellivers.
"White" church and the latter "Kitchen's"
church. Services were held in the schoolhouse
and in the home of Harman Kramer until "Kitchen's" church was built in 1859.

church was

built in the

"White's"

year 1875.

Some

members of the latter church were the
White, Oman, Shipman, Melick and Hilbom

the

first

houses were built on the lands of Joseph GilAaron Kester and Andrew Crouse. The
number of schools at present is eight, with the
bert,

teachers, and there are 166
scholars in attendance.
The school directors of Mount Pleasant
A. B. Kester, F. P. Davis,
township are
Calvin Kressler, Charles Mordan, D. F. Fester.

same number of

families.

The English Lutheran Church at Canby was
organized Nov. 18, 1859, in the Millertown
schoolhouse, by Rev. E. A. Sharretts, of Espy.
The church building was erected in 1861. It
is served by the pastor at Buckhorn, Rev. E. A.
Chamberlin.
SCHOOLS
All of the old schoolhouses of this township
were located on the Mount Pleasant road.

P0PUL.\TI0N

The population of Mount Pleasant township
1820 was 637; in 1830, 715; in 1840, 609;

1850, 708; in i860, 776; in 1870, 750; in
1880, 760; in 1890, 786; in 1900, 722; in 1910,
This is a remarkable constant average
647.
and evidences the pastoral occupation and conin

tented character of the inhabitants.

CHAPTER XXXIII
ORANGE TOWNSHIP— ORANGEVILLE BOROUGH
This township is the most centrally located
of the divisions of Columbia county north of
the Susquehanna river and is watered by Fishing creek and its branch, Green creek. Knob
mountain rises abruptly on the east of Fishing
creek and continues unbroken for many miles
to the east. It is one of the highest of the elevations in the county.

Orange was formed in 1840 from portions
of Bloom, Fishingcreek and Mount Pleasant
townships. Previous to that Bloomsburg was
the voting place for the Orange election district, a most inconvenient arrangement.

SETTLEMENT

The

earliest

mention of

this locality

concerns

of Indians who
captured Joseph Salmon in the year of 1780 in
passing through murdered a family who had
The
settled at the foot of Knob mountain.
rangers who were following them buried the
of
the
creek.
east
bank
mangled corpses on the
In 1885 these remains were plowed up in a
low spot far from the bank of Fishing creek,
the stream having in the interval shifted its
a tragic occurrence.

The party

Who the family were will never be
known, and these brave but unfortunate piochannel.

neers will pass into history among the unknown
heroes of our country's settlement.
Salmon states that the savages camped at
the junction of Green and Fishing creeks, and
the morning two of them left, going towards
the east. Some hours later they returned with
their blankets filled with lead ore, which they

proceeded to melt.

This caused later owners

of land hereabouts to prospect for lead, but
without success. The probability was that the
Indians obtained their ore from the hill north
of Lime Ridge, where galena is now mined in
small quantities.
In 1785 Abram Kline, his wife and family
of grown sons came to this section of the
county, and for the first year lived in their
wagons and tents. The first log house erected
bv their united efforts stood halfway between
Fishing and Green creeks on the land now

owned by George Welch. It was in good repair
Matthias,
in 1886, but was later torn down.
Isaac and George Kline built cabins later on
the creeks above the one of the father. This
family is now one of the largest in the county,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of the descendants of the pioneers residing on the lands owned by their forefathers.
The stone house built by Harnian Kline, near
Orangeville, in 1826, is still in tine condition.

many

was not

until

1796 that

Abram

Kline se-

257

straightened the road and sold two lots to
Elisha Boone, who at once began the erection
of a house and tannery. He bought a stock of
goods from an Espy merchant and opened the
first store in the town in the same year that

The tract had been it was founded. Ludwig Herring was emthe goods for the store from
surveyed for Hester Barton, who married Paul ployed to haul
Zantzniger, and from him the title was secured Philadelphia, yearly.
The third house was built by David Melick,
by Kline. Other owners about this time were
George Cutts, William Montgomery, Cather- and at once occupied by Philip Snyder and
Solomon
Andrew
ine Razor, Frederick Yuengling and
Siegfried, from Northampton county.
Krouse. The settlers who followed the Klines On the corner later owned by Alexander B.
cured a

title

to his land.

and took up these lands were the Whites, Parks
and Culps, from New Jersey and George and
Frederick Rantz, James \'an Horn, the Netenbachs and the \Veremans, from Berks and
In 1800 Peter
Northampton counties. Pa.
Blank and Andrew Larish came from New
Lancaster
Jersey, and Samuel Staddon from
;

Stewart. Ricketts built the next house, which
was occupied by David Fausey as an inn. A
few years later Ricketts built the brick hotel
now known as the "Orangeville Hotel." John
Unger, who came to Orangeville in 1824, built

many of the houses later erected here.
The name of the town was adopted

at a

Ludwig Herring and the \'ance town meeting at the suggestion of the proand Patterson families came some years later. prietor, who said that as many of the residents had come from Orange county, N. Y.,
county. Pa.

and Orange, N. J.,
petuate the name.

INDUSTRIES
Before he had been in the county long Abram
Kline built a sawmill on Green creek, not far
from Laurel hill. It was abandoned after a
few years' use and is now completely obliter-

Another

mill

was

built

by Henry Geiger
early times on Fishing creek, west of the

ated.

He sold
present town of Orangeville.
1822 to Jacob Seidle, and in 1845 Wesley

Bow-

His
it and completely rebuilt it.
Henry, ran it till his death, and it is now
Three
in the hands of Benjamin C. Bowman.
turbines, of 50 horsepower each, operate the
modern machinery of this mill, and the product is a fine grade of wheat flour which sells

man bought
son,

all

over the county.

The

barrels of wheat
buckwheat flour daily.
is

fifty

capacity of the mill
fifty barrels of

and

would please them to perSo the town received the

name

of Orangeville, about 1824.
A. B. Herring, son of Ludwig Herring, built
It was burned
first gristmill in the town.

the

in late years, and the site is now occupied by
The Boone
the Conner electric light plant.
It
tannery was continued for many years.
had a rival in the tannery of Miles A. Williams,
Both of these have been long
built in 1856.
since abandoned.
distillery once occupied
the site of the present Methodist church.
One of the first undertaking establishments
in the county was opened here in 1853 by Alfred Howell. In 1855 James B. Harman became proprietor and brought to the town the
He also embarked in the manufirst hearse.
His successor is A. E.
facture of furniture.

Patterson.

Abraham Eveland.

OR.ANGEVILLE
This village

one of the most picturesque

the county, and while not possessing any
pretentious dwellings, has many attractive and
homelike cottages, surrounded by trees and
flowers.
in

The town was

laid out

by Clemuel G. Rick-

Fairfield county, Ohio, who came
here in 1822.
Noting the advantages of the
site for a village, he bought it from Henry
Dildine and other heirs of Andrew Dildine and
etts,

took possession of the house just vacated by
Harman Labour. This house and the farmhouse of Abraham Eveland were the only ones
on the site of Orangeville at the time. Ricketts
17

son of the first resident
of the town, has been engaged in
shoemaking here for over twenty-five years.
M. S. Hayhurst has been repairing watches and
clocks for more than thirty years in Orangeville.
His quaint sign has hung from its post
for almost that length of time.
The storekeepers in 19 14 are B. F. Quick,
Jerome B. DeLong, Perry DeLong, G. N.
Smith and G. S. Fleckenstine. The village
smith is J. C. Smith. The Orangeville Printery is operated by F. M. Bowman, who does a
good business, but does not publish a paper.
The old "Centennial Hotel" was last run by
H. C. Conner, but its site is now occupied by
The "Heckman
the Presbyterian church.
House" is managed by H. A. Shaffer. The

on the

site

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

258

"Orangeville Hotel" is an old hostelry. It was
for many years by Samuel irlagenbuch, and some time after his death
was sold by the heirs to C. H. Reice. In 1913
it passed into the hands of James Redline, the
present landlord.
The Sterling Shoe Company, owned by A. C.
Guinn and Irvni Roeder of Catawissa, was es-

owned and conducted

tablished in Orangeville in 190S and employed
twenty men at one time. The plant was operated by electricity and manufactured children's

and misses' shoes.

closed in 1912.

The Conner Implement Works

One

of the important manufacturing plants
in the county and for years the chief support
of the residents of Orangeville was the Conner

Agricultural Implement Works, which were
bumed in June, 1914.

Benjamin Hayhurst began the manufacture
of farming implements in his blacksmith shop
here and was succeeded in 1853 by William
Schuyler, who continued it for twenty years.

After passing through several hands the shop
was purchased in 1880 by W'hite & Conner,
who devoted their time entirely to making
wheelbarrows, harrows and bobsleds. In 1896
Mr. Conner assumed full control of the works,
and in 1909 he took into partnership his son

of the machinery e.xcept the
and all of the stock on hand,
besides $5,000 worth of lumber, went up in
smoke, the total loss being almost 840,000,
with but little insurance. The fire was more

containing

all

electric plant,

because of the darkness caused
by the breaking of a flywheel in the electric
the
plant
day before. This left the town in
darkness, as besides operating his factorj- Mr.
Conner supplied the town with lights.
.\fter the fire Mr. Conner at once cleaned
up the debris and erected concrete Ijuildings,
difticult to fight

establishing the works on a firmer footing
than before.
His water rights and location
are ideal and the workmen are firmly settled
in the

town, so that rebuilding on the same site
logical thing, although he received
many advantageous offers from other towns.
The petition for the incorporation of Orange\ille was presented to the proper court in
1899
and in F'ebruary of the following year it was
made a borough. The election in that month
resulted as follows: .\. B. Herring, burgess;
C. I. Megargell, ]. B. Montgomery, C. B.

was the

W'hite, J. B.
Fister, J.
ner, ]. P..

DeL6ng, G.

Mr. Conner bought the water right of the
old gristmill on the creek above town, and clearing out the abandoned millrace, constructed a

dam

across Fishing creek, 212 feet

long, built a concrete powerhouse and installed
a 75-kilowatt generator, operated by a 55-

S. Fleckenstine, R.

Conner, councilmen; H.

Con-

Harman, justices G. L. Jolly, L. C.
Williams, H. B. Low, G. M. D. Herring, E. H.
;

I. K. Dildine, .\. W.
Eveland. poor overseers. At that time there
were about ninety-one freeholders in the new

-Sloan, school directors

Gerald.

concrete

tion of the town, but strong eft'orts
finally conF'our of the buildings,
quered the Hames.

;

borough.

The present

council of Orangeville

com-

Coleman, burgess and O. P.
B. Herring, Joseph Fleckenstine,
DeLong,
P. H. Dildine. O. R. Henrie, C. W. Trump,
councilmen.
F. H. Sloan is justice of the

posed of

;

.\.

horsepower turbine. He developed the implement factory to a high degree, putting all of
his profits into it in the shape of buildings and peace.
POPULATION
machinery. Ai the time of the fire it consisted
of six two-story buildings, housing a planing
blacksmith
machine
The
mill, foundry,
shop
shop,
population of "Orangeville in 1847. 'Acand two warehouses. The products of this cording to an old history, was about two hunplant were threshers, fodder cutters, wood dred persons. At that date there were forty
saws, springtooth harrows, Scotch harrows, houses in the town, several stores and two
About thirty taverns. In 1900 the census gave the town 439
bobsleds and wheelbarrows.
men were employed and the prosperity of the inhabitants, and in 1910 one less than 400.
town to a great degree depended on that of

MEDICAL

the works.

peevish babv was the cause of its mother
Mrs.
awakening and discovering the fire.
Harry Ebner awoke a little before four one
mornin-g in June, 1914. and noticing the blaze
The
roused her brother, Harry Williams.
alarm was given to most of the residents of
For a time the bucket brigade
Orangeville.
had a hard time preventing the total destruc-

physicians who have been settled at
Orangeville since its founding have been Drs.
A. P. Stoddard, George L. Tolly, O. A. MegarOf
gell, G. E. Fulmer and W. T. \'ance.
these the first two named have practiced here

The

continuously for
are late comers.

manv

vears.

The

latter

two

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
POSTAL

The postmasters of Orangeville since the
estabhshment of the office have been as follows: C. G. Ricketts, appointed Feb. 8, 1826;
C. G.
Jacob Bittenbender, March 13, 1830;
Ricketts, Dec. 12, 1832; Emanuel Lazarus,
Nov.
Dec. 12, 1838; Jesse Coleman,
4, 1847;
A. B. Stewart, June 2^, 1849; Samuel AchenWilliam
Fritz,
16,
May 0,
1851
bach, April
Eliza1853; Richard Brewer, Nov. 19, 1862;

259

building on the farm of William DeLong, below Orangeville. He was succeeded by Clemuel G. Ricketts, William Rantz and
John Kline.
The house was later torn down and another
of more substantial character erected on the
site
tlie

of the Kline home in Orangeville.
earliest teachers in Orangeville were

Among
Abra-

ham Kline, Ira Daniels and Charles Fortner.
The Orangeville Male and Female Academy

was incorporated by an act of Assembly dated
March 11, 1858. Pursuant to the directions of
beth J. Schuyler, May 16, 1864; R. W. Bow- the charter a board of trustees was elected.
man, June 22, 1865; R. J. Millard, Sept. 19, This first board consisted of George W. Lott,
1866; D. K. Sloane, June 27, 1867; R. W. Samuel Achenbach, Michael C. Vance, James
Bowman, March 17, 1869; Kate Lazarus, Oct. S. Woods, Wesley Bowman, Hiram R. Kline
H. C. Conner, March 6, 1872; and Edward Lazarus. They appointed Rev.
23, 1871
He preCharles W. Low, July 12, 1872; Silas Conner, Peter Bergstresser first principal.
March 21, pared a course of study contemplating a period
Jan. 20, 1874; Charles W. Low,
;

;

L.
1877; William Mausteller, April 30, 1885;
Williams, July 9, 1889; John G. Knorr,
April 6, 1893; Francis Herring, June 2j, 1896;
Millard F. Conner, July 11, 1900; Archibald
E. Patterson, Feb. 23, 1907. Mr. Patterson is
C.

still

serving as postmaster in 1914.

SOCIETIES

its

completion.

On May

i860, the academy was opened in the public
school building with thirty-two students. Rev.
Mr. Bergstresser continued as principal two
terms, when the duties of his pastorate com-

At his recompelled him to relinquish it.
mendation John A. Shank, a graduate of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, was elected
his successor.
Professor Shank was a fine
has disciplinarian.
He conducted his school on

Mountain Lodge, No. 256, I. O. O. F.,
been in existence at Orangeville since Sept.
The officers then were: Abraham
17, 1847.
Covel, noble grand; George W. Lott, vice
grand; Joseph E. Sands, secretary; Elijah G.
Ricketts, treasurer.

of three years for

schedule time.

The trustees meanwhile had formed a stock
company for the purpose of obtaining funds
for the erection of a proper building.

This

was completed and occupied by Prof. Shank
in the autumn of 1861.
The attendance was
large and the school enjoyed a fair degree of
]irosperity. At the beginning of the next year,
1862, Rev. H. D. Walker was placed in charge
of the academy. Two years later he was called
upon to take charge of a number of soldiers'
orphans. He rented the academy building and
the grounds from the trustees and transformed

& A. M., of
Nov. 12, 1870. The
James B. Harman,
original members were
Miles A. Williams. Frederick Laubach, John
F. Brown, A. H. Megargell, Jeremiah Comstock, Hiram C. Eves, Jacob M. Harman, Nathaniel Spear, John Heacock, Dr. O. A. Megargell, Peter Laubach.
Joseph A. Pealer Post, No. 435, G. A. R., the institution into a soldiers' orphans' school.
was established at Orangeville May 13, 1893. He erected a building on a lot adjoining the
The present officers are: James F. Trump, academy grounds for the occupation of the
commander; O. P. DeLong, adjutant; Abra- children. Prior to its completion they were
ham W. Eveland, quartermaster; Ranslo Lis- received into private families and every proThe other members are Joseph vision for their comfort was made by the cititer, chaplain.
B. zens of the town.
The home was occupied
Fleckenstine,
James Ammerman, D.
Hughes, Samuel Harp, Henry Conner, Wil- in the spring of 1866. Under the efficient govliam Sands, Stewart Henrie, John Goodman. ernment of the principal and matrons, Mrs.
Charles Walker and Priscilla Snyder, the apORANGEVILLE ACADEMY
pearance of the orphans was always neat and
clean.
Subsequently the orphans were reThe first school in this township was taught moved to another school.
the
H.
R.
Kline,
In 1870 Prof. Isaac E. Schoonover became
in a building on the farm of
teachers being Daniel Rake, Philip Doder and principal of the academy which had now been
He reJonathan Colley. In 1820 George \'ance came virtually suspended for six years.
from Bloomsburg and opened a school in a log mained in charge of it four and a half years.
Oriental Lodge, No. 460, F.

Orangeville,

was

instituted
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

260

Professor Schoonover and wife did excellent
work. The school was very prosperous under
their administration.

They became very much

and were regarded as
During this principalship
Miss Mary A. Achenbach taught music.
In 1875 Rs"^- ^- Houtz took charge of the
academy and served it nearly two years with
Francis Herring and Miss Sadie Spear as his
In 1876 and 1877 it was
assistant teachers.
served by John Aikman and Francis Herring.
Rev. C. K. Canfield was principal from 1877
Mr. Cantield was a good solicitor
to 1882.
and drew students from Bradford county and
other distant points. He not only had a large
attendance, but maintained a corps of good
Mrs. Canfield,
teachers, among whom were
Augustus Y. Burgner, Miss Newman, Andrew
Y. Husler, G. L. Jolly, Miss Carrie Dicker and
Rev. Mr. Canfield was suca Mr. Harrison.
ceeded by Prof. Francis Heck, 1882 to 1884;
Prof. Tames F. Harkins, 1885-86; L. P. Sterner, 1886-88; W. C. Mauser and C. H. Moore,
It then ceased to be an academy
until 1894.
and was sold to the township for school purWhen
Orangeville became a borough
poses.
the officials bought the building from the townendeared

to their pupils

true benefactors.

ship.

The

and the

hall is

first

now used

floor has

for entertainments
been repaired and is

occupied as a high school.

The school directors of Orangeville are: A.
Houtz, Carl Fleckenstine, Clinton Herring,
Gerald Conner, Charles H. Dildine.
The school directors of Orange township
P.
are
J. A. Kline, J. C. Montgomery, J.
Houcke, H. J. Hippensteel, B. A. Steiner.
:

ruins were removed to make way for a schoolhouse.
The three denominations before mentioned
in 1S39 united in the erection of a union church
in Orangeville, at a cost of $1,600.
This union
church is still the home of the Reformed and
Lutheran congregations, but the Presbyterians
now have a home of their own.
The Reformed congregation of Orangeville
was formerly part of the Bloomsburg charge.
When Rev. W'illiam Goodrich resigned in 1865
the Orangeville charge, embracing also St.
James and Mount Zion, Rev. E. B. Wilson was
called to the charge in 1866 at a salary of $500
a year, and served until his death in 1868. For
three years after the church was without a
pastor and the membership decreased considIn 1869 Rev. A. Houtz took charge,
erably.
and at once the spirit of the congregation revived.
He increased tiie membership and the
salary also. The Hidlay congregation was an-

nexed to this charge in 187 1.
Houtz continued to minister

Altogether Mr.
to the congrega-

tions for forty years, when he resigned, still
enjoying the love and respect of the entire

His ministry was one of devoMaster and his people, and during
that time the congregations were increased, the
church buildings improved and a successful
financial system adopted.
He still resides in
Orangeville, sometimes officiates in one of the
pulpits, and is active and vigorous, being at

community.
tion to his

member of the school board. Rev.
W. S. Gerhard was pastor until succeeded by
Rev. A. M. ShafYner, in October, 1914.
The Presbyterian appointment was formerly
a station of the old Briarcreek charge. Occapresent a

were held in the Orangeville
schoolhouse by pastors on their way to the McHenry church. When Rev. D. J. Waller be-

sional services

RELIGIOUS

Before the founding of Orangeville the old came pastor in 1838 regular services began,
built two miles west of and in the following
year they occupied the
Orangeville on land given by Andrew Larish union church. The formal organization of the
The church was erected in 1810 and church occurred in 1842, Samuel Wliite, John
in 1800.
used as a house of worship by the Reformed, B. Patterson and John B. Edgar being elected
Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations for elders. The other members were Sarah White.
more than a quarter of a century. Edward Ann
Charity Patterson, Elizabeth Edgar, Isaac
McHenry came into possession of the farm Kline, Mary Kline, John White, Lucy White,
the
the
size
of
increased
in
1828,
adjoining
Ann Kline,' Ruth Dildine, Mary Welsh. The
graveyard and thus had the church named after subsequent pastors of this church
Revs.
It had been laid out as a cemetery in
him.
Charles Williamson, George W. Newell, W. P.
Faust.
Harmon
the
owner,
previous
1813 by
Teitsworth, Nathaniel Spear, D. J. Waller, Jr.,
Among the pastors who preached in this church C. K. Canfield, R. H. Davis,
James W. Martyn,
were Revs. Baughey and Benninger, of the
Christ and John W. Kern,
Lutherans Diefifenbach, of the Reformed and F. B. Frisbie, J. B.
Patterson and Hudson, of the Presbyterians. the present pastor. The present church was
In 1837 the roof of the church collapsed be- built in 1885 and dedicated the following year.
neath a weight of snow, and soon after the The congregation donated its share in the union

McHenry church was

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
church to the other two denominations which
still

use

it.

The Orangeville Methodist Church was formerly in the Bloomsburg circuit. In 1852 the
The first
Orangeville circuit was formed.
Methodist sermon was preached in Orangeville
in 1829 by Rev. James W. Donahay, in the
schoolhouse. The first church, a brick buildwas erected in 1843, opposite Snyder's mill.
In 1881 the present brick church was dedicated,
The
at the corner of Mill and Pine streets.
pastors since organization have been Revs. Albert Hartman, T. O. Clees, E. M. Chilcoat,
ing,

261

A. B. Hooven, and others whose names are not
available. The present pastor is Rev. Ariel R.
Turner. The membership in his three charges
268, Sunday schools, 257; and the value of
the church properties is $12,800, besides the
parsonage, $1,000.
During the pastorate of
Rev. T. O. Clees the frame church at the Mcis

Henry appointment, now "White's Chapel,"
was

built.

The Orangeville Lutheran charge was

or-

ganized in 1857 by Rev. P. Bergstresser, and
included Orangeville, Zion's, Rohrsburg and
Briarcreek.

CHAPTER XXXIV
PINE TOWNSHIP
The natural beauty of the mountain scenery of this township may attract the tourist
now that good roads have been built within its
limits, but the absence of the latter and the
rugged appearance of the country w^ere deterrents to the original settlers of Columbia
county. Thereby the settlement of Pine township was postponed for some years after the
filling up of the other townships, and the increase of population after a few venturesome
hunters entered this wilderness of forest and
was slow and irregular.
Pine township was formed in 1853, and had

by David Hamilton and Daniel Whipple, who
settled some distance above Sereno.
Joshua
and Samuel Davis next arrived and built the
first sawmill on the site of that of Edward
Ritchie at Sereno. now in ruins. Later John
Thomas built another sawmill on Little Fishing creek, north of the first. This was afterwards run by Jacob Christian. For many years
these two mills did all the work for that end
of the county, the timber being hauled
to

Susquehanna and rafted down that
In
built
Richard
Greenly
1835
sawmill on Wolfhouse run, and in

the

hills,

river.

previously been included within the confines
of Derry township, Northumberland county,
and Madison township, Columbia county.
Most of the land was owned by the Asylum

June,

the

1836, a cloudburst destroyed the mill,

ing this region.

dam, house and barns. It was not till 1841
that he returned here and rebuilt his devastated
property. J. L. Eves was the last owner. The
lienfield sawmill at Sereno was built in 1853,
as also those of Zebulon Robbins and Henry
Battin in other parts of the township. After

was the

this date a great number of small sawmills
arose at various points, consummated their

their untrustworthy metha substantial settler from enter-

Land Company, and
ods held

many

Peter Brugler, a hunter from New Jersey,
first to come to this corner of the
county, and he lived for many years upon the
proceeds of the chase, as the region abounded
in deer, bear and other game.

INDUSTRIES

purpose and sank into ruin. To enumerate
them would be wasteful of space. The tannery at Sereno was for a time of some consequence. It was operated by Edward Ritchie
in connection with his sawmill, from 1837 to
1872.

Sereno post office was established in 1853,
Many shingle makers came to Pine township, but none of them were permanent set- with John Starr as the official. The village had
Frank
tlers.
Jerry Lyon came in 1796 from New for a time been called Warnersville.
Jersey to Greenwood, where he remained six P. Masters was the postmaster in 1861. His
years, and then crossing the Muncy hilis made father, James Masters, was his predecessor
the first permanent improvement in the town- and the first schoolmaster in the township, in
ship, on land now occupied by his descendants
and those of Jeremiah Fowler, to whom the
land had been surveyed. He was soon followed

1830.
Talmar, a village in the northern part of
the township, consists of a store kept by H.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUXTIES

262

R. Getty, a schoolhouse, church and a few
dwelhngs. There are no industries.
Pine Summit, in the western part of the
township, was the most pretentious of the

vil-

gregation had a disruption and disbanded. The
church is now occupied by the Evangelical
congregation and is regularly served by the
pastor from Unityville.
The Methodist Church in the extreme northern part of the township was built on land
donated by Thomas Faus, and has since borne

The first merchant there was R.
W. Lyons, who was also the first postmaster,
continuing in office from i866 to 1889. The
It is a fine frame building and is
present storekeeper is W. C. Swartz. Simon his name.
Whitmoyer opened the first blacksmith shop. served from Millville, the congregation being
His modern successor is H. D. Neupher. The under the charge of the pastors of that place.
lages here.

most important industry here was the distillery of J. R. Fowler, operated from 1880 to
1883. Although it made a fine quality of goods,
it was too far from railroads to be a success.
The last owner in 1910 was James C. Houghton. It is now closed down. The townspeople
are served in a mercantile
tradesmen of Millville.

way

through the

CHURCHES
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was
organized in 1879 by Rev. N. A. Whitman.
His successor. Rev. O. D. S. Marcley, dedicated the first church building in 1880. The
officers of the congregation at this time were
John Bruner, P. W. Sones, Samuel Eckman
and A. E. Girton. Soon after this the con-

SCHOOLS

— POPULATIOX

There are eight schools in the township at
present, taught by the same number of teachers, male and female being equally divided,
and there are 215 scholars in attendance.
The school directors are: John Gardner,
Erastus Kline, H. P. Shaner, James Clemmens,
L. G. Shultz.

The population
was 555;

of Pine township in

i860

1870, 760; in 1880, 911 in 1890,
965;
1900, 976; in 1910, 834.
lola Lodge, No. 711, F. & A. M., was removed to Pine Summit in 1881 under special
dispensation, and has been defunct for thirty
;

years.

CHAPTER XXXV
ROARINGCREEK TOWNSHIP
This is the third township formed from
Catawissa in 1832, and then embraced all of
Locust, Cleveland and Conyngham townships,
but at various periods since it has been shorn
of territory until it finally reached its present
dimensions. Catawissa mountain on the eastern boundary forms a natural barrier between
it and Schuylkill county, while on the south a
spur of Little mountain and several hills break
up the landscape into picturesque beauty. This
township is entirely agricultural, but the broken
character of the land is such as to interfere
The name
greatly with farming operations.
of Roaringcreek is now hardly applicable, as
since the year 1850, when Montour county
was formed, most of the territory through
which Roaring creek meanders has been taken
from the township. The Indians gave the

name

Among
section
hurst.

Popemetung
the

first

to this creek.

persons

who came

to this

were Samuel Hunter and Bezaliel HayThe former secured a patent in 1774

for a tract known as the Trout Springs farm,
southeast of Mill Grove. Alexander Hunter
succeeded to the farm after his father's death
in 1784, and from him it passed into the hands
of George Randall, then into the possession of
Abram Whitner, his son John, and his descend-

Other later settlers in this township
were Samuel and Anthony Morris, Hugh and
Michael Hughes, Francis and Barbara Artilla,

ants.

Henry Hartzel, Andrew Helwig, John Heniminger, John Harmon, George Groh, George
Duval, .Stephen Pealx)dy, George Dewees.
Adam Zantzinger settled on Mill creek in
1784, and others who resided in that section
were Jonathan Pearson, Bartholomew WamThe
bach, and the Wilsons and Robinsons.
mountain lands above Mill creek were owned
by Christian Immel, Peter Minnich, Frederick
W'agoner, ^\'illiam Lanion, Christian Shultz.
The best farming land in the township came at
first into the hands of Matthew McGlath,
Charles Truckenmiller, John McKay, Jacob

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Most of
Shakespeare and Thomas Fisher.
these persons were (Quakers who later removed
to points farther west, being followed by distinctively German settlers, among the latter

being the Rarigs, Kunkels, Uriesbachs, Houcks,
Holstines, Kreishers and Longenbergers.

INDUSTRIES

The road

to Reading runs directly through
township from northwest to southeast,
with a branch in the central part towards
Hazleton, over which a large traffic was done
in the era of settlement and development. This
road was used for a time after its improvement in 1812 as a route for stagecoaches, but
a few years later the Reading road through
Locust township drew all of the trade from
this

this section.

The

first

mill in this

township was erected

about the year 18 16 by James Hibbs at the
site of Mill Grove, which is now just on
the border line between Locust and Roaringcreek townships. Hibbs also bought from
John Ni.xon and Alexander Foster, two merchants of Philadelphia, a tract of land, having
as his partner Joseph Hampton. The mill was
replaced by the one built by Judah Cherrington in 1856. Peter Swank was the next owner,
followed by J. W. Hibbs and David Long. It'
is now in the possession of the Cherrington
family. Another mill was built on Mill creek,
some years after the Hibbs mill, by Abner
Hampton. This later came into the possession of William Heupka, who rebuilt it.
Its
last operator was John Mourey.
A few houses were built around the Hibbs
mill and eventually the village of Mill Grove
was established. Judah Cherrington opened
the first store there in 1859, and his son, O. W.

Cherrington, was the first postmaster, in 1886.
A. E. Cherrington is the present successor of
the storekeepers and ])ostmasters of the past.

SCHOOLS

built

263

most of the

gristmills in this and
He found his growing

having
neighboring townships.
family in need of schooling and sent to Berks

who had taught schools
there for thirty-six years. Thomas Cherrington, the father, opened his school in 1S17 and
taught it for four years, being then succeeded
county for his father,

by his son Samuel. Thomas Cherrington was
a mathematician of no mean attainments, and
his descendants have in their possession a manuscript treatise on mathematics by him that
gives evidence of much knowledge of the subject.

The

first

schoolhouse

in this

township was

1830 near Mill Grove. For twentythree years this building was the home of the
Methodist denomination. At present there are
five schools, attended by ninety-five scholars,
in the township.
The school directors of Roaringcreek town(Jwen Hughes, Ira Cherrington,
ship are;

built in

\\'illiam Berninger,

John Feese,

\\ illiam

Hoft-

man.

POPULATION

The population of Roaringcreek township in
1840 was 1,842; in 1850, after the formation
of Montour county and the consequent reduction in territory of this township, it was 519;
in i860, 509; in 1870, 485; in 1880, 533; in
in 1 9 10, 569.
1890, 580; in 1900, 631
;

CHURCHES
The first religious denomination to form a
congregation here were the Methodists, who
to meet at the home of John Yocum,
north of Mill Grove.
Mrs. Yocum had been
a Maclntyre previous to her marriage and her
father was one of the founders of Methodism
After the building of
in Catawissa township.
the schoolhouse meetings were held there regu-

began

1853, when the church building a
short distance north of Mill Grove was erected.
The trustees at that time were William Yocum.
larly until

David Case, J. J. Thomas, William Rhoads.
The first members were Phoebe Dyer, J. J.
The first school in this township was opened Thomas, Joseph Yocum, Jesse Yocum, Ezra
in 1816 in the home of Mahlon Hibbs, at Mill Yocum,
The pastors who
Samuel Horn,
It
(jrove, and was taught by Joseph Stokes.
served this congregation m the first years of
was a subscription school, and ran for two its existence were Revs, Black, Tague, Mensessions.
It was reopened in 1821 by Charles
denhall, Haughawaut, Gearhart, Cleese, SavBreech, who was followed by David Chase.
age. Brown, Guilden. This church has been a
The Cherrington family has for years been charge under its own pastors for a number of
connected closely with the interests of this years.
The present pastor is Rev. John H.

Samuel
township, particularly the schools.
Cherrington was a locally famous millwright.

Greenwalt.
In 1873 William Yeager offered $100 and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

264

an acre of ground to any denomination which
would build a church on his land. This offer
was accepted two years later by Rev. M. P.
Saunders, of the United Brethren Church, who
held a meeting here and converted fourteen
persons.

The

Freewill congregation

was organized

and the present church completed
membership was then increased

in 1876.

The

to sixty

and

has continued near that figure ever since. Successive pastors were Revs. S. R. Kramer, H. S.
Gable, J. G. M. Herrold. The present pastor
is Rev.
B. F. Goodman.
The church was
burned down in the fall of 1914.

CHAPTER XXXVI
SCOTT TOWNSHIP
This

named

of Columbia county was
from Bloom township and
George Scott, then entering upon

division

formed

for

1853

term as representative in the State
Legislature from the district embracing Columhis second

bia

and Montour counties.

The

early settlers of this section were chiefly
of English origin and came from New Jersey.

Peter Melick came in 1774 and farmed near
Espy. He served in the Continental army and
spent the winter of 1776-77 at Valley Forge.
He returned home in 1778 to defend his home
on the outbreak of the Indians, who burned
the house on Sept. 17th of that year. He and
his family managed to escape to Fort Wheeler,
on Fishing creek, near the site of the present
paper mills, near Light Street.

Henry McHenry,

a private soldier

reth Brittain came to this section in 1782, but
died before making a settlement; his wife and
children remained.
John Bright and Alem
Marr settled near the Brittains. Others of
the earlier families to settle in Scott township
were the Henries, Seidles, Webbs, Crevelings

and Boones.
of the soil of the township may
be judged from the fact that every acre not
occupied by a home is cultivated and produces
abundantly. But the chief wealth in the past
has come from the iron ore in Montour ridge.
The first mines were opened on the land of
fertility

Samuel Melick bv Rodman, Morgan & Fisher,
the ore being hauled to Espy and forwarded to
the furnaces at Bloomsburg by way of the
canal.

river were preempted by different persons and
bore their names. From the mouth of Fishing
creek to the rapids at Mifflinville they were
known as the Boone, McClure, Kinney, Hendershott, Kuders, Whitner, Creveling, Webb
and Miller fisheries. Most kinds of fish then

now found here, the first to
to the incessant inroads of the waste-

caught are not

succumb

ful fishermen being the shad, gar,
The season began in
rockfish.

ended

June, a
to give
headwaters.
Two
made in a day, the
in

who had Thursdays

been stationed at Fort Wheeler, settled at the
He put in a crop
site of Light Street in 1779.
of potatoes, but the yield was poor and the
family suffered from hunger during the following winter.
Levi Aikman settled at Briar creek in 1778.
His descendants still occupy his lands. Zeb-

The

Light Street for a time used the ore, but did
not prove paying propositions.
Between 1780 and 1850 the fisheries of the
Susquehanna were of great value to the people
of Scott township, the industry bringing many
traders to this region. The good points on the

The McDowell and Ent furnaces

salmon and

March and

law prohibiting fishing on
the fish a chance to get to
hauls of the seines were
nets being about four hun-

dred yards in length and five yards in depth,
with meshes two inches square.
Seven men
handled the seine, four men handled the oars
of the flatboats, one man in the stern paid out
the seine, while two men on shore held the

At tlie \\'ebb fishery 9,000 fish
at one cast in 1830.
The price of
1800 was $6 per hundred and in 1830
risen to double that amount.
People

land end.

were caught
shad

had

came

to the river

bringing
whiskey,

in
etc.,

from

exchange

points to buy fish,
meat, cider,
corn,

all

creating a steady and remuner-

ative traffic.
But this industry was destroyed
by the ruinous methods of the fishermen and
at present it is a serious offense to cast a
seine into the river, even if there were fish
to be caught.
During the season in which
line and hook fishing is allowed a few fortunate persons land a trout or a bass and perhaps a few of the other almost extinct fish,

but the day of the fisheries has gone, never
to return.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
LIGHT STREET
This neat and homelike village, a short distance north of the Susquehanna and northeast
of Bloonisburg, is now merely a place of residence for retired farmers and a few storeAt one
keepers who cater to their wants.
time it was a town of some pretensions.
The plot of the town of IVilliamsburg was
laid out in 1817 by Philip Seidle and in 1821
the residents were John Hazlett, Uzal Hop-

265

niture dealer, and

stores are kept by J. E.
White, Franz Crawford and R. W. Ivey. C.
F. Jackson, barber, R. M. Kester, butcher, and
Grant Drake, blacksmith, constitute the rest
of the commercial men of the town.
The largest house in Light Street is the

now a private residence, built by
Peter Shook about 1865. He owned considerable land in the village and built the tavern
himself, burning the brick on his farm near

old tavern,

the creek.
Owing to opposition from the
McCarthy, James McCarthy, neighbors he lost his liquor license some years
George Zeigler and a Mr. Lake. Half a mile later, sold out and moved away. His propsouth were the blacksmith shop of Robert erty was sold to various parties, but in 1914
Gardner and the farmhouse of John Deaker. all of the various parcels have come into the
The upper gristmill was built in 1823 by Mc- hands of Harvey Hutzell, thus again vesting
Dowell & Millard, and here Gen. Matthew the ownership in one person.
The "United States Hotel" was opened in
McDowell later established the first post
This mill was the early si-xties by Philip G. Keller, who reoffice under his own name.
It is now
built a private residence for the purpose, addrebuilt in 1868 by Peter Ent.
operated by Harry Heacock with the modern ing a large hall on the third story. This was
The lower gristmill was built then the only hall in the town and a popular
roller process.
in 1825 by Samuel L. Bettle, was later owned resort for the young people.
William B.
Kelchner
&
Son and is now operated by Goodheart was the next owner, and Mr. Spearby
W. H. (jreenley & Son. It also is a modern ing the last. When the building was burned
mill.
Both of these mills are operated by a small frame house was erected on the site
waterpower from I'ishing creek. Each mill to retain the license, which was later rehad a distillery beside it.
scinded.
Two iron furnaces were located in the past
The remaining veterans of the Civil war in
at Light -Street.
One at the upper end. above Light Street are John Crawford, Joseph Miller,
the mill, was built by McDowell in 1S45, soon and Samuel Keller.
after the construction of the mill.
It was a
charcoal furnace, and was operated later for
P.\PER MILL
some years by Peter Ent, and after him his son
West of Light Street, on Fishing creek, near
Wellington ran it till 1868 and then abandoned
the work. The lower furnace was owned and the site of Fort Wheeler, is the plant of the
run by Bettle, and stood just above his mill.
Bloomsburg Paper Company. Here a gristRev. Marmaduke Pearce, a Methodist mill, three stories high and operated by an
Street
about
1844 overshot wheel, was built by John Barton many
clergyman, came to Light
and became the owner of the lower mill. He years ago. His successor was a man named
found the walk to the post office at the upper Phillips, who for a time manufactured buttons
mill too far and took steps to remedy this by from clam shells, but was not successful,
applying for the post office. W^hen his object finally selling the property to Thomas Trench
was attained he changed the name of the in 1830. In 1840 the mill was adapted to the
place to Light Street, from the fact that he manufacture of paper by Thomas Trench,
had lived on a street of that name in his native who
took
his
some years
later
son,
Soon after the two settle- C. C. Trench, in partnership with him.
city of Baltimore.
ments came to be one long village and so The product was used for wrapping purremain to this day.
In 1882 James M. Shew bought the
poses.
At one time a tannery was operated in the factory and began the manufacture of watertown by J. W. Sankey and later by Charles proof cartridge paper for the DuPont Powder
Besides the mills Company, of Wilmington, Del. He later took
Rink, but is now closed.
the town, with a population of about three his son-in-law, Robert J. Ruhl, into partnerhundred, has three churcbf's. a school build- ship, and at Mr. .Shew's death the property
came into the hands of Mr. Ruhl, the presing and a P. O. S. of A. hall.
William M. Ent, a descendant of Peter Ent, ent manager.
conducts a hardware store in the town. WilThe plant has thrice been destroyed by fire,
liam M. Robbins, the postmaster, is also a fur- first in I8^5, when it was rebuilt bv the
kins,

William

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

266

Trenches, and then in 1903, when it was rebuilt
and remodeled by Mr. Shew. The third tire
was in 1905, after which the present tine outtit of modern paper machines was installed.
The power comes from turbine water wheels
and an auxiliary steam plant. Eleven men
are employed the year round. The works comprise four brick buildings on a plat of fortythree acres, and are connected by side tracks
with the B. & S. and S. B. & B. railroads,
which here have a junction point.

ESPY
This place acquired its name from Josiah
who in 1775 bought a tract of three
hundred acres from the Penns, which included
the present site of the town.
Soon afterwards his son George built a two-story log
house on a spot about twenty yards from where
the canal later ran, and near the center of the
Espy,

He built the house in 1785
present town.
and occupied it until 1810, when he removed
to Crawford county.
In iScx) he laid out the
town into lots, which he sold to various perHe
sons, all of whom did not occupy them.
gave the name of Liberty to the settlement, but
later

was

on the residents adopted his name, which
fixed in i8j8 by the establishment of a

At that time
post office here with that title.
there were fourteen log houses and twelve
frame dwellings in the place.
Among the first residents of the town were
John Edgar, Alexander Thompson, John Kennedy, Samuel McKamey, a Mr. Hinkle, John
Haverman, a Mr. Miller and Frederick Worman. The first frame house was built of lumber sawed at the Elias Barton sawmill in
Hemlock township and was owned by John
Shuman. The first hotel was built about 1805
by John Kennedy, rebuilt in 1853 by Henry
Trembly, and at present is owned by Boyd
Hartzell as the "Hotel Espy," but has no
license.
The first brick house was built in
1845 by John Hughes. In 1826 the people of
the town were su|)plied with water from three
wells at the hotel and the houses of John Webb
and Philip Miller, the latter at the corner of
Main and Market streets.
During the early history of the town the
bog in the rear between the hills and the settlement was almost impassable, a log bridge
called the "Indian Path" being the only method
of passage towards Light Street.
Over this
morass a corduroy road was laid in 181 3 by
John Hauck to haul ore over from the ridge
to his furnace at Mainville. This bog extends
from the brook near Almedia to the edge of

the corporation line of Bloomsburg and has
for years been a waste spot.
However, in
1907 a company was formed to exploit the

peat deposits and in 1913 was reorganized by
the Espy Humus Fertilizer Company, of which
Dr. Ira R. Wolfe is president, M. W. Wolfe
treasurer and F. E. Lord secretary and manThe deposits of peat, which are twelve
ager.
teet in depth, are dug, dried by steam and
pulverized, being then shipped to different
plants over the L'nion to be converted into fertilizer
by admixture with other materials.
Thus a worthless spot has been developed into
a source of almost unlimited wealth.
Probably the palmy days of the town of
Espy were during the operation of the canal.
About 1834 the first boat for use on the canal

from

this

point

was made by George and

Thomas Webb, and

until 1873 canalboating
prominent industry of Espy townspeople.
Boatyards were operated by Barton & Edgar,
Kressler & V'ansickle, Fowler, Tronsue & McKamey, all of which were later absorbed by
the Pennsylvania Canal Company. The latter
firm continued to operate their yards until the
canal was abandoned, and in 1900 the boatyard
was destroyed, together with the Milnes grist-

was

mill beside the canal basin.

While the boatyards were in operation there
were three planing mills in Espy, two owned
by Thomas W. Edgar and one by D. Snyder &
There were also a tannery,
Co., respectively.
a pottery, a distillery, a vinegar factory and
All of these have passed into
a brickyard.
oblivion.

The Atlas Manufacturing Company, for the
manufacture of a special design of stepladder,
was formed in 1881, by James and William J.
McCormick, who ran it till 1884 and then removed to Danville.
The first merchant
Mann, who continued

Espy was William
from 1816
to 1818.
Between 1820 and 1850 stores were
operated bv Worman & Swaby, Miles Bancroft, Cyrus Barton and John Petricken. The
volume of business in the town at one time
was so great as to support a private bank, of
which William Milnes was the owner and
John v. Logan cashier. The present storekeepers are: H. C. Ruckle, T. W. Hartman,
F. P. Pursel,

in business

N. Reichert, K.

S. Creasy,

Hummel.
The old planing mill on the line of the Lackawanna road was ])urchased in igioby George
B. Markle, of Hazleton, who also owned the

He spent $50,000 and
developed a large poultry business, making a
of which he
hundreds
of
squabs,
specialty

John Robinson farm.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

267

shipped each week to markets in the East,
using the old mill as a cold storage house. The
place is called "Uncle John's Farm" and is
under the management of George Denby.
The citizens of Espy have always taken
pride in the beautifying of the streets of the
town. The first residents imported the Lombardy poplar and the weeping willow, while

and Evangelical. The oldest of these is the
!
Methodist at Light Street. At a camp meeting held at Huntington in the autumn of
i8iy a number of residents of that town were
converted and on returning home were formed
into a class by Rev. John Rhoads, then the
pastor at Berwick. For eight years the meetings were held at the home of John Brittain,
later lot owners have added the maples and but in 1827 den. Daniel Montgomery, of Danother shade trees to the list. Travelers on the ville, donated a plot of ground in Light Street
electric line of the North Branch Transit Com- to the Methodists and they built a log
chapel
pany have ample opportunity to admire the upon it. The trustees at that time were Paul
results of the efforts of the citizens to make breas, John Brittain, John Millard, Samuel
the town attractive.
Melick and Peter Melick. In 185 1 the church
The public buildings of Espy consist of a was incorporated and a new deed was exethree
churches
a
and
frame Odd cuted by the Montgomery heirs. That year
higli school,
Fellows hall, which replaced the town hall, the log house was razed and a frame building
burned in 1889. The population of the town re])l,iced it. Most of the pastors of the churcli
is about six hundred.
here have been connected with the Orangeville
circuit.

.\LMEDIA

One mile above Espy is the little village of
Almedia, once called Afton. It contains some

The present pastor

Orangeville,

Rev. A. R. Turner, holds regular weekly services in Light Street.
The Presbyterian Church had but one conThe
gregation in the past at Light Street.
church there was built in 1853, but services

M. Creveling
Company, and Frank White, two churches, a were irregular and in the later years, after
schoolhouse, and the blacksmith shops of W
1883, it has been used as a dwelling.
H. Englehart and William Sneidiuan.
The
Methodist services were first held at Espy
in 1828 by Rev. Isaac John.
In 1833 the fapopulation is about three hundred persons.
Most of the old lime quarries here were mous evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, visited here

neat residences, the stores of C.

operated by the Creveling family for fifty
some of them coming into the hands of
other parties at different periods. At present
there are three plants in active operation near
the town. H. N. White has a quarry with two
kilns which he is preparing to enlarge. Rhone
Trescott operates the plants of the "Silver
Spring Quarry Company" with nine kilns and
a fine stone crusher for making road ballast.
He has the only vein of galena, or lead ore, in
the county, but the production is small.
An industry of all these towns along the
Susquehanna is that of coal dredging, after
the high water has subsided.
Most of the
residents of the towns depend almost entirely
on the anthracite taken from the river bed for
their winter fuel.
Some of the large steam
dredges take from thirty to fifty tons a day
years,

and preached

to a

schoolhouse.

The

large congregation in the
services being frequently
the
interrupted by
barking of dogs in an adhe
announced
that he had come
joining lot,
When a carto preach to men, not dogs.
riage was offered him as a conveyance to Mainville he refused it in favor of a truck wagon.

The

first

church here was built

1838 and

the present one in 1883. The latter was dedicated i)y Bishop Bowman. The pastor at that
His immetime was Rev. H. C. Cheston.
diate successors were Revs. R. H. Wharton,
The
James Beyer and Richard Mallalieu.

present pastor. Rev. Edmund J. Symons,
preaches also at Lime Ridge and Almedia.
From 185 1 to 1853 Rev. William Weaver,
pastor of the Lutheran Church at Bloomsburg, preached occasionally at Espy, and dur-

from the

river.
ing that period a congregation was formed
The Creveling cemetery at x^lmedia was from those residents of the town who attended
David
given to public use by members of that nu- the Bloomsburg church. They were
merous family and is one of the handsomest Whitman, John Shuman, Samuel Kressler,
and best kept burying grounds in the countv.
John Kressler, J. D. Werkheiser, Cyrus Barton, Conrad Bittenbender.
RELIGIOUS
In the summer of 1853 a church was erected
:

The denominations represented

in this

town-

ship are the Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian

and dedicated. Rev. E. A. Sharretts becoming
the first pastor. His successors were Revs. J.
R.

Dimm, D.

S. Truckenmiller, J.

Rice, J.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

268

M. Reimensnyder, William Kelly, E. A. SharTHE "creveling" GRAPE
M. O. T. Sahm, A. R. Glaze, C. W. SeThis famous vine was propagated by Mrs.
christ, D. E. Rupley, 1. J. Minimier, J. H. C.
Charity Creveling, wife of John Creveling, a
Mansfield, H. E. Harman, L. \V. Kline, H. O.
member of the Society of Friends, at her home
Reynolds, and O. E. Sunday, the present pas- near
Espy. The vine ran over a large pear
tor.
tree beside the house, and
cuttings from it
In
the old church was
a
retts,

1895
replaced by
neat frame building, and in 1905 a parsonage
was built. The pastors of this church for some
years have officiated at the Hidlay and FowlChurches.

ersville

The Evangelical societies at Espy, Almedia
and Light Street have always been included in
the Bloomsburg mission, but were established
while this territory was included in the Columbia circuit.
During the winter of 1866-67 revival services held by Rev. A. J. Irvine in the
Presbyterian Church at Light Street resulted
in many conversions and caused the formation
of a

was

congregation there.
built in 1869.

The church here

Almedia became a preach-

ing point in 1866, services being held in the
schoolhouse until a church was built in 1872.
It was not till 1875 that preaching became
established at Espy, and in the following vear
the church there was built.
These churches
are under the charge of Rev. John Shambach,
of Espy.

The Lutheran church at Almedia was built
It was in regular use until 191 2, when
was damaged by lightning. Since then no

in 1852.
it

regular services have been held therein.

SCHOOLS

The

schoolhouse in Scott township was
established at Espy in 1805, the trustees being
John Kennedy, John Webb and a Mr. Waters.
The building stood at the corner of Market

were sold

all

popular grape

over the nation.

many

R/\1SING OSTRICHES IN

The

and

still

parts of the country.

A COLD CLIMATE

present the only ostrich
farm in a northern latitude is that of the
Ostrich Farm & Feather Company, at the edge
of the eastern end of Espy. The company was
first

in 1910 with W. H. Hile, president;
George W. Oster, vice president; James E.
Teple, secretary A. N. Yost, treasurer. All
of these gentlemen but Mr. Oster are native
sons of Columbia county.
Mr. Hile was led to organize the company
by having visited several of the famous ostrich
farms in other parts of the world. He procured the first of his stock in Africa and has
developed the farm into one of the show places

organized

;

He also has exhibition yards in
Cleveland, Ohio, where forty-four birds are
In the Espy farm he has twenty-eight
kept.
old birds and several young ones.
An incubator house, pens, nesting house and factory
for the preparation of the feathers are part
of the ec|uipment.
Besides ostriches the company breeds Belgian draft horses, thoroughbred Guernsey
cattle and Berkshire hogs.
They are the first
of the State.

farmers

and Main

in the county to grow alfalfa successand they have a number of acres of
land devoted to grain and forage crops and
vegetables. The farm is neatly kept, is located
beside the trolley line and is a popular resort

dimensions.

for visitors.

first

streets and was 20 by 24 feet in
It had small-paned glass windows, slab benches, writing tables around three
sides of the room, and a wood-burning stove
completed the furniture.
The second school at Light Street was built
on a lot later owned by J. W. Sankey in the
extreme lower end of the town, in 1806. In
1814 a third school was opened in a building
on one of B. Ammerman's lots, in the upper
end of Light Street. The teachers of these
schools were George Vance, Joseph Solomon,
William Love and John Kennedy.
At present the township supports eight
schools, including a high school at Espv, and
the average number of scholars in attendance
is

188.

The
T.

school directors of the township are
C. Creveling, A. F. Terwilliger. Austin Ohl,

Bruce Sneidman, Joseph Hippensteel.

fully,

"Ostrich farms are found in California,
Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Florida and PennTen farms have over one hundred
sylvania.
birds each, five farms over four hundred birds
each and one farm has over two thousand
In all, about seventy-five farms in the
birds.
United States are making a business of ostrich
farming. The number of birds on these farms
is about seventy-one hundred, of which 5.685
are in Arizona.
Approximately forty-nine
hundred of all the birds are plucking birds and
give on the average one and a quarter pounds
of feathers per bird, valued at $20 a pound.
Besides this, a pair of breeding birds will easily
reach $.^50 each, and eggs for hatching sell at
about $10 apiece. Egg shells find a limited
market as curiosities at fifty cents to one dollar each."

CHAPTER XXXVII
SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP
This township was formed
the township of Fishingcreek.
name of "tiarrison,"
it the

1812 from

the change to
Sugarloaf being made some time later. The
date of this change is not known, but the reason is apparent from the former importance of
the maple sugar industry here.
The settlement of this section of Columbia
county was made by a family party, represented

by John J. Godhard, an Englishman from
Delaware. He had one son-in-law, William
Hess, and four granddaughters, the wives of
Philip Fritz, Christian Laubach, Ezekiel Cole
and lohn Kile. Most of these were farmers
and resided on the Delaware near Mr. God-

He and

and grandsons,
together with William Coleman, Matthias
Rhone and Benjamin Coleman, all neighbors,
came to this section, explored the land thoroughly and decided to buy it. The price they
paid made the average $2 an acre.
hard.

—

burg, and up Fishing creek to their destina-

The tract purchased by William Hess
extended from Cole's mills to North mounHe built his cabin, which has since been
tain.
destroyed, near a spring on the Laubach farm.
The spring is still flowing. His sons, George,
John, .\ndrew, Tobias, Conrad, Frederick,
Henry and Jacob, took up their residences
along the creek, where many of their descendants still reside' John Kile, Ezekiel Cole and
William Hess settled near each other, while
tion.

Laubach

went

first

Montour

county, in 1797 returning to remain in the section now covered by Sugarloaf.
Philip Fritz followed his relatives here in
1795, settling on the site now called "Fritz
Hill," near Central, on land owned at present
by Thomas Fritz, one of his descendants.
Jonathan Robbins arrived in the same year and
located in the southern part of the township.

He had

result being that his chilgathered htteen hundred
bushels of apples from one thousand trees.
Portions of the orchard are still to be seen
in

later years

19 14.

Others who became residents of this part
of the county in those years were Godfrey
Dilts, William Bird, Da\id Harrington, Jacob
Harrington, James Seward, Jesse Hartman,
James A. Pennington, Ezekiel and William
Shultz. The population of Sugarloaf in 1800
consisted almost entirely of the Hess, Kile,
Laubach, Robbins and Cole families, and
these are still the larger part of the population
in

1914.

his son-in-law

In the following year
1792 the actual
immigration occurred. The large party came
of
the
way
Susquehanna and Lehigh road
by
to Eierwick, thence along the river to Blooms-

Christian

which he planted, the

The court gave dren

brought with him some apple seeds,

INDUSTRIES

The

first

mill in the

township was

built

Ezekiel Cole in 1802, on the little creek of his
name, near its junction with Fishing creek.
The generations of Coles wdio have owned
and operated this mill are Ezekiel, Ezekiel, Jr.,
Alinas and .\lbert, the latter being the owner
in 1914.
At the beginning this mill had four
The
runs of stone, but now has only two.
wooden crown and lantern gears are still in
use, and one of the old buhrstones, made in
Danville at the time the mill was erected, is
The old method of milling is in
still in use.
use, the product being buckwheat flour, cornmeal and chops, from forty to fifty bushels
per day being the capacity. A 13-foot overshot
wheel of wood furnishes the power, and the
mill has never run out of water since its construction.

Many small sawmills were built in the
pioneer times of this township, in order to
the great supply of timber.
Among
them were the following mills, which attained
W.
more than local fame
Harrington
Jacob
built a sawmill on Cole's creek, in the eastern
part of the township, in 1841, which he sold to
William Yorks built anJ. B. Davis in 1866.
other mill about that time on a branch of Fishing creek, in the extreme southern part of the

utilize

i269

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

270

township, and ran it till 1852, when his nephew,
Joseph ^'orks, purchased it and operated it
Larish & Roberts, E. Cole and two
till 1867.
of the Fritzs also operated sawmills in the
of
the
industry's palmy days. One of
period
the most noted of the early sawmills w-as at

a hotel of Swiss design, fully equipped with
modern conveniences, and handsomely furnished. The first managers were Stiltz & Company, and the inn was opened in i8yo with a

great flourish. For some reason, however, the
public did not take sufficient interest in the
Paradise, a short distance above the Harring- project to accord it a lucrative patronage and
the hopes of the promoters were never realton mill. This was operated until 1875.
Harrington's foundry was established in ized. Not long after the opening the company
1866 by Newton R. Harrington, at Pioneer was reorganized and the name of the place
Station on Cole's creek.
sawmill w'as added changed to Proctor Inn, but this had no etfect,
in 1882, and the product was plows, sleds, mill and finally in 1905 the hotel was closed, the
and
This mill is furniture disposed of at public auction, and
lumber.
gearing, shingles
the building sold to Parvin Kile, who conducted
still in operation, but the product is now limOther it as a hotel for a short time. He also lost
ited by the exhaustion of the timber.
modern mills on this stream are the Penning- money, and finally sold the building to a party
ton, Hartman and Howlett sawmills, all of who tore it down and utilized the material for
which at one time were of much importance. building purposes elsewhere. When a distriWilliam Shultz operates the mill at Grassmere bution was finally made of the assets of the
Park, on the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad. company the members received about ten cents
on the dollar for their investment.
At the time when Jamison City was at the
JAMISON CITY
height of its prosperity there were five places
The completion of the Bloomsburg & Sul- where liquor selling was licensed, and but one
livan railroad opened up the territory in the church and one schoolhouse. In addition to the
upper end of the county. The terminus of extensive lumbering operations carried on here,
the road in Sugarloaf township was called there were camps established at various places
Jamison City, in honor of Col. B. K. Jamison, where the timber was cut and hauled to the
of Philadelphia, who aided largely in financing central mill. There it was converted into lumWhile the road was in process of ber, the bark being used in the tannery. But
the road.
building .\. L. Fritz, Col. James Corcoran and it did not take long to work out the available
Col. John Jamison purchased three farms timber and soon there was nothing on which
about a mile above Central and laid them out ti) support the large population. In 1912 the
in lots, many of which were sold and a nummill was closed down and dismantled, the
ber of buildings erected thereon. Soon quite machinery being sent to other mills belonging
a village grew up, and in 1889 a large sawmill to the company. The last carload of lumber,
was erected by the Central Pennsylvania Lum- which had been cut some years before, was
ber Company. Later a large tannery was put shipped over the railroad to Bloomsburg in
up by Colonel Corcoran, who sold it to Thomas the spring of 1914.
It was subsequently
E. Proctor, of Boston.
At present the tannery is still in operation,
acquired by the Elk Tanning Company. These and bids fair to continue for at least five years.
two plants employed numerous men and at- The population is so reduced that two stores
tracted a still larger population, composed and one licensed liquor establishment are al!
mostly of lumbermen and tanners and their that the inhabitants seem to need.

large general store was opened by
smaller stores and shops
rapidly multiplied until the place seemed to
justify the name of Jamison City.
The town being situated upon an elevation
six hundred feet higher than Bloomsburg, the
idea was conceived by a number of citizens
of the latter town that the altitude, the cool
nights, the many trout pools in the creeks, and
the beautiful scenery of mountain and forest,
rendered Jamison City an ideal spot for a modern summer resort hotel.
So, in 1888, the
families.
Stiltz

THE COFFER CRAZE

& Company, and

Between 1900 and 1912 considerable excitement was caused in this section of the county
by the rumor that there was copper to be found
This was partially
in Sugarloaf township.
caused by the copper craze almost universal
A company was
over the United States.
formed in this county and considerable stock
W^ith these proceeds a smelter was
sold.
erected

Manor Rest Inn Company was formed, and menced.
upon the

hillside

above the town was erected

period,

below Central and operations comLike many another project of the
the

plan proved a

failure,

as there

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
was copper

be found

in small

pockets here

After
in paying quantities.
a struggle to make good the property was sold
by the sherii?, and to-day there remains only
the dilapidated and rotting buildings and the

and there, but not

fallen smokestack to mark this grave of high
hopes and wasted dollars.

SMALL SETTLEMENTS
During all the period of its known history
Sugarloaf has been a popular resort for the
hunter and fisherman. In the early days hunt-

271

tracks were torn up, the little village relapsing
into its former state of repose.
Grassmcrc Park is a station on the B. & S.
road and consists of a store, a sawmill and the
verdant resort from which it acquired its
name. When the road first opened the park
was laid out for the patronage of excursionists.
It was fitted with a
dancing pavilion,
kitchen, booths, tables, swings, etc., and was
supplied with water from an excellent spring.

For a time it was patronized, but by 1913 it
had relapsed into its wild condition of former
times.

was the chief occupation of many of the
POST OFFICES
settlers, and fishing followed in point of food
Central
office
was established in 1836,
is
almost
a
the
At
value.
post
hunting
present
under the name of Campbell, through the exerthing of the past and fishing is rapidly passing
awav with the depletion of the streams of their tions of a doctor of that name. After his
fiiinv ])iii)ulation.
Notwithstanding severe le- removal the ofiice was discontinued until 1850,
when Peter Hess was commissioned. Joshua
gal penalties dynamiting and seining are practiced by "fish hogs" and the trout and bass Hess succeeded him in 1861, Henry Hess in
are becoming scarce with lamentable rapidity. 1876 and Elijah Hess in 1886.
Cole's Creek was first known as Suyarloaf,
Nestled among the towering mountains a
short distance above Jamison City, near a and the office of postmaster was held by memclear trout stream, stands an old-fashioned bers of the Cole family until the abandonment
house, with large porches, that for many years of the local delivery. Giiava was established in
was widely known as "Hilly Cole's." It was 1883, with Andrew Laubach in charge. The
a popular resort for the Rloomsburg people only offices in the township now are Cole's
who were fond of fishing in the well stocked Creek. Jamison City and Elk Grove. Other
mountain streams, and for those who sought points are served by the rural routes.
rest in the solitude of the forests and hills.
SCHOOLS
It was the home of good cooking, few serving
brook trout as well as Mrs. Cole. After her
In the earlv days subscription schools were
husband's death the place and the fishing
ing

privileges

were leased

a club for a time,

passing into the hands of Harry Miller,
carries it on with some of the reflected

finally

who

glory of the past.

Elk Grove is a hamlet located about a mile
above Central on the west branch of Fishing
creek, and consists of about a dozen dwellings, a store and the "Elk Grove Hotel," kept
by J. W. Perrv, who has conducted it for many
for
years and built up a deserved reputation
The structure is a three-story frame,
service.
stands on the site of an old public house once
kept bv members of the Hess family, and is
one of the best appointed rural inns in this
This spot was long the
section of the State.
stopping place for travelers over the Laporte
turnpike. During the lumbering boom the village was a scene of some activity. The Pente-

vogue

the towaiship, the

first

of these

being taught by Philip Fritz in a log building
which then stood on the site of St. Gabriel's
church. The first public schoolhouse was built
on West creek.
Upon the establishment of

the public school system, in 1837, the following were elected directors:
John Laubach,
William Roberts, Matthias Appleman, Henry
Fritz, Samuel Krickbaum and William E.
Roberts.
Two schools were opened, Hess's
and Cole's Creek. In 1885 there were seven
schools in the township.
At present there are twelve schools in the
township, including a fine, high school building,
of which A. S. Fritz has been the principal
from the beginning. Other statistics may be
found in the chapter on schools.
The school directors for 1914 are: George
Klinger, Irvin Diltz, William Perry, J. H. Vancost Lumber Companv built a railroad to conSickle, ^^'illiam Brink.
nect with the Rloomsburg & Sullivan road at
Central, which passed through the town and
RELIGIOUS
The
for several miles further up the creek.
Mr. Godhard, the pioneer patriarch of this
Pentecost Companv was absorbed by the Central
Company and in 1912 the township, was a member of the Established

Pennsylvania

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

272

Church of England, and his family were attendants in their Delaware home of the EpiscoThus it was natural that soon
pal Church.
after their establishment in this new land they
should have arranged to build themselves a
religious home. The result was the beginning
of the erection of the "Log Church," which

for fifty years after this township's settlement

was the only one in the northern end of Columbia county.
Begun in 1810 and completed in
1812, this church was not dedicated until July
15, 1828, when the Right Rev. Henry M.
Onderdonk, bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
The
Church,
performed the ceremony.
names of the members signed to the subscription book in 1812 were as follows:
Caleb
William
Wood, Ezekiel Cole,
Hopkins,
Matthias Rhone, James Peterman, John Keeler, Philip Fritz, Jacob Cough, Conrad Hess,
Henry Fritz, Uriah McHenry, John Kile, William Osborne, George Hess, U'illiam Hess, Sr.,
Daniel Stone, Jacob Hess, John McHenry,
Tobias Hess, John Kopsnyder, Andrew Hess,
Cornelius Coleman, Frederick Hess, John
Roberts, John Hess, Daniel Robbins, Levi
Priest, George Rhone, Jonathan Robbins, William Edgar, Benjamin Coleman, Abraham
Kline, Sr., Jacob Rine, Conrad Laubach, Peter

Yocum, Abraham Whiteman, William Hess,
Samuel Musselman, Paul Hess, Jonathan
Robbins, Henry Hess, William Waldron, William Yorks, Christian Pouts, Edward Roberts,
Casper Chrisman, Emanuel Whiteman, Daniel
McHenry, Jesse Pennington, John Emery,
William Wilson, Thomas Miller, Frederick
Harp, Benjamin Stackhouse, Silas Jackson,
Jr.,

John Whiteman, Jacob Whiteman.

The

first

galleries

church, built of pine logs, had

around three sides of the

interior.

After being occupied for years as a place of
worship it was burned in 1876. The ownership was held by the Episcopalians, Lutherans
and Presbyterians, jointly, until the fire, and

names of
denominations on

this will explain the presence of the

members
the

of those different

subscription

church was

list.

built in the

in this

church

a copy

Benjamin Hutchins, James DePui, W. H.
Bourne, George C. Drake, G. M. Harding,
Services were held at
John P. Rockwell.
various times by the rectors of St. Paul's,
Rev. C. C. Kelsey, Berwick, is
the visiting rector.
It is interesting to note that the first accessions to the Disciples, or Church of Christ, in

Bloomsburg.

now

Columbia county were made in this township
in 1836, when Elders John Ellis, J. J.
Harvey
and John Sutton held a protracted meeting in
the Hess schoolhouse.
A church was established at Guava and for a time was prosperous,
is now out of existence.
The Methodist Episcopal

but

lished on a secure

faith

was

estab-

1855 by Rev.
Elijah Fulnier, who conducted then a revival
at the schoolhouse near Central.
Ten years
later Rev. John A. DeMoyer of Berwick conducted a protracted meeting here and that year
a

chapel

was

built

footing in

and named "Simpson,"

Later another
church was built near what is now Grassmere
Park. Both of these churches are served by
the pastor of the Jamison City Church, Rev.
The Jamison City church was
J. N. Diehl.
There are 251 Methodist atbuilt in 1889.
tendants in this township, and the churches
are valued at $9,000.
after the bishop of that period.

Presbyterian Church was organized in
in 1848, but did not thrive and
was later removed to Benton.

this

township

The present frame
next year on the site

POPULATION

The

belfry is located in a
It
giant tree directly in front of the church.
was built and the bell hung therein in 1882,
during the pastorate of Rev. John P. Rockwell, who lies beside his wife in the rear of
the church, outside the main burying ground.

of the old one.

The memorial window

of one in Christ Church, Oxford, England,
made from a design drawn from memory by
Professor Weir, of West Point Military AcadThe communion plate of pewter, as
emy.
well as the lectern and Bible, have been in use
since 1812.
The first wardens of the Episcopal Church
were Christian Laubach and James Peterman,
and the vestry consisted of William Wilson,
Jacob Rine, John Roberts and Matthew Rone.
The successive rectors of this church have
been: Revs. Caleb Hopkins, William Eldred,

The population of Sugarloaf township
1820 was 505;

1830, 678; in 1840, 943; in
1850, 1,316: in i860, 752; in 1870, 761; in
1880, 869; in 1890, 1,337; in 1900, 1,376; in

19 10, 1,404.

HISTORY OF

MONTOUR COUNTY
CHAPTER

EARLY HISTORY— COUNTY ORGANIZATION,

ETC.

The two parts of this history
must necessarily overlap in some slight degree
It is named in honor of in covering the story of two separate counties
of Pennsylvania.
Madame Montour, a character of whom little that once were one but we shall avoid repetition as far as it may be possible.
is known and yet one whose name, in this
On March 22, 1813, Columbia county was
locality, in the early days, seems to have been
a favorite.
She is said to have been a white created out of the territory of Northumberwoman by birth and an Indian by adoption land county and the county seat was fixed at
and choice. Her maiden name is not given. Danville. There was some contention about
She seems to have acquired the name of Mon- the location of the county seat, as Danville
tour from her Indian husband, Roland Mon- was said to be in an inconvenient place for the
tour, who must have received it from the majority of the people of the new county, who
French settlers in Canada, as his Indian name lived in the north and northeast portions.
is unknown.
The \\'est Branch of the Susquehanna was
The Madame was ever friendly to the the original western boundary line between CoThis
whites, especially in the meetings of the whites lumbia and Northumberland counties.
and Indians in forming treaties. The esteem included Turbot and Chillisquaque townships,
with which in her day she was regarded may and putting these townships into the new
be inferred somewhat from the verbal message county made it possible to najne Danville as
He the county seat with fairness, as to the accessent by Governor Gordon by his deputy.
said
"Give kindest regards to Madame Mon- sibility in the lay of the territory to the county
tour and to her estimable husband, and speak town. Afterwards, however, these two townto them to the same purpose."
Count Zin- ships were reannexed to Northumberland
Montour

among

the youngest

and small-

of the same.

est of the sisterhood of counties in the State

;

zendorf speaks in terms of great praise of
her in his account of the Indian troubles in
the Wyoming.
She took an active part in the
Treaty of Lancaster in July, 1774. This was
a very important agreement with the Six
Nations, and it is proper to concede more to
Madame Montour in bringing the Indians to
agree to it than to anyone else.
In the general history of the two. counties,

county, leaving Danville considerably to the
west of the center of the county. Then at
once commenced the agitation by the people
of the northern and eastern portions, for the
removal of the county seat from Danville to
Bloomsburg. The large bulk of the voters lay
in the part of the county opposed to Danville.
They could outrate the friends of Danville.
They would regularly elect the county offi-

Columbia and Montour (Chapters I, II, III),
we have given the early Indian history of this cers, running the elections almost solely on
But Danville had able and astute
section, as well as the topography and geology this issue.
273
18

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

274

managers, men of powerful influence, and so
the contest went on.
Danville, having triumphed over Bloomsburg and Milton in being designated as the
county town, found herself confronted with
the rather difficult task of providing ways and
means to erect the required county buildings,
Her citizens, as well
jail and courthouse.
as

the other people of this portion of the
county, were stirred to energetic action
the
fact that they must not allow a loopby
hole for the enemies of Danville, who were
alert for any pretext on which to base a removal of the county seat. The new county
made an appropriation towards the building of
The rest of the money was paid by
$1,050.
private subscriptions. Three or four subscription papers were circulated early in 1814, two
of which are still extant.
They were duplicates and read as follows
all

new

•

We,

the subscribers, promise to pay into Daniel

Montgomery,

James

Maus

Alem

and

Marr.

for the purpose of erecting the public buildings in
Danville, the county seat for the county of Columbia, the sums respectively annexed to our names
nevertheless, in case the whole subscription be not
appropriated for the purpose aforesaid, the subscription of each subscriber shall be refunded in proportion to the sum subscribed.
;

Thomas Woodside, $100; Phillip Goodman,
$100; Alexander Montgomery, $100; James
Longhead, $100; John Montgomery, $75;
Alem Marr, $50; William Montgomery, $50;
David Petrikin, $50; John Deen, $35; Robert McW'illiams, $25 John Evans, $25
William Clark, $25: William Mann, $2S; Peter
Blue, $20; Peter Baldy, $12; David Williams,
Sio; James Donalson, $10; John Moore, Sio;
and others, $22 a total of $2,944.
This generous subscription was sufficient
encouragement to commence the building of
the courthouse.
Gen. D. Montgomery made
an estimate of the cost, $2,704.96. The committee to receive and disburse the money consisted of General Montgomen,', Mr. Marr and
Mr. Maus. Messrs. Montgomery and Marr
were too deeply engaged in their own affairs
to give the matter attention, we are told, so
this fluty devolved upon Mr. Maus alone. With
his wonted energy he entered upon the task,
;

;

—

employed workmen, opened stone quarries,
brick kilns, purchased timber, hardware, glass,
paints and needed materials of all kinds. His
only resource for boarding the workmen was
In person he
to establish a boarding house.
collected the stibscriptions, superintended the
work, paid all bills, and his unremitting energv'
toil soon witnessed the triumph of his

and

Here was prudent forethought, indeed, on
the part of those old fellows, characteristic of
the time and the men, sounding curious to
iTien of this age, when such a thing as expenditures falling short of appropriations is an
undreamed of possibility, much less a probThis was long before the days of
ability.
These were
graft and political contractors.
men of sturdy patriotism and unflinching integrity, men who studied the public good and
the polplotted not for private gain.
itician of today laughs at the thought of the
whole sum appropriated not being needed
he pities the simplicity and honesty of
Yet these were
these men of former days
the men who wove patriotism, purity, truth
and honesty into the fabric of ottr government and made possible a nation outriding the
storms of censure and overcoming the blasts
of the dishonesty and corruption of these present days. The hope of today is based upon
the deep, firm, broad and unyielding foundation of truth, honesty, promise and endeavor
laid by these men in the early days of the
nineteenth centun.-.

How

Of those
ing the following
labors.

be recalled

who worked upon

the build-

names are all that can now
Daniel Cameron, a Scotchman,

was a carpenter in charge of that part of the
work Tunis Gearhart, James and Joseph
Crosley were stonemasons William and Gil;

;

the chief plasbert Giberson, brickmasons
terer was the jolly Hibernian. Michael RafIsaac
ferty, whose home was in Danville.
Edgar, assisted by Asher Smith and John
Cope, made the brick. The other employees
on the bttilding, their particular posts not be;

ing known, were John Bryson, John Strieker,
Edwin Stocking. Alexander Johnson, Benja(iarretson. Nehemiah Hand, William
Lunger, Peter Watts, Peter Snyder, Frederick
Harbolt, James Thomas, William Doak. D.
Henderson, B. Long and T. Haller. The total
It was
cost of the building was $3,980.80.

min

commenced

in April, 1815, and completed in
September, 1816.
These, our nation builders, were a hardy
austere in their
race, pious
bigots, it may be

—

stibscription

religious tenets and practices severe of conscience and relentless in the pursuit of sin
and. in order that no sin might escape, pun-

paper are of sufficient interest to preserve for
posterity: Daniel Montgomers'. Si. 000; William Montgomery, $1,000; Joseph Maus, $100;

ishing even innocent pleasures splendid types
of the church militant, full of the fire of
patriotism, devoted to the death to liberty, and

The

principal

names

this

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
as honest as they were fearless!
They ate
heavily of a diet that was mostly meat. They

were rugged men and women, to whom life
and their Christian duties were stern realities.
They knew nothing of the refinements and effeminacy of modern times had these Ijeen
brought to them, they would have despised
them.
They had mostly fled from the dire
religious persecutions of the old world, had
;

felt the heaviest hand of persecution, the cold
dungeon and had approached the stake and
These they had left behind them
the fagot.

brave the solitudes, the malaria, the wild
and vipers, and the yet more deadly

beasts

tomahawk and

scalping knife of the cruel
What a
and pitiless savages of the forest.
school in which to rear this new race of
Look out over the fair face
nation builders
of the earth to-day and behold what these
children
of
the early days have given us,
simple
the magnificence and magnitude of their work
and the poverty and paucity of the means at
their command.
No men the world ever possessed had more thoroughly the courage of
their convictions.
Their faults and frailties
"leaned to virtue's side." As severe as they were
in their judgments, the same castiron grooves
!

they gave to others, they applied with even less
charity to themselves.
They came of a race
of religious fanatics and martyrs, and the eldest of them were born in Europe when even
the most highly civilized portions of the world
were in the travail of the ages the age of
iron and blood an age when shoemakers rose

—

;

from their benches, tailors from their boards,
and coopers dropped their hoops and staves,
and unfurled the banner of the Cross: and
gathering their followers about them, seized
the greatest empire inthe world, and chopped
off the king's head with no more awe than performing the simplest daily duty an age when
;

all

men were

savagely religious.
Great wars had been fought for religion. Gunpowder had been invented with its civilizing
explosive powers. Marching, fighting armies,
when not fighting, held religious meetings and
illiterate corporals mounted their rude pulpits
and launched their nasal thvmders of God's
Men
wrath at the heads of their officers.
kneeled down in the streets and prayed and
intensely,

;

gathered crowds and preached their fiery sermons to eager listeners. The churches were
filled three times a day on Sunday with ear-

solemn people, and prayers and singing
of psalms were the only sounds to be heard
in the towns or, for that matter, in the country.
Nearly every man was a church policeman or a minister of God, his baton or license

nest,

275

bearing no great red seal of state or church or
institution but, inspired of heaven, he became
;

sword at the garden's gate against
the entrance of all sin. And yet, out of these
stern and unyielding and perhaps bigoted men,
there developed those qualities of sturdy honesty, and sterling integrity and implicit faith in
.Almighty God, which combined to make the
patriotism that walked with bleeding feet the
snow and ice of Valley Forge and that later
struck the shackles from the arms of the dusky
slave and still later consecrated to God and
freedom the soil of Pennsylvania, on the
a flaming

;

bloody

The
seat

field of Gettysburg.
contest for the removal of the county

from Danville

Bloomsburg became

There
years rolled on.
were then planted the seeds of hatred and
jealousy which even yet are bearing fruit.
Col. John G. Freeze, in his History of Columbitter

the

bia County, says
"It is hardly worth while to write up the
Its
history of that long and bitter contest.
:

track is strewed with the wrecks of unfortunate local politicians who had mistaken the
temper of the people, or were themselves the
mere tools of more designing intriguers. Party
politics were lost sight of in the election of
county officers, and year after year removal
and anti-removal candidates tested the strength
of the respective localities."
Attempt after attempt was made to ha\e the
Legislature change the county seat, but withThese efforts ceased with the
out success.
session of 1822, and no further attempts were
in
the
made
Legislature until about 18^3 or

In November of 1833 ^^^ grand jury reported that the public records were in great
danger of destruction by fire and recommended the immediate erection of fireproof
This action again aroused the people
offices.
who had clamored for removal, and a new
movement started. Bills were introduced into
the Legislature at various sessions, only to
be defeated.
At last, on the 24th of February, 1845, ^^^
Legislature passed an act submitting the C|uestion of removal to a vote of the people, and
in October of that year a vote was taken
which resulted as follows: For removal 2,913,
against removal 1,579, making a majority for
removal of 1,334.
At once public buildings were erected at
Bloomsburg, and in November of 1847 the
records were removed to that place and the
first court held in January, 1848.
Danville's smart at defeat was of short

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

276
duration.

sooner was the county seat re-

moved than Danville's
began a movement for a

partisans and leaders
division of the county,

with Danville as the county seat.
Valentine Best, one of the earnest advocates of retaining the county seat at Danville,
was elected State senator from Columbia and
in 1850.
He made his duty.
the distinctive one of the formation
of Montour county.
He was a newspaper
publisher in Danville, and a warm partisan
of the borough in all questions affecting that
place as the county seat, and when Bloomsburg carried off the prize, he, among others,
only redoubled exertions to score even with
the people of the northern part of the county
who had carried the day in the long contest,
and left Danville to weep over her departed

Luzerne counties
chiefly,

from

said road to

by a straight

John Kinney's house thence
John Townsend's, near
;

line to

German meetinghouse thence to Henr}'
Johnson's near Millville; thence by a straight
line to a post in the
Lycoming county line,
near the road leading to Crawford's mill, together with that part of Roaringcreek township lying south and west of the line beginning at the southeastern corner of Franklin
township thence eastward by the southern
boundary' line of Catawissa township to a
point directly north of John Yeager's house;
thence southward by a direct line, including
John Yeager's house, to the Schuylkill county
line at the northeast corner of Barry townthe

;

ship."

took his seat in the Senate a position he
had won on the county seat question, and by

The Act then proceeds to provide that
never, no. never, shall any portion of Northumberland county be annexed to said county
of Montour without the unanimous consent of
the voters of Northumberland.
Then there
occurs a clause fixing Danville as the county

his

seat.

eminence.
He was an out-and-out
Democrat of the Jeffersonian kind. When he

official

—

own tireless energy and good judgment
he found that there was some fine work to
be done in order to carry through the sole
measure for which he had gone to the Senate,

forming a new county.

perceived the
was such

relation of the two political parties
that without his vote there was a

Whigs were ready

to vote for his

tie.
The
new county

if they could gain any of their ends by such
combination.
He closed at once with them,

and by

and his own he was elected
and thus he was enabled to push

their votes

speaker,

through triumphantly the bill for the erection
of Montour county.
By Act of Assembly of May 3, 1850, the
Section 2
county of ^lontour was formed.
provides as follows

"That

that part of Columbia county included within the limits of the townships of
all

Liberty, Limestone, Derry, Anthony and the borough of
Danville, together with all that portion of
the townships of Montour, Hemlock and Madison lying west of the following line, beginning at Leiby's sawmill on the bank of the
Susquehanna thence by the road leading to
the Danville and Bloomsburg road, at or near
Samviel Lazarus' house thence from the Danville and Bloomsburg road to the Rock valley at the end of the lane leading from said
road to Obed Everett's house thence by said
lane to Obed Everett's house; thence northward to the schoolhouse near David Smith's
in Hemlock township thence by the road leading from said schoolhouse to the State road at
Robin's mill to the end of the lane leading

Franklin,

Mahoning,

\'alley.

;

Section 3 provided that the people of Danshould pay all the costs of the courthouse
and jail, and annexed the county of Montour
to the Eighth Judicial district of the commonwealth.
Section 14 provides that all that portion of
Madison township lying in the new county
shall be erected into a new township called
Madison. * * * That the portion of
Hemlock township in the new county shall
be erected into a new township called West
Hemlock. * * * All that portion of Montour township in the new county shall be a
ville

*
*
*
That
called Cooper.
Roaringcreek township in the new
county shall be called Roaringcreek township.
These new townships were made election dis-

new township
part

tricts, elections to

he held in Madison at the

house of John Welliver; West Hemlock, Burtis Amwine
Cooper. Jacob Rishel Thomas
Ritter; Roaringcreek. David Yeager.
The Act appointed commissioners to locate
the boundary line of the county as follows:
Abraham Stroub. David Rockefeller and
:

;

Isaiah B. Davis.

On Jan. 15, 1853, the Assembly passed an
change the location of the line between
the counties of Columbia and Montour. SecThat Roaringtion I provides as follows
creek township, in Montour county, and such
parts of the townships of Franklin, Madison
and West Hemlock, in said county, that lie
act to

east

the adjusted

Montour counties
hereby, reannexed

line

of Columbia and

shall be, and the
to the county of

same

are

Columbia

Old Couxty Courthouse, Danville,

Pa.

Soldiers'

Monument, Memorial Park,
Danville, Pa.

jNIontour

County Courthouse, Danxille,

Pa.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
as hereinafter prescribed and established. The
act then described the new county Hne between
the two counties as follows
Beginning at
:

the Northumberland county line, at or near
the house of Samuel Readen thence a direct
course to the center of Roaring creek, in
Franklin township, twenty rods above a point
;

277

It occupies the grounds of the old building,
with the additional grounds where the building of the Friendship Fire Company stood.
The total cost of ground and building was
The contractor and architect was
$55,000.

Mr. O'Malley; the brick work was done by
the stone work by H. F. Hawke
& Co. It is a very substantial and commoin said creek opposite the house of John
dious building, plain, strong, and yet handX'ought thence down the middle of the stream
The first
of said creek to the Susquehanna river thence some in its outlines and finish.
floor is occupied by the commissioners, proto the middle of said river; thence up the
center of the same to a point opposite where thonotary, recorder, sheriflf and grand jury.
the present county line between Columbia and The second floor is devoted to the main courtMontour strikes the north bank of the river; room and jury rooms.
The whole is well furnished with all the modthence to the said north bank; thence by the
ern conveniences and appliances for the carrypresent division line between said counties to
The
the schoolhouse near the residence of David ing on of the county's legal affairs.
Smith thence to a point near the residence vaults for the records are large, comfortable
thence to the bridge over rooms.
of David Smith
The large and solid stone jail known to the
Deerlick nm on the line between Derry and
Madison townships thence by the line be- generations preceding 1890 was built in 181 7and
tween said townships of Madison
Derry 18 by Charles Mann, contractor. It had two
and Anthony to the line of Lycoming county. cells on the first story and two on the secJohn Koons^ Gilbert C. McWaine, of Luzerne ond, and also a substantial and roomy resiroof for the sheriflf.
county, and Bernard Reilly, of Schuylkill dence under the same
The present new and beautiful brick buildcounty, were appointed commissioners to run
and locate the new line.
ing, designed by Danville's competent and
Section 4 changed the name of Franklin much respected architect, John H. Brugler,
township, in Montour county, and made it was erected in 1892.
While once in a while this jail contains a
Mayberry.
Section 5 provides that so much of Mad- few prisoners, yet to the credit of the county
ison township as remains in Montour county be it said that oftener it is empty; and quite
shall hereafter compose a part of West Hem- frequently the sheriiY, instead of feeding prisB. K. Vastine

;

lock township.

The present courthouse was

built in

1871.

oners, is notifying jurors that their attendance
at court is not necessary.

CHAPTER

SOME OF THE EARLY FAMILIES
We

are in the second century since the first
came to what is now Montour county.
The only record these sturdy people had time
to make of themselves, for the contemplation
and pleasure of their posterity, consisted almost solely of the works of their own hands
amid trials and difficulties we can but poorly
settlers

Without machinery', tools,
now.
the rudest appliances of civilization,
way against appallThat they did it, not only
ing obstructions.
well, but at all, is one of the marvels in the
The world's
history of the human race.
"seven wonders" that have passed down for
the admiration of so many ages are, in the

appreciate

money or
they had

to carve out their

aggregate and abstract, but childish, simple
nothings floating bubbles cohipared to that
of the continental conquerors, these liberators

—

of the

human

race,

who

builded, no doubt,

wiser than they knew, but yet built for all
ages and for all mankind. The sublime story
of these simple, grand men and women has
never been properly told and is not underTheir
stood by their descendants of to-day.
memories have been grossly neglected, and
too often now we find that their wonderful
story has passed away forever with their decaying bones.

The few mentioned
but

in this

small portion of those

chapter include
whose family

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

278

names should be

indelibly

stamped upon the

pages of the history of Montour county, yet
these few names include about all, in connection with the accounts of others in the biographical section of this work, of whom it
has been possible to give definite and reliable
information.

write the history of the early days of

what now constitutes Montour county and
write the history of the

Montgomery family

would be mostly one and the same thing.
Gen. William Montgomery wrote this upon
the blank leaf of an old family Bible
"August

—

By the goodness of divine Prov3rd, 1809.
idence, I have this day numbered seventythree years, and it is but right that I should
leave a record of something of (jod's goodness to me in so long a life. I was the third
son of Alexander and Mary Montgomery,
who both died, leaving me an orphan ten or
eleven years old."
the
Alexander Montgomery, spoken of
above quotation, was the son of Captain Montan officer
gomery, born in 1666, who was
under William of Orange at the battle of the
memorable
Boyne, and for bravery in that
conflict was promoted to be a major in the

Alexander Montgomery was born about 1700
and died in 1746. He and his wife had eight
Wilchildren, seven sons and one daughter.
Daniel and Margaret emigrated to
liam.
Northumberland county together, from ChesWilliam was born Aug. 3, 173^).
ter county.
and died in May, 1S16. at the green old age
of eighty years. He had become a prominent
man in his native county of Chester before the
Revolution. He was a member of the "Associators" and a delegate in a convention "of
the people of the Province of Pennsylvania"
assembled in Philadelphia Jan. 2t,. 1775. He
was again a delegate to the convention that
assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia,
in June, 1776.

1776,

Colonel

(afterwards Gen-

Montgomery's battalion, the 4th Chester
its
County Militia, 450 strong, was "serving
tour" in New Jersey, and it is supposed was

eral)

Island in August. 1776Then his regiment became known as the "FlyIn
1773 he visited Northuming Camp."
berland countv, which then included Columbia
and Montour,' and Nov. 26, 1774. is the date of
in the battle of

his family to what is now Danville
1776 or early in 1777. Here his youngest
son, Alexander, was born Oct. 8, 1777, in a
log house built by his father adjoining the old
stone house still standing at the corner of
Mill and Bloom streets, and there he died, in
1848, in the same room in which he was born.

William Montgomery was a fearless borderer of brawn and brain admirably suited to
the turbulent times that were then upon the
country, and which in consequence of Indian
raids weighed so heavily upon the outer setIn 1779 he was a member of the
tlements.

Assembly from Northumberland county.
March, 1780, he voted for an act "for
gradual abolition of slavery."

Long

the deed of J. Simpson to William Montgomof land on Mahoning Creek,
ery for "180 acres
north side of the east branch of the Susquehanna, called Karkaase." This is the land on

which Danville was originally

laid out.

Wyoming and was engaged

visited

In
the

1783 he

in the set-

tlement of certain disputed claims which
threatened the peace and safety of the community. Among the papers surviving him is
the following letter, written to his wife, which

shows the work devolving upon him in this
connection, and also reveals his character as
a courtly gentleman of the old school and
the pity is, it is not of the new school also.

—

British army.

In June,

removed

Dear

—

April 21st

Wiotning
I

1783,

wrote you yesterday, but having an op-

portunity now wliich 1 thuik will be quicker 1 gladly
it
in order to relieve your mmd, but too
easily imprest with apprehension for my safety, that
I am here safe and well that there is no apprehension of the least danger from the savages, the People
here are very quiet, and I hope we will finish our

embrace

—

Negociation successfully there is no objection to
the establishment of civil Government here And I
believe they will cede their claims to the Pensylvanians on certain terms which the Pensylvanians
are willing to grant. Thus there is a probability of
Peace here as well as elsewhere this circumstance
will be to our advantage as well as comfort as it
will promote the trade and intercourse on our
Branch it will open a way to employment in my
new business, and tend to the more genteel support
and education of a rising family, for this purpose I
can cheerfully undergo the fatigues thereof, Nor
will I consider it otherwise than as a pleasure if it
will contribute to the enjoyment of anything whereby I can gratify so amiable a person as yourself;
which to do, is, & I hope will continue to be, the
pride and glory of Your .\ffect. Hbd

—

Wm.

Montgomery.

Wm. Montgomery

was elected, by
of Congress, which
position he resigned Feb. 7, 1785. That year
he was appointed president judge of NorthIn 1784
the Assembly, a

member

umberland and Luzerne counties. While in
this position he was still actively interested
in the adjustment of these disputed claims.
The following letter from Benjamin Franklin shows the estimate in which he was held by

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
those having the adjustment of these claims
in

hand

COUNCIL

GIVEN

in Council,

279

Hand

under the

The Hon-

orable Charles Eiddle, esquire, Vice President, and
the Seal of the State, at Philadelphia, this twenty
third day of July in the Year of our Lord one thou-

sand seven hundred and eighty seven

ATTEST
Philadelphia

May

27th

1786

Sir

The Council have received your letter of the seventeenth and twentieth instant by General Bull, containing the important Intelligence of fresh disturbances at Wioming, which will be taken into Considare sensible of your attention to the
eration.
and
public welfare manifested in these dispatches;
desire you would continue to send us what farther
information you may from time to time obtain of
the proceedings in that part of the Country; using in
the mean while what influence you have, to quiet
the minds of the unhappy settlers there, by assuring
them that there is the best disposition in the Government to treat them equitably and even with kindness,
and to take them under its protection and to extend
to them all the privileges of our free and happy
Constitution, on their demonstrating by their peaceable and orderly behaviour that the sentiments exAssempressed in their late petition to the General
to
bly are sincere, and that they are truly disposed
become good citizens.—
hope they will wisely
all Thought
pursue this Conduct and thereby render
of taking compulsive measures unnecessary.

am, with much Esteem
most humble servant

Franklin

William Montgomery Esquire

Northumberland
In 1787 Wm. Montgomery was appointed
commissioner to execute the act of Assembly
entitled "an act for ascertaining and confirmcalled 'Connecticut
ing to certain persons
Claimants' the lands by them claimed in the
His commission
County of Luzerne," etc.
a

OF THE STATE
OF PENNSYLVANIA)
(SF-M

(Just opposite this seal on the margin
Chas. Biddle.]

and by the

the

name

AUTHORITY

^
t'fN'^ME
of the Commonwealth
FREEMEN

of the
of Pennsylvania.

THE SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, OF
THE said Commonwealth,
To William Montgomery Esquire
We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence

in your
Prudence, Integrity, and Abilities, have appointed
vou the said William Montgomery our Commissioner
for executing the Act of Assembly, entitled "An Act
for ascertaining and confirming to certain persons
called Connecticut Claiments the Lands by them
claimed in the County of Luzerne &c
You are therefore by these Presents commissionated
to have and hold the said Office of Commissioner
with all the
Rights Powers. Salaries [this word is erased m
Ofhce
to
the
said
Emoluments
and
belongoriginal
ing or bv Law in anv Wise appertaining, until this
Commission shall be legally revoked
,

Scty.

December. 1787, he was appointed deputy
of Northumberland and Luzerne
when he received this appointment
he resigned his office of president judge of
In

surveyor
cotmties

;

the courts. In 1791 he was induced to accept
a commission as justice of the peace. These
last two named acts are
strongly characteristic of the man himself.
In 1808 he was
presidential elector, the vote of Northumberland county standing: William Montgomery,
Republican-Democrat, 2,793 fof the Federal
!

Presidt.

President of the Courts of Common pleas Quarter
Sessions and Orphans Court—of the County of

reads as follows

Nathan Denison.

ATTEST
John Armstrong,

candidate, 220.
This is but the briefest outline of his mil-

Sir, Y'our

On the 22d day of August 1787 Before me the
Subscriber, Member of the Supreme Executive
Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appeared William Montgomery, Esq., and took the
Oath prescribed by the Above recited Act of Assembly in due form of Law and the Oath of Allegiance as prescribed by the Constitution

His permanent greatitary and official life.
ness and fame should rest chiefly upon his
domestic, commercial and agricultural labors.
To the little colony of settlers he was much
like a careful and protecting father. He boldly
ventured tipon any scheme of merchandising
or manufacturing that promised to yield good
fruits to the people.
In an address to his
neighbors in the dawn of this century he told
them that these hills were full of iron, and he
believed there were those listening to him who
would live to see here great iron factories,
employing vast numbers of laborers and yieldHis
'"S boundless wealth to the country.
prophecy became entirely
lished
j^^jj,

here the
^j^^

first

^^^

j^^.^^

fulfilled.

estab-

saw, grist and woolen
^

^
.1
r
almost everythmg
that gave such powerful
mipetus to the building up of the town of
Danville. We cannot better conclude this ac^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ completing the quotation, from
„
^,
vuu-i
Generaliat'I
Montgomery s own words, with which
•

^.^

we commenced

^^^j
married Margaret Nivin she was
u
u
she
that could be expected in a woman
was pious, sensible and afifectionate she lived
with me about thirteen years and had issue.
..j

n ^u

all

;

•

;

Mary, who died at twenty-three years of age
,,
u j- a -^ :„i
at
u
Ale.xander. who died in infancy Margaret who
died in the same year with her sister William,
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

280

who is still alive and has a large family, is
about forty-seven years old John, who is
about two years younger and has also a large
family Daniel, who is still two years younger
than John and has a family Alexander, who
died about one year old.
"About twenty-two months after her decease I married Isabella Evans, a most distinguished and delightful woman, by whom I
had issue, Robert, born in April, 1773; Hannah, born the 22d of January, 1775; Alexander, born October 8, 1777, and Margaret,
born January 8, 1784. The three former are
still living, but she died soon after her marTheir mother
riage with Thomas Woodside.
;

;

called away from me in August, 1791,
and in April, 1793, I married a worthy and
eminent woman her maiden name was Boyd,
and she was the widow of Col. Mathew Boyd,
by whom she had issue, John, who died with
the dysentery, aged about twenty-three years
also, Rebekah, who is married to Rev. John
B. Patterson, lives happily and is raising a
But I have had no issue by my
fine family.
present wife nor has any uneasiness arisen
Nor can it be said that
in consequence of it.
any of .my children have had step-mothers,

was

;

being always treated with as much tenderness
and respect as they could have expected from
Another instance of my
their own mothers.
happiness, and for which I ought to be very
thankful, is the untarnished morality of my
children, and the peace and harmony that has
always subsisted among them.
"Through all this long life I have been

abundantly provided for, have enjoyed honor
enough unsought by any other means than
honestly endeavoring to do my duty to my
God and my country great health and much
comfort, retaining my natural powers with little diminution until about five or six years
the advances
past, since when I feel sensibly
of age. But I hope that goodness and mercy
which have followed me through life will not

—

forsake
tinue

me when
conduct

gray hairs appear, but con-

me down

death,

after

which, through the merits of our Lord Jesus
Christ alone and the mercy of God our
Saviour, I hope to obtain eternal rest and
happiness.

Wm. Montgomery.

"Note

this

year the woolen factory at Dan-

ville established

under

care."

D.XNiEL Montgomery, brother of Gen. William Montgomery, came with his brother from
Chester county and for a long time lived in
an old frame house on Water street, Dan-

where Philip Benzbach now lives. He
was a painter and said to be a very good one.
Gen. D.\niel Montgomery was the third
son of the above Gen. William Montgomery,
and was fifteen years old when his father

ville,

brought his family to Danville to reside. When
only twenty-five years of age, under the guidance and assistance of his father, Daniel

Montgomery opened the first store in DanSoon he was the trusted merchant and
factor of a wide circle of patrons. This first
store building was where the
"Montour
House" now stands. On Nov. 27, 1791, Daniel
Montgomery married Miss Christiana StrawThe next year he laid out the town
bridge.
of Danville
the part east of Mill street. The
new town received its baptismal name from
the abbreviation of his
Christian name,
through the partiality of his customers. From
this time until his death he was the most
prominent man in this part of the State.
Elected to the Legislature in 1800, he at once
took his father's place as a trusted leader in
the public enterprises and politics of his district.
By leading men throughout the State
he was recognized as a man of great influence
ville.

—

wisely shaping public affairs. During his
active political life of many years he carried
on his extensive mercantile establishment, purchased and owned large tracts of land. In
1805 he was lieutenant-colonel in the 8ist

He was appointed
Pennsylvania Militia.
major-general of the 9th Division July 2"],

He was the chief promoter in the
1809.
building of turnpike roads in this portion of
the State.
Elected to Congress in 1807 as a
Democrat, he served out his term ably and
He
acceptably and declined a reelection.
worked efficiently for the division of Northumberland county and the erection of ColumDanville was made
bia and Union counties
the county seat of Columbia county, and the
father and son donated the land for the county
buildings, and contributed largely in money
In 1823, though
towards their erection.
;

strongly urged by prominent men all over the
State, he declined to stand for the office of
governor. In 1828 he was appointed one of
the canal commissioners, and it was while he
was in this office that the great internal State

—

among
improvements were inaugurated
others the North Branch canal was located
and well advanced towards completion. He
was a large stockholder and a strong promoter
of the Danville Bridge Company, completing
the bridge in 1829. He originated the project
of the Danville & Pottsville railroad and was
Besides adfirst president of the company.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ministering these varied positions of trust,
great labor and responsibility, he, like his
Gen. Daniel
father, was a noted farmer.
Montgomery died at his residence in Danville
on Friday, Dec. 30, 1831, aged sixty-six years.
The old family Bible bears the following record of his children: Margaret, born Oct. 18,
1792, died April i, 1845, unmarried; Isabella,
bom Aug. I, 1794, died Oct. 11, 1813, unmarried; Mary, born July 26, 1796, died Sept. 2,
1797; Thomas, born July 19, 1798, died Feb.
22, 1800; Hannah, born Oct. 16, 1800, was
married to J. C. Boyd in May, 1820; William,
born Jan. 11, 1803, died Jan. 23, 1873, aged
seventy, bachelor; Polly, born Feb. 6, 1805,
married Dr. W. H. Magill May i, 1828 (they
Chrishad two sons and three daughters)
tina, born March i, 1809, died May 26, 1836,
unmarried Daniel Strawbridge, born July 2,
181 1, died March 26, 1839.
Judge William Moxtgomerv was a son
of Daniel Montgomery the elder and a nephew
;

;

He was a
Gen. William Montgomery.
merchant, doing business in the store at the
corner of Mill and Market streets and reof

He was apsiding on the opposite corner.
pointed the first postmaster of Danville in
This position
1806 by President Jefferson.
he held for seven years and in the administration of the office gave universal satisfaction.
Judge Montgomery was a man highly respected in the church and in the community,
and all his influence was used for the betterment of mankind. Chiefly through his eft'orts
the first Sunday school was established in
Danville in 1816. On Aug. 5, 181 5, he was appointed associate judge of Columbia county.

Phillip
In

Maus was

company with

born

his parents

Prussia, 1731-

he came to Phil-

adelphia in 1 74 1, being then ten years old. He
attended school, and soon could speak and
In
write both English and German fluently.
1750 he was apprenticed to the trade of manuthat
a
circumstance
stockings,
facturing
enabled him in the times of the Revolution
the
and
benefit
to
aid
country. W^ithin
greatly
five years after he commenced to learn his
trade he established himself in the business,
conducting it with great success for the next
twenty years, when the troubles with the

Phillip

native

281

Maus married Frances Heap,

England, a most estimable wife,

mother and friend. When his business furnished him the capital he invested it in the
purchase of 600 acres of land. The patents
from Thomas and John Penn are dated April
3, 1769, and are among the earliest in what is

now Montour

The proprietaries recounty.
served a perpetual quitrent of twopence per
acre, which was paid until the Commonwealth compensated the Penns and became the
The tract of land
proprietor of the lands.
lay in the rich and fertile valleys of Valley
At
the
time
of
the
township.
purchase it lay
on the outer fringe of the settlements, and
hence no improvements were made on the
But as
property until after the Revolution.
soon as peace and safety permitted Mr. Maus
brought his family to this place, and for more
than thirty years it was his home. The children of this happy union were George, born
1759; Elizabeth, 1761
Phillip, 1763; Susan,
1765; Samuel, 1767; Lewis, 1773; Charles,
1775; Joseph, 1777; Jacob, 1781.
During the Revolution Mr. Maus was an
:

;

and earnest patriot. He formed the
intimate acquaintance, which extended to the
end of their days, of Benjamin Franklin and
Mr. Maus invested very
Robert Morris.
largely of his ample fortune in furnishing
clothing to the army, took his pay in Continental money, and of this money, when it
became valueless, he had several thousand
Basket fuls of this old curdollars on hand.
rency may yet be found in the possession of
Philip F. Maus. What would a modem army
contractor think if he was to hear this story?
Here is a letter that now possesses a historical
active

interest

Philadelphia, 9 Octo. 1776.

—

Mr. Samuel Updegraff, Sir
By the bearer, Mr.
Joseph Kerr, I send you the ballance of the price
of 8 doz pairs of buckskin breeches I bought of
you, having paid you ig in advance, the ballance
being £143 3s. which he will pay you on delivering
him the goods. If you have any more to dispose of
he will contract with you for them, and I shall be
Your humble
glad if you and him can agree.
:

servant,

Phillip Maus.

His
mother country suspended operations.
brothers were Frederick, Charles and Mathew.
The latter became a prominent surgeon in the

Leather breeches, moccasins and hunting
shirts of the same, were the clothing of some
of the grandfathers of many of our most

war and was with General Montgomery in his
expedition into Canada, and when Montgomery fell before Quebec he aided Colonel Burr

artistocratic

in carrying away his body.
Dr. Maus served
through the entire war of independence.

and exclusive people of fashion
and wealth of the present day.
At the close of the war Mr. Maus'
fortune was so reduced that he turned

his attention to his land in

Montour county,

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

282

in
He
1782.
fant settlement of Danville,

found the inwhich had then
been founded by Daniel Montgomery and his
brother William, to consist of a few log
cabins and half a dozen families, nearly all
from the southeastern portion of the State
and the western part of New Jersey. His
lands, when he then looked upon them, presented a mass of verdure and "deep tangled

coming here

wildvvood," stretching along the northern base
of Montour's Ridge, with the Mahoning flowing through them. He brought with him from
Philadelphia two carpenters, and his son I'hillip, and with willing hands they cleared away
the great forest and made his beautiful
farm.
He erected the first cabin in \'alIts site was on the
right
ley township.
bank of the stream, nearly half a mile
from the present stone mill. He contracted
for the clearing of other parts of his land,
but then the Indian troubles commenced,
and the people in these unprotected parts had
Beto flee to Northumberland for safety.
fore leaving the place everything they could
such
as
not carry away,
implements, tools, etc.,
was carefully buried and secreted from the
Indians. The place was then rented to Peter
Blue and James Sutphel, the bargain being
that the lessees were to return and occupy
the lands as soon as it would be safe to do so.

Mr. Maus and family remained in Northumberland only a brief time and then proceeded
to Lebanon, where they remained one year
then returned to Northumberland, remained
three or four years, and then came back to
:

the

Mahoning

settlement.

Maus, son of Joseph and Sallie
Montgomery, and grandson of Phillip Maus,
one of the first settlers in what is now ValPhilip F.

six
all

children,

whom

four sons and two daughters,
e.xcept Philip E. died in infancy.

Mrs. Sarah (Gallaher) Maus was a daughWilliam and Margaret Gallaher, who
were early settlers in what is now Lycoming
county they were of Scotch-Irish descent.
John C. Gulics was born in Mahoning
township Dec. i, 1807, a son of John and
Mary (Gearhart) Gulics, natives of New JerGrandfather Jacob Gearhart was a Revsey.
olutionary soldier, attaining the rank of captain, and was long in the service under General Washington. John and Mary Gulics had
ter of

;

five children.

Nathaniel Wilson and
(Bond)

were of the early

his

wife Sarah

settlers

the

They were natives

county. Liberty township.
of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent.
Nathaniel was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Descendants of the Bonds and Wilsons are
now citizens of Montour county.

Samuel Kirkham. How

that

name

brings

up old schools days and "parsing grammar!"
Pennsylvania must have bred great grammarians
Lindley Murray was a native of York
county, and Mr. Kirkham was a teacher in

—

the Danville schools in 1819 to 1821.
It is
said what little grammar Abraham Lincoln

knew he got from Kirkham's grammar.
Daniel Frazer was born May 2, 1755.

ever

and married Sarah Wilson in 1772. She died
i'l
He was again married, his second
1775wife being Isabella Watson, whom he married on the 6th day of February, 1777. Daniel
Frazer came here in 1790. He purchased a
farm of John Frazer, 100 acres. Here he resided

thirty-eight

years,

or until his death,

which occurred on the 26th day of March.
1828. All the south part of his farm is now
He was
in the corporate limits of Danville.
ley township, lived until the year 1891 at
a
most estimable farmer, and his death was
Mausdale, in Montour county. Philip Eugene
Maus, his son, now lives upon the old home- mourned by a wide circle of friends. His
stead at Mausdale, and the direct line of de- children were Charles, Emma,
Margaret,
Alexander. Sarah. Jane, William.
scent is as follows
Phillip Maus, his son James,
Daniel and Thomas.
Joseph, Joseph's son Philip P.. and Philip Christiana M., Agnes.
Dr. Benjamin F. Young resided in NorthF.'s son, Philip Eugene Maus.
now Montour) county between
Joseph Maus was born in Philadelphia in umberland
October, 1777, and catne to this county with 1794 and the date of his death, March 2^,.

;

(

his parents

when about

eight years old.

1808 he married Sallie, daughter of John
Montgomery, of Paradise farm. The issue of

marriage was Philip
1810, and John M., born

this

Maus died
ery) Maus

F.,
in

born Sept. 27,
1812.
Joseph

Sallie (MontgomJuly 26. 1867.
died May 20. 1872. John M. mar-

Rebecca Gray in 1833. Philip F. Maus
married Sarah Gallaher. of Lycoming county.
Of this marriage there were
in May, 1838.
ried

1803.

Ellis Hughes came here a school teacher
and for some time taught in the schoolhouse
a short distance from where the "Montour

;

He was appointed regstands.
and recorder by the governor, and served

House" now
ister

to the entire satisfaction of the public.
died in 1850.
William H.nrtman came to Danville in
18 14, a chairmaker, at that time a very con-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
kind of workman to have in a community where three-legged stools were chiefly
He died in 1851. His
the seats of honor.
children were Joseph, Duncan, Jane, Frances,
Emily (wife of Samuel Pardoej and Sarah
veiiient

(wife of George W. Forrest j.
Rev. Is.'^ac Grier, S. T. D., was the son
of [ohn Grier, who in the seventeenth century was rescued as he and his wife were
about to be driven into one of the lakes of
Ireland on account of their religion.
John
Grier and his wife fled to this country and
Rev. Isaac
settled in the Cumberland valley.
He graduated at
Grier was born in 1764.
the
entered
in
and
Dickinson College
1788

He studied
Presbyterian ministry in 1791.
theology with Rev. Thomas Cooper, D. D., of
Middle Spring Church, in the Cumberland
valley, and married Dr. Cooper's daughter.
He

and

estab-

lished there the brick college so well

known

settled

throughout

at
all

Northumberland
this

Dr.

region.

Grier was

1794. to the pastorate of the three
congregations which in 1792 were combined
called, in

form the Great Island Church

now Lock Haven.
The following were

the

what
of

children

Dr.

Isaac Grier and his wife:
(ij Hon. Robert
C. Grier, mentioned in Chapter VI among
He was
the members of the bar at Danville.

an eminent lawyer and in 1846 was appointed,
by President Polk, a justice of the Supreme
He was long an
court of the United States.
elder in Dr. Bordman's Church, Philadelphia.
(2) Thomas Grier, who attended Princeton
in the DanCollege and taught for some time
ville Academy.
(3) Rev. Isaac Grier, D. D.,
Buftalo
of
the
for nearly fifty years pastor
rVesbyterian Church, and for part of the time,
connection with the [Uift'alo charge, pastor
of White Deer Church, both in the Presbyin

tery of

Northumberland.

"An

active

and use-

beloved by the people whom
he served so long, and held in high esteem
ful pastor, greatly

(4) John C. Grier,
for manv years a merchant and active citizen
in Dan\-iire, interested in all that was good
About
and for the uplifting of the town.
died
184s he removed to" Peoria, 111., and
about 1895, aged ninety years.
(5) Michael
C. Grier, Jtor many years one of the substanHe was
tial and leading citizens of Danville.

by his co-presbyters."

long a ruling elder in the
terian

Montgomery. He was the father of I. X.
Grier and Rev. John B. Grier, D. D., of Danville, William Alexander M. Grier, now of
Brooklyn, N. Y., Mrs. Mary Ely, of Peoria,
and Mrs. Jennie Youngman, now de111.,
He died Dec. 25, 1879. (6) Gen.
William N. Grier, a graduate of West Point
and a brigadier general in the regular army,
ceased.

who

spent much of his life in the military
service of his country, in New Mexico and
other places on the frontier. He served for
some time in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil war, under the command of Gen.
George B. McClellan. (7) Martha B. Grier,

who married John Thomas
ning, Pa.

Rev.

the

Grove

Church, in the organization of which he took
He married Isabella Montan active part.
gomerv, daughter of Alexander Montgomery,
and after heV death married her sister, Mar>'

Orr, of Kittan-

Elizabeth Grier, who married
C. Strong, D. D., of the Dutch
Church of Flatbush, Long Island.
(8j

Thomas

Reformed

Jane Grier, who married William Hibof Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
( 10)
Margaret
Grier, who married Henry C. Sproul, for a
(9)

bler,

long time clerk of the LInited States District
court at Pittsburg.
(11) Anna Grier, who
died unmarried.
Nov. 24, 1784, is the date of the oldest record extant containing a partial list of those
who were first here. It was a subscription

drawn by Gen. William Montgomery's
hand and entitled "Preaching Subscription."
It was not especially sectarian, and as all men
in those days were deeply religious in faith
and pined for the expotinding of God's word,
paper,

it
is quite probable that the
list contained
nearly every head of a family then in the
county who was able to subscribe towards the
To
desired fund.
It is an interesting relic.
their descendants it is a kind of "Declaration
of Independence signers," and it is due their
memories that their histories, so far as can
The list
be now obtained, be gathered up.
is here given in full, and following it is such
an account of their descendants as it has been
possible to gather from some of the oldest

citizens.

Following is the document
respectively subscribed

and the amounts

We. the subscribers, promise to pay the several
to our names into the hands of such
person as shall be named by a majority of us to rethe same, to be set apart as a fund
collect
ceive and
for the encouragement and promoting the preaching
of the Gospel among us at the settlement of
sums annexed

Mahoning Presby- Mahoning.

Church and afterwards

283

Done

this

twcntv-fourth dav of November, 1784.
£

Emmitt
Jas. Emmitt
Charlie McClahan

Jno.

David Subingall

6
6
o

7
i

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

284

Blew
Wilson
Barry

Peter
Jno.
Jos.

Jno. Irwin

David Carr
Jacob Carr
Gilbert Voorhes
Wm. Montgomery, Jr
James Henry
William Gray
Asahel Fowler
Benjamin Fowler
Robert Henry
James Grimes
Martin Todd
Peter

gravely related, went there to dig after Emmet
had fled and left his digging implements. He,
too, fled in terror before the spooks and went

o
6
6

o
15
7
7
17
12

6
o

o
6

6
6

Melick

Wm. Montgomery

John Evart
John Black
Daniel
Peter

and

i
I

Kelly

Rambo

John Emmet
John Clark
Andrew Cochran

o
o

o
6

McMullan
Thomas Giles
Ale.x.

Robert Giles
William Lemar
William Moreland

7
15
i

Wheeler
Levi Wheeler

John

2
15
7
7

Garret

Vancamp
John Ogden
Lemuel Wheeler
David Goodman
Joseph Roseberry, Jr

A man

7
10
2

o
6
o
6

o
6
o

oft'

die.

and

named Runyon,

was

died.

William

Clark, in company with his
brother John, kept Clark's tavern, which stood
where the Brown building now stands on Mill
The old building was burned down in
street.
1835 or 1836.
Andrew Cochr.-\n died many years ago.
William Crowle was a stonemason and
helped build the old still.

Thomas Gaskins and
the earliest settlers here.

family were

He had

among

si.x

chil-

dren:

John, Jonathan, Thomas, Mrs. Polly
McMullin, Mrs. Betsy Forsyth and Rachel
(unmarried). Of these, John was born here
in 1775 and died in 1856.
He was the father
of \\'illiam G. Gaskins, born in 1817, who died

number

of years ago.
extant the constitution of the Male
Sunday school of Danville, which gives a number of other names of the early settlers here.
These names are as follows
Ira Daniels,
a

There

James Humphreys, James Montgomery, William Wilson, Josiah McClure, John Irwin,
William \\hitaker, Jeremiah Evans,

W'illiani

Woods, Joseph Prutzman, D. C. Barrett, W.
Montgomery, John Russel, Charles M. Frazer.
Rev. William B. Montgomery, son of Col.

In those days distance had but small control
determining where the good people would
attend divine service. And it is highly probable that the subscribers above named included families from ever\- settlement in the
in

county.

Peter Blew- Blue) lived in \'alley towngood man and a much esteemed neigh(

ship, a

bor among his farmer neighbors.

John Wilson, we

are told,

was a Quaker.

John, Thomas and William lived many years
in Frosty valley, on the Back road.

David .xnd J.\cob C.\rr settled just across
from Danville.
John Evart (Everitt) lived in Frosty val-

the river

ley.

John Black lived in Derry
where he died many years ago.

township,

John Emmet

lived in Frosty valley.
He
removed to Bloomsburg. It is told that he
was one of the believers in the wild story that

the Indians, before they left these parts,
buried vast treasures of gold in this hill. There
was a further wild superstition that those who
attempted to dig and find the hidden treasure
would be stricken by the spell of the dusky
ghosts, and would

flee in

terror and pine

away

John Montgomery and grandson of Gen. William Montgomery, was born at Danville about
the year 1788. He graduated at Princeton in
the class of 1808, studied theology with Rev.
John B. Patterson, pastor of the Mahoning
Presbyterian Church, and was licensed to
preach Nov. 12, 1816. On Feb. 19, 1821, he
was ordained to the gospel ministry and immediately with his wife, Jane Robinson, left
as a missionary to the Osage Indians, in Indian Territory, where for more than thirty
years he labored zealously and successfully
for his Master.
The field was then far distant from his home, the work was humble, the
difliculties great, but this brave soldier of the
Cross worked with patience and faith, looking for the "Crown of Righteousness which
the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall gi\e him
at that day."
He died at his post of duty
July 17, 1834, of Asiatic cholera.
John Deen, Sr., the first of the name in
the limits of this county, came here in 1790.

He was born
When he was
sea — a

in Philadelphia Dec. 22. 1783.
an infant his father was lost at

seafaring

man

command

of a ves-

His mother, Eleanor (Frazier) Deen,
was a native of Scotland, and some of the
sel.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Fraziers were of the earliest settlers in this
of the State.
John Deen came to
county with his uncle in his seventh year.
The widow married John Wilson. She died
in Danville Oct. i, 1827, in her sixty-sixth
year, and was buried in the old Presbyterian
cemetery. Here John lived from the time he
came with his uncle, Daniel Frazier, whose
log house was on the hillside a little east of
Bloom street, near the present site of the Reformed church, his farm covering the ground
that is now the Fourth ward.
Here at the
short-termed subscription schools John acquired what education he possessed. In 1796
portion
this

he was apprenticed to Mr. Hendrickson to
learn blacksmilhing. In 1809 he married Mary
Flack, daughter of Hugh and Susan Flack,
who was born near Washingtonville in April,
The Flacks were a large family, and
1785.
their descendants
have intermarried with
of the pioneer families. The father on
the maternal side of the Flacks was McBride,
another of the very early settlers in what is

many

285

one in Culp's eddy, above. The fish caught
here at that time were many and of the best
quality, shad weighing as high as seven pounds
and salmon weighing fifteen pounds, rockfish

The best fish sold at six or
thirty pounds.
seven cents a pound. The women made the
twine of which the nets were woven, as they
also

made

the clothes

worn by men and wom-

The spinning wheel and the loom were
then to be heard in almost every house. The
first woolen factory was erected in Danville
more than one hundred years ago. It was on
Mahoning creek at the Northumberland street
crossing. These facts are gathered from Mr.
Deen's old account book.
John Deen's close industry and economy
en.

brought him prosperity, and in 1820 he purchased of John Montgomery the land running
eastward along the south side of Market
street, paying one hundred dollars per acre
This was stony ground and not fit
for it.
for cultivation however, it was once a great
It has long been covplace for blackberries.
ered with the fine improvements we now see
;

now Montour county McBride settled on a
farm at what is now Whitehall.
In 1826, in addition to his business of
there.
In 1809 Mr. Deen and wife came to Dan- farming and his large blacksmith shop, Mr.
ville.
The town was then a mere hamlet of Deen purchased of the patentee the right to
;

He here erected what is now the
eastern end of the frame house lately owned

manufacture threshing machines and opened a
factory. These were evidently good machines
and well made. Mr. Deen had contracts on
the canal then being constructed, as well as on
the river bridge. When the canal was opened
he owned and ran a boat thereon in the coal
trade. At an age when ordinary men usually
retire from active business life he built the
tannery on the river near Church street.
On Ian. 5, 1852, his faithful helpmate departed this life. After a long and useful life,
widely esteemed and beloved by a great circle

by his eldest daughter, Airs. Julia Ann Bowyer, where he lived the remainder of his life.
The work in a blacksmith shop in those
days was very different from that of to-day.

of friends, he breathed his last July 16, 1864,
leaving behind seven children, all of whom are
now deceased. His eldest son, John, married
Jane Hutton and died in 1874: Julia Ann mar-

log buildings scattered over the territory west
of what is now Church street and south of

the canal.
He occupied the corner on which
is now the residence of W. G. Shoop, at Market and Ferry streets, where he lived until

Here he had his smithy shop; here
1814.
three of his children were born, viz.
Thomas,
who died at the age of five years, John and
:

He then purchased ground on
Julia Ann.
the opposite side of the street of Daniel Montgomery.

There was very little machinery everything ried John Rowyer; James married Margaret
had to be hammered out on the anvil, and Sanders
Jane married Thomas Brandon
charcoal was the only fuel used.
Mr. Deen's Hannah married Rev. Amos B. Still Perr}-.
account books are still in the possession of the voungest son, married Jane Ritchie, and
the family and here are recorded business after her death married Jane Fullmer; Susan,
transactions dating back to so long a period the youngest of the familv, married Isaac
;

;

now

possess

much

historic

interest.

was worth $100 to $120
Buckwheat was selling at thirty to
per ton.
In 1824 wheat sold
thirty-five cents a bushel.
for $1,871/2.
A day's ploughing with two
horses was worth $1.40.
Soon after making his residence here, Mr.
Deen obtained an interest in a fishery located
above the mouth of Mahoning creek, and also
Bar iron

at that time

Tyler.
J.\coB Sechler was the son of John Sechler, an early settler, who bought part of the
Montgomery Purchase included in the boundaries of Danville. John Sechler, the father,
was a Revolutionary hero, surviving the winter at \'alley Forge and said to have been an
officer

on Washington's

brother came to what

staff'.

now

John and

his

Danville some

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

286

time between 1780 and 1790.
The}' bought
part of the Montgomery Purchase, John takthe
land
at
is now the
what
ing
beginning
river bank at Church street thence eastward
beyond the present site of the State Hospital
thence northward to the vicinity of Toby Run
Hollow; thence westward to what is now the
Bloom road thence southward to the present
Church street. Jacob Sechler, son of John,
was born in what is now Danville, Oct. 9,
;

;

He served in the "Danville Blues" in
1790.
the war of 1812 and was the last survivor of
that company.
He was an enterprising and
useful citizen and was one of the pioneers of
this region noted for his honesty, industry and

For many years he lived
sterling integrity.
on the farm within the present limits of Danville, later known as the "Beaver farm,'' and

ville, on the south side of the river, known
ever since as the "Boyd farm."
This farm
was given Mrs. Boyd by her father as a marMr. Boyd built the stone gristmill
riage gift.
which still stands on the old farm, as also the
well known white mansion house which in all
its stateliness has survived the wreck of time.

joined his most active father-in-law in the

many enterprises in which he was engaged,
chief among which was the Danville and
Pottsville railroad. His biographer says
"Mr.
Boyd was a man of irreproachable life and
:

most agreeable manners, dignified and upright.
He had a thorough knowledge of men and
rarely
all his

was wrong

in his estimate of them.
In
intercourse with those with whom he

had to do, he was always the same courteous
and considerate gentleman, never giving ofnow a part of the property of the State Hos- fense by thoughtless or inconsiderate words
He died Dec. 26, 1880, or actions. He had the confidence and respect
pital for the Insane.
aged ninety-one years.
Jacob Sechler was of all his neighbors and friends."
twice married, first to a Miss Reese, a Swiss
He died Aug. 18, 1849, '" h's fifty-si.xth
Huguenot, and upon her death to Mrs. Ann year. He left surviving him children as folGilbert.
His family consisted of eleven chil- lows
Mary L., married to William Neal, of
dren, all born of his first wife, two of the Bloomsburg; D. Montgomery Boyd; H. Fliza
eleven dying in early life.
Those who grew Boyd, who died tmmarried James Boyd J.
to maturity were
Abraham, who died when Alexander Boyd; Christiana J. Boyd, married
eighty-three years of age Samuel, who died to Col. \\'illiam M. McClure and Joseph C.
at the age of eighty-two Jacob, who died at Boyd.
the age of ninety years Mary, who married
John Lundv was born at Millville. ColumJoseph Miller, and who afterwards married bia Co., Pa., July 22, 1799. He was the son
Thomas Coxey, the father of the famous of Ephraim and Elizabeth Lundy. On .Vpril
"General" Coxey Charles Sechler, who died II, 1822, he married Mercy Morrison, who
at the age of sixty-two
Alem, who died at was born Aug. 25, 1799, daughter of John and
the age of seventy-eight years
Frank, who .'^arah Morrison, of Gettysburg, Pa.
John
died at the age of eighty-two James, who died Lundy came to Danville about 1822 and purat the age of seventy-five and Marquis de La- chased the property at the southeast corner of
fayette Sechler. who died at the age of Market and Pine streets, where he lived until
his death, and where his widow resided until
seventy.
John C. Boyd was born in Chester county her death. This valuable comer was purin 1794.
His father was John Boyd, who chased by John Lundy, about the time he came
sened for seven years in the army of the Rev- to Danville, for $75. There was a superstiolution and at the end of that time was hon- tion that the property was haunted and no one
The chilorably discharged, returning home, as his was willing to risk its purchase.
biographer says, "\\'ith nothing left but his dren of John Lundy and his wife Mercy were
horse and equipments." Yet still that same as follows
( i ) Rev. John Patterson Lundy,
year 1782 he married Mar\- Cowen and at D. D., born Feb. 3, 1823, graduated at Princehimself
in
a
near
once established
ton University in the class of 1846 and at
tannery
Cochranville, Chester county, where he car- Princeton Theological Seminarv' in 1849. He
ried on a profitable business for some years. entered the Presbyterian ministry upon his
John C. Boyd married Hannah Montgomery, graduation, but in 1855 changed to the Episdaughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomen.', May copal ministry. He was interested in forestry
and has the credit of first calling attention to,
tS. 1820, and shortly after came to Danville
Mr. Boyd opened a store in the and promoting, the science of forestn,-; he was
to reside.
building forinerly occupied by his father-in- one of the founders of the Pennsylvania ForHe died Dec. 11, 1892^
law, located on the lot where the "Montour estry Association.
LTcuse" new stands. In 1824 he sold out and (2) Sarah Elizabeth Lundy, born Jan. 23.
removed to the farm a few miles above Dan- 1826, became the wife of John McHenry, of
:

;

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Benton, Columbia county.
gill

Lundy was born Nov.

(3) William
(4

25, 1827.

)

Ma- many years a leading druggist in Danville
Christian M.
Mary D., married to Lieut.
;

Ann

Lundy, born Nov. 26, 1829, became the wife
of Peter Adams, who at this writing is still
(5) Harliving at his home on Ferry street.
riet Newell Lundy, bom Dec. i, 1831, marC. Russell, a well known resident of Danville for many years, whose children, still living, are Robert \V. Russell, Andrew B. Russell, John L. Russell, Harry N.
Russell, Walter Russell, Albert L. Russell and
ried

Andrew

(6) Charles Gotslafif
1834.
(7) Albert
July 24, 1836, died

Miss Elizabeth Russell.

Lundy was born June
Dunlap

26,

Lundy, born

recently.

Dr. Willi.\m H. Magill, the "beloved phywas born in Montgomery county. Pa.,
He was the son of William
24, 1795.
and Mary Dunlap Magill. He came to Danville in 1818 and began the practice of medicine, his family having moved to Dan\ille in
His mother built the house on Market
1814.
street known ever since as the "Magill Homestead."
On May i, 182S, he married Mary,
Dr.
daughter of Gen. Daniel Montgomery.
Magill played a large part in the earlier life

sician,"

March

of Danville. He had a large practice and had
the happy faculty of bringing brightness and
cheer into the sickroom, while his sterling integrity and open-heartedness won for him the
conficlence and respect of all the families to

whom

he ministered. The family physician,
the early days even more than now, stood
near
the life and center of the home. His
very
skill, his sympathy, his untiring attention, had
in

much

do with family growth and family

All these qualities Dr. Magill
development.
possessed in a high degree, and many in Danville and a large surrounding country district
felt it a personal loss when he gave up his
practice at an advanced age.
Dr. Magill was much interested in the
growth and prosperity of the county. He was
the first burgess of the borough of Danville.
He was firm and loyal during the Civil war.
He was always regarded as one of the leading
citizens of the county.
Dr. Magill and his wife were earnest Christians, both members of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Magill uniting with the
same in 1822 and the Doctor in 1833. Mrs.
Magill died in 1882: the Doctor in 1889.
aged ninety-three. The children of this long
and happv union were Daniel Elizabeth, mar:

ried to \\illiam

Hayes

;

James Kline; and James D. Magill. Mrs.
Schultz, Mrs. Kline and James D. Magill, at
this writing, are still living.

James \oris was born in what was then
Northumberland county, now Liberty townHe was the
ship, Montour county, in 1787.
son of Gilbert Voris, who was born in New
in
His
mother, Jane (McClana1757.
Jersey
Gilbert
han
^"oris, was born in Ireland.
\'oris and his wife Jane early came to Montour county, where they spent the remainder
)

of their lives, he dying in 1797, she in 1816.
Tames \'oris married Anna Gray, who was a
He was a carpenter and
nati\e of Ireland.
contractor, residing in Liberty township until
was
1837, when he removed to Danville, and
a substantial citizen of the county. Here his
James
large family was boni and reared.
His children, a
\'oris died in April, 1866.

number of whom were among

the prominent
were as follows Gilbert,
born June 9, 1809, married Catherine .\shenfelder, and died in 1850 Elizabeth, born Nov.
8, 1810. became the wife of Joseph Diehl. and
died Nov. 12, 1880; John, born June 3. 181 2.
died in 1848; Jane, born Dec. 23. 1813. died
citizens of Danville,

;

in April, i860; Daniel

Gray,

bom March

11,

after her
death married Charlotte Richie, and died
Nov. 17. 1880; Archibald Gray, born Sept.
married Rebecca Frick, and died
181
1816, married

14,

April

Mary Hopewell and

17,

1894; Reuben B., born

1819. married Harriet \'ance,

March

and died Nov.

died
18, 1903; Thomas, born Oct. 31, 1820.
Aug. 27, 1841 James, born Aug. 24, 1822.
died Oct. 17, 1833; Eleanor, born Aug. i.
died Feb.
1824, married Robert McCoy, and
12. 1893; Elijah C, born Jan. 4, 1826, married Julia D. Troxell, and died Nov. 11, 1910;
Sarah Bell, born Aug. 4. 1828, married John
Bartholomew, and died Sept. 6, 1891 William
P., born April 3, 1830. married Letitia Zuber
Christiana M.. born April 3, 1830. married
;

;

David F. Stroh, and died Nov. 21, 1894.
Peter Baldy, Sr., was born in 1788 and
came from Northumberland to Danville in
in his early days,
1814. He was a blacksmith
but soon engaged in merchandising. In 1839
he built the stone mill which still stands on
Church street. I'^or long years he transacted
business in Danville and by industry and thrift

;

Hannah and care accumulated a large fortune. Peter
Baldv was the first president of the Danville
.Schultz. for many
the State Hospital Bank, now the Danville National Bank, and

\\'illiam

married to Dr. S. S.
years superintendent of
for the Insane at Danville;

L.,

287

;

Robert D., for

has been succeeded in that position,

first,

COLUMBIA AND MOxXTOUR COUXTIES

288

his son, Edward H. Baldy, and then by his
grandson, William J. Baldy, who at present
holds that position. Peter Baldy was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
Danville from the time of its organization, and

by his influence and means did much to build
up and strengthen that branch of religious
work. By his will he left fifty thousand dollars to his executors to be used as a memorial
for himself and wife, which amount the executors used in building the present handsome
and stately church which stands on the site
of the old one. Mr. Baldy died Xov. 24, 1880,
aged ninety-two years.
Is.\.\c Rank was born May 19, 181 1, in
\\'hite Deer, Union Co., Pa.
His parents,
Isaac and Rebecca Rank, were from Lancaster county and were among the first settlers

of Union county. He was the seventh in a
family of thirteen children. In the spring of
1832 he mo^•ed to Danville and established
himself in business as a blacksmith and carriage manufacturer, at the corner of Mill and

Mahoning

streets, opposite the present

Opera

House. He also engaged in boating and in
the manufacture of lumber.
Mr. Rank was
prominent in public improvements, was chief
burgess of Danville in i860, and afterwards

scription

schools.

learned

the

cabinet-

maker's trade and followed it for many years,
but from 1840 was engaged in house and ornamental sign painting. He, too, served for a
number of years as justice of the peace. He
was survived by two children, Harriet, widow
of Jonathan Waters, who is now dead, and
Emma, wife of John Yorgy.
Peter Bright was born at Reading, Pa.,
Xov. 21, 1801. He was the son of David
Bright and grandson of Michael Bright, Jr.,
who served in the Continental army during
the Revolutionary war.
His great-grandfather. Michael Bright (or Brecht). emigrated
from the Palatinate to America in 1728. Peter
Bright married Mary Evans in December,
David Bright, father of Peter Bright,
1827.
and Philip T. Evans, father of Mrs. Bright,
purchased together the land in \'alley township known then as the '"Strawbridge Farm,"

and presented it to the young couple, who in
March, 1834, moved upon it and there happily
lived and reared a family of strong, substantial men and women, men and women the like
of which are always the bone and sinew of the
communities in which they live. Peter Bright
was a farmer and a most successful one. In
the early days, while living in Reading, he did

community as councilman. For considerable teaming, sometimes
hauling
many years he was a justice of the peace. freight from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. At
He was strictly temperate in his habits and one time among his freight was a sack of halflived to a ripe old age. dying in March, 1883, pennies from the mint in Philadelphia, which
he distributed to the tollgate keepers along
leaving to survive him the following children
Xorman Leslie, bom Aug. 2, 1835 Ellis the turnpike. His moving from Reading to
Hughes, born Aug. 10, 1837; Mar}' Elizabeth, the \'alley township farm in 1834 was done
bom June 21, 1 841, married to Stephen John- in three big four-horse "Conestoga" wagons
son; Anna R., born Feb. 23. 1844; David and a "Dearborn," in which the family rode.
Mr. Bright was a quiet, studious, well-read,
Hayes, born Feb. 5, 1847.
H. B. D. Sechler was born on Water intelligent and busy farmer. He lived on this
He was the farm from 1834 until his death, which ocstreet. Danville. Jan. 26. 1808.
son of Rudolph and Susanna Sechler.
His curred Dec. I, 1882. His widow then moved
father was a blacksmith in early and middle to Danville, where she died May 8, 1894.
Peter Bright left surviving him the following
life, later was postmaster of Danville, and
later still was register and recorder of Co- children
Rebecca, who married Emanuel
ser\-ed

the

;

In
lumbia county, serving several years.
1821 he was appointed justice of the peace
and served until 1845. John Frazier, in his

Recollections of Danville, says of Rudolph
Sechler: "I never knew a more honest man
than Mr. Sechler.
With him it was innate.
He could not be otherwise than honest. His

herited these traits of the father.
reared in Danville and educated at

many years has resided in Boswell, Ind.
he was a member of Company B, 72d Regiment, Indiana \'olunteers, in the Civil war,
later was transferred to Company F, 44th
for
(

Infantry, and was discharged in
August, 1865) Dennis, who married Lucy M.
Rea, and who died in Danville in 1910 (Dennis Bright enlisted, April, 1861, in the 15th
Indiana \"olunteers. and was wounded at Rich
Mountain. Va. later he was promoted and
He was served on the staff of Brigadier General Wagthe sub- ner in General Buell's division was again in-

countenance, his actions, his words, in short,
everything about him, proclaimed his sterling
integrity and what gave a charm to it, he was
quite unconscious of his being more honest
than other men." The son seemed to have in;

and who died in Danville in 190S;
Hiram, who married Rhoda Butler and who
Sidler

\'olunteer

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and
jured, at the battle of Pittsburg Landing,
resigned in May, 1862; in 1871 was appointed
of State
by Governor Geary lieutenant colonel
Guards of Pennsylvania; represented the
in
the
term
for
one
of Montour
Legis-

Pennsylvania.

191

1873

;

F, ii6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers,

and was discharged by reason of
the age
in June,
by Lee,
pany of

disability at

of sixteen years, in February, 1863;

invaded
1863, when Pennsylvania was
he enlisted in Captain Young's comsix months' men, was discharged at
Harrisburg in January, 1864, and Sept. i,

was bom in Franklin township, Columbia
county, >lay 9, 1833, and was reared on the
farm ur.cil seventeen years of age. He clerked
in the store of Christian Laubach from 1850
to 1856. He then started in business for himself as a merchant tailor and for many years
carried on that business, being one of the principal merchants of Danville.

;

and

Admiral

Fort

Perry captured
1865; was shot through the
was discharged from
and
hand at Fort Fisher,
service at Fortress Monroe, June 17, 1865)
Abbie, who married William Auchenbach,
who now resides at Gladbrook, Iowa; and
Mary, who died in Danville in 1891.
Simon P. K.\se was born in Rush townFisher,

Tan.

manhood in
made farm-

ily,

1864, again enlisted, as a member of Company
F, 203d Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteers
was with Birney's sharpshooters when General

Terry

in early life

devoted his time to
the manufacture of wooden plows, which he
carried on for a time, also manufacturing
wagons and wheelbarrows, when the canal was
Eleven chilbeing made through Danville.
dren grew tip in the Shelhart home, Jacob
Shelhart being the sixth of the family, born
Aug. 14, 1825. In 1865 he was elected sheriff
In
of Montour county, serving three years.
1879 he was again elected sheriff and served
three years. David, the youngest of the fam-

Penina, who died in Danville in
in
Philip, who died in Phoenix, Ariz.,
(he enlisted Aug. i, 1862, in Company

;

grew

ing his business, but later

county

lature)

Cooper township and

289

16,

Gideon M. Shoop was born

;

Northumberland Co., Pa., Aug. 27, 1814.
At twenty years of age Mr. Kase left home
and commenced the battle of life. He first
maengaged in building and selling threshing
ship,

Northum-

berland county, June 23, 1821, a son of George
and Elizabeth Shoop. the youngest of their
He attended the
family of seven children.
common schools of his native county until he
was thirteen years of age. He then went to
Franklin county and learned the art of manuIn 1841 he came to
facturing millstones.
Danville as collecting agent for several stage

and also embarked in the lumber busidealing in and manufacturing lumber
quite extensively and owning several sawIn 1846 he rented the "Brady Hotel,"
mills.
repaired and improved it, added another story
Market
West
on
to it and changed the name to that of "Monhousekeeping in the home
street which has for many years been known tour House," and conducted it for eighteen
Mr. Shoop's main business, howIn 1844 Mr. Kase months.
as the "Kase residence."
He purchased
built the first mill for the manufacture of ever, was dealing in lumber.
merchant iron, and in 1S46 he built his rolling large tracts of land in the South and elseevent in the where, from which he cut the timber and
mill, which was an important
About 1864 Mr. Kase manufactured it into lumber. ]Mr. Shoop's
history of Danville.
started to build the Danville. Hazleton and residence, comer of Ferry and East Market
Wilkes-Barre railroad, extending from Sun- streets, was one of the attractive homes in
of fifty-four Danville.
On Dec. 2, 1846, he married
bury to Tomhickon, a distance
miles. He encountered much opposition in the Amelia D., daughter of William Gearhart,
but his in- of Roaringcreek.
On the nth of April,
building of this road and nothing
domitable energy enabled him to push it to 1849, Mr. Shoop was appointed postmaster at
some years ago, Danville, which position he continued to hold
completion. Mr. Kase died
For a number of years
the following children
until Nov. 26. 1852.
leaving to survive him
Clara E., J. Hervey, M. Wheeler, Edwin S. he was a member of the board of trustees of
the Insane at Danville,
deceased.
for
now
the State Hospital
Kase, and Martha Haas,
Christine was a director of the Danville Nail and ManT.^coB Shelh.\rt and his wife
of Lehigh ufacturing Company, director of the Bridge
(Everitt) Shelhart were natives
They Company, and for a long time director in the
county, Pa., and of German origin.
]\Ir. Shoop was a
earlv settled in what is now ^lontour county. Danville' National Bank.
He lived to be eighty years old, and spent member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
of his life in this part of Church, was president of its board of trustees,
over

In 1835 he established an agricultural
in Lebanon county, and
in 1837 returned to Danville and built the
In 1840
second iron foundry in that place.
he married Elizabeth McReynolds and started

chines.

lines

and machine shop

ness,

;

seventy years

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

290
a

steward, and

the Sabbath
elected a lay delegate

teacher

school. In 1880 he was
to the Central Pennsylvania Conference,
by that body elected a lay delegate to

and
the

General Conference which met in Cincinnati,
Ohio, in Alay, 1880. He died March 20, 191 1,
leaving to survive him one son, William G.
Shoop, who now occupies the homestead.
B. F. Shultz, M. D., was born in Columbia
county, March 19, 1828, a son of Peter and
His father was of German
Sarah Shultz.
origin, his mother a Pennsylvanian of Scotch
origin. Dr. Shultz was the seventh in a family
of nine children and obtained his early educa-

Goshen, one year. At fifteen he went to New
York City and served an apprenticeship in a
hardware store until 1839, when he returned
home and engaged in the manufacture of
paper and agricultural implements, as well as
merchandising with his father, until 1844,
when he came to Danville to represent the

Murdock, Leavitt & Co. in the
Montour Iron Works, and acted as the resident agent of the company. During this time
he built what was known as the company store
interests of

and

tion in his native county, subsequently attending the University of Pennsylvania. He

1846 engaged in merchandising, assowith New York stockholders of the
company, under the firm name of T. O. Van
Alen & Company.
In 1866, in connection
with George M. Leslie and A. H. \'oris, he

studied medicine in the office of Dr. James D.
Straw-bridge and entered Jefiferson Medical

built the nail factory in Northumberland, and
with his sons engaged in the manufacture of

where he graduated
with the degree of M. D. Immediately after

fact worthy of note was
iron and nails.
that Mr. Van Alen kept his mills running
through all the depressions occurring during
his active business life.
In 1846 he was mar-

College, at Philadelpliia,

his graduation he commenced the practice of
his profession at Danville, where he secured
a large and lucrative practice.
He died leav-

ing to sur\-ive him Isadora, who married
Oliver Drumheller Cameron Shultz, now a
Florence,
practicing physician in Danville
wife of A. H. Grone Deborah, who married
Thomas G. Vincent; and Araminta, wife of
E. J. Klove, of Iowa.
T. O. Van Alen was one of the leading
business men and manufacturers of Danville.
;

;

He was

born in Chatham Center, Columbia
N. Y., Aug. 19. 1819. His paternal greatgrandfather emigrated from Holland to New
York, and his son, Gilbert \'an Alen, was boni
in Columbia county, N. Y., and followed
farming; married Annis Moore, of Columbia
county, N. Y., and to them were born two
Catherine
children, Reuben and Catherine.
married John G. \'an \'olkenburg, a farmer
of
and merchant
Columbia county. N. Y.
Reuben married Mary, daughter of Timothy
and Sallie Oakley, and pursued farming: and
merchandising at Chatham Center. They had
three sons and one daughter: Gilbert R., Timothy O., Sallie O. and Lewis O. The daughter died aged thirteen years. T. O. \ an Alen
Co.,

eight years old when his parents moved
He
Salisbury Mills, Orange Co., N. Y.
attended the common schools until ten j'ears
father employed a private
old, when his
teacher for him. At twelve years of age Mr.
\'an Alen entered the academy at Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N. Y., remaining there
two years, during which time he resided with
the family of Dr. Henry ^'an Dyke. Subsequently he returned to Orange county and
attended the school of Nathaniel Stark, at

was
to

ciated

ried to Ann Catherine, daughter of Cornelius
Mr. and Mrs. Van
Garretson, ironmaster.
Alen were members of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church, and Mr. \'an Alen was for
a number of years president of the board of
tnistees.
For many years he was a trustee of
the State Hospital for the Insane at Danville
and a director of the First National Bank.
Five of his children lived to reach maturity,
viz.
Cornelius G., Gilbert R., A. Oakley,
Edmund G. and George L. All the sons became active business men. George L. is a
Mr. \'an Alen died
Presbyterian minister.
:

April

6, 1891.

George B. Brown was born in what is now
Montour county, Sept. 13, 1816, a son of
Samuel and Dorothy (Neice) Brown. His
great-grandfather came to America from
England, and his grandparents settled in what
is now Montour county in 1795.
George B.

was the eighth of nine children, all of whom
grew to maturity, and was nine years of age
when his father died. He remained with his
mother on the farm until he was fourteen,
meanwhile attending the district school, and
worked out on farms until he was seventeen

then clerked in a store in Milluntil 1834.
In that
year he came to Danville, and for two years
clerked in a dry goods store, later purchasing
the store of S. M. Bowman & Company, which
he conducted four years. In 1856 he estab-

years old.
ville,

Columbia county,

lished a book store in Danville, dealing in
books, stationery, artists' supplies, etc., and
to him belongs the honor of circulating the

}

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
first daily newspaper in Danville, the Public
Ledger- This branch of his business steadily
expanded. Mr. Brown was also a dentist and
had a large practice in that profession, which

in connection with his book
In 1837 he married Sarah A., daughFour children were
ter of John Gearhart.
born to them: Benton B., Melissa D. (widow
of O. H. Ostrander), John G. and Will G.
These children are all living at this writing.
Mr. and Mrs. 15rown w^re devoted members
of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church.
William Biddle for many years was a

he carried on
store.

merchant and manufacturer of
Danville, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He was born at Whitehall,
in what is now ^Montour county. April 18,
1812. His parents, Gcrshom and Mary (Jennings) Biddle, had a family of six sons and

TiiOM.\s

291

Chalfaxt was descended on

the

paternal side from Robert Chalfant, a member of the Society of Friends, who
emigrated
with William Penn from Stoke
Pogis, England, and settled on a patent of land at Doe
Run, Chester Co., Pa. On the maternal side
his ancestor is John Peden, a Scotch-Irish

Covenanter who emigrated to Pennsylvania
in 1732 and was one of the first to found a
Covenanter church in Philadelphia, on Spruce
street, above Third.
Thomas Chalfant was
born in Philadelphia in the year
and was
1819
He learned the cartrades
and
patternmaker's
worked thereat for some years. In 1847 he

brought up

in that city.

and

prominent

penter's

four daughters, \\'illiam being the youngest.

removed to Georgia and was there engaged in
the erection of sugar mills, cotton mills and
structures of a similar character. Subsequently he returned to the North and located
at Danville, Pa., where he entered into
part-

They were charter members

nership

of the old Derry
Presbyterian Church, organized in 1798. Gershom Biddle was a prominent man of Derry
His antownship, of Scotch-Irish descent.
cestors were among the early pioneers of
land
near
of
a
tract
on
Pennsylvania, settling
wife
Fishing creek. Alary (Jennings) Ijiddle,
of Gershom, was a daughter of Hugh Jennings, who served in the Revolutionary war;
he was of English descent his ancestors settled in New Jersey near Alorristown. William
Biddle, at the age of thirteen, came to Dan;

and was employed as clerk by John
Moore, merchant; subsequently he became a
with
partner and a few years later engaged
him and others in the foundry business. After
many changes among the partners, William
Biddle became the owner of the Eagle Works
on Ferry street, which for a number of years
was one of the leading industries of Danville and gave employment to over a hundred
men. Mr. Biddle always took an active inville

welfare of those in his employ,
and by his kindness and generosity gained
He was married
their confidence and respect.
twice, his first wife being Mary Jane Moore,
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Donaldson)
Moore. She died Dec. 12, 1854, the mother
terest in the

of seven sons

survive her,

and two daughters.

Two

Edward Moore Biddle and

ter Sterling Biddle.

Alward Moore

sons
^^'al-

His second wife, .\nne
former wife),

(sister of his

he married Dec. 6, i860. The fruit of this
union was three children, Grace Hunter,
Otis and Horace Moore. William
Biddle was identified with Danville for sixty
years and died Feb. 3, 1885.

Harry

with

Hughes,
1853, he
Danville.
1

861,

his brother-in-law, Dr. Isaac
the drug business.
On Oct. i,

was commissioned

postmaster

held that position until July 15,
of the Danville

when he assumed charge

Intelligencer, which he conducted from that
time until the time of his death. On Oct. 8,
1866. Mr. Chalfant was elected a member of

the State Legislature, as representative from
the counties of Columbia and Montour.
He
was reelected in 1867. During his incumbency of that office he was an active and
highly esteemed member of the General
Assembly and was largely instrumental in the
passage of the bill appointing commissioners
to select a site for and erect the State HosThe selection of Danpital for the Insane.
\ille as the site for the hospital was due in
part to his efforts. In 1S83 Mr. Chalfant was
appointed one of the trustees of the State
Hospital for the Insane at Danville, a position
which he held for many years. In 1870 he

was again chosen to represent Columbia and
Montour counties as State representative. In
1872 he was chosen State senator, representing the counties of Columbia and Alontour,
Lycoming and Sullivan, and served three
years in that capacity. In 1842 Mr. Chalfant
was united in marriage with Eliza \'. Hughes,
daughter of Ellis Hughes, Esq., of Danville.
The offspring of this marriage were two sons
and two daughters, of whom none survived
but the younger son, Charles Chalfant, who
for a number of years was publisher of the
Danville Daily Sun.
In 1881 Mr. Chalfant
was elected president of the Pennsvlvania
State Editorial Association. On Dec. 5, 1885,
he was again appointed postmaster and served

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

292

for nearly five years; and on June i, 1894, he
to that position, serving
until Feb. 15, 1899.

was again appointed

Samuel Yorks came from New Jersey
in 1780 settled in what is now Montour

and

county, where he owned a large tract of land.
He served with distinction in the war of 1812.
Two sons survived the father, William Yorks,
who became a resident of Cooper township,
and Samuel Yorks, a resident of Danville.
William Yorks was a man of considerable
influence in the county. He was county commissioner for one term and for thirty years
was justice of the peace of Cooper township.
He died in 1877, survived by four children
C. E. Yorks, now residing in Columbia
county; Miss Ida Yorks, who resides on the
homestead Mrs. Fanny Gallaher, now deceased, and Dr. John Yorks, a prominent
dentist of Philadelphia.
Samuel Yorks, Jr., was a leading spirit in
the organization of the First National Bank of
Danville. He was on the first board of direcHe died
tors and became the first president.
in 1878, leaving to survive him:
Mrs. Louise
Gearhart, wife of B. R. Gearhart Mrs. Annie
Johnson; Mrs. Margaret Grove, wife of R. M.
:

Agnes M. Franciscus.
were born to these parents:
ried

Three children
William J., deMargaret McCormick, and Katherine
McCormick. James McCormick served two
terms in the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
1877 to 1878 and 1883 to 1884. He died Dec.
ceased

19,

;

1891.

Joseph Cornellson was born in Holland
and upon coming to this country settled in
the State of New Jersey, but soon after moved
to Danville, where Jie established the first
blacksmith shop and followed that line of
business the remainder of his life.
He left
surviving him the following children: Joseph,
William, Jacob, Isaac, Cornelius, James,

a long time was the favorite stopping-place
of the farmers and others while attending
court. John Rhodes died in 1852, leaving two
B. K. Rhodes, attorney,
sons to survive him

Massey, Mary Yorks and Anna Best. The
son Isaac Cornelison at an early day learned
the trade of wagonmaking and carried on his
business on Mill street.
He died at the age
of forty-three years.
He married Abigail
Pancoast, a daughter of Mordecai and Mary
(Clears) Pancoast, who were strict adherents
of the Quaker faith.
Mrs. Cornelison died
at the age of twenty-four, leaving two children, Mary E. (wife of D. Rice) and Abigail
A. The son Joseph Cornelison in 1830 erected
a building in which he conducted a fine hotel.
This establishment became known throughout
that section as the "White Swan Hotel," and
a very appropriate sign was hung over the
door, an artistically-painted white swan. He
continued as the proprietor of this establishment until 1852, when his son Jacob succeeded
him as proprietor. Jacob married Abigail A.
Cornelison, and they continued the hotel business with success until the death of Jacob in

Clark Rhodes, for many years a merchant in the store adjoining the hotel prop-

tial.

;

Grove

;

C. F. Yorks,

and

John Rhodes came

Augustus Yorks.

to Danville in 1824.

bought the "Pennsylvania House," now the
"Riverview Hotel," in 1829. This house was
formerly called the "Farmers' Hotel," and for

and

erty.
in the

The

latter's

widow

still

survives, living

homestead on West Market street.
James McCormick was born in what is
now Montour county, June 26, 1818. He was
the son of William A. and Margaret (Shaw)
McCormick. The father. William A. McCormick, was born in Ireland of Scotch parents, and came to Pennsylvania when a mere
The mother was of Scotch-Irish origin,
lad.
and both she and her husband were Presby-

The building was large and substanIn 1872 it was purchased by .Adam Gerringer, who erected the present structure
known as the "City Hotel." Mrs. Abigail A.
Cornelison afterwards married George F.
Geisinger, who was born in Ilingham, Mass.,
in 1 82 1, and was a son of Commodore David
A fuller account of George F.
Geisinger.
Geisinger and his wife, Abigail A., will be
1865.

found in later chapters.
Alany names not included in this list of old
families will be found in subsequent chapters,
under other heads. Many have no mention

the
early en-

because of the difficulty in procuring statistics
and because of the lack of family records. Let

merchandising and in connection
gaged
with that ran a stage line from Danville until
the railroads were built.
Subsequently he
conducted an omnibus line. In 1848 he mar-

us hope the present generation may prove
worthy of the heritage handed down and may
be as tnie to God and loyal to country as
many of these noble families of the past.

James McCormick was reared
Montour county, receiving his education in

terians.

common
in

schools of the county.

CHAPTER

III

INTERNAL IMrROVEMENTS
In

these

days

depth, and were pushed up-stream by long
socket poles, when it was not possible to use
sails.
In winter the rough roads, which were

railroad

automobiles,

steam launches, fast freights, airships
and ocean liners, it is almost impossible to
flyers,

conceive of a community without means of
intercourse with the outside world and without opportunity of reaching even nearby
points, save on foot or astride a failhfid beast
of burden.
In the early days of the settlement of what
is now Montour county there were no State
highways, no roads of any kind, exce])t as
each settler made his own highway through
the woods, or followed the Indian path which
too often led to danger and to death.
But
these settlers were Americans, the founders of
a mighty race, and already the spirit of indomitable energy and jiusb antl determination,
which in the years that followed laughed at
dilTiculties

planted and

and spurned impossibilities, was
was growing.

These were of the ancestors among whose
worthy sons were Henry and Morse, who
harnessed the lightning flash to the teleCyrus VV. Field, who cabled
graphic wire
that wire and planted it beneath the almost
fathomless depths of ocean; Thomas A. Edison, who aimiinlated distance and carried the
human voice over hundreds of miles aye, of
that family, whose numbers are legion, who
l)Ound the Atlantic to the Pacific by bands of
;

;

who transformed

steel;

the great

American

desert into comnnmities

throbbing with
tunneled mountains;

life

who
and energy; who
opened up the hills, making them give up their
vast deposits of minerals and precious metals
;

who

penetrated

traffic

;

the

air

with vast

shi]is

and who, as a crowning glory of the

opening years of the twentieth century, united
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in a trimnph
of engineering skill and power.
For a while the Susijuehanna river was the
only highway 0])en to these hardy settlers. In
summer merchandise was brouglit up the river
in

blanket for covering, a bag of oats and
bundle of hay for provender for his horse,
traversed the defiles and mountains to Reading
lere they bartered their loads
for a market.
for salt, iron, nails, groceries and Jamaica
Few houses of entertainment were
s])irits.
found on the way and these hardy travelers
sought shelter at whatever cabin might chance
to be near at hand when night came on.
"The privilege of stretching himself on the
floor with feet to the open fire was paid for
Few of
in the morning with a sixpence.

these pioneers through the snows of nearly fi
century ago could atTord to ]iay for a warm
meal, and many a trip was made from the
to Reading on two or three

Susquehanna

shillings."

The organization to build the Centre turnpike extending from Reading to the Susquehanna river opposite Northumberland was perfected in 1808. One of the active ])romoters
and managers of this daring and important
enterprise

was Gen.

William

Montgomery.

The work was pushed with sleepless energy.
It was a work in its own time as great as
was the building of the Union Pacific railroad

in after days.

In 1814 the turnpike road

Bear Gap, where it connected with the Centre turnjiike, was built.
These were important and beneficent public
works, gained only by the most heroic strugThe promoters were the foremost men
gles.
from Danville

in the

country

—the great benefactors of

their

These were somewhat age.
the canal-boat, but only about two feet in
Companies were organized and chartered
293

"Durham"

impassable in summer, were rendered smooth
by the snow, the rivers and smaller streams
were bridged by ice, so that for three or four
montlis the sled could be drawn almost anywhere.
During this season neighbors joined
together and with loads of wheat or pork or
whisky, and each with his wallet of provisions,

boats.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

294

to build turnpikes.
few still remaining,
with their tollgates and their toll gatherers,
are curiosities to the present generation, but

are monuments of the thrift and development
of a past age, whose accomplishments were as
great in their day and under their limitations,
as the great railways of the present, binding
different and distant sections of the country.
In 1826 the great State Internal Improve-

ment system was inaugurated. That year a
Montgomery, was
appointed one of the canal commissioners, and
he was elected president of the board. He exercised much influence over the direction and
building of the canals then constructed. While
he was in this position the North Branch
canal was located. The survey was made in
1826-27, and the work contracted for early
in 1828.
In 1832 the first water was turned in,
and a boat that year was loaded with wheat in
Danville, and taken to the Sweet Water. The
boat itself was built in Danville. The line of
the canal, as originally planned, was from the
Lackawanna creek to Columbia, a distance of
about one hundred and fifty miles. There was
citizen of Danville, Daniel

only three feet gauge at first, but by raising
the path and by dredging the canal bottom, the
depth of water was increased to a gauge of
between six and seven feet. This canal continued to be the property of the State until
about 1854, when it was sold and became a
part of the possessions of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. It remained the property
of that company until its abandonment, a few

which they rode, and the mule's plaintive cry
for hay, oats and cut straw, so amusing to the
boys of that day along the towpath, meant as
much, if not more, to the people of the former
days as the shrill scream of the iron horse,
its way along the rail highways,
markets and homes of to-day.
while
we rejoice at the wonderful
so,
advance of the present over the bygone times,
and are justly proud that the fast freight has
replaced the tedious canalboat, let us temper
our impatience at the old ditch with the
thought that in the formative days, when
foundations were being laid deep and strong,
the old canal was a great boon and mighty
blessing to the builders of our civilization.
The canal continued to be the chief high-

ploughing

means

to the

And

way through the county until the days came
when the iron horse began to supplant the
canalboat team and compete with it for supplying the demands of public service.
In 1854 the Catawissa, Williamsport & Erie
Railroad Company began operations in Montour county. This was the beginning of the
Philadelphia & Reading railroad
system,
which has grown to be one of the important
and indispensable thoroughfares of railroad
the county.
The Catawissa, Wil& Erie railroad extended from
Tamanend to Milton, and in 1871 was extended from Milton to Williamsport. In 1872
the road was taken over by the Philadelphia

traffic

liamsport

& Reading Railway Company, which now
controls

it.

when it was purchased by the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad
Company.
The building of the canal was an important

The second railroad to enter the county
was the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg. This

event to the people of the country through
which it passed. At the present writing there
is much clamor for the filling up of the unsightly ditch and loud cries against the canal
nuisance, but from the days of 1832 to i860,
and indeed up into the seventies, that "ditch"
was a great blessing to the county and the
means of opening important centers of trade.
It became a highway for transporting goods
from one section of the country to another,
and before the days of monopoly it brought
coal and flour and other staple articles to the
consumers' reach at prices that now cause a
smile upon the face of the monopolists, and
carried from the towns and farms along its
line their products of iron ore and grain to the
great and growing trade centers.
The days of the canalboat were days of
growth and prosperity for the communities

berland, supplanting the old stage line. About
1881 this road came under the control of the

years

lying

ago,

adjacent

the

great

highway upon

road was built from Kingston to Rupert in
In i860 it was extended to Northum1857.

& Western Railroad
Company, and became a part of the great
Lackawanna system, furnishing a quick and

Delaware, Lackawanna

most delightful and convenient route to New
York.
In 1870 the Danville, Hazleton & WilkesBarre railroad was built, thus crowning with
success the indefatigable efforts of Simon P.
Kase, of Danville. This road extended from
Sunbury to Tomhickon, a distance of fifty-

four miles, and passes through Montour
covmty. in Mayberry township, on the south
side of the river.
Though but a small portion of this road is in Montour county, it is
the
one of
principal railroads which have
helped to build up and develop Danville, which
is

separated from

Creat credit

it only by the river bridge.
due to Simon P. Kase for push-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ing this road through to completion in the face
of difficulties which would have appeared in-

surmountable to most men. Against all obstacles he persevered, and the opening of the
road was a great personal triumph. The road
is now owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company and is an important link in that

Some years later
great system of railroads.
the name was changed to the Sunbury, Hazleton & Wilkes-Barre railroad.
In 1881 the North and West Branch railroad was opened from Catawissa to WilkesThis branch was bitilt by Rev. D. J.
Barre.

Waller and

now forms an important branch

of the road running from Sunbury to WilkesBarre. This road was also pushed to completion amidst

also

now

It
difficulties and obstacles.
a part of the Pennsylvania rail-

many

road system.
About 1887 the Wilkes-Barre & Western
railroad was opened through a portion of
Limestone, Anthony and Derry townships,
giving railroad facilities to Washingtonville
and the surrounding country that were greatly
appreciated by the people of that region.

295

Before the electric railways came the telephone lines, which connected Danville with the
world at large. In 1880 the North Pennsylvania Telephone Company extended its line
from Williamsport to Danville. This was part
of the Bell telephone system. The office was
located in the present O'Conner building on
Mill street, opposite the opera house; and
Mr. W. J. Armes, the manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, was the first Bell
telephone manager. The first Bell telephone
established in Danville was in the "City
Hotel."
Mr. Armes employed Miss Martha
Lloyd as the first Bell telephone operator in
the town.
Other operators in the employ of
this company prior to May, 1900, were Miss
Mary Lloyd, now deceased; Miss Anna Johnson, now Mrs. Harry Stees, of Bloomsburg,
and Miss Elizabeth Russell, present chief
operator, who has been in the employ of the

company for fifteen years. The office of the
company was afterwards moved to the second
floor of the Lyons building, and still later to
its present location in the Swentek building.
The managers following Mr. Armes have been
These railroads were welcomed as modern Al. Crawford, John Kenyon, John Conway,
and advanced means of transit. They carried Elwood Mateer, Reuben W. Kintzer and John
The
the people from one town to another. But the S. Brace, the present efficient manager.
need was still felt of some means of connect- growth of this company's business has been
ing the towns with the country lying in between the throbbing world that did not live
in town but yet was bound by business and
those communities
social ties to the town
through which the railroad train whirled, with
saucy look and independent move.
To supply this want came the electric rail-

—

in 1903; and now Danville, supplied with
railroad and trolley facilities, looks back with
wonder and amusement to the olden days of
the Indian path, turnpike and canal.
The Danville & Bloomsburg Street Railway
Company constructed an electric road between
Danville -and Bloomsburg in 1903. The Danville & Riverside Street Railway Company,
about the same time, constructed an electric

way

to the Delaware,
railroad crossing and
across the river bridge to the south side, and
up Market street to the State Hospital.
These lines of railway have been constantly
operated and are now parts of the great internal improvements which Danville feels are
indispensable to her comfort and welfare.

railway along

Mill

street

Lackawanna & Western

rapid. Two hundred and eighty-six telephones
were connected with the Danville exchange
on Feb. i, 1915.
In 1899 the Montour & Columbia Telephone

established an
where for
sixteen years it has competed with the Bell
Telephone Company for the "hello" business

Company
office

entered Danville.

the

Opera House

block,

of the town. Charles P. Hancock was president of the Montour & Columbia Company,
and Frank C. Angle, secretary and treasurer.

George B. Wright was manager. The company at present is the United Telegraph &
Telephone Company. It had two hundred and
seventy-two 'phones connected with the Danexchange Feb. i, 191 5. The present
manager is Martin Withington, and the chief
operator is Miss McKinney, who has been in
the employ of the company for five years.
ville

The streets of Danville have been much improved within the last ten years. Mill street,
East Market street. East Front street and
Bloom street have all been paved. Other
streets have been put in first-class condition.

CHAPTER

MILITARY RECORD
Montour county has

a military record of

which she may be justly proud.

Her

citizen-

ship has been represented in the rolls of military achievements in the Revolutionar}' war,
the war of 1812, the war with Mexico in 1846,
the great civil struggle from 1861 to 1865, and

war with Spain in 1898. Even now she
has hundreds of brave sons who, while rejoicing in the fact that peace prevails throughout our land, are ready at any moment to
rush to the defense of our flag and to the
preservation of our national honor.
It is with pride she points to the part taken
by Gen. William Montgomery in the war for
She remembers with delight
independence.
that Jacob Sechler, one of her sturdy citizens,
stood for the defense of his country in the
She rejoices in the record
struggle of 1812.
made by Dr. Clarence H. Prick and the members of his gallant company in the Mexican
war. It is with tears of gratitude she recalls
the names of Col. Charles \V. Eckman, Col.
Joseph Shreeve, and the long list of brave
the

boys, officers and privates who so bravely at
the front battled for their countr>''s life. Today she exults that the brave men of the past
left behind them worthy sons who, just as
loyally as their fathers, answered the call of
duty, and came to the help of a distressed and
oppressed people at our door.
It is a fact to be lamented that the early
records of the military companies have not
been preserved. It is hard to give a complete
list of the soldiers of Montour county, and
any omission in the lists of names must be
For the information
attributed' to this fact.
contained in this chapter, we are much indebted to the research and faithfulness of
D. H. B. Brower in collecting the necessary
statistics, and we do not hesitate to quote
freely

The

from him.
first

military

company

which we

dragoons, commanded by Captain Clark, of
Derry. The community, especially the boys,
was very fond of these cavalrymen, and the
days on which they paraded were great days.
The organization dates back to 1810. It offered its services to the government at the
breaking out of the war of 1812, but for some
reason the offer was not accepted, much to
the disgust and indignation of both the company and the community. So far as we have
been able to gather, the following are the
names of those composing this company:
Charles Clark, captain John Blue, Elisha Barton, James Boyd, Lucas Brass, Isaac Bear,
James Donaldson, John Donaldson, William
De Pew, Charles Evans, Charles M. Prazer,
Charles Prazer, John Gulick, John Gaskins,
Kipp,
James Hamilton,
King, William Kitchen, Daniel Montgomery,
;

Lewis Maus, Joseph Maus, Robert Moore,
Pursel, William

Thomas Moorhead, Peter

Sheriff, James Stevenson, Henrv' Sanders,
Daniel Woodside, James Woodside, Thomas

\\'oodside.

The Danville Blues was a rifle company
commanded by Capt. Isaac Blue. Just when
this company was organized we do not know,
181 3 on the
it was in active ser\-ice in
Canadian frontier during the war of 18 12.
Jacob Sechler was a private in this company.
Samuel Yorks, Sr., was a lieutenant, and Dr.
David Petrikin was surgeon. When the company left home for the ser\'ice they halted in
front of the old stone mansion on Mill street
to give a parting salute to Gen. William

but

Montgomery.

the old general

came

to the

door the company presented arms, whilst they
General Montlistened to a brief address.
gomery told them to be good soldiers and at

same time take good care of themselves
and be ever, as now, ready to defend and
support the government. At the close of Gen-

the

have any information in the territory now in- eral Montgomer>''s address the company fired
cluded in Montour county was The Danville a salute and marched away. This company
Light Horse. This was a company of light suffered much from what was called "Black
296

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
fever," many dying from its effects. The
portion of the roll of this company preserved
Isaac Blue,
contains the following names
Captain Isaiah Blue, Herbert W. Best, Daniel
Cameron, Colin Cameron, Alexander Camp-

297

Kertz, William King, Jerome Konkle, Charles

Rock

Lytle, Ira Lownsberry, Robert Lyon, John A.
Lowery, Benjamin Laform, Benjamin J. Martin, Jasper Musselman, Edward McGonnel,
George iMiller, William Moser, Archibald
Asa
Edward
Morrison,
Mooney, Mahlon K. Manly, John G. Mellon,
bell, John
Dugan,
Moore, Abner Moore, John Mills, John Mc- Alex. McDonald, Daniel Martial, Richard H.
McKean, Charles Moynthan, Robert McAlCoy, David Petrikin, Surgeon
Sanders, Samuel Yorks, Lieutenant
Jacob niont, Hugh McFadden, James McClelland,
Norman B. Mack, William McDonald, Casper
Sechler.
The Danville Militia was a company flour- Oatenwelder, Daniel Poorman, Peter S. Reed,
the Philip Rake, James A. Stewart, Peter M.
ishing and well organized at the close of
war with England in 1815. ^\'e know little of Space, Jona R. Sanders, Oliver C. Stevens,
its
men
on
one
hundred
Daniel Snyder, Edward Seler, Peter Seigit
had
that
it except
roll and was commanded by Capt. Samuel
fried, John C. Snyder, John N. Scofield, WilYorks, who had been lieutenant in the Dan- liam Swartz, Joseph Stratton, William W.
ville Blues.
Sawaney, John A. Sarvey, Benjamin TumbleThe Columbia Guards was a company organ- ton, Adam Wray, William White, George
ized in 1817 and on its roll were some of the Wagner, Jacob Willet, Jerome Walker, George
,rriost prominent among the younger citizens
Wingar, Peter W. YarneJl.
In 1846 the Columbia Guards offered their
of the community. The Guards, together with
Northumberland Artillerists (Captain services to the United States government, then
the
and in the midst of the Mexican war, and the offer
Priestly), the Warrior Run Infantry,
Under Captain Wilson the
others, constituted the Northumberland and was accepted.
Columbia Battalion of Volunteers commanded Guards numbered over ninety, rank and file.
by Maj. R. Coleman Hall. In the summer of The company was mustered into the United
then States service Dec. 28, 1846. The departure
1823 there was a battalion parade on the
open ground between Bloom and Center of this band of brave patriots made a deep ima
then
man,
Dr. W. H. Magill,
War never
streets.
young
pression upon the community.
was surgeon of the battalion. The parade is seems as real as when one's own flesh and
said to have been the grandest military dis- blood are involved in its horrors or men, well
known in the community, march to join the
play ever witnessed in Danville.
The following is the muster roll of the ranks of those engaged in the contest. For
guards soon after their organization:
many years these men had been "holiday
John S. Wilson, captain Clarence H. Prick, soldiers," but now that war was real and the
second
E.
LaClerc,
first lieutenant; Edward
country needed their services, they were no
William Brindle, second lieuten- longer holiday soldiers they now marched
lieutenant
ant George S. Kline, first sergeant James _D. through the community where, for a long time,
Slater, second sergeant; Robert Clark, third
they had paraded and played at war, as real
sergeant; Charles Evans, fourth sergeant; living, fighting soldiers, and the community,
John Adams, first corporal James Oliver, sec- with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow,
ond corporal
cheered them as they marched to the field of
John Smith, third corporal
Arthur Gearhart, fourth corporal; Thomas caniage. A number of citizens accompanied
This comthe soldiers as far as Pittsburgh.
Clark, drummer Jesse G. Clark, fif er.
The private soldiers were: Charles W. pany was placed in the 2d regiment of PennAdams, Alvin M. Allen, Jacob App, George sylvania volunteers, commanded by Colonel
W. Armstrong, Frederick Brandt, Samuel Wyncoop, later by Col. John W. Geary, afterBums, Elam B. Bonham, William Banghart, wards governor of the State.
These heroes soon saw real service. They
John Birkenbine, Samuel D. Baker, Francis
Bower, Francis B. Best, William Brunner, were engaged in the storming of Vera Cruz.
William H. Birchfield, Randolph Ball, Peter Here Captain Wilson died, April 10, 1847, and
Brobst, Abram B. Carley, Michael Corrigan, Dr. C. H. Frick assumed command and galWm. Dieterich (Dietrich), Wm. Erie. Daniel lantlv led the Guards through the campaign.
S. Follmer, Charles W. Fortner, Robert H.
They were engaged in the battle of Cerro
Smith.
Forster, Sewell Gibbs, Edward Grove, George Gordo, where they lost one man, John
lost two
Garner, Thomas Graham, Shepherd W. Gir- At the battle of Chapultepec they
Samuel Huntingdon, Adam Heisler, more men, William Dietrich and John Snyder.
ton,
As General Scott approached the city of
Henry Herncastle, Oliver Helme, William S.
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

298

Mexico the defense of San Angelo, with the
mihtary stores, was committed to the "Columbia Guards"; and on the 13th of September,
1847, they were among the first to enter in
triumph, with General Scott at their head,
the capital city of the Montezumas. After an
absence of nearly two years, and with ranks
thinned and battle flag torn and riddled, the
Guards returned home. A wonderful reception was given them.
Nearly one half the
number who left home answered no longer the
roll call on this side
and tears and sadness
were mingled with the joy and cheers that
welcomed the bronzed veterans' return.
;

The roll of the company as it left for Mexwas as follows: John Anthony, W'illiam
Barber, Sarnuel Baum, Daniel Barber, John
Best, Anthony Boon, Matthew Blackwell,
W'illiam
Thomas Colt, William
Clark,

ico

Colt,

James Colt, William Cathcart, Isaac
James Carson (captain), .Alexan-

Cornelison,

and M. Rosenstine second lieutenant.
This company seems to have been composed
In 1859, through
principally of Germans.
some disturbance and outside influence, the
company was disbanded and most of its members entered the United States service some
ant

months

later,

many of them going in a body
Company E, 6th Regiment of

ajid enlisting in

Mahlon K. Manly, captain, and
John Horn, lieutenant.
The Civil war appealed to all the patriotism

Reserves,

and loyalty in the American heart. Every
community, large or small, was stirred to its
Montour county was intensely loyal,
depths.
and her residents, on the first appeal from
President Lincoln for men to defend the
nation's honor and to rally round its flag,
hastened to respond. Some of her most substantial citizens and skilled workmen laid
aside their business and the implements of
trade and donned the blue uniform of the citi-

der Donaldson, William Donaldson, William
DePew, Frederick Frick,
Fisher,
Thomas Grier, Charles Goodman, William G.

zen soldiery.

Hurley, Ellis Hughes, Jacob Hibler, Samuel
Jared Irwin, Adolphus Kent,
Amos E. Kitchen, John Lundy, Asher Lyon,
Daniel W. Montgomery, John Montgomery,
Henry Marshall, John Moore, Charles Moore,
Andrew Y. Moore, Burrows Moore, Samuel

manded by Capt. William McClure. The
company included one hundred of the -county's
The muster
best and bravest young men.

Huntingdon.

Moore,

Thomas Moorhead, Hugh
Hector McCallister, William

McWil-

Maus,
Gideon Mellon, Matthew Patterson, George
Potter (captain), John Pervin, Orrin Sholes,
Jacob Sechler,
Savage, John M. Thiel,
Casper Thiel, Samuel Underwood, David
Robert
Woodside,
Woodside, Jacob Wieman,
Isaac Warner, Thomas Wiley, Charles Wilson, John Young.
After the return of the Guards their ranks
were recruited and George W. Forrest was
He served until his remo\al
elected captain.
from town made it necessary for him to give
Oscar Ephlin was then
up the command.
liams,

made

captain.
This company kept up its organization until
the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861,
when it entered the three months' serv-ice
under Captain Ephlin. On the expiration of
their time many of the members reenlisted in
other companies, and the Columbia Guards,
as an organization, passed out of existence.
But the memor>' of their noble deeds in two
great wars will ever live and Montour county
is proud of the record of her brave boys.
The Montour Rifles was the name of a

The
ville

military company that left Danthe war was recruited and com-

first

for

roll of this gallant band has not been preThe enlistment of these boys was
served.
for three months, and they served their time.
They were in the battle of Falling Waters
and of their number Amos Zuppinger was
killed, the first soldier from Montour county
to sacrifice his life in the Civil war.
Many
of these brave men, after being mustered out

of the service, reenlisted in other companies.

Captain

McClure

afterwards

commanded

112th Artillery, and for brave
conduct was subsequently promoted to the
position of colonel of the regiment.
The Baldy Guards were organized in Danville and mustered into the service of the
United States on the 25th of September, 1861,
under command of Capt. Joseph F. Ramsey.
The company was called after Peter Baldy,
who
Sr., one of the oldest citizens of Danville,
took much interest in its welfare. These boys
of the famous
were designated Company
Volunteers,
Pennsylvania
Regiment,
93d
which regiment was engaged in some of the
most important and desperate battles of the
war, and many of the brave boys of Montour
lost their lives on Southern fields while

Company

county

company organized July 14, 1855, by Capt.
T. Zuber.
f.
August Fogel was first lieuten-

fighting in

its

ranks.

Mrs. Charles

W. Eckman now

has in her

possession the beautiful silk regimental flag
presented to her husband, the colonel, upon

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
which are inscribed the battles

which the

regiment was engaged.
Its first battle was at
Williamsburg, on the
Peninsula, and the regiment fought with the
of
the
Potomac
until
the curtain was
Army

rung down

at Appomattox.
Cajitain Ramsey
resigned his command in 1H62 and on Oct. 21st
of that year Charles W. Ecknian became captain, leading the company until he was made
major of the regiment, Nov. 27, 1864. Upon

promotion Joseph H. Johnson was made
captain and served in that position to the close
his

same day that Captain
Eckman was made major he was promoted to
the position of lieutenant colonel, and on the
25th of January, 1865, was made colonel, of
of the war.

the

the ()3d Regiment.

Colonel Eckman was a brave and gallant
by his men, and sharing with
them all the trials and vicissitudes of those
from
stormy years
Sept. 25, 1861, to June 23,
1865. Three times he was severely wounded,
his injury at Cedar Creek being the most
serious and the one which through all his after
life gave him great pain and distress and
officer, lieloved

eventually caused his death. May 3, 1906.
The muster roll of this company, at the
its enlistment, was as follows

time of

Captain, Joseph F. Ramsey; Lieutenants,
LetTerd H. Kase, First, Charles W. Eckman,
Second; Sergeants, M. B. Goodrich, First, A.
B. Patton, Second, J. T. Howe, Third, William
Young, Fourth, Seth C. Freeze Fifth Cor;

Joseph Fenstermacher, First, Jared
Runyan, Second, Joseph H. Johnston. Third,
Charles W. Weaver, Fourth, Orville D.
l)orals,

Harder

Oscar
Fifth,
Si.xth,
Sharpless,
Frederick Laubach, Seventh, Silas Hartman,
Eighth Musicians, L. D. Houghawout, Joseph
L. I^le; Clerk, Shelden T. Gibbs
Quartermaster, James Auld Teamster, John C. Sny;

;

John Ammerman, Joseph Bear,
Barnhart, L. "S. Brocious,
J. Byerly, H. C.
George Boyer, |. D. Cannady, P.. A. Cleaver,
William Davis, "p. H. Eckman, D. R. Eckman,
der; Privates.

B. R. Gearhart, P. Everett, T. J. Foley, W.
Frymire, W. Flanigan, H. F. Freese, Charles
E. Foley, H. Fortmer, Clark Guinn, C. V.

A. Goss, ^^'illiam Henrie, J. Hower,
Houser, J. B. Johnson, J. R. Johnson, R.
Jenkins, J. Keim, Charles Kneibeller, (]. D.
Kreigh. William Kneer, Samuel Kurtz, J.
Lawrence, John Levers, Hiram Layland, H.
H. I.eisenring, J. B. Moore, William Miller,
M. Murrv, T. H. Mench, ]. B. Mutchler, ].
Giilick,

Miller.

Miller,

R."

Mowrer,

McOsmun,
P.

Clure. t. Morrall, P." Miller, P. P.
R. Perrin, Eli Pennsyl, J. W. Philips,

299

Ouinn, A. Reynolds, C. R. Rishel, R. Ramsey,
\\'.
R. Rouch, Charles L. Sholes, Charles
Stephens, E. Shissler, W. Slay, J. M. Shannon,
William M. Snyder, Charles W. Sholes, H. F.
Snyder, William Smith, W. Stephens, W. W,
Sechler, J. H. Sperring, J. Stewart, Oscar
Tittle, W. Turner, J. Wertz, G. S. Walker,
A. B. Warntz, C. Woods, C. Wagner, L.
Voder.
Company F, 2d Artillery. Capt. William
M. McClure, after his service of three months,

—

returned to Danville and recruited Company
of the 1 1 2th Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol-

unteers, better

known

as the 2d Pennsylvania

large portion of this company
were from Montour county. The regiment
served with great distinction and did much
hard service during the war.
Captain McClure, for bravery, was made colonel of the
Artillery.

regiment. The boys from Montour county in
Samuel StrawCompany F were as follows
bridge, Lieutenant
J. Moore Wilson, Lieutenant Edward Thatcher, Corporal Charles
;

;

Mowrer, Corporal John Laciscus, Corporal
D. H. McCarty, Corporal; Jonathan Bare,

;

Corporal; Thomas Reichelderfer, Bugler;
Robert Curry, Peter Cooper, Richard W.
Eggert, John I'arrell, A. J. Grantz, J. Hendrickson, William R. Johnson, Elias Kulp,

John

McMuIlen,

Phillip

Manning,

Martin

Mazael, Charles Mattees, John Matshall,
Clarence Price, George Robison, I. S. Smith,
Daniel Smith, James Weidel.
Danville Fencibles. This company was organized in Danville in 1862 under the command of Capt. Joseph E. Shreeve. It became

—

Company A in the I32d Regiment, Pennsylvania \ olunteers. At the battle of Antietam
seven of its brave boys were killed, viz. John
M. Hassenplug, D. Van Ronk, Jacob Long,
Daniel Klase, Samuel Hilner, Hiram Hummel
and John Gibson. Eighteen were wounded in
:

same battle, viz.
James Foster, John
Leighow, George Lovett, Charles Flick, D. R.
Shutt, John S. Ware, C. C. Moyer, Archie
Vandling, S. V. Dye, E. M. Roderick, D. R.
Hendrickson, Harry Adams, Jacob H. Miller,
E. D, Smith, S. W. Arnwine, William Ringler,
John Morris and William B. Neese.
For bravery at Antietam Captain Shreeve
the

was promoted

to the position of

major of the

I32d Regiment, and afterwards was made
colonel.
On Captain Shreeve's promotion,
Charles N. Norris was made captain of the

company.
This company, as mustered into the United
States service, was composed as follows
Joseph E. Shreeve, Captain George W. \^an:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

300

First Lieutenant

gilder,

Second

Lieutenant

;

Charles N. Norris,

Privates,

Henry

Adams, Sylvester W. Arnwine, Conrad
Aten, Arthur

W. H.

Beaver,

Carrell, Isaac D. Crewit,

B.
L.

Bookmiller,

John M.

Crist,

Cooper, Franklin Divine, Samuel V.
Dye, William Earp, junior, James S. Easton,
Hiram S. Eggert, John Ephlin, Joseph Feidell,
Charles W. Fitzsimmons, J. B. A. Foin, James
Foster, Charles Flick, Patrick Fleming, Samuel Flickinger, George Francis, John Gibson,
Thomas Goodall, A. Jerome Harder, John M.
Hassenplug, G. K. Hassenplug, John Harig,
Joseph Hale, Samuel Hilner, Alexander Huntingdon, Hiram Hummel, George Hunt, William Irvin, Thomas James, John R. Jenkins,
James W. Jones, Evan Jordan, Michael Kessler, Wellington Klase, Alichael Lanigan, William Lawrence, Conrad Lechthaler, John
Leighow, N. Ferree, Lightner, Jacob Long,
E.

George Lovett, Samuel Lunger, Thomas Maxwell, Leonard Mayer, John McCoy, William
C. McCormick. Jacob H. Miller, Levi Miller,
Watkin Morgan, Cornelius C. Moyer, jacolj
W. Moyer, James McKee, William I!. Xeese,
Joseph H. Nevius, James M. Philips, David
H. Rank, Isaac Rantz, John P. Reaser, Simon
Reedy, Jonathan Rice, William A. Ringler,
Edward W. Roderick, 'August Schreiber,
Aaron Sechler, Henry Schick, David Shutt,
Edwin L. Smith, E. Dallas Smith, George
Snyder, John Stine, Samuel Stall, William
Stewart, William Sunday, Oliver W. Switzer,
Daniel Vanronk, Archibald Vandling, John H.
Wallace, Samuel M. Wate, Angus Wright,
Matthew R. Wright, Andrew Waugh, James
D. W^ray, James Williams, John S. Ware.
Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserz'es, was
organized in Danville under command of Capt.
Mahlon K. Manly. No roll of the company
exists, so far as known, and most of its members were either killed or wounded on the
field.
The only record we have shows Charles
Richart and John Horn to be lieutenants and
William
the following among the privates
Keiner, Nicholas Freeze, Jacob Miller, Ernest
Aderhold, William Bottles, Gottlieb Kerchner.
In the emergency occasioned by the invasion
of Pennsylvania, two companies were organ:

ized in Danville for the defense of the State.
was under the command of Capt.
Coinpanv

John A. Winner and Company K under command of Capt. William Young, both attached
to the 13th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer
Militia.
These companies were composed as
follows

officers

— Colonel.

Regimental
Lieutenant Colonel,

son

;

James JohnMeans; ^Iajor,

H. Newman; Adjutant,

Chamberlin;
Quartermaster, J. W. McKelvy; Surgeon, Dr. Reber;
Assistant Surgeon, Dr. Vandersloot
Drum
Major, B. W. Musselman; Hospital Steward,
Dr. I. Pursell; Ward Master, William W.
Sergeant

Major,

Powers;

;

Hays; Chaplain, Benjamin G. Welch; Postmaster, Wilbur G. Brower; Colonel's Clerk,

M. Russel.
Company A

Alex.

—

Captain, John A. Winner;
Lieutenants, First, W. A. M. Grier; Second,
John C. Perrin; Sergeants, First, John G.
Hammer, Second, Simon Lyon, Third, Elias
Knerr, Fourth, T. C. Hullihen, Fifth, William
R. Pursel; Corporals, First, Robert Adams,
Jr., Second, William T. Ramsey, Third, John
Thatcher, Fourth, Benjamin K. \'astine,
Fifth, George Irwin, Sixth, Samuel Earp,
Seventh, John Werkheiser, Eighth, Samuel
Haman; Drummer, John H. Hunt; Quartermaster Sergeant, Reuben Riehl Privates, John
.\dams, Charles S. Baker, Peter Baldy, Jr., A.
Russel Best, P. F. Bourgenot, D. H. B.
Brower, Wilbur G. Brower, S. L. Butterwick,

;

William
Cathcart,

Nelson

Brv'ant,

Charles

Carr, Robert M.
Childs, W. H. Cool,

William Cummings, Stephen Cuthbert,

Criswell, William Deen, William Dent, Wesley
Deshay, Joseph A. Doran, Christian
Ernest, Edward Evans, Josiah Frantz, S. B.
Flick,

Evan

Fisher, Jr., Herbert Gaskins, A.

Edmund

Gearhart, W. H.
Gibbs, Frank Gibbs,
Samuel F. Griffin, Isaac X. Grier, Michael
Haupt, Lamar Hahn, D. C. Hartman, \\'illiam

Mont. Gearhart,
Gearhart,

Charles

W. Hays, Hezekiah Holbert, Richard Jenkins,
William H. Jenkins, J. Hervey Kase, Charles
Kaufman, Alfred Kneass, Frederick Kreps,
Henry Kocher, Charles Limberger, William
C. Lyon, Saul Lyon, John V. Martin, Franklin
William McLain, Moses Xetter,
Miller,
George B. O'Connor, Samuel J. Pardoe. Theodore Palmer, Isaac Pursell, West Perry, A. D.
Rockafeller, Alexander M. Russel, Warren
RTdgway, J. C. Shaver, Cyrus F. Styers, Joseph Sechler, Jr., Henry C. Snyder, S. Y.
Thompson, Lewis Tittle, John L. A^astine, T.
J. Vastine, S. C. Vansant, Josiah Wolf, Samuel Werkheiser, Reuben Werkheiser, Peter
Werkheiser, Benjamin G. Welch. William
Wands, Robert Wilson, Samuel Welliver,
Samuel Ware,

Company

K— Captain,
Jr.

William

Young;

Alfred

Mellon, Second,
Sergeants, First, M. B.
A.
Munson, Second,
Jerome Harder, Third,
George W. Ramsey, Fourth, Alexander HoffLieutenants, First,
Alfred B. Patton

;

ner; Corporals, First, Alfred Yerrick, Second,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
P.

Hugh

Third, Lewis Byerly,
Miller;
Quartermaster,
Drummer, B. W. Musselman

Company A,

Libhart,

William

Fourth,

Samuel Moore
Fifer, John Geist; Privates, Oakley V. Ammerman, James M. Ammerman, Samuel
Ammerman, John C. Alexander, James Best,
W. H. Byerly, Sylvester Blocksage, John
Bedow, Charles W. Boudine, Joseph H.
Campbell, Martin Cornelison, John Deen,
Joseph E. Dougherty, Leonard Dimmick,
;

William D.

;

Everhart,

Cornelison

;

Herr,

;

John Hale, Jeremiah
Horner, David James,
S. Hall,
Samuel
W.
Kress,
Kelley, George
John
Lunger, William A. Leighovv, Victor A. LoD. Clinton Millard,
tier, David 'W. Moore,
Franklin Myers, William P. Pursell, Irvin
T. Patton, L. Rhodenheffer, William Riffles,
F. W. Rockafeller, D. M. Springer, George S.
Sanders, William Trease, George W. Watts.
Of the soldiers who enlisted from Montour
county during the Civil war, fifty-two were
in the regular army and four hundred and
(The table
fifty-six in the volunteer service.
does not include drafted men.)

Cooper

Enrolled

Danville,
Danville,

;

Hefler,
William F.

Townships
Anthony

131st Pennsylvania Volunteers;
O. B. Switzer, A, 131st P. V.; John Gibson,
A, 131st P. v.; Peter Cooper, F, 112th P. V.;
Sergt. Samuel E. Cooper, A, i32d P. V. ;
Jeremiah Black, A, I32d P. V.; James T.
Powers, G, 8th P. V. Newson L. Sagess, D,
7th P. V. John Dugan, D, 7th P. V. Frank
G. Blee, A, I32d P. V. W. W. Switzer, G, 4th
P. v.; David Gibson, ii6th P. V.; Philip
Springer, E, 6th Pa. Reserves; William C.
McCay, D, 7th P. V. Samuel Fleckinger, A,
i32d P. v.; Joel Metz, E, 6th Pa. Reserves;
Corporal George Snyder, A, I32d P. V. J. P.
Bearer, A, I32d P. V.
Franklin Lewis,
Danville, North Ward
84th Pennsylvania Volunteers; Samuel M.
Wate, Company A, I32d P. V.; Gomer Jones,
K, 5th P. v.; Joseph R. Patton, band, io6th
P. V. Charles M. Zuber, band, io6th P. V.
J. C. Millhouse, band, 51st P. V.; Fred Laubach, H, 93d P. v.; Capt. J. F. Ramsey, H,
93d P. v.; Thomas Wenck, H, 7th P. V.;
Augustus Shriver, A, I32d P. V. Nathaniel
Everhart, H, 93d P. V. Martin Taylor, 12th
U. S.; WilHam H. Rouch, H, 93d P. V.;
Clarence Price, F, 112th P. V.; Alfred B.
Patton, H, 93d P. V. George Francis, A, I32d
P. V. Jared Rtmyan. H, 93d P. V. John L.
Miller, H, 93d P. V.; William M. Miller, 12th
U. S.; Stephen Johnson, E, 4th N. Y. V.;
William Turner, H, 93d P. V. Israel Wertz,
H, 93d P. V. William Horfif, E, 6th Pa. Reserves Reuben Ramsey, H, 92d P. V. John
Miller, E, 6th P. V. James Bailor, 12th U. S.
Harman Bailor, 12th U. S. Peter Bailor, 12th
U. S. Samuel S. Gulick, A, I32d P. V. Jacob
Bookmiller, A, i32d P. V.; Andrew Waugh,
A, I32d P. v.; George Focht, E, 9th Pa. Reserves; Capt. M. K. Manly, E, 9th Pa. Re;

Duncan

301

;

—

;

In Service

;

North Ward
South Ward

Derrv

IS7

79
868
623

197
127
IP

141
ipi

Liberty

Limestone

Mahoning
Mayberry

45
9
29
8

2,655

508

4<5

162

Valley

West Hemlock

;

25
26

158
170

;

The following

as complete a

of the

list

enlisted from Montour county
at the
during the Civil war as can be secured

soldiers

who

present time
Anthony Tozvnship John Watts, artillery;
Samuel Gray, artillery; James Koons, 131st
Pa. Vols.; Thomas Mohr, private; Jacob
Binder, private; William R. Johnson, Comnth
pany F, ii2th P. v.; Jacob Robinalt,
Perry
P. V. Samuel Robinalt, D, 7th P. V.
Watts, C, 96th P. v.; James Candy, H, 93d
P. v.; Jacob Candy, H, 93d P. V.; Adam
io6th P. V.; John Kime, H,
Bidler, F,
93d P. v.; Daniel Kime, H, 93d P. V.
William :\Iiller, H, 93d P. V.; Michael Breck-

—

;

Samuel Sprout, D, 7th P.
\'.
Isaac Wertman, E, 12th P. V. John McMullin, F, ii2th P. V.; Simon Reedy, A, I32d

bill,

D, 7th P. V.

;

A. Crossley, F, 112th P. V.
Derry Toivnship Thomas H.

P. \'.;

—

Switzer,

H, 93d P. V.; Isaac
James R. Johnson, H,
93d P. V. David H. McCarty, F, 112th P. V.
William H. Miller. E, 54th P. V.; Levi M.
Miller, A, I32d P. V.; S. E. Ridgway, F,
Matthew's Battery; Charles Kneibler, H, 93d
P. V. David R. Shutt, A, I32d P. V. Thomas
serves; John Byerly,
Barto, F, 48th P. V.;

;

James, A, I32d P. V.; Francis Trees, 69th P.
V. James Burns, P. V. John Nester, P. V.
Patrick Tenenty, P. V.; Charles Eckhart,
band, io6th P. V. J. B. A. Foin, A, I32d P.
v.; Nicholas Freeze, E, 6th P. V.; Daniel
;

;

Klase, A, I32d P. V.; James Moore, H, q3d
P. \\ Joseph Hefifer, D, 17th P. V. William
C. Heffler, E, 112th Pr V. William F. Deshay,
1 2th U. S.
John L. Deshay, 12th U. S. John
;

;

P. V. Evan Jordan, 15th U. S.
Robert Fields, C,
Elijah Fields, C, 12th U. S.;

Wood, 69th

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

302

I2th U. S. Aaron Gibson, E, 6th Pa. Reserves John F. Mullen, E, 12th U. S. Richard
Jenkins, A, 3d Md. V.; Josiah Robinson, G,
3d Md. V. James Auld, H, 93d P. \'. Wilham Davis, H, 93d P. V.; Reese Davis, A,
54th P. v.; William Price, H, 93d P. V.;
;

;

y\ngus Wright, A, I32d P. V.; Mathew R.
Wright, A, I32d P. V. James Stewart, D,
69th P. V. Charles L. Sholes, H, 93d P. V.
Thomas Goodall, A, I32d P. V.; William
Davis, A, I32d P. V.; John Morris, A, I32d
P. v.; Peter Green, D, 69th P. V.; F. FinneThomas McManus, D,
gan, D, 69th P. \'.
69th P. v.; Patrick Hardy, U. S. Regulars;
William Finnegan, U. S. Regulars George
Lovett, A, I32d P. V.; Samuel Ricketts, G, 3d
Md. v.; George Hacker, A, I32d P. V.;
George Bingham, E, 6th Pa. Reserves;
Thomas W. Levers, E, 6th Pa. Reserves
William Ringhani, 13th P. \'. Adam Hernberger, A, I32d P. \'.; John Levers, H, 93d
P. v.; John Boyer, I, 52d P. \'.
Jonathan
Davis, I, 52d P. V.; Samuel Brvant, I, 52d
P. v.; Michael Hurley, I, 52d P' V.; Daniel
Van Ronk, A, I32d P. V.; Seth C. Freeze, H,
93d P. v.: Sheldon T. (iibbs, H, 93d P. V.;
Franklin Devine, A, i^zd P. V.; Robert
Wood, F, 48th P. v.; Richard Hopkins, F,
48th P. v.; John Stine, A, I32d P. V.; John
Frank Kneidt, F,
Sheldon, H," 6th P. V.
Matthew's Battery Jacob Haag, F, Matthew's
Batterj'; James Henegan, D, 69th P. V.; John
McDonald, D, 69th P. V. Patrick Conners,
D. 69th P. v.; fames Williams, A, I32d P.
V. Richard Grogan, K, io6th P. \'. William
Paugh, D, 69th P. V. Michael Kessler, A,
I32d P. v.; Thomas Kennedy, D, 5th P. V.;
James Kennedy, D, 69th P. V.; John Ephlin,
28th P. V. Thomas Laft'erty, D, 69th P. V.
John Burns, D, 69th P.' V. Patrick Burns. D,
Terrence O'Neil, D, 69th P. V.
(39th P. V.
Thomas Smith, P. V. Charles Rogers, P. \\
John Reed, P. V.; James Moran, P. \'. Pat;

;

rick Kellev, P. V.; fohn Greenv, P. V.;
McCartv.'P. \'. Hugh Biadlv, P. V.;
;

Tames
Frank

Burns, P. \'.
Tames EUitt, P. \.\ Thomas
Coughlin, P. v.; John Paugh, 5th U. S.
James Eastin, A,
Philip Renn, 12th U. S.
i32d P. v.: Thomas Davis, H, 7th P. V.;
Evan Edwards, E, 54th P. V.; John Jordon,
E, 54th P. v.; George Morris, E, 54th P. V.;
William
Patrick O'Connor, D, 69th P. \'.
Weidall, B, io6th P. V. Watkin Morgan, A,
I32d P. v.; Charles McMullen, C, 69th P. V.;
Isaac Kear, E, 5th U. S. Abram Price, E,
6th Pa. Reserves; Isaac Rantz, A, I32d P. V.;
Peter Connell, E, loist P. v.; Mathias \'eraskoski, 46th P. v.; John Price, 63d P. V.;
;

;

John

Huntingdon, C, 14th P. V.; Philip
Effinger, K, 52d N. Y. V. ; Martin Ma'zella, F,
112th P. V.; Henry Agga, D, ist P. V.;
Jo'nathan Rice, A, I32d P. V. Conrad
Lichthaler,
;

A, I32d P. V.; Joseph Hale, A, I32d P V
Philip McClure, H, 93d P. V. Francis Hafeyi
109th P. \'.; William McClean, D, 109th
P. \".
Philip Evert, H, 93d P. V.; H. F.
Freeze, H, 93d P. V. Charles V. Gu'lick, H^
P.
93d
V.; Mathias Fish, 5th P. V.; John
Doyle, D, 69th P. V.; Robert McCoy,-A, i32d
P. V.; Arthur W. Beaver, A, i32d P. V.;
Joseph Bryant, K, 54th P. V. Isaac D. Crewit,
A, i32d P. V.: Dennis Leary, D, 69th P. V.;
Owen Burns, D, 69th P. \'. William Smith,
D, 69th P. \'. Stephen Sullivan, D, 69th P.
V.; John McWilliams, D, 69th P. V.; John
Alarshall, E, 1 12th P. V. Martin Murray, H,
93d P. V. Samuel Quinn, H, 93d P. V.
Richard Lanigan, A, 5th P. V. James Quinn,
A, 5th P. V. William Thomas, E, 54th P. V.;
Richard Jenkins, H, 93d P. V.; James Foster,
A, I32d P. V.; William Stewart, A, I32d P.
V.; Patrick Riddles, D, 69th P. V.; Henry
\\'illiam Markle, E,
Bogart, E, 12th U. S.
12th U. S.
John Mintzer, E, 12th U. S.;
S.
U.
Isaac Melon, 12th
George Kear, E, 5th
U. S.
John Bubb, E. 12th U. S. Michael
O'CTorman, B, 5th U. S. Caleb Roberts, E,
12th U. S. Lieutenant John Horn, E, 6th Pa.
Reserves; William Keiner, E, 6th Pa. Reserves; Joseph Walton, E, 6th Pa. Reserves;
John McKone, G, 57th N. Y. V. John Roberts, G, 3d Md. V.; Richard W. Eggert, F,
•

;

12th P.

\'.

Adam J. Grantz, F, 12th P. V.
South Ward— Capt. Joseph E.
1

;

Danville,

Company A, I32d P. V.; George W.
Hoffman, band, io6th P. V.; R. S. Simington,
surgeon, 93d P. \'. William Young, H, 93d
P. \'.
William W. Sechler, H, 93d P. V.;
Charles
Joseph Johnson, H, 93d P. V.
Mummey, D, 84th P. V. Oscar G. Mellin,
laand, 4th Pa. Reserves; Charles Gross, band,

Shreeve.

;

io6th P. R.
Harnian Leibv, H, 93d P. R.;
William A. Mellin, E, 12th P. R. Joseph
Hale, H. 93d P. R. Charles Smith, A, I32d
P. R. Archie \'andling, A, i32d P. R. John
McCoy, A, I32d P. R. David Keffer, 13th P.
R. Henry Adams, A, I32d P. R. W. Forest,
D, 7th P. R. Samuel Lunger, A, I32d P. R.;
Thomas E. Frame, E, ist P. R. James Corcoran, D, 76th P. R. Arthur F. Henrie, band,
:

;

6th P. R. Thomas Adams, 6th P. R. Lieut.
Charles C. Norris, A, I32d P. V.; Lieut. M.
B. Goodrich, H, 93d P. V. Andrew Derry,
:

;

V.; James Shepherd, H, 7th
P. \'. ;' William Nago, D, nth P. V.; Tohn
Wallace, A. i32d P. V.; William Earp, A,
artillerv. 93cl P.

If.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
I32d P. v.; William L. Snyder; Conrad S.
Aten, A, i32d P. V.; Henry J. Aten, band,
io6th P. v.; George Dean, band, 6th P. V.
Wellington Klase, A, i^2d P. V.; Daniel
Klase, A, I32d P. V.; William Kelly; Jacob
Moyer, A, I32d P. V.; Samuel A. Mills, band,
6th Pa. Reserves; William Mitting, 7th P.
v.; Thomas Morrall, H, 93d P. V.; Sharps
M. Snyder, A, I32d P. V. James D. Ray, A,
I32d P. v.; Benjamin F. Hagenbach, band,
6th Pa. Reserves; David Ross, L, 12th P. V.
John Ware, A, I32d P. V. Joseph L. Frame,
;

;

band, 93d P. V.; Hiram Eggert, A, i32d P.
v.; Edward Milward, G, 77th P. V.; George
Williams, E, 6th Pa. Reserves; Henry
Laland, H, 93d P. V.; D. A. Laland; Lieut.
William Roberts, G, 109th P. \^ ; Lieut. AbraC.

ham Lang,

I, 109th P. v.; James Jones, A,
I32d P. v.; William Williams, I, 12th P. V.
William Watts, I, 12th P. V.; Joseph Fenster;

macher, H, 93d P. V.; Frederick Brodt, H,
93d P. V. J. Houpt, 49th P. \'. E. D. Smith,
A, I32d P. V. Corporal N. Ferree Lightner,
A, I32d P. v.; S. P. Harder, F, Matthew's
Battery; O. D. Harder, H, 93d P. V. John T.
Howe, H, 93d P. y. Charles W. Sholes, H,
93d P. v.; George E. Hunt, A, 93d P. V.;
Charles Savage, Jr., F, Matthew's
Battery;
Toseph D. Miller, H, 93d P. V. Samuel HibP.
V.
ler, H, 7th
John W. Hibler, 54th P. V.
Edwin Lockart, E, 6th Pa. Reserves; George
Yeomans, surgeon, 23d Pa. Reserves Herber
Painter, I, sSth P. R. Gutlep Kercher, E, 6th
P. R. James Hilt, P. V.
George Archer, E,
74th P; V.
Henry H. Leisenring, H, 93d
P. V.
Alexander Gulp, artillery. 93d P. V.
James G. Moore, D, 84th P. \\ Lieut. G. W.
Vangilder, A, I32d P. V.; John Stewart, H,
93d P. V. Samuel Kerst, H, 93d P. V. William Stephnagle, H, 93d P. V.; Charles
Stephnagle, H, 93d P. V. J. W. Flannagan,
H. 93d P. v.; Joseph Gross, E, ist P. V.;
Marks Wise, I, 12th P. V.; Jacob Sperring,
H, 93d P. V. Alfred Reynolds, H, 93d P. V.
Capt. Alexander T- Frick, D, 84th P. V.;
Capt. William M."McClure, F, 112th P. V.;
Lieut. S. D. Strawbridge, F, 112th P. V.;
Pursival Miller, H, 93d P. V.; Thomas Maxwell, A,
i32d P. v.; Robert D. Magill,
steward: John G. Moore, band, 5th Pa. Reserves; Christopher Woods, band, 6th Pa. Reserves Simon Derlacher, H, 6th P. R.
Joseph
Rose, E, 6th P. R. Abner H. Brown," band,
6th P. R.; William Ackev, E, 6th P. R.
George Deen, E, 6th P. R. ;'M. B, Johnson, E,
6th P. R.
George Hughes Samuel May.
Liuicstone Township
John T. Newcomer,
;

;

—

;

Company D,

7th

;

Pennsylvania

Volunteers;

303

F. J.

Newcomer, D, 7th P. V. Martin Keifer,
D, 7th P. V. William Dinkle, C, 3d P. V.
Wilham Fink; David Werlty, 131st P. V
Charles F. Bennett, U. S.
Regulars; Luke s!
Brass, K, 95th P. V. Charles E. Wagner, D,
;

;

7th P. v.; Hiram Wertman, D, 7th P. V.;
Jacob Smith, 131st P. V.; William Keifer, D,
7th P. v.; Thomas Kersteller; Daniel G Dildme, D, 7th P. \. Jacob O. Caldwell, H, 5th
P. v.; Conrad
Springer, E, 6th Pa. Reserves;
Daniel F. Wagoner, D, 7th P. V. Samuel V.
Dye, A, i32d P. v.; Charles Balliet, D, 7th
P. v.; Daniel Rank, D,
7th P. V.; James
Bryson, captain, D, 7th P. V.; W. Caldwell,
D, 7th P. v.; Jacob Balliet, D, 7th P. V.;
Joseph D. Fulton, D, 7th P. V.;
Carnthan, D, 7th P. V.; C. W. Fitzsimmons, A,
i32d P. V.
Liberty Toivnship Charles F. Bennett,
Company E, 12th Regulars Reuben Bennett,
E, i2th Regulars; William C. Best, H, 53d
Pennsylvania X'olunteers; J. P. Bare, F, 112th
P. v.; Martin Bower, K,
51st P. V.; John
McElrath, F, 1 12th P. \. Robert Curry, i32d
P. v.; William Clark, F, 112th P.
V.; Jacob
Hendrickson, 121st P. V.; Emanuel Kertz
Jacob Johnston, E, 6th P. V. Jacob Long, A,
I32d P. v.; John Marshall, F, 112th P. V.;
James L. Mifler, H, 53d P. V.; C. Marshall,
E, 6th Pa. Reserves; R. F. Nesbit, H, 12th
Regulars John Perry, E, 12th P. V. Richard
Rozel, K, nth P. V. Z. Robinalt, H, 53d P.
;

;

—

;

Simon Springer, H, 53d

\'.

;

Smith,

F, ii2th P. v.; Levi B. Schock, r3ist P. V.;
Michael Thornton, H, 53d P. V.

Mahoning Toivnship

—

John Stineman, 4tl>
Volunteers; Peter McAfee, Com6th
Pa.
E,
pany
Reserves; Joshua McAfee,
52d P. v.; Charles Flick, E, I32d P. V.;
Charles Waters, I, 52d P. V.; Samuel Gray,
F, Matthew's Battery; John Watts, F, Matthew's Battery; Charles Rishel, H, 93d P. V.;
Christian Wagner, E, 6th Pa. Reserves;
Abram Voris, E, 6th P. R. John Campbell,
F, Matthew's Battery Henry Bogar William
Turvey, E, 53d P. \^ Daniel Turvey, E, 53d
P. V. Henry Vincent, A, i32d P. V. Thomas
Jones, A, I32d P. V.; Michael Rouch, D, 69th
P. \\ Philip Cassiday, A,
th
William Edmunds, A, 69th P. \'. W^illiam Smith,
H. 93d P. V. John R. Mowerer, H, 93d P.
v.; Aaron Sechler, A, I32d P. V.; John
Leighow, H, I32d P. V.; Jacob Sanders, D,
fiist P. v.; Charles Mowerer, F, 112th P. V.;
Henry S. Neuss, F, Matthew's Battery;
George W. Mowerer. F, Matthew's Battery;
Henry Wireman, F, Matthew's Battery;
John H. Christian, F, Matthew's Battery;

New York

;

— — —

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

304

Charles Shipman, F, Matthew's Battery; J.
W. Houser, E, I2th P. V.; John Houser, H,
93d P. v.; Joseph Robey, E, 12th P. V.;
James M. Phillips, A, I32d P. V.; H. Kostenhacker, E, 6th Pa. Reserves David D. Moser,
E, i2th P. v.; Alfred Roberts, D, 7th P. V.;
Thomas H. Sanders, D, 7th P. V.; William
A. Fetter, D, 7th P. V. G. W. Robinson, F,
Ii2th P. v.; John Bubb, E, 12th P. V.; Ben;

;

jamin Rudy, teamster.

Mayberry Toivnship

—Joseph

R. Mutchler,

Company H, 93d P. V. Samuel Hilner, A,
I32d P. v.; WilHam Miller, H, 93d P. V.; P.
;

McGuire;

James

Irland, E, 9th Pa.
187th P. V.;
Lieut. M. Rosenstein, 6th
Isaiah Devers, John Clave,

Cavalry; Reese H. Flanegan,

Thomas McManus;

Pa. Reserves;
Patrick Rollan, Peter Yerrick, Ad. Ray, Jonathan Waters, John Clark, Matthias Murray,

John Lee, Moses Gibbons, Edward Cuthbert,
Thomas Stoddart, John Robinson, Frederick
Harris, William Millner, Isaac Devers, E. O.
Ridgway, all of Company H, nth P. V.;

Warren M. Ridgway, C, 187th P. V.; Amos
Suppinger, H, nth Pa. Reserves.
There were Montour men in various other

P. Osburn, H, 93d P. V.
Joseph Long, A, Pennsylvania regiments as well as in regi93d P. V. William Hanly, 46th P. V. Joseph ments from other States.
M.
In 1878 Company F of the National Guard
Simmeason, 46th P. V.
Ely, 131st P. V.
Valley Tozvnship Dennis Bright, lieuten- was organized in Danville and was first com6th
Pa.
manded
Reserves;
ant; Joseph Rowes, E,
by Capt. P. E. Alaus. Captain Maus
Hiram Humel, A. I32d P. V. Henry F. resigned in 1880 and Dr. Jonathan Sweisfort
Snyder, H, 93d P. V. Alpheus D. Ott, E, 6th was elected captain.
Upon his resignation
Pa. Reserves; W. B. Neese, A, I32d P. V.; John W. Farnsworth became captain and in
William Sunday, A, I32d P. V.; Philip Evart, turn was followed by William B. Baldy,
H, 93d P. V. Charles H. Rishel, H, 93d P. Charles P. Gearhart, J. Beaver Gearhart and
V. Stephen L. Rush, F, 54th P. V. Lieut. J. F. M. Herrington, who still commands the
Moore Wilson, F, 112th P. V. P. Maning, Jr., company.
F, Ii2th P. v.; Jonas Roup, E, 6th Pa. ReCompany F, 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania
National Guard, volunteered in the service of
serves; George S. Walker, H, 93d P. V.
Edwin Thatcher, F, 112th P. V.; Daniel the LInited States for the Spanish-American
Miles, D, 69th P. V. Richard Riddle, E, 12th war in 1898. The following is the roster of
P. v.; Joseph Eagles, A, I32d P. V.; John the company as it left Danville in 1898:
Wood, D, 69th P. \' James Thomas, D, 69th Charles P. Gearhartr Captain Rufus K. Polk
P. V. C. West, F, 54th P. V. John Boyer, First Lieutenant Frank M. Herrington, Second Lieutenant Sergeants, W. L. Clark, J. D.
F, 54th P. V. William M. Snyder, teamster
David Henrickson, A, I32d P. V.; Amos Kramer, Robert McClure, Eugene Kinn, W.
Thomas
P.
Welliver, E, S. Mettler; Color Sergeant, Abraham Swartz;
V.;
Appleman, i32d
6th Pa. Reserves Evan Jordan, E, 12th P. V.
Corporals. Frank Keefer, Charles Kase, Walter Ostrander, Morris Guest, Riley Watts,
William Stephens, E, 53d P. V.
]]'cst Hemlock Toz^'nsliip
Joseph Weidel, Martin Landau Privates, Percy Angle, WalCompany F, 112th P. V. Oscar Tittle, H, 93d ter Arms, William Baker, John Bowers,
P. v.; Martin Tarner, G, nth Michigan Vol- George Bradley, William Breckbill, Daniel
unteers George W. Crossley, H, 105th P. V.
Byerly, Charles Clark, Edward Cooney, Boyd
Sylvester W. Arnwine, A, I32d P. V. William Crawford, John Curry, John Deen. Robert
F.
H. Correll, A, I32d P. V.; B.
Heilman, E, Dodson, William Frey, Robert Gearhart. Wil;

;

—

;

—

;

6th Pa. Reserves; Thomas Welliver, E, 6th
Pa. Reserves.
D.
Additional Enlist Dieiits Surgeon J.
Strawbridge, Army of the Cumberland William L. Jones, Company H, 93d P. V. J. C.
U.
Sylvis, I, I2th Pa. Cavalry; Isaac Mellin,
S. A. E. K. Hale, band. 112th P. V. Charles
Ely, Samuel Roberts, J. S. Hale, H, Capt. G.

—

;

W'. Reay, Ed. Watkins,

George Danks, Moses

Gibbons, William Gibbons, William Roberts,
x\ndrew H. Brown, 12th Pa,
3d Md. V.
Cavalrv William O. Butler I. T. Patton, C,
187th 'p. v.; Lieut. David Ware; Charles
Ware; William Ware; J. D. Ware, 187th P.
;

;

v.: Benton B. Brown, C. 187th P. V.; George
Tillson, 2ioth P. V.;

Frank Finegan; John

liam

Greiner,

Charles

Green,

Elias

Gross,

Harry Harding, Joseph Heim, James Henderson, Arthur Henrie, James Hodge. Charles
Howe. Albert Hunt, Carl Irwin, William Jenkins, James Kearns, Frank Keiner, Charles
Keiner, James Klein, Benjamin Kneibler,
Lowenstein,
Joseph Longenberger, Henry
"George Mclilrath, Henry Mitchell, Charles
Steven
William
Alourer,
Mottern,
Murphy,
George Oberdorf, Oscar Ovelman, Wilbur
Prentiss,
Phile.
Henry
Harry
Penepacker,
Christopher Rice, Gilbert Robinson, Edward
Roberts, William Russell, Frank Sanders.
Harvey Sassaman, John Schuster, Frank
Seidel,' Charles Shelhart, Harry Slifer, John
Shotts,

John

Steinbrenner,

Edward

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Thomas, John Toohey, William
Samuel White, George Wilcox.

B. \'astine,

Company F is still in the service of Pennsylvania and stands ready for any call to duty.
This is the history of one hundred and
The
thirty-nine years of military service.
record is not perfect, there may be omissions,
but thev are not intentional, and caused onlv

305

by want of proper records. Let us hope that
the days of war are over for the land we love
and that we have reached the time when
"

—the

war-drum throbbed no
flags

were

longer,

and the

battle-

furl'd.

Parliament of Man, the Federation of the

In the

World."

CHAPTER V
SCHOOLS OF MONTOUR COUNTY
Of the early schools of Montour county a
writer of 1886 says, that little could be gathered, and that most of the details were obtained
from old residents, whose memories in some
instances were obscured by age and infirmities.

Some

time about 1785, while yet the village
of Danville was unknown as a distinct organization, but was included in the township
of Mahoning, a schoolhouse was erected on
the grounds of the Grove Church, a few yards
east of the old building, and in this unpretentious log building the children of the settlers

received the
first
school

twenty

feet

rudiments of education.

This

was but one story in height,
square, and only of sufficient

height to permit the schoolmaster to stand
erect.
single door, fronting the church, afThe
forded means of ingress and egress.
chimney was at the opposite end and admitted
in its fireplace logs of a length of ten feet, to
maintain the necessary fires during the long
window on either side, of
cold winters.
small height but extreme width, admitted some
There
was
a rude puncheon floor and
light.
The desks were
seats of the same material.
simple boards fastened along the walls, facing
the windows, and were too high from the
floor for any but the more advanced students

to use.

This rude structure and the church hard by
had a vigorous and dense grove of trees surrounding and overshadowing them, which
gave much protection from the summer's heat
and winter's cold. For a few years this rustic
schoolhouse was occupied by schoolmasters
The teachers were
and their little flocks.
usually single men. and boarded around with

employers in rotation, thus getting part
of the tuition fees in food and lodging, at that
time a most convenient arrangement for both
Tradition fails to hand down to us
parties.
the names of the earlier of these teachers, but
the last one. Master Gibson, who unlike his
predecessors had a family and home of his
their

left an impress on the pages of traditional liistory that has endured to the present time. Many are the anecdotes related of

own, has

this old schoolmaster, but
mit their relation.
The

space will not per-

books used in his
England Primer, embel-

school were the New
lished with a quaint likeness of the "Honorable John Hancock. Esq., Presidertt of the

American Congress," and numerous woodcuts
rude

Dilworth's
appearance
Spelling
Fenning's Spelling Book and New
Guide to the English Tongue Dillvvorth's
Arithmetic and a useful book entitled "The
Young Man's Companion," a kind of sequel to

Book

;

the others, well calculated to qualify the older
The more adboys for a business career.
vanced scholars read from the Bible, Milton's

"Paradise Lost," and Goldsmith's "Abridged
Histories." Although this course of learning

was brief, it was thorough, and many of the
graduates of the time wotild compare not unfavorably with those of our present schools.
During the time Mr. Gibson taught (about
eight years) the school was quite successful,
and the number of the pupils was greater than
His pay was by
those of his predecessors.
For the smaller
voluntary subscription:

scholars he received eleven shillings, threefor the larger ones, fifteen shillings,
These
Pennsylvania currency, per quarter.
fees were equal then to $1.50 and $2. respecit was then termed.
as
Federal
money,
tively.
Few of the pupils attended school for more

pence,

than two, or at the most three, winters, and
many of the boys left before the end of the
term to assist in maple sugar-making, if the
weather in the spring permitted. The demand
for labor at home often shortened the term
considerably, and not infrequently the lack of
fifteen shillings for tuition forbade a boy's
attendance for the full term.
Of the pupils of this school during Mr. Gibson's term tradition has preserved the names
of John, Tacob, Samuel and Harman Sechler;
Archibald, John, James and Robert Woodside;

COLUMBIA AND :\IOXTOUR COUNTIES

306

Jacob, Isaac, Ann and Mary Cornelison;
Jesse Simpson; Mary, Margaret and Charles
M. Frazer, and their cousin, Charles Frazer;
Samuel and John Huntington Isaac, Peter,
;

Samuel and John Blue; Asa, Samuel and
Charles Moore
Abie, Josiah, Griffith and
William Phillips; Joseph and Jacob W. Maus
Charles Evans; John McCoy; and Jefferson
and Robert Montgomery, who came here from
;

;

Tennessee.

Except the Frazers, Sechlers and Montgomerys, the pupils were too remote from the
school to go home at noon, and were obliged
to bring their luncheon with them. There was
but one intermission during the day, from
twelve to one o'clock, but in the intervals the
pupils were permitted to withdraw one at a
time. A triangular board about the size of an
ordinary book was hung from a nail on the
inside of the door, bearing on one side the
word "IX" and on the other the word "OUT."
A student held up his hand, and receiving an
affirmative nod from the schoolmaster turned
the board to "OUT" and left the room. Sometimes a boy would watch his chance when the
master was not looking and turn the board to
"IN" in order to get a chance to join the absent
one at play.
Master Gibson was a rigid disciplinarian
and ruled with the rod, but he was honored

and affectionately remembered by his pupils.
He was a useful man in his day and generation.
Little is known of his family.
His
daughter married a farmer residing on the
Chillisquaque.

The

surviving pupil of

last

Master Gibson, Jacob Sechler, one of the

first

children boni in Danville, died, a nonegenFrom him
arian, on Christmas Day, 1880.
most of the data for these reminiscences was

gathered.

From

other sources

find that another

school was built in 1793 by James Montgomery, assisted by a few scattered settlers,
on the Milton and Danville road, a short dis-

tance from the present line of this county.
Montgomery himself was the only teacher
here.
How long he taught, or the fate of the
building, has never been ascertained.
In 1797 another log school was built, on the
Danville-Bloomsburg road. It had neither
floor nor chimney, and the roof was of saplings covered with branches, leaves and dirt.
Mr. Hewitt was the teacher, and from one of
his pupils, David Davis of \'alley township,
these details were secured.
The first school in Washingtonville borough

was
later

built in

1806.

converted into a

was

frame building,

dwelling:.

The

first

Abraham Barry, followed
by John Craven, John Aloore, a Mr. x\llen,
and
a
Mr. Hutchinson.
John Reilly,
teacher there was

The principal promoters of schools in Derry
township in early times were Col. Thomas
Moorehead, Thomas Robertson and Samuel
Brittain.

The

old

"Center

Stone

Schoolhouse"

Liberty township was built in 1823, and stood a
[irominent landmark in Montour county until
1872, when it was destroyed by an incendiary
The ground was given jointly by James
fire.
Strawbridge, father of Dr. J. D. Strawbridge,
and here the Doctor received the foundation
of his education.
James Lafferty, another

Irishman named Duncan, and James Aiken,
one of this State's famous rural poets, were
teachers here at dift'erent periods.

Gen. Daniel Montgomery having donated a
of Danville, west of ^lill street
and north of Market street, in 1802, a frame
schoolhouse, about twenty feet square and one
lot in his plat

story in height, was erected on this ground by
voluntary contributions, in 1804. The gable
end fronted on the alley midway between Mill
and Factory streets, and there were a door
and two windows on one end, and three
windows on each side. The writing desks
were of the usual kind along the sides of the
room, and the smaller students were seated on
benches running parallel with these desks. All
of the seats were destitute of backs, and the
entire arrangement of the school fittings was
of a most inconvenient and uncomfortable
Andrew Forsyth, an eminent
character.
Scotchman, a soldier of the Revolution and
an intimate friend of George Washington, be-

came the first teacher. He had lost his all in
the war and was obliged to take up school
teaching at Danville, where he died in 1814.
He taught six years in Danville and a short
time in Mooresburg.
lohn Moore, who afterwards became one
of the leading merchants of Danville, was the
next teacher here. His successor was Thomas
W. Bell, a skillful penman, who was followed

by Col. Don Carlos Barrett, the most popular
and successful educator who ever presided at
this school.
Subsequently he became one of
the triumvirate in Texas, which included
Austin and Houston, the rulers of that State
After
during its struggle for independence.
him came Samuel Kirkham, who wrote his

famous grammar while teaching here. Next
succeeded Ellis Hughes, a sur\-eyor, who came
from Catawissa to Danville in 1820. and after
his school term was ended was appointed
For
register and recorder by the governor.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
number of years he examined the applicants
for teachers' positions for the township.

Other teachers of

this

period were John

Thomas Grier, Stephen Haliif, L. C.
Judson, Abraham Lille, Michael Sanders,
Michael Best, Isaac Mower, Thomas Catley
Richards,

and John Porter.
In 1806 a subscription school

was opened by

who
Upon the

continued to operate
pages of her books,
which are still preserved, appear the names of
Daniel Eraser, Daniel Montgomery, Samuel
Yorks and Joseph Cornelison, as pupils. Her
terms were $1.50 per quarter, and she taught
spelling, reading and writing.
In 1 81 3 there were but three schoolhouses
between Danville and Milton, a distance of
fifteen miles, and not more than eight in what

Mrs. Eleanor Best,

until 1824.

now Montour

county.

Most of

these schools

were built by voluntary subscription whenever
enough children were within a reasonable
walking distance to justify the movement. On
a certain day the neighbors assembled, went to
work, and in a few hours the log schoolhouse
was ready for service.
Mrs. John Maus, assisted by her daughter
Nancy, taught a school in a building on
Market street in early times. She used to
compel the boys, as well as the girls, to sew
on patchwork quilts.
The Third ward school was erected in 1817
on land given by John Sechler. It was razed
in 1892 to make way for a brick building,
which cost $7,500.
The Daiiz'illc Academy was founded by Gen.
William Montgomery shortly prior to 1819.
He gave sixty lots towards its erection and
maintenance, these lots lying west of Alill
street and between the river and the creek.
They were donated on condition that the
Academy should be under the supervision and
control of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church,
and that one of the Montgomery descendants
The Academy
should always be a trustee.
building was erected in 18 19 on the corner of
West Market and Chestnut streets, in a grove
with a
1855 a

number of immense maple trees. In
new and substantial brick building re-

placed the old one.
Rev.
The teachers in the Academy were
John B. Patterson, S. P. Johnson, Rev. Edward D. Yeomans, Mrs. S."W. Mills (of Milford, Conn.), E. W. Conkling, W. S. Parsons,
Joel E. Bradley, J. W. Weston, William
A. Marr (afterwards Judge of Schuylkill
county), I. C. Wynn, Benjamin F. Pratt, Prof.
:

Ludwig, Miss Caroline Backus and John M.
Kelso.

In October, 1897, the

Academy

build-

307

ing was sold by the trustees, and is now used
as a private dwelling, owned by Mrs. John B.

McCoy.
The Danville Female

Seiiiiiiary was started
It occupied for a while the second
1838.
story of the Academy building, but it was soon
in

abandoned and both sexes were taught together in the one room.
The Danville Institute was fotmded by Prof.

John M. Kelso in 1857, in the Montgomery
For many years Professor Kelso
building.
maintained this school, preparing many young
men for college, and numbering among his
pupils many of the present older business and
Profesprofessional men of the community.
sor Kelso is now perhaps the oldest living
educator in the county. In 1S71 he closed the
Institute and took charge of the Academy,
where he continued teaching until it was closed

and the building disposed

of.

brick schoolhouse in Danville was
1834 on the corner of Pine and Bloom
streets.
One of the first teachers there was
L. C. Judson, father of E. Z. Judson ("Xed
Buntline"), the story writer.
in 1838 two frame schoolhouses were built
on the plan of the brick school, 22 by s~ feet in
dimensions, and plastered. They were located
near the homes of Jacob Sidler and John Blue,
the latter now in \'alley township.
The Fourth Ward school was built someIn 1914 additions to it retime after 1834.
quired the removal of the bell which had hung
This was
in the tower for thirty-five years.
a great loss to the residents near, who had

The

first

built in

become accustomed
After the

to its

mellow

formation of

tone.

Montour county

education received a fresh impetus, especially
in Danville, the county seat.
Mahoning township at this time had three schools. West Dan-

The
East Danville and Mahoning.
ville,
ground for the W'est Danville school was
given by Gen. Daniel Montgomery, and for
the other two by John Sechler. These schools
were under the supervision of six trustees,
who had charge of the buildings also. The
teachers were elected by the citizens, who
came together at the call of the trustee. But
little attention was paid to the schools after
they were oi)ened, and the terms were seldom
longer than four months.

LIMESTONEVILLE INSTITUTE
description of this school will be found
chapter on Limestone township. It occupied a substantial brick building erected in
1862.
Among its teachers in the earlier days
.\

in the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

308

was J. Hay Brown, now chief justice of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a young man
then just out of college, who spent a very
pleasant and enjoyable period in the educawork of this institution.

tional

same year the action of the commissioners
and delegates was approved at a meeting of
the taxable inhabitants of the township of Mathe

honing, held at the

home

Thomas Clark

Danville.

The

FREE SCHOOLS
In 1830 the
is

first

steps

now Montour county

were taken in what
wider and

to secure a

The
system of general education.
school laws then in force were very objectionable and defective, and complaints were being
better

expressed on

Institutions of learn-

all sides.

displayed activity in a sporadic way,
these efforts soon were followed by
periods of inactivity and languor. These were
some of the causes which brought about the
passage of the free school laws.
In 1834 a meeting was held at the courthouse, attended by the county commissioners,
Nicholas Gouger, Andrew Ikeler and John
Yeager, and school commissioners from six
townships. At this meeting a vote was taken
on the question of establishing free schools
and taxing the people for that purpose, but
only two of the delegates, John Patton of Mahoning and William Carnahan of Derry, voted
for the measure. The friends of free schools
continued to agitate the question, but accom-

ing
but

definite until the year

plished- nothing
1836.
On May 2d of that year another commissioners' meeting was held, with the following result
For free schools Frederick F'rick,

—

Mahoning

;

William

Johnston, Derry

and

Andrew

county

;

Dale,

Liberty

;

James

Samuel Oakes, Limestone
and Iddings Barkley,
;

Ikeler

commissioners.

Against

the

free
cast, that

school proposition only one vote was
of John Yeager, one of the county commismotion to levy a tax equal to three
sioners.
fourths of the county tax, for the benefit of
the schools, pre\ailed. the Mahoning delegate
voting to levy an equal tax. On May 31st of

Male
Schools

Anthony
Cooper

Danville

Derry
Pine Grove

Liberty

Limestone

Mahoning
Mavberrv

Valley '.....
Washingtonville

West Hemlock

2
i

early school records are lost or destroyed, but from the best information obtainable it is believed that the townships of Derry,
Liberty, Mahoning and Limestone accepted
the law at the same time, with a view of receiving the help of the State. After this the
schools depended mainly upon men of little
experience and education, and the laws themselves were but imperfectly understood by the
officials, thus preventing the success of the

movement and arousing much opposition and
adverse comment, which was not allayed until
the enactment of the law of 1854, creating a
new school officer and giving the directors additional power to enforce the law.
In 1837 the State appropriation to the
county amounted to $696.16, distributed as
follows
Derry township, 350 taxables, received $226.58; Liberty township, 268 taxables, $173.50; Limestone township, 121 taxables, $78.32
Mahoning township, 341 tax:

;

Samuel Bond, James McMahan
and James Perry were members of the school
board of Liberty district and Ellis Hughes,
Benjamin McMahan, John Patton, McDonald
Campbell and Frederick Frick, of Mahoning
ables, $220.76,

;

township.
In 1872 the report of the schools of .Montour county was as follows
Number of
schools, 28; male scholars, 1,093; female
scholars, 1,031 average attendance, 588; male
teachers, 6; female teachers, 21 average salaries, male, $73.33, female, $33.38; school
buildings, 6; value, $45,000; school tax, $19,576.96; total revenue, $27,918.26; expenses,
:

;

$23,791.47.

As a matter of comparison the report of the
superintendent of schools in 1886 is given
below.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

309

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COLUMBIA AND iMONTUUR COUNTIES

310

—

The Danville high school is the only one in
Montour county. The one in Derry township
was established in kjoS at Strawberry Ridge.
It was very successful, but the amount received from the State was insufficient to sup-

Limestone township
Elizabeth
Clapp,
Kathryn Feinour, Olive Herr, Grace Durlin,
Grace Le\'an, Louise Pollock.
Mayberry township Ruth Fox, Mary

vote
port it, so the school board put it to the
of the taxpayers whether they were willing to
Circular
burden.
financial
increased
bear the
letters were sent out, together with voting
blanks, and the returns showed 76 votes
against the continuation of the high school,
and 36 in favor. So the school doors were
This
closed at the end of the 1914 term.
leaves the Danville high school to bear the

JMahoning
Dyer, Gertrude Mapstone, Elizabeth Quigg, Walter W.
Wilson, Helen Seidel, Olive Madden.
\'alley
townshij) Olive Miller, Rebecca
Appleman, Alargaret Foust, Chester Balliett,
Helen Wintersteen. Esther Rogers.
Washingtonville borough Molly Johnston.
West Hemlock township Olive Winter-

The different county superintendents
Montour have been: Paul Leidy, 1854-55;

W. Conkling, 1855-56; A. B. Putnam,
William
1856-59; \\'illiam Butler, 1859-66;
Henn-, 1866-78; J. D. Cook, 1878; M. C.
Horine, 1878-81; F. C. Derr, 1881-84; Frederick Ream, 1884-87; W. D. Steinbach, 1887The
since 1902.
1902; Charles W. Derr,
in 1854
salary of the county superintendent
E.

was $350;

1886

was $800; and

the

is $1,500.
present year of 1914 it
The teachers of the county for 191 4. outside of Danville, are as follows:

—

Grant
Houghton,
Anthonv
township
Helen Stead,
James Dennin, |ohn Yeager,
Susie Hartman,' George DeWald, Schuyler
Diehl,

Anna

Fortner.

— Florence

Cooper townshij)
Derrj'

township— Margaret Shultz, ^lary
Nora
Springer, Elmer Cotner,

Mary

—
—

steen,

Edna Ande, Ruth Moore.

was held in DanSince then institutes have been
held annually and are of much value to the
teachers who attend.
Following will be found the report of the
coimty superintendent of education of Montour county for the year 1912.
The report
for 1913 had not been published at the time
the data for this article were being compiled.
first

teachers' institute

ville in 1858.

This report shows probably the high tide of
the schools, for there has been a reduction in
attendance and correspondingly in receipts
since that year.

further history of the Danville schools
found in Chapter IX. The cause of
education has received considerable attention
will be

county and much that is commendable has been done. There is still room
for improvement, and all must realize, that the
education and training of the young are rerest with weight
sponsibilities which should
upon all citizens; and financial considerations
should not determine the character and scope
in the entire

Blecher, Ralph

Loomis.
Love,

—

The

burden alone.

—
—
township Ednay

Robbins.

B.
B.

Heddens, Clara Dietrick.
Herman
Liberty townshii>— James Curry,
Rosa
Shultz, Alma Raup. \Vilda Pannebaker.

Hartman, Elizabeth Robbin. Catherine Beiber,
Carlos Cooper, Margaret Barr>'.

of the educational

useful

work necessary

men and women.

make

CHAPTER

BENCH AND BAR
Danville was the county seat of Columbia
county from its organization in 1813 to the
removal in 1847.
Montour county was or-

after,

ganized by act of

May 3, 1850; so that for
thirty-seven years, from 1813 to 1850, the
courts were the courts of Columbia county,
and during thirty-four of these thirty-seven
years, from 1813 to 1847, were held in Danville; from 1847 to 1850 were held in Blooms-

lawyer.

Courtrooms were primitive, practice was
were few and fees small;
but brain power and legal skill, sometimes
laborious, clients

lacking in these days, characterized the work
of both bench and bar.
Some of the lawyers present from a distance
practicing at the county seat in those early
days were Charles Hall and Charles Maus, of
Berlin, Samuel Hepburn, of Milton, George

burg.

The

early history of

what

now Montour

county was so closely identified, therefore,
during these thirty-seven years with the history of what is now Columbia county that in
considering the bench and bar there must
necessarily be an overlapping in the narration

William
Chapman was president judge.
Montgomery and Leonard Rupert were the
associate judges, and George A. Frick was
prothonotary, a position which he held until
1821.
All parties to this first court passed away

years ago. Everything connected with
of
here
administration
justice
was very primitive, and would provoke a smile
in these days of modem practice.
The law-

many
the

first

and judges' work was much more laborious than now. There were 110 stenographers
yers'

make up

the records.
Every bill of exception had to be written out in full and the
judge had to write down the notes of testimony in longhand. But the legal learning and
power and keenness of many practicing at that
court, in its beginning and for many years
to

Thomas Duncan and Judge

Porter, Judge

Charles Huston, of Center county, James Carson, of Philadelphia, William G. Hurley, of
Bloomsburg, James Pleasants, of Catawissa,
Alexander Jordan, Charles G. Donnel, Hugh
Bellas and Ebenezer Greenough, of Sun-

of events, and so closely was Danville associated, in the administration of justice, with
the whole county of Columbia that it is impossible to give a history of the one without
giving a history of the other.
The first court of Columbia county was held
in Danville in January, 1814, in the second
story of the log warehouse on the river bank
which afterwards formed a part of the property belonging to the Bridge Company and
later to the county of Montour.
Hon. Seth

would compare most favorably with

the learning and power and keenness of those
Here was the old time
practicing to-day.
courteous, affable, yet technical and precise,

bury.

Northumberland and Columbia counties
were in the Eighth Judicial district from 1814

The president judges during that
185 1.
period were as follows
Seth Chapman, 1814 to 1833. Of him
Col. John G. Freeze says, in his History
of Columbia County, quoting from a letter of
George A. Frick
"Judge Chapman had not
the brilliant talents of many of the attorneys
who practiced in the Northumberland courts
to-wit
Thomas Duncan, David Watts,
Charles Huston, Charles
Ebenezer
Hall,
Greenough and Hugh Bellas, but was a better
judge than many others we had in Pennsylvania."
to

—

Ellis Lewis, 1833 to 1843. Judge Lewis
in Lewisburg, Pa., May 16, 1798.

was born

The town was named

after his

father,

Eli

Lewis, Esq.
In 1833 he was appointed, by Governor
Wolfe, attorney general for the State, and
later that year was appointed, by the same
governor, as judge of the Eighth Judicial district, comprising the counties of Northum-

311

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

312
berland, Columbia,

Lycoming and Union.

1843 Judge Lewis was made president judge
of Lancaster county, and in 1851 was elected
the State of Pennbecoming chief justice in 1855.
Judge Lewis was a lawyer of high ability, and
a judge honored and respected by all who
to the

Supreme bench of

sylvania,

knew him. He died March 19, 1871.
Charles G. Donnel, 1843 to 1844. Judge
Donnel was born March 14, 1801, and was

appointed judge of the Eighth Judicial district by Governor Porter, in January, 1843,
and was just becoming favorably known
throughout his district when he died, Alarch
18, 1844.

Joseph B. Anthony, 1844 to 185 1. Judge
Anthony was born in Philadelphia, June ig.
In March, 1844. he was appointed, by
1795.
Governor Porter, president judge of the
Eighth Judicial

district.

died at \\'illiams-

port, Jan. 10, 1851. As a Judge he impressed
all with his integrity and ability.

James Pollock, 185 i. Judge Pollock, or,
was better known, Governor Pollock,
was appointed judge of the Eighth Judicial
district in 185 1 and serv^ed until after the
This was the first elecelection in that year.
tion of judges under an amendment to the
constitution. Judge Pollock refused the nomination and Judge John X. Conyngham was
as he

elected president judge.
By act of April 15, 185 1,

Montour, together

with Columbia, Luzerne and Wyoming counties, was formed into the Eleventh Judicial
district.

Judge Pollock was born in Milton. Pa.,
His parents were of Irish
1810.
He graduated from Princeton in
183 1 and was admitted to practice law in
Northumberland county in 1833. His service
on the bench was very acceptable, and upon
Sept. II,
descent.

retirement the members of the bar of
the respective counties passed resolutions exhis

pressing in the highest terms their esteem and
respect for him. In 1854 he was elected governor of the State and afterwards held a
number of important offices of trust under the
United States government. He was a ruling
elder in the "Old Covenanter" Presbyterian
Church at Milton. He died April 19, 1890.
John- N. Conyngham. 1851 to 1853. Judge
Conyngham was on the bench of Luzerne
county when, in 1851, Montour, with Columbia.

Luzeme and Wyoming, was formed

into

the Eleventh Judicial district. He was president judge when Montour was placed in the
Eighth Judicial district in 1853. and also when
the Twenty-sixth Judicial district was formed.

composed of the counties of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming. He continued to preside
over the courts of Luzerne county until
1870.
Judge Conyngham was a pure and impartial
judge and a finished lawyer. He met death
by a railroad accident, April 23, 1871.

Alexander Jordan, 1853 to 1872. When
Alontour county was added to the Eighth Judistrict Alexander Jordan
was the
president judge of that district. He continued
to preside over this district and
consequently
over the courts of Montour county for two
terms, ending with 1871. Judge Jordan was
well known in this county, having practiced
dicial

for many years in the early history of Columbia county and while Danville was the
county
seat.

He was

firm and positive in his con-

victions, clear in his judgment
affable in his manner.

and kind and

William M. Rockefeller, 1872 to 1875.
In 187 1 Judge Rockefeller was elected president judge of the Eighth Judicial district
and was ser\'ing as such when, in 1875,
^lontour and Columbia counties were formed
into the Twenty-sixth Judicial district.
tour county was just beginning to know

MonJudge

when it was taken out of his
and placed in the Twenty-sixth. Judge
Rockefeller was modest and unassuming in
Rockefeller

district

manner a genial, full-grown gentleman ;
a lawyer of the old school, who had fought
many legal battles with and against the foremost lawyers of his day. He was immovable

his

;

on questions of right, brave in his stand for
what was just and pure,- uncompromising
against evil, and a terror to the evildoer of
the da v.
He was born in Sunburv Aug. 18,
1830, and at the age of eighty-four is still living at Sunbury, a joy and delight to his many
friends.

\^'ILLIAM Elwell, 1875 to 1888.
When
Montour county, in 1875, was placed in the

Twenty-sixth Judicial district, with Columforming that district. Judge William Elwell was the president judge, having
been elected in 1862. Judge Elwell presided
with uniform satisfaction imtil 18S8, when,
on account of failing health, he resigned.
Many important and noted cases were decided by him during the twenty-six years he
presided over the courts of the Twenty-sixth
His opinions were held in great
district.
respect by the Supreme cotirt and his judgments were rarely reversed.
Judge Elwell
was a judge in everv' sense of the word. A
lawyer of wide experience, he brought to the
bench a knowledge which enabled him to grasp
the most intricate cases. Kind and indulgent.
bia coimty,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
he was always ready to overlook the faults
and mistakes of the young practitioner.
lover of justice, he tried always to be just;
an advocate of the right, his aim was always
He respected the rights of all
to be right.
and he was patient in the hearing of every
He hated sham and the pretender
cause.

found

little

encouragement

contending be-

He had great respect for the
him.
higher courts and zealously labored to line
up his cases with their decisions never hesifore

;

what seemed to
offend his sense of right and justice. At one
was
before
him which had
time a principle
tating,

however, to

criticize

been ruled time after time by the Supreme
The integrity of the position was
court.
doubted and he was asked to rule contrary to
He filed
the decisions of the higher court.
an opinion, aligning himself with the Supreme
court and fortifying his position by their deThe Supreme court reversed themcisions.
selves, and consequently reversed Judge Elthe
at
cost of the appellee.
Some time
well,
after the appellee took a rule on the appellant
to show cause why certain costs in the preliminary stage of the case should not be paid
In arguing the matter before Judge
by it.
Elwell, it was successfully contended that the
Supreme court had reversed at the cost of
the apj>ellee, and that consequently the appellee should pay the costs in question. Judge
Elwell, still annoyed by the fact that he had
been reversed, while holding with the Supreme court, said, "Well, gentlemen, there is
one party that ought to pay these costs and
that is the Supreme Court."
Judge Elwell had a keen sense of humor
which sometimes cropped out in the midst
even of the most important case. He was tryProf. S. N.
ing such a case at one time.
Walker was the official stenographer.
Mr.
Walker sat at the desk, which was just below
the judge's bench.
All connected with the
courts at that time knew Professor Walker's

deep aversion to tobacco in every form, espesmoking. The reporter had a small
oil lamp burning on his desk, and like the
lamps of those days it began sending up a
column of smoke which soon rose to the
judge's bench. Judge Elwell, with that twinkle in his eye which to those who knew him
best betokened a flash of humor, leaning over
his desk, called out: "Mr. Walker, are you
cially in

sir," was the quick reply,
"Oh," said Judge Elwell, "I
didn't know you would even have a lamp that
smoked." And the trial went on. Judge El-

smoking?"
"it's

"No,

lamp."

well died Oct. 15, 1895.

313

Henry M. Hinckley,

1888.
Judge Elwell
resigned from the bench in July, 18S8, and
Governor Beaver appointed
Henry M. Hinckley, of Danville, as president
judge of the

Twenty-sixth Judicial district. Judge Hinckwas born at Harrisburg, Pa., June 2,
1850,
and attended the public schools there. He
entered the freshman class at Princeton in
September, 1870, and graduated in June, 1874.
In his class were James
Scarlet, C. R. Savidge
ley

{ior twenty years subsequently president
judge of the Eighth Judicial district), Delancey Nichol (ex-district attorney of New York
City), Nevin U. Funk (of liloomsburgj,
Judge H. A. Fuller (of Wilkes-Barre),
Charles H. Bergner (of
Harrisburg), William

H. Sponsler, and a number of others well
in this locality.
Judge Hinckley read
law with I. X. Grier, of Danville, and was
admitted to practice in 1875. For a number
of years he was associated, in the
practice of
law, with I. X. Grier, under the firm name of
Grier and Hinckley.
He presided until the

known

first

Monday

E. R. Ikeler,
ber, 1888,

of January, 1889,

who had been

when Judge
Novem-

elected in

became the presiding judge of

the

district.

E. R. Ikeler, 1888 to 1898.

was born

Judge Ikeler

in Greenwood
township, Columbia
county, Feb. 27, 1S38. He read law with Col.
Freeze
G.
and
was
admitted to the bar
John
in May, 1867.
In 1S69 he was elected district
attorney and served during a part of the
Mollie Maguire trials. Judge Ikeler died Aug.
I,

1898.

Grant Herring,

1898.

the death of

Judge Ikeler Grant Herring was appointed
president judge of the Twenty-sixth Judicial
district.
Judge Herring was born May 19,
1862.

prepared for college

Normal School

at the

State

Bloomsburg and entered

Lafayette College in 1879, graduating in 1883.
He then studied law with Judge Ikeler and
was admitted to the bar in February, 1885.
He practiced for four years in partnership
with Judge Ikeler, and afterwards alone, acquiring a large and remunerative practice. At
the election in 1898 Robert R. Little, Esq.,

was

elected president judge of the Twentysixth Judicial district.
Judge Flerring died
Aug. 4, 1912.
Robert R. Little, 1899 to 1905. Judge
In 1872
Little was born at Berwick in 1852.
he graduated from the State Normal School
at Bloomsburg and in 1873 commenced the
study of law with his father, Ephraim H.
In 1875 he was admitted to the bar and
Little.
practiced in partnership with his father. Be-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

314

ginning with 1875 he served two terms as district attorney of
Columbia county. Judge
Little died

I'"eb.

26, 1906.

CuARLiis C. Evans, 1906.
Judge Evans
was appointed president judge by Governor
Stuart March 30, 1906, on the death of Judge
Little.
Judge Evans was born in Briarcreek
township, Columbia county, Jan. 10, 1858.
lie graduated at the State Normal School, at
Bloomsburg, in 1877, and entered Lafayette
College, where he graduated in 1881. He immediately entered the law office of Hon.
Simon I'. Wolverton, at Sunbury, and July
14th, 1883, was admitted to the bar of Northumberland county. In August, 1883, he commenced the ])ractice of law at Berwick, where
he continued to practice until his appointment
In the fall of 190O he was
to the bench.
elected for a full term to the bench of the

Cooper, the father, was bom in 1759 in LonHe was a philosopher and a lawyer. In
1820 he became president of the college at
Columbia, S. C, and died in 1840. His son,
Judge John Cooper, came over with his father
don.

received a part of his education
at the age
of forty years, and practiced a number of
In the year 1850, he was
years in Danville.
made associate judge of Montour county.
in

1792.

England, commenced to read law

Cooper married Mary Sperring, a
daughter of General Sperring, of Easton, Pa.
He had two children, Mary Alice and Henrietta Sperring, who married John G. Mont-

Judge

gomery.

Judge Cooper died June 22, 1863.
C. Grier was the eldest

Hon. Robert

in the family of Rev. Isaac Grier, S. T. D. He
was born in Cumberland county, Pa., March

Twenty-si.xth Judicial district, where at this
writing he still presides.
The following have served as associate

His father, who taught school,
5,
1794.
preached to three congregations and farmed,
gave much care and attention to the education
of his son Robert, who, when old enough,

judges from Montour county: John Cooper
and Daniel I'"ollmer; they were succeeded in
1856 by Robert Moore and Joseph Dean and
they in turn were followed by Peter Hughes

assisted his father in the school until seventeen. Then he entered Dickinson College. In
he graduated with the highest honors
1 81 2
and for a year taught in the college. In 1814

and James Curry.

he removed to Northumberland, where his
father had established the "Brick College."
Here he assisted his father, and on the latter's
death, in 181 5, succeeded him as principal. He
studied law and in 1817 was admitted to pracBloomsburg.
tice, and opened an office in
After remaining there a year he removed to
Danville, where he soon secured a large and

;

After that the judges were not elected together, and those occupying the position have
Robert S. Simington, James
been as follows
:

McMahan, Thomas

Butler,

John

I5enfield,

K. Holloway, Henry Divel, Dr. S. Y. Thompson, Frank G. Blee, Charles A. Wagner, Lloyd
VVelliver, \V. J. Rogers, M. H. Schram, James
L. Brennan.

ATTORNEYS

Marr was the first lawyer to
Danville. He graduated at Princeton

Ai,EM
in

locate
in the

class of 1807, studied law, and came to Danville in 1813, where he established a large prac-

He was a careful and industrious lawyer
He repand practiced for a number of years.
resented his district in Congress from 1829 to
from prac1831. -After this service he retired
tice and removed to his farm near MiUon,
where he died.
Gkorhk a. Frick was among the oldest
tice.

members of the bar in Danville. He was bom
in 1788, was the first prothonotary of Columfrom 1813

bia county, serving

practiced law many years.
at the age of eighty-four.

John Cooper was born
England. Sept.
Cooper, LL. D.,

England

22,

1785,

who came

1792,

with

son

to 1821,

Manchester,
of

Thomas

to this country

Dr.

and

died in 1872,

Priestley.

from
Dr.

practice,
jirofitable
about fifteen years.

remaining

Danville

In 1S33 he was appointed, by Governor
Wolfe, jiresident judge of the District court
of .\lleghcny county, and presided over this
court until 1846, residing in Allegheny City
In 1846 he was appointed, by
until 1848.
President Polk, justice of the United States
Supreme court, a position which he held until
1869, when he resigned on account of ill health.
In 1848 he removed to Philadeliihia, where he
resided until his death in 1870.

Judge Grier married Isabella Rose, of
Canada.
They had children as follows:
Sarah Rose, the eldest, married Dr. Charles
F. Pieck, the youngest son of Paul Beck, a
I)rominent citizen of Philadelphia in the early
last century.
Mary Rose married
jiart of the
Aubrey PI. Smith, for some years district atDr. AN'illiam Potter
torney of Philadelphia.
Grier, surgeon in the United States army,
met his death in the blowing up of his steam-

^fyy^2^u^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

315

and from him and Joan, his wife, the line of
er, filled with troops, on the Arkansas ri\er
Elizabeth Joshua Wright Comly is traced through their
after the close of the Civil war.
Cooper married Thomas B. Monroe, of Ken- son, Henry, of Bucks county, Pa., and Agnes
his wife; their second son, Robert
tucky, who was killed in the Civil war, and Heston,
some nine years after the death of Mr. Mon- Comly, Sr., and Jane Cadwallader; their son,
roe she married Dr. Edward K. Mayer, of Robert Comly, of Byberry, Philadelphia, and
Wilkes-Barre. Helen married Dr. John L. Le Sarah Jones, his wife; their son, Ezra Comly,
Conte, noted in the scientific world, having formerly of Philadelphia, and Hannah Iredel,
received fifteen American diplomas and seven- his wife; Charles Comly and Sarah Wright,
Martha married John T. his wife.
teen foreign ones.
Charles Comly was a native of PennsylParish, of New York City, and later Ernest de

One daughter,
Brulatour, of Paris, France.
Isabella, died at the age of twelve years.
Judge Grier was a patriot of the highest
order, and, while conscientious and faithful in
the performance of every duty, he was yet
unflinchingly loyal at a time and in a position
when loyalty cost many a sacrifice. No higher
testimonial of his integrity could be given than
the

following
his

accepting
States

from President Grant,
from the United

letter

resignation

Supreme bench

Executive Mansion. December

15,

1869.

the Honorable Robert C. Grier.

Sir: — Your

New Jersey; he died Jan.
1840, she on March 4, 1879.
They were
inarried Feb. 19, 1807, and eight children
were born to them, six of whom arrived at
Joshua and Seth I. were the last
maturity.
survivors of the family. The latter (who
died before Joshua) was collector of the port
of Philadelphia and a leading citizen there.
Joshua W. Comly was reared in the faith
of the Society of Friends, and through all his
practice would never engage in a capital case,
always saying that he was "opposed to capital
punishment, and yet he hated to see a
He attended the
free."
scoundrel
go
Milton Academy after the age of ten and
had as schoolmates Governors Curtin and Pol-

vania, his wife of
9,

dated December 11, 1869. containing the tender of the resignation of your office as
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, to take effect on the 1st day of February
lock, Judge McCoy and Kirkpatrick, and his
next, has been received by me to-day and your brother, Seth I. Comly.
He next attended
resignation is accordingly accepted, to take effect on
Princeton College, from which he was graduI sincerely regret the increasing physical
that date.
then
ated in 1827.
began the study of
infirmities which induce you to retire from the
bench, and, with the assurance of my personal law at Milton, Northumberland Co., Pa., in
Three
sympathy and respect, desire also to express my the office of Samuel Hepburn, Esq.
sense of the ability and uprightness with which
years later, Nov. 17, 1830, he was admitted
your judicial duties have been performed. In lookPleas of
to practice in the court of
ing upon your long and honorable career in the
Northumberland county, and in 1833 was adpublic service, it must be especially gratifying to
yourself to remember, as it is my agreeable duty mitted to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania.
and privilege on this occasion thus distinctly to
In February, 1831, Mr. Comly located in
recognize, the great service which you were able
fall
Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county, and in the
to render to your country in the darkest hours of
her history, by the vigor and patriotic firmness with of 1834 settled in Danville, where he practiced
which you upheld the just powers of the Govern- until 1882.
made law the business of his
ment and vindicated the right of the nation, under
counties of
life, practicing principally in three
the Constitution, to maintain its own existence.
With the hope that your retirement may be cheered Pennsylvania for many years and always living
by the knowledge of public gratitude, as well as by at Danville, but also traveling and having
He
private affection, I remain
considerable practice in other counties.
letter

Common

Very

respectfully yours.

JosHu.\

Wright

Comly,

attorney,

Danville, was in the active practice of law
in this section of Pennsylvania for over half

Born at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov.
was a son of Charles and Sarah
(Wright) Comly, and a descendant of Henry

a century.
16,

810, he

who with their son, Henry,
America from England with William
in 1682. They were members of the Society of Friends.
Henry Comly, who was a
weaver by trade, settled in Bucks county. Pa.,

and Joan Comly,

came
Penn

as the "legal luminary" of
the whole section of the State in which he
the Montour county
practiced, the Nestor of
bar, and his fame as a lawyer and advocate
was great for more than a generation, nearly
half a century, extending beyond the limits
Mr. Comly was a man
of Pennsylvania.
of profound thought, deep learning, and of
wide scholarly attainments. His love of truth
in the conduct of life was a passion. He was
a type of true greatness in man.
.\s
one of the best known and most
of the
highly respected lawyers in this portion

was recognized

Grant.

316

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

State, he was always listened to with keen
He was
interest in the Supreme court.
thoroughly conscientious and dealt severely

At one
with the client who deceived him.
time, in the courtroom at Danville, when he
was convinced by the testimony of his opponent's witnesses that his client had misrepresented his case to him, he picked up his papers
and left the counsel table with remarks more
Air. Comly was a
emphatic than elegant.
lawyer with a mind keen and penetrating,
involved in a
grasping with ease the points
and
case, and turning with wonderful power
quickness the weakness of an opponent upon
him to his entire discomfiture. On one occa-

sion several lawyers were returning home from
the Supreme court, where Mr. Comly had
of Judge
argued an appeal from a decision
Elwell, in which he had raised a new and

H. Baldy,
very interesting question. Edward
side and was disEsq.. had been on the other
of the case,
cussing, in the train, the argtnnent
when he made the remark, "Who but Josh
Comly would ever have raised that point?"

Mr. Comly's view was afterwards adopted by
the Supreme court.
Colonel Freeze, of Bloomsburg. used to tell
of an early experience of his at the bar. He
was arguing a case in which Mr. Comly had
shown a great interest, as his preceptor. Mr.
Hurley was on the other side and was arguthe court,
ing amidst frequent interruptions by
who seemed to take the opposite view. Colothe close
at
feet
on
his
was
he
nel Freeze said

Mr. Hurley's argument, ready to reply,
felt a huge grip on his shoulder and
heard the voice of Mr. Comly in his ear, sayto help the
ing. "My God, John, don't try
of

when he

court."

of apJudges were first elected (instead
the fall of 1851.
pointed) in Pennsylvania in
after the amendment to the constitution prohad
posed by two consecutive Legislatures
been ratified by popular vote, the term of
at
every judge in 'the State expiring thereby
the close of that year, so that every judicial
the
at
chair in Pennsylvania had to be filled
October election. The change was of such

were imimportance that both political parties
pressed with the necessity of placing only
the ablest men in office under the new provisions, so that the revised order be given
start.
every possible chance for a successful
The Democrats, who were then in the maat
caucus
their
had
jority in Pennsylvania,
the occaPittsburg and felt the importance of
sion enough to have a separate convention for
the nomination of their judicial candidates;

the Whigs convened at Lancaster. Each nominated five candidates for the Supreme court
bench, and Joshua W. Comly was one of those
honored at the Whig convention.
All the
Democratic nominees were elected except
James Campbell, of Philadelphia, Judge Coulter being the only successful candidate on the
Whig ticket. Air. Comly was the last survivor of the ten men whose distinguished abilAn article by A. K.
ity was so recognized.
AlcClure, in the Philadelphia Times of Oct.
2, 1894, speaks of him as "a venerable man
with frosted head and bowed imder the infirmities of years but still vigorous, both
mentally and physically, and with a clear cut
face clearly indicating the strongest individu*

ality.

His eye

is still

bright,

and

his

face is as sprightly in conversation as it was
half a century ago. He has practically retired
from his professional duties and lives a quiet
and genial life among his neighbors beloved
*
*
*
His life has been lovely in
by all.
all the best ofiices of manhood: he moves
his
neighbors today as a veteran Whig
among
leader of the olden times, beloved by all,
and when called to cross the dark river will
be as widely lamented as he is known."
Mr. Comly retired from the arduous duties
of his profession in May, 1882. On Dec. 20,
1892, he had the misfortune to break his leg,
but recovered from the accident. His death
in
13. 1897, and he is buried
Alilton cemetery in Northumberland

occurred Feb.
the

new

county.

Montgomery was born June 27,
He was
Northumberland county.
prepared for college by his uncle. Rev. John
Biwson. and entered Washington College, at
Washington, Pa., where he graduated in 1825
Air. Alontgomery immediately after read law
with Hon. Alem Alarr and was admitted to
soon after
practice in Danville in 1827, and
was appointed district attorney. In 1830 he
John

1805.

married Henrietta Sperring Cooper, daughter
Seven children were
of Judge John Cooper.

born to Air. and Airs. Alontgomery. six of
whom reached maturity, as follows Alice,
who married Edward H. Baldy. Esq. Eliza:

;

beth Alontgomery John Cooper Alontgomer)'
Henrietta, who married Edward H. Baldy,
her sister Alice;
Esq.. after the death of
Peter Grove and
Alargaret. who married John
"of
later J. C. Alusgrove.
Philadelphia: and
:

;

Caroline.

In 1855 Air. Alontgomery was elected to
the General Assembly and ser\'ed one term.
Upon his return from that ser^-ice he was
elected a delegate to the National Democratic

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, at which his
friend, James Buchanan, was nominated for
In October, 1S56, Mr. Montthe presidency.

gomery was elected
Congress.

to represent his district in
i,
1857, he visited

On March

Washington, D. C, and participated in the
He stopped at the
inauguration festivities.
where President-Elect
"National
Hotel,"
Buchanan and many others of his friends

Here Mr. Montgomery was
down very suddenly and mysteriously,

were guests.
stricken

has generally been supposed as the result of
he
poisoning, and was brought home, where
lingered in much pain for seven weeks
and finally, April 24, 1857, died.
John G.
Montgomery was a lawyer of power, whose
services were attended with abundant sucit

cess,

a man, of

many good

gentleman, and a kind and

parts, a perfect
affectionate hus-

band and father.
Arthur W. Frick, son of George A. Frick,
of
Esq., graduated at Princeton in the class
He studied law at Danville and was
1838.
admitted to the bar of Montour county.
A. J. Frick, another son of George A.
Frick, Esq., was born in Danville in 1838. He
studied law with William G. Hurley, Esq., and
was admitted to practice in 1855. In September, 1 86 1, he entered the United States service
and served with distinction in the rank of
captain and afterwards as lieutenant colonel.
For a number of years after his return from
the army he served as deputy revenue collector

died in March, 1915.
He
P.\UL Leidy stood high at the bar.
served a term as district attorney and was
elected to fill the vacancy in the Thirty-fifth
Congress caused by the death of John G.
in this district.

Montgomery.
Edw.vrd il. B.XLDV, son of Peter Baldy, Sr.,
graduated from Princeton College in the class
He read law
of 1839, before he was of age.
with Joshua \V. Comly and was admitted to
of
the bar at the age
twenty-two years. He
practiced in Danville during his entire life and
was one of the most successful lawyers of the
county, shrewd and energetic, his reputation
extending throughout this whole section of the
State.
He forged to the front rank of his
profession. He succeeded his father as presiMr.
dent of the Danville National Bank.
Baldy was retained in nearly

all

the important

cases brought in Montour county during the
time of his practice. He was a trusted coun-

and represented most of the industries
and the neighborhood in all
Mr. Baldy was three times
their litigation.
married.
His first wife was Mary Jennison.

317

Their children were: Mary J., wife of Peter
Grove; Kate G., wife of Charles Watson;
Edward H., Jr.; Emily, who died young; and
William Jennison, at present a member of the
bar, and who succeeded his father as president
of the Danville National Bank.
Mr. Baldy
married (second) Alice Montgomery, daughEsq., and
Sarah Hurley, wife of
Dr. I. H. Jennings; Dr. John Montgomery
Baldy, a noted surgeon of Philadelphia; Alice,
who married Mr. Hartman, of Paris Henry
Waller, who died young; and Henrietta
Cooper Baldy. Mr. Baldy for his third wife
married Henrietta Montgomery, a sister of his
second wife. He died in 1891, at the age of
ter

John

their children

were

Montgomery,

;

seventy years.
George D. Butler, a

member of the bar,
.\fter
elected prothonotary in 1863.
serving in that position and practicing for
from
removed
in
the
he
some time
county

was

we have nothing further of his
work.
B. K. Rhodes was born near Catawissa and
came with his father to Danville in 1825. He
attended the school taught by Ellis Hughes,
read law with John Cooper, and was admitted
When the
to the practice of law in 1842.
Danville, and

county seat was removed to Bloomsburg Mr.
Rhodes moved to that place and remained
there until 1852, when he returned to Danville,
where he remained until his death, July 11,
1891.

WiLLi.\M C. Johnston was born

what

township, Montour county. Feb.
1818, a son of Walter and Elizabeth
14,
of Lancaster county and of
natives
Johnston,
Mr. Johnston received
Scotch-Irish origin.
his education in the common schools of Derry
township and Danville, as well as in those of
Milton and Lewisburg. For twelve years he
taught school, and then read law and was adHe located in
mitted to practice in 1839.
Jerseytown for one year and then came to
to the office
elected
he
was
In
Danville.
1850
of register and recorder, which position he
held until his death, November, 1890.
I. X. Grier, son of Michael C. Grier and a
nephew of Hon. Robert C. Grier, was born in
He graduated from
Danville Dec. 27, 1835.
Lafayette College in 1858. Prior to entering
concollege, and after graduation, he was
nected with the Susquehanna River Telegraph
Company, and later served as treasurer of that

now Derry

until it was merged into the W'estem
Mr. Grier read law with Edward H.
Baldy, Esq., and with Judge John Cooper, and
was admitted to the bar of Montour county

selor

company

located in Danville

I'nion.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

318

In the early seventies Mr. Grier
1861.
formed a partnership with George W. van
Fossen, under the firm name of Grier and van
Fossen. In 1877 he formed a partnership with
H. M. Hinckley, under the firm name of Grier
and Hinckley, which partnership continued
until 1885, when he was obliged to give up the
practice of law on account of failing health.
Mr. Grier has been engaged in many of the
manufacturing interests of Danville and for
in

number of years has been president of

the

National I'ank of Danville.
Daniel W. R.\nk read law with Robert
Hawley, in Muncy, and was admitted to prac-

F"irst

mmiber of years, again
moving West.
was born in Danville,
He was the son of EdPa., March 27, 1853.
ward H. Baldy, Esq. ]\Ir. Baldy was educated

his profession

Academy and other schools of Danville
and graduated from Andalusia College, AndaHe read law
lusia, Bucks Co., Pa., in 1873.
with his father and was admitted to the practice of the law in Montour county Dec. 18,
1876. Mr. Baldy retained considerable of his
at the

father's practice after the latter's retirement,
his father as president of the

and succeeded

Danville National Bank, Oct.

Fle located at Millersburg and
1859.
carried on his profession there until August,
1 86 1, when he enlisted and entered the United
States service. Mr. Rank served with bravery
and distinction in the Union army. In 1872
he located in Scranton and resumed the pracHe remained there
tice of his profession.
until 1882, when he moved to Limestone ville,
In 1884 he was elected
his present residence.

position he

district attorney.

years.

tice in

John Cooper Montgomery

a son of

John
G. Montgomery and grandson of Judge John
He graduated from Harvard UniCooper.
is

1870, read law with
Baldy, and was elected district attorney in 1872. Mr. Montgomery has retired

versity in the class of

Edward H.

from practice.
H. M. Hinckley was born in Harrisburg.
Pa., and attended the public schools of his native city until 1867, when he moved to DanFor three years he clerked in the comville.
in
pany store of Waterman & Beaver, and
1870 entered Princeton College, from which

he graduated in the class of 1874. He studied
law with I. X. Grier and was admitted to
I" '^^77 Mr. Hinckley
practice in 1875.
formed a law partnership with his preceptor,
I. X. Grier, which partnership continued until

for a

leaving the county and
\\'iLLiAM J. Baldy

still

1897, which

holds.

J.\mes Scarlet was born in Elizabeth, N. J.,
Dec. 31, 1848, a son of George and Mary Scarlet.
His father was a sea captain. James was
left an orphan at an early age, the eldest of
three sons. He came to Danville a boy, under
the care of W. W. Pinneo. and worked for
Mr. Pinneo on his farm, where the State Hospital for the Insane now stands, for some

He afterwards learned the blacksmith's
trade with Keely & Trumbower, and while
following that trade took up a course of study
preparatory to entering college. In 1870 Mr.
Scarlet entered Princeton College and graduated in the class of 1874. He studied law
with Thomas J. Galbraith, Esq., and was admitted to practice in the courts of Montour
county in 1877 and subsequently to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania and the United
States courts.

Mr. Scarlet was
Montour county in

elected district attorney of
1882. He has formed two

partnerships in the practice of law one with
Henry Vincent, under the firm name of Vincent and Scarlet and the other with Frank
C. Angle, under the firm name of Scarlet and
;

.Angle.

Mr. Scarlet was counsel for the probing
Mr. Grier's retirement from practice, in 1885.
committee investigating the Capitol graft at
In 1888 Mr. Hinckley was appointed, by
and when prosecutions were inGovernor Beaver, president judge of the Harrisburg,
stituted he was retained by the State to assist
Twenty-sixth Judicial district, succeeding in the
prosecution. It was owing to his masof election
Judge William Elwell. He failed
of the situation that the grafters were
tery
been
practicin the fall of that year and has
convicted and sentenced. The United States
ing in Danville ever since.
retained Mr. Scarlet in a number
law government
was

Thomas

Galbraith

practicing

He had

read
law with Joshua W. Comly, Esq., but the
record of his admission has not been preAfter some years of practice here,
served.
Mr. Galbraith moved to Minnesota, where he

in Danville in the early fifties.

continued to practice for a while. He afterwards returned to Danville and continued in

of investigations into certain trusts, in all
of which he showed marked ability.
Henry Vincent, son of Job and Lydia

Vincent, was born in England Dec. 25, 1844.
His father emigrated with his family to America in 1852 and soon after settled in Montour
county. Henry Vincent, after receiving a limited education in the common schools, at the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
age of ten

commenced working

in the rolling

where he continued until he was thirtytwo years of age.
Afterwards he took a

mills,

course at Columbia College, New York City,
where he graduated in 1878, and was immediately admitted to the bar of New York. The
same year he returned to Danville and was
admitted to the bar of Montour county in
Mr. Vincent shortly after formed a
1879.
partnership with James Scarlet, which continued for two years. Mr. Vincent then abandoned the practice of law and became interested in the manufacture of stoves, and when
the Danville Stove and Manufacturing Com-

pany was organized he was made president.
In 1862 Mr. Mncent enlisted in the Danville
Fencibles, Company A, I32d Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteers, and was engaged at Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville.
F. C. Angle was

born Feb. 25, 1854, son of
William and Henrietta (Pursel) Angle. Mr.
Angle, after completing a course in the common schools of Danville, attended Lehigh l^niversity, from which he graduated in the class
of 1876. He studied law with Thomas
J. Galbraith and was admitted to the bar of Montour
county in 1879, after which he formed a partnership with James Scarlet, under the firm
name of Scarlet and Angle. After the dissolution of this firm Mr. Angle
began to give his
attention to other business matters and subse-

became the owner and manager of the
Montour American. Later he established a
quently

daily paper in the borough of Danville, called
the Morning News, which has had a

rapid

growth and a large circulation.
Mr. Angle married Miss Sue Robison.
They are the parents of two sons, Theodore
and Frank Pursel.
Mr. Angle no longer practices law, but is
kept busy with his other enterprises.

Edward Sayre Gearhart, son of Mayberry
Mary Catherine Gearhart, was born at
He reRoaring Creek. March 28, 1856.
and

mained on the farm of his father, working
and attending the neighboring schools, until
he was fourteen years of age, when he moved
to Danville and entered the machine
shop of
the National Iron
Company as an apprentice.
After serving his apprenticeship and mastering his trade, in the fall of 1875 he entered
at Kingston, Pa., and

Wyoming Seminary,

graduated the following year.
In 1876 Mr.
Gearhart entered Princeton College and graduated in the class of 1880.
During the last
years of his college course he read law with

319

Hon. John F. Hageman, master
for the State of

New

chancery

Jersey.

After his graduation Mr. Gearhart returned
to Danville and entered the office of Grier and
Hinckley as a student at law. In i88i he was
admitted to the bar of Montour county. Mr.
Gearhart's practice has been characterized by
careful study, thorough research and most
laborious application. He has a wide and profitable clientage.

Mr. Gearhart, in the year 1886, married Ella
R. Creveling, daughter of Alfred Creveling,
president of the Glendower Iron Works.
They are the parents of four daughters, Katherine (wife of George Youngman), Helen,

Marion and Evelyn.

William Kase West was born in Danville
March 8, i860, a son of George W. and Cath-

erine A. West. He obtained his education in
the public schools of Danville and at the
Bloomsburg State Normal School, after which
he assisted his father in surveying for some
time, devoting his attention also to study and
the advancement of his education.
He read

law with Grier and Hinckley and was admitted
to practice in 1886.

In 1887 Mr. West was elected district attorney for Montour county and in 1914 was
elected a member of the General Assembly of

Pennsylvania.
In 1891 Mr. West married Ella Patterson,
daughter of John C. Patterson. They are the
parents of three children. John Patterson,
Mary Louise and W'illiam K.
R. S.
merman, a son of W^illiam H. Ammerman, was born in Danville Aug. 5, 1869.
Mr. Ammerman graduated from the Danville
high school in 1886 and from the law school
of the L^niversity of Pennsylvania in 1891.
He was admitted to the bar of Montour county
in 1890 and to the Supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1893, and to the Circuit and District
courts of the United States June 20, 1905.
Mr. Ammerman held the position of dis-

trict

attorney in the county from 1894 to 1900.
borough solicitor for Danville from

He was

1891 to 1895 and again from 1898 to 1900.
is a Democrat, and has taken considerable

Democratic politics, being elected
several times as a delegate to the Democratic
State conventions. He was on the Democratic
ticket for presidential elector in 1900; and was
a delegate to the Democratic National conveninterest in

tion at St.

Louis

1904.

He was

elected to

the General Assembly in the years 1902, 1904,
1906 and ir)o8. In 1905 he was the Democratic caucus nominee for speaker of the
House of Representatives.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

320

Mr. Ammerman was married Nov. ii, 1891,
Miss Bess Gearhart. Four children have
been born to them.
William V. Oglesby, son of Dr. James
Oglesby, was born at Danville, Oct. 13, 1874.
He attended the schools of Danville and graduated in 1896 from Princeton University. In
1899 he graduated from the law school of the
University of Pennsylvania. He read law with
Robert J. Williams and S. Morris Wain, of
Philadelphia, and was admitted to the practice
Mr.
of law in Montour county in 1899.
Oglesby was elected justice of the peace in
the year 1902, which position he still holds.
Charles P. Gearhart, son of C. P. Gearhart, was born in Rush township, Northumberland county, June 15, 1862. His literary education was gained in the public schools and at
the Danville Academy. He read law with H.
M. Hinckley and was admitted to the practice
of law in Montour county in 1890. He was
to

elected

justice

the

peace

Riverside,

Co., Pa., in 1890, which powas
held until November, 1904.

Northumberland
sition

Mr. Gearhart
again elected justice in 1913.
served as district attorney of Montour county
from 1906 to 1912. He served as captain of
Company F, 12th Regiment, P. V. I., in the
Spanish- American war, and was major of the
I2th Regiment of the National Guard of Penn-

Exchange, that county, Oct. 22, 1870. Her
parents were Dr. Montraville and Dorcas F.

sylvania from 1899 to October, 1909. At present he is judge advocate assigned to the 3d
Brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania.
Charles V. Amerman, a son of Jesse Am-

McHenry.

erman, was born in Cooper township, MonMr. Amerman
tour Co., Pa., Aug. 9, 1872.
was educated in the public schools of the

county and graduated

tour county.

the class of

1890

served as district attorney from 1900 to 1902,
and was again elected to that office in 191 1,
for a term of three years.
Charles Chalfant, son of Thomas and
Eliza Chalfant, was born at Danville Oct. 4,
His early education was obtained in
1855.
the common schools of Danville and he afterwards attended Dickinson College at Carlisle,
Air. Chalfant
Pa., being in the class of 1877.
published the Danville Sun, a daily paper,
for a number of years. He studied law with
James Scarlet, Esq., and was admitted to the
bar of Montour county in 1885.
On Sept. 30, 1885, Mr. Chalfant married
Gertrude Gearhart, daughter of Peter Gearhart, of South Danville.
In 1895 ^^'"- Chalfant was installed grand
Mr.
master of Pennsylvania, I. O. O. F.
Chalfant practiced law for some years with
marked ability. He was a young man of
many brilliant parts. In 1906 he suffered a
stroke of paralysis which has laid him aside
In the midst of his inin the prime of life.
firmity, however, which has completely disahim
for
bled
any professional work, he still
takes a keen interest in all public affairs.
B. Frances McHenrv, the only female
member of the Montour county bar, was born

Miss
schools.

McHenry attended the common
Muncy Normal School and Bucknell

She read law with Ikeler and Ikeler
Bloomsburg, and was admitted to practice
May 5, 1897, in Columbia county. Subsequently she was admitted to the bar of MonInstitute.

Ralph Kisner was born at Millville, Cofrom the State Normal School at Mansfield,
Tioga Co., Pa., and from Cornell University lumbia Co., Pa., April 6, 1878, was educated
law school in 1898. He read law with Hon. at Greenwood Seminary, Millville (a private
Lemuel Amerman and after his decease with school under the control and supervision of the
the law firm of \\'illard, Warren and Knapp, yearly meeting of the Society of Friends of
in Scranton. He was admitted to the practice Pennsylvania), and is a graduate of the
of law at Scranton in 1898 and later came to Bloomsburg State Normal School, and of
Montour county, where he has been practic- Peirce's business college, Philadelphia, Pa. He
read law with James Scarlet and was admiting since.
IMr. Amerman was married Aug. 16, 1905, ted to the practice of law Oct. 15, 1900. Mr.
to

Flora A. Mettler.

to these parents,

Thomas

One

Ruth

Welsh

child has been born

Nov. 23, 1906.
was born at Danville

A., born

Dec. 17, 1867. He attended the public schools
of Danville and graduated from the High
School in June, 1885. He attended La Salle
College and graduated from Bryant and StratMr. Welsh
ton's Business College in 1887.
read law with Hon. R. S. Ammerman, and

was admitted

to practice in

March, 1897.

Kisner held the office of district attorney of
Montour county from 1903 to 1906. He has
been

solicitor for the Danville school district

since 1901, and on Jan. i, 1912, was chosen
solicitor for Montour county and for the borough of Danville.

On June 19, 1912, Mr. Kisner married Hannah Alarie Fetterman.
Harry C. Bare, son of Jonathan P. Bare, of
Danville, read law with Edward Sayre Gear-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
A

hart, Esq., and was admitted to practice.
short time after his admission he removed to
ButTalo, where he still resides.

L. K. MouRER read law with Grier and van
Fossen and was admitted to practice in 1874.
Mr. Mourer practiced for a number of years
in Danville, during which time he served one
term as district attorney. He afterwards re-

moved from the State.
George W. van Fossen was a Methodist
preacher, serving Trinity M. E. Church in
1872.

In the year 1873 he left the church and
I. X. Grier, with

commenced reading law with

whom,

after

his

321

admission to the bar, he

formed a partnership under the name of Grier
and van Fossen. This partnership was
shortly
after dissolved and Mr. van Fossen
practiced
a few years alone. He then left town, removing to one of the Western States.
On the roll of attorneys are Oscar F. Moore,
John D. Colt and H. A. Childs, of whose work
we have no record except that the latter, H.
A. Childs, was prothonotary of the
county,
beginning in 1854, and after some years removed to Lock Haven.

CHAPTER

VII

PHYSICIANS
The history of the medical profession of neighborhood prior to that, but the history of
Montour county is, like that of the profession the medical profession does not reveal who
generally, a history of heroism and self-sacri- they were and when they came.
Among the
the history of men who, with few excep- other older physicians were Dr. Forrest, the
fice
tions, have brought cheer and sunshine, along grandfather of Mrs. \'alentine Best; Dr. Barwith healing and strength, into the home life rett and Dr. Daniels, who were here prior to
and the home development of the county.
1830; Dr. David Petrikin, who, in addition to
The doctor of the earlier days fought dis- the practice of his profession, did much to
ease single-handed and alone, as it were, so far advance the interests of the town in a merFew were his cantile and manufacturing way. He was
as human help was concerned.
books and fewer still the specific remedies, elected Member of Congress for two terms,
ready at hand, for the most malignant cases. from 1837 to 1841.
Among those who read
Experience was the only teacher he had to and studied with him were his son, William,
To-day certain well known reme- Herman Gearhart and Alexander C. Donaldrely upon.
son.
Dr. Bonham Gearhart settled first in
dies, the result of research and experience of
the past, are provided for diseases whose
Washingtonville, but came to Danville in 1842
and
brow
and
blanched
was
a leading physician for a number of
knit
the
presence formerly
About the same time Dr. McDowell
the cheek of the faithful family physician.
years.
We find also, about the
These are the days of wondrous healing and came to Danville.
mighty surgery. The doctor of the old school same period. Dr. John Murray and Isaac
looked into his books and consulted his chart
Hughes, who lived on West Mahoning street
and surmised what was the condition of his in the house now occupied by Dr. E. A. Curry.
His more fortunate brother of the Dr. Snitzler is also mentioned.
patient.
Dr. Clarence H. Frick practiced for many
present age, with electric light, looks into the
knows his condition benefactors years in Danville, interrupted only by his
and
patient
both, and both deserve the benediction of the service in the Mexican war, which is alluded
;

;

—

to in another chapter.

race.

Then came Dr. James D. Strawbridge, a
Montour county has had a long list of phynative of Montour county, a graduate of
sicians, a number of whom have attained a
Princeton College in the class of 1844. Dr.
high mark in the profession.
Dr. William H. Magill located in Dan- Strawbridge was one of the most eminent surville about 1818 and for over sixty years was
geons and physicians that ever practiced in
He was the county in fact his practice extended far
the leading physician in the county.
a graduate of the University of Baltimore and beyond the boundaries of the county, and he
died Dec. 19, 1889, at the age of ninety-three was called into consultation in many critical
;

cases.

years.

There
21

were

doubtless

physicians

this

from 1847

practiced continuously in Danville
some years was

to i860, then for

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

322

surgeon in the United States service. He was
captured and held prisoner for some time in
Richmond. In the army he soon reached the
position of surgeon of a corps. After the war
he was elected to Congress, where he served
the entire satisfaction of his constituents

He practiced continuousto 1875.
Danville from 1847 until 1889, interrupted only by his ser\ice in the army and in ConHe died in Danville July 19, 1890, at
gress.
the age of seventy-two years.
During the late sixties Dr. Sh.arps M. Snyder and Dr. E. H. Snyder practiced in Danfrom 1873

ly in

ville.

Simington located
1854 and was a surgeon in the
Dr. R.

Danville

14th and 93d

regiments of Pennsylvania volunteers during
His
the Civil war, serving with distinction.

practice was a large and lucrative one.
was elected associate judge of Montour county for two terms.
Dr. George Yeom.axs, son of Rev. John W.
Yeomans, D. D., practiced for a number of

years in Danville during the sixties.

Dr. James Oglesby graduated from Jeffer-

son Medical College in 1868 and immediately
commenced practice in Danville. He was a
native of Ireland, came to Danville at an early

and was well known in all this territory
where he soon acquired a large practice. He
was devoted to his profession and had the conHe practiced
fidence of all the community.

age,

for over forty years, a portion of the time devoting special attention to the eye and its
treatment. He died Feb. 21, 1912.

Dr. Solomon

Schultz graduated from

the University of Pennsylvania in 1856. Dr.
Schultz was elected superintendent of the
State Hospital for the Insane, which position
he occupied until his death. He was a graduate of Princeton College in the class of 1852.
further account of Dr. Schultz and his
work will be found in that portion of the Danville chapter devoted to the State Hospital for
the Insane, and in the biographical section of

work.
Dr. C. L. Frey for a number of years was
assistant physician at the State Hospital for
Dr. Frey afterwards
the Insane at Danville.
removed to Scranton, where he has been
an
eye specialist.
practicing as
Dr. Alonzo Amerman was a native of the
a
and
graduate of the University of
county
Dr. Amerman was
Pennsylvania, in 1875.
was much beenjoying a large practice and
loved in the homes where he ministered when
in
the very prime
he was suddenly called home
this

life,

Jan. 19, 1886.

Dk. 1'rancis Eugene Harpel is a native
of Berks county and a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College, in the class of 1871.
Dr. Harpel practiced in Shamokin and in
Pennville before locating in Danville, where
at the present writing he is still engaged in
an extensive practice.
Dr. George J. Gr.^uel, a native of Prussia,
for a number of years practiced in Danville.
Dr. James Dallas Mausteller was a native of Montour county and a graduate of the
University of Pennsylvania, class of 1871. He
died Aug. 26, 1883.
Dr. J.\((ib H. Vastine was born in Northumberland county and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1858. Dr.
X'astine practiced for a number of years in
Danville and then removed to Catawissa.
Dr. Isaac Pursel was a native of Northampton county and graduated from the UniHe pracversity of Pennsylvania in 1846.
ticed in Danville until the time of his death.
Dr. Samuel Y. Thompson was born in
Danville and was a student in Long Island
Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y. Dr. Thompson had

a large practice in Montour and neighboring
counties, which he held until the time of his
death.
Dr. Jacob P. Hoffa was born in Northum-

berland county and graduated from Jefferson
Medical College in 1876. He located in Washhis death.
ingtonville, where he practiced until
He served several terms in the Pennsylvania
Legislature.

Dr. Montravjlle

McHenry was

a native

He graduated at Burof Columbia county.
at Exchange,
lington, Vt., in 1878, and located
where he practiced for a number of years.
Dr. William E. Reed was a native of Lycounty, graduated from Jefferson
Medical College in 1880, and practiced for a
short time at \Miite Hall.
Dr. Hugh B. Meredith graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania in 1877, first practiced in Doylestown, Pa., and then came to

coming

Danville as assistant physician at the State
the death of
Hospital for the Insane. After
Dr. S. S. Schultz he was elected superintendent of that institution, which position he still
A further account of Dr. Meredith
holds.
and his professional work will be found in the
biographical sketches.

Dr. Philip C. Newbaker was born in
Dauphin county and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1869. Dr. Xewbaker
located at Washingtonville and practiced there
for a number of years before his removal to
Danville, where he is still in active practice.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Dr.

Newbaker has served

several terms in the

323

where he practiced for a number of years.
He married Laura Vastine, daughter of Amos
Pennsylvania Legislature.
Dr. Benjamin F. Shultz was a native of V'astine. He died a few years
ago.
Columbia county and graduated from JefferDr. Daniel E. Kiess was born in Lycomson Medical College in 1854. He practiced in ing county and
graduated from the College of
Danville from the time of his graduation un- Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore in 1886.
til his death.
He located in Washingtonville, where he
Dk. Charles Delcamp was born in Schuyl- practiced for some years.
kill county, practiced for some years in DanDr. David E. Shoemaker was born in Butville, and then left the county.
ler county and graduated at the
College of
Dr. J. H. Sandel is a native of Montour Physicians and
Surgeons, Baltimore, in 1886.
county and a graduate of Hahnemann Medical He located at Washingtonville, where he prac-

College, class of 1882. Dr. Sandel commenced
practice in Danville and removed to Schuylkill and other counties, where he practiced for

some years.

now

Lately he has returned and

in active practice in Danville.

Dr. Mandeville O. Greenwald, a native
of Allentown, graduated at the University of
in 1872 and located at Mooreswhere he practiced for some time.
Henry C. R. Morrow was born in Erie
county, N. Y., and graduated at the University
of Buffalo in 1882. He located at Exchange,
where he practiced for some time. He died in

Pennsylvania

ville,

ticed for a number of years.
Dr. George W. Furey was a graduate of
the University of Michigan in the class of
1877. He was an eye and ear specialist.
Dr. p. S. Wykoff was a graduate of
Hahnemann College, Cincinnati, in the class
of 1883. He settled and practiced at Washingtonville.

Dr.

burg,

Dr.

1886.

Dr.

John Montgomery Baldv was born

Danville and graduated at the University of
Dr. Baldy's practice
Pennsylvania in 1884.
has been principally in Philadelphia, where he
has acquired a reputation as a skillful surgeon
and where he has treated many cases from
this

county.

Dr.

Easton, Pa., graduated from the Lhiiversity of
Pennsylvania in 1876 and for a number of
years was assistant physician at the State
Some
Hospital for the Insane at Danville.

;

years ago he
still

removed

to Easton,

where he

in practice.

Dr. William Elmer Ritter was born in
Lycoming county and graduated from Jeffer:

son Medical College in i88s.

located at

White Hall.
'

Dr. Eben True Aldrich was born in
Lowell, Mass., graduated at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, in 1880. and served
for some time as assistant physician in the
State Hospital for the Insane at Danville.
Dr. Nathaniel W. Voorhees was a native
of New Jersey and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1883. Dr.
Voorhees located in Danville, where he practiced for a

number of years quite
R. Kimerer was

successfully.
a native of
Nashville, Ohio, and a graduate of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore in
the class of 1885. Dr. Kimerer located in Dan-

Dr.

John

a graduate of
College, Philadelphia, in the class
Dr. Bierman practiced for some

1888.

years in Danville and then removed to Bloomsburg.
Dr. Charles B. Mayberry was a graduate
of Harvard University in the class of 1887.
Dr. Mayberry came to the State Hospital for
the Insane at Danville as assistant physician,
where he rendered efficient service for a number of years.
He was afterwards elected
superintendent of the Insane Hospital at Retreat,

Michael Servetus Seip was born

Henry Bierman was

Hahnemann
of

Luzerne county, which position he

still

holds.

Dr. James M. Peebles graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania in 1876.
Dr. Grosvenor R. Trowbridge was a graduate of the University of Buffalo in the class
of 1884 and served for a number of years as
assistant physician at the State Hospital for
the Insane at Danville.
Dr. Edwin A. Curry, a native of Danville,
graduated at the LTniversity of Pennsylvania
in the class of 1889.
Dr. Curry located at
Danville, where he has acquired a large practice, having been quite successful in his profession and regarded at the present time as one
of the leading physicians in the borough.
Dr. George A. Beck graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1875 and for a
number of years practiced in Danville. He
removed from Danville some years ago and
has since died.
Dr. Benjamin E. Bitler graduated from
Louisville College in 1889 and for a number
of years practiced at Washingtonville, after-

wards removing

to Pottsgrove.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

324

Dr. John E. Jennings graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania in 18S7.
Dr. Augustine A. B.\ncroft graduated

from Hahnemann

College,

Philadelphia,

1869.

Dr. William R. P.\ules graduated from
Jefferson Medical College in 1890 and immediately

commenced

practice in Danville,

where

he has acquired a large and lucrative practice,
in connection with which for many years he
has conducted a drug store.
De. Thomas H. Carey graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1884.
Dr. Arthur E. Elliott graduated from
Kingston College, Canada, in 1889, and for

some time was

assistant physician at the State
Hospital for the Insane at Danville.
Shuman graduated from the
E.
Dr.

Jesse
University of Pennsylvania in 1891 and located at Jerseytown, Columbia county.
Dr. John A. E. McCuaig graduated at

numKingston, Ontario, in 1891, and for a
ber of years was assistant physician at the
State Hospital for the Insane at Danville.
Dr. Cameron Shultz was born in Danville
from Jefferson Medical Coland
graduated

He immediately commenced
in 1892.
he has remained
practice in Danville, where
lege

ever since.
Dr. Leslie L. Hand graduated from the
for
University of Pennsylvania in 1891 and
a number of years was assistant physician at
Danville.
Insane
at
for
the
the State Hospital

Dr. William O. Smith graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania in 1878.
Dr. I. Grier Barber graduated at Jefferson
Medical College in 1877 and after practicing
for some years in Union county moved to Danhe had
ville, where for a number of years
quite an extensive practice.

He moved from

Dr. Harry E. Klase was born in Danville
and graduated from the Medico-Chirurgical
College of Philadelphia in 1906. He practiced
a few years in Danville and then moved to

Jerseytown, Columbia county.
Dr. Genenieve N. Klase graduated from
the Woman's Medical College, Pennsylvania,
in 1906.
She is the wife of Dr. Harry E.
Klase and practiced with him in Danville,
thence removing to Jerseytown.
Dr. Frank D. Glenn graduated from the
University of Pittsburgh in 1905 and for some
years has been an assistant physician at the
State Hospital for the Insane at Danville.

Dr.

Raymond

Hauser was born

in the

county and graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1910, since which time he
has been practicing in Danville.
Dr. Ralph E. Johnson graduated from the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, in 1894, and was assistant physician at
the State Hospital for the Insane at Danville
until he met with a tragic death at the hands
of a patient. He married, while at the State
Hospital for the Insane, Gussie Sweisfort,
daughter of Dr. John Sweisfort, of Danville.
Dr. James E. Robbins was born in Columbia county and graduated at the University of
Pennsylvania in 1893, and for a number of
years has been assistant physician at the State
Hospital for the Insane at Danville.
Dr. G. M. B. Free graduated from the Unifor a
versity of Pennsylvania in 1884, and
number of years has been an assistant physician at the State Hospital for the Insane at
Danville.
Dr. E. B. Shellenberger graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania in 1902, and
for some time has been an assistant physician
at the State Hospital for the Insane at Dan-

Danville to Wilkes-Barre some years ago.

ville.

Dr. W. Herbert Adams graduated at the
for a
University of New York in 1889 and

Dr. L. R. Chamberlain graduated from
Tefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in
1903, and is at present an assistant physician
at the State Hospital for the Insane at Dan-

of years was assistant physician at
the State Hospital for the Insane, Danville.

number

Dk. Thomas B. Wintersteen was born in
Montour county, and graduated at the UniHe immein 1899.
versity of Pennsylvania

Danville, which he
diately began practice
continued until the time of his death some
in

years ago.

Dr. George A. Stock graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1898 and for a number of years has practiced in Danville.

HahneDr. H. Hinshillwood graduated
mann College, Philadelphia, in 1895, and commenced practice in Danville in 1904. He is
at

still

in active practice.

ville.

Dr. L. C. Stilling graduated from the
and for
University of Vermont in July, 1893,
some time was an assistant physician at the
State Hospital for the Insane at Danville.
Dr. Eugene Smith graduated at the Uniof Pennsylvania, and for some time
versity

assistant physician at the State HosInsane at Danville.
Dr. Gilbert Smith, a graduate of the Col-

was an

pital for the

and Surgeons at Baltimore,
was an assistant
Maryland, for some time

lege of Physicians

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
physician at the State Hospital for the Insane
at Danville.
Other assistant physicians at the State Hospital for the Insane at Danville, Pa., were
Dr. Theodore Diller, Dr. A. J. McL.\ugh-

LiN and Dr. Burton Massev.
Dr. Robert S. P.xtten graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1901, for several years
practiced in Washingtonville and then moved
to Danville, where he has continued to practice.

Dr. Jesse

W. Gordner

graduated at Jeffer-

son Medical College in 1909, since which time
he has practiced at Exchange.

Ashenhurst graduated from
Woman's Medical College of New York

Dr. Ida M.
the

and for a number of years has been
female assistant physician at the State
Hospital for the Insane, Danville.
Dr. James S. Hammers graduated from
the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelin

1897,

the

325

phia, in 1902, and for several years has been
assistant physician at the State Hospital for
the Insane at Danville.

Dr. William H. Krickbaum graduated
from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1902,
and for a number of years has been assistant
physician at the State Hospital for the Insane,
Danville.
Dr. Reid Nebinger graduated from the
Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia in
1903, and for some years was assistant physician at the Sta.te Hospital for the Insane at
Danville. He is now in general practice in
Danville.
Dr. Nita Richards graduated at the Osteopathic School in 190 1 and for a number of
years has practiced in Danville, although living in Bloomsburg.

Dr. John H. Snyder for several years has
practiced in Washingtonville.
Dr. Michael J. Maloney graduated at the
University of Baltimore in October, 1905.

CHAPTER

VIII

OFFICIALS
Montour county, though very
figured

largely

the

political

small,

has

the

life

and her citizens have
country surrounding
frequently held important and responsible
positions in national and State life.
it

;

Paul Leidy was elected
Mr. Montgomery's place. Dr. James D.
was
in 1872 to the Fortyelected
Strawbridge
third Corigress, 1873-75. Rufus K. F'olk was
elected as representative to the Fifty-sixth and
President F5uchanan.

fill

F"ifty-seventh

Congressmen

The first representative in the National
Congress from Montour county was Gen.
William Montgomery, who was elected to the
Third Congress, 1793-95.
General Montgomery served one session and resigned. The
next representative from what is now Montour
county was Gen. Daniel Montgomery, elected
in 1806 to the Tenth Congress, 1807-09; he
served his term, but declined a reelection.
Alem Marr was elected in 1828 to the Twentyfirst Congress, 1829-31.
Dr. David Petrikin
was elected and served two terms, in the
Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses,
In 1856 John G. Montgomery was
1837-41.
elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress, but died
before taking his seat, a victim of the noted
poisoning incident at the "National Hotel,"
Washington, D. C, at the inauguration of

Congresses,

1898-1902.

ander Billmeyer was elected in 1902
unexpired term of Mr. Polk.

The Congressional

district

Alexfill

the

1850 com-

In
prised Columbia and Montour counties.
1857 it included Columbia, Montour and
Luzerne counties. At the present time and
for many years past the district comprises the
counties of Northumberland, Columbia, Montour and Sullivan.

State Senators

The first State senator elected in what is
now Montour county was Valentine Best, a
newspaper publisher, who was elected chiefly
through the agitation of the formation of the
new county of Montour. He succeeded well
in the work, being elected speaker of the
Senate in 1850, and through the influence and

power of

that position

was

able to secure the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

326

passage of the bill forming the new county.
So valuable was the work of Mr. Best in this
respect that it has been suggested that it
would have been a fitting tribute had the new
The only
county been named Best county.
senator from Montour county after the retirement of Valentine Best was Thomas Chalfant,

who was

elected in

Then followed George D.
John Cooper MontLeander
K.
Mowrer, James Scarlet,
gomery,
Daniel W. Rank, W. K. West, R. S. Amnierman, Thomas C. Welsh, Ralph Kisner, Charles
P. Gearhart, and Thomas C. Welsh again, the
district attorney.

Butler, A. C. Campbell,

present incumbent.

1873.

County Commissioners

Members

General Assembly

The county commissioners

who

Montour
county in the State Legislature, as members
of the Lower House, are many, some of them
Those

have

represented

being from the other counties forming, with
Montour, the Legislative District. They are
as follows:
1852-53, M. E. Jackson, Columbia and Montour counties
1853-54, George
Montour
Scott,
county; 1855-56, J. G. Maxwell, Columbia and Montour counties; 185657, John G. Montgomery, Columbia and Montour counties; and the following all from
Montour county
1857-59, Thomas Chalfant
;

;

1863-64, John C.
1859-60, Samuel Oakes
1867-69, Thomas Chalfant; 1869-70,
Chalfant
Thomas
Scott
1871-72,
George
1872-73, Dennis Bright; 1873-74, Jesse C.
Amerman; 1875-76, James Cruikshank; 187778, James McCormick; 1879-82, P. C. Newbaker; 1883-85, James McCormick; 1885-90,
Dr. J. P. Hoffa; 1891-94, John K. Gerringer;
1902-10, R. Scott Amnierman; 1911-15, P. C.
;

Ellis;

;

Newbaker;

191

K. West.

Judges

1850

;

Fenstermacher, 1861

;

Isaac

Ammerman,

1862;

John Moore, 1863; John Derr, 1864; Isaac
Amnierman, 1865; James Shultz, 1867; Andrew C. Russell, 1868: John Dildine, 1869;
William Yorks, 1870; James Woodside, 1871
Frederick Kniss,
Peter A. Mowrer, 1872
1873; David Grove, 1874; William }. McKee,
1875 J- '^uld, George W. Derr, W. J. McKee.
1876; Isaac Ammerman, Stephen Smith.
Frank G. Blee. 1879; Isaac Ammerman,
Frank Cr. Blee. George W. Askins, 1882;
Frank G. Blee. Isaac Ammerman, George W.
;

;

.Askins. 1885; (jeorge
.-Issociatc

elected in

were
Samuel Yorks, James McMahon,
Samuel Shick T. J. Galbraith, clerk. In 1852
Galbraith resigned and the board appointed
George W. West as clerk. The following have
been elected commissioners in the years
David Yeager, 185 1; David Wilspecified:
son, 1853; Jacob Sheep and \\'illiam Snyder,
1854; Abraham Wagner, 1856; Robert Davison, 1857; William McNinch, 1858; Daniel
Ramsey, 1859; W^illiam Seidel, i860; Charles

Emanuel

Miles.

Sid-

Wellington Rote, 1888; Charles C. Rousch,
Emanuel Sidler. Wellington Rote, 1891 Wesley Perry, John E. Roberts. William E. Boyer,
1894; H. C. Sandel, Henry Cooper, George

ler,

;

from Montour county were John Cooper and Daniel
Follmer.
They were succeeded in 1856 by
Robert Moore and Joseph Dean, and they in
turn were followed by Pet€r Hughes and
James Curry.
After that the judges were not elected together and those occupying the position have
Robert S. Simington, James
been as follows
McMahon, Thomas Butler, John Benfield, W.

The

first

associate

judges

K. Holloway, Henry Divel, Dr. S. Y. ThompFrank G. Blee, Charles A. Wagner, Lloyd
Welliver, W. J. Rogers, M. H. Schram, and
lames L. Brennan.

son,

Miles,

1897; George

Miles,

Wesley

Hiram C. Sandel. 1900: Henry Cooper,
George M. Leighow, Charles W. Cook, 1903;
George M. Leighow, Charles W. Cook, George
Perry,

R. Sechler, 1906
James Ryan, George R.
Sechler, John Coleman, 1909
James Ryan,
William Quigg, D. C. Williams, 19 12.
George W. West was clerk from 1850 to
1876; E. G. Hoffman from 1876 to 1879; .John
C. Peifer, 1879 to 1894; George Bortz, 1894 to
1895; Horace C. Blue, 1895 to the present
time, with the exception of 19 1 2. when Jacob
C. Miller was clerk.
;

District Attorneys

County Treasurers

The

first

district attorney

for the county,

from 1850 to 1853, was B. K. Rhodes. He
was succeeded, 1853-58, by Paul Leidy. B.
K. Rhodes was then appointed to fill a vacancy
and then from 1858 to 1861 H. A. Childs was

George Mears. 1850 Joseph Dean, 1853;
Daniel Reynolds. 1855; Frederick Blue. 1857;
Wilham G. Gaskins,'i859; Edward Morrison,
1861; Abraham Wagner, 1863; \^4lliam Mc:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

327

Ninch, 1865; Jacob Seidel, 1867; Isaac Ani-

Prothonotaries

merman, i86g; Emanuel Sidler, 1871 William
Madden, 1873; Bernard Dougherty, 1875;
Samuel Blue, 1878; George W. I'eifer, 1881
James L. Brennan. 1884; George W. Peifer,
1887; A. H. Billmeyer, 1890; James C. Heddens, 1893: George P. Cotner, 1896; P. C.
Newbaker, 1899; A. J. Steinman, 1902; S. K.
Hoffman, 1905; A. J. Steinman, 1908; S. K.
Hoffman, 1912.

William S. Davis, 1850; Hiram A. Childs,
1854: George D. Butler, 1857-66; William O.
Butler, 1866-76; Wilson M. Gearhart, 1876-88;
E. G. Hoffman, 1889-98; Jacob C. Miller,
1899-1902; Thomas G. Vincent, 1903-14;
Frank G. Schoch, appointed Aug. 5, 1914.

;

Clerks and Recorders

Sheriffs

Daniel Frazier, 1850-53 Thomas Pollock,
1854; Edward Young, 1857; Frederick Blue,
i860; Edward Young, 1863; Jacob Shelhart,
1866; R. C. Russell, 1869; W. C. Young, appointed in 1870; Daniel Billmeyer, 1871 Edward Young, 1874; Tames N. Miller, 1877;
Jacob Shelhart, 1880;" Nathan Shugart, 1883;
James O. Frazier, 1886; Michael j. Breckbill,
"1889; C. P. Harder, 1892; Michael J. Breckbill,
1895; George Maiers, 1898; Michael J.
Breckbill, 1901
George Maiers, 1904: D. C.
Williams, 1907; William B. Startzel, 191 1
John G. Waite, 1914.
;

;

William C. Johnston was elected the
time in 1850 and reelected repeatedly,

first

filling

the position until his death. Wilson M. (iearhart was appointed to fill the vacancy, and then
William L. Sidler was elected. Mr. Sidler has

held the position ever since.

Surzryors
G. W. U'est was the first surveyor of the
county, and served continuously until about
A. Cameron Bobb is the present sur1905.
veyor.

CHAPTER

DANVILLE
The town of Danville was
Montgomery in 1792.

Daniel

by Gen.
His plan com-

laid out

prised that portion of the town lying east of
Mill- street to Church street and extending
from the river to what was afterwards the

His father, Gen. William Montgomery,
some ten years later, laid out that portion of
the town lying west of Mill street.
The name "Danville" was given the town
out of deference to Gen. Daniel Montgomery,
and through the partiality of his customers,
who placed the most implicit confidence in
him and reverenced him as a true friend. The
settlement of Mahoning was the center of a
Montlarge trade drawn by Gen. William

canal.

Gen. Daniel Montgomery's
which furnished supplies to all the sur-

gomery's
store,

mill;

rounding neighborhood and the ferry established by Jacob Gearhart, of Rush township,
which on the Danville side landed about Ferry
The people dealing with Gen. Daniel
street.
;

Montgomery found
place
tion

"Dan's-town"

was easy

quite natural to call the
and from this the transi-

it
;

to "Dan-ville."

The town is beautifully located on the right
bank of the North Branch of the Susquehanna
river, about eleven miles above its union with
the West Branch. It nestles quietly among the
beautiful hills. Bald Top on the one side and
Blue Hill on the other, while down the river
All
for miles stretches the Montour Ridge.

about it are the everlasting hills, still packed
with iron ores which the hand of an all-wise
Creator has stored awaiting a new day when
the demands of an advanced age shall call
them forth to be transformed into finished
products, never dreamed of by the boasted era
God never stored hills with
in which we live.
riches to be left unused and some day, let us
;

;

hope not far distant, a busy brain and a skilled
hand will discover the key that will unlock
these mines of wealth and bring forth the
riches that have so long lain idle and uncalled
for.

In November, 1773. William Montgomery
purchased land from J. Cummings, the patent
On
for which bears date December, 1773.
Nov. 26, 1774, William Montgomery pur-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

328

chased from J. Simpson "180 acres of land on
Mahoning Creek; North side of the East
Branch of the Susquehanna, called Karkaase"
and on this land was laid out the town of DanIn the fall of 1776 Gen. William Montville.
;

gomery moved his family to Mahoning (afterwards Danville) permanently, and commenced
the improvement of his estate and the development of the country.
That part of Danville east of Church street
was laid out by John Sechler. In 1776 Gen.
William Montgomery constructed the log
house that afterwards became a part of the
stone mansion which he erected, on the corner
of Bloom and Mill streets, now known as the
In 1777 Alexander, his
Russell stone house.
youngest son, was born in this log house, and
seventy-one years later, in 1848, he passed
away in the same room in which he was born.

cated along what is now the old canal west
of Mill street the store of Gen. Daniel Montgomery, located upon the premises now occupied by the "Montour House"; and the blacksmith shop of John Deen on Market street,
near Ferry. These were all established prior
to 1806 and brought much trade from the
surrounding country and from the south side
and were the means of the establishment of
the post office at Danville.
In 1809 Gen. William Montgomery erected
a woolen mill in the rear of what was afterwards the Daniel Ramsey homestead upon
Dr.
.Mill street, just opposite Mulberry street.
Petrikin afterwards erected a woolen mill
between the lands later occupied by the North
Branch Steel Works and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. It was
;

subsequently used by Duncan Hartman as a
planing mill and later by the National Iron

Gen. William Montgomery donated sixty
lots between Mill and Chestnut streets for the
erection and maintenance of an academy, to be
under the supervision and control of the MaGen. William
honing Presbyterian Church.
Montgomery also donated the land for the
courthouse and Gen. Daniel Montgomery gave

It was
as a spike and bolt factory.
1871.
The grist and plaster mill, known as the
John Montgomery mill, was erected prior to
1825 and connected with it was a woolen mill

the land for the jail.
.-Xmos Wickersham, who owned the property to the northeast of the William Montgomery tract, conveyed to the Presbyterian
Church the ground upon which the original

mill.

Mahoning church was built and which is now
occupied by the present Grove Presbyterian
This conveyance also included the
church.
ground used for the old burying ground on

Bloom

street.

the erection of Columbia county, in
seat and
1813, Danville was made the county
continued to be such until 1847.
The opening of the canal in 1832 marked
the beginning of prosperity and development
for Danville.
Following this came the erection of the iron industries, the forerunners of
those vast manufacturing plants which have
been the great source of business and material prosperity of the town.
In 1849 the borough of Danville was incor-

Upon

to the
porated and in 1853 it was made subject
law. The
provisions of the General Borough
borough then consisted of two wards. North
ward and South ward. In 1867, however, the
wards were increased to four and named First,
Second, Third and Fourth wards.

INDUSTRIES
of the industries of Danville were
the gristmill of Gen. William Montgomery, lo-

The

first

Company
burned

and carding machine.
In the rear of what was afterwards the
Laubach residence there was erected a sawIn 1839 Peter Baldy, Sr., built the old stone
on Church street which for many
years furnished a large part of the community
with flour and feed. It is now, after years of
gristmill

by the Metal Engineering
the Metal and Machine Com-

idleness, occupied

Company and
pany.
Danville

is peculiarly an iron town and from
in manuearly years it has been engaged
facturing from iron and steel.
The first iron foundry established in Danville was that of John C. Thiel, erected in
In 1830 Casper Thiel acquired control
1829.
and in the latter part of that year formed a
In 1831
Sr.
partnership with Samuel Bitler,
Mr. r.itler died and on April i8th of that year
Thiel failed in business. The creditors operated the plant until 1832 and then closed it.
The i)roducts of the foundry were mill
mold boards, plowshares, land

its

gudgeons,
slides,

wagon boxes,

andirons, sadirons and

griddles.

The Eagle Foundry was

built

on the east

side of Ferry street, along the canal, in 1837,
was the
by Moore & Stuart. Samuel Huber
In December. 1838. the buildchief molder.

of ten thousand doling burned with a loss
but was rebuilt in 1842 by Stuart. Biddle
machine shop was later added
& Llovd.

lars,

Gristmill at AIausdale, Pa., Uuilt ix

Home

iiSoo

— Partially Rebuilt

of Glx. William Montcomlrv, Danville, Pa.
Oldest House in Montour County

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and the manufacture of stoves, plows and
other agricultural
implements undertaken.

The

owners until 1887, when the
was removed, were Moore & Biddle
Moore & Company, and William

diflferent

building
Riddle,
Biddle.

;

Simon
in a
site

P. Kase, in 1838, started his foundry
small shed on Pine street on the present
.At
of the First ward school building.

enterprise used horsepower to run
In 1839 Mr. Kase formed a
enpartnership with L. Bergstresser and they
larged the ])lant, putting in a steam engine.
The products were threshing machines, stoves
first

this

the machinery.

and mill gearing.
In 1844 Mr. Kase built the first mill in
the town for the manufacture of merchant
In 1846 he built his rolling mill, where
iron.
he installed the first "three-high" train of rolls
ever used in Danville. He operated the mills
until 1848 and then leased them to David P.
Davis, who failed to make them profitable
and they returned to the ownership of Mr.
Kase. In 1852 Mr. Kase sold the mills and the
purchaser removed all the machinery to Knoxville,

Tennessee.

Ollis, in 1840, built a steam en&
gine factory on the premises of the Kase
Bergstresser foundry, which was later incormill
into
the
plant.
rolling
porated

Samuel

The National Iron Foundry was another
industry the history of which is closely idenIt was lotified with Danville's early years.
cated near the Columbia Furnace and was
originally built by Peter Baldy, Sr., in the
The first operators of the plant
year 1839.
were Williams, Belson & Gartley. This concern failed and was succeeded by O'Connor &
Rice, who also encountered financial difficulThe plant fell into the hands of R. C.
ties.
Russell, who, after conducting it for a comparatively brief period, sold out to Messrs.
Hancock & Carr, who later transferred their
These various
holdings to John Hibler.
changes in ownership covered a period of
A former foreman of
twenty-five years.
the Eagle

Foundry, Samuel Huber,

purchased the business from John Hibler.

1854

operated it for five years, when, in 1859, it was
Previously to the destrucdestroyed by fire.
Huber had taken
tion of the plant, Mr.
Samuel Boudman into partnership. After tbe
Mr.
fire Boudman abandoned the enterprise.
Huber, however, continued the business and
built
from
Peter
Baldy,
purchased the ground
a far better foundry than the one which had
been destroyed, and again embarked in the
business, successfully conducting it alone until

329

1868, when he took his son, J. S. Huber, into
partnership, and they continued under the firm
name of S. Huber & Son. On the 19th of
January, 1877, C. C. Huber, another son, was
taken into the firm.
The title was then
changed to S. Huber & Sons. Subsequently
W. H. Huber, a third son, joined them and the
concern continued in business and prospered
This plant is now occupied by the
greatly.

Montour

Foundry

which

manufactures the Huber plows.

still

Machine

Company,

Reading Iron Company

One of Danville's leading industries at the
present time is the plant of the Reading Iron
Company. These operations, although coming
into the hands of the Reading Iron Company
in recent years, have a history running back
into the early days and known in the past
under diflferent names, the property belonging
to different

owners.

In 1838 what was known as Furnace No. i,
of the Danville Furnaces, was built by Eli
Trego for Carey & Hart. This was a charcoal furnace and was located on North Mill
street beyond what was afterwards known as
the company gristmill and near the present
Philadelphia & Reading railroad crossing. In
1840 this was altered by Thomas Chambers
In 1844 the Moninto an anthracite furnace.
tour Iron Company was incorporated, with
Thomas Chambers as president. Mr. Chambers, in 1840, built Blast Furnaces Nos. 2 and
3 and operated them with anthracite coal.
These furnaces were located at the head of
West Centre street. In a short time all these
furnaces became the property of the Montour Iron Company which, in 1846, built

Furnace No.

2 and 3.
In 1844 the

which joined Furnaces Nos.

Montour Iron Company

built,

Rolling Alill No. 1,
containing thirty-seven double and single pudAt
dling furnaces and ten heating furnaces.
this mill, Oct. 8, 1845, the first T rail in the

on Northumberland

street.

United States was manufactured.
In 1853 the Montour Iron Company built
Rolling Nlill No. 2, containing thirty-two
single puddling furnaces.
In 1843 the above named furnaces were
leased to Benjamin Perry, Alexander Garretson, Cornelius Garretson and William Jennison.

The first manager of the rolling mills was a
man named Harris but he was soon succeeded
by M. S. Ridgway, who for many years con;

tinued to

manage

these mills through the dif-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

330

been chief bookkeeper, Daniel Edwards, who
had been superintendent of the mines, and Dan

The founferent and changing ownerships.
dry and machine shop of this company were
buih in 1 830, but did not come into their pos-

Morgan, who had directed the work at the furnaces, all became stockholders and entered
into the management of the business.
About this time a number of the stockholders of the company became interested in the

session until 1852.

The Montour Iron Company gradually acquired the ownership of all these operations.
Different parties at times operated them, but
always through negotiations with the company.

Kingston Coal Company, which in later years
proved a source of great revenue to its stock-

1844 to 1847 Murdock. Leavitt &
Co. operated the plant. This firm was composed of U. A. Murdock, Edward Leavitt.
Jesse Oakley and Daniel W'etmore, Henry
Brevoort being the resident superintendent.
From 1847 to 1849 M. S. Ridgway, T. O.
\'an Alen, David Stroh and others operated
the works. About 1850 John Peter Grove and
John (3rove obtained the management of this

From

holders.

In 1876 Thomas Beaver disposed of his
stock in the Pennsylvania Iron Company, reserving, by purchase, to himself, the handsome mansion on the hill in which he had so
long resided. On March 30, 1880, the Pennsylvania Iron Company sold the entire plant
to the Montour Iron & Steel Company, a corporation formed under the laws of Pennsylvania with W. E. C. Coxe, president, Frank

plant and contintied to operate the same until
1857In 1855 the Montour Iron Company issued
a mortgage, with coupon bonds, for six hun-

P. Howe, general manager, and S. W. IngerThis company for a number
soU, treasurer.
of years very successfully operated the plant.
They conducted the store in connection with
the works, and once more the plant filled the

thousand dollars.
John .\shenhurst,
AI. Lewis and Isaac R. Davis were
the trustees under the mortgage. On June 7,
1858, the plant was sold at sheriff's sale for
$103, subject to the mortgage of S600.000.
dred

Edwin

and was purchased bv Michael Grove, Henry
M. Fuller, E. H. Baldy and Philip Niles. On
Jan. 7, 1 86 1, the plant was sold by the trustees
under the mortgage and purchased by Isaac

town with the busy hum of industry.
D. H. B. Brower, in his history, says: "Mr.
Howe is managing the works with general satThe chief operisfaction and great success.
ators in the various departments are Dan Mor-

who
gan, superintendent of the blast furnaces,
Waterman, Thomas Beaver, Elias G. Cope, has occupied that position for many years (he
is more particularly noted in another portion
W. B. Ridgley and George I. Waterman.
The Pennsylvania Iron Company was in- of this book) M. S. Ridgway, manager; P. J.
has been in the machine shop
corporated Oct. 12, i860, with Isaac S. Water- .\dams, who
man as president, the stock being owned as fol- about as long as any other and in an establishment like this long years of employment
lows
Isaac S. Waterman, 7,200 shares
S.

;

—

;

Thomas

Beaver, 2,500 shares: Elias G. Cope,
100 shares W. B. Ridgley, 100 shares George
I. Waterman, 100 shares.
;

;

On Jan. 9, 1861, the purchasers of the plant
sold the same to the Pennsylvania Iron Company.

This

company

kept

this

important

industry, furnace and mills, in operation during most of the years of the Civil war. Thomas
Beaver was the resident stockholder and o\erseer of the whole plant and the whole equipment was busily employed in the manufacture
of railroad iron
Waterman & Beaver conducted the com;

panv store during this period, and with
and furnaces, mines and store working at

mills
their

capacity, Danville experienced its most
successful business period. In 1868 considerable of the stock in the Pennsylvania Iron
full

a proof of industry and skill: George Lova
superintendent of labor and timekeeper,
position of responsibility requiring activity
and constant watchfulness; William Cruikshank, the molder (a position formerly occuis

ett,

pied by the genial Henrv- Gearhart) Captain
Gaskins, occupying his old place at the weigh
scales Joseph Bryant, at the stock sales and
it
many others filling important positions whom
;

;

would
is

W. McCoy
name^
L. M. Mock also
office.

be a pleasure to

chief clerk in the

holds a responsible clerkship in the principal
Samuel S. Gulick keeps a record in a
office.
minor office near the machine shops. J. Boyd
and
(iearhart, M. G. Gearhart, John Wallize
many engineers, heaters and workers, whose
whose
but
names are unknown to the writer
brains and muscles keep the works in motion,
deserve at least a passing note. The extent
be
of the Montour Iron and Steel Works can

hands.
Cadwalader G.
came from Philadelphia and assumed
fact that in the rolling mills,
management of a large part of the work. imagined by the
there are
George F. Geisinger, who had for many years furnaces, mines and machine shops

Company changed
Alulligan

.-,>.Ai.ii-.'.;v.,.,

Bridge at Danville, Pa.

The Old Company

Store, Danville, Pa.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
thirty-nine stationary steam engines and four
locomotives. The works are now
February,
(

icS8i

)

running to their

full capacity,

rolls

mill."

After some years' association with the company Mr. Howe severed his connection and
Theodore F. McGinnis became general manager.

company became involved finanand Dec. 21, 1895, the entire plant, including store and gristmill, was sold by the
sheriff and purchased by the Reading Iron
Company, who have successfully operated the
same from that time to the present. The local
superintendents and managers have been
Theodore Patterson, David Thomas, and the
present very efficient and successful manager,
In 1895 the

cially,

H. T. Hecht.
This company has gradually cut ofT from its
business the company store and the gristmill
and has devoted its entire energy to the manufacture of iron.
is

the

Montour Rolling

department of the Reading Iron Company and consists of Puddle Mill No. i, containing fourteen double puddling furnaces
Puddle Mill No. 2, containing seven double
puddling furnaces and one busheling furnace
one 12-inch train of rolls, one 16-inch train of
rolls and one 20-inch skelp train, seven heatMill

;

ing furnaces, four 20-inch muck trains, three
rotarv squeezers, shears, straightening presses,
etc.

The annual capacity is 50.000 tons of merchant bar iron, angles, splice plates, tie plates,
The company
skelp iron and special shapes.
This department
also owns and operates its own machine shop,
blacksmith shop and carpenter shops, and
owns 179 tenement houses, located in the
borough of Danville, which have recently been
em])loys

about

750 men.

greatly improved.
In irjo5 the Reading

Iron

Company

ac-

quired the plant of the Danville Rolling Mill
Company, located near the D., L. & W. railroad
tracks and above the D., L. & W. railroad depot in Danville.
ville

eight

This plant

night and

ployment.
-J. R. Phillips looks after the heating, J. R.
Lunger takes his place at night, and John
Marks that of Ridgway. E. C. \'oris is vetE. O. Ridgway is
eran among the patterns.
roller, and Hiram Antrim runs the flouring

plant

and one rotary squeezer. Its product
it employs about 150 men.

muck bar and

They are crowded with orders and all
day.
the army of iron workers have constant em-

The present

331

known

Dan-

Puddle Mill Department and contains
double puddling furnaces, one train of

Daniillc Slntctural Tubing

This plant

Company

one of the great industries of

Danville. It is located in a different portion
of the town from the Reading Iron Company's
operations and far removed therefrom. It is
a large and prosperous establishment and is
the dependence of a large portion of the comnumity, being the successor of several of the
old-time iron works of the town which in their
day were chief industries of that portion of
the town.
It is a combination of the old
'Rough and Ready," the "National Iron Company," "Hancock Steel and Iron Company,"
"Glendower Iron Works," and "Mahoning
Rolling Mill Company."
Soon after the Columbia Furnaces were
built by Grove Brothers, liurd Patterson began the erection of a building near them, with
the intention of operating a nail mill. He soon
abandoned this enterprise and the "roof on
frame-like stilts'' stood idle and useless.
William Hancock, a native of Lainesfield,

Staffordshire, England, was brought to this
country in 1844 by the Montour Iron Company, as a skilled worker in iron. With him
came John Foley, also an iron finisher of great

These men for several years worked for
Montour Iron Company. In 1847 William
Hancock and John Foley took the incomplete
building of Burd Patterson and turned it into
skill.

the

for the manufacture of mercalled it the Rough and
Readv mill and in 1850 commenced the manufacture of railroad iron. The business pros]iered greatly. In 1858 John Foley retired and
William Hancock carried it on alone, but Mr.
Foley returned a few years later and again
was associated with Mr. Hancock in the operation of this mill. The partnership lasted una

rolling mill

chant iron.

til

1866,

They

when Mr. Foley permanently

retired.

By Act

of Assembly of April 10, 1867, the
National Iron Company was incorporated, with

William Hancock as president. P. C. Brink as
Welch as secand Benjamin
retary, treasurer and general manager.
In 1870 William Hancock and Alfred Creveling built the first of "The Danville Furnaces'' and soon after they erected a second
and larger one. George W. ?^Iiles was super\ice president,

intendent of these furnaces.
In 1870 the National Iron Company put up
a new rolling mill, some distance north of the
In 187 1 these plants were conQriginal mill.
solidated as the property of the National Iron

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

332

gone into the hands of the receiver, structural
tubing was manufactured under patents held
by William C. Frick and Thomas J. Price.
This enterprise proved very successful and
very profitable, and in 1902 a patrnership was
Rough and Ready mill.
The panic of 1873 interfered with the long formed, composed of Thomas J. Price, Dan
and
on
of
this
continued success
April 2, M. Curry, Mary E. Frick and William G. Purplant

Company, George \V. Miles continuing as superintendent of the furnaces. John G. Hiler
was made manager of the new rolhng mill,
and Joseph H. Springer manager of the old

1873, the National Iron Company was adjudicated a bankrupt and Andrew H. Dill, Esq.,

was made

its assignee.
plant of the National Iron
sold by Andrew H. Dill, Esq.,

The
was

In 1903 the interest of Mary E. Frick was
purchased by Thomas J. Price, Dan M. Curry
and William G. Pursel, who continued the partnership under the name of Danville Structural
sel.

Company
March 2, Tubing Company.

Mr. Curry died in 1906, after which Thomas
and purchased by Edward Crompton,
same day conveyed it to the Hancock J. Price and William G. Pursel acquired the
comentire interest, and they have since conducted
Steel & Iron Company, a corporation
posed of a number of the Hancock heirs. the business. The plant produces structural
Dr. J. D. Gosh was president Benjamin G. tubing of special shapes for bedsteads, spring
Welch, secretary, treasurer and general man- mattress sides, agricultural implements, trolThis company was in existence but a ley bracket irons, fence posts, etc.
ager.
The business at present is most successful,
few months when the mortgage, made by the
National Iron Company to James Pollock and after a long and persistent contest, and the
Benjamin G. Welch, trustees, was foreclosed people of Danville congratulate themselves
and the plant sold Aug. 9, 1879, to Alfred that at last this important property has been
placed on a firm and lasting basis and promCreveling.
The Gleiidower Iron Works was incorpo- ises employment for years to come to those
rated Aug. 2. 1879, with Alfred Creveling as who depend upon the plant for their liveliand hood.
The property has been greatly impresident, Henry Levis as treasurer
runGeorge W. Allies as general manager. Alfred proved, and in its entire operation, when
hundred men.
Creveling immediately conveyed to the Glen- ning full, employs about four
dower Iron Works the whole of the propof James
Co-opcrath'c Iron and Steel Works
erty sold to him under the mortgage
Pollock and Benjamin G. Welsh, trustees, and
for
a
and
started
The
once more the works were
Co-operative Iron and Steel Works
considerable time made things busy in that was incorporated in 1870. A majority of its
of stockholders were practical workmen and at
portion of the town, in the manufacture
once entered into the employment of the
rails and skelp iron.
A large mortgage had been placed by the company. The corporation bought six acres
Glendower Iron Works upon this plant, and of land of Jacob Sechler, adjacent to the canal
on East Market street, opposite Foust street,
in 1885 default was made in the interest and
the mortgage was foreclosed, the property and at once commenced the erection of the
in November. 1871.
being sold, Sept. 19, 1885, to H. S. Pierce, mill, which was completed
Mr. Pierce sold the property, The main building of the plant was 75 by 153
for $29,000.
Dec. 14, 1886, to I. N. Grier. The Mahoning feet. It housed eight puddling furnaces, one
which derived motive
Rolling Mill Company was incorporated Jan. series of 18-inch rolls,
S. Patterson as presi- power from an engine of 100 horse power. A
13, 1887, with Abram
neat brick office building added attractiveness
I. X. Grier at once conveyed the propdent.
the Mahoning to the plant.
erty to this corporation and
and L.
the plant unPerry Deen was the first president,
Rolling Mill Company operated
On Dec. 26th of that year a receiver K. Rishel, secretary and treasurer. The ditil i8<)3.
was appointed for the company and the plant rectors were John Grove, Wilson M. Gearwas operated for some time by different les- hart, Samuel Mills. M. D. L. Sechler, A. J.
C.
sees, first bv Frank H. Buhl; in 1896 by C. H. Ammerman. L. K. Rishel, Perry Deen, J.
1874,

who

the

;

Frick, lessee: in 1897

by F. P.

Howe;

1898

Howe and Polk; and finally, Feb. 17, iSqS,
the plant was sold to F. P. Howe, Rufus K.
Polk, Mary E. Frick, Thomas J. Price and
William G.' Pursel. known as "Howe & Polk."
mill had
During these operations, after the
by

Rhodes, Peter
Curtis. Later
dent.
Tohn D.
of the mill and
to

Baldy, Jr., D. M. Reese. E. J.
Peter Baldy, Jr., became presi-

Williams was general manager
Samuel Mills was boss roller.
In November, 1883, the name was changed
This comthe Danville Steel Company.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
in 1883 and Grove, Grier & Company, a limited partnership, became the purchasers of the property and operated the plant

pany failed

until

i88().

The North Branch

Steel

Company,

incor-

June 9, 188'), took over the plant and
operated the same until 1899, when the Danporatetl
ville

Bessemer Company was incorjx)rated and

once began operating the plant and building
a steel plant in connection with it.
A large
at

amount of money was spent in the erection of
the new buildings and fitting them up for the
manufacture of steel. The plant, however,
was never operated as a steel plant, and the
buildings erected were dismantled and remain
a monument to the wonderful power of the
steel trust.

at the

end of East Jilahoning

and

large
erected.

commodious

street,

where

also

brick

office

was

John Grove and R. M. Grove, sons of MichGrove, were much interested in the iron
business and contributed greatly towards the
success of the same in the latter days of the

ael J.

operation of these furnaces.
The Grove brothers built the handsome residence on the hill beyond the Philadelphia &
Reading station, where they resided until their
deaths.
This mansion passed into the hands
of John R. Bennett, who married a daughter
of John Peter Grove; and who, at his death,
it to his widow (a second wife).
The Grove Furnaces were shut down

left

For some little time a part of the prop>erty
was devoted to the manufacture of shovels,
under the management of James L. Barber.
On April 5, 191 1, the property was sold at
sheriff's sale and purchased by Thomas J.

333

891 and subsequently were dismantled.
Dani'ille Iron

Works

This plant was familiarly known, in the
days of its operation, as the "Cock Robin"
It was built in 1873 by William Faux
mill.

number of the business
Subsequently a portion of and was located on the canal and Church
was leased to the Pennsylvania street. The business had a checkered career,
Brake Beam Company, which for a niunber but Mr. Faux was a man of indomitable enof years has operated the same under the man- ergy and was able to keep his mill going even
through the trials and vicissitudes of the panic
agement of E. M. Applebaugh.
The site of the old Danville Furnaces was of 1873. It gave employment to a large numsubsequently sold to Howe & Samuel, who ber of men and it was with regret that, in 1877,
have erected their new mill thereon.
the entire plant was removed to Pueblo, Colo.
Price, as trustee for a

men

Danville.

the property

Grove's Furnaces

Twenty-eight railroad cars were used in
Later it was moved
transportation.
Denver.

its

Among the iron works of the earlier days
were the Columbia I'umaces, operated by the
Grove Brothers. These brothers were such in
more than name. There was a close bond between them that united them in business as

The Danville Stove & Manufacturing Company was incorporated Aug. 7, 1882, with a

well as in family life.
There were five brothers:
Michael J., John Peter, John, Jacob W.
Michael
and Elias.
J., John Peter and John
were the three that were most active in the

This has been increased
capital of $20,000.
from time to time until at present the authorized capital has reached the sum of $345,000.
The first president of the plant was Henry

Danville business. Jacob W.. somewhat later,
came to Danville
but Elias remained in
Lebanon county, where they had all been resi-

the first secretary and treasurer,
\'incent
James Foster. The present officers are WilWilliam L.
liam B. Chamberlin, president
McClure, treasurer; Alexander Foster, secre-

;

dents.

1840 these brothers bought a furnace
built by George Patterson in
This they operated very successfully
1839.
and in 1844 built what was called the "Little
Furnace." In i860 they built, alongside of the
others, a very large furnace with modem improvements, bringing the capacity up to 12,000 tons a year. The Grove Brothers' Furnaces ranked high in the quality of iron proFor many years they were an imporduced.
tant industry of the town. They were located
In

that

had been

Danville Stove

& Manufacturing

Co.

;

tary and general manager.

The company manufactures

a complete line

of wood and coal stoves, ranges, hot air furnaces and gas stoves the product being marketed in all sections of the United States and
The total yearly
a good portion exported.
output of stoves is 26,000, the value of which
;

ranges from $300,000 to $350,000. The number of molders engaged at present is 102
other employees, 96. The average yearly payroll in the past two years has been $150,000.
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

334

Although having two destructive
its

ing
ter

company has

history, the

dur-

stoves,

rebuilt bet-

ments.

tires

plows and other agricultural imple-

and more securely than ever before and

now

has a series of almost fireproof buildings,
fitted for their various purposes.

Enterprise Foundry

Machine Works

admirably

Dain'ille Nail

Manufacturing Co.

The Danville Nail & Manufacturing Co.
was incorporated in 1883, and at once erected
a large mill and other necessary buildings, and
The
immediately commenced operations.
plant produced muck bar, nails and tack iron.
The tremendous capacity for one item alone,
that of nails, during the early days of the in-

The initial
dustry was 900 kegs per diem.
number of machines for the production of nails
was fifteen. Four years later it had increased
to eighty.
By the ist of January, 1887, one
installed and gas was being
used in the process of manufacture.
This plant was the first user of electric

hundred had been

in the

light

produced

used

in the plant

community.

was

first

during the month of Novemthat time the officers were: D.
ber, 1886.
M. Boyd, president: R. M. Grove, treasurer;

William C. Frick, secretary and general man-

ager.

In 1889 this plant produced 52 kegs of railroad spikes in a day's work. The directors
D. M. Boyd, R. H. Wooley, R. M.
then were
Grove, David Clark, James Cruikshank. E. C.
Voris, T. O. Van Alen, W. C. Frick, J. L.
:

Riehl.

The

officers

president; R.

were

William C. Frick,

M. Grove, treasurer; John

Hill, secretary.
In i8go this company

cially

became involved finanand the plant was closed down, being

soon sold by the

sheriiif

to the

Company, of Pittsburgh, Robert
Tyrone, and L. S. Wintersteen,

Copley Iron
C. Neal, of
of Blooms-

burg, for $47,000.
In 1892 it was started up after a year of idleness and ran a few months, but in 1893 it was
finally closed.

In 1905 the Reading Iron
this plant
date.

Company

and have operated

acquired
ever since that

Danville Iron Foundry

The Danville Iron Foundry was built in
the Delaware,
1872 by Daniel De Long, along
Lackawanna & Western Railroad. It was 56
was
by 84 feet in dimensions, and the capacity
seven tons at a heat. With its blacksmith and
the best plants in
pattern shops, it was one of
The products were
Danville at that time.

The Enterprise Foundry & Machine Works
were located on Ferry street between the canal
and Mulberry street, on the site of the present
stone works of Thomas L. Evans & Sons.
They were first erected in 1872 by James
Cruikshank, J. W. Moyer, Robert Moore and
Thomas C. Curry, under the firm name of
"Cruikshank, Moyer & Company." In the fall
of 1873 the whole structure, with its contents,
was destroyed by fire. In the succeeding year
the works were rebuilt and for a number of
years were carried on successfully and profitably by this firm.
About 1880 Robert Moore withdrew from
the firm, but the business continued to be carried on by Cruikshank, Moyer & Company.
These partners were practical men, Mr. Cruikshank being the foundryman and Mr. Moyer
and Mr. Curry being first class machinists
and splendid workmen. Heavy castings were

In
principal products of this foundry.
1892 this plant was sold to W. G. Pursel, after
a long term of idleness; and again, in 1897, it

the

was

sold to

Dan Curry and Forbes Vannan.

Danville Foundry

Machine Cotnpany

This company was incorporated in 190O and
has one of the few foundries in the State for
the production of ornamental and utilitarian
castings for structural purposes. In these days
of exclusive concrete reinforced buildings,
there is a demand for castings suitable for
decorative purposes and at the same time of
practical use, which will harmonize with the
fireproof construction now adopted in almost
To
all buildings of commercial character.

demand the Danville Foundry & Machine
Company caters almost exclusively, although
many other classes of castings are also pro-

this

duced.

This plant was formerly a part of the National Iron Company's works and was conducted in connection with the operation of
The title to this property passed
that plant.
with the difl^erent conveyances of the National
Iron Company's property, until it became
vested in the present owners. The old buildIron Coming formerly used by the National

pany is now the machine shop, and the pattern
of
shop occupies the upper floor. A number
new buildings have been erected, making the
in this section
plant one of the most complete

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The erecting shop and
the State.
foundry are complete in every respect. The
machinerv' in the machine shop and part of
the

new enterprises, but seem to promise
satisfactory results in the near future.

are both

the pattern shop is operated by steam engines,
the balance of the plant being operated by

with individual motors on the saw
and the planer and in the erecting shop.
electricity,

The class of material manufactured includes
building fronts, fire escapes, elevator inclosures, stairways, grills, window guards and
bank inclosures. all of the most delicate filigree
work

iron.

wrought

All this requires the services of fourteen
The patskill.
pattern makers of exceptional
terns are made in wood, aluminum, brass,
In the drafting room are
plaster and wax.
five draftsmen
fifty men are employed in the
;

twenty
sixty in the foundry
erecting room
in the machine shop; as well as a number of
and
in
the
departpacking
shipping
helpers
;

;

ments.

The officers of the company are: T. J.
Price, president and treasurer; C. E. Haupt,
Irvin \'annan, general manvice president
;

E. W.
ager; C. L. Foulk, assistant manager;
Peters, secretary; Paul .\. \'annan, electrical
engineer.

The foremen

of the departments are

Albert

Behrens, erecting department W. K. Lunger,
machine shop; .\rthur H. Foulk, pattern shop;
;

C. E.

Haupt, foundry; George Lunger, ship-

ping department.
Ho'ii'c

Samuel

Howe

and Frank Samuel have
operated in Danville for some twenty years,
manufacturing low phosphorus muck bar. Lentil within the last year their operations were
Frank P.

carried on in the puddle mill of the Danville
Structural Tubing Company. Within the last
year they purchased, from Thomas J. Price,
trustee, a portion of the property formerly
of the Danville

makEight large furnaces have been installed,
steel
ing this the most modem and complete
plant in this part of the State.

Two new

industries have, within a short
time, been started in the old stone grist mill
on Church street. One is the Metal Engineer-

Company, which manufactures corrugated
pipe and the other is the Metal & Machine
Company, which manufactures oil cups. These
;

Silk Mill

In 1894 Mr. F. Q. Hartman came to Danlooking for a site upon which to erect
silk mills.
The situation in Danville pleased
him and in 1896 he commenced the erection
of mills on Water street on the site of the old
ville,

tannery. The mill was about completed when
a cyclone damaged it to the extent of over
eight thousand dollars. However, this simply
caused a delay, and in January, 1897, the machinery was first started.
The building is a brick 50 by 115 feet, two
stories in height, and was erected by F. Q.
Hartman, Incorporated. At the time of the
first operation there were 65 employees, and
they controlled 6,000 spindles in the production of silk yarn from the raw material, im-

ported from

China and Japan.
Mnemoloton, from its
situation opposite the Blue Hill on the south
side of the Susquehanna river.
During the
year 1897 the number of employees had inof
to
and
the
number
creased
120
spindles to

The

mill

Italy,

was

called

In the following year it became necessary to build an addition 53 by 145 feet, three
stories in height, to accommodate the increasing trade; and the number of employees was
increased to 300.
The Ontiora Silk Mill was built on the
Bloom road, just outside of the borough line,
in 191 2.
It is a one-story brick building 53
Fifty-five hands are employed
by 100 feet.
and the payroll for the year averages about
26,000.

The annex at Riverside was built in
1907 and employs about no hands.
In 1914 Mr. Hartman severed his connection
with these mills and sold his interest to Jouvoud & Lavigne, of New York. Mr. J. F.
Lavigne has moved to Danville and expects to

$20,000.

Bessemer Company, and have give

erected a large mill of their own. This mill is
built on the site of the old Danville Furnaces
and is a modem puddle mill of structural steel.

ing

335

his personal attention to the
of these works.

management

Knitting Mills

The

Susquehanna

branch of the

Knitting Mill was a
Valley Knitting Mill,

Wyoming

Bloomsburg, Pa., of which Thomas West was
the owner, and was located on West Centre
street, in the old Flat schoolhouse. Clark Kern

was

local

manager.

This mill contained 32

knitting machines of modern make and the
product was silk hosiery. The mill was after-

wards removed.

COLUMBIA AXD .MOXTOUR COUNTIES

336

Other mills in the same location at different
times have been the Equitable Knitting Mills,
and. started within a few months, the U'cona
Knitting Mill, established by John Kern, Clark
Kern and Lincoln Fenstermacher.
The Danville Knitting Mill was established
in 1898 in the brick building erected on Church
This mill was afterwards purchased
street.
by John H. Goeser, who operated it for some
time, and in 191 1 the Xaiii-Trah Knitting

on the site of the present company store buildBirkenbine later located his yards on the
ing.
canal above town.
Other brickmakers of early times were
Charles White, S. Gibbs, John Turner, Jacob
Sechler's Sons,

John Keim at present
brickyards now located in

Spinning Company entered into possession of
the same and have conducted it to the present
time.

Helm's Suspender Factory
This factory was established in 1882 and
It was first
until about 19 10.
located on Mill street and then was removed
one of the
was
a
time
for
to Pine street, and
important industries of the town.
About the same time the Xovclty Suspender
Company was operated by Simon Dreifuss &
Son, located in the .Montgomerj- building. This
company carried on an extensive business for

was operated

number of

years.

Danville Milling

Company

The Danville Milling Company

composed

of George A. Fry, Charles J. Lawrence and
has
John A. Dietz, and for a number of years
Xorth Mill
operated the company gristmill on
street, near the Philadelphia & Reading railThis inill is a five-storj' brick
road
crossing.

modern
building of large size, is fitted with
roller process machinery, and is operated by
electricity.

Steam Laundries

The
steam laundries:
Montour, operated by Ralph Hodge and Harstreet
vey K. Gerringer, is located on Ferr\Danville

new

has two

concrete building.

The Danznllc

Steam Laundry is located on the corner of
Ferry street and the canal and is operated by
Both seem to be doing a good
\V. E. Kase.

Benzbach conduct a pants factory,
Block
located in the old company store building, corner of Mill and Centre streets. This company
manufactures boys' trousers and does a large
business, employing 141 girls.

The first brick made in Danville was manufactured at the yards of Birkenbine. situated

the

only

About 1867 Levi Berger built a large planing mill along the canal just east of Mill
street.
This mill did a large business until it
was destroyed by fire. \'ons Haigh and
in
Gregg,
1869, erected a large planing mill
along the canal at Pine street. This mill did
an extensive business for a number of years.
NEWSP.\PERS
]\Iany newspapers have been published in
Danville during the years of its existence, beginning at an early day and continuing to the
present time. There have always been newspapers, not always containing news, and yet
eagerly sought after by large portions of the

community.

The

early history of these papers

meager.

names of the

very

were kept and even

files

the

ones are almost forgotten.
paper published in Danville was
earliest

The first
The Columbia Gazette, edited by George
Sweeney in 181 3. One copy of a paper called
The Express, dated 1818, was in later years
This
in the possession of D. H. B. Brower.
paper was established in 1815 by Jonathan
I.odge and was afterwards published by Lodge

Caruthers.

Judge Cooper seems to have derived much
pleasure and profit from editing and writing
for some of these early papers. The IVatchman was established in 1820 by George
Sweeney, who conducted it for eight years,
his chief occupation being a wordy war with

This paper was published

the corner of Market and Ferr>' streets, in a
of
building on the site of the present residence

Dr. Simington's family.
D. H. B. Brower says of these early papers:
"They were mainly reprints of foreign and
domestic news, except when Judge Cooper and

George Sweeney pointed
Brickyards

operates
the town.

Planing Mills

Judge Cooper.

business.

and Biddle, Chambers & Com-

pany.

quills at

On
ville

their sharp goose-

each other."

July 15, 1828, the
'intelligencer

first

copy of The Dan-

was issued by

\'alentine

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
who had bought out The JJ'atchmait.
sheet at first had but six columns, but in
he
increased it to seven. The price was
1840
two dollars a year, and it came out on Tuesday
Best,

The

of each week.

The paper on which

was

printed was strictly local, being made by
Mr. Best put up a
Sharpless, of Catawissa.
sign in front of his office, bearing a picture of

Benjamin Franklin, with
liberty dwells there is

this

motto:

"Where

country."

was always

The

a Democratic
Intelligencer
organ and was very ably edited, the proprietor
seeming always to be on the winning side. In
1850 Mr. Best was elected to the State Senate,
for the purpose of forming the county of

337

ried it on successfully as a Republican organ
until 1871, when he sold it to W. H. Bradley
and Lewis Gordon, for $5,000 cash. In 1876
Joel E. Bradley bought Gordon's interest, W;
H. Bradley selling his interest to Edward C.
In 1878 Edward C. Baldy sold his
Baldy.
interest to W. B. Baldy, and in 1883 William
He died in
B. Baldy became sole proprietor.
1893 and the paper w-as sold to John Bennett
In
and W. C. Frick, for $2,000.
April, 1895,
the paper was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by Frank C. Angle, who still continues
to publish

it.

The Medium was started in 1871 by D. H.
B. Brower as a semi-weekly, and published for
Montour from Columbia. In accomplishing a year. It was then sold to the Danville Pubthis object he did not let party lines interfere,
lishing Company, which changed the name to
and often voted with the opposing party for The Independent it had a life of only nine
:

the purpose of accomplishing the separation.
He succeeded in being elected speaker and

months.

forced the division through with great opposi-

lished for a year.

tion.

Mr. Best died Oct. 28, 1857, and for a time
his wife conducted the paper, Oscar F. Kepler
doing the editorial work. A number of prominent Democrats then bought the paper and
He coninstalled J. S. Sanders as editor.
tinued editing the paper from 1858 to 1862
and then moved to Berwick. His successor
was Thomas Chalfant, who followed in the
footsteps of Best, being an able editor and a
Air. Chalfant died in
good business man.
1899 and was succeeded by his son, Charles

William McCarty.
The Danville Record was started in 1876 by
A. P. Fowler, with D. H. B. Brower as editor.
After two years the office passed into the
hands of James Foster, Henr>' \'incent and
\'ictor A. Lotier, w^ho changed the name to
The National Record. Lotier became sole
owner in 1879 and conducted the paper until
1881, when he changed it to The Daily Record.
This publication had but a short life, soon

Chalfant,
In igo2

who

started

The Daily Sun

Rufus K. Polk bought

in 1883.

the Intelligencer

discontinued publishing the
and the Sun.
Sun. but the Intelligencer continued to exist
until 1907. The last publisher was D. A. Lutz.
F. C. Angle finally purchased The Danville
Intelligencer and discontinued its publication.
The Danfille Democrat was established in
1840 by Charles Cook. During the presidential
campaign of 1844 he published a German
paper, called the Danville Anceigcr, which promoted the cause of the National Democrats.
In 1864 Mr. Cook sold his paper to Joel S.
Bailey, who ran it a short time.

The Montour American- was founded in
^^y D. H. B. Brower, who sold it in 1839

1855
to

George

the

name

however,

.\yers, of Harrisburg, who changed
to Montour Herald. The same year,
Brower purchased it back and re-

stored the name, and conducted it until 1864,
when he sold it to Joel S. Bailey. Bailey succeeded, in the short time he held it, in combining it with the Democrat, without changing the

name.
Dr.
22

Brower repurchased the paper and

car-

The Mentor was
It

Eggert, b. H. B.

and pubwas published by Richard
Brower, John Lesher and

started in 1873

passing away.

one time the narrowest colUnited States, was first
issued May 30, 1885, in the old warehouse on
the canal near Mill street. Richard W. Eggert

The Gem.
umned paper

in the

was the editor. Eggert was a strange character
and his personality was read in the paper,
which, however, became a success, at one time
having a circulation of over 1,500. In 1903
he sold his paper to George Edward Roat, who
still publishes it in the basement of the City
Hall. This paper has always been non-political
and contains a vast amount of local news.

The Montour County Democrat was

bom

O. Green.
Sept. 23, 1895, fathered by Walter
This is a Democratic organ and some of its
articles are

very keen and penetrating.

Green takes great

interest in local affairs

Mr.
and

does not hesitate to use his paper in commendto his
ing or unfavorably criticising, according

own judgment.

The Morning News was

started in SeptemF. M. Got1897, by "Frank C. Angle.
walds, who was formerly associated with
Thomas Chalfant on the Intelligencer, became
Under this management the
editor.
the
ber,

city

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

338

paper has steadily gained in circulation.

now

It is

the only daily in Danville.

CHURCHES
The religious sentiment of Danville has always been very pronounced. From the early
days there have been churches where many
earnest and devoted people gathered for worIt has been our aim to write the history
ship.
of these churches but the surprising fact that
has developed is, that there is so little knowledge of the early history of the churches
few
among those connected therewith.
churches have had some devoted member or
in
pastor who has spent much time and labor
gathering together historical facts, and these
have helped much. Where there is little given
:

of certain churches,

it is

because

the subscribers, do promise to pay, or cause to
who is appointed colbe paid unto
lector hereof by the members of the Congregation of Mahoning, the several sums annexed
to our names, in four quarterly payments, the
first thereof on demand, and the other three
payments successively at three months each
afterwards, for the purpose of supporting the
preaching of the Gospel in this congregation.
Witness our hands this ist day of October,
1783." The blank for the collector's name was

little

has been

The different sketches are given
preserved.
about in the order of time of the organization
of the churches.

not

filled in.

do not know the number of the membership of the congregation at this time; there
were about forty subscribers to this paper.
The congregation doubtless was scattered over
a wide territory, but in those days it was a
common experience to walk eight or ten miles
Those were the days when
to attend church.
\\'e

veyed three acres and seven perches of land
in Mahoning township, Northumberland counMcty, to John Simpson, Robert Curry, Hugh
W'illiams and John Clark, trustees of the Pres-

no hardship was too great to undertake for
men and
the purpose of divine worship
women sat for an hour or more listening to
the preaching of God's word children were
brought up on such religious diet there was
no clamoring for twenty-minute sermons, and
the clocks in those days were placed on the
outside of the church that the people might
know when to go in, instead of on the inside
The family cento tell them when to go out.

byterian congregation of Mahoning. This included the land on Bloom street on which the
church afterwards stood, and the space occupied by the old graveyard, now covered by
Memorial Park.
There is no evidence of an organized con-

sus could be accurately taken in the church,
girls sat in the family pew.
Danville was laid out by Gen. Daniel
Montgomery seven years after the founding
of the Mahoning congregation the Revolutionary war had come to a close only two

Mahoning Presbyterian Church
On Sept. 8, 1775. Amos Wickersham con-

gregation until 1785.

The period which

elapsed

between the date of the deed and the latter
date was one of war and its direful conseThe Indians carried on a warfare
quences.
that drove the women and children to the proHorrible massacres are
tection of the forts.
recorded, notable

among them being

that of

So great was the
July, 1778.
danger, and so unfitted the conditions for social and family life, that Gen. William Montgomery, who had brought his family from
Chester county in 1776 and placed them in the
log house he had built for them adjoining the
in

Wyoming,

site

of the stone house he afterwards erected

(now known as the Russell home), removed
them to their former home until 1780.
Under such circumstances little religious
work could be done, and less public worship
carried on but the Indians could not kill the
religious desire of the heart, nor drive out the
longing for public meeting with the Lord and
Master.
So we find a paper circulated in
"We.
1785, bearing the following heading:
:

;

and the boys and

;

years before that congregation was organized.
There was no regular pastor in those days, the
services being held as often as it was possible
The
to find some one to conduct them.
preacher of those days never died from nervous prostration and never knew what a
vacation was. Some idea of his work may be
gathered from the instructions given Rev.
Isaac Grier by the Assembly of 1792, which
authorized him to "missionate" in this region:

"He is to begin at Northumberland, in the
State of Pennsylvania, and proceed from
thence up the West Branch of the river as far
as the settlements extend then traverse the
country until he arrives at Tioga Point thence
up the Chemung to the Cayuga lake, or wherever he may fall into the route of the other
In fulfilling his duty as a mismissionaries.
sionary he is to preach the Gospel in season
;

and out of season, and be diligent in catechizing and instructing the youth in the general
principles of religion wherever he goes," etc.
In the spring of 1786 two appointments were

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
made

Two

339

Mahoning, Mr. Wilson to preach the
second Sabbath in June, and Mr. Linn the
In 1790 Rev. John
third Sabbath in August.
Bryson was called to the neighboring churches
of Chillisquaque and Warrior Run, and from

were held on the Sabbath, with
an intermission of an hour. At the first communion in the old church, June 29, 1800,
twenty-two new members were added to the

he preached occasionally at Mahoning
until a pastor was secured.
The Presbytery of Huntingdon was formed
out of the northern portion of the Presbytery
From this date until the
of Carlisle in 1794.

membership was

organization of the Presbytery of Northumberland, seventeen years later, the Mahoning

num." The whole salary promised by the
two churches was $466.66, one half of which

converted into a still-house, operated by a
Presbyterian elder. But let it be recorded in
justice to those old days, that this ancient
house of God was rescued from the devil; the
still-house was turned into a blacksmith shop,
occupied by a saintly smith, who often used
it again as a
place of prayer.
In the spring of 1831 Robert Dunlap, a
graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary,
was called as assistant pastor, being ordained
and installed on June 14th. The following
spring Rev. Mr. Patterson resigned from
Mahoning, but continued as pastor of Derry

wis paid by each church.
Rev. J. B. Patterson was of Scotch-Irish
He was born in Lancaster county in

the

for

this date

Church appears on its
John Boyd Patterson,
Presbytery of

New

rolls.

Late

licentiate

1798
the

Castle, visited the churches

of Derry and Mahoning.
This visit resulted
in a call to him from these churches to be
their pastor, which he accepted.
On an old
church register we find this note: "Sept. 6,
1799.

at Mahoning and took lodging
Montgomery at $66.67 per an-

Arrived

with General

services

In 1807 the
1830 it was 201.
In 1826 the old log house of worship was
taken down and a substantial brick church
thirty-seven already recognized.
100,

and

The old building was
upon its site.
removed to a site on the Jersey town road and
built

Church

until his death.

May

8, 1843.

He was

buried in the old graveyard in Danville, and
congregation of Mahoning erected an
1773, graduated at the University of Pennsyl- appropriate monument over his grave, as a
vania, and studied theology under Rev. N. \V. token of their affectionate remembrance. The
Sample, of Strasburg. He was pastor of this Presbytery entered a resolution upon the
church from 1799 to 1832.
minutes of that year in which Mr. Patterson
Just when the old log church was built is not was described as "a man of good talents and
It was constructed from
definitely known.
acquirements, a sound and pious preacher, a
hewn timbers and was used by the congrega- judicious counselor, cautious in forming intion as a place of worship for nearly forty Itimacies, but firm in his
friendship, almost
It was enlarged from time to time, as
years.
proverbially prudent, mild in manners, and
occasion demanded, until the structure as a one who scarcely ever, if at all, had an
whole formed a letter T. At first the seats enemy."
were rough slabs, resting upon blocks or stones,
After the resignation of Mr. Patterson, Rev.
Robert Dunlap became the pastor, serving for
yet no one died of a broken back therefrom.
Rev. R. L. Stewart, D. D., in his history of almost six years.
On Feb. 8, 1837, he ac-Mahoning, says of this old church
cepted a call to the Second Presbyterian
The highest tribute
"Just below the high pulpit was a platform Church of Pittsburgh.
with a breastwork in front, in which stood the that could be paid was shown to this beloved
or
clerks
sometimes
called
in
that
'foreseven
precentors
pastor
years after he removed
who 'lined out' the verses of the to Pittsburgh the Mahoning Church sent him
singers'
Psalm and 'raised the tune' for the congrega- a unanimous call to return a novel and untion.
In the central aisle was an open hearth usual proceeding in those
This call
days.
or prepared space, where usually, in cold staggered this faithful man of God, but he
Foot- felt compelled to decline it.
weather, a charcoal fire was kindled.
warmers were carried to the church also for
Rev. David M. Halliday, D. D., was called
the women and children. These were the only as pastor Feb. 12,
1838, and entered upon his
used
for
the
comfort
of
the
worlabors
the same month.
Dr. Halliday's minappliances
in
winter
until
the
was
when
marked
shippers
year 1817,
istry
by large additions to the
two stoves were purchased and set up. In the church.
In the five years and five months
summer boys approaching manhood came to that he was pastor 162 members were added
church in their bare feet, while their staid to the congregation, the
membership at the
fathers frequently appeared in hunting jackets close of his pastorate
numbering 270. During
or in their shirt sleeves."
Dr. Halliday's ministry the congregation was
descent.

—

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

340

incorporated under the title of the "Mahoning
The
English Congregation."
Presbyterian
first board of trustees under this incorporation
consisted of these nine men William Donald:

John Cooper, Paul Leidy, Alexander
Montgomery, William H. Magill, Samuel
Yorks, John C. Grier, Jacob Hibler, Michael

son,

C. Grier.

turing center.
Dr. Yeomans was born in Hinsdale, Mass.,
Jan. 7, 1800. He was a graduate of Williams
College and of Andover Theological Seminary.
In the spring of 1841 he accepted the presidency of Lafayette College, from which position he came to the Mahoning Church.
Dr.
Yeomans was one of the leading Presbyters
In i860, while pastor of
of his generation.
the Mahoning Church, he was elected moderaHe was a
tor of the General Assembly.
scholar of rare attainments and an authority
on ecclesiastical law. a preacher whose ser-

mons impressed, and who was

listened to with

interest.

To keep

pace with the growing community
at this time there arose the
urgent necessity for the erection of a more
commodious church edifice. The church was

and congregation

beyond the growing portion of the
town and the weekly prayer meetings were
located

held in the southern part of the town, part of
the time in the Academy building, and then

storeroom

up for that purpose, on
the present site of the Opera House later in
what was called the "lecture room," on Ferry
in a

fitted

;

street, opposite the

present Friendship engine
After careful consideration and deliberation the congregation voted to abandon
the old church and remove to the southeast
corner of Mahoning and Ferry streets, and
house.

new building was
the 23d of June. 1854, the
congregation abandoned the old site and commenced to worship in the new building, which
was dedicated Nov. 16, 1854, the sermon being
in

the spring of

commenced.

had many happy memories consequently, after
;

in the new edifice for about a
movement was made to organize a new
church, to go back to live in the old home. The

worshipping

Halliday severed his connection Oct.
4, 1843, on account of ill health, and after a
vacancy of nearly two years a unanimous call
was extended to Rev. John W. Yeomans,
D. D., who accepted and was installed Jan.
II, 1846.
During the ministry of Dr. Yeomans the church increased steadily in membership, until in the year 1850 it reported a
maximum of 325 communicants. This period
was one of prosperity to the town also, which,
owing to the development of the iron industry,
grew from a quiet village to a busy manufacDr.

keen

This change of location was the act of the
congregation, and was felt by them to be the
best solution of the problems that confronted
the church. Still there was a large and respectable minority from the north side of the town
who regretted giving up the old site, which

1853 the

preached by Rev. \\'illiam Plummer, D.
an audience that filled the house.

D., to

year, a

record of the Presbytery is as follows:
"Certain papers were presented to the Presbytery by a committee appointed by a portion
of the members of the church and congregation of Mahoning, praying for the organization
of a second Presbyterian church in that place,
to be called the Mahoning Presbyterian English Congregation, North."
The members of the committee were heard
on the subject. In the afternoon session of the
same day the petition was granted, and a
official

committee appointed to organize a congrega-

named as designated in this paper.
interesting account of the proceedings of

tion to be

committee is given in a numDanville Intelligencer, published

this Presbyterial

ber of

Nov.

the

"At

1855

a late meeting of the

Northumberland

Presbytery Rev. Isaac Grier and Rev. D. J.
Waller were appointed a committee to organize
a new Presbyterian congregation in Danville,
in conformity to a petition presented, asking
for said organization. This organization took
place in the old Presbyterian church building
on Wednesday last (Aug. 31), when there was
an appropriate sermon delivered by the Rev.
Isaac Grier.
Samuel Yorks, Sr., Michael C.
Grier, Benjamin McMahon, David Blue and
H. D. Sechler were elected elders of the new
North Mahoning Presbyterian church. We
are pleased to observe that the new organization has been made without the slightest
opposition from the members of the Mahoning
Presbyterian English congregation, who now
worship in the new church building erected in
Now let each
1853, ''"d finished last year.
congregation endeavor to excel in good

works."
Dr. Yeomans continued to minister to the
old congregation until 1863. His ministry was
Its stamp is still
greatly blessed by God.
visible on lives unborn at his death, verifying
the words given in the vision to John on
Patmos "Write, blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord from henceforth
yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours
and their works do follow them."
Dr. Yeomans died June 22, 1863.
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

341

After a vacancy of nearly two years, Rev.
Ijams was chosen pastor. He was
ordained and installed May 2, 1865.
Great
spiritual blessings were enjoyed by the church
the
brief
of
this
beloved
during
ministry

building was greatly improved and enlarged.
In 1882 Thomas Beaver, an honored member
of the church who always delighted in doing
large and generous things for it, presented to
the congregation a large Hook & Hastings pipe

In the two and a half years of his
brother.
pastorate ninety-two persons united with the
church.
This pastoral relation was dissolved
Sept. 17, 1867.
The next pastor was Rev. Alexander B.
Jack, a man of wonderful pulpit power, a
poetic genius, and of warm, sympathetic heart.
A Scotchman with all the brilliancy and some
of the weaknesses of his race, Mr. Jack's
power as a preacher may best be described
in the words of Dr. McCosh, of Princeton,
uttered after hearing him for the first time:
"I never heard a man that took me back to
the days of the Covenanters as he did."
Mr. Jack commenced his labors in January,

organ, placed in an annex behind the pulpit
built for its reception.
Changes and additions
were also made to the Sunday school rooms,
which added much to the church's ability to
carry on an aggressive work. In 1889, through
the generosity of Thomas Beaver and Mrs.
.\bigail A. Geisinger, most extensive improvements were inaugurated by which the whole
interior of the audience chamber was changed,
the total cost being about thirteen thousand

U'illiani E.

1869, and served

until

June 28, 1874. During
his pastorate the present manse, opposite the
church on Mahoning street, was built, at a
cost of $10,000; and in that manse was born
his son, Robert Bonner Jack, at this writing
the much beloved pastor of the First Presbyterian

Church of Hazleton,

father ministered
Danville.

Pa., to

which

his

immediately after leaving

Mr. Jack was succeeded by Rev. Thomas R.

who commenced

his labors July 4,
year of Mr. Beeber's
pastorate fifty-three persons united with the
church. His whole term was marked by earnest,
devoted and self-sacrificing labor on his part.
When he began his labors the session consisted
of A. G. \'oris, Patterson Johnson and Josiah
Reed. Mr. Beeber advised an increase in the
members of the session, and Dr. S. S. Schultz,

Beeber.
1875.

Dr.

During the

first

James Oglesby and H. M. Hinckley were

elected to serve as ruling elders, in addition
to the three first mentioned.
Mr. Beeber was
called to the

Second Church of Scranton, and

closed his labors at

On
was

Oct.

Mahoning April 20, 1880.
1880, Rev. Robert Laird Stewart

called as pastor.

returned from a long

Mr. Stewart had just
the Holy Land,

visit to

and brought to his work not only a ripe experience in pastoral work, but all the benefits
and practical knowledge that came from

—those

holy

hills,

Over whose acres walked those blessed feet.
Which nineteen hundred years ago were nailed,
For our transgressions, on the bitter cross.

Under Mr. Stewart's pastorate not only was
the church built

spiritually, but the

church

These were completed

dollars.

1890 and

the church opened again on April 13th of that
year with a sermon by Rev. Robert F. Sample,

D. D., of New York City, and a most interesting talk by Sheldon Jackson, that wonderful
home missionary to our western land, and

later to our north country.
Rev. Mr. Stewart
terminated his ministry in 1890 and accepted
a professorship in Lincoln LTniversity.
In 1891 Rev. \Mlliam I. Steans began a

pastorate that did much to advance the interests of the church.
bright and gifted
preacher, he had a jovial and winning way
that took with the masses.
It seems as if the
walls of this Zion must still reverberate the
laughter and optimism of this servant of God.
During his pastorate four new members were
added to the session, David Shelhart, Reuben

I'..

X'oris,

Shultz.

Samuel Bailey and Howard B.
was during the ministry of Mr.
the East End Mission was estab-

Steans that
lished in the town.
The history of this mission will be found in a separate article. Mr.
-Steans resigned his charge in
1902 and soon
after accepted a call to the

Church of Westfield, N.
he

J.,

Presbyterian
at this time

where

is still

ministering.
Rev. James E. Hutchison began his ministry
in the Mahoning Church in
1903.
Many accessions were made to the church during his
and
three
additional
elders were
pastorate,
elected, namely: Dr. J. E. Robbins, John M.
Sechler and J. E. Moore.
Mr. Hutchison

resigned in 1907 and Rev. James Wollaston
Kirk. D. D., the present pastor, entered upon
his ministry the same year.
During Dr. Kirk's pastorate the church
The
property has been much improved.
church building and the manse have been reelectric
has
been
introduced
into
painted,
light
both buildings, and the auditorium and
Sunday
school rooms have been handsomely repainted
and decorated. Mrs. Abigail A. Geisinger

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

342

contributed handsomely towards defraying the
expenses of this work. The church was reopened for public worship Oct. 12, 1913. the
rededicatory address being delivered by Rev.
Robert Bonner Jack, of Hazleton.
The present elders of the church are: David
Shelhart, Howard B. Shultz, Dr. J. E. Robbins, J. E. Moore and H. M. Hinckley. Those
who have served as elders from the organization of the church, not including the present
session, are William Montgomery, Sr., Jacob
Gearhart, John Montgomery. William ^lont:

Paul Adams, John Emmett, Hugh
Caldwell, Daniel Montgomery, James Oglesby,
M. D., James Donaldson, Richard Matchin,
Samuel Yorks, Sr., Michael C. Grier, Alexander Montgomery, John Bowyer, Jacob
Shultz. Archibald G. Voris, Paul Leidy,
Josiah Reed, Patterson Johnson, Benjamin W.
Pratt, S. S. Schuhz, M. D., Samuel Bailey,

gomery,

Jr.,

Horace G. Furman, Reuben B. Voris, John
M. Sechler.
The Mahoning Church has sent into the
ministry the following sons Rev. W. B. Montgomery, Rev. Samuel Montgomery, Rev. John
Montgomery, Rev. Edward D. Yeomans, D.
:

Rev. Isaac A. Cornelison, D. D., Rev.
Alfred Yeomans, D. D., Rev. John Boyd
Grier, D. D., Rev. George Yan Alen, Rev.
James C. Russell, D. D., Rev. Robert Bonner
Jack, Rev. John Essington Miles, Rev. Raymond H. Wilson, Rev. John Patterson Lundv,
D. D.
D.,

St.

Paul Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist system

of pastoral succession
not conducive to accurate historical records.
It is generally known that the Methodist was
the second religious organization in Danville,
but there seems to be no accurate record of
the exact time of its formation.
The first
appointmeiU of a minister to the congregation
here by the conference was made in 1791.
The settlement here was then included in
the Xorthumberland circuit, which extended
from Xorthumberland town up the North
Branch of the Susquehanna to the Wyoming
valley, and up the West Branch to Great
Island.
Two or three ministers only supplied this vast territory, which included what
are now the charges of Williamsport, NewMilton,
Northumberland,
berry,
Muncy,
Mifflinburg, Lewisburg. Catawissa, Bloomsburg, Berwick, Orangeville, Bloomingdale,
Sunbury and portions of Center county. The
territory covered some three hundred miles
and the circuit rider made it in about six
is

Those were days of strenuous work.
There was not much time for study, e.xcept
that of nature, and no time for meditation
and communion, except on horseback. The
preacher's only vacation was a change of
scenery and congregations. Those were days
of foundation work, and how well that work
was done is shown by the Methodist spires
weeks.

all over that great stretch of
territory now
point to heaven, like so many monuments to
the faithfulness and untiring energy of the

that

formative circuit rider.

The appointments of 1791 name Richard
Parrott and Lewis Browning as the supplies
for this large circuit.
complete list of the
names of the pastors who supplied the circuit
in which Danville was included from 1
791 to
1845 will be found in the chapter on "Religious
Denominations" in the fore part of this
volume, and will not be repeated here.
There was no church building in those early
days, and public worship was held in the homes
or other buildings of the devoted members.
quote from a historical sermon preached
by Rev. Hiles C. Pardoe, Dec. 14, 1884:
"The preaching place was first the dwelling
house of Judge Jacob Gearhart afterwards
the barn, and then the meeting-house erected
in 1828.
\Vho composed that class we cannot
Mr. Gearhart was fifty years of age
say.
when Bishop Asbury stopped there, an exhorter, and intelligent and grand old-fashioned
Methodist taking some of his Presbyterian
friends and going out into the new settlements
to hold revival meetings.
His wife was also
a member, and their home was long the itinerrants' lodge. Their son John was a prominent
and exemplary member for fifty years; quiet,

;

unobtrusive and capable his last words were.
'I am passing over Jordan.'
His wife, 'Aunt
Sophia,' was converted under the ministry
of Benjamin Paddock, and united with the
;

church at fourteen, and for sixty-nine years
by lips and life told the story of Jesus' love.

*
*
*
The early organization at Gearhart's
accounts for the lateness of the organization at
Danville. This had been a village since 1776,
the Methodists worshipping across the river.
In 1812 the Shamokin Circuit was formed,
which took in the appointments west of the
Susquehanna. The first class ever formed in
Danville was in 181 5, and consisted of William
Hartman, Mary Hartman, George Lott and
wife, Samuel Steele, and Susannah Donaldson.
It was a feeble beginning, but splendid
material out of which to form a society. These

persons threw open their homes for prayer
and class meetings, and made the place of the

j
'

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Lord's feet glorious with songs and testiOthers soon united with them, and
monies.
the society increased in numbers."
Up to 1804 Danville and the circuit in which
was placed belonged to the Philadelphia
it
In that year a transfer of the
Conference.
entire district

was made

Three years

ference.

to the

Baltimore Con-

later the

district

was

In
reassigned to the Philadelphia Conference.
1810 it was included in the Genesee Conferfor ten
ence, with which it was associated
In 1820 it was again assigned to the

years.

Baltimore Conference.

In 1846 Danville was

erected into a station, and from that time it
received the ministrations of its own pastors.
Aiter worshipping for a number of years in

then occupied
private homes the congregation
an old schoolhouse on Church street called
The Old Fort, situated between the old stone
mill

and Mahoning

sions the
services.

street.

special occa-

courthouse was used for religious
Bishop Asbury preached there at

one time, as did also the famous Lorenzo
Dow at another. The latter was a great occasion,

hear this gifted
the afternoon in the

and people crowded

He preached in
man.
courthouse and in the evening in the Union
He also
church.
the Episcopal)
(later
preached twice the following day.
In 1839 a brick church was erected, the
committee consisting of Lyman
building
B.
Sholes, William Hartman and George
Brown. This church was built on a lot conto the trusveyed by Gen. Daniel Montgomery

343

In 1837 John Patton and Charles Sholes be-

came

class leaders.

In 1839 Samuel Alexander was licensed to
exhort and George W. Forrest and Merritt
Hyatt became class leaders. In 1840 the conIn 1841 there
gregation was incorporated.

were

five

classes,

led by

William Hartman,

Thomas Woods, Edward Finney, George D.
Leib and George

This same year

Forrest.

H. Torrence was licensed

Irvin

in April, 1842, licensed to

to exhort,

and

preach.

were seven church classes, led
by Edward Finney, Mr. Patton, Charles
Sholes, Thomas Woods, G. W. Griffith, G. W.
B. Clark and Samuel Coulston. These classes
were held in the dwelling houses of Henry
Harris, William Deshay, William Hartman,
Ellis Hughes and Thomas Woods.
Rev. John
Guyer was pastor at this time.
In 1847 R^^'- P- B. Reese was pastor, and
during his term the subject of building a new
church was agitated. There was a diversity
of sentiment, but a vote taken in writing from
In 1846 there

each

member decided

favor of a

new

build-

The building coming by a large majority.
mittee appointed consisted of Messrs. Reese,
J. T. Heath, Thomas Woods, George B. Brown
and Ellis Hughes, and they awarded the contract to

Anthony Whitman, March

11,

1848,

The cornerstone of this new
$5,400.
church, at the corner of Mahoning and Pine
streets, was laid July 22, 1848, by the Alnemoloton Lodge of Masons; two lodges of Odd
Fellows, the Sons of Temperance, Order of
for

the present site of the high school buildOn Nov. 10, 1839, this church was dedicated, Rev.
John Miller, presiding elder,
preaching the sermon.

United

The first quarterly meeting was held in Jerseytown May 21, 1836, the representatives
from Danville being: Ellis Hughes, recording
William Hartman, and Lyman
steward
Sholes. Danville had three classes at this time,

no organ. Henry Long and John Simmons
were officially requested to assist John Patton

by William Hartman, Ellis Hughes and
Sholes. A single page of Ellis Hughes'
Wilclass book contains the following names
lamina M. Hughes, Mary Hartman, Francis
Ruch, Frances Ruch, William Whitaker and
wife, Nancy Huston, William Morrison, David
Frees and wife, Ann Tomison, Sarah England,

the

tees,

ing.

;

led

Lyman

Mary
Isaac

Ann D. Hughes,
Ammerman, Charles

Best,

Ellen Hughes,
Sholes,
Mary

Primer, Joseph Hiles, Isaac Ranck. Catherine
Evans, Mary Linn, Susannah Phillips, James
Frieze, Samuel Schrock, Samuel Bowman,
Mary Miller, Merritt and Mary Hyatt. Mary
Rush, Mary Cornelison and George B. Brown.

American

Mechanics

and

Danville

Beneficial Society participating.
In this year of 1848 a new charter was obtained.
At this time there was no choir and

in "raising the tunes."

The new

trustees for 1849

were

R. Gear-

Hartman and James Cousart. In
same year Rev. Thomas Mitchell was pasand that year the new church was com-

hart, D. C.
tor,

pleted and dedicated. Rev. Jesse T. Peck, president of Dickinson Seminary, preaching the
sermon.
Mr. Mitchell remained until 1851,
and during his pastorate a glorious revival took

Then followed Rev. Joseph France,
pastor from 185 1 to 1852, during whose term
the bell was installed which still rings out the
call to worship.
Then came as pastors Revs.
place.

1853-54; Thomas M. Reese,
1855-56: William Wilson, 1857-58; and William Harden, 1858-59. Revivals of great interest occurred during the ministry of each of

James Brads,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

344

these pastors. During the term of Rev. Joseph
France, April 27, 185 1, while the Presiding
Elder was offering prayer, preparatory to
administering the Lord's Supper, the church
was struck by lightning, one woman being
killed.

In 185 Joseph Flanagan, Joseph Hartman
and Joseph Lorimer were appointed class leaders.
Succeeding Rev. William Harden came
Revs. P.. B. Hamlin, 1860-61 J. H. C. Dosh,
1

;

A. M. Barnitz, 1864-65. On March
1865, the East Baltimore Conference held
session in this church. Bishop Baker presid-

1862-63
I,

its

ing.

There was much excitement

at this

meet-

ing of conference. The trustees at the request
of the conference threw "Old Glory'' to the
wind from the belfry, and festooned the vestibule with flags. On the reading of a dispatch
announcing the defeat and capture of General
Early the enthusiasm burst forth in the singing
of the doxology, "Praise God, from whom all
blessings flow."
In 1866 Rev. J. McKendree Reiley, D. D.,
was pastor, and in 1867 Dr. Reiley and Rev.
J. H. McCord ministered to the congregation.

long continued revival in North Danville,
under the leadership of Rev. Mr. McCord, resulted in a large ingathering and the foundation, afterwards, of Trinity Methodist Church.
During this period the church building was

thoroughly repaired.
Rev. Francis Hodgson, D. D., succeeded Dr.
Reiley and ministered to the congregation
from 1868 to 1 87 1. On March 10, 1869, the
Central Pennsylvania Conference met in this
DistinScott
church.
presiding.
Bishop
guished visitors to this conference were Dr.
R. L. Dushiell, Chaplain C. C. McCabe and
William L. Harris. In i86g the name of St.
Paul was given to the church.
In 1870 Rev. Samuel Creighton began a pastorate destined to win the respect, reverence
and love of an appreciative congregation. He
ministered until 1873, with the assistance of
Rev. A. S. Bowman in 1872.
Rev. Findley B. Riddle became the pastor in
1874 and served through 1875. Then followed
Revs. William A. Houck, 1876-78: T. Max
Lantz, 1879-81 H. C. Pardoe, 1882-84.
;

M. Shoop was made

president of the
1874, and held the posiThe official board in
tion for many years.
1884 was as follows: Thomas Wards, G. M.
Shoop, Thomas Curry, Joseph Hartman, C.
G.

board of trustees

W. Y. Cruikshank, Jacob Ward and lohn R.
Rote.
Rev. Richard llinkel became pastor in 1885
and served until 1887. In 1888 Rev. Findley
B. Riddle returned, and served until 1890.
Rev. Ezra Yocum, D. D., became pastor in
1891 he was followed in 1892 by Rev. J. B.
Shaver, who remained until 1895 and he in
turn was succeeded by Rev. George D. Penepacker, who impressed the whole community
:

;

with his power as a preacher.
In 1899 Rev. B. F. Dimmick, D. D., became
pastor. He at once started most extensive reThe old brick building,
pairs to the church.

which had long stood some distance from the
line, with a yard around it, was made
to assume modern shape and architectural pro-

building

portions, at a cost of about $14,000.
large
stone tower and a beautiful stone front were
erected, bringing the building out to the pave-

ment, and with stately entrances and beautiful
stained glass windows, giving the church a
commanding appearance, and making it one of
the most beautiful and complete houses of
worship in the Conference.
After Dr. Dimmick came Rev. H. C. Harmon, who served as pastor from 1901 to 1903.
After Mr. Harmon, Rev. S. B. Evans ministered to the congregation during 1904 and
1905. In 1906-07 Rev. M. K. Foster, a saintly
man of the old school, watched over this flock
with fatherly care. In 1908 Rev. William Brill
was pastor. Rev. G. .S. Womer followed Mr.
Rev, Joshua
Brill, and ministered in 1909-10.
K. Lloyd became pastor in 191 1 and served
through 1912. He made many friends in the

community, who were shocked in
1914, to hear of his sudden death.

this

year,

In 1913 the present pastor, Rev. E. H. Witman, began his work, and is much respected
for his earnest consecration and fidelity to
duty.

There is no better way of closing this sketch
than with the words of Rev. H. C. Pardoe, in
sermon:
do not throw an undue halo about the
nor
worship at the shrine of the olden
past,

his historical

"We

time; only give the past its meed of praise;
and make it the stepping stone to something
higher and better."

Laubach, G. P. Raidabaugh, Charles Limberger, Robert H. Morris, Jacob Harris, W.
L. Antrim, Dr. F. Harpel, Joseph Flanagan,

Pine Street Lutheran Church

The

first

authentic record of this church

goes back to about 1820. There was a Lutheran Church in what is now Mahoning township about which there are some scraps of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
but

history,

work.

showing a continuous
Shelhart, whether minister

nothing

One named

or not is not disclosed, visited this region in
There
the interest of the Lutheran Church.
seems to have been some sort of organization
as
few
as
these
among
early
1803, and
people
Rev. Johann Paul Frederick Kramer seems to

have been a pastor among them.
In 1810 Rev. J. F. Engel took charge of the
work, and continued until 181 6. In 1820 the
nucleus of what is now the Pine Street Lutheran congregation was gathered, nourished
and developed by Rev. Peter Kistler, who at
the time was pastor of nearly all the Lutheran
churches in Columbia county and the northwestern part of Northumberland county. Rev.
After his
Mr. Kistler labored until 1825.
labors ceased a movement was made to build
a union church, joined in by several congregations, prominent among which were the Lutheran and the Protestant Episcopal denominations.
This church was completed Oct. 2^.

345

the pastor, as well as the congregation, felt
the need of a permanent church home, a meeting was called, and the following committee
was appointed to superintend the building operations:
John Reynolds, William G. Miller,

Thomas

Ellis,

Samuel Gulick and William

Sechler.

The church was erected, and is the present
brick home of St. John's Lutheran
congregation on East Market street. It was dedicated
under the name of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Danville, in January, 1845. The
ministers officiating were Revs. Elias Swartz,

William J. Eyer and Jacob Smith. Rev. Mr.
Swartz served the congregation until 1845,

when he accepted

a call to Manchester,

The congregation was then connected

discontinued, and Rev.

In 1830 Rev. Jeremiah Shindel of Bloomsburg began to fill regular appointments with
the Lutheran congregation in the new church.
He gathered the scattered members into a
congregation and in a short time had forty

to the pastorate, entering

enrolled.

About

this

time an un-

fortunate dispute arose between the Lutheran
and the Episcopal congregations about the ocThe Episcocupancy of the new church.

As a consequence Rev. Mr. Shindel withdrew his peoto
the
where
continued
courthouse,
ple
they
for some time.
He served the congregation
for about six years, when he accepted a call
palians claimed the exclusive right.

Lehigh county.

imploring divine help and gathering anew the
congregation. God blessed these meetings and
forty or more were received into the communion of the church. After a year's work

Allen was called

upon

his labors in

This pastor served the congregation
1846.
until 1848, when he accepted a call to
Sunbury
and Northumberland. His successor was Rev.
P. Willard, who at the time of his call was
acting agent of the theological seminary at
The charge then in addition to
Gettyslnirg.
Danville included Shamokin and Back \'alley.
Rev. Mr. Willard entered upon his work in
February. 1850. At the time conditions were

discouraging, both temporal and spiritual. No
deed had been secured for the church lot, and
the congregation was in the condition that
could be expected after having a pulpit vacant
for some years. It was not long until the new
pastor had secured a deed for the church lot,
and at the first communion, in February, 1850,
saw the attendance of 162 communicants.
series of meetings followed the communion
season, at the end of which lOO more were
added to the church, in fulfillment of the words
of our Lord, "Ask. and it shall be given you

The congregation had no pastor for several
years, hence the members became scattered.
They then connected themselves with the Catawissa charge and Rev. William J. Eyer served
them once a month for a year and a half.
Rev. E. Aleyers then became pastor for six
months, and after that time the church was
without a pastor until 1843, when Rev. Elias seek, and ye shall
Swartz was installed. This godly man found opened unto you."
the conditions very discouraging.
He could
count only about twenty members, many of
the former members having gone to other
churches, and in other ways deserted the
church of their fathers.
The first move of
the pastor was to hold a series of meetings

witli

the Milton charge, being served by Rev. Mr.
Rauthrauft" every two weeks for a period of
nine months.
This arrangement, being very
inconvenient for both pastor and people, was

1829.

members

Mary-

land.

;

find

;

knock, and

shall be

A lot of ground was purchased at the close
of 1850, and laid out in cemetery lots. In the
beginning of 1853 ^ parsonage was purchased.
The congregation was thoroughly

united and
working in unison, and the result was what
is
under
such
conditions, "the Lord
always
added to the church daily such as should be

saved."
In 1854 the congregation outgrew this
church the conditions necessitated a move;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

346

nient to erect a more commodious house of
resolution passed the congregaworship.
tion to erect an English Lutheran church, but
this aroused a strong opposition on the part of
the German element. The question of a suitable site also caused much division in the con-

children walk in truth."
The congregation
loved Mr. Shindel, and pastor and people labored together for the upbuilding of the
church and the cause of the Redeemer. Mr.
Shindel resigned May 7, 1906, owing to age
and infirmities, but the congregation refused

was almost equally divided
a site on the south and one on the
north side of the town, with a slight leaning
towards the north side. A lot was purchased
on the north side, but the excitement continued. It is a significant fact that the church
records contain the statement that the pastor

pastor emeritus, and
as pastor's
May 27lh. But the aged pastor
did not long remain with them, for on Aug.
4th of the same year he passed to his reward.
Rev. Mr. Walter served the congregation
with zeal and energy for three years, resigning July 12, 1909. From then until the coming of the present pastor. Rev. J. H. Musselman, services were held in the church by Rev.
D. B. Floyd.
Rev. J. H. Musselman was installed Nov. i,
1909, and has done much for the church since
his arrival in this field.
In this year of 1914
the church has been completely repainted and
remodeled, the interior being frescoed and a
number of memorial windows placed. A new

gregation, which

between

preached his farewell sermon May ii, 1856,
after a pastorate of over six years.
In Julv, 1856, the congregation, in connection with the Back \'ailey congregation, called
Rev. M. J. Stover, who entered upon the work
Sept. 28, 1856. At the first communion under
the new pastor but 115 communicants attended. The question of a new building was
again agitated, and the old feeling was again

The movement was pushed forward,
however, and on May 4, 1858, the cornerstone
of the present Pine Street Lutheran Church
was laid, and in February of 1859 the congreRev. Mr.
gation occupied the basement.
Stover resigned in i860, to take effect on the
aroused.

1st of

September.

The problem that had confronted the congregation for several years was solved, but
as is so often the case at the cost of a division,
which ultimately resulted in another Lutheran
church in Danville. After Rev. Mr. Stover
left, came Rev. E. Huber, who served but six
months, and was followed by Rev. P. P. Lane,

who remained two

During the latter's
term the church was completed and dedicated.
The next pastor was Rev. E. A. Sharrets, who
ministered two and a half years. He was followed by Rev. George M. Rhoads, who labored
with much acceptability for four years. Mr.
Rhoads married, during his pastorate, Miss
years.

Harriet Reynolds, of Danville, who at this
writing survives him.
For two years after the departure of Mr.
Rhoads Rev. Uriah Graves ministered to the
congregation. On Dec. 14, 1873, Rev. M. L.
Shindel became pastor of the church, and
served it with all the zeal, earnestness and
conscientiousness of the true disciple of Jesus
Christ which he was, until his death.
Mr.
Shindel's pastorate was long and faithful. His
seemed
to
be
his
children, and
congregation
like a loving parent he nurtured and cared for
them. He could say as the beloved John said
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my
:

to let

him

go,

Rev.

elected

made him

W. Walter

Lloyd

assistant, on

pipe organ was installed, electric lighting
adopted, and an innovation in the church fittings made, that of a hardwood floor, carpets

being dispensed wath as unsanitary. The total
cost of the work was upwards of $7,000. Sixteen years before, the furniture of the church
had been replaced, and this was allowed to
reinain, being given the necessary repairs

revarnishing.
opened in 19

The

church

completed

and
was

14.
otificers of

The

the church in 1914 are: ElWerkheiser, Charles Hauver, Ellis
A.
Raup,
McCoy. Trustees Joseph BreitLawrence, Jacob Fish,
enbaugh. Arthur

ders

—

George B. Jacobs.

Deacons

—John W. Eyerly,

Joseph Divel, Robert Farley, F. G. Schoch.
Christ's

Prior

Memorial Protestant Episeopal
Church
1828

there

was

Episcopal

Church

in this locality.
There had been occasional gatherings in the homes, and there was
public worship in the courthouse. Rev. James

for some time prior to
alternate Sunday at
At that time a movement was started to build a union church, the
Lutheran and Episcopalian congregations being the prime movers in this attempt.
They
succeeded in their efforts, and on Oct. 23,
1828, the cornerstone of the church was laid,
the completed structure being opened on Oct.

DePui of Bloomsburg

1828

officiating every
these public services.

23, 1829.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
For some time this Jjuilding was used by
the two congregations, Rev. James DePui being the rector of the Episcopal congregation
and Rev. Jeremiah Shindel the Lutheran pasThe lot upon which the church was built
tor.
was donated by Gen. Daniel i\Iontgomery, and
site of the present massive Christ's
is the
Church. The original building is said to have

some $4,000.
The union scheme did not last long. There
were some differences between the two congrecost

gations, the Episcopalians claiming the exclusive use of the building. The Lutherans finally

withdrew and worshipped

in the courthouse
church. From this
time (probably about 1835 or 1836) the building was in the exclusive possession of the
until they built their first

Episcopalians.

Rev. James DePui was rector from 1829 to
In the latter year Bishop Onderdonk
1832.
visited this ])arish and confirmed four persons.

for

The church was then without a rector
some months. Rev. Benjamin Hutchins,

rector at Bloomsburg, officiating irregularly.
In November, 1833, Bishop Onderdonk or-

dained to the ministry, in this church, Rev.
Isaac Smith.
Mr. Smith began his work as
rector of the parish Feb. 23, 1834, but remained only eight months. In January, 1834,
the first Sunday school was organized, with
six teachers and forty-nine scholars.
In 1836
the church was incorporated, the incorporators
being Peter Baldy, George A. Frick, Daniel
Pursel, Jr., Jonathan Pursel, E. F. Greenough,

David Petrikin, David
John Clayton.

Phillips,

LeGrand Ban-

croft,

Feb. i. 1835, R^^'- George C. Drake became rector of this parish, in connection with

Bloomsburg,

Sugarloaf and Jerseytown, he

agreeing to preach at Danville on alternate
Sundays in the afternoon. Mr. Drake found
Miss Agnes
only six resident communicants
Petrikin, Peter Baldy, David Phillips and wife.
:

Miss Rebecca Reynolds and Ephraim Scott.
In August, 1837, Rev. Alfred Louderback,
a deacon, took charge of this parish in connection with Sunbury, and served the
congregation at Danville until

1841.
"Upon entering
he found no font, no surplice, nor
no organ, nor leader in music, and no

his ministry

347

dition than he took

it, with the list of comnuniicants more than doubled."
In 1842, for six months. Rev. Robert M.
Mitcheson was the rector of this church and
reported ten families, one baptism, sixteen
conununicants and forty-five members of the
Sunday school, with an increasing congrega-

tion.

Rev. Milton C. Lightner, deacon, began his
ministrations in the parish Oct. i, 1842. The

church from this time seemed to start afresh
in the Lord's work.
As the result of seven
months' work that minister reported twentyeight baptisms, fifty -seven confirmed, sixtysix communicants and eighty-three in the Sun-

day school.
In May, 1844, the first lay deputies represented the parish in the Sixtieth convention.
These were Peter Baldy, Sr., Eli Trego and
Edward H. Baldy. During the year a bell
was placed in the tower, the gift of Peter
Baldy, Sr. At this time a communion service
was presented to the parish by the ladies of
St.

James' Church, Philadelphia.

In 1845 a new roof was put on the churcli
and an organ placed in the gallery. This was
said to have been the first organ ever placed
in a Danville church.
Its cost was $675.
In
184O the interior of the church was repaired
and repainted, the chancel altered, a new pulpit, altar and lectern placed therein, the pews
were reconstructed, and a new heating apparatus and lamps installed.
In 1847 there were
reported seventy-five communicants.
In 1848 Mr. Lightner resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph I. Elsegood. The

church

1850 suffered considerable loss in
the town. Mr.
Elsegood resigned in August, 185 1, and was
succeeded by Rev. Rolla O. Page on Dec. 1st
in

membership by removals from

of that year.
In 1852 the rectory was presented to the
])arish by Peter Baldy, Sr., who was so generous in his gifts and so timely in their selection.
Mr. Baldy the same year presented the
In 1853
parish the ground for a cemetery.
considerable repairs were again made, and
other improvements added, including a new
fence.

In February, 1855, Rev. Edwin N. Lightner
became the rector of the parish. This was
The congregation was very small,
the beginning of a long and blessed
ministry.
but the rector was faithful, and endeavored to
He served until 1870, for fifteen years, a
hold his little charge true to their faith. The
most
and
eventful.
Four years
period
trying
town was growing and the church began to of that time were
years of war drums and batgrow also, and when Mr. Louderback resigned tle flags fathers and sons and brothers were
in 1841 he "left the
parish in a far better con- enlisted from the homes and churches of Dan-

gown

lights."

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

348

Many were

ville.

the benedictions pronounced

over them as they departed, and earnest and
pleading were the prayers that went up to the
Father's throne in Heaven for their safety
their speedy return.
Frequently were the
church services disturbed by the ringing of
the old courthouse bell, summoning the citizens
to meet to provide ways and means to sustain
the government in its hour of trial. \\ omen

and

to make bandages and other necessaries
for the boys at the front, and children gathered with them to pick lint to stanch the blood
of the wounded.
Through all this period, with its trials and

met

and excitement, Rev.
lidwin N. Lightner stood as a beacon light,
pointing men, women and children to the path
of duty. Loyal, brave, bold and clear-headed,
he did much to guide the action and mold the
thought of the community. With no uncerits

intense

bitterness

tain tone did his pulpit proclaim the patriot's
duty and teach the Christian citizen the claims

of country and of God.
The writer takes
great pleasure in pausing a moment to bear
personal tribute to the high Christian character and exalted patriotism of this holy man
of God.
Impressions were made upon him
by the words and actions of this earnest
preacher that will last while life endures. Devoted to his church. Mr. Lightner was not
narrow or bigoted he recognized with a liberal spirit the good in every follower of Jesus
:

Christ,

and was ready

to join

hands with his

Christian brethren in all good work for God
and the community. He was a favorite in the
town, and many of all denominations listened

A sermon
to and enjoyed his preaching.
preached by him just after the assassination of
President Lincoln, when the conspirators were
being captured and tried, is well remembered.
His text was: "Though hand join in hand,
he shall not be unpunished."
The writer may be pardoned for dropping
for a moment the pen of the historian and recording his own humble opinion that the present prosperity and success of Christ Church,

in a great measure due to the deand consecrated life of Edwin N.
were the days when form
These
Lightner.
was subservient to spirit, and was but the
vehicle which conveyed to Heaven the longing desires and the consecrated thoughts of
the true child of God.

Danville,

vout

spirit

The

lay deputies to the convention of 1856

were Peter Baldy, Sr., John Turner and John
O'Conner. In 1857 the church was repaired,
within and without, at a cost of about $2,500.

During Mr. Lightner's term the salary of the
was raised from $600 to $1,200. In
1863 the church was enlarged by adding a
recess chancel, and installing a new organ,
the whole costing $4,500. A reopening service
rector

was held Dec. 13, 1863; Bishop Stevens
preached and administered communion and
confirmed twentv-two persons.
On Sept. 8, I'S/O. Rev. John Milton Peck
became rector of the

parish,

and for some

thir-

teen

Peter
years served the congregation.
Baldy, Jr., was the faithful organist, giving
of
his
time
and
means
to
the
church
liberally

and

its work, and devoting his wonderful energy to building up and maintaining a choir.
A number of important events characterized
the rectorship of Mr. Peck.
In November, 1880, Peter Baldy, Sr., died

and by his will left the sum of $5,000 to be
invested and the interest paid for the support
of the preaching of the gospel in Christ's
Church also the sum of $500 to the Sunday
school, the interest of which was to be used
:

for that work.

also left this provision, by
"T also bequeath to my

a codicil in his will:

executors the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars
to be appropriated by them for any memorial
they may see fit to erect the memory of their
parents."
At once the executors proposed to the
church corporation to erect a new church,
demolishing the old one and building on its
site.
This was agreed to, and the last services were held in the old church April 19, 1881.
The cornerstone of the new church was laid
with imposing ceremony June 24, 1881.
Between the years 1880 and 1881 Rev.
Charles F. Sweet was assistant rector, and
after him Rev. John London.
In January, 1883, Rev. George Breed was
called to the rectorship of the parish.
He
served but one year, resigning in January,
1884.
During this year the new church was
dedicated. Right Rev. Marc Antony DeWolf
Howe, bishop of the diocese, ofificiating.
In the spring of 1884 Rev. George C. Hall,
who had formerly served Shiloh Reformed
QTurch of Danville, as pastor, became rector
of this parish, and remained until 1886.
Rev. James Maxwell followed as rector, and
in the short time he labored he won the respect and confidence of a large portion of the

community. He left in 1889.
In March, 1889, Rev. William R. Mulford
was called to the rectorship, and for five years
He resigned
did faithful and earnest work.
in 1894, and the parish remained vacant for

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
over a year until Rev. Simon P. Blunt became
In
rector, holding that position until 1899.
that 3'ear Rev. Erskin Wright became rector
and served until 1902. He was followed the

same year by Rev. Edward Houghton, who
served until 1912, when he was succeeded, by
Rev.

Henry

Smart.

Mr. Smart's ministry covered less than a
He was followed by Rev. Walter C.
year.
Clapp, the present rector.
Christ ^lemorial Church

a building of

enormous and massive architecture,
native limestone of varied tints,
stone for the traceried windows.

built of

with Ohio

The

build-

ing is cruciform in plan and occupies almost
It contains
the entire plot of 100 square feet.
a nave, aisles, transepts, chancel and space

for clergy, choristers and organ.
A massive
tower rises from the intersection of the nave
and transept, supported on immense piers, and
surmounted by a pyramidal spire, at the base

349

church on Bloom street and build on the new
corner of Mahoning and Ferry streets,
was quite a large minority who were
opposed to the change, but who respected the
views of the majority and went with them to
the new church.
But the congregation had
worshipped a little less than a year in the new
church when the homesick feeling of this
minority grew so acute that a movement was
made to organize a new church to go back and
occupy the old home. Consequently, at a meeting of the Presbytery held in Lock Haven on
Oct. 2, 1855, the following action was taken:
"Certain papers were presented to Presbytery by a committee appointed by a portion of
the memliers of the church and congregation
of Mahoning, praying for the organization of
a second Presbyterian church in that place,
to be called the English Mahoning Presbyterian Congregation, North."
The prayer of
site,

there

this petition

was granted.

which are the dormers bearing the clock
Thus the "Mahoning Presbyterian English
faces.
An octagonal turret gives access by Congregation, North," was organized. The
stairways to the ringing chamber of the name was in 1864 changed to the Grove Preschimes. The total height of the tower is 150 byterian Church, and as such it appears on the
feet.
The nave and transepts will accommo- church records.
date about 600 persons.
After the formation of the new church the
The church measures 100 feet from east to congregation renovated the old building in
west, and very nearly the same across the the grove, which was reopened for divine servThe first pastor was Rev.
transepts from north to south. The nave and ice Jan. 2, 1856.
aisles are 44 feet in width, the transepts 30
C. J. Collins, who was ordained and installed
Room is allowed Dec. 31, 1856. Mr. Collins was a ripe scholar
feet, the sanctuary 26 feet.
in the choir for about forty singers and twelve
and an eloquent preacher. He ministered durof the clergy.
ing a period that tried men's souls the time
The style of the church is English-Gothic when the question of htmian slavery divided
of the fourteenth century.
There are no homes and churches a time when the dark
wooden window frames, the glass being leaded clouds of civil war overshadowed almost every
in the stonework of the jambs.
The east win- community and loyalty to country and to
dow is of tracery and contains a representa- flag was the condition by which men were
tion of the scene of the crucifi.xion in the cen- judged.
Mr. Collins was patriotic to the last
ter, with the annunciation and the resurrection
drop of blood, and his sermons were characon either side. The great rose window on the terized by loyalty and adherence to the flag.
west end contains a figure of the Lord, sur- As an illustration of the intense feeling at the
rounded by the four evangelists and the four time, the writer well remembers, as a boy,
major prophets. The other windows are of listening to a sermon preached in the early
ornamental stained glass.
si.xties in the old brick church in the grove by
The internal efifect of the edifice is solemn Rev. Thomas Hunt, familiarly called "Pappy"
and churchly the exterior forms a picturesque Hunt, a noted Presbyterian minister and great
group, massing around the central tower, temperance lecturer, who in the midst of a
which gives the keynote to the whole compo- sermon on "Predestination" exclaimed: "My
sition, and from its situation and elevation
friends, I would sooner go to heaven riding
forms a prominent landmark of the town.
on a rail than stand "Jimmy' Buchanan's
of

—

;

Grove Presbyterian Church

When the congregation of the Mahoning
Presbyterian Church voted to abandon the old

chances of getting there."
Mr. Collins resigned in 1865, and was succeeded in 1866 by Rev. J. Gordon Carnachan,
D. D. Dr. Carnachan will long be remembered
for his wonderful ability

and

his strength as

350

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

He resigned in i86g and accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of
Meadville, Pennsylvania.
In 1869 Rev. R. H. \'anPelt became the
pastor, and served the congregation for five
years. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition,
but an earnest and devoted pastor, who did
a sermonizer.

much

Durto build up the church spiritually.
ing his ministry, in 1873, the present beautiful
stone church was erected on the site of the
old brick building. The necessities of the congregation compelled this, and at a cost of
some $60,000 this house of worship was
erected, designed for the spiritual activities
of generations to follow.
Rev. Mr. VanPelt
resigned his charge before the completion of
the new church.
Rev. William A. McAtee, D. D., succeeded
The following year the new church
was dedicated, and has been a source of great
joy and power to the congregation. Dr. McAtee served this congregation until 1879, and
fed it with the strong meat of the gospel, not,
however, withholding the milk from the weak
in 1874.

ones.

Dr. McAtee resigned in 1879. and in 1880
was succeeded by Rev. John Boyd Grier,
D. D., a worthy son of the old church and the

youngest son of M. C. Grier, an elder in both
the old and the new churches. Dr. Grier was
a scholar of rare ability and a preacher of
He labored until 1883, and was
succeeded the same year by Rev. J. M. Si-

much power.
monton.

a call to the Third Presbyterian
Church of Williamsport, where he still labors.
In 1892 Rev. William A. McAtee, D. D.,

accepted

returned to the pastorate of the church and
for ten years again endeared himself in the
hearts of a loving people.
Dr. McAtee was
every inch a man; on all questions of public
interest he always took a stand, and everyone
knew where to find him. He took a lively
interest in everything pertaining to the public
welfare, and was always a safe and correct
Strict, he was always charitable;
he was always kind learned, he was
always humble looked up to in the community, he was always affable. He died suddenly in 1902 in a New York hospital, following an operation. His death was a great

adviser.

positive,

;

surprise to the community, and his loss was

deeplv felt.
In '1903 Rev. W. C. McCormack. Ph. D.,
was chosen pastor and entered upon his work.
He was an enterprising preacher and an industrious student, and did faithful work in
the church.
During his pastorate the church
was again remodeled. This artistic house of
stands
in the midst of a beautiful
worship
grove, and house and grove have always been
objects of the greatest care on the part of the
congregation, who are justly proud of their
temple and its history. No pains and no expense have been spared to preserve and beautify and adorn this house of God.
Dr. McCormack resigned in 1910, and Sept.
1st of the same year Rev. W. K. McKinney,
Ph. D., the present pastor, entered upon his
work, being installed Nov. 10. Dr. McKinney has taken the Master's command literally, and has gone out to gather in the outside
world. His work among men has been notable, and the large class of workingmen he has

Rev. Mr. Simonton was a minister strong
and decided in his views earnest and conscientious in his work, kind, gentle and sympathetic in his manner with a faith that enabled him to carry on his work despite domestic
afflictions and severe trials.
He resigned in
1888, after a pastorate of five years, and his gathered around him testify to God's faithfuldeparture from the community was regretted ness in fulfilling His promises.
A large and melodious pipe organ was dediby a large circle of friends. The same year
Rev. Elliott C. Armstrong was called and cated April 26, 1914, by Professor Wallace,
of Reading, who gave two recitals on the Monentered upon the work.
its dedication.
Mr. Armstrong was a preacher who drew day following
The present session of the church is as follarge congregations, and by his scholarship and lows
Rev. W. J. McKinney, Ph.D., moderoratorical power soon ranked high in the Presator: Dr. J. H. Sandel, clerk; Robert J. Pegg,
His work in the Grove Church was William E.
bytery.
Flick, Frank W. Magill, Thomas
soon made manifest, both in the membership R. Williams.
of the church and in its financial condition. In
Those who have served as elders from the
1890 an addition was built to the church which date of organization, not including the presgave greater facilities to the Sunday school, ent session, are: Benjamin McMahon, Samand later the church was repaired and redeco- uel Yorks, Sr., Michael C. Grier, H. B. D.
rated, all at a cost of some $6,000. Mr. Arm- Sechler, David Blue, William C. Young, Sam;

strong labored zealously until 1892,

when he

uel Yorks, Jr., Joseph Diehl, Robert Cathcart,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Isaiah W. Salmon, Andrew F. Russell, George
M. Gearhart, W. L. McClure, M. Grier Youngman, Thomas Rogers, George W. Vandine,
A. H. Grone, H. G. Salmon. D. M. Boyd.

congregation

Shiloh

Reformed

Church was originally part of the Danville
charge, which consisted of four congregations,
Catawissa, St. James (Mahoning), Danville
and Mausdale. In May, 1893, the consistory
of Shiloh Reformed Church made overtures
to the

Wyoming

Classis,

Eastern Synod, to

divide the charge, constituting Shiloh a separate charge.
This request was granted and
this article will deal with the one congregation.

The original organization was effected during 1856 by Rev. George Wolff and Rev. A. G.
Dole.
These men, together with Rev. \Y.
Goodrich, were a committee appointed to work
up the interest of the Reformed Church at
Danville and Mausdale. For a time previous
to organization the services were held in the
courthouse. How many of the early churches
The first
worshipped in the courthouse
elders elected were Ulrich Houser and Samuel
Antrim. The deacons were Cyrus Heller and
Peter Mowrer. The congregation at that time
numbered fourteen, only one of whom.
!

Thomas

Cole, survives in 1914.

Rev. D. \\'. Wolff was the first pastor, serving the church from Sept. i, 1856, to the late
fall

of 1861.

dale church

During his pastorate the Mauswas built and the Shiloh church

commenced.

This is the present comfortable
quarters of the congregation on Bloom street.

Wolff had practical religion. He helped
to build the church with his own hands, going,
it is said, with the men to the Xorth Mountain
to pick out the timbers used in the structure.
Sir.

spent part of the

week

building the

church and the other part in building the Sunday sermons, and neither suffered because of
the other.
Like Paul, this brother could have
said:
"For laboring night and dav, because
we would not be chargeable unto any of you,
we preached unto you the gospel of God."
Air. Wolff left before the house was completed.

The building committee who superintended
church was composed of

the erection of the
the pastor. Rev. D.
Jr.,

Peter

Diehl.

Foust,

When

W. Wolff, Jacob Sechler,
Cyrus Heller and D. P.

Mr. Wolff'

left the

congregation

numbered twenty-seven.
Rev.

Steinmetz became

and labored until October, 1875.
During this period there were two years
1869 and 1870 when Mr. Steinmetz was
April. 1862,

—

•

—

financial agent for the Theological Seminary
at Lancaster, Pa., and during that time Rev.

Shiloh Reformed Church

The

351

pastor

A. Gring and Rev. George W. Snyder
were supplies.
Mr. Steinmetz found one of his first duties
was to push the building through to completion.
There were formidable difficulties in the
way. The congregation was largely in debt
and business conditions were unsettled. But
such emergencies God always has a servant
on hand to do his bidding; and here Elder
Peter Foust advanced the money necessary to
the completion of this House of God. On Dec.
21, 1862, the church was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, the sermon being
preached by Rev. H. Harbaugh, D. D. At the
end of 1863 the congregation numbered si.xtytwo.
In 1869 the parsonage was built at a
cost of $2,675.
The building committee consisted of Rev. J. W. Steinmetz, Charles Fenin

Hiram Antrim and Thomas Cole.
At the close of Mr. Steinmetz's pastorate, the
membership was 189. Mr. Steinmetz had a
stermacher,

pleasing personality; a delightful German accent; possessed a gifted mind and executive
ability that did much to build up this church
in temporal affairs and a
spirituality that did
much to develop it in love and devotion to
the Master he so earnestly served.
In the spring of 1876 Rev. G. C. Hall became pastor and continued to serve the church
as such until the fall of 1878.
In 1884 Mr.
Hall returned to Danville as rector of Christ
:

Memorial Church.

W. C. Schaeffer succeeded Mr. Hall
December, 1878, and remained until May,
1884.
During his pastorate the church was
remodeled for the first time. Mr. Schaeffer,
after leaving Danville, became a professor in
the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, PennRev.

sylvania.

In November. 1884, Rev. J. A. Peters, D. D.,
became pastor and continued as such until
March, 1891, when he resigned to accept the

presidencv of Heidelberg University, Tiffin,
Ohio.
Rev. D. S. Dieff'enbacher followed as pastor
in June, 1891, and served until
January, 1893,
when he died. In September, 1893, Rev. C.
B.

Alspach became pastor, serving until Janu-

ary, 1896.

1899. Kev.

From July, 1896, until November,
W. E. Bushong labored as pastor.

Rev. George E. Limbert became pastor in
March. 1900. and labored with much accept-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

352

He then resigned to Lutheran congregation was organized. Those
accept a call as pastor of Trinity Church, Al- forming this organization seceded from the
toona, Pa., where he ministered for two years, parent congregation dissatisfied with the choice
dying there in the prime of life and in the of location for the new church.
midst of a career of usefulness. During Rev.
The church building of this congregation is
Mr. Limbert's pastorate in Danville, the located on the corner of East Market and
church was repapered and painted, new car- Church streets. It was erected in 1861 at a
It is a handsome brick
pets were purchased, and the congregation was cost of $35,000.
structure of impressive proportions and was
entirely freed from debt.
Rev. Joseph E. Guy began his ministry in originally built with an imposing spire 125 feet
November, 1905, and remained pastor until high. But a severe storm that passed over
191 1.
During his ministry the membership Danville some time in the sixties demolished
ance until May, 1905.

numbered 365.
this spire and it was never rebuilt.
The present pastor. Rev. J. N. Bauman, beThe first pastor of the church was Rev.
gan his work here in 191 1. During his minis- D. M. Henkel. who was succeeded by Rev.
rear
Mr. Cornman. Rev. Mr. Anspach and Rev. M.
try an addition has been placed upon the
of the cliurch. a pipe organ and electric lights
installed, steam heat made to replace the stoves
of the past, hardwood floor laid in the auditorium, four additional stained glass windows
have been placed in the church, and the inNew carpets have
terior has been frescoed.
been laid in the auditorium and classrooms

and a new and handsome altar was presented
to the church by Dr. J. Sweisfort.
A new
reading desk was purchased by the Christian
Endeavor Society and the pulpit chairs were

The

recovered.

total cost of these

improve-

ments was over $10,000. every cent of which
was at once paid, though the congregation is
composed of persons in moderate financial
circumstances. It is worthy of note that the
Ladies" Aid Society of the church paid for the
steam heat and the pipe organ, two considerable items in the cost of the improvements.
The church is a fine brick building, with the
addition in the rear, and originally cost $20,oco. To this must be added the value of the

C. Horine.

Mr. Horine is remembered in this community for his learning and ability and his
fraternal

brethren
of Zion.

spirit, joining with his ministerial
in all things designed for the good

While pastor of this church, from
1878 to 1881, Mr. Horine was county superintendent of public schools of Montour county,
the duties of which office he performed with

entire satisfaction to the public.
Following Mr. Horine the pastors

have
Rev. J. R. Groff; Rev. C. K. Drumheller; Rev. W. E. Roney, from 1890 to 1900;
Rev. L. D. Ulrich, from 1900 to 1910; and
Rev. J. L. Yonce, who commenced his pasbeen:

torate in 1910,

and

at this writing is

still

the

pastor.

In 1893 a fine pipe organ was placed in the
church.
In 1909 the church building was
greatly improved and was rededicated.
First Baptist

Church

additional work.

The

present membership is 370 and that of
Sunday school 366. The officers of the conRev. I. N. Bauman. pastor; elsistorv are:

the

Sweisfort. W. H. Orth, D. N.
deacons, W'ilDieffenbacher, Alfred Diehl

ders. 'Dr. J.

Ham Kocher, Fred
Lobach

;

trustees.

Diehl, John Dietz, H. J.
William Sunday and H. C.

Heller.

The superintendent

of the

Sunday school

D. N. Diefifenbacher assistant superintendent.
Fred Diehl secretary. Ralph Lewis treasurer.
Alfred Diehl.
;

The First Baptist Church of Danville was
organized Nov. 29, 1S42. with ten members.
The names of these members are: John
Price, Harriet Taylor. Mahala Quigg. Ruth
Conover. Catherine Potter. Mary Lomason,
Martha Brown. Sarah Ann Lunger, Ann Perrin, Lydia Snyder.
After organizing the congregation worshipped in the courthouse for over a year,
meantime erecting a frame church on Pine
street near the river.
This church was dedicated Jan.

tinued to
Trinity Luihcrau Cliurch

old building
In 1859, following the determination of the
Evangelical Lutheran congregation to build
the new church on Pine street, the Trinity

The congregation con1863. when it became
new church building. The
was removed and the new church

1844.

grow

until

necessary to erect a
built

upon

its

site.

This church was dedi-

cated in 1863.
The pastors of this church, in consecutive

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

353

Rev. J. S. Mil- ization in 1868 of a new congregation called
F. Bunker, the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
ler, 1843 to 1847; Rev. William
A lot was purchased from Michael Wallize,
1847 to 1848; Rev. J. H. Worrell, 1849 to
1850; Rev. D. A. Nichols, 185 1 to 1852; Rev. at the corner of Center and Ferry streets, diIra Foster, 1854 to 1856; Rev. O. L. Hall, rectly opposite St. Joseph's Roman Catholic
church; and the cornerstone of the new build1858 to 1859; Rev. A. B. Still, i860 to 1861
Rev. G. W. ing was laid by Bishop Simpson July 4, 1869.
Rev. Theophilus Jones, 1862
Scott. 1863 to 1865 Rev. J. S. Miller, 1867 to On Dec. 19, 1869, the completed basement of
1870: Rev. John Mostyn, 1871 to 1873; Rev. the church was dedicated with appropriate
W. W. Willis, 1873 to 1875; Rev. Joel E. ceremonies. Bishop E. R. Ames presided in
Bradley. 1876 to 1880; Rev. G. T. Street, 1880 the morning, Chaplain C. C. McCabe in the
to 188^; Rev. J. Green Miles, 1883 to 1887; afternoon, and S. W. Thomas at night.
Rev. J. H. McCord was pastor of the new
Rev. Philip Berry, 1888 to 1889 (died while
pastor); Rev. J. A. Aldred, 1890 to 1892; church in 1868 and 1869. Rev. A. M. CreighRev. A. B. Bowser, 1892 to 1901 Rev. L. B. ton followed Rev. Mr. McCord in 1870, and
Twichell, 1901 to 1903 Rev. John Sherman, Rev. George W. van Fossen followed him in
1904 to 1908. In July, 1909, Rev. A. J. Irey, I 87 I and 1872.
In 1872 the church building was completed.
D. D., the present pastor, entered upon his
It is a brick structure with a
work.
large and comWatkins Evans is church treasurer, W. G. modious Sunday school and lecture room on
Reese is superintendent of finance, and David the first floor, a fine and roomy audience
Reese is superintendent of the Sunday chamber on the second floor. The cost of the
J.
Frank M. Herrington has held the new edifice was $30,000. The congregation
school.
position of chorister for more than twenty was made up mostly of laboring men and their
Hard times came on and a heavy
years with much acceptance. The trustees are families.
David J. Reese, John M. Vastine, Charles O. debt rested upon the new congregation. Mr.
Charles
Thomas
M.
Beaver
and
W.
Davis.
had been a liberal contributor
W.
JohnMeyers
order, have been as follows:

;

son was clerk of the congregation for fifteen
a half years and was succeeded by Charles
W. Gross.
In 1913 steam heat was introduced into the

and

1902 electric lights were intime new pews of circular
form replaced the straight back benches of
the old time, and a steel ceiling was built about

church and
stalled.

this

below the old ceiling. The old gallery
the rear of the auditorium was also torn
out and the audience chamber much beautified.
ten feet
in

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church

in financing the church, but still the debt
pressed heavily upon the people. At length,
in the year 1874, it was sold by the sherifl:' for
a debt of $8,000.
Thomas Beaver bought it
at that figure and subsequently sold a half interest to Rev. I. H. Torrence, donating the
other half to the congregation. Indebtedness
still pressed hard
upon the people and again
the sherifif, in the year 1877, sold the interest
of the congregation, Thomas Beaver again
buying it. To the credit of these noble people
be it said that they beat down this indebtedness
until in the course of time it was
entirely ex-

tinguished.

Prior to 1868 the

St.

Paul Methodist Epis-

Church had so increased in numbers
was difficult to seat the congregation.
In 1867 Rev. J. H. McCord was assistant pasMr.
tor to Rev. J. McKendree Reiley, D. D.

copal
that

McCord took charge
Welsh

Hill,

carried on in a

of a mission

work on

North Danville, which was

little

chapel called the

"McCord

This was a little frame building
Chapel."
used for Sunday school purposes by a number
of devoted St. Paul people.
Rev. Mr. McCord held revival services in
this chapel and the result was a large ingatherThis great increase of membership, and
ing.
the fact that the new members were mostly
from the north side of town, led to the organ23

Rev. A. W. Guyer was pastor during 1873
and 1874, and he was followed, in 1875 and
In 1877 Rev. B.
1876, by Rev. J. P. Moore.
F. Stevens was pastor.
In 1878 the pastorate
was vacant and the pulpit was supplied by Rev.
Irvin H. Torrence.
The pastors since have been
1879 to 1882,
Rev. P. P. Strawinski: 1882 and 1883. Rev.
D. H. Shields: 1884 and 1885, Rev. B. P.
King 1886, 1887 and 1888, Rev. Joseph Hunter
1889, Rev. Joseph Hunter was succeeded
by Rev. George W. Stevens. He in turn was
succeeded by Rev. G. M. Klepfer, who remained in charge from 1890 to 1893. W. P.
Eveland was pastor in 1895 and 1896. He
was followed by Rev. O. D. Heck, from 1896
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

354

Rev. N. E. Cleaver followed from
1901.
1901 to 1906. Rev. L. D. Ott followed, from
1907 to 1909, and he was succeeded in 1909
by Rev. C. C. Snavely, who continued to be
Rev.
pastor until 191 1, he being succeeded by
Alexander Scott, who has been pastor since
to

John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

The German speaking portion of the Lutherans organized into a separate body after
the division in 1856, when the new church
was

built on Pine street.
This new organizapurchased the old church building on East
Market street in 1858 and repaired it, and for
many years have used it as a place of worship.
Rev. William Eyer was first called to the
pastorate, and served until his death in 1874.
In 1875 Rev. J. W. Early became pastor of
this church, in connection with Mahoning and
Lazarus Churches, in other parts of the counHe was succeeded, about 1885, by Rev.
ty.
Mr. Groff was succeeded by Rev.
J. R. Grof?.
D. H. Fogleman.
Subsequent pastors have
been Rev. George W. Fritsch and Rev. W. M.

tion

1912.

During the pastorate of Rev. P. P. Strawinski the congregation purchased the interest of Rev. I. H. Torrence in the church
building, thus freeing themselves from debt.
In 1900 the church was remodeled and the
tower raised. The church property is valued
at $25,000, and the parsonage, which was purchased some years ago, is valued at $2,500.
In the fall of 191 1 the church building was
repainted and repapered and electric lights installed.

St.

In the year 1914 a pipe organ, valued

at $2,500,

was

installed,

one half of the cost

Geiger.

being paid by Andrew Carnegie and the rest
of the money collected by the people. This

organ was dedicated June

7, 1914, Rev. J. B.
Stine, D. D., district superintendent, preaching the dedicatory sermon.
In the early part of the year 1913 an official
board was organized according to the provisions of the church discipline, the board

consisting of the trustees, stewards, Sunday
school superintendent, president of the Epworth League, superintendent of the Junior

League and president of the Ladies' Aid Society.

The official board for 1914 was as follows:
Rev. Alexander Scott, president; P. J. Keefer,
Arthur Fry, W. R. Rice, Howard Klinger, G.

W. Kean,
Grove,

B. Lloyd. Henry Grove, David
L. Bloom, trustees S. F. Ricketts,
J.

;

H. H. Gerringer, D. Roderick, A. M. Robinson, G. W. Kear, Mrs. Clara Young, Mrs.
John Bookmiller, Mrs. Calvin Diehl, Mrs.
Florence Baylor, William Snyder, James
Hodge, W. B. Snyder, Helen Kelly, Mrs.
Elizabeth Peifer, John Roundsley, P. J.
Keefer, stewards.

The superintendent

of the

in 1914 was W. B. Lunger.
This has been a hard working congregation
and deserving of great credit for the work
which has been done and for the manner in
which the Master's Kingdom has been advanced in that portion of the town. They
have ever been true to the motto placed upon
the church building when it was erected

Sunday school

"Ever welcome to this House of God are
strangers and the poor."

Emanuel Evangelical Church
Services were held at intervals in Danville

by the pastors of the Evangelical denomination previous to 1867.
In that year H. A.
.Stokes was appointed to serve the mission at
this place.
He remained two years and established a small congregation, but did not succeed in building a house of worship, services
being held in Thompson's Hall.
In 1869 Rev. E. H. Davis was made pastor,

and

were of great benefit to the
band of Christians constituting the local

his efiforts

little

of this denomination. He
succeeded in collecting a sufficient sum to
warrant the construction of a church, and in

representatives

the fall of 1871 the present frame building,
situated at the corner of East Front and Iron

was dedicated, having been commenced in 1869. There is no record of the
names of the first members, but many of them
streets,

are

still

living at this writing.

The succeeding

pastors of the church have
been as follows: Rev. W. E. Detweiler. 1872;
Rev. \Y. H. Buck, 1875 Rev. R. W. Raidabaugh, 1876; Rev. R. S. Orwig, 1877: Rev.
George Hunter, 1880; Rev. Z. Hornberger,
1881; Rev. J. M. Brader. 1882; Rev. A. S.
Baumgardner, 1885; Rev. H. A. Stokes, 1888;
Rev. J. F. Dunlap, i8qi Rev. S. S. JMumey,
1894; Rev. J. Womelsdorf, 1895: Rev. J. G.
\\1iitmire, 1897: Rev. J. F. Hower, 1898;
Rev. E. B. Dunn. 1902: Rev. Harry Minsker,
1006: Rev. W. N. Wallis. 1907; Rev. C. D.
Moore, 1912: Rev. C. E. Allison. 1914, the
;

;

present pastor.
During the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Stokes

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

355

was improved and a strong advance John S. Jones. The congregation was small
made along all lines of work.
and finally disbanded.
Rev. Z. Hornberger, during his pastorate,
The church is still standing, and for a numwas editor and publisher of the "Temperance ber of years was used each Sabbath
by the
Star," which for a time was a strong factor Danville Bible Class.
in
the
work
Montour
in
temperance
county.
Some of the early elders of this church were
.Ifricaii Methodist Episcopal Cliiirch
Charles
Siegfried, David
Joseph Hummer,
Evans and Christian Ernst. The present trusThe first house of worship of the colored
tees are J. R. Long, T. R. Evans, J. C. Dimfolks of Danville was located on Yorks' Hill.
mjck, C. A. Ranck, E. L. Ranck, John Krum. .•\t present they occupy the brick church on
A\'alnut street built by the Immanuel
Baptist
Immanuel Baptist Church
The congregation is quite
congregation.
the church

Immanuel Baptist Church was organized in
1892 by Rev. A. B. Still from members of the
First Baptist Church.
This congregation at
first used the building of the Welsh Baptists
on Spruce

street, but in 1893 purchased the
property at the corner of Church and Walnut
streets.
In that year they built a brick church,
the architect being John H. Brugler, and the
cost of the structure was $3,500; some $1,500
was paid for the lots. This church was dedicated Aug. 19, 1894, Rev. J. W. Crawford being the first pastor. Froin that time
1894
until 1906 the congregation was without a

—

After 1906 no regular services were
held in this church.
At one time the congregation numbered sixty-two, but the membership decreased until in
April, 1908, the survivors dissolved the congregation and sold the property for sufficient
to cancel all indebtedness and leave some remaindei-, which was devoted to charitable purThe last trustees were George Hunposes.
pastor.

lock, Thomas Mills,
ter Keller.
U'clsli

William James and

\\'al-

The

first

and

princi-

one was the Welsh Congregational Church
1844 on Chambers street, the pastor of
which for many years was Rev. J. B. Cook.
After Mr. Cook's death worship in this church
was abandoned and subsequently the building
was turned into a dwelling house.
pal

built in

Calvinistic

Church was erected

in 1845 on Little Ash street.
tion disbanded many years ago,

This congregaand the church

subsequently burned.

Welsh Baptist Church

The Welsh

of Danville built a frame
schoolhouse in 1853 and in November,
1854,
obtained a charter for their congregation, under the name of B'nai Zion.
The charter
members were: A. Levi, Jacob Loeb, Lewis

Lang, Moyer Lyon, Jacob Weil, Solomon
Maier, Jacob Maier, Jacob Levi, Sandel Dreifuss, Feis Blum, Simon Ellenbogen.
The congregation worshipped in the schoolhouse until the new synagogue was built in
1
87 1. This new building was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies. Rabbi Jastrow, of
Philadelphia, conducting the dedicatory servThe procession was formed at the house
of the president of the
congregation, and proceeded in order, bearing the appropriate symbols of the Jewish religion,
according to the
instructions given to the children of Israel. At
the portico of the synagogue Miss Bertha
Eger
presented the keys to the president with a neat
ices.

to which the president
apt reply when he unlocked the door
the procession, followed by the crowd, entered the audience chamber and witnessed
the ceremonies of the dedication. Rabbi
Jas-

made an

Several churches of this nationality, under
different denominational control, have existed

The Welsh

B'nai Zion Synagogue

The Jewish people

and pertinent address,

Congregational Church

in the past in Danville.

small.

Baptist Church was built in 1870
on Spruce street. The first pastor was Rev.

;

trow preached an eloquent sermon,
highly
Rev. Mr. Nusappropriate to the occasion.
baum, the teacher in charge, closed with a
brief address and ended the
interesting ceremonies of the day.
The first rabbi or teacher in charge of the
congregation was Rev. Mr. Friendlich. The
next was Rev. Emanuel Obenheim. He was
a man of extensive learning, not
only in the
German and Hebrew, but also in English. He
was a good speaker and a writer of
ability,
and frequently contributed to the current literature of the day. He was followed
by Rev.
Mr. Hommer. Rev. Mr. Heilbrenner w'as the
next and he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bran-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

356

After these came Rev. Simon Gerstman,
also a fine scholar, well versed in the
English language, and who wrote on various
subjects. After him came Rev. Mr. Nusbaum,
and he was followed by Rev. Mr. Newmark.
Then followed Rev. Aaron Posman and Rev.
Adolph Mayer. They were succeeded by Rev.
dise.

who was

F. W. Jesselson and Lewis Schreiber, who at
The
present ministers to the congregation.
present officers are: President and treasurer,
Simon Dreifuss; secretary, Samuel Bloch
trustees, R. L. Marks, Harry EUenbogen and
;

Joseph Heim.
St. Joseph's

Roman

Catholic Church

Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, on the
corner of Center and Ferry streets, had its
beginning as a mission established by Rev. J.
P. Hannigan, in 1847, when the frame church
on Center street, near the Philadelphia and
In the years
Reading railroad, was built.
since the building of the new church this has
St.

been used as a

hall

for church

and church

society meetings.
In 1857 the parish purchased the lot which
is the site of the present church from Joseph
The erection of the building comDiehl.
menced in 1866 and the structure was finished
It is of brick, 61 by 117
and surmounted by a spire 105 feet high,
capped by a cross. In 1880 the bell was placed
in position, and has always been faithfully

man

Catholics in Danville and vicinity had
increased to such an extent as to warrant the
formation of a parish. Prior to this time the
German Catholics worshipped or attended
Holy Mass in old St. Joseph's Catholic Church
on Center street, near the railroad. In September, 1859, Anton Goeser, the father of

John H. Goeser, who was commonly

called
the father of St. Hubert's congregation, along
with a number of other German Catholics,
after a meeting held in old St. Joseph's Church
applied to Rt. Rev. Bishop James F. Wood,
of Philadelphia, for permission to build a new
church, called St. Hubert's German Catholic

Church.
This permission was granted and
Rev. John B. Bach, pastor of the German
Catholic Church at Williamsport, who attended to the wants of the German Catholics
at Danville once a month, encouraged the
young congregation and was the first to subscribe ten dollars towards the new church.
The stanch charter male members of the

new congregation were

Anton Goeser, Jacob

Dietrich, John Winter, Sr., Peter Dietrich,
John B. Kinn, Jacob Schuster, Joseph Oeschger,

John

Horst,

William Muller,

Gottlieb

Kaufman, John Dietz, Henry Sporer, Charles
Frank, John Amer Foin, Martin Eckert,

Andrew

Lewis

Kin-

three years later.

George

feet,

zinger, Jacob Klein, Peter Klein, John Klein,
George Klein, John B. Lamine, Joseph Dus-

used

summoning

the congregation to the

various services.

This edifice long has housed a large congregation, comprising, as far back as twenty-five
years ago, 2,200 communicants, together with
a large Sunday school.
number of years after the erection of the

church the rectory was built adjoining, on
Ferry street, and later the property adjoining
on the corner of Ferry and Bloom streets was
purchased for a convent and school and has
been occupied as such ever since.
Among the rectors who have officiated as
the head of St. Joseph's Church may be mentioned Revs. J. P. Hannigan. Joseph O'Keefe,
Hugh P. Kenney, Michael Sheridan, Edward
Murray, Arthur !\IcGinnis (who died while
in service here), Thomas ]McGovern (afterwards Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg)
and Rev. M. J. O'Reilly (who died in 1908).
The present rector is Rev. Arthur J. McCann.
St.

Hubert's German Catholic Church

Just before the breaking out of the Civil
war, in the fall of 1859, the number of Ger-

Kinn,

Buser,

man, Andrew Schroth, Casper

Effinger, Joseph

Becker, Matthias Lennartz, Diebold Dietrich,
George Sporer, Peter Mintzer, John Woll,
John L^delhofen, Diebold Westerich, Peter
Kinn, Peter Krotz, Nicholas Weber, John
Gerstner, Frank Lechner, Joseph Heiter,
.\dam Heiter, Peter Zeigler, Adam Gehringer,
John Frederick, Matthias Singler, Sylvester
Vogt, Nicholas Hofer, Peter Gross, Peter
Schneider, Nicholas Gerlach, John Wingenbach, Ludwig Figles, Ignatius Kiemer, Theodore Espelding, Lawrence Hawk, Peter Koch,

Wendelin Beyers, George RodenhofTer, Sr.,
Anton Weitzel, John Banks, Anton Deininger,
Frank Nied, and others.
The lot on which the church was built was
purchased from Edward Baldy, Esq., for
$625. Work on the foundation of the structure began in the spring of i860. Many members of the parish assisted in digging the cellar.
After the foundation walls were finished, work on the building was stopped on
account of the war and lack of means. In
the spring of 1863 the brick work was begun
on the new church. The builders were Nicholas Hofer and Benjamin Vastine. The corner-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
was

laid on or about Oct. i8, 1863, by
Marshall, who at that time was pastor
When the brick walls were
at Williamsport.
about completed and ready for the timbers a
wind
storm
blew them down, and the
heavy
whole had to be rebuilt.
The new church was dedicated June 26,
1864, under the pastorate of Father Koch.
John H. Goeser was organist and the servers
at Holy Mass were J. C. Foin and Peter Buser.
The service of Rev. Father Bach, of WilliamsHe was succeeded by
port, ended in 1861.
Rev. John B. Frisch, of Ashland, who occaofficiated
sionally
during the year 1861. In
1862 Rev. M. Muhlberger, pastor at Milton,
took charge of the Danville mission, as St.
Hubert's was then called, and regularly attended the same until May, 1863. In December, 1863, Rev. Joseph J. Koch became pastor
at Milton and also of St. Hubert's at Danville.
The building committee in charge of the new
building consisted of Anton Goeser, William
A. Muller, Jacob Dietrich, Jacob Schuster.
The church continued under the charge of
the pastor at Milton until 1869.
In that year
Rev. J. B. Frisch was appointed resident pastor of St. Hubert's.
After a few months, on
account of age and illness. Rev. Father Frisch

stone

Rev.

and in June, 1869, Rev. F. X.
Schmidt took charge.
Father Schmidt was
much beloved by the congregation and did
work
his
In the fall of
good
among
people.
1872 he was succeeded by Rev. Clement
Schlueter.
During the pastorate of Father
resigned,

Schlueter the Sisters of Oiristian Charity took
charge of the schools. The venerable Sister
Catherine was Superioress and held that position for twenty-five years.
In the fall of
1878 Rev. F. X. Schmidt returned to St. Hubert's and ministered to the congregation until
he was transferred to St. Joseph's Church,
Lancaster, in September, 1888. Rev. Charles
Koch then took charge of St. Hubert's, and
under his ministry the rectory on Bloom street,
church, was purchased. In
opposite the
March, 1895, Rev. James Huber became pastor and for eight years ministered to the conIn his pastorate the convent or
gregation.
Sisters' house was enlarged, the silver toned
bell placed in the tower, and other extensive

On October i, 1903,
improvements made.
the present rector. Rev. J. C. Foin, became the
priest, and under his pastorate the parochial
school building was erected, and dedicated
Feb. 14, 1906. The new parochial school is a
thoroughly modern, fine brick structure of two
Its
stories, built in the rear of the church.

357

dimensions are 45 by 60 feet. The first floor
contains two schoolrooms and a stairway leading to the second story, where there is one
large schoolroom. The total cost of these im])rovements was $8,250, of which John H.
Goeser contributed $5,350. The other members of St. Hubert's Church were also very
generous in contributing' toward these improvements.

Mahoning Methodist Chapel

The Mahoning Methodist Chapel, known
the "White"' Church, on the
two miles east of Danville,
that

denomination

was

Bloomsburg road
was long used by
for

particularly

revival

1848 and for a time
was part of the Buckhorn charge. In late
years it was a mission attached to Trinity
Methodist Church of Danville. In 1912 it became so dilapidated as to be beyond repair
it was therefore torn down and the land sold
Ijy the church organization.
services.

built in

;

East End Mission
The

latest religious organization in Danthe East End Mission, situated at the
upper end of East Market street in a region
where there are no churches.
This mission was established in February,
1902, by the Mahoning Presbyterian Church,
in pursuance of the following resolution unanimously adopted by the session of that church,
ville is

Jan.

1902

"The Session

authorizes the establishment
of a mission school under its auspices, in the
east end of town, and appoints H. M. Hinckley superintendent of that work, and authorizes him to organize said mission."
The purpose of this mission was to carry
the gospel out into those portions of the town
not reached by any church organization, and
to teach men, women and children the Word
of God, and inspire a love for that Word and
its study.
It was especially intended to reach
that class of men who are strangers to the

church and to gospel influences in short, to
do good to that large outlying class who never
;

come within

the reach of the gospel, those in
the highways and hedges whom the Master
said should be compelled to come in.

The work commenced on
the

Ammerman

the third floor of

three-story brick building on
East Market street. The success of the movement justified the purchase of a lot adjoining
the brick building on the west and the erection

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

358

This building was dedicated in
of a chapel.
tablet placed on the front of
June, 1908.
the building gives the purpose and object of
the work. It reads as follows
"East End Mission chapel.
chapel dedicated to the work of helping men, women and
children to a better and a purer life and where
a free seat and a cordial welcome await all
the most humble and the most sinful, and
where the teaching shall always be Jesus Christ
the crucified."
On July 5, 1907, the session of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church adopted the following resolution
"Resolved, that the Resolution passed January 7th, 1902, by the Session of the Mahoning

a Revolutionary soldier.
His sign bore the
likeness of General Jackson, at that time a
hero of the public.
The Cross Keys Tavern stood on the river
bank on the site of the present Bryan resi-

Presbyterian congregation, Danville, Pennsylvania, authorizing the establishment of what
is known as the East End Mission be rescinded
and that from now on the said congregation
be no longer responsible in any way for the
work and support of the said East End

ware

Mission."

previously kept the old Pennsylvania House.
His card in the town paper was inserted as
follows

;

The work of the mission, from its organization, was self sustaining, and no part of its
cost was ever paid by the Mahoning Church.
From July 5, 1907, the work has been carried
on independent of any church organization and
has been nobly helped by people of all denom-

dence.

was

occupied by Airs. Jemima
days before 1832 was
the principal inn of the town.
Other proprietors of the old tavern were William Colt,
John Moore, E. N. Doan, C. D. Wharton and
Elias Howell.
Another prominent resort in those early
days of Danville's history was the Franklin
Court, an old-time cafe, which was the scene
of many interesting events.
It stood on the
spot now occupied by M. H. Schram's hardIt

first

Donaldson, and

in the

store.

Hcddcns House

The Heddens House, near the courthouse,
was built by Philip Goodman in 181 8. He had

PHILIP GOODMAN
1

informs his friends and the public that he has commenced keeping tavern in his new brick house, sign

The interest in the work has ininations.
creased each year and many have been helped
to a higher and better life.
In the year 191 1, when it became necessary
to enlarge the building, the walls were torn
out and new classrooms added, furnishing
comfortable quarters to a large and growing
primary school as well as to intermediate

of the

classes.

for several years, but the building of the house,
together with a line of stages operated by him

The property has cost some $3.cxx). a large
portion of which has been contributed by the
citizens of the town who have realized the
good work that is being done to a class of
people heretofore neglected.
Services are held every Sunday afternoon
at 2 :oo o'clock and on Tuesday evening at
7:45-

HOTELS

The

Golden Globe,
Street, in the town of Danville, two doors
South of the Court house, where by his attention and
superior accommodation as to house room and
stabHng, he hopes to merit a share of the public
Mill

patronage.
Danville, July 9th, 1818.

The house was occupied by Mr. Goodman
to

Pottsville, swamped
to Owego. N. Y.,

moved

him financially. He
where he afterwards

died.

In
hotel.

1836

William

He made

and changed the

Henrie

purchased

the

number of improvements
name to Union Hall Hotel,
a

the name being suggested by his son, Arthur,
a brave young soldier who died soon after the
war. Mr. Henrie successfully conducted the
It enjoyed great
hotel for thirty-five years.
popularity under his administration.

and most famous of the old
taverns of Danville was the Rising Sun, a red
Joshua W. Comly boarded at this hotel for
frame house at the foot of Mill street, with a some thirty-seven years. In 1886 the hotel
was purchased by J. C. Heddetis and the name
large walnut tree before the door.
The Ferry Tavern was first occupied by changed to the Heddens House. Mr. Heddens
is still the proprietor of this hotel and enjoys
George Barnhart.
The Jackson Tavern, on Mill street near a large share of the public patronage. The
Mahoning, was conducted by \\ illiam Clark, hotel is noted for its good meals.
earliest

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
River-viezv Hotel

Danville

This hotel has been known by various names.
a hirge frame structure on the corner of
Mill and Front streets, near the river bridge
and convenient to the courthouse.
John
Gulick first opened it as a hotel, under the
name of the Farmers' Hotel, in 1812, having
bought the property from Daniel Montgomery.
Philip Goodman conducted this hotel for some
time prior to 1818. In 1829 John Gulick sold
it to John Rhodes, who repaired it and changed
the name to Pennsylvania House.
It is

John Rhodes died in 1852. \'arious parties
kept the house prior to i860; among them was
George W. Freeze. In 1866 it was kept by
Charles Savage; in 1868 by Mr. Lindner; and
In March,
in 1870 by Joseph M. Gerringer.
1872, James V. Gillaspy took charge of the
house and conducted it with marked success
In March, 1880, the
until a few years ago.
the Revere House. Mr.
landlord and his hotel
was well patronized, especially by those coming from the country in attendance upon court.
.-\ few
years ago the hotel came into the hands

House

This hotel was situated at the corner of
Market and Ferry streets on the present site
of the Thomas Beaver Free Library. It was a
large brick building and was first the home of
John Deen, Jr., who opened a hotel there in
1848 and occupied it until 1861. Mr. Deen was
quite a popular host and built up an extensive
patronage. He was succeeded by George W.
In 1863 Charles M. Savage became
I-"reeze.
proprietor and in 1866 Wolf & Wilhelm.
These were in turn followed by John Whitman, Heim & Snyder, Wilhelm Brothers,
Charles Wilhelm, Lewis Sticker, George F.
Snyder and Charles Funston.
In 1887 the property was purchased by
Thomas lieaver and the building was taken
down to make way for the Thomas Beaver
Free Library.

name was changed to
Gillaspy was a good

of Sharpless M. Dietz, who enlarged and repaired it and is the present proprietor.
In the days of the stagecoach and the toll
bridge its location was an admirable one to
catch the traveler's eye.
Its present name is the River-view Hotel.

359

Farmers' and Drovers' Hotel
This hotel was started in 1855 by John Hare
on the corner of Mill and Hemlock streets. It
is a three-story stone building, with a brick
front.
John Ludwig conducted it until 1867
and then William M. Williams purchased it
and changed the name to the White Horse
William C. Williams took
In 1 88
Hotel.
charge for his father and conducted the hotel
1

until 1891.
During this time the father died
in the division of the property Airs. Eliza-

and

Montour House

beth Titel, a daughter, inherited the hotel as
her share. It is now used as a private dwelling.

In i860 the site of the Montour House was
an orchard. At the corner was a small, twostory house, which marked the location of the
first store in Danville, which was conducted by
Daniel Montgomer)'. In 1834 it was opened
In 1846 G. M.
as a hotel by Samuel Brady.
Shoop leased the property, put a third story
it
and changed the name from Brady
House to Montour House. Subsequently it
was occupied by W. G. Gaskins, Cornelius

Garretson, Smith, Kramer, Kirk and Jones.
About 1859 James L. Riehl bought it and
conducted it personally until his death in 1902,

which it was operated by his nephew,
Samuel B. Cressman, and at his death by his
widow.
In 1904 E. T. Linnard bought the hotel, and
after

conducted

for

several

The next

years.

owner was E. N. Smith, of Chicago, and in
1910 it was purchased by O. P. Rockefeller, of
Sunbury, the present proprietor.

been the principal hotel of Danville.

has always

Hotel Peifer
This hotel is on the corner of Mill and
Spruce streets. It was formerly the Doughof years
erty House, and then for a number
was kept by James O. Frazier. It is now
conducted by Clarence Peifer.
City Hotel

Prior to the year 1823 there stood on the
of the present City Hotel a small log
house, in the kitchen portion of which the postIn that year
office of that day was kept.
down
Joseph Comelison, a blacksmith, tore
"the old hut and put up a two-story frame
house, which he occupied as a dwelling until
That year he made some necessary
1839.
alterations and then opened to the public the
White Swan Hotel. Some will remember the
old sign in front of the hotel with a picture of
a white swan upon it.
site

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

360

Mr. Cornelison kept this hotel until his death
in 1852, when his son, Jacob, succeeded him
and was the proprietor until his death in 1865.
It was afterwards kept by William Smith and

when Adam Gerringer purIn 1872 Mr. Gerringer moved the
White Swan building to the rear and erected
the present brick hotel, calling it the City
others until 1870,

chased

it.

Hotel.

This hotel was next conducted by John K.
Gerringer, a son, who in 1895 sold it to Robert
Moyer. Other proprietors of this hotel have

been Swope, Mengel, Theodore Moyer and
Oliver Drumheller, of Sunbury, who purchased it and changed the name to Hotel
Oliver, and for a number of years conducted
a first-class hotel.
It was carried on for a short time by Irvin
A. Snyder, who was succeeded by Frank G.
He was proprietor for several years
Peters.
and was in turn succeeded by Grant Fenstermacher, the present proprietor.

Baldy House
This house was built in 1870 by Peter Baldy,
on Mill street, between Market and Ma-

Sr.,

honing. It was at first a brick dwelling house,
but was afterwards converted into a hotel and

opened by William C. Williams in April, 1891,
with Lewis C. Thornton as clerk. The management has continued the same to the present
time, and the hotel is comfortable and convenient and as well kept as any in the town.

Union Hotel

The Union Hotel was

built by William
Buckley on Mill street near Mulberry. It was
afterwards purchased by Lewis Titel, who
conducted it for many years and who died

while proprietor of the hotel.

It is at

present

conducted by John Tooey.

State Hospital for the Insane

who by

Daniel

his

will

Daniel

same

devised

pointed superintendent and gave his best efforts to the erection of this building and afterwards to its opening and operation.
Dr.
Schultz superintended the construction of the
main building, the cornerstone of which was
laid Aug. 29, 1869, by Governor Geary, the
address being made by Dr. Isaac Ray, of PhilaIt was opened for the reception of
delphia.
patients in October, 1872, and the first patient
was admitted Nov. 6th of that year. There
were four wards on each side, with accommodations for 120 patients each. The work of
construction proceeded steadily thereafter,

wings being
structure

built

being

on either

side,

and the whole
as

completed

originally

planned, Aug. 7, 1879. The estimated capacThe center
ity then was 350 of each sex.
building is 202 feet deep, the building prof)er
1,143 fsst in length, the height ranging from
three to five stories. The wings contain about

350 rooms each.

On March

1881, a fire broke out in the
adjoining the center building,
originating on the second floor in a dust flue,
in a room used for storing fire hose and the
standpipe connected with the general water
first

section,

painters were

The tract upon which the State Hospital
for the Insane at Danville is built was originally the property of Gen. Daniel Montgomthe

in Mahoning township.
April 13, 1868, the Legislature passed
an act for the establishment of this institution and appointed a locating commission
composed of Dr. J. A. Reed, superintendent
of the Dixmont Hospital for the Insane; Dr.
Traill Green, of Easton; and Dr. John Curwen, superintendent of the State Hospital for
the Insane at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
After visiting twenty-one counties in the
district for which the hospital was intended,
and viewing a number of proposed locations,
it was decided to
purchase this tract of 250
acres from the Pinneo estate. The price paid
was $26,600, the citizens of Danville contributIn May, 1868,
ing $16,000 of that amount.
Dr. S. S. Schultz, of Harrisburg, was ap-

The
supplies, and open from cellar to roof.
section was unused at the time, the patients
the
been
moved
to
new
wing, and
having

PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTIONS

ery,

borough of Danville,

his

son,

Montgomery devised
S., his daughter,

who

Margaret
married W. W. Pinneo. The property was
from W. W. Pinneo, execudeed
conveyed by
tor of Margaret S. Pinneo, to the State. It is
situated about one mile northeast of the

making

repairs.

Before ade-

quate connections could be made with hose and
neighboring standpipes, the cornice and roof
and timbers became involved and the fire for
The fire extended
a time was inaccessible.
both ways, destroying all the female quarters
the
administration
and
building, as well as
one quarter of the male wards, leaving two
sections only. There were 220 male patients
at that time in the hospital and the inmates
were removed without casualty, though in the

confusion nine of the

men

escaped the care

i,M^:^

}

Froxt Law

State Hospital

i-ok

tiii:

Ixsam;,

)

ax\ii.i.i:.

Pa.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and

361

A home

of their keepers some returned in a few days
and others made their way to their homes.
There were 172 female inmates. They were
temporarily taken care of in the outbuildings
until they were removed to the Harrisburg
The sum of $209,and Warren hospitals.
1 16.01 was realized from the insurance and at
once the work of rebuilding was commenced,

for
building containing four
separate apartments for married heads of departments, and a building used as living
rooms, containing forty-two beds, for the
care of regularly employed male employees.

improvements and changes being
Iron beams and brick arches
were used for walls constructed between sections, and the floor of each section was fireproof. Large bay windows were added to all

machinery.

;

important

introduced.

the rebuilt wards.
The entire center building was remodeled
on a fireproof basis, somewhat less in depth
than the old building, a one-story kitchen
placed in the rear of it, beyond which is connected a two-story building containing store
rooms and a sewing room. The first-floor
section of the main hall of the wings occupied
by patients was made fireproof, as was the
The entire center
ceiling of the top story.
building was rebuilt from the foundation and

greatly improved throughout, and was ready
for occupancy early in 1884. These structural
alterations were not expensive, but added
greatly to the good purposes of the building
The chapel is large and beautiful and
itself.
seats 600; it is also used as a lecture room
and is furnished with a piano and organ.
The building contains every department
necessary to an institution where so many
unfortunates find a home, offices, bathrooms,

dining-rooms, kitchens, storerooms and

many

others.

Four new buildings have been added from
time to time, as legislative appropriations
could be secured an Acute building, containing a reception ward, connected with which
is a complete hydrotherapeutic department for
the treatment of disturbed or acute cases a
donnitory for the treatment of epileptics and
an Infirmary building to care for the sick,
bedridden or more or less helpless cases these
buildings being for both sexes and about
doubling the original capacity of the institution.
In connection with the female infirmary
an up-to-date operating room, with necessary
adjuncts, has been installed.
The lavatory system of the main building
has been entirely renovated by the addition of
four buildings, placed outside, but connected
with the wards, thus giving a complete sanitary system and increasing the capacity of
this section 164 beds, at an actual cost of
about $12,000 to the State.
Other buildings
necessary to the conduct of the institution,
;

;

gradually

women

nurses,

added,

are

The laundry has been extended from time
and equipped with the most modern

to time

new power

boilers

house, fully equipped with

and necessary adjuncts for heating

and power, has been installed, changing the
former gravity system of heating to a low
pressure vacuum system, and in connection
with this building an electric light plant, substituting

electricity

for

gas

pre-

lighting,

viously installed.

mechanical

plant for the filtration
of the drinking water, and a sewage disposal
plant for purification of sewage, have also
filter

been added.

Without detracting an iota from the high
character and eminent fitness of those in
charge of this noble institution; those whose
devotion and labor of love can never be re-

warded by any

financial

remuneration

;

only fitting to say that, which everyone who
knew the hospital and its development in its
earlier days will readily assent to, this great
and beneficent institution, with all its mighty
influences for good, and all its agencies for
the alleviation of mental sufi^ering and its
ministration to the "mind diseased," is a fitting monument and a lasting tribute to the
ability, high Christian character, faithful devotion to duty, economy and self abnegation
of Dr. S. S. Schultz, its first superintendent.
Never was there a fitter selection or one more
splendidly adapted to the delicate and difficult
work required than that of Dr. Schultz. He
was an eminent physician, and an earnest
Christian man who carried his Christianity
into all the daily duties of life, as they reHe
lated either to himself or to his State.
was particular and precise in all the details of
building, and the administration of his tnist
in every respect.
He was honest and conscientious to a penny in the use of the State's
no
funds and
grafter ever dared asked him,
"What's in it for me ?"'
Warm-hearted and sympathetic, while he
felt the pulse of a patient he also read the
suffering and the intense longing and the constantly changing desires of a clouded brain
and with the drugs he prescribed he also, with
gentle hand and fitly chosen words and equally
:

;

refined manner, touched a spot that
apothecary's art could never reach.

all

the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

362

The Master sat patiently at Jacob's well
and broke the bread of life to a poor and sin-

How

ful female.

like his blaster

work among young
rooms could be provided in the church
building, where young men could gather in
the evening and be supplied with reading matter that would be elevating and helpful in the
formation of Christian character. There was
no Young AIen"s Christian Association at that
time in Danville, and indeed no other place
under Christian influence where young men
of great benefit to the

men

was for

him, when taking his daily rounds among his
unfortunate patients and meeting a poor, demented woman, whose delusion was that her
food was poisoned, to sit gently down beside
her and win her to confidence by himself eating from her humble bowl. Dr. Schultz commanded the respect and reverence of all w^ho
labored under him, the trust and love of all
his patients, and the unbounded confidence
of the entire community in which he moved.

could gather.

The elements were
So mixed

And

say to

him
all

that

Nature might stand up.
was a man

the world, this

After Dr. Schultz's death his first assistant.
Dr. Hugh B. Meredith, succeeded him as
superintendent, and has held that responsible
position ever since. An account of Dr. Meredith and his professional work will be found
in his

biographical sketch.
present hospital staff is as follows
Superintendent and physician, FI. B. Mereassistant physicians. James E.
dith, M. D.

The

;

Robbins. AI. D.. William H. Krickbaum,
M. D., E. S. Shellenberger, M. D., Tames S.
Hammers, M. D., Frank D. Glenn" M. D.,
L. R. Chamberlain, M. D., G. B. M. Free,
M. D. woman physician, Ida Ashenhurst,
M. D. surgeons, Reed Bums, AI. D.. Granville T. Matlack, M. D.
dentist. I. H. Jennings, D. D. S. ophthalmologist. J. J. Brown,
M. D. superintendent of nurses. Henrietta
Y. McCormick steward, Howard B. Schultz
;

;

William H.

clerk,

Frank

;

Orth

;

Harvey

druggist,

housekeeper, Mrs. Kate D. Rhoades

;

supervisors. Thomas Swank, Mrs. J. B. Jordan; musician. Edith Benford.
Trustees
William Field Shay, president
William F. Lowry, secretary I. X. Grier,
Esq. Robert J. Pegg; Olin F. Harvey, M. D.
Herbert T. Hecht; Edward Brennan Samuel
:

;

D. Townsend

;

Theodore Reitmeyer.

Thomas Beaver Free Library

Mr. Thomas Beaver, who had so much at
heart the interests of the young men of the
town, was appealed to for help in carrying out
this project.
Mr. Beaver at once took a deep
interest in the matter and looked the ground
over at the church, with a view to the erection
of such an addition to the building as would
accomplish the object sought after. Before,
however, any definite plan of building had
been formed, or the movement put on a practical basis. Air. Beaver had carried the plan to
a

much

one

larger and broader scope than any-

else

had dared dream

of.

few days

after the meeting on the church grounds Air.
Beaver came to one of the parties interested
and handed him the following paper
:

"Reading rooms and Library

.Association.

"Trustees of AI. E. P." (Alahoning English
Presbyterian) "Church to nominate ])resident.
Official Board of St. Paul's vice president,
Shindel, Lutheran, secretary.
"Board of Directors to be nominated by St.
Peter's Episcopal, Lutheran, Baptist, Grove,
Trinity. German Lutheran. German Reformed,
Evangelical, Welsh, on a tie the president to
have the casting vote. Officers to lie ex-officio
members of the Board.
"No books to be taken from the Library.
"Each of the above named directors to have
the right to name which of their church papers
and reviews shall be taken. Politics must, as
far as possible, be excluded, yet one or more

of the organs of the various political parties
shall be taken. Among the monthlies. I would
suggest the North American Review, Popular
Science Alonthly, Atlantic, the Century and
Lippincott's. .'American Edition of the Edinone
burgh, Westminster and Blackwood's
;

This institution, which has contributed so
much to the happiness and to the intellectual
advancement of the whole community, had its
inception in an efifort to build an addition to
the Mahoning Presbyterian Church which
w^ould give increased facilities to young men
for mental development.
In the spring of
1886 the pastor of the Alahoning Church.
Rev. Robert L. Stewart, together with some
of his workers, felt that it would be a source

copy of the London Weekly Times. I would
exclude all the denominational reviews. I will
(provided the foregoing formula can be satisfactorily arranged so as to secure harmonious
and united action") donate the Chamberlin
house for the purpose and $2,000 to form the
nucleus for the Librarv and an endowment of
Catawissa Preferred
S20.000.
($20,000.

—

$i-3,S0.1

"An

entrance fee of 2^ or ^o cents a family

Old Academy Building, Danville,

Thomas Beaver Free

Lip.karv

and Y. M.

Pa., in 1880

C. A. Bl:ilding,

Danville, Pa.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Ije charged to provide for
per annum should
gas and fuel."
The Chaniberlin house mentioned in the
above paper was the large stone mansion built
William H. Chamberlin, Mr. Beaver's son-

in-law,

on Bloom

street,

now owned and

oc-

cupied by Edward S Gearhart, Esq.
While the projectors of this movement were
recovering from their surprise at the sudden
enlargement and development of their plan,
some objection was made in the neighborhood
of the Chamlicrlin house to its use for such a
purpose and Mr. Beaver, learning of

were made

in the original plan, each change
increasing the efficiency of the building and
adding to the beauty and charm of its architecture.
Rev. S. A. Taggart, the State secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, did much to enlarge and complete the
plans for the Y. M. C. A. annex. The building was dedicated and handed over to the
The program of the
trustees Aug. 29, 1888.
dedicatory services was as follows
:

OPENING CEREMONIES
of the

THOMAS BEAVER FREE LIBRARY

public
this objection, at once changed his plans and
authorized Rev. R. L. Stewart to secure an:

DANVILLE,

CITIZENS'

Order of March.
N. G. P.
22, G. A. R.
Fire
Company, No. i.
Friendship
Washington Fire Company, No. 2.
Continental Fire Company, No. 3.
Good Will Fire Company, No. 4.
Business Men and Citizens.

Company

He presented the objection to his
uncle and secured an interview between Mr.
Beaver and Rev. S. A. Taggart, who was the
State secretary of the Young Men's Christian
Association at that time, the result of this interview being a plan to join to the library
buikhng a separate building for the Young
Men's Christian Association.
In accordance with this arrangement the
character of the structure was changed and a
building of cut stone substituted for the brick

third floor.

Aluch credit
contemplated.
building
is due to the architect, Mr. C. S. Wetzel, at
whose suggestion many important changes
at

Distinguished Visitors.

Route of Parade.

The
ceed

line will form on Mill
to the Beaver Mansion

and guests over

line of

FIRE

and Market streets, proand escort Mr. Beaver
to Opera House.

march

WORKS ON RIVER

Opposite Pine Street,

in the State,

and very closely identified with the movement
for the uplifting and betterment of the young
men of Pennsylvania. He at once saw the mistake of attempting to help young men on the

F, 12th Regt.

Goodrich Post, No.

could be induced to climb to

movement

DEMONSTRATION!

A PUBLIC PAR.\DE WILL CE HELD AT lO o'CLOCK.

third floor to avail themselves of the
limited advantages that such quarters would
Matters thus stood uncertain at
afiford them.

Christian .Association

1888,

DANVILLE, PA.

the

nephew of Mr. Thomas Beaver, was present
He was very
at the laying of the cornerstone.
prominently connected with the Young Men's

29,

in the

OPERA HOUSE

Market and Ferry streets. Mr. Stewart at
once secured from Dr. Oglesby this option and
immediately Mr. Beaver closed the negotiaMr. C. S.
tions and purchased the property.
Wetzel was employed as architect and a brick
was
planned.
building of moderate proportions
The thought was to provide quarters for the
were
floor.
There
men
the
third
on
young
many objections to this plan, among the most
potent the fact that few young men, not spe-

the laying of the cornerstone of the building,
July 5, 1886.
General (afterwards Governor") Beaver, a

PA.,

on
^\'ednesday, August

other location.
Dr. James Oglesby had at that time an option for the purchase of the corner then occupied by the "Danville Hotel." corner of

cially interested,

363

8 o'clock P. M.

EXERCISES IN OPERA HOUSE
WILL BEGIN AT II A. M.
Music

Strickland's Orchestra

Prayer
Rev. T. L. Edzvards, of Kingston, Pa.
Transfer of Library to Trustees
Rev. John DeWitt, D. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio
Response on Behalf of Trltstees
Judge H. M. Hinckley
Strickland's Orchestra
Music
Rev. Robert L. Stewart
President of the Day. Dr. S. S. Schultz.

BENEniCTiON

On Thursday
in the

evening a Mass Meeting will be held
in the interest of the Y. M. C. A.,

Opera House,
o'clock.

COMMITTEES.
General Citiaens' Committee.

first

T. O.

Van

Alen. President.
Chas. Chalfant, Secretary.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

364

Committee of Arrangements.

Finance Committee.
Messrs. John E. Hill, H. L. Gross,

W. Kase

The Scotch granite columns used in
granite.
the e.xterior construction add much to the
architectural appearance of the structure.

West.

Committee on Resolutions.
Messrs. Clias. Chalfant, Jas. Scarlet, H. M. Hinckley,
W. M. Gearhart, A. J. Frick.

Committee on
Messrs.

A. Yorks,

Notification.

E. Hill,

C. Johnston,

L. P'isher.

Chief Marshal.
A.

on Ferry street of "o feet and is attached to
the library building by a covered passage way.
The exterior finish of the Y. M. C. A. build-

Frick.

Aides.

Marble tiling and stone newels mark the substantial interior of the library, which is spacious in distances and arranged in perfect conformity to the usage of such an institution.

To the rear of the Library is the annex
building, which was leased to the State Executive Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association for the use of the local Association, for a long period at a nominal rent
per year. This addition occupies a frontage

K. West.

Committee on Music.
Messrs.

four feet above the street level, and
presents a perspective of a massive base harmonizing with the somewhat broken lines of
its elevation.
The building is constructed of
light gray stone, which is trimmed with

rising

Messrs. G. M. Shoop, David Clark, S. A. Yorks, Jas.
Cruikshank, Geo. B. Brown, Dr. S. S. Schultz.

ing

the

same

as that of the adjoining library

Messrs. John Sweisfort, C. P. Hancock, Chas.
Chalfant, Wm. G. Kramer.

building.

The

trustees named by Mr. Beaver at the
time of the dedication of the hbrary were as
follows:
H. M. Hinckley, President, Ma-

Wetzel, now the wife of J. R. M. Curry. Miss
Jennie Bird was elected librarian in 1909 and
still holds that responsible position.
Her as-

honing Presbyterian Church

sistant at the present writing is

;

Yorks,

,'\.

Grove Presbyterian Church Wm. J. Baldy,
Christ Memorial Church, vice president Wil;

The first librarian was Miss Mollie Wetzel.
She was succeeded by her niece. Miss Mary

Thomas Beaver, the donor of this free
was a man of warm and generous im-

;

son M. Gearhart, Secretary, St. Paul's M. E.
Church; Henry Vincent, Trinity M. E.
Church Joseph Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church William E. Gosh, Trinity Lutheran Church Jonathan Sweisfort, Shiloh Reformed Church Lewis Rodenhoffer, St. JoW. F. McCormick,
seph's R. C. Church
;

;

Emanuel Evangelical Church John Purpur,
St. John's German Lutheran Church
James
Bateman, Welsh Congregational Church
Samuel Goldsmith, B'nai Zion Synagogue F.
M. Herrington, First Baptist Church.
;

;

These buildings were erected at a cost of
between one and two hundred thousand dolA. G. Voris was the builder.

endowment was left for the support of the
in
the
but
present time, through delibrary,
preciation of securities, it is scarcely adequate
to carry on the work and provide for improvements.
The first year the library contained
six thotisand books.
The dimensions of the building are 48 by 78
feet.
strip of lawn separates it from the
annex. The library building rises three stories
from the pavement. The frontage of the
structtire recedes five feet from the building
line of the street, with the first floor level
lars.

Miss Margaret

Lovett.
library,

He was always studying some method
doing good and took much pleasure in
spending his money freely for the public welfare and the happiness of other people. Danville has been the recipient of much that is
substantial from his hand, but no more enduring monument could be erected than the free
library that bears his name and through the
years to come many who never knew Thomas
Beaver, but who have been helped and inspired and refreshed at the fountain of knowledge that he erected, will bless his memory
pulses.

;

testify to his wisdom and generosity.
Thomas Beaver was born Nov. 16, 1814.

and

Perry county. Pa., son of Rev. Peter and
Elizabeth (Gilbert) Beaver. He came to Danville in 1857 and from that time for many
years was associated with the thrift and inMr.
dustry and development of Danville.
Beaver was married Jan. 23, 1838, to Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of Robert B. and CassanTheir children,
dra (Berryhill) Wilkins.
though not born in Danville, came here at an
with the people
and
were
identified
early age
of t)anville until they married. The family
consisted of: Emily, married to William H.

a
J

O
a

o
a

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Chamberlin; Arthur, married to Miss Alice
Diehl, daughter of Joseph Diehl; Alice, married to William H. Browne, a prominent attorney of Philadelphia Laura, married to Rev.

365

Walter A. Edwards, W. D. Laumaster, George
B. Bernhard, Samuel Miller, H. A. Messier,
James A. Blyth.

;

John DeWitt, D. D., professor in Princeton
Theological Seminary and Elizabeth Stewart,
married to Lemuel E. Wells, of New York.

George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital

;

The only members of

this family living at the
present writing are Mrs. Brown, residing in

Lemuel

Philadelphia; and Mrs.
residing in Danville.

Young Men's

E. Wells,

now

Christian Association

There had been an

organization of the
Christian Association long prior
to the building of the Library and the Y. M. C.
A. building. In 1872 an Association was organized in the Mahoning Presbyterian Church,
Presiand the following officers were elected
dent, Samuel G. Butler vice president, John
R.
Rote
Sweisf ort secretary, John
librarian,
The first managers of that
H. H. Yorgy.
Association were: James M. Coulter, William
McCormick, C. F. Lloyd, John Sweisfort, C.

Young Men's

;

Brad way.
After some years this Association was abandoned and at the time the new building was
P.

was no Association in existence.
The experience of most Young Men's Chris-

erected there

an Association labors
up an organization
a building becomes a necessity. The ex-

tian Associations is that

for

some years

until

in building

perience of the Danville Association was just
the reverse.
A building was erected and then
an Association had to be made to fit it. This
was more difficult than the ordinary experience.
However, an organization was effected soon
after the building was completed, and has been
maintained to the present time. It has had its
ups and downs, especially its downs. At times
the possibility of abandoning the work stared
the Association in the face.
At last, however, in 191 2, Mrs. A. A. Geisinger came to the rescue and at a total cost of
$32,000 so enlarged and improved the building that the Association was able to offer much
greater advantages to young men than ever before. The gymnasium was enlarged, a bowling
a swimming pool was inbuilding was opened with appropriate exercises July 27, 1913.
The present general secretary is James A.
Blyth. and the physical director Gustave
Lindner.
The general secretaries since the erection of
alley

was added and

stalled.

The

the building
T. Gillison,

have been
F. H. Townsend, J.
H. E. Dodge, George R. Waters,
:

Built

upon a terrace at the foot of the range
bound Danville upon the north,
this handsome modern hospital
occupies one
of the commanding viewpoints for which the
town is famous. From this elevation the entire valley in which lies the industrial
borough
of

hills that

of Danville may be viewed. On the right the
bold crest of "Baldtop" rears its majestic
form with the high summit of Montour ridge
stretching down the river; in front are to be
seen the turrets of the old but still beautiful
Grove mansion, and beyond in the distance is
the cluster of great buildings that form the
State Hospital for the Insane; while spread
out to view between are the homes and factories of the town for which this beneficent
building was constructed.
;

The inspiration for this magnificent hospital
came through the desire of Mrs. Abigail A.
Geisinger to perpetuate the memory of her departed husband, George Francis Geisinger,
who was one of Danville's most substantial
and useful citizens. No more enduring and
utilitarian memorial could have been conceived than an institution to relieve suffering
and extend the lives of those of the citizens
of Danville whose means are insufficient to
pay for the services of specialists, or who need
the prompt attention of skilled surgeons at the
moment when life hangs by only a thread.
It was during the early part of September,
1912, that Mrs. Geisinger purchased the tract
of five acres, part of the Magill estate, upon
which the hospital now stands and in October
following she bought nine more acres adjoin;

ing, in

order to prevent encroaching residences

the charming view from the ocof the building.
The street upon
which the building fronts was graded and the
name of Pleasant avenue given it. This street
is parallel with the
Bloomsburg road and in a
section that for many years has been unoccupied by buildings. It is expected that a subdivision of which the town may well feel proud
will soon be laid out surrounding the hospital.
Planning for the Future. Before the
plans were drawn for the hospital Mrs.

shutting

oft'

cupants

—

Geisinger selected
ing of Dr. J. M.

a
consistcommittee,
Baldy, W. L. McClure
and Thomas J. Price, to cooperate with the
architect, John H. Brugler. in the preparation
of the plans.
This committee visited Phila-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

366

delphia and other cities, with the view of obtaining information as to the most modern
methods of construction and operation of hosThe committee finally
pitals and sanitariums.
selected a set of plans modeled in part after
the hospital at Huntingdon, in the county of
that name, a building which has long stood as
the finest example of a modern hospital.

These plans were, however, modified to suit
the conditions in Danville, and greatly improved by radical changes which were necessary in view of the rapid development of sanitation during the past few years.
The plans were approved on Jan. 23, 1913,
and on April 21st of that year the contract for
the construction of the hospital was awarded
to the Shamokin Lumber & Manufacturing
Company for the sum of $160,000. This company in turn awarded the contract for the

work

Evans' Sons, of Danville.
however, have so enlarged, and
such additions have been made to the original
design, that the whole at completion will have
cost more than $300,000.
Breaking the Ground. The first event
stone

The

to T. L.

plans,

—

note

the
the

erection

of the

buildings

form
hospital was the breakA large
ing of ground on May i, 19 13.
number of persons assembled on the spot selected, on that morning, and at exactly 9 130
Mrs. Geisinger stuck the spade into the ground
and lifted out a portion of earth the first
which

—

operation of the many required to complete the
work of erection. So enthusiastic was the
benefactress of the structure that she not only
broke the ground but had lifted out three
spadefuls before she realized the action. Rev.

James Wollaston Kirk was present on this occasion and offered prayers before and after
the ceremony of breaking grotmd, also reading
Rev. Robert B. Jack also
the 127th Psalm.
offered prayer, and made an address.
Laving the Corner Stone. The most
ceremonious event in the history of the
was the laying of the cornerhospital

—

which occurred at high noon, Sept. i,
It w&s strictly a Masonic event and
1913.
participated in by the Grand Lodge of the
State and many subordinate lodges from
near-by towns. Over three thousand persons
attended the ceremonies and the occasion was
made one of the historic events of Danville.
stone,

procession was formed and marched to
It was
the appointed spot in the morning.
led by R. W. Grand Marshal William G. Pursel, of Danville Lodge, No. 224.
Following
him came R. ^^^ Grand Master William L.

Gorgas, Deputy Grand Master Louis

.\.

V\a.-

tres.

Senior Grand

Warden William

L. Sidler,

Grand Warden Frederick A. Godcharles, Grand Treasurer F. W. Magill, Grand
Secretary ]\L Grier Youngnian, Grand Chaplain Rev. Edgar R. Heckman, Deputy Grand
Secretary Martin H. Schram, Grand Deacons
William J. Rogers and Joseph Divel, Grand
Stewards George E. Wilbur and Elias S. Miller. Grand Pursuivant George Maires, Grand
Tyler W. Charles Haney, Grand Sword
Bearer \\'illiam V. Oglesby. Next came the
Junior

following subordinate lodges in line according
Benton, No. 667 Sunbury, No.
632; Mahoning (Danville), No. 516; Berwick,
No. 462 Orangeville, No. 460 Elysburg, No.
414; Northumberland, No. 404; Watsontown,
No. 401: Bloomsburg, No. 265; Milton. No.
to seniority

;

256

;

Danville, No. 224 Sunbury, No. 22.
of laying the cornerstone
:

The ceremonies

were most impressive and were followed by
an earnest and most eloquent address by Rev.
Robert Bonner Jack, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
It is of interest to note that the regalia used
on the occasion by the Grand Lodge possessed
much historical interest, having been used at
the laying of the cornerstones of the State
Capitol at Harrisburg, the Masonic Temple at
Philadelphia, Christ's Memorial Church at
the
Thomas Beaver Free
Danville, and
.Mthough worn
Library at the same place.
and faded, the regalia appeared in good condition and to members of the fraternity ac-

quainted with its history brought up many
cherished recollections.
The articles placed within the cornerstone
were as follows:
Photograph of George
Francis Geisinger, son of Commodore David
N.
U.
.S.
Photograph of Abigail A.
Geisinger,
Geisinger. daughter of Isaac and Abigail Cornelison.
Photograph of John H. Brugler. the
architect of the buildings.
Photographs of
the Cornelison and Geisinger homes. Representation of the completed hospital, according
to the plans of the architect. Personal records
of Mr. and Mrs. Geisinger, and a number of

newspapers and

coins.

—

The Buildings. The instructions given the
architect and committee by Mrs. Geisinger
were to make the hospital and subordinate
buildings as complete and artistic as modern
methods could design, and the result is an
ideal institution in construction,

equipment and

furnishings. It may be trtithfully stated that
as completed no other structure or group of
hospital buildings, with a capacity of seventyfive patients, can approach the George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital in completeness of

A.ssi;.\ii;l.\(;e

Mrs. George

b'.

thi-:

Lavkw; uf

tiii-:

L'i

irnkkstu-NK

Giusingek Urlakinc, Gruuxd for the Hospital

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
newness of fittings. Not the smallest
item was omitted to make it the superior of
any existing similar institution, either in America or Europe, and those who have had the opthe institutions of this
portunity of visiting
character in other parts of the world are
unanimous in approving the verdict of superidetail or

ority given this hospital.
The site is an ideal one,

combining the advantages of elevation, light, air and ventilation.
five buildings
erected
are
Upon this ground
of uniform design, built of gray limestone

from Cleveland, Ohio, and light-toned pressed
from Clarion county. Pa. These buildings consist of the main hospital structure,
combined boiler-house and laundry, a home
for the nurses, a garage and stable, and the
incinerating plant. The main building has been
designed on the pavilion plan, having a central
three-story structure, with wings projecting
In the east and west
east, west and north.
wings are to be found the wards for patients
and accessory rooms for serving them. Between the central building and the wings are
connecting glass "solaria," or sun rooms for
brick

The

treatment by the healing effect of light.
wards are for the accommodation of adult patients, while the first floor of the north wing
is set aside exclusively for the children.
is

The sub-basement, entirely below ground,
for the accommodation of the plumbing and
and

for storage purposes.
semi-basement, but three
feet below ground, well lighted by many winHere are to be found the clinical,
dows.
pathological, bacteriological and medical re-

drainage

pipes

Above

this

laboratories.

the

Occupying

two

large

rooms will be the X-ray department, the equipment of which is not surpassed by any other in
the land.
Tn another section is the elaborately
equipped department of hydro-therapeutics,
fitted with hot and cold sprays, showers and
electric light cabinets.
There are also the
Nauheim baths and all the necessary apparatus
for the treatment of cases by water and elecThe receiving and accident rooms are
tricity.
also upon this floor, being easy of access from

main ambulance entrance. Here also are
located the dental and orthopedic departments
and the drug laboratories and storage rooms.
A separate department, having its exit and
the

entrance entirely outside the building, will be
set aside for the treatment of contagious and
infectious diseases, and is so built as to be

and quickly fumigated.
Ascending one comes to the main floor, entrance to which is had by means of a short
flight of stone steps guarded by six massive

easily

367

Corinthian columns. Upon either side of the
entrance are the main otfice, the offices of the
superintendent and the chief nurse, the library
and the w-aiting room. From here radiate the
five wards of the institution, each of which is
a separate unit, having its own separate ward
nurse's office, diet kitchen, bathroom and
service rooms. All of the wards are comfortably furnished, heated, lighted and well ventilated.
On the second floor the wards are the
same as the first, and in addition there are a
number of private rooms for the treatment of
cases, which can be made en suite.
Three of the large rooms on the first floor can
be thrown into one. thus providing a lecture

special

meeting room for medical societies, or
for giving scientific or lantern exhibitions.
On the second floor of the north wing is located the operating suite, consisting of two

hall or

operating rooms, a sterilizing room, an mstrument room, an etherizing and recovery
room, and the surgeons' dressing room. In
planning this department every effort was

made to make it as modern as possible, and
the fittings are the most complete that science
could design or money purchase. On this floor
and projecting over the front of the building
is a large solarium for the use of
private patients, inclosed with glass and scientifically
ventilated and heated.
Another department
on this floor is devoted to maternity cases exclusively.

The wings of the hospital building are two
stories in height, but the central administration part is continued up another story. Upon
this floor are located the large and handsome
dining-room, appropriately furnished and supplied with a large number of small round
tables the kitchen the nurses' dining-room
and the apartments of the superintendent and
resident physicians and surgeons.
All of the
cooking is done by gas. to avoid dust and
smoke. The object in placing the kitchen upon
the top floor is to eliminate entirely the odors
of cooking so often characteristic of the best
;

;

hospitals.

Running through the center of the main
building is an automatic elevator of sufficient
size to carry a wheeled bed or stretcher.
Besides this there are freight and food elevators,
all electrically controlled and
entirely automatic, being operated by push buttons.
The
entire institution is cleaned by the vacuum
process through pipes leading from machines
in the sub-basement.
Training School. To the west of the main
building is the training school home for the
nurses, a department operated separately from

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

368

It is three-story, firethe hospital proper.
proof, and has space for thirty single rooms
for the inmates.
On the first floor are the
apartments of the head nurse, the library,
reading room, and a classroom for the nurses
in attendance.
Three of the larger rooms are
so arranged as to permit being thrown into one
by the opening of folding doors, thus affording a spacious lecture room. All the necessary
apparatus for lantern slide projection and lectures will be found here.
Garage. To the north of the main building is located the garage for the housing of
the automobile and horse-drawn ambulances.
Room is also found here for three cars of the
attending physicians. One end of the building is partitioned ofi:' for the use of horsedrawn vehicles, out of sight and sound of the
On the second floor are the
automobiles.
rooms of the male help of the hospital buildHere also is a reading room supplied
ings.

—

with reading matter and comfortably
nished for the use of the male help.

fur-

Near the garage is located a small brick incinerating building, where all refuse and dangerously infecting matter are burned.
Pozvcr-house. All the heating and power
come from a brick building ninety feet to the
north of the main building, connected with it
by a tunnel high enough to walk through, in
which are suspended the pipes for steam,
water and refrigeration. Thus the slightest
leak will at once be detected and stopped.
In the boiler room are three lOO-horsepower
tubular boilers, the steam pumps and other
apparatus necessarj' for so large a heating
Connecting with this room is the conplant.
crete coal bin. with a capacity of 200 tons. In
a separate room is the cold storage plant, the

—

refrigerating machinery and an

machine.

From

room

this

ice

making

pumped

the

chilled brine which cools the refrigerators in
the different kitchens and supplies chilled water to the drinking fountains.
The upper floor of the power-house

de-

voted mainly to the laundry. Here are steam
washers, mangles, ironing machines and a
drying room, equipment equal to many of the

most

modem

laundries of the State.

Here

also located a high-pressure steam sterilizing
for the cleansing of infected

apparatus,

clothing.
The entire institution

lighted by both gas
being generated in
a system of
powerhouse.
inter-communicating telephones is installed, together with call-bells and telephone connections with the outside sen-ice lines.

and

the

electricity, the latter

addition

The surrounding grounds will be converted into a beautiful park, the greenery of
which will be most restful to the eye of the
convalescent.
In this work the most noted
landscape gardeners have been called upon.

George

in whose
memory
was born in Hingham, Mass., in September, 1821, and was a son
of Commodore David Geisinger, of the United
States Navy. He completed his education in
Boston, and went at an early day to Baltimore,
where he engaged in mercantile business. In
1844 he accompanied his father on a pleasure
trip abroad, returning to Baltimore two years
this

hospital

Geisinger,

erected,

later.
In 1847 he went to South America,
where he spent five years. Coming back in
1849, he went to California.
Subsequently
Mr. Geisinger was in Philadelphia, acting as
his father's secretary at the Naval Asylum
until 1854.
In June, 1855, he came to Danville as bookkeeper for the Grove Brothers,
who were operating the plant now the propWhen
erty of the Reading Iron Company.
the Grove Brothers ceased to operate Mr. Geisinger entered the employ of their successors.

Waterman & Beaver, with whom he remained
for twenty-four years, meantime becoming a
of the firm.
Later he acquired an

member

interest in the

Kingston Coal Company, which
has been a source of great profit. Mr. Geiwas
married
to Abigail A. Cornelison
singer
June 7, 1865. He died Nov. 16, 1883. (See
biographical section.)
POST OFFICE

The

Danville post office was opened for the
use of the public about 1801, in a frame building which stood on the site of the Rhodes
home. Before 1806 residents could only send
letters to, or receive them from, friends or
business men by the help of chance travelers
who happened to be going to or coming from
the places of address. W'hen after a long time
the mail did come, was sorted, and to be
found at a certain place, the postage, which

was 25 cents, was in many instances a burden
which sorely troubled the people to whom it
was addressed. Often days elapsed before the
mail could be lifted from the office.
The first postmaster at Danville was Gen.
\\'illiam Montgomery, who was appointed
He was succeeded April i,
April I, 1801.
The
1803, by his son. Daniel Montgomery.
postmastership remained in the Montgomery
family until July i, 18 13, when Rudolph Sechler was appointed.
He continued in office until

NuRSiJS*

Home — George

Laving the Cornerstone

Geisixgeu ]\Iemorial Hospital

— George

Geisinger Memorial Hospital

l_Li.'i£^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Nov. 24, 1820, when James Loughead was appointed, and he held the office for fourteen

(two

routes),

Sept. 21,

when Thomas Chalfant was

1853,

the position until May 28,
appointed.
located in
the building on Mill street now occupied by
Fred W. Howe as a clothing store. Mr. Russell held the office of postmaster until April 16,

appointed; he

filled

1861, when Andrew F. Russell was
The post office at that time was

when he was succeeded by Ogden H.
Ostrander, who served until April 5, 1869. At
the latter date Charles W. Eckman was ap1867,

pointed postmaster, and by various reappointments held the position until Dec. 5, 1885,
when Thomas Chalfant was again appointed,
by President Cleveland. In the meantime the
post ofiice had been removed to the Opera
House block and was located in the room
afterwards occupied by the People's Bank.
Thomas Chalfant retained the position during the administration of President Cleveland

and was succeeded, Jan. 28, 1890, by Alexander J. Frick.
But President Cleveland,
being again elected, appointed Thomas Chalfant, June I, 1894, and Mr. Chalfant remained
in the position during the balance of the Cleveland administration and until Feb. 15, 1899,
when Thomas J. Price was appointed. Mr.
Price was succeeded, March 18, 1902, by
Charles P. Harder, whose services extended

June 2"], iqo6, when he was succeeded by
William L. Gouger. In the meantime the post
office had again been moved and was nov^' lo-

and

White

Hall.

On Feb. i, 1834, Dr. David Petrikin
years.
took charge of the office, under appointment,
and retained it until March 21, 1837, when he

handed it over to John Best, who had been appointed as his successor. Mr. Best was succeeded, March 25, 1841, by Sharpless Taylor;
and he was succeeded, Nov. 9, 1842, by Alexander Best. Mr. Best located the office at his
On April 11, 1849,
residence on Mill street.
Gideon M. Shoop was appointed to succeed
Alexander Best, and he served as postmaster
until Nov. 26, 1852, when he was followed by
Thomas C. Ellis, who held the position until

Washingtonville

369

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
River Bridge
Bridge companies seem to have been a necessary evil in the days gone by. They were never
popular and ofttimes were instruments of great
oppression, and were always a barrier in the
way of the boy who wanted to cross to the
opposite side and did not have the necessary
means to pay the toll. When once the State
opened the way to free the communities from
the burden of bridge tolls these communities
were not slow to take advantage of the provisions of the law, and now but few, if any,
bridges exist.
In January, 1828, the Danville Bridge Company was chartered to build a bridge across the
toll

Susquehanna river. Daniel Montgomery was
James Loughead, treasurer, and
lohn Cooper, secretary. The managers at that
time were John C. Boyd, William Colt, Peter
Baldy, Sr., William Boyd, Andrew McReynolds and Robert C. Grier. The bridge was
completed in 1829 and Daniel Hoffman was
president,

made

the

first toll

gatherer, at a salary of $65

Prior to the 14th day of ^ilarch,
per year.
1846, eleven dividends had been declared upon
the stock. Upon that day the bridge was carDaniel Blizzard was
ried away by a flood.
carried down on a fragment of the bridge and
was rescued with great difficulty near the old
After this flood there were no
stone house.
dividends declared until 1863.
After the bridge was taken away, in 1846,
a movement was immediately made to replace
N.
it and a contract was made with David

Kownover, who completed his work in a very
was again spanned by

short time and the river
a bridge.

until

This second bridge stood the awful onwhen the
slaught of flood and storm in 1865,
water rose four feet above the record of the

cated in

But in 1873, on St.
highest flood preceding.
Patrick's Day, it was swept away in the flood,
when the Catawissa bridge was carried down
and forced against it.
third bridge was at once built by the
Smith Bridge Company, of Ohio. This was a
fine structure, with foot walks on either side,

of Danville, are

protected from the driveway by high board
partitions which broke the force of the storms
of winter and sheltered from the blazing sun

its present quarters in the Elks' buildcorner of Mill and Mahoning streets.
Mr. Gouger held the position until June 29,
1914, when Thomas G. \'incent. the present

ing,

postmaster,

was appointed.

Free delivery was introduced into Danville
December, 1892. \\. the present writing
there are seven rural routes out of Danville.
The post offices of Alontour county, outside
dale,

Exchange, Grovania, MausMooresburg, Ottawa, Strawberry Ridge

of summer.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

370

In 1893 proceedings were instituted to free
under the provisions of an act of

this bridge

Viewers were appointed, who reported in favor of the taking of the bridge by
the counties of Montour and Northumberland,
and fixed the damages at $32,000. This award
was appealed from and the case was removed
to Clinton county for trial.
jury returned
Assembly.

a verdict for $36,722.38.
This placed the Danville bridge upon the
free list, to the delight of a people who felt
The
that they had long been imposed upon.
toll gatherers had been Daniel Hoffman, RuThornton
S.
Isaiah
dolph Sechler, E. Mellon,

and Joseph Hunter.

The following

table

shows the

toll rates in

1828:

R. S. Simington, William H. Magill, W. W.
Pinneo, John Grove, Thomas Chalfant, Isaac
X. Grier, Jacob Snyder, Jacob Loeb, Paul
Leidy and Dan Morgan, of the Borough of
Danville, in Montour County, be and they are
hereby appointed commissioners, who, or a
majority of them, are hereby authorized to establish a company, by the name, style and title
of the Danville Water Company, to be located
in the Borough of Danville, in the County of
Montour, for the purpose of supplying the
inhabitants of the Borough of Danville aforesaid with a sufficient supply of pure and wholesome water from the Susquehanna river, or
such other source as may be deemed most suitable and convenient said company to have a
be divided
capital not exceeding $50,000, to
into 2,500 shares of $20 each which company
shall be organized, managed and controlled
under and in accordance with the provisions of
the Act of Assembly passed the nth day of
;

;

Cents
Six-horse team
Five-horse team
Four-horse team

Three-horse team
Two-horse team
One-horse Dearborn or gig
One horse and rider
One foot person
Cattle, each
Sheep and hogs, each
Clergymen preaching in town
Churchgoers
Funerals and attendants
•.

62^2
5°
37/4
31/4
25
l8j4
I2}4
3

4
i

Free
Free
Free

In later years these tolls were largely increased.
In 1904, on the 9th of March, this third
ice
bridge was swept away by a tremendous
The counties of Montour and Northflood.

umberland

once instituted proceedings for

the erection of a new bridge by the State, and
the present beautiful and substantial bridge
was the result. It is about a quarter of a mile

and bears an immense traffic to and
from the south side. It is maintained by the
two counties of Montour and Northumberland.
in length

IVaterzi'orks

The question of supplying Danville with
water was earnestly debated for a long time
and various plans had been proposed. Some
favored a reservoir on a high point and the
the river by powerforcing of the water from
ful engines. Others, who favored a reservoir,
insisted on bringing the water from Roaring
creek in pipes passing under the river bed;
while others, again, were inclined to connect
with the waterworks at the State Hospital for
the Insane.

On March

an act was passed pro"That Thomas Beaver, Dr.

26, 1867,

viding as follows

March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, entitled, 'An Act to provide for the incorporation of Gas and Water
"

Companies.'
The formation of this company was never
a head
completed, but the luovement brought to
the various propositions in regard to supplying
the town with water, and communications were
received explaining the character and success
of the "Holly System," then recently introduced by the Holly firm at Lockport, New
York.
The borough council took up the subject,
and whilst all urged a water supply, the counthe
cil was about equally divided between

Holly System and a reservoir.

Finally a com-

consisting of George W. Reay, J.
Sweisfort, William Buckley and M. D. L.
Sechler, was appointed to investigate the

mittee,

subject.

March 23, 1872, an act of the Legislature
authorized the borough of Danville to establish
waterworks, and among other things provided

Dan Morgan and John C.
Rhoades should be water commissioners, for
the purpose of supervising and overseeing the
construction, maintaining and managing of
said waterworks, the first of whom was to hold
his office for the term of one year, the second
for two years and the last named for three
that A. G. Voris,

that thereafter
years; atid providing further
the burgess and town council should appoint
to
annually a person as water commissioner,
hold his office for the term of three years; and
countowri
and
authorizing further the burgess
be
cil to borrow such sums of money as might

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

371

necessary-, not exceeding, in the whole, the sum
of $125,000, and to issue, in payment thereof,

pany, at Lockport, N. Y., was for $36,000. In
1880 the council had a well sunk in the river

coupon bonds of the said borough, in sums
not less than $50, bearing a rate of interest
not exceeding eight per centum per annum.
This act further provided that all moneys received from the negotiation of said bonds, together with all water rents, income or profits
from the waterworks, should be kept apart
from the other moneys of the borough and
should be designated the water fund and
should be expended only in the construction,
maintenance and repair of said works or in
payment of the interest and principal of the
said bonds.
In April, 1872, the committee appointed by
council visited I^lmira, Buffalo, Binghamton,
Rochester, Auburn and other cities where the
various plans were in operation.
majority
of this committee was at first opposed to the
"Holly System," but after a full investigation
they unanimously reported in its favor. Previous to this an election had been held at the
courthouse, to ascertain the popular sentiment
upon this question. There was a large majority in favor of water, but owing to some informality the result was not satisfactory.
After a warm contest in council the Holly
System was adopted by the casting vote of
Burgess Oscar Ephlin, and the contract was
accordingly made with the Holly Company, at
Lockport, N. Y. The final vote on adopting
the Holly System was as follows
For the

fifty feet in length, five feet wide and ten feet
After this well was located, the filter
deep.
in the river was abandoned.

Holly Works
George W. Reay, William
Buckley, Jacob Schuster, George W. Miles, J.
Sweisfort, M. D. L. Sechler, and Oscar Eph-

Many will remember the dim lights upon
the streets, the flickering flame in the home
antl the store, and above all the many tilts with
the meter man, whose figures could never lie.
Many felt, in those days, as many have since
felt, that the meter reader is like the one who
was refused admittance by the lady of the
house, on the ground that he was intoxicated.
"That's the reason I'm sent, mum, was the

lin,

burgess.

uel Lewis,

George Lovett, Sam-

Against:

James

L. Riehl,

Henry M. Schoch,

Hickman Frame.
The waterworks were

located on the river
bank in the First ward, just west of the river

bridge. The engines and pumps installed
of great power.
filter was constructed
distance out in the river, and the water

were
some
from

The water

plant

maintained with great

efficiency, and is deemed, even at the present
day, to be able, through increased pressure of
which it is capable, to drown out any serious

conflagration which might occur.
In 1 891 two fine Worthington duplex pumps
were installed, having a capacity of three milIn 1896 a new filter plant was
lion gallons.
installed, and in igoo an annex to the water-

works was completed.
In 1913 the sedimentation basins were completed and the filters enlarged and improved
and it is believed by those who are well informed that the Danville water system has few
superiors in the State.
;

Electric Light

Away

back

from the State

1854 a charter was obtained

to enable Danville to enjoy the

luxury of gaslight. The company purchased
land and began carrying out the purpose for
It was not long
which it was organized.
before Henry P. Baldy, or, as he was better
known, Captain Baldy, controlled the gas company, and for years furnished the light for the
homes and business places and the streets of
the town.

rejily,

"I can see double.''

It was with feelings of joy and yet mingled
through metal pipes through with some misgivings that a welcome was
every portion of the town, not only supplying given the electric company which turned its
water for private use, but proving a great footsteps towards Danville. The promise of
lietter lights and no more meter trouble apsafeguard in case of fire.

thence

forced

As originally installed the works had a
capacity of two million gallons in twenty-four
hours. There were two engines, each of 150
horsepower, two powerful rotary pumps, and
a gang of twelve piston pumps.
Ten miles of
pipe were at once laid and alDOUt one hundred
fire

hydrants installed.

Krebs

$87,500.

The

pipe was laid by
a contract for
for the engines and

& Company under
The

contract

pumps, with the Holly Manufacturing Com-

pealed to the simple-hearted householder, as
visions of pushing a button danced through
his mind.
It is well we do not always know
the drawbacks and hindrances, and the cost
and mental disturbances, that lie in the wake
Our anticipations
of coming improvements.
might be dimmed. But the electric light man
marked
an era in the
his
and
came,
coming
life of the town.

The Standard

Electric Light

Company was

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

372

1899 ^^'^ under its charter those who had been early residents of the
was furnished the people of Dan- community.
This company was composed of capiAt the time the park was first discussed, the
from Wilkes-Barre and other places, veterans of Danville urged the erecting of a

incorporated in
electric light
ville.

talists

and took over

monument

this line.

scriptions

all the former operations along
Later The Columbia and Montour

Electric

Company purchased the interests of
all other companies and now supplies light in
Danville, as well as in Bloomsburg, Berwick
and other neighboring towns.
The borough of Danville, however, in the
year 1906, erected a municipal plant for street
lighting, and with this plant, as well as The
Columbia and Alontour Electric Company's
plant, turning on the light in the town, there
should be very few deeds of evil.
Mctnorial Park

great ci\ic improvement was made in
Danville in 1907 and 1908 in the laying out
and comjjletion of Memorial Park. The site
of this park was the old Presbyterian cemetery, which at that time was in a most dilapidated condition. Here was a spot of tender
memory, the resting place of the dead for
one hundred years and more. The friends
of those interred there had either themselves
been numbered with the departed or had re-

moved from

Danville, and consequently many
graves were neglected and many stones had
become defaced or had disappeared entirely.
What was to be done with this silent city of
the dead ? No better answer could have been
made than was made, to erect it into a Memorial Park. So a number of public-spirited
citizens agitated the removal of the cemetery
and subscriptions were taken up to defray
the expense. Many bodies were removed, but

large

number

of the gravestones

still

re-

maining were laid flat and coxered with earth,
to raise the grade of the park. The old Petrikin cemetery, situated beside the Presbyterian
burying ground, was treated in like manner,
and so also the portion located on the west of
the Presbyterian ground, which was partially
under the Philadelphia & Reading railway
tracks. The work of removal and grading was
done under the direction of the trustees of the

Grove Presbyterian Church. Thomas
ers,

T-

Rog-

X. Grier, M. Grier Youngman, James

F. Magill,

B. Gearhart, T.

W. Bartholomew

to their

came

departed comrades. SubThe county com-

in rapidly.

missioners appropriated $s,cxDo, and in the
spring of 1908 the present granite obelisk was
completed. This monument was dedicated at
the same time that the park was thrown open
to the public, ]\Iay 30, 1908.
It is an obelisk
JT, feet in height, surrounded on four sides
by figures, of an infantryman, an artilleryman,
a cavalryman, and the Goddess of Peace, reFour granite balls, three feet in
spectively.
diameter, are placed at the corners of the base.
Two castiron cannon, relics of the Civil war,
stand on guard near the monument. The park
is provided with seats, has many beautiful
flowers, and is kept in neat condition by the

borough, into whose charge
18,

was given May

1908.

The

and

flagstaff
flag used on holiday occasions were donated by Frank E. De Long.
The flag is 15 by 25 feet, and the steel pole is
70 feet high.

River Front Park
j

This park was established beside the waterworks in 191 2 and in the following year a
fountain was placed in the center of the plot,
was raised by public subConcrete walks have been laid
scription.
through this park, flowers planted, and seats
placed therein and already it has become a
popular resort, especially in the warm summer
evenings. This park, together with the long
concrete walk built by F. Q. Hartman along
the river bank, will be part of a park system
whereby the whole front of the river bank at
Danville will become a public promenade instead of an unsightly dumping ground.
the cost of which

;

Market Square Park
Another park has been established on Market Square, extending from Ferry street to
Christ Memorial Church. The grounds have
been beautified and an electrically lighted
fountain, the gift of William G. Shoop, was
installed in

1913.

and Alexander Foster.

The

Mahoning Presbyterian Church, in
whose name was the title to this ground, transferred all right and title to the Grove Presbyterian Church. Over four hundred graves
were found that still contained the remains of

BOROUGH

OFFICI.ALS

Danville was erected into a borough by act
of General Assembly. Feb. 7, 1849. The first
burgess was Dr. William H. Magill. The first

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

373

town council was composed of five members, liam Morgan, D. M. Boyd, councilmen. 1862
as follows
Isaac Rank, burgess; Jacob Aten, William
George S. Sanders, George Bassett, Valentine Best, Frank E. Ruch, Edward
Mowrer, Charles W. Childs, David Grove,
H. Baldy. The first council meeting was held James L. Riehl, councilmen.
1863 B. K.
in the office of Edward H. Baldy, and the first
\'astine, burgess; James L. Riehl, William
business transacted was the election of Mr. Twist, William Lewis, John G. Hiler, John
Baldy as clerk of the body. Edward Young Rockafeller, councilmen. 1864 E. W. Conkwas chosen street commissioner at a salary ling, burgess; James L. Riehl, John G. Hiler,
of twenty dollars a year, and Thomas Jamison Joseph Diehl, C. Laubach, William Lewis,
was chosen constable.
councilmen.
1865 John G. Thompson, burOn the 24th of December, 1849, the council gess; Henry Harris, Dan Morgan, D. DeLong,
passed a resolution, making application to the William Henrie, Jacob Aten, councilmen.

—

State Legislature for the erection of a new
county, to be called Montour, with the county
seat at Danville.
It was also resolved to furnish the new county with necessary buildings.
On the 29th of March, 1850, the new counDr. William H. Magill was
cil was organized.
reelected burgess and Valentine Best was reelected as a member of the council. The new
members were Dr. Isaac Hughes, George B.

Thomas Woods, William Morgan.

Brown,

Valentine Best was chosen clerk and M. C.
Grier was elected treasurer.
The following have since served as burgess
and councilmen during the years indicated

—Thomas

;

Chalfant, burgess; James
F. Deen, John Rockafeller, J. C. Rhodes, A. F.
Russell, councilmen.
1852 Thomas Jamison,
1851

—

burgess; George S. Sanders, John Deen, Jr.,
G. W. Boyer, George W. Bryan, councilmen.
1853 Joseph D. Hahn, burgess; Daniel Ramsey, P. Hofer, David Jones, James Gaskins,
councilmen.
1854 Robert Aloore, burgess;

—

—Dr.

1866

Simington,

burgess;

Dan

Morgan, Francis Naylor, D. DeLong, William
Henrie, Charles H. Waters, councilmen. 1867
George Bassett, burgess James Cornelison,
John A. Winner, C. W. Childs, William Henrie, David Clark, James Kelly, Samuel Lewis,

—

;

M. D.

L. Sechler, Joseph Sechler, Thompson
John G. Thompson, E. Thompson,
councilmen. Previous to the election the borough had been divided into four wards, the
First, Second, Third and Fourth. Before that
time there had been two wards, the South and
the North, with five members of council, each
elected for one year. The change provided for
four wards and twelve councilmen, three from
each ward, one third of them to serve for one
year, one third two years and thCjOther third
three years, and also provided for the election
of one councilman each year from each ward.
The following indicates those elected each
Foster,

year:

—

1868 Robert McCoy, burgess; James L.
John Turner, William Han- Riehl, C. S. Books, George W. Reay, David
cock, James G. Maxwell, Robert McCoy, coun- (jrove, councilmen.
1869 A. J. Ammercilmen,
William Henrie, burgess; man, burgess William Henrie, J. S. Vastine,
1855
Smith B. Thompson, David Jones, Isaiah S. John R. Lunger, Franklin Boyer, councilmen.
Thornton, Frank E. Ruch, Isaac Ammerman, 1870 D. S. Bloom, burgess; William Buckcouncilmen. (By this council a census was or- ley, Hickman Frame, M. D. L. Sechler, Samdered, which was afterwards reported to coun- uel Lewis, councilmen.
Thomas Max1871
cil, showing the population to be 5,247.)
1S56 well, burgess H. M. Schoch, G. W. Miles,
David Clark, burgess Jacob Sechler, John (jeorge Lovett, Jacob Sweisfort, councilmen.
Best, John Arms. William Mowrer, Paul
1872 Oscar Ephlin, burgess; George W.
Leidy, Esq., councilmen. 1857 Jacob Seidel, Reay, Henry Vincent, Jacob Schuster, J. L.
Charles
burgess
Leighow, Riehl, councilmen.
Jacob Sechler,
1873 Edward Young,
Joseph R. Philips, Samuel Hamor, John Pat- burgess William Buckley, N. Hofer, Joseph
councilmen.
ton,
1858 Dr. Clarence H. W. Keely, Thomas Coxey, councilmen. 1874
Frick, burgess William Mowrer, David Jones,
R. Philips, burgess
James Vandling,
J.
Gideon Boyer, George S. Sanders, Frederick James Auld, W. D. Williams, David Clark,
Lammers, councilmen. 1859 Christian Lau- councilmen.
Charles Kaufman, bur1875
bach, burgess; D. N. Kownover, Joseph Diehl, gess M. D. L. Sechler, William T. Ramsey,
B. K. Vastine, D. M. Boyd, William Cook,
1. R.
Philips, T- W. \'on Nieda, councilmen.
councilmen.
i860 J. C. Rhodes, burgess; 1876— Henry M. Schoch, burgess; J. D. WilWilliam Cook, W. G. Patton, B. K. Vastine, liams, David Ruckle, \\'illiam K. Holloway,
Emanuel Houpt, Michael C. Grier, council- William R. Williams, councilmen Isaac Am-

John Deen,

Jr.,

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

;

—

—E.

;

Reuben
burgess
Voris, David James, Joseph Flanegan, Wil-

men.

1861

Voris,

;

merman was chosen

at a special election to

fill

the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

374

James Auld, who had become county commis-

—

1877 William C. Walker, burgess;
David Clark, C. A. Heath. A. li. Patton. John
A. Wands, councilmen. 1878 James Foster,
burgess J. W. Keely, Stephen Johnson, James
Welsh, Thompson Foster, councilmen.
1879
^James Foster, burgess William Angle, one
year; P. Johnson, three years; S. Trumbower,
Jacob Goldsmith, H. B. Strickland, Lewis
Rodenhoffer, one year. 1880 Joseph Hunter,
William Angle, William Keiner,
burg-ess
sioner.

—

;

—

;

—

In 1913 George B. Jacobs, the
present burgess, was elected.
The councilmen at the present time are
First Ward
Edward Purpur, J. R. M. Curry,

Amesbury.

—

Samuel C. Rebman. Second Ward John L.
Morgan, William lies, William G. Reese.
Third Ward James Finnegan, E. W. Peters,
Clarence Price.
Fourth Ward James P.
Connolley,
John Peckworth, William J.

—

Pickens.

;

Pursel, Nicholas Hofer, councilmen.
1881
Joseph Hunter, reelected burgess; A.
G. Voris, P. Keefer, Henry L. Gross, James
Welsh, councilmen.
William G. Gaskins was clerk to the council
for twenty years and was succeeded by Capt.
George Lovett in 1874. In 1879 J. Sweisfort

SCHOOLS

Hugh

—

was chosen clerk and he was succeeded by
Charles M. Zuber. Among the street commissioners were Emanuel Peters, Daniel McClow,
William C. Walker, Oliver Lenhart and Mr.
Faux. The street commissioner is also exofficio collector of the market tax, and presumedly a sort of inspector of that institution.

— Joseph Hunter, burgess; B. R. GearA. Yorks, D. B. Fetterman, F.
— Y. Thompson,
Derr, councilmen.
1883
K. Geringer, Hugh Pursel, Henry
burgess
Y.
Divel, David Grove, councilmen.
1884 —
1882

hart,

;

Thompson, burgess; H. M. Trumbower, J. H.
Montague, W. K. Holloway, H. A. Kneibler,
coimciimen.

1885

Moyer,

Jacob

—Joseph

Hunter, burgess;

Edmonson,

George

Edward Hofer, councilmen. 1886—
Joseph Hunter, burgess John W. Sheriff, W.
C. Walker, Henry L. Gross, S. A. Yorks,
councilmen clerk of the town council, Adolf
Steinbrenner attorney, James Scarlet treasMaiers,

;

urer,

George P. Brown

West high
;

missioner,

constable,

surveyor,

;

Dan Low

;

street

com-

;

ment, W. W. Davis
Baker.
From 1886 the records are incomplete and
some of them are entirely gone. The burtime are
gesses who have served from that
as follows: Joseph Hunter served until 1893
or '04 and was succeeded by Thomas J. Price.
Mr. Price, in 1897, was succeeded by James
In 1901 John A. Moyer was elected
Foster.
burgess, but died shortly after and Albert
Kemmer was appointed, but served only a few
days and was succeeded by William G. Pursel,
Mr.
first by appointment and then by election.
;

rate

management.

In 1895 J. C. Houser was elected borough
superintendent, taking the care of the borough
schools out of the hands of the county superintendent.
Mr. Houser held this position
until 1901, and was succeeded by U. L. Gordy,
who held the position until 1907. In that
year the present superintendent, D. N. Dieffenbacher, was elected, and has served during
all of the period since.
The present list of teachers, with their
schools, is as follows
High school, corner of Mahoning and Pine
:

streets

Pursel was succeeded, in 1906, by William J.
Rogers, who, in 1909, was succeeded by A. C.

—

C. Carey, principal

language,

;

Carey; science and mathematics, J. H. Gaskins
English, Katherine Bennetts
history
and mathematics, Fred W. Diehl commercial
;

;

W. Magill.
Ward school, in

branches, F.

high school building
grades, Alice Guest fourth
Winifred Evans third grade, Helen
second grade, Martha Keim
first
Jeannette Pickard; janitor, Howard

— First
Fifth and
grade,

George W. Tooey

chief of fire departchief of police, W. S.

R. Philips

A sketch of the Danville Academy and the
Danville Institute will be found in Chapter V,
on schools of Montour county. For twenty
years the schools of the borough and of the
balance of the county have been under sepa-

si.xth

;

grade,
Reppert.

—

Second Ward school. East Front street
Rachel Goodall, principal seventh and eighth
grades, Rachel Goodall; fifth and sixth grades,
;

Mary C. Welsh; fourth grade, Jennie Scott;
third grade, Elizabeth Gulick second grade,
Anna Lloyd; first grade, Alice Smull janitor,
;

;

H. Woodside.
Third Ward school, corner Bloom and Pine

—

Alice Bird, principal
eighth grade,
Alice Bird seventh grade, Tillie James sixth
grade, \'erna Reed; fifth grade, Marie Roney;
fourth grade, Annie Henrie; third grade,
second grade, Harriet
Greta Udelhofen
streets

;

Boudman

first grade, Jennie Lawrence
janitojr. Charles Ware.
Fourth Ward school, corner Centre and
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

— M. L. Bloom, principal

seventh

Vine streets
and eighth grades, M. L. Bloom; fifth and
fourth
Prudence Blizzard
sixth
grades,
grade, Mrs. Jennie Moore; third grade, Ruth
Frick second grade, Harriet Fry first grade,
Sara Wilson janitor, Calvin Eggert.
Welsh Hill school First, second and third
grades, M. C. Madden; janitress, Annie An;

;

—

derson.

Teacher and supervisor of drawing, Virginia O.

McQuiston attendance
;

officer,

that high position.

In 1850 the bank's deposits were $5,016;
at the present they are $1,450,000.
The paidup capital is now $200,000; surplus, $150,000,
and total resources, $2,000,000. The
officers are

Eckman,

Young.

375

cashier and M. Grier Youngman was
elected in his place. On Aug. 9,
1897, R- M.
Grove resigned the presidency, and on Oct.
2d William J. Baldy, Esq., was elected president, he being the third of his family to hold

William

present
Baldy, president; D. R.
M. G. Youngman,

vice president;

BANKS

cashier; Frank Jamison, assistant cashier.
Directors: William J. Baldy, Alexander Bill-

Danville National Bank

meyer, D. R. Eckman, William G. Pursel, E.
A. Curry, Frank C. Angle, and Thomas J.
Price.

This bank is the successor of the Bank of
was chartered by special act
^^Danville, which
of the Legislature, approved April 9, 1849.

^^K
i]

a meeting held
tour House," the

1849, at the "Monfollowing directors were

Nov.

Peter Baldy, Sr., William H. MaGeorge A. Frick, William Jennison, William Donaldson, Lewis Vastine, M. C. Grier,
all of Danville; Thomas Hayes, Lewisburg,
William C.
Pa.
Jacob Cook, Muncy, Pa.
Lawson, Milton, Pa. Jacob W. Smith, SelinsJohn Sharpless, Catawissa, Pa.,
grove. Pa.
and John K. Grotz, Bloomsburg, Pa. At a
meeting of the directors held Nov. 26, 1849,
Peter Baldy, Sr., was elected president. On
Dec. i8th, following, George A. Frick was
The president's salary was
elected cashier.
$300 a year and the cashier's $800.
On Feb. 19, 1850, when the bank opened
for business, the paid-up capital was $100,360.
In September, 1S51, the capital amounted to
$150,000. In February, 1854, it was $200,000.
elected:

The

fine building in

housed

is its

which

this

bank

own and was completed

now

in 1882.

It is a two-story granite structure, with a solid
granite floor inside. The interior is finished in
an artistic manner, harmonizing with the tone
of the building.

gill,
I

;

Oct. 13, 1856, Peter Baldy, Sr., resigned

from the presidency and was succeeded by
son.

his

Baldy. On April 22, 1862,
Frick resigned as cashier, and

Edward H.

George A.
David Clark was

elected.

April 15, 1865, 1,865 shares out of 2,000
were voted to change the institution to a naA charter was applied for. and
tional bank.
the Bank of Danville has since been conducted as a national bank.
iSgi. Edward H. Baldy resigned, owing to failing sight and hearing,
and on the 20th of that month the directors

Oct.

17,

David Clark president and George M.
In December, 1893. Mr.
Gearhart cashier.
and the board (Jan. 17, 1894)
died
Clark
elected Robert M. Grove, who had been vice
president, president of the bank. On July 17.
1897. George M. Gearhart resigned the office

elected

First National

Bank

This was the three hundred and twentybank organized in the national system,

fifth

the organization taking place Jan. 25, 1864.
The original capital, $75,000, was increased
Feb. 3, 1865, to $150,000.
The first directors were: Samuel Yorks,

Christian
Laubach, Charles Fenstermacher, George F. Geisinger, Fred Pifer, William Yorks, Gilbert H. Fowler.
The members of the present board of directors are
J. B. Cleaver, O. E. Cotner, I. X.
Grier, Alex. Foster, H. T. Hecht, W. L. McSam
Clure,
Mowrer, W. H. Orth, John F.
Tooley, C. G. Van Alen.
The presidents have been as follows
Samuel Yorks, Jr., Jan. 25, 1864, to Aug. 27,
1879; Christian Laubach, Sept. 2, 1879, ^'^
Jan. 18, 1881 Thomas Beaver, Jan. 18, 1881,
to May 22, 1883 D. M. Boyd, May 22, 1883,
to Sept. 15, 1898; B. R. Gearhart, Sept. 15,
1898, to March 28, 1904; I. X. Grier, since

Jr.,

;

March 28, 1904.
The cashiers have been as follows
W. A.
M. Grier. Jan. 25, 1864, to April i, 1867 A. P.
:

;

Fowler, April i, 1867, to April i, 1870; B. R.
Gearhart, April i, 1870, to Sept. 15, 1898; S.
A. Yorks, Sept. 15, 1898, to Dec. 4, 1901

;

L. McClure, since Jan. 16, 1902.
capital stock is $150,000; surplus and

The

$300,000 assets, $2,032,000 amount
of dividends paid since organization of the
bank, $687,750.
profits,

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

376

The People's Bank
This bank was organized in 1903, with a
John Benfield was
capital stock of $50,000.
president; J. H. Cole, vice president; J. B.

Watson, cashier. In 1910 this bank closed its
doors and William G. Pursel was appointed
receiver.

the

Its

time of

and

president,

depositors were
closing J. B.

its

inson, secretary; Wesley Hollabaugh, treasurer; Joseph Weidman, foreman.
Continental Fire Company No. j was organized in 1863, and its home is on Mill street,
in the Third ward.
In 1872 the membership
was eighty. The equipment then owned consisted of one hand engine, two hose carriages
and 800 feet of hose and the officers at that

At
paid.
Watson was time were

all

;

President, Hugh Dougherty
vice president, M. Scully; Philip Brennan,
P. McCaffrey, treasurer
secretary
James

P. Jones cashier.

;

A bank

which afterwards paid its depositors
oft and went into orderly liquidation was
in
1871 in the room subsequently ocopened
cupied by the New York Tea Store.
FIRE COMPANIES

company was organized

extent.

Friendship Fire

Company No.

was organ-

ized in 1841. Before the laying of the water
mains, the company had a steam fire engine.

hand engine, built in Philadelphia in
It
1796, could throw a stream for 170 feet.
is still kept as a relic of the old hand engine
in
a
new
hand
was
and
It
1848
repaired
days.
At that time the town was
engine bought.
Its first

wards, East and West.

divided into two

fire

The

were

dent

C. H. Prick, presiCharles C. Lloyd, vice president H. P.
officers

first
;

;

Good Will Hose Company No. 4 was organized in 1890 and is located in the Fourth
ward. Its present membership is forty-three.
Its
officers
William lies, president
are
Millard Mitchell, vice president; Jesse Milroy,
secretary; John Mitchell, treasurer; Edward
lies, foreman.
:

;

In 1908, in Mahoning township, adjoining
the borough, there was organized a Rescue
Fire Company, which possesses a chemical
engine that has been used effectively in a number of fires in the borough. There are sixteen members at present.
The president is

William Shultz, Jr. secretary, Harry Kessler;
treasurer, William Kessler; foreman, James
Faux.
;

;

Baldy, John S. Wilson, W. H. Ollis, W. H.
King, engineers Paul Leidy, secretary David
King, treasurer; P. Baldy, W. Donaldson, W.
Colt, Valentine Best, E. B. Reynolds, manThe membership of this company at
agers.
;

;

truck.

Washington Fire Company No. 2. organized
home on Market street, in the
Second ward. In 1872 this company numbered eighty, and at that time owned one firstclass hand engine, two hose carriages and a
thousand feet of hose. The officers then were
William Williams, president Charles Twist,
secretary
George Kinn, treasurer Thomas
Coxey, foreman Richard Merrell, hoseman.
The present membership of this company is
in 1859, has a

;

The

REMINISCENCES

;

present is seventy-seven. The officers at the
present time are: William V. Oglesby, president John L. Jones, vice president John G.
Waite, secretary John L. Russell, treasurer
H. E. Trumbower, foreman. This company
now has an automobile hose and chemical

T07.

present membership
at present are
thirty-two.
Edward Leamy, president John Pickens, vice
Charles McDermott, secretary
president
Michael Burke, treasurer; Ralph Huntingdon,
officers

Its

foreman.

Danville
in 1830, but there are no records of the membership or officers, and it is doubtful whether
they ever operated as a fire company to any
fire

The

Grimes, foreman.

officers are

A. C. Roat, president

David Evans, vice president; George

;

W. Rob-

John Frazer removed from Danville in
83 1, and on the fiftieth anniversary of his
departure he jotted down his recollections.
The picture he recalls of the people of that
1

The followdistant day is very interesting.
ing is the substance of his recollections
"The population of the village was then 740;
the buildings numbered eighty most of these
:

;

were dwelling houses on Water, ^larket and
Mill streets. They were bounded by the river.
Church street, Sechler's run and Factory
street; these limits were very much less than
the present area of the borough. They were
chiefly frames, but many of the primitive log
The brick buildings
buildings yet remained.
were the courthouse, Goodman's Tavern, Dr.
Petrikin's and Mr. Prick's residences and Mr.
store.
Subsequently many brick
Baldy's
structures were erected, all, or nearly all, of
which remain.
"The pursuits of the citizens were confined
to the ordinary mechanical trades, the profes-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
sions, and, for so small a population, a large

amount of merchandising. There was scarcely
germ of the manufacturing interest which
has grown to be of such vast importance since
that day. About 1S17, on Market street, near
Pine, William Mann manufactured nails in a
a

primitive way by hand. The bars or hoops of
nail iron were cut by a machine worked by a
treadle with the foot, and by a second operation the heads of the nails were formed by a
blow or two with a hammer; by unremitting
industry, I suppose a workman could produce
as many nails in a month as one can now, by
the aid of machinery, in a single day.
And
this simple, modest manufacture was the preof
the
immense
iron
cursor
manufactures of
the present time, which has earned for the
place a high reputation excelled by few in
that industrial pursuit, and it has been the
cause of the rapid increase of the population
of the place, so that it now more than equals
all the residue of the county.
"The nucleus of the settlement, around
which the accretion of population was subse-

quently gathered, was American, originating
during the last two decades of the last century by emigration from southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Sunbury and
Northumberland. To these were added, from
time to time. European emigrants chiefly
Germans, British, Irish and Swiss, a few
French and Dutch, possibly some Danes and
Swedes.
Of British emigrants up to that
date I do not recollect a single Welshman,
although they soon after became a most important element of population employed in the

—

manufacture. These apparently discordant elements soon yielded to the potent
iron

attraction of association, so that early in the
present century the homogeneity of the young
and vigorous community was assured. Seldom
did any people enjoy a more happy harmony.

This uniformity extended both to religion and
They derived their revealed theology

politics.

from the

Bible, as expounded by the followers
Calvin and Knox
their moral theology
from the Presbyterian pulpit, the Westminster
to
no
inconsiderable
and.
catechism,
extent,
from Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' which was received as a commentary by some, as a supplement by others. With what awe they read

;

"Of Providence, foreknowledge,
Fixed
"

will, and fate
free will, foreknowledge absolute.

fate,

;

'Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress' was also a

The libraries were
authority.
neither Aristotle, nor Pliny, nor
Buffon were in demand but Misop's Fables,'

work of great
very limited

;

377

'W'eems' Life of Washington,' 'Cook's Voyages,' and 'Riley's Narrative' were among the
most popular books for miscellaneous reading.
'Shakespeare's Plays' were placed on the
index c.vpurgatorius by some, and few advocated their general use.
The venerable Dr.
Nott, who was president of Union College
for the unprecedented term of sixty-two years,
used to say to the students 'If you want to get
a knowledge of the world and human nature,
read the Bible but if you will read any other
books, read Homer and Shakespeare.
They
come nearer Moses and Paul than any others
I am
acquainted with.' 'Fox's Book of Martyrs' was esteemed a much more suitable book
for youthful readers than the great English
:

;

they were also allowed that most captivating of boys' books, "Robinson Crusoe.'
"All were not Calvinists
yet, under the
wise and judicious pastorate of that good and

bard

;

Rev. John B. Patterson,
ever honored for his blameless life and unostentatious piety, they were kept within one
fold and one baptism until the close of his
long ministry. He was occasionally aided by
I can now
pastors from neighboring towns.
recall the names of Rev. Messrs. Dunham,
William .Smith, Nicholas Patterson, Isaac
faithful

(

shepherd.

John Bryson, and Hood.
"The Rev. William B. Montgomery and

irier.

his

wife, iicc Jane Robinson, of the Presbyterian
Church, the devoted missionaries to the Osage
Indians, had recently departed for Union Station, the scene of their labors, which then
seemed to us tenfold more remote than Japan
does now, and took a longer time in journey-

ing thither. For more than thirty years they
labored there, under great privations, until
they both fell victims to epidemic cholera.
"For a number of years the followers of
Wesley increased in number, and through the
zeal and labors of William Woods, William
Hartman, William Whitaker, of the village.
Judge Jacob Gearhart, of Rush township, and
others, a church was established about 1815.
It

was supplied by

these.

can

now

itinerant preachers.
only recall the name of

Of
Rev

George Dawson. There was a local preacher,
Simons by name, who occasionally exhorted
and preached at his own house, on Market
near Church street. I well remember the appearance of these devoted itinerant preachers
in their journeys around the circuit, with their
jaded horses, their portmanteau and umbrella
tied on behind their saddle, and hat covered
with oil cloth to protect it from the storms,
and their extremely plain garb, such as I saw

Lorenzo

Dow

wear

at a subsequent date.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

378

Catholics, now so numerous, were
as sectaries, Michael Rafferty
Francis Trainor being the only two I can

"The

scarcely

and

known

recollect.
The Rev. Mr. Kay, a Socinian or
Unitarian, preached at times, but without makThe Rev. Mr. Shepherd, a
ing proselytes.
Baptist of the Campbellite portion of that sect,
He was an eloquent
preached occasionally.
and popular divine. There were a number of

Lutherans, to whom Rev. Mr. Kesler, from
the vicinity of Bloomsburg, preached at long
intervals.
The Episcopalians were not numerous, and it was suggested that they and
the Lutherans unite and form a union church
but this was impracticable, and the former
erected, own, and occupy the church edifice
on Market street, on ground included in what
at an early day was called Rudy's woods.
These sectaries were all destitute of church
buildings except the Grove Church. This was
the spacious log church built more than forty
years before the time of which I write, in
;

the form of a T, and was amply large for the
congregation. Besides the sects named I can
The old log
recall none others of that date.
church had recently been demolished, and F.
Birkenbine was building a brick church edifice
under a contract with James Donaldson, Robert Curry, Robert C. Grier, Herman Sechler
and John C. Boyd, the trustees, for the consideration of $1,775.
"The social relations of the community were
eminently pacific and cordial, doubtless pro-

moted by the matrimonial unions between

members of
some of the

the several very large families of
early emigrants. The Montgomerys, of whom there were two brothers
Daniel Montgomery, the elder, and his
brother,

Gen.

—

William Montgomery, whose

sons were Gen. Daniel, Col. John, and Alexander. The son of the senior Daniel Montgom-

The

ery was Judge William ^Montgomery.
Woodside family was a large one, consisting
of Thomas, Archibald, John, James. Daniel,
William and Robert of the Moores Asa,
John, Abner, Burrows, Samuel, Charles, Andrew Y., Edward S., and several daughters
of the Mauses
George, Elizabeth, Philip,
Susan, Samuel, Lewis, Charles, Joseph and
of
the
Sechlers, I recollect Rudolph,
Jacob W.

—

;

—

;

George, John, Jacob, Samuel and Harmon.
a later date came Mrs. Cornelison and her
children: Joseph, WilHani, Jacob, Isaac, Cor-

James, Ann and Mercy of the Whitakers John, Thomas, William H., Irwin,
Jane, EHzabeth, Polly, Nancy. Fanny and
Juliana William Wilson, the long time justice
of the peace, with a large family of eleven
nelius,

—

;

children and their descendants, now numbering about one hundred. There were also the
Clarks, Gearharts, Gaskinses, Blues, Rishels,
Phillipses, Diehls, Sanderses, Fousts, Frazers,
Donaldsons, Willitses and Brewers.
"Many of the pioneer customs still prevailed.
Manufactures of the most pressing
necessity were found in almost every housethe spinning wheel for tow and flax the
big wheel, as it was called, for woolen yarn.
These were woven in the place, and made into
clothing at home, and most of the villagers
and their children were clad in these domestic
suits.
The tailor and shoemaker itinerated
here and in the vicinity and were almost constantly employed.
dwelling without a de-

hold

;

tached bake oven would have been deemed
incomplete there were no bakers by profession, and of necessity each housewife was her
own baker. The Franklin stove and the sixplate stove were still in use; the ten-plate
stoves had recently been introduced and were
a great improvement on the former, as much
so as the palace cook and heater are upon the
latter.
Our stoves were then manufactured
by Mr. Hauck, and bore the legend, John
H.vucK, Catazvissa Furnace; and it was one of
the mysteries that troubled the brains of the
boys, how it ever got there in iron letters, as
much as did the effect of the music of Orpheus, which "drew iron tears down Pluto's
;

cheek.'

"By industry and frugality the people lived
in comparative comfort, paid their preacher
and schoolmaster promptly, and their printer
as soon as convenient, thereby preserving a

good conscience and securing peace of mind.
"The schoolmaster was abroad. Thomas
Grier taught a classical school and prepared
boys for college.
Stephen Halft' also taught
a private school, and Rev. Mr. Painter was
of
the
Danville Academy, then a new
principal
institution.
The predecessors of these were
Master Gibson, who taught in the old log
schoolhouse near the first edifice of the Grove

Church
Messrs. Andrew Forsythe, John
Moore, Thomas W. Bell, Don Carlos Barret,
an eminent teacher; John Richards; Samuel
Kirkham, the distinguished grammarian, and
Ellis Hughes, a most competent and successful educator, favorably remembered by many
;

of his pupils

still

living.

"The houses were then chiefly on Water,
Mill and Market streets, and, with scarcely
an exception, had gardens attached to them,
with a portion of each allotted to flowers. The
Damascene rose. Guelder rose, flowering almond, peony, narcissus, lilac, lily, pink, and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
other familiar floral productions were wont to

ornament

and make

"unprolitably gay.'
The boys, after school hours, often reluctantly,
hands
at
tried their 'prentice
horticulture, and
the most onerous part of their labor was the

removal of the water- worn stone, rounded by
in
bygone antediluvian ages, in
oceanic currents. They abounded on Market
street lots and other elevated portions of the
Doubtless by this time a succession
village.
of youthful gardeners have removed them
all and made horticultural pursuits less la-

attrition

borious.

"Amongst other amusements

the boys en-

skating, sledding, sleighing, nutting,
trapping, fishing, playing ball, bathing in the
river and in the Mahoning; in the latter, west

joyed

buttonwood or
a famous bathing place. I'lysycamore,
ing kite and playing marbles in the spring,
were not forgotten. All these afforded them
the needed recreation from study and labor.
"But I must not omit the muster days of
The old Rifle Blues was one of
the military.
the oldest, if not the oldest, volunteer military
Light
organizations of the county. The
Dragoons, Captain Clarke, were the admiration of all the boys of the place, and their
of Factory street, hard by a
\<'as

were gala days. The Columbia
Ciuards was a fine company of infantry, num-

parades

bering over sixty, commanded by Capt. James
Carson. The train band, Captain Yorks, was
The
also one of the institutions of that day.
regimental musters were generally held at
Washingtonville, and drew together crowds of
spectators to witness their grand maneuvers,
discuss politics and tavern dinners.
"The Watchman was then the only newsGeorge Sweeny, the veteran editor,
paper.
was its proprietor. He had published the Coin 1813, which was succeeded
by the Express, by Jonathan Lodge in 1815,
and afterward by Lodge & Caruthers. The

lumbian Gazette

Watchman was established in 1820. It was
published on Market street, east of Ferry, and
had a sign in front of the office, upon which
was painted the head of Franklin with the

379

"The politics of the village, like those of
What
the county, were largely Democratic.
Democratic principles were I had no very definite idea, but had a vague impression that
they were just the reverse of Federal principles, and I suppose that this negative definition
quadrated with the ideas of the dominant
State politics absorbed the attention
party.
of politicians and banished from their minds
national politics to an extent that must have
gladdened the hearts of those stolid politicians,
I
remember how a
the States' rights men.
villager pertinaciously urged the nomination
of General Jackson for governor, and he honestly believed that the gubernatorial honor was
the highest that could be conferred upon the
old hero.

"The members of the bar were few in numEbenezer Greenough had recently removed to Sunbury. Judge Grier, from his

ber.

profound
ship,

legal attainments and fine scholarat the head of his profession.

stood

the pioneer lawyer, was a good
and a graduate of Princeton.
He represented the district in Congress in
Bancroft was district attorLeGrand
1829.

Alem Marr,

classical scholar

The other members were George A.
ney.
Frick, William G. Hurley, John Cooper, James
short
Carson and Robert McP. McDowell.

time subsequently John G. Montgomery, Paul

Leidy and Joshua

W. Comly were added

All of
the number.
cept the latter.

them are deceased ex-

"The medical men were not numerous. The
the place was Dr. Forrest, the grand-

first in

father of Mrs. Valentine Best his successor,
Dr. Barrett his, Drs. Petrikin and Daniels.
At the period of which I write there were also
The latter was
Drs. McDowell and Magill.
then a young practitioner in the beginning of
his long and successful career, and now remains, beyond the age of fourscore years, the
honored head of the profession, which has increased fourfold since he became a member
of it. And now Danville began to rear medHerman Gearhart and
ical men of her own.
;

;

legend from Milton, 'Where liberty dwells,
There were then few
there is my country.'
painted signs in the place, and this one was
Although the Watchman
very conspicuous.
was not half the size of the American, it was

Alexander C. Donaldson were initiated into
the profession under the tuition of Dr. Petrikin. At the same time Samuel Montgomery
and Matthew Patterson were divinity students.
John Martin was a law student in Air. Marr's
ofiice, and subsequently practiced in Clearfield

esteemed a grand journal, and had great in-

county.

fluence in the politics of the county.

was

by copy from other papers,
and seldom contained editorial articles. Readnot
so
ers were
exacting then as in these

made up

chiefly

latter days.

"Gen. Daniel Montgomery was the first
merchant, but, having acquired a fortune, was
now residing on his fine farm a mile or two
His cousin, Judge William
above town.
Montgomery, an old citizen, was now the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

380

oldest merchant, with his store at the corner
of Mill and Market streets and his residence
on the opposite corner. He bore his full share
in the burden of improving and bettering the
condition of his fellowmen was one of the
the first
pillars of the church and founder of
Sunday school when many others, if not opposed to it, aided it only in a perfunctory way,
and he lived to see it permanently established.
;

Peter Baldy, though still a young merchant,
in an extensive business and dealt

was engaged

largely in grain.
log building which

He commenced

in the old

had been occupied by King
& Hamilton from thence, he removed to his
well known store on Mill street, where he
;

continued his business for half a century,
when he retired, having accumulated a fortune. The other merchants were John Moore,

John Russell and William Colt, all old and
esteemed citizens and William Bickley, Boyd
& Montgomery, John C. & Michael C. Grier,
and Michael Ephlin, who had more recently
engaged in business. Mr. Longhead had retired from business to devote his time to the
had recently
postoffice, and Jeremiah Evans
;

moved to Mercersburg.
"The old Cross Keys Tavern,
Jemima Donaldson, was the best

kept by Mrs.
in the county,

it is doubtful whether it has been surfirst
passed to this day. The Union Hotel, the
one in
three-story brick building and the best

and

was built and kept by Philip GoodJohn Irwin kept a tavern, corner of
Market" and Ferry streets and the most ancient hostelry of them all, the Rising Sun, the
old red house at the foot of Alill street, with
the walnut tree at the door, and its crowd of
devotees of Bacchus who made it resound with

the place,

man.

;

"Midnight shout and revelry,
Tipsy dance and jollity.

"The Ferry Tavern, by George Barnhart,
I often hurried by, fearing the sound of
the fiddle, judging that old Satan could not be
far distant from the violin, thus condemning
that first of musical instruments, from its association with much that is vile. Then there was
the Jackson Tavern, Mill street near Mahonsoldier of the Revoing, by William Clark, a
lution, with the likeness of General Jackson
thus
superseding that of
painted on its sign,
Washington, as the latter in its day had replaced that of George III, tempori parendum.
The taverns then had a monopoly of retailing
the
intoxicating liquors, dealing them out by
and rye whisky was the chief liquor used,
gill
vilthe
and doubtless was less hurtful than
lainous compound now sold under that name.

where

;

Some who

then indulged in 'potations pottle
deep' nevertheless attained a great age when
one
of
them was warned against indulgany
ing too freely in it, as it was a slow poison, he
replied that he was aware of that, for he had
;

and it must be very
houses, now destitute of
coffee, the saloons, groceries and other refined
modern drinking places, were then unknown.
In addition to these taverns, Mrs. Spence kept
a boarding house, and had for her guests
some of the most respectable people of the
been using

sloiv.

The

sixty years

coft'ee

place.

"Amongst the active and industrious citizens were the blacksmiths. John Lunger was
one of the earliest, and had a shop on Ferry
street.

John Deen's smithy was on Market
street, where by many and well

near Ferry

directed blows he hammered out a fortune,
loseph Cornelison's was on Mahoning near
Mill street.
"George McCulley was one of the pioneer

and removed to Ohio, near
Wooster, where some of his descendants still
Daniel
reside.
Cameron, a worthy Scot and
the great pedestrian who walked from Harrisburg to Danville in a day without deeming it
any great exploit, was a skillful carpenter and
Adam Schuyler and George Lott
builder.
were also engaged in that business.
"The chairmakers were William Hartman,
who was also a wheelwright, and the brothers
Kirk. William Mann was also engaged in that
calling for a year or two.
William Woods, Gideon
"Shoemakers

carpenters

—

Mellon, Henry Sanders, Thomas Wiley.
"Tailors \Villiam M. Wiley, who removed
to Harrisburg; William Whitaker, Amos E.
Kitchen. William Ingold was a vagrant workman who plied his needle at the houses of his
and
employers, and was noted for his quips
and
quirks and idle pranks, whereby he amused
often astonished the boys of the village.

—

"Honest John Reynolds, from Reading, was

who for long years supMartin Mcwith hats.
plied men and boys
Collister was a more recent and very skillful
the veteran" hatter,

workman.
carried on the fullingand sawmill near what is now the junction of Mill and Bloom streets.
"The first brewer was Richard Matchin.
The citizens of that day were not, as we
now phrase it, educated up to a due appre-

"Thomas Blackwell

mill

ciation

that

beverage,

consequently

proved less profitable than brewing lager,
weiss and buck beer at the present time.
"George Wilson was the first cabinetmaker,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and some of his substantial old-style furniture
has survived to the present day.
Burrows
Moore was long engaged in the same business.

"The Scotch weavers had been famous

the early days of the settlement.
Of those
who were engaged in the business fifty years
can
since I
now only recall the names of Chris-

topher Smith and Peter Goodman. The latter
was a most respectable and industrious German from the fatherland.
tinners
Alexander
"Coppersmiths and
Wilson, James Wilson, John C. Theil.
"Watchmaker and jeweler, Samuel Maus.
"There were several saddlers Alexander
Best, Hugh Flack, Daniel Hoffman, and pos-

—

sibly others.
"Rifles were

demand, and had always
the pioneers. These were
supplied by Samuel Baum and George Miller
the son of the latter succeeded him and still
in

much used by

been

;

continues the business.

"Of public functionaries, we had but few,
and their removals were few and far between. In the language of an eminent states'Few
man, it might then have been truly said
die and none resign.'
Judge Seth Chapman
was long the presiding judge of our courts.
He was a man of moderate legal attainments,
:

He was
yet he made a good presiding officer.
assisted by his associates, Judges Montgomery
and Rupert. George A. Frick was prothonotary, having been appointed to that office
by Governor Snyder in 1S13.
"William Wilson, Rudolph Sechler and Joseph Prutzman were the justices of the peace;
Andrew McReynolds, sheriff Daniel CameMr. Sechler was also register
ron, constable.
and recorder. James Loughead, a dignified

yet popular gentleman of English origin, was
postmaster, and held the office for the long
term of fourteen years, twice as long as any

other with one exception.
established in 1806, Judge

The office was first
Montgomery being

the first one appointed, and held his commission from President Jefferson, and filled the
office

for seven years.

man discharged
to the entire

This just and pious
he did all others,

this trust, as

satisfaction of the

government

He was succeeded by
other faithful public servant, Rudolph
Sechler, who held it for a like term of seven

and the community.
that

years, until

never
ler.

Mr. Loughead's af)pointment.

knew a more honest man than Mr. SechWith him it was innate. He could not

His countenance,
words, in short everything
about him, proclaimed his sterling integrity
and what gave a charm to it, he was quite

be otherwise than honest.
his
,

actions,

his

;

381

unconscious of his being more honest than
other men. Of his large number of connections I never knew one whose integrity was
called in question.
It is highly gratifying to
know that in the seventy years the otffce has

been

in existence, there has never been a defaulter to the national government, and that
of the thirteen incumbents of the office
have diligently and faithfully discharged the
trust reposed in them.
"One of the eccentric characters of the vicinity was Mr. Finney, who died ten or twelve
years subsequent to the period of which I
all

He was a man
Nash of more
than eighty, with a peculiar child-like tenor
voice, who delighted to play the gallant with
the young ladies of the village, and drive them
write, almost a centenarian.
of gallantry, a kind of Beau

around the place and vicinity in his old-style
Robin Finney, as he was always
chaise.
called, from his great age and attention to the
fair sex, was a great favorite with them, and

was well known

to the people of that day.

His chaise and one owned by Gen. D. Montgomery and one by Judge Montgomery, were
the only pleasure carriages of that kind in theThe old-time carriage of Philip
county.
Maus, which attracted the attention and excited the wonder of the village urchins, and
the more modern carriage of General Montgomery, were the only pleasure carriages of
that style.
Traveling on horseback was then
the proper thing for both sexes, old and young,
gentle and simple, and its general disuse is to
be regretted.
"Abe Brown was an African, or an American of African descent, and the only one in the
He had been a mariner, and after he
place.
came here was a servant to Mr. Loughead. He

immigrated to Mahoning county, Ohio, where
by industry and frugality he acquired a coml^etency and enjoys the respect of the community where he resides. Jack Harris was an
octoroon, a fine looking lad, and so nearly
white that he might pass for an Anglo-American.
Though not darker than a brunette, the
rude boys persisted in calling him Black Jack.
These boys attended the schools and were
treated with justice.
"The great flood of 1817, usually called the
.\ugust flood, surrounded the place so that,

for the time, it became insular. The only approach was by boats. I saw the bridge over
the brook on the road, then an extension of
Church street, float away with a man on it
who secured it before it reached the river.
"The inhabitants were supplied with flour
from the mills of John and Alexander Mont-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

382

gomery and Joseph Maus,

all

water of the Alahoning.

Farmers

propelled by the
in the vitook
their
in
sacks
to the mills;
cinity
grain
the miller ground it for a toll of one-tenth.
Except for the Baltimore, Philadelphia, or

Reading markets, it was seldom put up in
Steam power had not been introduced in the place or neighborhood, except at
Boyd's mill, which was then a new one on the
left bank of the river above town.
"Whisky was the Archimedean lever that
barrels.

moved the world. Contracts could not be
made or performed without its potent aid. The
merchant kept it on his counter, for his customers would not purchase goods without it.
It was indispensable at musters and elections.
The farmers' fields could not be cultivated
without its use as a motor. Mr. Robinson, in
the vicinity, offered the laborers who were
employed in his harvest fields extra pay if they
would dispense with it, but they refused. The

temperance cause was advocated by its friends,
its opponents, numerous, defiant and violent, determined that their liberties should not
be subverted by a few fanatics who were
worse than the Federals.
"The half century just closed has been an
eventful, almost a marvelous one. In 1826 we
had no railways, telegraphs, typewriters, gas,
petroleum, no canals, iron furnaces, forges,
rolling mills no bridge over the river, no fire
engines of any kind, nor many other indispensable improvements, deprived of which we
would speedily retrograde to what we were at
that period.
The population has increased
more than tenfold, and Danville has kept
pace with the rest of the world, and shown
an energy and perseverance worthy of her,
notwithstanding the many depressions and
conflicts incident to her position as a great
but

;

manufacturing center.

Her numerous

sons,

dispersed throughout the great West, and in
other portions of our vast republic, now in
exile from her borders, look with pride upon
her onward course in material prosperity, and

her commendable progress

in religion, morals,
science, the social virtues and the amenities of life, which they trust may continue,

and

and enable
tain

maingood old

her, for all future time, to

her elevated position

the

Commonwealth."

on the eve of Lincoln's second election. It
was on Saturday, the 5th of November, 1864.
"The procession was arranged and conducted by Chief Marshal Lieut. Dennis Bright,
assistant marshals, W. E. C. Coxe, William
Aten, O. H. Ostrander, Lieut. E. W. Roderick,
Dr. George Yeomans, Stephen A. Johnson,
Maj. Charles Eckman, Lieut. M. Rosenstein.

"The magnificence of the immense
numerous banners, flags and

caval-

cade, the

taste-

decorations, with the martial strains of
.Stoes' silver cornet band and Sechler's brass
band, gave the demonstration a brilliancy unsurpassed by any other in the annals of
Danville. The most gorgeous spectacle in the
magnificent pageant was the triumphal car,
containing a charming representative of the
Goddess of Liberty, and a lady, in full costume, representing each State of the L^nion.
The Goddess of Liberty was robed in the national colors.
Her head was adorned with a
brilliant tiara, she bore a stafif surmounted
with a liberty cap, and occupied an elevated
She acted her part with
position on the car.
peculiar grace, eliciting the universal admiration of the thousands that witnessed the inspiring scene.
"The ladies representing the States were
tastefully adorned in red, white and blue
dresses white, sashes red, and caps blue, ornamented with a star, and surmounted with a
beautiful white plume, tipped with red. Each
lady wore a badge across the breast, upon
which was printed the name of the respective
.State she represented.
Each bore a small flag,
and they were seated in a triumphal car, decorated with evergreens in the most artistic manner, while the goddess occupied the center of
the group, elevated on a pedestal.
Messrs.
Derr and Von Nieda acted as ensigns. This
was truly the chef d'oeiivre of the great occasion, and on the route elicited the heartiest
cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, flags and
every other token of delight.
"While the storms of hail and driving snow
deterred many from participating in the ceremonies of the day, it not only proved the patriotism but gave a character of heroism to
the ladies as they braved the storm and waved
The
their starry flags amid the falling snow.
following is the list of ladies, with the State
each represented
Goddess of Liberty, Miss
Lou. Hill Pennsylvania, Mollie Magill New
ful

—

Great

Day

D. H. B. Brower gives the following remi:

"One of the great popular demonstrations in
Danville was the last rally of the Republicans

Emma

Butler Ohio, Melissa Brown
Ella
Illinois,
Indiana, Clara Rockafeller
Painter: \\^isconsin, Lydia Housel
Iowa,
New
Clara
Lillie
Cook: Maine.
Beaver;
Vermont, Kate
Hampshire, Clara Faux

York,
niscence

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

„.

L......
HrUs,

Gulick

Texas, Alollie J. Waples
North Carolina, Emma A. Laubach South
Carolina, Libbie Rank Georgia, Gussie Pratt

Mary

;

383

find no record of particulars, or I would take
pleasure in transcribing them for this page."

;

Tlie Great

;

Louisiana, Fanny Bordner; Kentucky, Emma
Woods Tennessee, Ruth Basset Maryland,
Alice Rockafeller; Alabama, Martha B. Laubach; Missouri, M. W. Beaver; Virginia, Libbie Faux; California, Mary Gibbs; Missis;

;

Laura
Malinda Cleaver;
Florida,
Flanigan; Rhode Island, Aggie Easton Michigan, Abbie Bright; Oregon, Emma Sechler;
Delaware, Ada Pratt; New Jersey, Ella
sippi,

;

Heath West Virginia, AHce Wilson Nevada,
Mary Brobst; Minnesota, Annie M. Hefler;
;

;

Kansas, Mary
Arkansas, Harriet Garrett
Territories
Bealand.
Nebraska, Hannah
Eger; Colorado, Mary Lovett; Washington,
Mary A. Thomas Dakota, Emma A. Brower.

—

;

•

;

"Another attractive feature in the procession was the ladies on horseback. Miss Pitner
was dressed in red, Miss Jennie Koons in
white, and Mrs. D. Gearhart in blue Misses
Mary Appleman, Mary Pursel and Lucy
;

Everett, all skillful riders, occupied a prominent place in the cavalcade.
"The procession was one of great length,
including carriages and wagons filled with
The wagons were
voters, as well as ladies.
handsomely decorated with wreaths, flags and
banners.
"When the procession arrived on the
grounds the meeting was organized with the
following officers President, Thomas Beaver,
Esq. vice presidents, William Hancock, Isaac
Rank, John Grove, John Titley, G. M. Shoop,
Rev. Mr. Bamitz, William Twist, Dr. William
:

;

H. Magill, George A. Frick, Thompson Foster,
Charles C. Baldy, Rev. John Cook, Joseph
Diehl, W. H.
Hassenplug, Dan Morgan,
Samuel Ware, Charles Hock, Philip Maus,
Cornelius Styer and others secretaries, William Lewis, T. O. Van Alen.
"The addresses delivered by Hon. William
H. Armstrong and Clinton Lloyd, Esq., of
Lycoming, were eloquent. Mr. Lloyd is one of
Mr.
the most effective speakers in the State.
;

Armstrong is known as a man of marked
and his address was one of great
power, and was delivered amid the plaudits

ability,

of the vast assemblage.
"In the evening many buildings were illuminated and tastefully decorated. Fireworks
added to the brilliancy of the scene and the

enthusiasm was unbounded.

Thus ended one
annals of Dan-

One incident of
much comment from

Hoax

past that attracted
parts of the country,
and the mention of which even now will bring
a smile to the face of the gravest of the "old
timers," is the visit to Danville of the bogus
the
all

Japanese embassy, in i860.
At that time the Japanese commissioners

came to America to return the visit of Commodore Perry, bringing the treaty that had
been negotiated with them, in a varnished
box.
A large escort attended the commis-

and the occasion of their arrival at
Washington was made one of great pomp.
A choice coterie of the residents of Danville decided to organize a fake embassy of
their own, send bogus telegrams to the town
and hoax the citizens into believing the ambassadors were coming hither. They staged
the affair for July 4th, and so well did they
carry out the program that most of the population were convinced of the reality of the
visit.
They had costumes prepared, arranged
sioners

for the burgess to erect a reviewing stand,

and had out the fire department and several
bands. The Catawissa railroad train was
halted at Sechler's run and the masqueraders
boarded it. On their arrival at Danville they
were met by the authorities and escorted
around the town, finally stopping at the reviewing stand, where addresses were made by
both sides.

The pretended Commodore

Foote,

who was supposed

to accompany the embassy
as interpreter, addressed the crowd in EngThe speech of the burgess was translish.
lated into German by the commodore, by the
other interpreter into Greek, and then repeated to the embassy. So well did the affair
proceed that for days it was difficult to convince the townspeople that the whole thing

a farce.
One prominent
Thomas Beaver to start up the

wanted
works for
the benefit of the commissioners, even though
the day was a holiday.
Among the participants were David Clark,
Charles Cook, Dr. Simington, Dr. George Yeomans, Peter Baldy. W. W. Hays, Isaac X.
Grier, John and Samuel Hibler, Col. Samuel
Strawbridge and Robert Adams.

was

citizen

iron

There are some places

in a

community

that

one can never forget places around which
also had a brilliant memory has hung a chain that will not loosen
ville.
Sometimes that memory is but a
demonstration in that campaign but I can or break.
of the

memorable days
The Democrats

in the

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

384

boyish fancy, sometimes a hallowed association, sometimes a milestone on the road of
life, and sometimes an uplift that has changed
the whole current of one's life.
The old company store of Waterman &
Beaver was an institution in which one had
admirable facilities for studying human nature, and in which one could always learn.
This store was built in 1844, and the business
was conducted by a number of individuals
and firms connected with the iron works.
Among these were T. O. Van Alen Comly,
Grove & Company, and Waterman & Beaver.
It was during the management of the latter
that the store reached the height of its business
;

The building was 175 feet in depth,
with a front of 90 feet, and in the sixties was
packed with goods, cellar, main floor, second
floor and garret. The store was conducted in
four departments,
dry goods, groceries,
success.

hardware and shoes.

In addition there

was a

tailoring department, a gristmill and a tinshop.
In its busiest time there were employed forty

or more clerks and the annual sales were as
high as $500,000.
Those who dealt at this store could purchase
anything from a loaf of bread to a silk dress,
or from a shoestring to the hardware finishings of a new house. The ist of the month
was always a notable day, all regular customers laying in a month's supply of staple goods,
and the long counters were lined with customers three rows deep. Clerks and customers were on friendly terms and many were the
jokes that passed back and forth.
How there come trooping before one the
Sam Antrim, Johnny McCloud, Charles
faces
Childs, Samuel Ross, Jacob Rhodes, Jap GearArchie
McLean, Bill Breeze, Joe Murray,
hart,
Johnny Cook, Bob Chamberlain, Park Alexander, John Hunt, Leander Mowrer, Hiat

—

Matchin and Charlie Hinckley, in the grocery
William H. Hassenplug, Johnny

department

;

Beaver, Ed. Swartz. Sam
Boyer, John Ricketts, Gus Woods and Henry
on
the
Schoch,
dry goods side Joel Hinckley,
A. W. Beaver and M. G. Thornton, in the
hardware department and in the office W. K.
Holloway, Ike Crewitt, Lew Rodenhoffer,
Harry Crossley, Alex. Diehl, Jacob Miller,
R. M. Cathcart, Benjamin W. Pratt and Gobin
Hofifman in the tinshop, Frank Everhart; and
then Silas Alexander, the mail carrier.
To the roll call how few now answer, but in
those busy, thrilling, strenuous days, oh, how
Charlie

Gaskins.

;

happy and contented, from 7 o'clock imtil 7,
six days in the week. Over all was the watchful eye of Thomas Beaver; and yet there

never beat a kinder heart nor lived one more
in sympathy with the trials and longings and
vicissitudes of the laboring man.
In the company store one learned

that

wealth and prosperity, position and influence,
were not antagonistic to poverty and humble
means but that the humbler leaning on the
arm of the wealthier could be lifted into a
higher plane and induced to lead a better life.
Mr. Beaver helped more than one poor,
weak, struggling soul to a higher and truer
There were sports, innocent and harmlife.
Alex.
less, yet of a nature not to be forgotten.
Diehl never forgot the apple butter in his
burst
nor
the
he
the
boot;
day
Joe Murray
shot bag. Jap Gearhart will always remember the flood in the cellar when the drowning
;

rats sought shelter on his friendly neck.
And
everybody will remember old Nash, the colored watchman, who used to preach to the
saints on Zion's Hill.
The old store has gone
and the busy hum of its trade has been
But the old scenes will live and
silenced.

abide while

memory

enthroned.

Oh, how cruelly sweet are the echoes that start.
When Memory plays an old tune on the heart.

During the days of the war news was
eagerly sought, and the coming of the daily
papers was watched with great interest.
place of general resort was the bookstore of
George B. Brown, on Mill street, corner of
Penn, and opposite the "City Hotel." There

was always a fair-sized congregation gathered
there in the afternoon, waiting the coming of
the daily papers. This gathering, while waiting for the papers, listened eagerly to discussions on the war, and after the war was over,
to many opinions on the political situation.
Mr. Brown was well read on current afifairs
and when he could not start anyone else in a
discussion he was always equal to the emergency. Many times the fate of the nation was
settled in this place of general resort but as
often that fate was unsettled by some contrary individual who would not agree with the
arguments advanced, nor accept the conFrotn the fall of
clusions generally adopted.
;

Sumter

surrender at Appomattox the
war were discussed, and
impressions were made that have never been
forgotten. Those were days of deep anxiety
and the papers were eagerly read to relieve
to the

stirring events of the

the intense strain

;

and when the news of

bat-

fought was displayed in great headlines,
oh, the eager search for the names of the
tles

and wounded and missing.
had a large number of boys at the

killed

Danville
front,

and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
much anxiety was felt for their welfare. And
when the war was over and the boys re-

then,

turned, many were the tales of heroism and
the stories of camp and march that were related to eager listeners in the old bookstore.
Air. Lirown, often busy during the day in his

shop adjoining the store, never missed
the newspaper hour nor the conferences that
were held over the nation's atTairs, while
dentist

awaiting the arrival of Billy Smith's 'bus, or
other conveyance, bringing the ever welcome

news sheets.
Most of the participants in those gatherThe old
ings have passed to the other side.
building has been changed, counters and bookshelves have been removed, and in their place
electric lamps and modern devices for lighting
and heating are displayed.
The front has
been cut down and changed, but around it still
there clings the old memory that no mechanic's
hand can ever efface and the old faces that no
;

lapse of time can ever remove.
Another place of special interest to a

num-

ber of what were once young men was the
second floor of the building now removed,
known latterly as the Vincent block, but formerly the Elisha Reynolds building, corner of
Mill and Mahoning streets.
Here, in the
period from 1867 to 1870, were located a

Young Men's Reading Room and Library and
Debating Society. Thomas Beaver had contributed a number of books and quite a library
had been collected. Many of the young men
of the town belonged to this association, and
here were laid the foundations of many a

young man's

future.

Weighty problems were

debatable questions, it was
thought, were settled for all time by unanswerable arguments. Futures of eminence and distinction were dreamed of and air castles of
discussed,

many

size and wonderful beauty were built.
But aside from the effervescence of youthful
fancy, there came from that room enlarged

rare

ideas, study of characters, knowledge of one's
self and shaping of views that can never be

There are those living to-day who
look back upon those days of youthful

forgotten.
still

energy and exuberance, and with
Rilev exclaim
:

Whitcomb

385

Oh, the olden, golden glory of the days gone

by.

There are doubtless many other places of
special interest in the town, around which
center many pleasant and hallowed recollections
but all cannot be crowded into this
;

It would, however, not be fair to
chapter.
close the chapter without a reference to the
place where sleep so many of those who once,
with busy hands and brains, toiled and budded
that we might enjoy the result of their work.
Perhaps too often we neglect the spots where
rest the population of the past.
trip through
the cemeteries of the town, reading on the
the
names
of
who
were the
gravestones
many
bone and sinew of our town, the brains and
inspiration of the past, is always profitable.
There are those whose brawny muscle and
sturdy character for so many years made possible the smoking stacks and the busy hum of
our works of industry. There are those whose
strength of mind and busy brain and .stalwart
character were the foundation and strength
and defense of our town. There are those
whose depth of piety and devout consecration
and earnest religious fervor have erected the

church spires and made possible in our midst
the religious life that has been the uplifting
and saving power of this community. There
are the silent ranks of the departed soldiery
those who once, with patriotic step and flushed
face and set lip, carried to glorious victory
the flag, now their winding sheet.
There is
the vast unnumbered host, the common people
of the past, the main reliance and strength
and power of all the years gone by naines
forgotten here, but recorded in the book, some
;

;

time to be opened before the great Judge of
There they all lie, not dead but
all the earth.
They are
sleeping, the Danville of the past.
part of us and their resting place is a spot of
They and the living of tospecial interest.
day have made the history which is here
recorded. Much has been omitted, much imbut the actors, living and
perfectly written
dead, in this history of a century and a quar;

ter, have lived well their part and budded
deep and strong for posterity.

CHAPTER X
TOWNSHIP FORMATION
The territory included within the boundaries
of Cokimbia and Montour counties originally
comprised the townships of Augusta and
Wyoming, of Xorthumberland county, in
In 1784 what is now Montour county
1772.
was formed

into

Turbut

township,

named

after Turbut Francis, a land speculator,
owned most of the area included in

who
this

county.

Mahoning township was formed in 1775 out
of part of Turbut township.
Chillisquaque
township was erected in 1786 out of parts of
Turbut and Mahoning townships.
Derry
township was formed in 1786 out of Turbut.
Those portions of Chillisquaque and Turbut townships reannexed to Columbia county
by the act of Januar}-, 18 16, were erected into
Liberty and Limestone townships in the same
year.
]\Iadison was made from part of Derry in
1 81
Valley was made from parts of Ma7.

Anthony was
honing and Derry in 1839.
struck off the upper end of Derry in 1847 and
named after Judge Anthony of the court
which formed it.
\'alley was first called
Baldy township, but eight years later was
name.
its
present
given
final organization of Montour county
1850 caused a rearrangement of the town-

The
in

ships, which was not permanent, however.
The new county then contained Franklin, Ma-

honing,

\'alley.

Liberty,

Limestone,

Derry,

Anthony, Roaringcreek, and part of Montour,
Hemlock and Madison townships. Part of
Madison and parts of Hemlock and Montour
townships were renamed Cooper township.
In 1853 the county line was rearranged and
Roaringcreek, Franklin, Madison and part of
Hemlock were restored to Columbia county,
part of Hemlock being retained and formed
Part of Moninto West Hemlock township.
tour township was taken and renamed Cooper,
and part of Franklin lying west of Roaring
This arrangecreek was called Mayberry.
ment has continued to the present time.
Summarizing the matter, the townships
forming Montour county in 1914 were erected
as follows:
Mahoning, 1775; Derry, 1786;
Liberty, 1816; Limestone, 1816; Valley, 1839;

Anthony,
1853:

1849;

Cooper,

1853;

Mayberry,

West Hemlock,

1853.
This brief record of the formation of the

divisions of

Montour county

reviewed here

as a matter of convenience to the reader, in
order that the dates and origin of the townships may be readily ascertained without re-

ferring to the separate sketches.

CHAPTER

ANTHONY TOWNSHIP
This township was named after Judge
Joseph B. Anthony, who was the presiding
judge of the courts of the district when it was
formed, in 1849. It was originally a part of
Derry township.

grew

manhood.

purchased six hundred

of the earliest settlers in the vicinity

acres of land, which later passed to the owner
ship of Charles Mowrey. Colonel Clark had
won his title by service through the Revolutionary war and in his time was known as an
eminent patriot, as he is known to the present

was Col. Robert Clark, who moved from
Dauphin county, Pa., where he was born and

Colonel Clark was
time through tradition.
present at the signing of the Declaration of

One

386

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Independence and wore his chevrons proudly,
as they were won through his bravery at the
front.

WHITE HALL
This place acquired its name from the White
Hall Hotel, built in i8iS by John F. Derr,
and rebuilt in 1849-50 by Ferdinand Ritter,
who had great ambitions to make it a popular
resort for travelers along the main road
through the town. He engaged Samuel Brugler of Jerseytown, a brother of John H. Brugler, the architect of Danville, to embellish it,
and the result of his work is seen still in the
beautiful carvings, which he employed for decoration all over the front of the building and
on the massive doorway. These carvings are
works of more than ordinary artistry, and
could well be placed in some museum for preservation. The building is now occupied by the

owner, John McWilliams, as a residence. Decay has damaged the old inn and lack of paint
has caused the carvings to disintegrate badly.

John Fruit, the first settler at White Hall,
was a native of Ireland.
Locating in the
township some time during the closing years
of the eighteenth

century,

assumed the dignity of an individual postoffice, which was presided over by a man
named Biddle. Succeeding this official, whose
given name has become lost in the cycle of
time, was John F. Derr, who remained in
charge until 1855, when William McBride became postmaster.
Seven years later John
Crawford was appointed to the position, and
in turn was followed by his son, G. W^ Crawford, who later was replaced by J. S. McBride.
The present postmaster is J. B. DeWald. He and George Hill and Lewis Smith
are the present storekeepers.

The

blacksmith shop at White Hall was
by Daniel Dildine, an Irishman,
was one of the early settlers of the place.
first

established

who

The first place of shelter was opened by Andrew Schooley.
This hostelry which gave
"entertainment for man or beast" was known
as the Red Horse Hotel, and occupied the site
where the brick store now stands. The old
hotel was torn down to make room for the
store building.
Following Andrew Schooley
as the manager of the establishment was David
Ely, and he was succeeded by Ferdinand Ritwho came from Berks county, and
ter,
eventually rebuilt the White Hall Hotel.

he shortly after

his arrival started a store, using some of the
space of his home for the purpose of dis-

This pioneer later
playing merchandise.
erected a small frame structure which he devoted exclusively to the sale of merchandise,
of the variety usually found in the small
country store of the time. In 1810 John Fruit
sold his establishment to John Frederick Derr,
who conducted it for thirty-one years. In
1841 William McBride acquired an interest in
the business, and upon the death of Mr. Derr,

which took place

1853, Mr.

McBride and

his son, J. S. McBride, continued the establishment until 1864, when a new building was
completed and the stock transferred thereto.
Upon the decease of his father, J. S. McBride

assumed the business and conducted

for

many

years.
Another firm

which transacted a mercanbusiness during the early years of White
Hall, which was then known by the name of
A store
"Fruitstown," was Ely & Mover.
which was maintained for six years was established in 1841 by Neal McCoy.
Letters arrived at and departed from "Fruitstown"' by
means of a pony mail, which reached that
point after traveling a circuitous route from
Catawissa. The first mail carrier who handled
the mail and the pony was a boy by the name
of Jacob Dyer.
In 1820 the tiny settlement
tile

387

EXCHANGE
This interesting rural village received

name

1840.
consisted of the

its

At that time the settlement
Crownover mill and a few

An ancient log schoolhouse located
houses.
across the creek added a certain dignity to
the pretensions of the community.
John Caldwell erected the first brick structure, which
later passed to the
ownership of Patrick
Dennin. The first postmaster of the hamlet
was Gersham Biddle. The present one is

Boyd E. Stead, who is a merchant also.
The first hotel at Exchange was opened
some time in 1839 or 1840 by Walter Johnston, who subsequently gave it up and moved
to Jerseytown. His son, William C.
Johnston,
was later elected register and recorder of

Montour county. William Craig was one of
the original settlers at Exchange and his descendants, John and Alexander Craig, were
prominent factors in the development of the
.Another early settler was James
In the records and traditions of Ex-

community.

McKee.
change

mentioned one John Bull, who main-

tained a hotel at "the top of the hill."
His
descendants long have passed from the ken
of human recollection.
His place was still

standing as the nineteenth century drew to a

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

388

entertainment it had
been closed for years.
One of the prominent families of Exchange
close, but as a place of

that of Patrick Montague, who lived
above the hill. Another well known resident,
David Wilson, lived to be over eighty years
of age. Charles Clark, who lived to a very
a short
ripe old age, lived with his family

was

Mr. Clark was
distance north of Exchange.
the first merchant of the community, building
and opening a store in 1838. For a time he
was a boarder at the hotel which was conducted by Walter Johnston.
The Odd Fellows have long maintained an
established foothold in this community. Exchange Lodge, No. 898, I. O. O. F., has had a
long and useful history. It was organized in
1874 with Isaac Acor, noble grand; A. H.
Litchard, secretary and Daniel Liebe, treasurer.
They have a fine meeting hall and a
;

good membership in 19 14.
Exchange Grange, No. 65, Patrons of Husbandry, also have a substantial frame hall and
a large membership in this agricultural community.

Among

the prominent

men

of the county

was Hon. Lloyd \\'. Welliver, member of the
Legislature and for many years postmaster
at

Exchange.

held the latter office under
it over to his daughhis seat in the Legis-

three presidents, turning

1894 when he took
lature; later he was
Montour county.
Exchange is the only
ter in

associate

judge

place in the county
It
outside of Danville which boasts a bank.
seems strange to note a fine brick banking
house near a corner of the two main streets of
a tiny village, with a stretch of forest on one
hand, the new St. James Catholic Church on
the other, and a few rural homes along the
opposite side of the road. The Farmers' National Bank was chartered in 1906, with a
The present deposits
capital of $25,000.
average $50,000, and- the institution has a good
surplus. James S. Brannen is president A. H.
Litchard, vice president and James F. Ellis,
;

;

cashier.

Exchange has a population of about eighty,
two stores, kept by Boyd E. Stead and Thomas
Dennin, the hotel of William Houghton, the
gristmill of Charles J. Yagel,

and two black-

smith shops.
A planing mill was at one time operated
by W. H. Dildine, but was destroyed by fire
in 1912 and not rebuilt.
Comlv is a small settlement in the northThe only
western part of the township.
storekeeper there is John Smith.

RELIGIOtJS

One

of the landmarks of the county and
Presbyterian Church outside of
Danville is Derry Church, which was given

the
to

oldest

Anthony township when

curred, because of

new township's

its

the partition oclocation well within the

territorial boundaries.

In 1802
pine-log schoolhouse. a short distance
from the Derry Church, was erected. The
structure was of the most primitive character,
having a dirt floor, in the center of which was
built a fire in extremely cold weather.
gallery was erected in the interior of the schoolbut
the
to
the
led
house,
stairway
gallery
up
from the exterior of the building. On one
side of the gallery was a rough pulpit, and in
front a space was boarded up and resembled
a rough wooden box, contrived for the use of
the choir. The pupils of the school came from
far and near, daily traversing the trails and
little traveled
highways that led to and from
the adjoining sparsely settled communities.

little

Students were enrolled

this

school

from

comparatively great distances, from homes
that would now lie in Columbia, Northumberland,

Luzerne and Lycoming counties.

This church was probably organized by the
Donegal Presbytery not later than 1792. It
is mentioned in the records of the
Presbytery
of Carlisle, which was founded in 1786, as
Church
had
existed
before the
though Derry
In common with all the
Presbytery itself.
older churches of this Presbytery, the origin
of Derry

rather mythical.

William McVickar
were prominent in the

and

Thomas Adams

first church of Anthony
assisted in the organization

township. They
of the institution and were numbered among
its first elders.
Rev. Asa Dunham, the first
Presbyterian minister here, preached under
the trees.
His title of "Father" showed the
great affection that his people had for him.
The first regular pastor, in 1799, was Rev.
John B. Patterson, who performed the functions of minister, father and friend to the
members of this little congregation, in connection with Mahoning.
In 1831 he severed his
connection with Mahoning and thenceforth devoted his time to Derry Church. After ministering to his congregation for forty-four

years he passed away in their midst, and was
laid to rest in the Presbyterian graveyard at

Mr. Patterson was succeeded by
John H. Rittenhouse, who came
from near Milton. Soon after his installation as pastor of the church the new

Danville.

Rev.

leader

commenced

to agitate the question of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
new church, and
together with the etiforts of his congregation,
brought about a cuhnination of their endeavors
While standing in front
several years later.
of a new church which he had been asked to
dedicate at Washingtonville, even as the conhis activity in this matter,

gregation was assembling to hear his address,
This
this popular clergyman dropped dead.
occurred in 1853, and Rev. John Thomas succeeded to the pastorate, followed by Rev. John
Johnson and Rev. G. A. Marr, who resided in
Northumberland county. In the years since
the services here have been few and far
between.
Numbered among the early parishioners of
the old Derry Church were James Biggins,
Col. Robert Clark (the eminent and courageous Revolutionary war veteran ) William Mc,

Cormick,

James

Barber,

Andrew Sheep, Samuel

Thomas

Barber,

Joseph Henderson, James Lowrie, Joseph Hendershott,
Brittain,

Biddle, James Pollock, Thomas
Morehead, John Carr, John Allen. James C.
Sproul, Thomas Adam, James McVickar,
John Russell, John Craig, William Pegg,
Samuel Hutchinson, Charles McKee, James
Simington, Robert Shearer, Thomas Foster,
Thomas Robinson. John Blee, and Mr. McHord. They worshiped at the Derry Church
through the passing years until 1832, when
the first church was erected in Washington-

Gersham

ville.

The old and historic church was torn down,
a fact that is greatly regretted because of its
associations with the past, and was replaced
by the present structure, which was dedicated
in 1846.
Derry Church at present is in a fair
state of preservation, the congregation this
year having placed concrete steps at the front
and repaired the building. Rev. William Gemmil, a retired pastor of Milhille, preaches here
in the summer every two weeks.
Three men,
M. C. Sheep, V. C. Shultz and W. B. Shultz,
constitute the trustees, elders and entire male
membership of the church. An endowment
pays for the upkeep of the cemetery, while
the church is in the care of the three men and
their women folks.
The choir loft has been
boarded up, and the remainder of the church
is as
primitive as at the date of its construction.

by Rev. Milton Lightner, who had previously
preached at the grave of Stephen Ellis, one

and the

first

of that

move

389

to the vicinity.

Just before he

passed away, Stephen Ellis had signified his
intention of bequeathing $200 towards the
construction of a church, "should there ever
be a disposition to erect such a building."
Actual building of an edifice of worship was
started in 1848, on land purchased for that
purpose. Bishop Alonzo Potter laid the cornerstone, and the duty of ofiiciating at the
dedication of the structure fell to him later in
the same year.
Rev. Milton Lightner and
others took part in the ceremonies in connection with that event.
Other contributors to
the building fund were William Ellis, Stephen
Ellis (son of Stephen Ellis, deceased), Catharine Ellis, Jane, William, Isabella, Ellen and

John C.
Heacock.

Ellis,

Milton

Lightner and

Amos

Rev. Milton Lightner ministered to the
needs of the congregation for ten years. Succeeding him was Rev. Edwin N. Lightner, who
served the congregation from Danville. Following him was Rev. Mr. Elsegood, who in
turn was succeeded by Revs. Fury, William
Page, Albra Wadleigh, Rollin H. Brown,
Abram P. Brush, Baldy Lightner (son of Milton Lightner), Frank Duncan Jadow, Frank
Canfield, William Johnson, David L. Fleming,
and others. The cost of the church building
was over $1,300. The first officers were William Ellis, Stephen Ellis, John C. Ellis, Amos
Heacock, vestrymen, and William Ellis and
Amos Heacock, wardens.
In 1910 the church was completely rebuilt,
owing to its dilapidated condition, the floor
having sunk six inches at a meeting which
filled the church one Sunday.
The present

value of the structure is $3,500. The services
here are held at intervals of two weeks by Rev.
Mr. De \\'itt, of Muncy. The membership
consists of about fifty persons.
The White Hall Baptist Church was erected
in 1858.
Its original cost was about $1,500,
and the first preacher to deliver a sermon and
minister to the religious requirements of the
little congregation was .\ndrew F. Shanafelt.
The money needed to construct the edifice was
solicited and obtained in other ways by William McBride, Eftie Derr and A. Holden, who,
states, were most actively assisted
the residents of the vicinity. The first
officers of the church were William McBride

tradition

The first regular services of St. James' Episcopal Qiurch, located at Exchange, were held
in the middle forties.
They were conducted

of the original settlers,

name

all

and George Supplee, deacons, and A. Holden
and William McBride, trustees. The church
building is still in a good state of repair, and
the congregation is served by Rev. Henry C.
Munro.

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

390

White Hall
tive

at one time supported a PrimiMethodist Church, but it long ago passed

into oblivion.

New

Bethel Evangelical Church stands on
the hill a short distance west of White Hall.
It is a frame building, erected in 1887, and the
congregation is served by pastors from Washingtonville.
St. James' Roman Catholic Church congregation was organized in 1888, by Rev. Michael
In December of
J. O'Reilly, of Danville.
that year a frame church, 30 by 40 feet, built
at a cost of $1,700, located about two miles
from the village of Exchange, was dedicated

to St. James.
The congregation was small,
but devoted, and served by the rectors
of the Danville Church.
In 1900 Father A.
M. Feeser, rector of the Convent and Home
of the Sisters of Christian Charity, Danville,
took personal charge of the Exchange Church.
In 1909 the present church was built in the
village, at a cost of $7,000, and dedicated Oct.
20th of that year by' Bishop J. W. Shanahan,
of Harrisburg.

SCHOOLS

John Rea was the first school teacher in
White Hall. His class assembled in a frame
structure which occupied the site of the present brick school building.
Exchange Hall and school was built and
opened to the public in 1874. The building
cost $1,300, and was erected under the supervision of Stephen C. Ellis, Patrick Dennin and

long been tenanted by various fraternal orders
was originally owned by twenty-eight
stockholders who invested in and constructed
the edifice.
The first school in Church Hill district. No.

and

was

torn

1849, ^""^ was
to be replaced by a

built in

down

subsequently

more modern

structure.

The school directors of Anthony township
are Patrick Dennin, Samuel Hilner, Levi Fortner, Allen Watson, William Ellis.

CHAPTER

XII

COOPER TOWNSHIP
one of Montour county's smaller depths of Montour Ridge.
A tunnel was
Its southern boundary is the
formerly used to deliver the stone at the track
of the Catawissa railroad, but is now abanriver, and on the east is the dividing line between Montour and Columbia county. The doned. The quarries are only partially worked
now.
soil of the township is rough, the contour hilly,
.\fter the closing of the furnaces at Danand its greatest natural resource, perhaps, the
mineral deposits.
Iron ore and limestone ville the property of Grove Brothers was sold
have been found in abundant cjuantities. in partition to James E. Reichert.
After
North of Grovania lie Limestone kilns, active Reichert's death Alonzo Mauser leased the
years ago, but comparatively idle since the quarries and later bought them. He is now
cessation of the operations of the Grove Iron the only operator at Grovania, but other workWorks at Danville several decades ago.
ings are in use near here by Charles Summers
and Calvin Kastner.
It is popularly supposed that the first resiThe abandoned powerhouse of the Columdents of the township were a family by the
name of Krum, a number of whose descend- bia & Montour Electric Railroad Company is
ants are still living in the township.
The located at Grovania, and is now used for storFousts and Cromleys, also, are mentioned as age purposes, since the power for that line has
been brought from Harwood.
being the original settlers of the district.
The storekeeper and postmaster at Grovania is C. D. Garrison. The fine farm and
t^ROVANI.V
dairy of T. E. Hyde is located near the town,
This little settlement grew up around the just on the line of Columbia county. Between
of
limestone
in
former
times
Hyde's farm and the village is the station of
operated
quarries
by Grove Brothers for their furnaces in Dan- the Philadelphia & Reading (once the CataThe limestone stratum here dips very wissa) railroad.
ville.
At the extreme western end of the townabruptly and the workings are far into the

This

townships.

McHenry, who acted as a building committee. The first teacher to serve in the school
was Augustus Truckmiller.
The hall has
Dr.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ship

of Ridgeville,

settlement

the

which

days of the old stage road
to Danville, and then sank into gradual decay
when the coach was superseded by the railroad, the track of which runs some distance
south of the spot.
Ridgeville once boasted
in the

sprang up

accommodate

a tavern to

the traveler.

church is the burying ground, wherein
the remains of many of the forefathers
of eastern Montour and western Columbia
counties.
This church is used alternately by the
old
lie

Lutheran and Reformed denominations.
St. James' Church, at Ridgeville, was built
about the same time as St. Peter's and the
history of the latter

RELIGIOUS

that of the former.

SCHOOLS

Upon the summit
embowered in

of a hill south of Grothe remnant of a noble
Wideforest, stands a small brick church.
flung doors on either side of the front give
to
and
within
dim
invitation
enter,
quiet inclines the wayfarer to rest and pray.
Upon
a stone tablet let into the front under the
eaves are these words
"St. Peter's Kirche.
Erechtet 1856," in German text. Behind the

391

vania,

There are four schools in this township,
most of them being located on the sites used
since the first establishment of the public
The school directors of
school system here.
the township are Jacob M. Shultz, Alfred

Blecher,

W'elliver,

Edward Cashner.

Benjamin Buck.

CHAPTER

XIII

DERRY TOWNSHIP— WASHINGTONMLLE BOROUGH
This

one of the oldest townships and

Montour county.
whose given name has been

tlements of

Mr.

set-

Brittain,

lost in the span
of time between the past and present, was the
earliest settler in the territory that later be-

came Washingtonville.

His son, Nathaniel
ripe old age of fourscore years and more on the old family place,
and the legal papers that he often exhibited
with ])ride to his friends and neighbors indisputably proved his title to the family homestead.
.Another very early settler was Jacob
Shultz, who in
Limestoneville,

1790 settled in what is now
from which place he moved to

Derry township after a tenancy of one year.
He died in 1804, and was buried in Derry
Church graveyard. During this year an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out in the community and carried off many people. Another
very early resident of Washingtonville was
Matthew Calvin. No trace of his posterity can
be found in the modern annals of the com-

frame mill which was
days of the village;
twice the structure was devastated by fire and
as often rebuilt. Another pioneer was Joseph
a

built the old

landmark

Hutchinson,

in the early

who

Cormick.

from

the

earliest

times.

who afterwards

his native county.

;

In 1812 a sawmill, the

first in

the township,
selected

was erected by John Steinman, who

a site half a mile above the Billmeyer place.
little later in the same year another mill
was built, by John Auten, who after experimenting for two years found business good
enough to add a gristmill to his lumber enterprise, and at the same time erected a house.
The gristmill long has passed from the ken of
man and the sawmill followed it into oblivion.
John Wilson was another early settler of
the conmiunity.
He located near the Billmeyer place, and died on the farm which he

Stephen Ellis and his wife
Eleanor (Cunningham) were also pioneers of
the township, emigrating to the vicinity from
Donegal. Ireland. A son, Stephen, was born
to them in their new home on May 15, 1807.
purchased.

W.\SHINGTOXVILLE BOROUGH

near Washington-

settled

Another was
William A. McCormick, father of James Mcville

his daughter
settler at that time
Margaret was the wife of William A. McCormick. James McCormick was a colonel of
militia, served two terms in the State Legislature, and his descendants are among the
prominent families of Derry township in 1914.

lived to the

Brittain,

munity.

another

received honors
William Shaw was

Washingtonville and Danville are the oldest
Montour county. This is the

settlements in

only borough in the county outside of Danville,
the date of its charter being April 28, 1870.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

392

The first burgess was H. C. Snyder, and
Joseph B. Seidel, Andrew C. ElHs and James
A. Miller were the first councilmen. The first
known settlement of Washingtonville antedates

The first postmaster at Washingtonville was
Mathew Calvin, and the first physician was
Dr. Newcombe. The first hotel in the place
was built and conducted by one Allen, who

war of the Revolution. Among the early
buildings of the community were the Bosley
water, grist and sawmill, built prior to 1788.
The structure which housed these industries
was destroyed by fire in 1826, and subse-

before the Revolution realized the possibility
of the occasional traveler passing through the
Robert Walker was the first
community.
blacksmith.
He was an excellent mechanic
and evolved the Walker plow, an agricultural
utility which became celebrated in that day

the

This
quently another building was erected.
mill formed the nucleus of a fort which was
built to alford protection to the residents of
the few homes which had sprung up in the

The

vicinity.

fort

was

locally

known

Brady's fort, although State historians define
Portholes
the blockhouse as "Boyle's Fort."
were pierced in its walls, and for a while a
small howitzer was mounted within the inclosThis armament gave protection to the
ure.
settlers

who

fled to the shelter of the fort at

the approach of savage bands of red men. The
fort was named after two Revolutionary
heroes, Samuel and Hugh Brady, and the
name of "Boyle's Fort," as mentioned in the
histories of the State, is apparently a mistake.

A great

famine

afifected this

and many other

Philip Maus
that year
from John Montgomery, who inhabited Paradise farm, and delivered it to the Bosley mill.
At the time the place was called Washington.
From old records it is ascertained that in 1788
localities of the State in

1788.

purchased a quantity of grain

Samuel Smith, Adam Hempleman and Robert
Rogers were settlers in the village, and their
wants were relieved by the grain secured from
Paradise farm, which they obtained from the
mill.

The ownership

of this business later

passed from the hands of Bosley to Samuel
Hutchinson, who eventually became a leading
man of the community and its principal propHe successfully conducted the
erty owner.

number of years and also owned
and managed a large farm in the vicinity.
Mr. Hutchinson was a virile man, with unmill

for a

usual intelligence, and had strong and inde-

pendent views on

all subjects, particularly that
of religion. Through his generosity the Presof
the
village received a donation of
byterians
land upon which, in 1832, they erected a PresSamuel Hutchinson, a son,
byterian church.
is also identified with the early life of Wash-

and

His industry and enterprise retime.
sulted in the building of a foundry and factory for the manufacture of plows and kindred products. Eventually he moved to Lanwhere he died. Nathaniel Spence was
the first merchant of the place.
Succeeding

caster,

him was William McCormick, a native of
land,

who

nence

in the village.

later

Ire-

rose to considerable promi-

The question

of where the old Washingtonstood is a matter of some uncerSome think that the site was located
tainty.
across the creek, adjacent to the present
borough limits, while others contend that it
stood just back of what is now Front street,
between Church and Water streets, within
the borough limits.
The first schoolhouse was built after the
Revolution came to a close.
The structure
was a square pen of unhewn logs, and light
and air were provided for by the omission
of a log when the structure was erected.
fort

ville

The

was roughly thrown together
every sense primitive and typical of
the pioneer days.
Early in the nineteenth
century Washingtonville had achieved considerable distinction as an important place,
and was included in the route of the mail

and

building

it
In
passed through the county.
1838 four hotels and four stores were doing

stage as

business there.
The leading business men
of the time were James and David McCormick,. sons of

William McCormick

;

Neal Mc-

Coy, son of Robert, and the fimi of Grim,
Derr & Dye.
The Washingtonville mills are now operated by L. C. Cooper and Jacob W. Keefer.
The postmaster is Elmer Cotner. The storekeepers are Eves & Diehl, Charles Gibson,
C. L. Cromis, T. B. Yerg and G. K. Heddens.

He taught school, and later reingtonville.
moved to a larger sphere of activity in

The Excelsior Hotel was started
James T. Heddens, who conducted

Huntingdon county, becoming a lawyer and
eventually being elected to Congress. Before
achieving that honor the younger Hutchinson
had served his Commonwealth from the
judicial bench.

After
ty-four years.
Fannie, kept it until 1906,

his

death

when

1837 by

for for-

his

wife,

E. E. Fry-

and is still the proprietor.
meyer bought
The hotel was burned in 1891, but at once
rebuilt.
Mrs. Heddens was one of the most
it,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
popular hotelkeepers in the county, and her
house saw many a party of diners from Danville and Bloomsburg.

The other hotels of the town are kept by
William Snyder and A. L. Heddens.
The woodworking shop of James Stacker,
for many years a well known landmark on
the road at the outskirts of Washingtonville,
was totally destroyed in October, 1909.
Stecker had accumulated many fine and rare
specimens of wood and had hundreds of fine
He never retools, all of which were lost.
built the shop.
The town hall

here was built in 1908. For
authorities used a large
meat refrigerator for a lockup. This is said
to be the origin of the word "cooler" as referring to a jail.
The old covered wooden bridge across the
creek was removed in 1908 to make way for a
a

number of years the

preserve for

game

393

of over twenty-five acres.

Here Alexander Billmeyer has an inclosure
within which are over two thousand squirrels,
twenty elk, seventy-five deer and many wild
turkeys.

allows no one to hunt on the

place, but the entire tract is free to the public as a park.
Many visitors come from dif-

ferent sections to see the herd of elk and
other animals, which are shown by attendants.
In addition to the preserve Mr. Billmeyer has
one of the largest farms in the county, in a
high state of cultivation.
For twenty-seven years A. E. Seidel of
Derry township has been training hunting
dogs, and in that time has trained an average
of thirty dogs a season. These animals come
from all over the Union and their value runs
into the thousands of dollars.

religious

steel one.

The
ington

societies of

Washingtonville are
No. 365, P. O. S. of A.

Camp,

Wash-

Derry

;

Lodge, No. 759, I. O. O. F. Washingtonville
Tent, No. 13, K. O. T. M., and the Knights of
;

the
1891

Golden

Eagle, the latter organized
with twenty-seven members.

That famous pioneer preacher. Rev. J. B.
Patterson, an exponent of the Presbyterian
creed, was stationed at Washingtonville and
had charge of the Derry Church and
the Washingtonville Church, the latter being
the first combined schoolhouse and church in
immediate section of the State the building was a log structure, built in 1802, of most
this

STRAWBERRY RIDGE

;

primitive design and equipment.

This village

a station on the Susquehanna,
Berwick railroad, a branch of

Bloomsburg &

the Pennsylvania road running from Watsontown to Berwick, and quite a settlement has
grown up. The place has a Grange Hall, Reformed Church ( Rev. A. F. Dreisbach,
pastor), blacksmith shop, the store and post
office kept by Mrs.
Mowrer, a store

Emma

kept by A. H. Snyder, a flourishing creamery,
a grain elevator and a hotel.
Trinity Reformed Church is located next to
the hall on a hill.
It
is
of brick, with
a wooden steeple, and was built in 1868.

The cemetery attached is cut in half by the
The building occupies the site
Church built in 1818 by the
Reformed and Lutheran congregations.
The church was repaired and rededicated

public road.
of the Union

in 1907,

during the pastorate of Rev. William
The congregaKohler, at a cost of $1,200.
is now served by Rev. A. F. Dreisbach,
who also series the Dutch Hill or Heller contion

gregation in Columbia county.

billmeyer"s park
This place
ingtonville,

a short distance east of

Mad

creek.

Wash-

It consists

of a

This good

man

died in the community in which he
labored and the memory of his sterling character, purity of thought and unselfishness of
action has been handed down in the annals of
the community, and is now cherished and revered by the descendants of his parishioners.
The present Presbyterian Church, a brick
structure, was built just after the Civil war,
and its erection was the natural evolution of a

growing congregation founded on faith and
The first organization was made in
probity.
1849. and the present brick church was built
in 1865.
Revs. L. F. Brown, Owen Reber
and Charles Hifner were some of its pas-

At present the pulpit is vacant.
The Lutheran and Reformed congregations,

tors.

organized

1812

Derry township, with

thirty members, built Zion Church in partnerThe building
ship, at a cost of $360, in 1818.

was located at Strawberry Ridge. In 1850
two denominations separated, the Lutherans building a church at Washingtonville
in 1 85 1, at a cost of $1,600.
At present this
church has 450 members, and is served by
pastors from the chiirch at Turbotville, Northumberland county.
It adheres to the old
branch of the church the General Council.
In 1908 tlie church was almost rebuilt, being
the

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

394

rededicated in that year. At present there is
no regular pastor here, the pulpit being sup-

SCHOOLS

The combined schoolhouse and church men-

plied at irregular intervals.

Washingtonville
built in

1889.
in this

1852,

The

and

Methodist
rebuilt

Church

was

and rededicated

pastors changed almost every year
many of the names

denomination, so

of the former pastors of this church are not
on record. Some of those known are Revs.
Albert H. Albertson, Milton L. Hess, Ed:

ward Jackson, J. E. Bassler and Thomas M.
The present pastor is Rev. L. A.
Phillips.
Remley, the membership is eighty, and the
value of the church

$3,900.

was the

tioned above

first

institution of learn-

ing in this township. Columbia Seminary was
a private school at Washingtonville, taught for
some years by D. M. Barber, between 1838
and 1850.
The school directors of Washingtonville
are:
B. S. Dieffenbacher, Joseph B. Seidel,
George W. Miller, Hiram P. Cotner, A. L.

Heddens.

The school directors of Derry township
are
George P. Cotner, A. E. Seidel, Charles
E. Shires, John Hoffman, \\'illiam Lobach.
:

CHAPTER XIV
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
It is

thought that Col.

Thomas Strawbridge,
among
is now

originally of Chester county. Pa., was
the first settlers in the territory which

known as Liberty township. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war and among his
neighbors bore a reputation for conspicuous
bravery and a high order of citizenship. He
arrived shortly after his marriage to Margaret
Montgomery, a sister of Gen. \Mlliam Montgomery, who removed to Danville at about
the same time as his brother-in-law. Colonel
Strawbridge established a tannery in the
township, the first in this section of the State.
Another family chose this vicinity as a
home.
The McWilliams purchased land in
1
77 1 from John Moore, whose property was
located

where Mooresburg now stands.

The

family consisted of Robert McWilliams, his
three sons, Hugh, John and Robert, and one
daughter, Jane, who had married Robert
Curry, in Ireland. One of the sons, Hugh,
was killed by the Indians in 1775. Robert
Curry also met death at the hands of the
treacherous redskins. Jane Curry, who was
born Feb. 8, 1773. was the first white child
born in this section of the country, between the
north and west branches of the Susquehanna.
One of the earliest records of the township
is the deed which transfers
^2(jy2 acres of
land from the Penns. This parcel was located
northwest of Mooresburg.
The title was

changed again in 1806, when it was purchased
by Robert Finney, who improved it and resided there until he died, in 1839.
Finney
became known throughout this section becaiise

numerous

eccentricities

and

steadfast

He remained a bachelor to
penuriousness.
the day of his death and was noted for oddity
manner, speech and habits. He paid
for the big farm by threshing wheat with an
old flail, a handmade afifair, a long hickory
pole, cut and bent, with the regulation heavy
end to separate the kernels from the chaff.
Tradition says that he resided in an old outbuilding on the place, and in severe weather
oft'ered the comfort of his living quarters to
such beasts of the field as he owned. The
story is told that while eccentric, miserly, and
holding himself aloof, the old fellow, on the
coldest winter day, would take himself to Danville and bring back armfuls of straw to make
in attire,

comfortable his kine.

The Billmeyers were
locality.

From

notable arrivals in the
the very beginning of their
they were known as frugal,

residence here
sincere and simple people,

enterprising and
The first sawmill in the region
prosperous.
was erected by John Steinman, who chose
a site half a mile from the Billmeyer homeThe building
stead, on Chillisquaque creek.
was erected in 1812, and later he added a
In
181
2
lathe.
John I'Kuten built
turning
another sawnfill, below there, and two years
later

The lumber for
home was worked up

he added a gristmill.

the gristmill

and for

his

first establishment.
A more modern
due course replaced the sawmill, but
hand
of
time
has
effaced
the gristthe
long

his

mill in
mill.

John

\\'ilson

purchased land near the

Bill-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
His property comprised 175 acres,
meyers.
which he worked until declining years and
death removed him from the sphere of activity.

the
George Wagner, a weaver, located
township, and industriously supplied the inhabitants with the materials used in the wearing a])parel of the times. Other settlers were
fames and John McMahan, noted Revolutionary soldiers and John and Peter Simington,
who fought in the War of 181 2.
;

MOORESBURG
in 1806 and was
honor of the Moore family, who
The area of the town plat
fii-st settled here.
was thirteen acres, and the first building was
the homenvhich Stephen Moore built. Stephen
was 'a descendant of one of three brothers,
John, Joseph and Andrew Moore, who accompanied William Penn on the good ship "Welcome,"" which arrived at American shores in
1762.
They were members of the Society of
Friends, and Stephen was a grandson of John,
of
those
adventurous argonauts. He died
one

This village was laid out

named

home Jan. 20, 1813.
The Mooresburg pottery was established in
1857. The last owner was J. F. Ack, in 1901.
The Mooresburg gristmill is operated by
Ephraim Bower, and is fitted with modern
at his

machinery and run by steam.
The hotel here is kept by Richard B. Latshaw. W. G. Ford runs a store and the post
office, and B. \\'. James is another storekeeper.
LIBERTY FURNACE
This was the third charcoal furnace built
the county, and was the work of John
Trego, an old-time ironmaker, who erected it
in the summer of 1839 for Burd Patterson &

395

part of the county, was established in 1773
and joined with Warrior Run Church under
the care of Rev. John Bryson.
After the
withdrawal of that pastor many of the families moved away and the church gradually declined.
The first church building was a log
one, and the second, a frame, was built in the
fifties.
In 1886 it was served by Rev.
early
H. G. Finney, from Mooresburg. At present
it

has been abandoned.

Mooresburg Presbyterian Church was organized in 1829, the pastors serving here
being supplies from other churches near. The
present pastor is Rev. R. P. Howe. The first
church was of stone, built in 1834, 35 by 48
building committee being John HopRobert Adams and Abner Moore. The
present church was built in 1907 and is of
feet, the

per,

brick.

The Methodist Church

Mooresburg was

1834 of stone, the building committee
being John Douty, Jonathan Rishel, Robert
built in

In
and Conrad Dieft'enbacher.
1882 the church was entirely rebuilt.
The
congregation is served by pastors in the Dan-

Alexander

ville district.

Follmer Evangelical Lutheran Church is located on the northwest edge of the township,
and was built in 1859. It is a large two-story
brick building, with a cemetery opposite it,
across the road.
It is served occasionally

from Danville.
Center Lutheran Church is located in the
southwest end of the township, and was built
in

1885.

The cemetery

beside

much

Rev. Paul Haymas, of Dewart,
Northumberland county, is the pastor. Center school house is located beside it.

greater age.

It was first leased by
Co.. of Pottsville.
James and William Trego, who ran it till

1841, the product being about twenty-eight
tons of iron per week.
In 1841 it was leased
by the Maus Brothers, who did not make a
success of the works, and in 1844 it was altered to use anthracite by Lieb & Trego, and
for a time produced a good grade of iron.
But the competition of the Danville furnaces
and the exhaustion of the nearby ore beds

made
It is

its

now

suspension imperative about 1850.
only a ruin of stone.

SCHOOLS

Old Center stone school was built in 1823
and stood as a landmark until 1872, when it
was destroyed by incendiary fire. The ground
on which it was built was given jointly by
James Strawbridge and others. James Aiken
and James Lafferty were the first teachers
there.

There are eight schoolhouses
all of them on old sites.

directors

Chillisquaque Presbyterian Church, the olddenomination in the northwestern

for

1914 are:

The

Edward H. Robinson, Frank

townschool

Cornelison,

Hartman,
William C. Starner, Christopher Springer.
S.

A FINE BRIDGE

RELIGIOUS

est of that

in this

ship,

One
public

of the county works of benefit to the
the fine reinforced concrete bridge

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

396

Chillisquaque creek at the Jackson
Billmeyer dam in this township, which was
constructed in 1914 by Reimard Brothers.
The bridge is 80 feet long, a fine sample of
modern concrete work, and cost $2,3cx). It
will probably last as long as some of the monuments which were erected in the county during late years. In former times bridges were

across

constantly in need of repairs and renewals,
the cost of which came from the taxpayers'
pockets and went into the ever open palms of
The concrete bridges
greedy contractors.
which Montour county has built over many of
the streams throughout the county may cost
more at first, but they will be extremely economical in the long run.

CHAPTER XV
LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP
Limestone was originally part of Derry
township and was erected into a separate community in 1816. Its broad and fertile fields
constitute one of the richest agricultural sections of the county. A noted settler of Limestone was Henry Gibson, who was a surveyor
by profession.
Joseph Gibson, one of his

and the ambition of the owner to found a
community was given full sway. The next
thing added to the settlement was a blacksmith
shop, and after it was erected the enterprising

was the oldest resident in
The Gibson family were remarkable
1886.
for their longevity Henry Gibson, a grandson
of the original Henry, and the father of
Joseph, lived to the ripe old age of eighty-two
years, eight months, passing away in i860.
The Gibsons were not only locally prominent,
but their influence and reputation extended to
many sections adjacent to the vicinity where

energy extended further and in a more philanthropic direction, when the construction of a
Methodist church was begun. Upon its completion Daniel Smack organized a congrega-

great-grandsons,

they lived. The Balliets, another early family of Limestone, were descended from ancient
They could trace their ancestry back
lineage.
to the Crusaders.
The first of their ancestors to arrive in America reached AUentown,

and later a branch emigrated to
Probably the next oldest settlers
of Limestone were the Davises. who came to
America in 1754. The Gougers were also
among the early settlers of the vicinity, and
the name of John William Gouger descends to
modern times as an example of pioneer citizenship and manhood.
Jacob Shultz was a
pioneer of Limestone and a soldier of the war
Pa., in 1749,

Limestone.

81 2 and passed away in the township
where much of his life was spent. Among the
other early settlers were the Follmers, one
descendant of which family served the county
as associate judge.

He
])ioneer secured a smith to conduct it.
built a shop for a tailor and another one for
a shoemaker and placed men in charge.
His

which filled the frame building, and the
fulfillment of his ambition
that of building

tion

the community itself.
This mercantile business they conducted with success until 1848,
when they sold out to Jacob Weidenhamer.
From those early days Limestoneville has
to be a pretentious and thrifty village
comfortable residences and such public
conveniences, including a post office, as accrue

grown
of

to a place of its size.

California Grange, No. 942, P. O. H., has
hall in Limestoneville.
The storekeepers
are C. L. Johnson and Charles H. Lahr & Co.

The

village of Limestoneville was founded
through the erection of a dwelling and

store

by Daniel Smack.

The

establishment

was a pretentious one for the time and

place.

steam sawmill in the township was
1888 by Ellis Croniley at Limestone-

first

built in

is not now in use.
John Schalter
chop mill in 189^, and it is now operated by John N. Herr.
Ottaiva is a small station on the Pennsylvania road in the extreme northern end of the
The postmaster and storekeeper
township.
there is D. R. Rishel.

built a

in 1835,

—

community. A hotel was opened by a German
who had come to the village. Later Balliet
& McCormick entered into a commercial
rivalry with Daniel Smack which terminated
when the partners purchased his interests,
lock, stock and barrel, as it were, and not only
became proprietors of the Smack store, but of

ville.

LIMESTONEVILLE

— was

reached, when a brick schoolhouse augmented the other utilities of the

a town

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
RELIGIOUS

397

a classical high school, under the care of W.
D. Weidenhamer, president Rev. Lucien Cort,
secretary A. S. Wagner, treasurer and David
Davis, trustee, for an association of stockholders.
The school opened with a goodly
number of attendants, and with Rev. Lucien
Cort as the principal. His successors were
;

The congregation which worshiped

the

by Daniel
Smack was served for some years by resident
pastors, then by the pastors at Washingtonville, and finally abandoned and sold for a

frame

Methodist

church

private residence in

built

;

Professors

1878.

Paradise Reformed Church was built in
In 1914 the pastors
Limestoneville in 1854.
from Pottsgrove, Northumberland county,
have been holding the infrequent services
there.

SCHOOLS
Limestoneville Institute was established in
It was
1862 in a substantial brick building.

Alden,

Hay Brown,

present

chief justice of the Supreme court of Pennsyl\ania. William G. Ritter, Charles S. Albert,
J. E. Shadle, J. P. Bergner, William Pullen
and W. B. Shedden. The latter was the last
instructor, in 1889, the school being closed because of lack of attendance and support.
The school directors of this township in
1914 are: William S. Bogart, G. M. Dye,
Charles Hoffman, William F. Geiger, John

N. Herr.

CHAPTER XVI
MAHONING TOWNSHIP
The names of the taxable citizens of Mahoning township assessed during the year of 1798
have been handed down to the present time
through a record which was made by Philip
Maus. tax collector for the township in that
year. The territorial limits of the present Mahoning are a great deal smaller than the township was in the closing days of the eighteenth
century, and consequently the list, which is
given below, contains names of citizens who
lived in communities now bearing a different
name. In fact, this list includes about all of
the then residents of the entire county of Montour, and a part of Columbia county as well.
The names are: Paul Adam, James Burk,
Robert Biggers, John Bogart, Daniel Barton,

Elisha Barton, Cornelius Bogart, Abraham
Bogart, Stephen Brown. Peter, Frederick and
Michael Ijlue, Thomas Boyer, John Clark,
James Conifran, Isaac Calden, Duncan Cameron, Widow Curry, George Caldwell, John
Caldwell. John and William Cox, William
Cornelius, Widow Cameron (grandmother of

Hon. Simon Cameron), Andrew Coughran,
John and Thomas Davis, Samuel Erwin, John
Enrit. Sr.. and Jr., John and Daniel Frazer,
Michael Hille, Hugh and Thomas Hughes,
David Inawalt, James Getplin, James Kermer,
David Kerr, John Moore, Philip Maus, John
Miller, William Montgomery, Alex. McMiUen,
Benjamin Martin, William Martin, Aaron and
Daniel Pew, Daniel Phillips, Robinson, Leonard Rupert, James Rabe, John Stewart, James

Sample, John Seigler. Michael Sundes, Jacob
X'anderbilt, Gilbert \'orhigh, John Woodward,
John Wilson, Joseph Williams, Thomas Willetts, John Young, Alexander Seliman, Har-

man Zulic. In this list, the single men are separated from the married men, and the former,
who were mostly young taxpayers, are given
as follows George Maus, Isaac Budwan, Mike
:

Saunders, John Cook, Samuel Enrit, Jacob
Sechler, Alexander McGee, William Richard.

David Steele, Jacob Groff', Widow Campbell
(a young widow it is supposed), Jonathan D.
Sargeant, Michael Bright. William Clark,
Widow Duncan, Daniel Heisher, Abel and
Daniel Reese, Aaron Long, George Miller,
Evan Owen, David Phillips, Widow Zimea,
Thomas Robinson, Alexander Berrj'hill, William Ross, Abner W'ickersham, Dennis Leary,
James Hunter. George Fant, John Buel, Cadawallader Zowns, Samuel Pleasants.
When Danville was made a borough and
separated from this township the area was still
further diminished.
Being composed mostly
of immense hills, and with Danville for a near
the
neigiibor,
township of Mahoning has had
few happenings to chronicle in its history. In
this township are the Danville and Mahoning
Poor Farm and the State Hospital for the
Insane, a description of which will be found
elsewhere.
Mcclianicsz'ille.

settlement

workmen

along the Bloomsburg trolley line, is the
the Ontiora silk mill, built in 1911.

site

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

398

Here also stood the "White" Methodist
church, which was torn down' in 1891.
description of this church is found in the
church chapter of Danville.
The Odd Fellows, Catholic, and German Reformed cemeteries are within the limits of

SCHOOLS

interesting of the schools of this
the
Mahoning schoolhouse,
built before the formation of the county of
is

township

Montour, on land donated by Jacob Sechler.
old frame building is now replaced by a

The

Mahoning township.

Many

The most

of the iron mines of the owners of the

big Danville furnaces, which produced abundantly for a long period, were within the limits
of this township.

brick building of large size.
The school directors of this township are:
William T. Dyer, Hurley Baylor, Lloyd Baylor, Landas Gass, Alfred Diehl.

CHAPTER XVII
MAYBERRY TOWNSHIP
This

division

Montour

county

was

1853, and is almost completely
separated from the rest of the county by the
Susquehanna river. It projects southward like
a tongue between Columbia and Northumberland counties, and could well have been given
to either one in the days of separation and dissension.
The territory of which this township is
formed was originally a part of Franklin town-

formed

ship,

Columbia county, and was swapped

back and forth between the two counties during the division until it finally landed in the
hands of Montour officials.
The township received its name from one
of its chief citizens, Mayberry Gearhart, a descendant of William Gearhart, one of the earThe contour of the
list settlers of the district.
land is broken and hilly. Narrow levels, which
follow the course of the Susquehanna, mark
some of the territory, while mountainous elevations rise in the north end and extend south
through almost the length of the township
limits.
Sharp Ridge rises near the eastern

boundary and extends in a southerly and
southwesterly direction to the center; the
ascent of this ridge is gradual and the top
is comparatively level.
Along the ridge is
the main road leading from Danville, running
across the north end of the township, along
the river to Roaring creek, and then turning
south passes out of the township at the southwest corner.
The first settler of this section was John
Cleaver, a Quaker who came from Chester
county in 1783 and settled near the mouth of
Roaring creek, at the site of the present gristOthers who settled at this spot were
William Gearhart and Daniel Brobst. Brobst
mill.

was the first blacksmith and Cleaver built the
predecessor of the present mill. John Mensch
was an active factor in the German colony.

Among others to settle, become prominent and
then drift to other places was Charles Boone,
who came from Berks

county, and settled and
improved the place that later passed to the
of
William
(iearhart.
After living
ownership
there several years he moved back to Berks
county. A physician. Dr. William Boone, built
a home half a mile up the creek; after living
there for some years he migrated to Ohio,
and there was killed.
Another settler, J.
Nought, built a house a mile further up the
creek.
Peter Osman moved in and built in
the section that

now

The exact

township.

not known, but
some time during
is

the north part of the
date of Vought's arrival

supposed

have been

the last part of the eight-

eenth century.

Mayberry township contains no villages or
towns within its limits. The roads are very
poor and hilly and the inhabitants \i\e in semiisolated points, which cannot be dignified even
with the

name of

settlements.

office established in this section

mouth of Roaring
after the

first

The

creek,

postmaster,

The only post
was that at the

called Howellville
W. B. Howell, in

railroad station of the Pennsylcalled after the creek.
at the mouth of Roaring creek
and for some distance above is of great beauty.
Here the creek makes a turn like the letter S
and falls from one ledge to another in a
series of beautiful cascades.
The ledges are
broken off short in places.
The county
is
an old wooden
bridge across the creek
covered structure, built upon a foundation of
the rock ledge, which is pierced just beneath
1895.

vania here

The scenery

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
it by a deep gorge, making an ideal location for
the causeway. This spot is a jiopular resort
for picnic parties and anglers.
This section was settled soon after the Cata-

In 1783 John
wissa valley was populated.
Cleaver, a member of the Society of Friends
from Chester county, came here while on a
visit to friends at Catawissa and decided to
buy land on the north side of the Susquehanna.
He was deterred from this by the great flood
of that year, which covered the lands he had
selected, so he took instead a tract on the
hills west of Roaring creek, near its mouth,
on the south siile of the river. He brought his
family here the following year, built a home,
and the third year erected a mill on the bank
of the creek. He built the dam on a rock ledge
about half a mile above the mouth of the creek,
anchoring the woodwork to the rocks by means
of iron bolts. When this dam was replaced in
191 1 by a concrete one the old work was still

good state of preservation.
This mill passed into the hands of Wellington Cleaver after the death of his father,
Jesse, and is now in the possession of Henry
E. Bohner.
The old building is still in use,
but a modern turbine wheel has replaced the
old wooden overshot one.
The concrete dam
is one of the best
examples of this class of
work in the county, while the forebay has also
been concreted for a short space between the
edge of the hill and the mill. The old millin a

race, blasted

from the

solid rock,

repairs or im])rovement.

399

summer

visitors think is part of the natural
rock formation, so completely has the story
of the old furnace passed from memory.
Another industry of the past was the sawmill of R. Davison, at the mouth of Little

Roaring creek, now abandoned. The gristmill of Jacob Swank, in the western edge of
the township, on the same creek, about the
center of the territory, is now owned by Peter
S. Cromley.
RELIGIOUS

The

first

church

this

township was the

Methodist, built in 1856 almost in the center
of the township. There is also an old cemetery opposite, one of the oldest in the southern part of the county. The church is sup-

from Elysburg, Northumberland county.
Rev. T. F. Rijjple is the present supply.
Vought's Church cornerstone was laid Aug.

])lied

15, 1837. the building committee being: John
\'ought, Thomas P. \'astine, Peter \'ought,
and Jesse W'eikle.
\'alentine V'ought was
the builder.
It was owned by the Lutheran

On Nov. 3, 1907, the cornerstone of the present church was laid, and Sept.
Rev. J. W. Shan27, 1908, it was dedicated.
non was then and is now the pastor. The last
committee
consisted
of H. H. Swank,
building
J. M. Vought. J. W. Vastine, Isaiah Vought,
denomination.

John Klingnian,

needed no

P. S. Crossley.

SCHOOLS

One

turbine of 35
horsepower operates the machinery, and the
addition of other turbines could develop over
125 horsepower. The mill is fitted with modern roller process machinery and the output is
twenty-five barrels of flour daily.

There are two school districts in this townwhich the population is but 215 souls,
and the same number of schools. The first
schoolhouse was built before the Methodist
church, and was for a time used also for

The most important industry in this section,
as well as in the county, was the Roaring Creek
Furnace, which to a great extent contributed
to the development of the iron works of Dan-

religious services. The present schools are all
new buildings.
The school directors for 1914 are: Isaac
Adams, Henry E. Bohner, William H.

ville.

now

All that remains of the old plant
the heap of slag, which many of the

ship, of

Fahringer,

Vought.

Christopher

X'ought,

Walter

CHAPTER

XVIII

VALLEY TOWNSHIP
It is

thought that the

first

found sleep, when she cut the bark from her
wrists and ankles.
She had concealed a pair
of scissors about her person which, fortunately for her, escaped their vigilant search

settler into the

what is now known as \'alley township was PhiHp Maus, the founder of the family whose members for many generations have
vicinity of

when she was first made captive. She fled
from their camp as fast as possible, but they

been such factors throughout this portion of
the State. He purchased a plat of land located
on Mahoning creek in May, 1769, which was

soon missed her and, lighting torches, pursued
her in all directions.
She concealed herself
in the top of a fallen tree.
They passed over
the trunk of the tree and, as they did so, cried

the earliest date that it was possible to obtain
a clear title to land that had been purchased
from the Indians, and which included a great
area in this section. At the close of the war
of the Revolution, Philip Maus, together with
his son and two carpenters, made plans to visit
his purchase.
The little party first appeared
in the settlement at the mouth of the Mahoning, which had just been founded by Daniel
and William Montgomery, and from there ]Mr.
Maus proceeded to the site of his new home.
With the aid of his son and the carpenters the
pioneer built the first log cabin in V^alley townIt was located on the right bank of the
ship.
He proposed to clear away a small
stream.
tract of woods near his humble home, but
Indians
prevented an immediate conprowling
summation of that plan and the tools which
he had provided for that purpose were, to-

gether with other personal possessions, finally
buried, in order to preserve them from the
savage foe. Philip Maus has left recollections,
which he intrusted to his friend John Frazer
From these memoirs is gathered
to write.
what is probably the most reliable account of
the killing of Robert Curr)% as follows
:

"Two

years

previously,"

May,

1780,

Robert Curry and his wife, traveling on horseback from Northumberland, on the way to
their little farm on the Mahoning, when about
midway between the two places, were attacked
by savages. He was killed and scalped and
his skull broken to fragments with their
tomahawks. She was taken prisoner. Her
hair was long and jet black, which they greatly

They told her she was a "much
pretty squaw," and that they would not hurt
her. They traveled until night, when they enadmired.

camped.

They then

with hickory bark.

ceived, but the pen utterly fails to describe

them.

fragment of a

from Mrs. Maus,

letter

dated "Northumberland, 1783," is so full of
interest that a portion of it is reproduced:
"Your brother George likes this place very
well.
When you come, do not fail to bring
100 White Chapel needles and two or three
ounces of thread suitable for sewing calico
and homespun linen. Give my love to your
grandpa and grandma, and tell her I wish her
to come with you and see us we will arrange
for her journey to Lebanon and back.
You
will see Rev. Stoy's palace.
Tell her the
Peninton's house up Race street is nothing
to compare to it and Dr. Stoy lives only
;

*
*
*
Tell
seventy-five miles from us.
the girls that Susy and the young girls here
take a canoe and go into the river fishing here

by themselves

;

the river

as clear as a spring

and not half a yard deep.
beautiful and picturesque

This
place.

a most
have

the wild deer not half a mile from us, skipping
about the hills where the boys go to fetch
the cows.
"Your loving mother,
"Frances Maus."

hands and feet
Soon they were in a pro400
tied her

"Come

Come
on, squaw, we see you.
squaw, we see you !" After some
time spent in fruitless search they abandoned
it, broke up their camp before daylight, and
pursued their journey. She then returned to
the remains of her murdered husband, and
gathering up the pieces of his skull in her
apron took them to her house, which she
reached the next day. The agony and deep
distress of this poor woman may be conout:

out, pretty

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
In 1793, Philip Maus built his sawmill, and
for years cut the lumber for every building
The
that was erected in the neighborhood.
limestone that was found in abundant quantities in the neighborhood formed another
natural resource to construct the homes of
the settlers, and as Danville grew into a flourishing industrial community proved a great
source of supply for her iron furnaces. Seven
years later this sturdy pioneer built a flouring
mill, which for its day was an imposing struc-

One portion of the work was
present time.
being done by the Catholics, and the other
the
Protestants, and such was the factional
by
feeling that the proprietor had to take possession of the clubs and shillalahs of the contending elements in order to prevent bloodTradition has it that eleven barrels of
shed.
whiskey were consumed during the progress
of the work, which apparently was a community afi'air, and the whiskey was contributed
because the new mill was to be a public convenience.
Early in the days of their settlement the
Maus family cultivated two acres of flax, and
took the product to a Scotch family in the
hamlet, who did much of the neighborhood
weaving. From the flax was woven the linen
cloth

its

known

to the

an excellent

community

—

as a

Godly man and

He was

subject, however, to periods of moroseness, and when in
that mood was exceedingly grufif and
to

all.

in the

citizen.

brusque
His neighbors understood him, even
of
and
his
grimmest
tempers,
roughness

was a source of amusement to them.
The poorhouse farm of this township was

of speech

a few years after Danville and
Mahoning had established similar institutions.
The gristmill at Mausdale has not been running for several years. The building erected

established

by Philip Maus

is still in use and is a substanstone structure, which bids fair to outlast
the present generation.
The Valley Furnace was built in 1846 by
the sons of Philip Maus.
It used anthracite
and was operated by them for many years

tial

very successfully.
The present postmaster at Mausdale is
Elmer Renn, and the storekeeper is Edwin S.
Delsite.

Arthur Mourer and George Artman operate
sawmills in diflFerent parts of the township,
but the timber is now practically exhausted.

which made their summer clothing. Their

heavier winter garmenture was obtained from
the wool clipped from the backs of the sheep
that they raised.
Before the era of wool and
flax, cured and dressed animal skins provided
their clothing.
During the long evenings of
winter the Maus family, by the light of lard
oil lamps, perused the literature of the
day.
which, so far as their library was concerned,
consisted of such works as "Cook's Voyage,"
Weems's "Life of Washington," the works
of Oliver Goldsmith
the "Deserted Village,"
"X'icar
of
Wakefield" and
even
"Don
Quixote." It is stated that on rare and festive
occasions, Maus senior would add to the enjoyment of the reading by apportioning the
dramatis personae amongst them. \\"hen the
Maus family fortunes had grown to the point
-that justified the acquisition of a
family carriage, one of the style of Louis XIV. was
purchased, and its arrival in the valley created
a profound sensation among the neighbors.
This vehicle is thought to have been the first

401

kind imported into the vicinity of
what is now Montour county.
One of the first neighbors of the Maus
family was Samuel Music, who soon became

anecdote covering his experiences in
digging the mill-race has descended to the
ture.

one of

RELIGIOUS
Straub's Lutheran Church in Frosty valley
is a very old organization,
dating from the
last years of the eighteenth century.
It has
a brick building and the services are held by
pastors from Danville.
St.

John's Reformed Church at Mausdale

was dedicated Feb. 12, 1858. and in 1892,
after extensive repairs, was rededicated. Some
of the pastors here, who had several other
churches
F.

in their charge, have been:
Revs.
H. Fisher, 1893; Charles D. Lerch, 1907;

W. Brown,

Stamm, 1908;
1912

;

J.
I.

W. Albertson, 191 1;
W. Bean, 1913-14.

SCHOOLS
This township has five good schools, most
of them built within the last twenty years.
The school directors for 1914 are: Frank
Hendricks, N. E. Sidler. Andrew Steinman,
A. H. Weitzel, Edward X'olkman.

CHAPTER XIX
WEST HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP
of Montour county was
1853, after the controversy with
Columbia county had been settled. The surface of the township is extremely hilly, but
The east branch
all of it is now in cultivation.
of Mahoning creek passes through the north-

This

erected

division

ern part of the township.
r)ne of the early settlers in

descendants long ago left the neighborhood.
Michael Sandel, who raised a large family,
was next in order as a pioneer. Another early
arrival in the community was Burtis Arnwine.
who built a house in the southern part of
the township.

COLUMBI.\

Located on the
future.
stage route, the residents looked

for

its

Bloomsburg
forward to a healthy growth and material
prosperity.
later

swine and poultry.
RELIGIOUS

St. Peter's

was

Union Church

New

Columbia

1825 by the Presbyterian, Lutheran and Reformed denominations. The first
Presbyterian pastor was Rev. Asa Dunham,
and it was part of the Briarcreek charge for
built in

At present the congregation of
years.
The
sixty-six members is without a pastor.
Lutherans and the Reformed members have
united and are in charge of Rev. Allan Chamberlain of the Buckhorn Church.
The first church building stood in the center

some

the cemetery, which is called Swenoda.
Here are the graves of many of the older pio-

The village of New Columbia, in West
Hemlock township, at one time had ambitious
aspirations

fine

West Hemlock

township was George Crossley, who built a
home about a mile south of the point known
as New Caledonia. He had a family, but his

NEW

F. Styer, the present owner, has developed the
He has many varieplace into a fruit farm.
ties of apples, peaches, pears and small fruits,
and combines with this work the raising of

But the Catawissa railroad, which

was absorbed by the Philadelphia &

Reading, went by another route, and the only
effect that its building had on the community

was

to deprive it of the periodical visit of the
St. Peter's Church and cemetery
stagecoach.
and a cluster of residences still mark the village, and the inhabitants have long given up
the expectation that the community will un-

dergo any sudden metamorphosis.
New Columbia was destined by its founders
to be a village of no mean size, but circumstances willed otherwise, and it is now scarcely
The fine roomy residence of
a settlement.
Charles Deighmiller stands beside the church,
and there are several empty and dilapidated
cottages ranged along the road north of it.
These constitute the "town" of New Columbia.
Sweyioda post office was established here in
It is now
1895, with E. C. Crim in charge.
abolished.
At Stycr's Corners is located the farm of
that family, which they call "Clover Hill." C.

neers of the county, as well as those of soldiers
of the Revolution, the war of 18 12 and the
In 1870 the old church in the
Civil war.
burying ground was razed and the present one
It is a fine brick buildbuilt, across the road.
the
ing, of imposing appearance, standing on
top of the hill and overshadowing the few
houses around it. In the rear are two large
sheds for the shelter of the teams of the worshipers, ample space being provided for several hundred vehicles and horses.
I->osty \'alley

Methodist Church

located

township. The congregation worshiped in a schoolhouse near by until
i86g, when a frame church was built on the
road from Bloomsburg to Mooresburg, three
in the center of the

miles from r.uckhom.

The

trustees are

Henry

Hodge, William McMichael, John Gulliver,
This
Samuel Runsley, William Pooley.
church has been served for many years by
pastors from Danville and Buckhorn.

SCHOOLS
There are three schoolhouses

West Hem-

In 19 14 the school directors
lock township.
were: L. C. Shultz, William E. Moore, J. H.

Tanner, Lloyd Moore,
402

W. W.

Laubach.

y^^^^-i^,^-^^.uk.^^^^^-^-^^^

BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES ROLLIN BUCKALEW,

the

twenty-eighth representative from Pennsylvania in the United States Senate in order of
election, served a term in that body in the
sixties, and also as a writer of authority on
representation and the Constitution of I'ennsylvania has a permanent place in the political
annals of the State. He was a member of the

Pennsylvania Legislature for several terms,
before and after his service in the national
body, and was considered one of the ablest
leaders in the Democratic party in his days,
his public career covering a period of over
forty years.
Mr. liuckalew inherited his strength of
character from ancestors of independent political tendencies, as the
early history of the
family well shows.
They were of Scotch
origin, the Buccleuchs (Buccleughs) of the
clan Scott, and one or more of the name
including the ancestor of Charles R. Buckalew
the
train
of
accompanied
loyal Scotchmen,
who went with Mary. Queen of Scots, when
she establishetl herself in France.
Li that
country the family became Huguenots, and
the name took the form of Bucleau.
Three
generations of the ancestors in the line here
under consideration remained in France,
where Francis and Gilbert Buckalow (as the
name was spelled during the early part of their
residence in the New World ), the first to come
to America, were born.
They came to this
country in 1665, probably because of religious

—

persecution.

Francis Buckalow, from whom Charles R.
Buckalew traced his descent, was (it is said)
in 1640, located first on
Long Island, and

born

later

moved

to the eastern part of

New

Jer-

near South Amboy, where he died.
According to the family records his death ocsey, settling

curred in 1750. which would

make him

years old. He and his brother were married
in this country, and Gilbert wrote the name
Boileau.
Samuel Buckalow, son of Francis, was born
in 1696 near South Amboy, and as he lived to
the age of ninety-six years, dying in New
Jersey in 1792, the tradition about his father's
may be fact. His w-ill, which came into
the possession of his great-grandson, John M.
Buckalew, dated April 12, 1781, devises to his
"trusty and well beloved son John" a certain

age

tract at the place mentioned (all his lands),
and states that it was bequeathed to Samuel
by his brother Francis. Samuel married Mary
Campbell. The elder of their two sons. Andrew, received by the w'ill mentioned "the just
and lawful sum of ten shillings," and John

was appointed sole executor. No reason is
given for the strange disposition of the property, and it is not known whether Andrew had
been previously provided for or not.
John liuckalew, as he spelled the name, was
born April 14, 1743, in South ,\mboy, removed
to what is now the site of Muncy. in Lycoming
county. Pa., in the seventies, shortly after his
marriage, and it is supposed was there engaged at his calling of millwright and miller.
He purchased a tract of three hundred acres
and carried on farming there. On Feb. 8,
1776, he was appointed a member of the Committee of Safety for Turbut township, Northumberland county under Franklin's central
committee at Philadelphia), and he was associated with the famous Capt. "Jim'' Brady,
was a member of the militia and took his turn
doing scouting duty. As his brother-in-law was
(

fighting he had to remain home to proboth families. A couple of years later,
1778 or 1779, he was obliged to remove because of the Indian troubles and John Buckalew went to Harford county, Md., settling at

away
tect

403

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

404

Rock Run, where, it was said, he "ground
flour for the Continental army" without pay.
At any rate, he had a contract with the ConCongress to grind grain for the army,
and an old unpaid account of nearly seven
hundred dollars is still in existence. Returntinental

Pennsylvania in 1785,
Chillisquaque creek in

ing to

he made his home

Northumberland

county, and after a few years' residence there
went in 1796 to Little Fishing creek, where he
erected a gristmill. In 1816 he removed thence
to a smaller farm on Huntington creek, in

Columbia county,
Fishingcreek
township,
where he died July 3, 1833. In 1773 he married Maria McKinney, who was born Oct. 5,
1754, of Scotch-Irish parentage, daughter of
Mordecai McKinney, of Hunterdon county,
N. J., and sister of Capt. John McKinney, a
Revolutionary soldier, who served with distinction and after the w-ar removed to KenAirs. Buckalew died Nov. 25, 1829.
tucky.
Her father followed them into the wilderness,
and went to Harrisburg when the Indians became troublesome.
Five sons and seven
daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. John
Buckalew, of whom Sarah married William
Collins, of Chester county, Pa., and moved to
the Mississippi valley, in Illinois, where she
died in 1843; Nancy is deceased; Rachel married Samuel Earl, of Huntington, Luzerne
county Rebecca married Daniel Woodward
and
second) Rev. Epaphros Wadsworth
Elizabeth married Jacob Ogden and resided
in Luzerne county Amos, who was a lumberman, died in Middletown, Pa., at a comparatively early age John M. is mentioned below
James was the ancestor of Louis W. Buckalew, mentioned elsewhere in this work.
John McKinnney Buckalew, one of the five
sons, was born Dec. 17, 1786, on Chillisquaque creek. He learned his father's trade at
Catawissa. and worked at it for a few years,
acquiring a competency as a miller, farmer and
lumberman. In 1808 he bought a large tract
of land in Fishingcreek township (later owned
by his sons Perry and John M.) and removed
thereon, spending the rest of his life on that
In 1813
place, where he died Nov. 15, 1859.
he married Martha Funston, who was born
in 1789, near Bethlehem, Pa., daughter of
Funston, and
Perry
James and Lucinda
died in Luzerne county Jan. i, 1840. Of the
to
this
nine children born
marriage four died
;

;

{

)

in childhood, the survivors being:

born Nov.

11,

1816, died on the

who owned

William,

homestead

part of the
farm, was born Jan. 30, 1820, and died Jan.
4, 1888; Charles R. is mentioned below; ]\IaSept.

(S,

1864: Perry,

hala B., wife of Benjamin C. Hess, of Fishingcreek township, was born Sept. 17, 1823;
John M. is mentioned below.
Charles Rollin Buckalew, si.xth child in the
family of John M. and Martha

(Funston)
Buckalew, was born Dec. 28, 1821, in FishHe
received
an
academic
ingcreek township.

education, and in his young manhood taught
school and clerked in a store. He took up the
study of law and was admitted to the Columbia county bar in August, 1843
only eight
months after attaining his majority. In De-

—

cember, 1844, he settled at Bloomsburg and
began practice, in which he engaged with such
success that he was not only one of the most
eminent men of the profession in his own
county, but one of the leading lawyers

throughout his section of the State. Public
recognition of his ability came soon after his
entrance to practice.
In 1845 he was appointed deputy attorney general for Columbia
county

(

position corresponding to that of
now), and though only a youth

district attorney

acceptably until 1847, when he reIn 1850 he was elected to the State
Senate, for a term of three years, and reelected in 1853; and in the summer and fall
of 1854, between sessions of the Legislature,
he acted as commissioner to exchange the ratifications of a treaty with Paraguay.
A few
months later he was a candidate for I'nited
States senator as the choice of the leaders of
his party, but the Know-Nothings had made
such inroads in the Democratic majority which
had controlled the Pennsylvania Legislature
from the beginning of the century that he was
able to get but twenty-eight votes out of a
total membership of 131
and the other candidates, of whom Simon Cameron was one,

served

signed.

;

were equally unsuccessful, Cameron leading,
though not with sufficient support to secure his
election,

the

convention adjourning without

making a choice. In November, 1856, Mr.
Buckalew was elected a presidential elector,
and supported James Buchanan, who was his
In 1857 he w-as honored with
chairmanship of the Democratic State
committee, and as such conducted the last

personal friend.
the

successful gubernatorial campaign the party
was to have for i quarter of a century, he himself, at the election, Oct. 13, 1857, being chosen
for a third term to the State Senate, from the
district
composed of Columbia, Montour,
Northumberland and Snyder counties.

June

14, 1858,

Mr. Buckalew was com-

missioned, by President Buchanan, minister
resident to Ecuador, and he resigned his positions in the Senate and as member of the com-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
mission appointed to revise the penal code of
the State, to accept, fihing his new post for
three years, until relieved July lo, 1861. During that period he resided with his family at
Quito. Meantime the political complexion of
Pennsylvania had undergone a change, and the

his

statistical

405

details

showing the ratios of
representation in the Senate possessed by the
East, West and South being incontrovertible
evidence in favor of his position. In 1872 he
published a volume on "Proportional Representation," edited by Col. John G. Freeze in
1877 contributed an article on the same subject to Johnson's Cyclopedia, and in 1883 issued an elaborate work upon the Constitution
of Pennsylvania.
His service in the United States Senate
over, Mr. Buckalew was returned to the State
Legislature at the next election, Oct. 12, i86g,
for a fourth term in the State Senate (rep;

Democrats had a poor showing
But as there was a strong element among conservative Republicans which did not approve
of the emancipation proclamation, then looming on the horizon, the party recruited unexpected strength on account of the peculiar
situation, and the fall election of 1862 gave
the Democrats a majority of one in the AsMr. Buckalew was candidate for resenting Columbia, Montour, Northumbersembly.
United States senator the January following, land and Sullivan counties), where he became
and though there were other candidates of his the recognized leader of his party. In 1872
party the confidence and respect he enjoyed he was the Democratic nominee for governor,
won him unbroken support, and he was elected and was defeated by Hartranft. The same
on the 13th by the majority of two (one Re- year, at the election of delegates to the Conpublican voting for William D. Kelley), suc- stitutional convention of 1872-73, he was
ceeding David VVilmot, who filled the last two chosen to represent Columbia county and took
years of the term for which his former oppo- an active and infiuential part in the deliberanents, Simon Cameron, had been elected in tions of that body, which resulted in the presfor a while.

1857,

resigning to

enter

Lincoln's

cabinet.

Cameron was again Mr. Buckalew's opponent.
It was unfortunate that, with all his ability,
Mr. Buckalew should have gone to the Senate

He finished his
particular period.
term, serving until 1869, but the brilliant record for which his constituents had hoped was
not realized, a fact which has always been
attributed to the peculiar circumstances preHe was a loyal supporter of the
vailing.
Union cause, but he was one of a handful of
Democrats when both branches of Congress
were controlled by the radical element of the
Republican party, and while he did his duty
faithfully he took little part in the debating
and made no attempt to force his ideas upon a
body so obviously out of sympathy. It is notable that in one of the few addresses he made,
Feb. 21, 1865, on the "Basis of Representation," he referred to the fact that he had previously refrained from speech making, supposing that "while the passions of the coimtry
were influenced by the war, reason could not
be heard," and expressed regret that "questions pertaining to the war still occupied the
attention of Congress to the exclusion of those
that

connected with economy, revenue, finance,
ordinary legislation and the administration of
justice
cjuestions which require intelligence,
investigation, labor and the habits of the

—

student."

constitution

then existed,

the

Commonwealth.

his greatest honor was undoubtedly
his election to the L^nited States Senate, Mr.

Though
_

Buckalew's

greatest service of permanent
this connection.
In 1876 his
name headed the Democratic State electoral
ticket.
On Nov. 2, 1886, he was elected a
representative to the Fiftieth Congress, the
district comprising the counties of Columbia,

value

was

Montour,

Carbon,

Monroe and

Pike,

with

parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne, and reelected two years later, his last term expiring
March 3, 1891. This closed his public career.

Returning to his home at Bloomsburg, he spent
remaining years in the enjoyments of home
life and the friendships formed during several decades of activity, and he died there in

his

On
seventy-eighth year, Alay 19, 1899.
3, 1886, he was elected president of the
Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad Company.
A paragraph written by one of his intimate
friends throws considerable light on Mr.
his

May

Buckalew's personality
"Charles R. Buckalew was one of the ablest
of the Democratic leaders of his time.
He was not an organizer, he had little or no
:

men

knowledge of political strategy, and was entirely unfitted for the lower strata methods of

modern politics. He came to the (State) Senate in 1852 hardly known outside of his own
he was singularly quiet and unobdistrict
trusive in manner, and never in any way
He won his posito
sought
exploit himself.
tion in the party solely by the great ability he
;

That he himself was of a studious disposiwas shown in his argument for changing

tion

the basis of representation as

ent

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

406

possessed, his practical efficiency in legislation,

and the absolute purity of his character. He
was ordinarily a cold, unimpassioned speaker,
but eminently logical and forceful."'
On Feb. 13, 1849, ^^^- Buckalew married
Permelia Stevens W'adsworth, who was born
Feb. 16, 1827, daughter of Epaphros and
W'adsworth, and died
Stevens
Charlotte
She came of distinguished
Feb. 26, 1903.
(

)

New England ancestry, being a direct descendant of Capt. Joseph W'adsworth, of Charter
Oak fame of Governor John Webster and of
other notables conspicuously identified with
Of the
the Colonial history of Connecticut.
;

;

two children born

Mr. and Mrs. Buckalew

Jay, born Dec. 20, 184Q, died
Nov. 2, 1882; Alice Mary, the daughter, is
the wife of Levi Ellmaker Waller, of Wilkes-

the son,

Warren

Barre, Pennsylvania.

CAPT.

LEW,

JOHN McKIXXEY BUCKA-

late of

bia county,

Fishingcreek township, Colum-

was born

there Oct. 17, 1826. in a

included Sunbury.
He performed his part
of the task with characteristic thoroughness,
the manner in which his part of the work was

prepared and written exciting much

favor-

comment.
Captain Buckalew belonged to Ent Post, G.
A. R., of Bloomsburg Lodge Xo. 234. I. O.
O. F., of X'ew Columbus, Luzerne county
(past noble grand)
A\'ashington Lodge, No.
265, F. & A. M., Bloomsburg: Bloomsburg
Chapter, Xo. 218, R. A. M. Mount Moriah
Council, Xo. 10, R. & S. M. Crusade Commandery, Xo. 12, K. T. Orient Conclave, Xo.
and Caldwell
2, Red Cross of Constantine

abel

;

Consistory, S. P. R.

Bloomsburg.

S.,

thirty-second degree,

Politically he was an ardent Re-

publican.
In 1861 Captain

Buckalew married Delilah
K. Creveling. daughter of Andrew S. and
Theresa Creveling and sister of Rev. S. A.
Creveling, a Methodist Episcopal minister.
Mrs. Buckalew's father was a farmer in Fish-

house near the homestead he afterward occu- ingcreek township.
Captain Buckalew died
The youngest of the family born to April 30, 1 9 10.
pied.
John M. and Martha (Funston) Buckalew,
BEAVER, deceased, benefactor
he was a typical representative of the race
to which he belonged, of great strength and of the free library and Young Men's Christian Association in Danville, and to whom the
large build, being over six feet in height and
development and prosperity of the Montour
weighing more than two hundred pounds. Iron & Steel Works are
principally due, was
He attended public school in his native town,
born Xov. 16, 1814, in Pfouts \'alley now
and after reaching manhood became interested
and
was a son of Rev.
Perry county). Pa.,
in lumbering, which he followed throughout
Peter and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Beaver. His
In 1862 he enlisted a
his business career.
ancestors on both sides were German, the
company at Harrisburg, of which he was com- father's family coming to this country in 1741
missioned captain Oct. 30th. and which became and
settling in Chester county, and the
Company A of the 178th Pennsylvania \'olun- mother's in 1755 and settling in Franklin
he commanded the company county, both in this State.
teer Regiment
Peter Bea\er, father of Thomas, was born
until he received his honorable discharge, in
Dec. 25, 1782, in Franklin county, studied for
July, 1863.
and was ordained in 1809 at
Though his early education was none too the ministry,
Elkton, Md., by Bishop Asbury, of the
thorough Captain Buckalew had studious
He married
Methodist Episcopal Church.
tastes and became quite a scholar, and his exElizabeth (Gilbert, whose grandfather was a
with intellectual
cellent judgment, coupled
his
Wide native of Germany, of English descent,
gifts, gained him success in business.
father having been one of the Duke of Marlreading and an excellent memory made him
of
Blenheim.
The
men
at
the
battle
borough's
an authority on local history, a fact so well
located in Lebanon
Pa., but

THOMAS

(

;

recognized that when the Legislature authorized the compilation and publication of the
"History of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania," Governor Pattison appointed him a
member of the corps assigned to the work to
locate the sites of the old forts used in Colonial days. This territory was between the north
and west branches of the Susquehanna, and

—

Gilberts

county.

moved to Dauphin county, where Mrs.
Beaver was born. Rev. Peter Beaver and his
wife had the following children: George, who
married Catherine Long; Samuel, who married Maria Lemon Jacob, who married Ann
their son Gen. J. A. Beaver
Eliza Addams
was a veteran of the Civil war) Jesse, who
married Marv Ann Schwartz Thomas Peter,

later

;

(

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
who married

who
who
and Mary, who

407

Eliza G. Simonton Sarah,
married Aaron Nevius Eliza Catherine,

Danville Iron

married Archibald Greenlee;
married Henry Miller, of Lewdsburg^.

ton Lee. He succeeded in
placing the works
on a firm financial foundation, and in
1S59
united with I. S. Waterman to purchase the
interests of the creditors, for some
years successfully operating the plant. In 1876 he sold
out his interests and retired.

;

After

lifetime of service for Christianity Rev.
Peter IJeaver passed away in 1849.
Thomas ISeaver had few educational advantages in youth, being obliged to leave

Steel

Works,
company with
Waterman, William Neal and Washingin

school in his thirteenth year, but he utilized
On Jan. 23, 1838, Mr. Beaver was married
every spare moment of his time in later life to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert B. and CasThis lack of oppor- .sandra
to acquire knowledge.
(Berryhill) Wilkins, of Harrisburg,
tunity for an education in his childhood was born April 20, 1817.
They had seven chilthe chief motive which caused him to provide dren, two of whom died in
infancy, the others
the library for the use of the citizens of Danbeing:
Emily, born Oct. 4, 1840, married
In April, 1827, William H.
ville, forever free of cost.
Chamberlin, of Lewisburg, and
Thomas left home to work on a farm for $2.50 had eight children,
Jesse, William, Thomas,
a month and in the winter of that year he enJohn, Elizabeth, Mary, Emily and Laura;
tered the store owned by his brother Samuel Arthur, born
Sept. 17, 1842, married Alice
and Judge Black, at Milford. The business Diehl; Alice, born Oct.
12,
1844, married
being removed to Perry county the following William H. Browne, of Philadelphia, and
spring, he followed it and remained about a had three children, Elizabeth, Charles and
year at the new location. He next served for Thomas; Laura, born Jan. 18, 1846, married
a year in his father's store at New Berlin, Rev.
John DeWitt, professor of church hisUnion county, and then returned to Newport
tory in Lane Seminary, Cincinnati Elizabeth
to take charge of the business of Judge Black,
Stewart, born Feb. 9, 1853, married Lemuel
who was then the sole owner of the store. E. Wells, of New York, and had three chilThe growing boy's close application to busi- dren, Thomas, Christian and Lemuel S. Mrs.
ness brought on a severe illness, so through Beaver
Mr.
passed away Dec. 27. 1884.
the kindness of the superintendent of the Beaver died
May 19, 189 1, and they are buried
he
obGeneral
Mitchell,
Pennsylvania canal,
at Lewisburg.
tained a place in the store of Rev. Jasper
In 1886 Mr. Beaver gave $100,000 to the
Bennett, at Willianis])ort. There he remained
Danville Public Library, as a memorial to himfor two years, and his mercantile knowledge
self and wife, and in the following year the
and ability were so well developed at that
It is a lasting and
building was completed.
earlv age that he was sent by stagecoach to
useful momument to two of the town's most
Philadelphia to make large purchases of eminent citizens.
Besides this gift, Mr.
goods. In 1833 he formed a partnership with Beaver left an endowment of
$50,000 for the
Peter Nevius in general merchandising at
of
the
He
support
library and Y. M. C. A.
and
until
there
remained
1835,
Lewisburg,
also gave $30,000 to Dickinson College, to
then took charge of his brother Samuel's
assist poor boys in obtaining an education.
place at Millerstown, conducted under the
firm name of J. & T. Beaver.
PHILIP
MAUS, now living in
Feeling a strong desire to better himself,
Mr. Beaver wrote to three of the largest firms retirement at the beautiful old Maus homestead
in
Reed
&
in Philadelphia for a position.
Son,
Valley township, is a descendant of
one of the most stibstantial, answered with a the celebrated family whose history is inletter dissuading him from his project, but
separably associated with the opening up and
Bray & Barcroft wrote that they would give advancement of Montour county from its
him a position and would be glad to make his earliest days of civilized occupation. MausHe accordingly went to Phila- dale, in Valley township, a small village less
stay pleasant.
than two miles from Danville, the county
delphia in March. 1837, and entered the emthe name in the section where
ploy of the firm, and so well did he take seat, perpetuates
most numerous, and
advantage of the opportunities offered in the the Mauses have been
an equal where the family has been represented concity that in 1840 he was made
From that date until 1857 he tinuously for a period of almost one hundred
partner.
was connected with the firm as partner. and fifty years.
Frederick Maus, the emigrant ancestor,
In the latter year he was offered the posifor the creditors of the came from Zweibrucken, Prussia, about thirty
tion of trustee
;

EUGENE

COLUMBIA AND ^fOXTOUR COUNTIES

408

miles from the Rhine.
He married Susanna
Weaver, and their children were
Philip,
:

Daniel, Frederick, Charles, Matthias, and
three daughters.
Philip Maus, a native of Prussia, born in
1
73 1, came to the New World with his parents
in 1741, the family landing at Philadelphia,
where they settled. He attended school there,
and soon learned to write and speak EngIn 1750 he
lish fluently, as well as German.
was apprenticed to learn stocking manufacturing, and within five years he had established himself in the business, in which he
met with substantial success, continuing it
for about twenty years, until the troubles incident to the progress of the Revolutionary
war made it necessary for him to suspend
During the war his familiarity
operaftions.
with the business enabled him to be of great
service, for he was an earnest upholder of the

Colonial cause and
interest.

its

made many

sacrifices

His means were ample for the

time, and he invested largely

furnishing
clothing for the soldiers, taking his pay in
Continental money, of which he had between
forty and fifty thousand dollars when it be-

came

worthless.

The

late

Philip

Maus,

one of his descendants, father of Philip Eugene Maus, had baskets full of this old currency (most of it is now in the possession of
A letter written by Philip
P. E. Maus).
Maus during this period, and still preserved,
is

of interest in this connection

Philadelphia, 9 Octo, 1776.
Mr. Samuel Updegraff. Sir
By tlie bearer. Mr.
Joseph Kerr, I send you the ballance of the price of
8 doz pairs of buckskin breeches, I bought of you,
having paid you ig in advance, the ballance being
£143 3s. vvhicli he will pay you on delivering him the
goods. If you have any more to dispose of he will
contract with you for them, and I shall be glad if
you and him can agree. Your humble servant,
;

—

county, in the rich and fertile section of ValThe patents, from Thomas and
ley township.
John Penn, are dated April 3, 1769, among
the earliest issued from the county, as soon
as it was possible to obtain titles in the new
Indian purchase, which included all this part
of Pennsylvania.
The proprietaries reserved
a perpetual quit rent of twopence per acre,

which was paid

until the

Commonwealth com-

pensated the P'enns and became the proprietor of the lands. At the time Mr. Maus made
the contract this tract was on the outer fringe
of the settlements, and no improvements were
made on the property until after the Revolution.
When the war ended his fortune had
been so reduced, by the stoppage of his regular
business and the unfortunate deterioration of

Continental currency, with which he had been
paid for the material which he bought to make
garments for the army, that he turned his attention to his land, and as soon as peace and
safety permitted brought his family hither.
With the brief exception mentioned below, it
was his home for the next thirty years. Danville was an incipient town, then called Montgomery's Landing, founded by the brothers
Daniel and William .Montgomery a few years
before, and consisting of a few log cabins
occupied by half a dozen families, nearly all
from southeastern Pennsylvania and western
New Jersey. Breeches, moccasins and hunting shirts of leather were generally worn, and
all the surroundings and conditions of living
were exceptionally primitive. The Maus
tract, stretching along the northern base of
Montour Ridge, with the Mahoning creek

ert

it, was overgrown with timIt was typical of the man
custom of doing things systematically
that when he and his son Philip came to prepare the home he brought two carpenters with
him from Philadelphia, and his cabin was the
first erected in what is now Valley township.
It stood on the right bank of the stream, half
a mile above the homestead, and nearly half
a mile from the present stone mill.
He and

days.

his son Philip

Philip M.\us.

Incidental to his activities during the Revolution .Mr. Maus formed the intimate ac-

quaintance with Benjamin Franklin and Rob-

Morris which lasted to the end of their
Of Mr. Maus's three brothers, Frederick, Charles and Matthew, the last named
became prominent as a surgeon during the
Revolutionary war, serving throughout the
conflict, was with General Montgomery on
his expedition into Canada, and when the
General fell before Quebec aided Colonel Burr
in

carrying

was

away

his body.

One

Daniel

Maus

Washington's army.

Several years before the Revolution Philip
invested some surplus capital in
600 acres of land in what is now Montour

Maus had

flowing through
ber and brush.

and

his

commenced

to clear the forest

immediately around the house preparatory to
cultivating the land, and he intended to have

But the
the other part of the tract cleared.
Indian troubles commenced before any great
progress had been made, and as there were
no provisions for protecting the settlers here
they were compelled to go to Northumberland.
Articles they could not conveniently
carrv, tools, implements, etc., were buried to
secrete them from the Indians, and Mr. Maus
rented his place, the tenants agreeing to take

COLU.MBIA AND
of
possession as soon as the cessation
This
Indian hostihties would permit.

MONTOUR COUNTIES
the
ar-

409

and of these made clothing. Rabbit-skin caps
were quite an elegant luxury at one time.

rangement was probably made in Northumberland at the fort, as these men came on according to contract and set vigorously to work.
.\fter a brief stay at Northumberland the

are told that in the Maus home during
the long winter evenings, by the light of
lard oil iron lamps, they read books of devo'Cook's Voyages,' Weems's 'Life of
tion,

Mauses went to Lebanon, where they lived
for a year, thence returning to Northumberland for three or four years, after which they
It
again ventured to settle on the Mahoning.
is supposed Philip Maus was the first perma-

Washington,' and then, oh, rare treat, they
sometimes took turns and read Goldsmith's
'Deserted Village,' 'Vicar of Wakefield,' and
even 'Don Quixote.' These were read aloud,
and sometimes Mr. Maus would contribute

nent settler in what is now \ alley township.
Many of the mcidents of the early days are

his recollections, which by
recorded
reason of his intelligence are regarded as auMr. Maus built a sawmill, which
thoritative.
was operated by the waters of .Mahoning
creek, and there for years the lumber for
nearly every building erected in the surroundimcountry" was cut. The mill and other

best

to the enjoyment by apportioning the dramatis pcrsonae among them.
"When the family reached the possession

immeasurably

of an ample fortune a family carriage was
purchased it was of the style of Louis XIV.
Nothing ever created a greater sensation in
the valley than the arrival of this family carIt is said to be the first in what is
riage.
;

now Montour

provements were the attractions which brought

county. The two Montgomerys
had a gig each, and these three were the

together the settlers,
the nucleus of what is

only pleasure carriages
miles around."

ing

whose homes formed

now Mausdale.

In the
stone
year iSoo he erected his flouring mill, a
which
and
for
the
times,
building imposing
is still standing, apparently as sound and dura-

The following, taken from a history of the county published a quarter of a
century ago, is so highly typical of the times
and so interesting a part of the Maus hisble as ever.

it is worthy of repetition
"His experience in digging his mill-race
was varied, one portion being dug by the Catholics and the other by the Protestants; and
several times Mr. Maus had to take possession of the clubs and shillalahs of both parties to prevent their being used over bloody
heads. This was called their amusement, and

tory that

by way of explanation of these theological
discussions

may

be stated that these

men

consumed eleven barrels of whiskey while at
the work and play of digging the mill-race.
"The experiences of the Maus family are
a graphic illustration of what were the sources
of pastime and work of a respectable, intelligent and well-reared people. Only when they
had raised their sheep could they clothe themFor
selves in woolen goods in the winter.

summer they made linen goods of the flax
they raised.' They were completely thrown
upon their own resources. Woolen or linen,
the men wore 'hunting shirts' much after the
be seen in the pictures of Daniel
The Maus family cultivated, early,
Boone.
two acres of flax. There was a Scotch family
style

the settlement that did most of the weavBefore the era of wool and flax they
dressed deerskins and hides of other animals.

ing.

the

country

for

fragment of a letter from Airs. Maus
dated "Northumberland, 1783," is so full of
interest that we give all that part of it contained in the torn portion of the original letter, as follows
:

Your brother George
\yhen you come do not

likes this place very well.
fail to bring too White
and
or
needles
two
three ounces of thread
Lhapcl
suitable for sewing calico and home-spun linen.
Ciive my love to your grandpa and grandma, and
tell her I wish her to come with you and see us
we will arrange for her journey to Lebanon and
back. You will see Rev. Stoy's palace. Tell her the
Peninton's house up Race street is nothing to compare to it and Dr. Stoy lives only seventy-five miles
from us. * * * Tell the girls that Susy and the
young girls here take a canoe and go into the river
fishing by themselves; the river is as clear as a
This is a most
spring and not half a yard deep.
have the wild
beautiful and picturesque place.
deer not lialf a mile from us, skipping about the
hills where the boys go to fetch the cows.
Your loving mother,
Fr.\nces M.\us.
;

Philip
tive

Maus married Frances Heap,
England,

a na-

most estimable wife,
and children were born

mother and friend,''
to them as follows:
George, 1759; Elizabeth,
Philip,
1763; Susan, 1765; Samuel,
1767 (watchmaker and jeweler at Danville,
1831) Lewis, 1773; Charles, 1775; Joseph,
1777; Jacob, 1781.
Joseph Maus was born in Lenape in October, 1777, and was about eight years old when
the family settled in what is now Valley townIn 1808 he married
ship, Montour county.

1761

;

Sally Montgomery, daughter of John Montgomery, of Paradise farm, and they had two

410

COLU-MBIA AND .MOXTOL'R COUNTIES

children: Philip F., born Sept. 27, 1810; and
John M., born in 1812, who in 1822 married
Rebecca Gray, born in 181 2. Joseph Maus

died July 26, 1867, his wife surviving until
May 20, 1872.
Philip F. Maus was born Sept. 27, 1810, in
X'alley township, was a farmer and miller at
Mausdale all his life, amassing a handsome
competence, and died at Danville, July 3, 1S91.
In May, 1838, he married Sarah Gallagher,
a native o'f Lycoming county, Pa., of ScotchIrish and German extraction, daughter of
William and .Margaret Gallagher, early setSix children, four sons
tlers of that county.

and two daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Maus, all dying in infancy but Philip Eugene.
When the first building of the Grove Presbyterian Church (once called the Mahoning
Presbyterian Church), a log structure, was
erected, the logs were scored and hewed by
George Maus, Isaac Boudman and Thomas
Hughes. This building was used up to 1826,
when a larger one was put up. The congregation was organized in 1785. and among the
families connected with it, many of whose
descendants have continued to worship in the
old church, we find mentioned the Mauses and

the old Maus home, one of the oldest and
most beautiful residences in Alontour
county.

CHARLES P. HANCOCK, a dry goods
merchant of Danville, was born in that
borough Feb. 5, i860, son of William and
Mary (Reay) Hancock. The Hancock family is of English extraction and considerable
prominence in both Great Britain and the
United States.
The

paternal grandfather resided at LainesEngland, for many years,
engaged as a clerk at the Spring Dale Iron
Works, located near Bilston, England, for a
field,

Stafl:ordshire,

Later, becoming an e.xpert aclong period.
countant, he branched out and served many
His two sons, James
important concerns.
and William, both came to the United States,

Montour Co., Pa., but
to his native land, his stay in

locating at Danville,

James returned

Danville being limited.

William Hancock, father of Charles P.
Hancock, was born in Lainesfield, Staffordshire, England, about 1812.
Growing up in
the iron trade he became an expert as stock
taker and iron finisher, and his ability along
these lines was widely recognized. When the

Montour Iron Works of Danville came into
Montgomerys.
Philip Eugene Maus was born May 22, existence it was to carry out the ideas of
1852, on the homestead farm in \'alley town- some of its organizers that pig iron could be
He began attending school in Danville, manufactured with anthracite. A rolling
ship.
where he was a pupil at the Kelso Institute, mill was built in 1844, with A. J. \^oris as
and also went to the Chambersburg academy general builder and Henry Brevoost as super(under Dr. Shoemaker), and to the Tusca- intendent. While these men were capable in
rora academy for three years. He commenced their several lines, it was necessary to secure
business on his own account as a lumber the services of e.xperts to carry out the proIn order to secure them
dealer, but came home to assist his father on posed experiments.
account of the latter's health, becoming book- a man was sent to Sunderland, England, and
keeper and business manager, and they con- brought back with him two of the best men
ducted the flour and feed mill together for in their line, \\'illiani Hancock and John
In 1844 these two men arrived at
some time. Then the son took over the busi- Foley.
ness, which he carried on alone for a period of Danville, and taking charge of the plant beTheir experiments
ten years, retiring at the end of that time gan operations at once.
and renting the mill. Like the members of resulted in the production of what is known
this family generally, he has been a strong
influence for progress in his community, upin
holding high standards of citizenship and
the regular round of his ordinary duties assistthe general weling in the advancement of
He is a Knight Templar Mason, befare.

longing to Blue Lodge No. 224 and Calvary
Commandery No. 37. Politically he is a Republican.

In 1878 Mr. Maus married Mary R. Leinbach of McEwensville, Northumberland Co.,
Pa., who is of German descent, being a daughter of John B. and Mary (Dunkel) Leinbach,
Mr. and Mrs. Maus live at
of that county.

as the
rail

rail,

now

universally used.

had been the only thing of

its

The U

kind in use

prior to the discovery of the experts at the
Montour Iron Works, but the new invention
was so much its superior that it supplanted
the
rail, and was put into general use all
over the world.
These rails were thereafter made under
the personal supervision of Mr. Hancock, who
had charge of the straightening and finishing,
and in this capacity he established himself in
railroad circles as a man of unusual ability
In 1847, with John
and expert efficiency.
Folev, he formed the firm of Hancock &

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Foley, buying a mill erected by Bird Patterson, which they operated under the style of
the Rough and Ready
manu:\Iill,

Rolling

facturing merchant iron. The tirm continued
to carry on the plant until
1850. when they
merged it into a rail mill under the name of
Glendower Iron Works. Being practical men.
their success was assured from the start, and
when he had an opportunity, eight years
later, William Hancock bought out the other
stockholders, becoming the sole proprietor,
feeling that he had made an excellent investment. Until 1S67 he continued to operate this
In that year the National Iron Complant.
pany was formed, with him in the e.xecutive
chair, and it succeeded to the ownership of
the Glendower Iron Works.
y\r. Hancock's energy was so
great that it
had to be expended along dififerent directions,
and in 1870 he and a Mr. Creveling built a
furnace, which a year later was absorbed by
the
National Iron Company.
The latter
operated the furnace in conjunction with its
plant until the death of Air. Hancock, in 1872.
Two years later, in 1874. the heirs of Mr.
Hancock's estate bought out the entire property under a mortgage sale, organizing the
Hancock Iron & Steel Company, believing it
only fair and- just to give his name to the enterprise that was the outcome of his years of
steadfast endeavor and consummate abilit\-.
Probably he was responsible for much of the
development in the iron industry in Pennsylvania, and certainly a large amount of credit
is due him for what he accomplished for himself.
In addition, however, he was prominent
in many ways, for his active brain was able

grasp at possibilities and develop them
into certainties, and he gave valuable advice
to

For years he was a
Danville National Bank,

upon many occasions.

of the
strengthening that institution by the use of

director

name and prestige. Upright and honormarked degree, he never countenanced anything that was in the least unstable,
and his death was a public calamity. When
he died he had a handsome residence in process of erection, on Market street, being built
of \'ermont granite and stone, which was
completed by his son, Charles P. Hancock,
his

able to a

who

now

Mr. Hancock was
the Church of England and

living in

it.

brought up in
naturally connected himself with the Episcopal Church upon coming to Danville, holding

membership

The

in Christ

Church

at Danville.

wife of Mr. Hancock was Isabella
Emerson, whom he married in England. She
passed away at the age of thirty-six years.
first

having

borne

Sarah,

who

the

Welsh; Elizabeth
D. Gosh,

AI.

411

him the
J.,

following children:
wife of Benjamin G.

who

the

D., of Danville;

widow

Isabella,

wife

Harvey B. Crane; Cornelia P., who married S. A. York, of Danville; and William
J.,

who

when

died

thirty-two years old.

William Hancock was married (second) to
Alary Reay, born near Birmingham, England,
daughter of John Reay, also a native of England.
The three children of this marriage
were Charles P., George AI. and Mary M., the
latter marrying F. W. Watkin.
Air. Hancock was later married (third) to Alary Jones
and they had three children: Harry f., fane
E.. and Augusta R. (who became the wife of

John L. Lane

Hancock was brought up at
and received his educational train-

Charles

Danville,

ing in its excellent public schools.
Desiring
receive a practical business training he
went into the firm of Cleland, Simpson &
Taylor as a clerk, continuing with this concern until its removal to Scranton, Pa., when
he resigned and went into business on his own
account, establishing in 1883 what was known
as the Globe Store, in the building formerhoccupied by his old firm. Since then his Ijusiness has grown to such an extent that he
requires larger quarters, and has added other
lines, also founding what became the largest
retail dry goods establishment at Sunbury,
Pa., which he sold in 1910.
to

Air.

Hancock has not confined himself

commercial lines, for he was one of the promotors of the independent telephone line
owned by the Montour & Columbia Telephone

Company

;

Danville

the

& Sunbury

Company, which he founded

Transit

in 1897, serving

time as secretary and treasthe Danville & Bloomsburg Street RailDanville Knitting Alills
the
way Company
Company the first silk mill to be organized
in this section, as well as various other enterprises which he believed would work out for
the general betterment of existing conditions.
it

at the present

urer

;

A man of public spirit. Air. Hancock has
rendered valuable service as president of the
town council and as member of the school
board, a member of the Board of Trade, and
he has held a number of the lesser offices
Air. Hancock
within the gift of the people.
is also interested in financial matters, both
as a stockholder and director of the Danville
National Bank. Like his father he is a member of Christ Alemorial Church at Danville,
and for a long period has been one of its

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

412

vestrymen. For years he has been connected
with Mahoning Lodge. No. 516, F. & A. M.,
Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A. ^1., Calvary
Commandery, No. 37, K. T., Caldwell Consistory, and the ]\lystic Shrine, as well as
the Elks.
On Feb. 29, i888, ^Ir. Hancock was married to Adda L. Krebs, a daughter of Simon
Krebs, and five sons have been born to this
union: William K., Charles (who died in infancy), John, Robert G. and \\'alter E.
Simon Krebs, father of Mrs. Hancock, was
born in Germany April 10, 1839, a son of John

John Krebs was born
and came to the United
1855, locating at Tamaqua, Schuyl-

and Catherine Krebs.
in

Germany

States in

in 1809,

remainder of his
and dying at the age of ninety-three
For some time he farmed, but he also
years.
conducted a vinegar plant and manufactured
kill

Co., Pa., spending the

life there,

wine.

Simon Krebs. son of John Krebs, lived in
Germany until he was fifteen years old. at
which time he was brought to the United

He learned the carStates by his parents.
contractor
penter's trade, and developed into a
of note, among other contracts carrying out
that of building the Danville waterworks (at
a cost of $165,000), and in conjunction with
his son-in-law. Charles P. Hancock, built the
Danville

& Sunbury

street railway.

a resident of Danville, he

moved

Formerly
Somer-

set, Pa., where he has been president and
Manusuperintendent of the Listic Mining &

facturing

Companv.
'

Mr. Krebs married Harriet
In
1865
Swartz, a daughter of Jacob Swartz, a merchant of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
Both the Hancock and Krebs families have
influence, along varied
exerted a

powerful
lines, in the development of ]\Iontour county
and adjacent sections, and those who spring

from either ought to feel pride in what their
forebears have accomplished. Not only have
Mr. Hancock and Mr. Krebs enriched themselves, but they have brought outside capital
into this region and given employment to
hundreds of the residents of their several

communities.
right, decent

aiTording

the

means

for

up-

of Gen. William
Montgomery, who took a
prominent part in the Revolutionary war, and
whose son, Daniel, was the founder of Danville.

Col.

John Grier, paternal great-grandfather
Grier, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and together with many other Protestants came to America about the
year 1740.
He was a farmer, and resided below Chamof Isaac X.

bersburg. Pa.
Rev. Isaac Grier, S. T. D., son of Col. John
Grier, was the first minister on the west
branch of the Susquehanna river.
He was
pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Northumberland and also in Clinton county, and for
several years was president of the old "Brick
His death ocCollege'' at Northumberland.
curred in 1812 or 1813. He married Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of Rev. Dr. Thomas
Cooper, pastor of the Middle Spring Presby-

terian Church, who organized a company at
the breaking out of the Revolutionary war,
and was for a time attached to the staff of

General

Washington

X. GRIER, who during his active
of
years was one of the leading attorneys
Danville and Montour county, and prominent
in
born
in many business enterprises, was
that borough Dec. 27, 1835, and is a son of

ISAAC

Grier.

Michael C. and Isabella (Montgomery)
He is a great-grandson, on the maternal

side,

chaplain.

Among

a justice of the Supreme court of the L^nited
States, and served as such until his resignation, in 1870: Thomas C, principal of the
Danville Academy, who died comparatively
young: Rev. Isaac. D. D., a graduate of
Princeton University and pastor for over
fifty years of the Presbyterian churches of
White Deer. Lycoming county, and Buffalo
Crossroads, Union county; John C, who first
settled in Danville, where he conducted a mercantile business until about 1846. then a resident for a few years of Wilkes- Barre, Pa.,
later removing to Peoria, 111., where he died,
leaving several sons and daughters (a namesake of his, John Grier Hibben, is now president of Princeton University)
William N.,
who graduated from \\'est Point about 1836,
and was stationed at various frontier forts
up to the beginning of the Civil war, being at
that time colonel of the ist Regiment, U. S.
;

Cavalry,

later

commissioned brigadier gen-

eral; Alartha. who became the wife of the
late Gen. Robert Orr, of Kittanning. Pa.
:

Jane, wife
Barre, Pa.

living.

were: Robert C, who became
by appointment of President Polk, in 1846,

their children

William Hibler, of WilkesElizabeth, wife of Rev. Dr.

of
;

Thomas

C. Strong, for more than fifty years
pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church at Flatbush, Long Island Margaret, wife of Henry
and Michael
Sproul, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
:

;

Cooper.
Michael Cooper Grier, son of Rev. Isaac
Grier,

was

merchant

in early life,

and

later

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
became superintendent of the North & \\'est
Branch Telegraph Company, afterwards part
of the Western Union lines.
He died Dec.
He was one of the most honored
25, 1879.
and influential laymen in the Synod and General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church,
and was greatly esteemed for his philanthropic
nature and public spirit. He married Isabella,
daughter of Alexander Montgomery, and they
have had seven children, five of whom grew
to maturity:
W. A. M., of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Rev. Dr. John B., a Presbyterian minister
H. J., wife of John C. Youngman, a Kansas
banker; Mary G., wife of Edwin C. Ely, of
;

;

Peoria,

111.

;

and Isaac

Penn-

X., of Danville,

sylvania.

Isaac

X. Grier, the second son, received

his early education at the Danville

Academy,

which was a flourishing private school up to
about 1856. and afterwards graduated from
Lafayette College. Easton, Pa., in 1858. Before entering college he had learned telegraphy with the North & West Branch Telegraph Company, and after graduation he
again entered their employ, opening a number of offices and instructing the operators
at various places.
Later he served as treasurer of the company until it was merged into
the Western L^nion system. During this time
Mr. Grier was also reading law in the office
of Edward H. Baldy, Esq., and in i86i he
was admitted to practice in the courts of

Montour and adjoining

and

counties,

the

United States courts.
He continued in the
practice of law until 1885, when, owing to ill
health, he was forced to retire from the active work of his profession.
He was a notarv

from 1862 until 1880. In addition to
legal work he had large business interests,

public
his

being a

Co..
railroad

413

He was made one of the
city.
trustees some years ago, and is still holdthat
ing
position.
In 1865 Mr. Grier married
W. Porter, youngest daughter of Hon. James M. Porter, of Easton, Pa., a lawyer of State-wide
near that

Emma

reputation and secretary of war during President Tyler's administration, and for a time
president judge of the Northampton-Lehigh
Mr. and Mrs. Grier have
Judicial district.
had two children: J. M. Porter, who graduated from Lafayette College in 1888, and was
about to be admitted to the bar when he died
and Isabella Montgomery, widow of Rufus
King Polk, a native of Tennessee, a descendant of the family which gave two generals
;

and one president to the country in different
Mr. Polk was a resident of Danperiods.
ville, engaged in the management and part
owner of several of its iron industries, dying
in 1902, while a member of Congress from
this district.

Rev. John Boyd Grier, D. D., of Danville,
a retired minister of the Presbyterian

Pa.,

Church, was born in that town Aug. 26, 1843.
and is a brother of Isaac X. Grier, above
mentioned.
He was given an excellent education, and
considerable of his own life work has been
of an educational character.
In his early
manhood he was principal of Wellsboro (Pa.)
Academy for one year, and for the same
length of time of the academy at Chestnut
He prepared for
Level. Lancaster county.
the ministry at the \\'estern Theological Seminary, Allegheny. Pa., attending from 1864 to
1866, and from 1867 to 1869. For four years

succeeding he was at Lafayette College. Eas-

member of the firm of Markle, Grier ton, Pa., as professor of modern languages.
who from 1870 to 1872 conducted a Advised by that eminent philologist, Francis
iron

rolling

mill

Danville

;

later

he served as director of the North Branch
Steel Company, Danville Bridge Company,
and Mahoning Rolling Mill Company.
He
gave up much of his work in the eighties,

thereafter devoting himself principally to his
personal interests and the care of a limited
number of clients. Mr. Grier has been prominently connected with the First National Bank
of Danville since its organization he became
a director in 1880 and has been president
of the institution since 1904.

A. March, Dr. Grier prepared a volume, published b\' Lippincott & Co., entitled ".Studies
in the English of Bunyan."
Dr. Grier has had unusual advantages of
travel, having spent in all four years abroad.
In 1874 he took charge of the church at Lawrenceville. Pa., where he was stationed vmtil
After that he was located at Jack1879.
In 1881 he was
sonville. Fla.. for one year.

called to the

;

Grove Presbyterian Church

Mr. Grier has always used his influence
for the best interests of Danville in the pro-

Danville, remaining for four years, until the
close of 1884.
He then became pastor at
Lewisburg, Pa., beginning his duties there in
1883 and filling that pulpit until 1889. In the

motion of large public enterprises, and it was
due to his efforts in great measure that the
State Hospital for the Insane was located

oration at Lafayette College, and was honored
with the degree of D. D. by that institution.

latter

year he delivered the commencement

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

414

After that he made his home at Elkland,
Tioga county, Pa., for a few years.
In 1887 Dr. Grier married Susie Parkhurst,
daughter of Joel and Martha Parkhurst, of
Mrs. Grier died in 1891. at
Elkland, Pa.
Nine years later Dr.
Geneva, Switzerland.
Grier married Mary Thrush Ely, of Peoria,
Fris111., daughter of Thaddeus and Louise
by Ely, the former engaged in the banking
(

)

business in that
Dr. Grier is a

city.

member

of the Franklin Lit-

erary Society, and the Phi Kappa Sigma fraHis work in the church and in the
ternity.
field of education has been of the highest
value, and he is recognized as one of the leaders of thought in a community where the name
of Grier is synonymous with mental ability
and high moral character.

RUFUS KING POLK, at the time of his
death representative in Congress for the Seventeenth district of Pennsylvania, and part
owner and manager of the Structural Tubing
Works, of Danville, was born -Aug. 23, 1866,
at Columbia, Maury Co., Tenn.
He was a son
of Gen. Lucius E. Polk, an officer of the Conof
federacy, and a grand-nephew
James Kno.x
Polk, eleventh president of the United States,

princely

hospitality

visitors

Florence,

Four sons and one daughter came to the
union of these two noted families, and Rufus
K. Polk was one of them.
Rufus K. Polk attended the schools of
Maury county, seven miles from Columbia,
Tenn., and at the age of seventeen entered
Lehigh L^niversity, at South Bethlehem, Pa.,
from which institution he graduated in 1887
with the degree of bachelor of science. Having an offer of the position of chemist at the
Montour Iron & Steel Company, Danville,
Pa., he took a post-graduate course at Lehigh
in chemical and mechanical engineering, for
one year, after which he entered upon his
duties in the rolling mills.
He served as as.\la.

sayer for that

company until June 15, 1890,
to Ohio to assume charge of
the furnaces of the Hocking Valley Iron &
Coal Company.
Remaining in Ohio but a
year, he then returned to Danville to take the
superintendency of the North Branch Steel
Company, which he held for seven years.

when he went

this time he was rapidly developing
business ability, and the pleasing personality for which he was so marked became more
evident.
On Feb. 17, 1898, he assisted in organizing the firm of Howe & Polk, successors
to the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company, and
their establishment later became the present
Structural Tubing Works.
Under the management of Mr. Polk the works rapidly develojjed into one of the chief industries of Dan\ille, at the time of his death employing four

During

whose remains lie beside those of his wife
upon the capitol hill in Nashville, Tennessee.
Thomas Polk, great-grandfather of Rufus
K. Polk, was a native of Mecklenburg county,
N. C, and was one of the signers of that
famous declaration of independence which
antedated the Colonial one by more than a hundred and fifty men.
Mr. Polk's talents were too versatile to be
His son, Col. William Polk, was the
year.
grandfather of Rufus K. Polk, and served in confined to the iron business, so in i8go he
the war with England which resulted from the bought an interest in the Danville Sun and the
two declarations of the tax-ridden Colonies Intelligencer, of both of which he later became
who desired to relieve themselves of the yoke sole owner. He discontinued the Sun on Jan,
of the mother country. James K. Polk, presi- I, 1902, and then became half owner of the
dent of the United -States, was another son of Morning Neics. Such was his success that it
would seem sufficient for a man of ordinary
Thomas Polk.
Lucius E. Polk, father of Rufus K. Polk, caliber, but Mr. Polk was not content with the
was a cotton planter before the Civil war in honors of an ironmaster and a newspaperman.
Arkansas and Tennessee. During that great He took a position on the board of water comstruggle he attained the rank of brigadier missioners of Danville, serving from SeptemLucius ber, 1884, to lanuary, 1902. It was due to his
general, as did his brother Leonidas.
E. Polk was conspicuous for his bravery, and efforts that the town became the possessor of
in his last engagement was left beneath his the excellent filtration plant it now uses.
horse

in front of

LInion breastworks which his

He was
regiment had attempted to carry.
thought at the time to be dead, but later was
rescued, badly injured, his injuries causing
his death Dec. i, 1892, at Ashwood, Tenn.
He married a granddaughter of James Jackson, whose palatial residence. "The Forks,"
was famed throughout the South for its

In the spring of i8(>S, when the Spanish.\merican war broke out, Mr. Polk left his
business interests, his family and his associates in Danville to enlist in Company F, 12th

Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteers, becoming
lieutenant, and later one of the stafif of Gen-

He had come of a
and had promised his brothers
eral Gobin.

line of soldiers
to enlist in any

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
service for his country, should circumstances
And well did he keep that vow.
require it.
He served until the muster out and then returned to take up the ties of home and the

Such was his popularity
almost immediately after his return he

cares of business.
that

Democratic
Seventeenth district
composed of the counties of Columbia, Mon-

was unanimously

elected on the

—

ticket to represent the

—

Northumberland and Sullivan in the
Although the district
Congress.
had been represented by a Republican, his maIn 1900 he
jority was nearly two thousand.
was reelected by an increased majority of
refused
the nomibut
fifteen
hundred,
nearly
nation for the third term owing to pressure of
business, which would interfere with his work
tour,

Fifty-sixth

for his constituents.
The bluest blood of the South flowed
through his veins and he was all that is under-

expression "a true Southern
gentleman." From his paternal ancestry he was
entitled to membership in the Order of the
Cincinnati, founded by officers of the Revolutionary war. The medal of this society which
he wore was given only to male descendants of
the original members of the order, and was
stood

Iiy

the

inherited by successive generations. Mr. Polk
was also a member of the University Club of
Philadelphia, the Moneta and Penn Social
Clubs of Danville, the Elks and the Masons.
In the latter connection he belonged to Mahoning Lodge, No. 516; Royal Arch Chapter No.
239; Calvary Commandery, No. "57; and Irem
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre.
He was also an honorary alumni trustee of
His church connection
Lehigh University.
was with Christ Episcopal Church, Danville,
of which he was vestryman four years.
Mr. Polk's death occurred at Philadelphia,
March 3, 1902, and the funeral was held at
Danville the Saturday following.
It brought
together an assemblage of notable men never
before seen in the town, and the obsequies
were marked by a degree of honor seldom
shown even to men of prominence. Besides
the committees formally representing both
houses of Congress there were a number of
other members of that body: the secretary of
the navy was represented General Gobin and
;

stafl:' were
present Hon. William Jennings
Bryan, with whom Mr. Polk was well acquainted, took advantage of the fact that he
was in this section of the State and came to
pay his respects; and many of Pennsylvania's

his

;

most prominent men were in the throng. All
these and more were represented in the beautiful floral ofl:erings, among which were tributes

415

from the Howe & Polk employees, Howe and
Samuels employees, the Penn and Moneta
Clubs, survivors of the 12th Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteers, and the Sunbury Lodge
of Elks.
The Moneta club kept open house
during the day to look after the Congressional
committees and others from out of town, and
during the funeral the stores and other places
of business along Mill and Bloom streets
closed out of respect for the deceased.
The
pall bearers were selected from among the
emjiloyees of the tube works, which were shut
down for the day. The employees attended in
a body, for Mr. Polk was a friend to rich and
"In the humble walks of life
poor alike.
where humanity learns to appreciate sympathy
and kindness such as R. K. Polk had to give
he was not forgotten and men vied with each
other in the tributes paid to his memory.
Each individual cherished some affectionate memory of the deceased, and as he
turned away from the bier there was in his
look and manner that to indicate he was a
mourner at heart." The remains were laid to
rest in Fair
cemetery at Danville.
In 1892 Mr. Polk was united in marriage to
Isabella Montgomery Grier, only daughter of
I. X. Grier, of Danville, who survives him and
.

Mew

To this union were born
Emma, Porter, Isabella, Sarah

town.

lives in that
five children

and Rebecca.

these

all

are

living

but

Sarah.

LUTHER

B. KLINE, M. D.. one of the
oldest resident physicians of Catawissa, and
for many years prominent in the medical associations of Columbia county, was born Dec.
24, 1842, in Rush township,
He is a son of
Co., Pa.

Northumberland

Harmon G. and
Mary (Bassett) Kline, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German-Scotch descent.
Isaac
the Doctor's
Kline,
grandfather,

came from New Jersey to Upper Augusta
township, Northumberland county, and there
resided until his death.

his wife, Eliza-

(DeWitt), he had six children: Jerusha,
wife of John Mettler Eleanor, wife of Samuel Reeder: Sarah, wife of Isaac HofTman
Isaac D.
Harmon G. and one that died at
Ijeth

;

the age of fourteen years.
Harmon G. Kline, father of Dr. Kline, was
a farmer in Northumberland county, near
Sunbury. He was born there Aug. 30, 1818,

in March, 1902.
He married Mary
who was born April 10, 1821, daughLuther Bassett, of Phillipsburg, N. J.,
and died Sept. 27, 1914. They had nine children
Luther B., mentioned above Elisha

and died
Bassett,

ter of

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

416

B., who died in ]\Iav, i86g; Elizabeth C,
widow of Harry C. W'allize: George JiL, who
married Alda Van Buskirk Margaret, wife
of I. L. Bender David C, who married Laura
;

;

Smith Isaac Clinton J. Simpson and Estella, wife of WilHam S. Hall, of Easton.
Luther B. Kline was reared on a farm up
to the age of eighteen, meantime attending the
common schools and the Sunbury Academy,
his teacher at the latter institution being Hon.
Simon P. Williams, later a member of ConIn the fall of 1865 Luther B. Kline
gress.
entered Jefferson Medical College, PhiladelMarch 10,
phia, from which he graduated
He at once
1867, with the degree of M. D.
has reand
to
came to Catawissa
practice
mained there ever since.
On Sept. 14, 1870, Dr. Kline was married
to Desdamona W. Sharpless, daughter of
Jesse K. and Mary M. Sharpless, of CataMary
wissa, and they had four children
M., born Dec. 25, 1872, died at the age of
months
two
when
eight years; Benson died
old; Charles S., an attorney, is residing in
Catawissa; Grace E. keeps house for her
Mrs. Kline died March 3, 1904, and
father.
was buried with the rites of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which she had been a
member. Her husband and children are attendants at the same church.
Dr. Kline is a member of Catawissa Lodge,
No. 349, F. & A. M., of the County and State
Medical Societies, and of the American Medical Association. He is secretary and treasurer
of the Columbia County JNIedical Society and
editor of the monthly issued by that organi;

;

He is now medical inspector for the
schools of Catawissa, and Beaver. Roaring-

zation.

creek and Franklin townships, and has served
as school director for seventeen years.

MORDECAI WILLIAIM JACKSON,

late

The Jackson family has been
of Berwick.
one of the most prominent and enterprising
of Berwick and the vicinity for nearly a cenIts members have contributed in a
tury.
high degree to the domestic, social, religious,
industrial and political development of the
community. Of this family, none has accommore than Mordecai William Jackson.
His father, Joel C. Jackson, was a native of
Goshen, N. Y., and of English descent. He
plished

married Jan.
Doan, a sketch of

w^as

10,

1814.

Elizabeth

whose family appears
elsewhere in this work. She was a native of
Chester county, Pa., of Quaker ancestry,
which settled in the southeastern part of the
The main qualities which gained Mr.
State.
Tackson his enviable position in the com-

munity can be traced

to his

English-Quaker

parentage. Joel C. Jackson came to Berwick
early in the nineteenth century, and resided in
that town until his death, which occurred in
1850. He was buried in Pine Grove cemetery,

where

his wife
soldier in the

was

War

also interred.

He was

of 1812.

Mordecai W. Jackson was born in Berwick,
Pa., June 25, 181 3, and received an education
the public schools of the locality which,
while not extensive, was such as the country
then afforded, and the basis for subsequent
At an
self-culture of considerable extent.
early age he entered the employ of a merchant

Berwick as clerk, and in this position gained
an insight into the fundamental principles of
business which laid the foundation for the
In 1840, in consuccess he later achieved.
nection with George Mack, he started a founin

dry for the manufacture of plows, plow castings, kettles and other articles of a kindred
nature, which found a ready market among the
This partnership
farmers of the locality.
three years, when Mr. Jackson purchased the interest of Mr. Mack and formed
an association with Robert McCurdy which
continued for three years. In 1849 Mr. McCurdy sold his interest to Mr. Jackson, who
then effected a partnership with William H.
lasted

Woodin, the firm being known as Jackson &
Woodin. During its continuance the business
greatly increased, and in order to meet the
demands of a growing industry several new
departments were added, among them sections
for the building of cars and the manufacture
of miscellaneous supplies for railroads. Thus
was founded the business which in 1872 was
into the Jackson & Woodin
Manufacturing Company. After the incor-

incorporated

poration of this company M. W. Jackson
served on the executive committee, where his
thorough knowledge and business foresight
made him of exceptional value. Through his
untiring energy and business integrity, in con-

with Mr. Woodin, he acquired a
reputation which was country wide, and gave
suclarge impetus to the great companies that
ceeded them. Later the Jackson & Woodin
nection

Manufacturing Company was merged into the
American Car and Foundry Company, which
concern

the largest of

its

kind in the world.
this work.

description appears elsewhere in
In the financial development of Berwick,
Mr. Tackson occupied a very prominent position." For many years he was president of
the First National Bank, in which institution
his wise, conservative counsel was most valHe was for a number of years a
uable.
director and the superintendent of the Lacka-

0^-

OT^-I^

:tc^,v--->^

T>un^J_Ih:^-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
wanna & Bloomsburg railroad,
became a part of Ihe Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western railroad system. He
was deeply interested in various other enterand was one of the largest
prises of the town
which sub-

sequently

in the section.

landowners

such
ly in agriculture, and
in the management of his

engaged large-

was

his astuteness

farms that he may

be considered a pioneer in the important distinction between extensive and intensive farmHis success was the direct habit of mixing.
His political affiliaing thought with labor.
tions were with the Republican jiarty, and
while not an office seeker he was appointed
associate judge by Governor Beaver. He was

an intelligent partisan, and made important
contributions of time and money to the advancement of his party.
Mr. Jackson was connected throughout his
lifetime with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

trated the high esteem in which he

417

was held

by his townsmen and employees. When the
funeral cortege was about to leave the dwelling for Pine Grove cemetery the horses were
detached from the hearse, and loving hands,
actuated by alTectionate sympathy, drew it to
the place of interment where his honored re-

mains

rest in peace.

BOWMAN YOUNG,

one of the
JESSE
talented family which has been so closely connected with the history of Berwick, was bom
When a young
July s, 1844, ill that town.
man he enlisted in the Union army, served
three years, and when discharged was captain in the 84th Pennsylvania \'olunteers. He

was graduated from Dickinson Seminary in
1866 and from Dickinson College in 1868.
He at once entered the ministry of the Methodist Church, and served as pastor of a num-

ber of churches in central Pennsylvania. He
accepted a call to the Grand Avenue Church
at Kansas City, and on the death of Dr. B. J.
Fry became the editor of the "Central Christian Advocate."
In this important position
influenwas
an
he
Association
he
remained for eight years, when he again
Camp Meeting
entered the ministry, accepting the pastorate
tial and conspicuous figure.
In 1839 ^'^^- Jackson was married to Mar- of the Walnut Hill Church in Cincinnati,
garet Gearhart, a granddaughter of Judge where he remained for eight years. He then
Gearhart, of Northumberland county. Pa. went to Jacksonville, Fla.. where he remained
Seven children were born of this union, of four years, as pastor of the .Snyder Memorial
whom three died in childhood. Those sur- Church. Thence he was transferred to the
Clarence Gearhart, North Indiana Conference, where he soon
viving to maturity were
who married Elizabeth Seybert Jane Bow- asked for retirement. His request granted,
man, who married Dr. John Elliott, of North- he went to Chicago, where he passed the reumberland Frank Reese, who married Alice mainder of his life.
Dr. Young did a very large amount of litAmerman, of Danville and Margaret Emily,
who married Benjamin F. Crispin, Jr., of erary work of permanent value. His war
and
In
Mr.
Crispin died,
Philadelphia.
1903
experiences lay at the foundation of "What a
Mrs. Crispin was married in 1907 to Rev. Boy Saw in the Army," and his participaRichard H. Gilbert, D. D., of Berwick, Pa. tion in the conflict at Gett}'sburg gave peIn 1871 Mrs. Margaret (Gearhart) Jackson culiar inspiration to his last book, "The Batnumber of religious
died, and in 1877 Mr. Jackson married Mrs. tle of Gettysburg."
Mary (Shulze) Gotwalt. a niece of Gov. J. books, as well as several volumes of fiction,
Andrew Shulze, of Pennsylvania. One child came out of his well stocked storehouse. Dr.
was born of this union, Mary Woodin, who Young was a member of the .Grand Army of
married Joseph Borches, of Knoxville, Ten- the Republic, and deeply interested in it. He
died July 30. 1914, in Chicago, survived by
nessee.
Mordecai \\'. Jackson was a man of un- five children, of whom Miss Anne Spotswood
questioned honesty, a firm believer in the prin- Young is on the editorial stafl:' of the Sunday
ciples of truth and righteousness, and his long school publications of the Methodist Church,
and eminently useful life was an exemplifica- and Miss Helen Minchell Young on that of
tion of his beliefs.
To no other single in- "The Christian Advocate." The only son,
dividual does the town of Berwick owe more Jared W. Young, is president of the J. W.
for its development and prosperity.
His Young Manufacturing Company of Chicago.
lamented demise occurred Julv 18, 1894. Aliss Adda Young is an instructor in elocuThere was an affecting incident in connection tion in New York City. Miss Lucy Young
with the obsequies which unmistakably illus- resides at home in Chicago.
held various official positions in the church,
in addition rendered invaluable services
in the matter of its business management and
was its most liberal supporter. In the organization and conduct of the Mountain Grove

and

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

418

JUDGE ROBERT

LITTLE,

late

Bloomsburg, was one of the eminent lawyers
of Columbia county, holding a leading position
at the bar for years.
He had served several
years as president judge of the 26th district of
Pennsylvania, made up of Columbia and Montour counties, and commanded to an unusual
degree the esteem and confidence of the public and of his fellow members in the legal
fraternity.
Judge Little was born May 30,
1852, at Berwick, Columbia county, son of
Ephraim H. and Eliza (Seibert) Little, and
belonged to a family which has been in this
from Colonial days, his greatcountry
grandfather, George Little, having been a
native of Connecticut, where he passed all
his life. He served throughout the Revolution
as a soldier from that State.
George Little, the Judge's grandfather, was
born in Connecticut, and when a young man
located in Delaware county, N. Y., subsequently removing to Bethany, Wayne Co.,
Pa., where he carried on a tannery for several
He finally settled at Montrose, Susyears.
quehanna Co., Pa., where he died in 1851,
aged seventy. He was a tanner and furrier
by trade, but during the latter years of his
life was a merchant, being thus engaged at
Montrose. He married Mary Esterbrook, by
whom he had si.x children, as follows George
S., a merchant of Loraysville; Ralph B., of
Montrose William E., of Chicago Ephraim
H. Robert R., of Tunkhannock, Pa. and
:

;

All of
Mary
the sons were lawyers except George A.
L. Grover, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Ephraim H.

Little

was born

Delaware

county, N. Y., March 23, 1823, and was ten
old
when the family moved to
years

Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he
In his eighteenth year he
to manhood.
began to read law with his brother, Ralph B.

grew

Little

and

member

(then a

Little, of

of the firm of

Loeb

Montrose), who was an eminent

lawyer and the preceptor of Justice J. B. McAt the age
Collum, a distinguished jurist.
of twenty years he took what money he possessed and started West for Chicago, by way
of the Great Lakes.
By good fortune he
managed to catch the last boat to make the

and the journey was a long
and tedious one, as the boat was greatly delayed by the roughness of the water, which

trip that season,

caused a number of accidents. Upon arriving in Chicago, which was then a mere hamlet,
he found himself with but twenty-five cents
in his pocket,

tination,

and forty miles from

Joliet,

111.

The

latter

his des-

part of his

journey was to be made by stage, and realizing

that he did not have enough money to
pay
his fare, he offered the quarter to the driver
in consideration that he haul his trunk to the

desired place.
This the stage driver refused
to do, saying: "No, I will carry
you and your
baggage and you can pay me at another time."

Mr. Little again took up
and in 1845 was admitted
Grundy county. 111. Soon afterwards he purchased the Joliet Sentinel, on
conducted it for six or eight
credit, and
months.
He then sold out and removed to
.Morris, which a short time previous had been
Landing

Joliet,

the study of law,

to the bar in

made

the county seat of Grundy county. 111.
Me was the first lawyer to locate there. He
continued his practice with much success for
a few years, when he met with an accident,
his gun being discharged accidentally while
he was hunting prairie chickens, which caused
him the loss of an arm. The knowledge of
surgery at the time being limited he was
finally compelled to submit to amputation of
the injured arm.
This reduced his physical
strength greatly and he determined to get out
of that malarial section of the country,
acting

on his physician's advice.
In 1847 Mr. Little returned East, and the
next year opened a law office at Tunkhannock, in 1849 locating at Beach Haven, Luzerne Co., Pa., where he was appointed
weighmaster at Weigh Lock, on the Pennsylvania canal. The canal was under the control
of the State, and it had been customary for
boats to be run on Sunday, but Mr. Little,
true to the Christian influences under which
he had been reared, refused outright to perform his labors on the Sabbath. The boatmen
were wroth and petitioned for his removal,
but the governor of the State refused to remove him and the canal was thereafter closed
on Sundays. He held the position two years,
and while there made the acquaintance of
Eliza Seibert, whom he married Dec. 10, 1850.

The spring

after they moved to Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa., where he lived until his
removal to Bloomsburg in April, i860. He
there engaged in the practice of his profession,
and continued with the best of success until
1893, when he retired and moved upon his
farm, a tract of 135 acres just outside the corporate limits of Bloomsburg.
As a lawyer he was unexcelled and his opin-

was frequently sought by other prominent
attorneys on intricate legal problems. He was
ion
a

Democrat

served

wh'ch

his political affiliations, and
terms as district attorney, to
he was first elected in 1856. Risin

three
office

ing to a place of prominence in the profes-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
sional world, he

commanded

the respect and

the esteem of the entire community. He was
an active and consistent member of the Baptist Church, and held many of the church

To his marriage was born one child,
Robert R. Mrs. Little died June lo, 1890,
and Ephraim H. Little died June 10, 1900
offices.

—

just ten years apart to a day.
Robert R. Little was eight years old when
his parents moved from Berwick to Blooms-

was reared, receiving a good
Bloomsburg State Normal
School, from which he was graduated in 1872.

burg, and there he
education in the

He subsequently entered the University of
Rochester, at Rochester, N. Y., and then attended Hamilton College, at Clinton, N. Y.
In 1873 he entered his father's office and applied himself with such diligence as to be able
to pass the bar examination two years later.

He immediately became his father's partner,
and they practiced under the firm name of
E. H. and R. R. Little until the former's reThe Judge subsequently practiced
tirement.
alone, and had a large and profitable clientage among the leading citizens and business
men. A man of great energy and indomitable
will, he was untiring in the prosecution of
every case he undertook. He was elected district attorney of Columbia county for two
terms, serving from Jan. i, 1878, filled out
two terms as county solicitor, and was also
solicitor for the borough one term.
On Nov.
8, 1898, he was elected president judge of
the 26th district, which position he was holding at the time of his death, which occurred
Feb. 26, 1906, at Bloomsburg. where he is
buried, in Rosemont cemetery. His death was
regarded as a public loss, for he had been intimately associated with various phases of the
life of the community.
lie was a trustee of
the Bloomsburg State Normal School, a member of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. &
A. M., and was connected with the Baptist
Church.
He was a popular worker in the
Democratic party and had served as chairman of the standing committee in Columbia

county.
On Oct. 15, 1878, .Mr. Little married Deborah T. Tustin, a daughter of Rev. J. P.
Tustin and Catherine A. Nicely, of Bloomsburg, and she survives him, continuing to

make her home in lUoomsljurg. The followwere born to this marriage: (i)
Henry Joseph, a graduate of the department

ing children
of

science

the

University of
married Mabel Rogers, of
Muncy, Pa., and has three children, Robert
George, Rebecca R. and Elenora T.
(2) Joveterinary
Pennsylvania,

siah T.

419

was formerly located

at the

Union

stockyards, Lancaster, Pa., as assistant to Dr.
Johnston, and is now taking a course as veterinarian in the University of Pennsylvania.
He married Carola Gunton, of Bloomsburg,
and has one son, Llewellyn G. (3) Catherine
T. is a member of the class of 1915, Bloomsburg State Normal School.

FRED TAYLOR

IKELER, son of EHjah
R. and Helena (Armstrong) Ikeler, was born
in Bloomsburg Aug. 12, 1870. He was a
pupil
of the local public schools, graduating with
high honors. The ne.xt step in his education
was taken when he enrolled as a student at
the Bloomsburg State Normal School. Upon
the completion of his course in that institution he became a student in Lafayette
College,
Easton, Pa., from which he graduated in 1890.
Thus before the young man had attained his
majority he had passed through three phases
of
educational
the
activity,
assimilating
knowledge that was to be the basic foundation
for a future career. Through inherent ability,
and by virtue of a striking legacy of talent,
with which he was endowed by being his father's son, the youth had long considered following the law as a profession. This desire
had been instilled into his heart from the days
of childhood, when from his father's knee
he had watched the panorama of the courts
of the county.
Over thirty years later the
example set by Fred Taylor Ikeler was followed by Stewart

Ikeler, his

own

son,

whose

diminutive figure has already become a familiar sight in a more modern courthouse.
It

was

natural,

therefore, that the

young

graduate should turn to the practice of the
profession for which he had been preparing.
The year following his graduation from Lafayette College he was admitted to the bar of

Columbia county. From that beginning Mr.
Ikeler has attained a position in his profession
that ranks him among the leading attorneys
of the State. His legal practice, extending to
every section of the Commonwealth, is now
so extensive that he has been compelled to

abandon criminal work altogether.

Through

the passing years his reputation as a resourceful lawyer, gifted with an argumentative and
analytical mind, a keen and most eloquent
tongue, together with an intimate and most
minute familiarity with the ramifications of
legal procedures, has steadily increased, and
his practice of the present day is almost

wholly devoted to the interests of many of
the larger corporations of the time.
Among
his clients are numbered the Delaware, Lack-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

420

awanna & Western Railroad Company, the complish is sufficient. He assembled a Men's
Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, Bible class in the First Presbyterian Church
That class of religious orthe Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, the of Bloomsburg.
Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Com- ganization had not then achieved its present
The Ikeler Bible class, as it began
pany, the Lehigh \'alley Coal Company, the vogue.
American Car and Foundry Company, the Le- to be known, therefore was essentially small
at
a
its
But the drawing powers
and
and
inception.
Navigation Company,
high Coal
other concerns, smaller perhaps
but varied in scope, which are distributed in various localities throughout the
great
in

many

size,

State.

The relinquishment of criminal practice was
but the evolution due to his specializing on
corporate law. Mr. Ikeler, however, has forsaken his resolution in this matter when occasion warrants,

some personal

when prosecution

affiliation

against

has arisen, going into

the criminal courts and by the brilliancy of
He
his masterly defense acquitting a client.
is known throughout this great State as an
attorney. His utterances before a court of
justice are tinged with the bitterest satire, the
most profound truths, and the essence of correct jurisprudence.
Political preference

came to Mr. Ikeler
He served as solicitor for his
early in life.
native town four years, twice being named to
that appointive office by the councilmen of
Bloomsburg. Later, through the suffrage of
his

townsmen, he represented

his district in

The enthe legislative halls of the State.
croachments of a growing practice necessitated, however, a strict attention to clients,
and long ago Mr. Ikeler withdrew as a candidate for public office, although he is and
has been mentioned as the logical successor
to Charles C. Evans, the presiding judge of
Columbia county, whose incumbency of that
elective office expires at the end of 1916. Mr.
Ikeler was appointed president of the recently
discharged commission appointed to investigate certain phases of the granting of liquor
licenses in Columbia county, his fellow members being Hon. H. M. Hinckley, George E.
Elwell, A. W. Duy and H. Mont. Smith. He
and his associates fulfilled the functions of
that position in such a manner as to win the
applause of the community.
During his past career, and still occasionally, through the desire to do some institution
a favor, or to conform to a personal request,
Mr. Ikeler has appeared on the lecture platform. As a lecturer, he has been a factor in
past political campaigns, and consistently has lifted his voice for Democracy in
local and State activities.
As an example of personal magnetism, one
citation of what Fred Taylor Ikeler can ac-

many

its leader's eloquence, his broad
humanity
and sincere teachings, soon attracted scores
of men, of various denominations, to the organization.
Many came who were not in

the habit of attending church, until the members numbered over two hundred. The fame
of this class spread. At each meeting, through
the sterling truth and Christianity preached
by Mr. Ikeler, an immeasurable amount of
good was accomplished, and while business
conditions causing protracted absences from
Bloomsburg eventually led to the termination
of his connection with the class, many of his
former students still are marked with the impress of his utterances.
When Vance Criswell McCormick, Democratic candidate for governor of Pennsylvania,
and A. Mitchell Palmer, Democratic candidate for United States senator, appeared in
Bloomsburg in the spring of 1914, Mr. Ikeler
presided as chairman of the meeting at the
courthouse.
He knew neither of these gentlemen.
His speech of introduction will be
remembered
as one of the finest orations
long
that had ever been delivered within the confines of the courtroom.
It received a sustained and continuous ovation, and as Mr.
Ikeler turned away, his duty done, both candidates rose to their feet and greeted him, a
perfect stranger, with the utmost cordiality

and gratitude for

his masterly effort.

member

of the Columbia County Bar
Association, and actively interested in the advancement of that organization, a member
also of the State and National Bar Associations, as an attorney Fred Taylor Ikeler heads
the Columbia county bar, and his townsmen
watch and will watch his future career with
the utmost pride, as his achievements have
reflected
credit
on
his
native
always

community.

JUDGE ELIJAH

IKELER

passed

1898, while serving the tenth
year of his term as presiding judge of the
courts of Columbia county, to which high
office he was elected in 1888.
His elevation
to the supreme office of the county at the
hands of the people came at the termination
of a long and useful period of active public
life.
Judge Ikeler was typically a production

away Aug.

COLUMBIA "AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of Columbia county. He was born in Greenwood township on Feb. 27, 1838, and was a
descendant of an honored old family of German extraction which had emigrated to this
county from New Jersey, and which was a
branch of the Ikeler family that had come
to America in 1760.
Joseph Eggler (as the
name was then spelled), the great-grandfather
of Elijah R. Ikeler, upon his arrival in this

421

country settled in Belvidere, N. J. His occupation was farming, and he died in that State.
At the outbreak of the Revolution he promptly
enlisted with the Colonists, and throughout
that historic conflict unselfishly rendered serv-

daughter of Isaac Johnson, who came from
New Jersey. "Andrew J. Ikeler and his wife
Christina," says this other account, "had six
children, Elizabeth, William J., Margaret,
Isaac, Andrew J., and Johnson H., all of whom
settled in Columbia county." He died on Nov.
Mr.
24, 1850, and she on Dec. 29, 1865.
Ikeler was a Democrat, served as a commissioner and supervisor, held other township
offices, was a colonel of the militia and was
called out during the war, but returned after
ten days' service, as he was not required. He
was not a member of any church, but was a
liberal contributor to the support of
religious

ice to his country.

work.)

Andrew J. Ikeler, a son of Joseph, was
united in marriage to Christina Johnson, and
the young couple migrated to Columbia county
from New Jersey, covering the entire distance on horseback, and likewise bringing
with them their personal effects. To Andrew
J. and Christina Ikeler, and their exodus to
Greenwood township, the Columbia county
branch of the Ikeler family owe their existence.
Mr. Ikeler took over about one thousand acres in the sparsely settled township,

Isaac Ikeler, son of Andrew J., died in
1S84 at the age of eighty years. He married
Mary Taylor, a native of New Jersey, who
passed away in 1879, aged sixty-five years.
Their bodies were interred in Rlount Pleas-

which is still owned by their descendants, and
on this tract he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. The death of Andrew
in 1854, at which time
J. Ikeler occurred
he was eighty years of age. His wife Christina survived him twelve years, and at the
age of ninety-three passed away in 1866. Their
bodies were buried in the family plot on the
old homestead property, in a little hallowed
burying ground, at a romantic spot. During
his

day Mr. Ikeler attained great prominence

as a citizen of his

locality.

held

many

public offices in his community and in the
county, among which was that of county
magistrate in or about the year 1835. For
a long time he was a colonel in the militia, and
he raised a regiment for the war of 1812
and personally led it to the battlefield.
(In another account it is stated that William
Ikeler was the name of the founder of the
Columbia county branch of the Ikelers. William Ikeler also came from New Jersey and
settled

on a farm that was

later

occupied by

George Ikeler, the date of the latter's occupancy being given as approximately one
hundred and twenty-five years ago. His wife's
name was Barnhart, and their issue were four
children: Andrew, William, Elizabeth and
Barnabas,

all

Greenwood

April 18, 1773.

Johnson,

named settling in
Andrew was born
He married Christina Ann

but the last

township.

who was born

in 1774,

and was the

ant township, Columbia county.

Isaac Ikeler

was widely known and eminently respected as
Elijah R. Ikeler was the
son of this worthy couple.
He was reared
in the township of his
nativity and received
the common education which the schools of
a successful farmer.

that vicinity afforded.

the age of sixteen,

he entered Greenwood Seminary, an institution of

FJijah

learning located in

Alillville.

When

became older he learned the trade of

miller, serving his apprenticeship in the place

which has been a milestone on the pathway
of his education.
He eventually purchased
this business, which he conducted until he
was almost thirty years of age. In 1865 the

young man moved

Bloomsburg.

year

prior to that date he had approached the late
Col. John G. Freeze, and had registered with
him as a student of law. On April ist of
the year that he came to town he started his
association in the office of Colonel Freeze.

Two

years later young Ikeler,

who had

not

yet reached his thirtieth year, was admitted
to
the Columbia county bar.
Two years
previous to his admission he had purchased
the Columbia Democrat, and had consolidated
that publication with the Star of the North,

designating the allied sheets as the Democrat
and Star. A year later he sold out his interest
in this publication.
During the Civil war Mr.
Ikeler actively supported tlie Union cause.
In 1869, by the suffrage of his townsmen,
and by virtue of the record which had been
attained by the comparatively young
attorney,
Mr. Ikeler was elected to the office of district
of
Columbia
In
his official
attorney
county.

capacity he figured prominently in the notable
Molly Maguire trials.
Later, when Hon.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

422

Charles R. Uuckalew had completed his wise utmost satisfaction to the executive board.
of incorporation for the town of yAt this time Mr. Ikeler held the reputation of
Uloomsburg (which at this date has the only being the youngest cashier of any national
charter of a Pennsylvania incorporated town banking institution in the United States. He
and whose government is administered under later resigned and took up the study of law,
those ordinances), Elijah R. Ikeler was chosen and on Sept. 24, 1894, was admitted to the
For several years
treasurer of the young municipal venture. bar of Columbia county.
Meanwhile, aside from associating in an enter- thereafter he was associated with his brother
His earlier
prise that ultimately resulted in the formation in a successful law partnership.
of the Farmers' National Bank, that strong experience in the banking business later ashim
in
sisted
his
chosen
and prosperous institution of the present day,
profession. It resulted
Mr. Ikeler was devoting himself to the up- in a connection with the First National Bank
of
friends
ralHe
succeeded
to the position
of
a
His
Bloomsburg.
loyal
building
practice.
lied to his support as soon as they became of cashier of that strong institution upon the
aware of his ability and sterling characteris- resignation of E. F. Carpenter from that place
of trust, and is still serving the bank in that
tics, and his legal acumen drew a great volume
of business.
Mr. Ikeler attained his status capacity, having entirely relinquished the pracas an attorney through an unusually high con- tice of law.
On March 23, 1898, Mr. Ikeler married
ception of the duties of his profession. The
wide range of his technical knowledge of prac- Mary Millard, of Centralia, and one son, Fred,
tice and the manner in which he executed came to bless that union.
The members of the Ikeler family, through
deeds of trust eventually brought their own
reward. In 1888 Elijah R. Ikeler was elevated past loyalty to county tradition and advanceto the honor of presiding judge, a responsi- ment, represent the type of ideal citizenship
and motherhood. Their mark on the developbility which he tilled with the utmost faithfulness to the interests of justice. The hand ment of the county has been that of conof death touched him before his term of serv- sistent progress, and while but two descendice was completed and he was gathered to his ants, Frank and Fred, and their boys now refathers, who, with him, had done so much for main, the achievements of this later generation are in line with the record established
if only through the examples of
the county
paternal duty and probity and wholesome by their ancestors of an earlier time.
articles

—

lives.

On ]\Iarch 23, 1863, Mr. Ikeler had married
Helena Armstrong, a daughter of Ephraim
Armstrong, of Bloomsburg, a descendant of
the notable Philadelphia family of Rittenhouses. She survived her husband until April,
1913,

passing

away

Bloomsburg, greatly

mourned. Two children survive this union,
Fred Taylor Ikeler, the subject of the introduction of this monograph on the Ikeler family, and Frank A. Ikeler.
Fr.xnk a. Ikeler was born in Bloomsburg
Aug. 21, 1868. He enrolled in the various
local schools, and after graduating entered
the Bloomsburg State Normal School. At the
completion of his studies in that institution
Mr. Ikeler joined his brother, Fred Tavlor
Ikeler, at Lafayette College, and realizing the
opportunities and requirements of his native
town, undertook the study of banking and
finance.
As the result of his studies Mr.
Ikeler, upon the completion of his course, was
tendered the position of cashier by the officials
of the Farmers' National Bank of Bloomsburg,
which his father had been greatly instrumental
in organizing.
This offer he accepted and fulfilled the responsibilities of the berth with the

DANIEL MONTGOMERY BOYD,

de-

was one of the men to whom Montour
county owes a debt of gratitude for his share
in its development and prosperity.
He was
ceased,

always

identified

with

the

enterprises

that

made this section prominent in an industrial
way and his keen insight into the future was
of great value in placing the industries of Danville on a firm financial foundation.

The Boyd family in this county was
founded by William Boyd, who, with his
brother Thomas, came to America in 1732
from County Armagh, Ireland. They were
of Protestant belief and of Scotch-Irish descent.
William Boyd settled near the "HalfHouse," in New Garden township, Chesand according to old records was
appointed justice of the peace under King

Way

ter Co., Pa.,

He served in that capacity for the
George.
rest of his life, also being a member of the
Provincial council, his name last appearing
on the records in 1761. Later he removed to
the village of Oxford, where he died in 1767.
He was a member of the Faggs Manor PresHis children were James,
byterian Church.
:

John, William, Jane,

Mary and Hannah.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
John Boyd, grandfather of Daniel M., was
apprenticed to a tanner, and soon after his apprenticeship

ended enlisted

the

war

for

independence, served the colonists' side with
distinction, was honorably discharged in 1782,
and was afterward appointed general of the
1st Brigade, 3d Division, of the Pennsylvania
He married,
State Militia, by the governor.
Dec. 18, 1782, Mary, daughter of James
Cowan, of Chester county, and they had these
children Jane, Joseph, William, James, John
:

C, Mary, Hannah and

After his mar-

Eliza.

riage he established a tannery at

West

Fal-

lowfield, Chester county, which he conducted
until his death.
He was at one time a member of the Legislature, and he attended the
Presbyterian Church, of which he was a rul-

ing elder.
John C.

Boyd, father of Daniel M., was
born at West Fallowfield, Chester county, and
grew to manhood on the home farm, helping
his father in the tannery.

On May

18,

1820,

he married Hannah, daughter of Gen. Daniel
Montgomery, the founder of Danville, moved
to that place and entered the business of storekeeping. His wife having received from her
father the farm now known as "Boyd's" he,
in 1824, sold out his store and retired from
merchandising to cultivate the homestead. He
erected on it a large and artistic mansion and
added to the farm until it comprised almost
nine hundred acres, most of it under cultivation.
With the assistance of his sons and his
father-in-law he promoted the Danville &
Pottsville railroad, built a furnace at Shamokin,
and was interested in other projects of public
After a life of more than average
utility.
usefulness he died on Aug. 18, 1849, at the
of
His children were: Mary L.,
age
fifty-si.x.
wife of William Neal, proprietor of the Neal

Furnace

Bloomsburg

;

Daniel Montgomery,

after his grandfather
Hannah Eliza
James, who married Louise, daughter of Rev.

named

;

W. Yeomans James

Alexander, who marMiss Titus, of Philadelphia; Chriswife
of
Col.
William
tianna,
McClure; and
Joseph C, who married Anna, daughter of
William Butler, of Danville.
Daniel Montgomery Boyd was born on the
J.

ried

;

Rush township, Northumberland county, two miles from Danville. He
was the second child in the family. He acquired most of his education in the Danville
old homestead, in

Academy, founded by Gen. William Montgomery, his great-grandfather. After graduation he went to Pottsville and entered the
coal business. Soon his capacity for organization became evident and he was associated

423

with the opening of the Shamokin coal basin,
the first improved coal breaker, con-

built

structed railroads, and was one of the prominent operators of the day. In 1862 he went
to Havre-de-Grace, Md., and started a line
of vessels in the coal shipping trade, plying
from that port to the South, but in 1881 he
was obliged to retire, because of ill health,
and returned to Danville. Recovering some
of his vigor he interested himself in the principal industries of the town, becoming president of the First National Bank and of the
Danville Nail Company. He was also president of the board of trustees of the State
Hospital for the Insane, but resigned when
declining health prevented his active* participation in its affairs. In the winter of 1897-98
he was seized with a severe attack of the
grip, from which he never fully
his death occurring July 4, 1899.

recovered,

Mr. Boyd was twice married, first to Carodaughter of Samuel Bockius, of Germantown, Pa., in 1869. After her death, in 1878,
he married Ida, daughter of Joseph W. and
Esther A. (Sloan) Cottrell, the former a prosline,

perous merchant of Columbia, Pa.
By this
union he had two children Daniel Montgomand Elsie M. Mr. Boyd and
ery, deceased
:

;

his family were all members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a trustee. He
was a member of the Republican party all
his life.

SAMUEL

WIGFALL, of Bloomsburg,
president of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad Company, has been associated with that
company for over twenty years, in his present
There is scarcely any
capacity since 1904.
one enterprise of similar magnitude which has
had greater local value than this road. Bringing new life and possibilities to the towns
along the route, affording transportation facilities for the agricultural and manufactured
products of the vicinity, and a means of communication long desired by the people of this
region, it has been a success from the very
beginning and the steady patronage it has always received is sufficient to show how desirable and popular a convenience it has been.
Mr. Wigfall has proved an able executive, and
his business qualities have won him deserved
recognition in his adopted home.
native of Philadelphia, born Sept.

He
2,

1866,

and

his father, Samuel Wigfall, spent all his
active life in that city, where he was con-

nected with the First National Bank. He died
April 2, 1885. To him and his wife Mary L.
(Jackson), who survives him, were born two

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

424

sons, Samuel and E. Newton, the latter now
connected with the house of John T. Lewis

Bros., of Philadelphia.

Mr.

Wigfall's

grandfather,

also

named

Samuel, was engaged in the hardware business at Augusta, Ga., for some time, later
settling in Montgomery county, Pa., where he
died.

Samuel

W'igfall jwssed his youth in Philadelphia, obtaining his education in the public
schools, and when a young man was employed
as a runner for the First National Bank there.
He remained with that institution until he
came to Bloomsburg, June Si, 1889, here be-

coming secretary and treasurer of the North
Mountain Lumber Company, with which concern he continued until it dissolved, in the fall
of 1892.
Since January, 1890, he has been
connected with the Bloomsburg & Sullivan
Railroad Company. This company received
its original charter from the State Dec. 27,
1883, the promoters being C. R. Buckalew
and Col. John Jamison, of Bloomsburg. Capt.
H. J. Connor and Silas McHenry secured the
right of way the entire length of the road.
The first ground for the road was broken
at the bridge a short distance north of Orangeville in August, 1886, and the work went forward under the direction of John A. Wilson,
of Philadelphia, constructing engineer, and
James C. Brown, of Bloomsburg, surveying
engineer. It was substantially constructed and
the same policy has been continued to the present, the company being noted for its high
standards of maintenance and efficiency. The

road was completed to Benton in 1887, on
July 4th of which year the first train left

Bloomsburg for Orangeville, carrying a large
It
delegation of officials and stockholders.
was completed to Jamison City in 1888. It is
twenty-nine miles long, the route lying
through the beautiful and historic Fishing
creek valley, connecting the territory along
the Susquehanna river with the North mounThere are many highly productive
tains.

farms in this section and agricultural interests
have expanded notably as one direct result
of the advent of the railroad. The industrial
centers along the line, Light Street, OrangeForks, Stillwater, Benton, Coles Creek,
Central and Jamison City, have felt the impetus which convenience of transportation has
ville,

given their activities, and many thriving business plants have been located in those communities because of the desirable opportunities the railroad has brought within the reach
The road traverses a beautiful
of investors.
section, a delightful region for fishing or hunt-

and ideal spots for camps and recreation
are numerous. Eight passenger trains a day
are run, four each way, and two to four extra
freight trains to Berwick by way of the Paper
Mill.
The road uses the Delaware, Lackaing,

wanna & Western depot at Bloomsburg, and
made with the principal pas-

connections are

senger trains on that road as well as the Philadelphia & Reading, and at the Paper Mill,
with the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick. The head office of the company is at
Market and Sixth streets, Bloomsburg, near
the D. L. & W. depot. About fifty men are

departments, and the present
Samuel Wigfall, president H.
T. Dechert, vice president; George A. Ritter,
secretary and auditor; W. C. Snyder, treasurer and superintendent
W. C. Fortune,
Mr. Fortune, Conductor J. W.
supervisor.
Scott and Engineer James Carey have been
with the company from the very beginning.
Capt. H. J. Connor was secretary and treas-

employed

in all

officers are

;

urer until his death, May 30, 1912.
Mr. Wigfall's time has been devoted principally to his responsibilities as head of the
Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad Company,
but he has also had other local interests, and
he is a director of the Bloomsburg National
Bank, treasurer and director of the Industrial
Building & Loan Association since its incorporation in i8c>i, and a director of the Bloomshurg Water Company. He is a member of
the Episcopal Church, and a Republican in
political sentiment.
On Feb. 4, 1891, Mr. Wigfall married
Helen R. Belfield, of Philadelphia, and they

have one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born
in August, 1901.

COL.

JOHN GOSSE FREEZE,

Bloomsburg.

Honored

and

late

remembered

for his long connection with the Columbia county bar, at which he practiced for
over sixty years, a simple recount of the duties
which occupied Colonel Freeze aside from his
profession shows that he was much more than
chiefly

a successful lawyer. However, a mere recital
of his achievements in the law and in the activities of the community would suggest the large

place he filled in its life but give no adequate
idea of the accomplishments which made his
career remarkable for more than its length.
Though he attained his eighty-eighth year he
was still maintaining his association with several trusts he was reluctant to relinquish in
He had withdrawn from
spite of his age.
legal practice two or three years before, however.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

42£

Born Nov. 4, 1825, in Montoursville, LyRegarding his ability and reputation as a
coming Co., Pa., at the mouth of Loyalsock lawyer it is easy to form an opinion of Colonel
creek, John G. Freeze was a member of an old Freeze by the importance of the cases intrust-

family of German descent, originally settled
New Jersey, and established in this part
of Pennsylvania by his grandfather, Peter
who located in Northumberland
Freeze,
county with his wife and family soon after
the Revolutionary period.
He lived and died
at Tuckahoe, that county, and was a farmer
by occupation. He was a soldier during die
Revolution, being enrolled in the body of
Colonial militia known as the "Jersey Line."
James Freeze, son of Peter, learned the
trade of miller and followed the business for
many years of his long life, dying at BloomsHis wife.
burg at the age of eighty-two.
Frances (Gosse), passed away at the age of
seventy-five.
They are buried in Rosemont
in

cemetery, Bloomsburg.

John Gosse Freeze had the best educational
region aiTorded in his day. Becommon schools he had the
privileges
private schools at Turbotville
and Greenwood, the Milton Academy and the
Danville Academy. His father, holding ideas
on early training much in advance of popular
facilities this

sides attending the

ed to him, the great value of property involved
his clients themselves. In
the earlier part of his legal career he was leading counsel on one side or the other in many
of the suits concerning land titles, the famous
ejectment cases involving the ownership of
coal lands in the lower part of the county,
notably the celebrated Biggs-Doebler and

and the standing of

Longenberger-McReynolds cases, which began in 1863 and were continued, in one place
or another, until 1885. Judge Elwell was then
presiding over the courts of Columbia county,
and his sense of equity and broad familiarity
with the legal questions involved were so thoroughly known and trusted that many cases
from other districts were certified here to
have the benefit of his able ruling. Hence
Colonel Freeze was brought into contact with
the most eminent legal advisers of other counties, who retained his services as associate
counsel in the weightiest cases such men as
Wolverton of Sunbury, Ryan and Hughes,

—

in his time, also engaged private
tutors for him. so that the boy received an
excellent classical training.
After a brief experience as a school teacher young Freeze

and George F. Baer of Reading. His own
practice extended beyond the limits of Columbia as he gained recognition by his skillful
handling of difiicult situations. In the famous
Molly Maguire trial of 1877, he had charge
of the defense, and though Hester, Tully and

turned to the law, commencing to read with

McHugh were

opinion

Joshua

Comly,

April 19, 1848, he
bia

at Danville, in 1846.
to the Colum-

was admitted

county bar at Bloomsburg, and for over

sixty years following was one of the foremost
legal practitioners in the county, retiring from

practice only a short time before his death.
the eighty-seventh anniversary of his
however, the Colonel was in court, and
handed in a petition of the Lehigh Valley Coal

birth,

Company. On that occasion he received the
congratulations of the court.
Though a prominent figure in county affairs, and influential in politics, Colonel Freeze
held few public offices, but it is significant
that

he was

frequently called to positions
carried grave responsibilitv,
their proper performance
being of vital interest to his fellow citizens.
In 1863 he took
the office of register and recorder of Columbia county and filled it for two successive
terms, a period of six years. In 1872 he was
chosen a member of the Constitutional convention, but resigned in favor of Hon. C. R.
Buckalew. He served on Governor Bigler's
staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel,
by
appointment, hence his title.

whose

duties

convicted and hanged the
Colonel always held to his conviction that
Hester was only technically guilty of the murder of Alexander \V. Rea. It was characteristic of him that he never
fought a case on
technicalities, and though he was faithful and
conscientious about availing himself of every
advantage to the interest of his own clients he
preferred to win his cases on their merits and
through his extensive knowledge of the law,
the application of which he knew so well.

shrewd adviser, he was equally capable as an
in court.
Though he was a formidable opponent his distaste for trickery made
him an honorable foe, and his fairness, coupled
with unfailing courtesy, gained him a popularHe had neither scorn
ity which never waned.
nor impatience for young and inexperienced
to
whom
he
was
lawyers,
always generous and
kindly, and among his colleagues he was
looked upon as a most desirable associate.
For many years there was scarcely a session
of the Supreme court at which he did not
have business which required his presence.
On April 28, 1905, Colonel Freeze was the
guest of honor at a complimentary banquet
arranged by members of the bar of Columbia
advocate

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

426

and -Montour counties,

honor of the

fifty-

seventh anniversary of his admission to the
bar.
Even then he was the "Nestor" of the

He was a member of
bration, held in 1902.
the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
In religious connection Colonel Freeze was

Columbia county bar, its oldest member and
for twenty years the president of the Bar

member and vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, a member of the standing com-

Association.
The legal fraternity of both
counties was well represented, and there were
lawyer guests from other counties present, as
well as men prominent in business and other
circles.
It was an appreciation such as few
men experience, and Colonel Freeze was
deeply touched.

mittee of the diocese of Central Pennsylvania,
and chancellor of that body for twenty years
or more, in that capacity being legal adviser
to the bishop. The tower on St. Paul's church
is a monument to his
liberality.
In 1854 Colonel Freeze married Margaret
Walker, of Lancaster county. Pa., daughter
of Robert Walker, of Lancaster.
She preceded him to the grave, as did also all of the
five children born to this union.
Mrs. Freeze
was also a member of St. Paul's Church.
After a life of singular usefulness, whose
activities have proved a far-reaching influence
in promoting the interests of his fellow men,
he passed away July 8, 1913.
man of unselfish ambitions, his labors "not only brought
honors to himself but ennobled the circles in
which he moved." His death occurred at his

Any movement designed to improve mental
or moral standards in the community, or which
marked advancement, had his support, if indeed he was not a leader. Educational projects especially had his sympathetic interest
and support. In 1866 he was one of the group
which organized the Bloomsburg Literary Institute, which has since been merged into the

Normal School, and from that time until his
death he was almost continuously associated
with the management of the institution, which
has played so large a part in the development
of the borough in more respects than one. He
was one of the trustees in the early days, when
the board was responsible financially, its members often advancing the money to settle bills
in order to keep the school
running and he
was still holding that position at the time of
his death.
To the end of his days he was a
trustee of the public library, which office he
had filled for many years, and he had also
been vice president of its board of directors.
He was president of the Bloomsburg Bridge
Company, president of the Rosemont Cem;

Company.
With all his

etery

obligations Colonel Freeze
found time to indulge his literary tastes and
add to his acquirements.
At one time he
was one of the editors of the Columbian, being qualified by his intimate acquaintance with
local political conditions, as well as by his
intellectual attainments, for that position.
As
a local historian also he acquired considerable
reputation, his history of Columbia county
being undoubtedly the best written and considered the standard of authority and an exhaustive work of reference on the subject.
His literary productions include a number of
graceful poems, and he published one or two
collections of verses, his largest work, "A

Royal Pastoral," being a volume of over
three hundred pages.
He also published the
"North American Book," and a number of

He was the
Bloomsburg Centennial cele-

pamphlets on various subjects.
historian of the

home on Center and Third

streets,

Blooms-

Short
burg, due to the infirmities of age.
private services were held at the house for the
relatives, and a public service at St. Paul's

Episcopal Church, Rev. Mr. Musser officiatInterment was in Rosemont cemetery.

ing.

GEN.

WELLINGTON

ENT

(de-

ceased) was serving as prothonotary of Columbia county at the time of his death, and
though he passed away in his prime was one
of its well-known citizens. His distinguished
services in the Civil war brought him high
General Ent was
promotion and honors.

born Aug. 16, 1834, at Light Street. Columbia county, son of Peter and Sarah Ent, who
had five sons, all of
served in the Union
army during the Civil war only one was sur-

whom

;

viving in 1887, Uzal H. Ent, of Bloomsburg.
Wellington H. Ent began his education in
the common schools, later attended at Will-

commenced reading law in
Bloomsburg. afterwards taking a law course
the University of Albany. N. Y., from
which institution he was graduated May 25,
i860, in the same class with Postmaster General Vilas. At that time Reuben A. Walworth
was president, and Ira Harris, Amasa J. Parker and Amos Dean instructors. Mr. Ent was
admitted to the bar of his native county in
September, i860, and on Dec. 5th received
the governor's appointment as notary public.
However, his personal interests were soon foriamsport. Pa., and

gotten for his country's need. In June, 1861,
he went to Harrisburg as first lieutenant of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
a volunteer company, and was there chosen
and commissioned captain of Company A, bth
Pennsylvania Reserves. His subsequent promotions for gallant services, worthy of special note, in

the three years of his

army

life

gained him considerable renown and were a
credit to the State.
After the battle of Antietam he was promoted to major, Sept. 21,
1862 after Fredericksburg to lieutenant colonel. May I, 1863, to rank from Alarch 26th;
after Gettysburg to colonel in July, 1863,
ranking from Alay 23d to brigadier general.
United States \.olunteers, March 13, 1865,
for gallant conduct at the battles of the Wilderness.
Spottsylvania Court House, and
Bethesda Church, Va., in which latter engagement he was wounded his favorite war horse,
;

;

"Uilly" (which died Sept. 15, 1884, at the age
of twenty-nine years, si.x months), had a portion of his fetlock shot off during the thickest
of the fight there, but received no other inAt this battle General Ent's regiment
jury.
was three times outflanked and compelled to
retreat, and on each occasion Billy's whinnying served as a signal to rally the men.
General Ent served in the 3d Brigade, McCall's Division,

Pennsylvania Reserves, Sept.
reconnoitered beyond Dranesville,
16, 1861
Va., Oct. 19-21, and took part in the battle
at Dranesville,. Dec. 20, 186 1. In 1862 he was
with the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, ist Corps,
Army of the Potomac, taking part in the ad;

vance on Manassas, March loth, advance on
Falmouth, May 2d, ordered to Peninsula, June
13th, with 3d Brigade, Seymour's Division,
5th

Corps, guarding supplies at Tunstall's
Va., and in the action near by at

Station,

On July 4th
Whitehouse, June i4th-29th.
he was transferred to the ist Brigade, 3d Division, 1st Corps, and ordered to reinforce
the Army of Virginia with that command in
August was in the engagements at Gainesville, Aug. 28th
Groveton, Aug. 29th Bull
Run, .-\ug. 30th South Mountain, Sept. 14th
Antietam, Sept. i6th-i7th; Fredericksburg
(where he was in command of the regiment),
Dec. iith-i5th. He was in Burnside's second
campaign, Jan. 20 and 24, 1863 with the 22d
Corps in defense of Washington, Feb. 7th to
June 25th, and with the ist Brigade, 3d Division, 5th Corps, June 28th.
He was at the
battle of Gettysburg, July 2d-4th Bristoe Station, Va., Oct. 14th; New Hope Church, Nov.
26th Mine Run, Nov. 26th-30th Wilderness,
May 5th-7th: Spottsylvania, May 8th-i2th:
was in command of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 5th .\rmy Corps, May 10, 1864; at
Spottsylvania Court House, May I2th-20th;
;

;

427

May 23d and 26th; North Anna
May 24th-27th and Bethesda Church,

Hanover,
river.

May

;

30th.

General Ent surveyed and laid out the first
"signal camp"' in the army (General Fisher,
of Philadelphia, being placed in command of
same), and himself served for a time in the
He was mustered out June 11,
signal corps.
1864. On June ist he had been appointed captain and brigade paymaster, ist Brigade, 9th
Division, \'. C. P., and on Sept. 28, 1864,
the governor appointed him to visit the Army
of the Potomac to receive the soldiers' votes
for the presidential election.
General Ent's experiences in the army were
not only those of arduous duty but dangerous
and thrilling. He had two horses shot under
him, and at Dranesville the heel of his boot
was shot off. During the battle of the Wilderness he was without food for three days and
four nights, except for the berries he gathered.
On Feb. 22, 1863, he wrote to Capt. C. H. Potter, Assistant Adjutant General, Hertzleman's
Corps, as follows: "Sir I have the honor
to represent that I have been in the Prince
Street Hospital, Alexandria, Va., since the
loth inst., most of the time dangerously ill,
and request that an order be issued allowing
me to be transferred to Washington City to
report to Dr. Clynsier for medical treatment.
Most respectfully your obedient servant.

—

Wellington H. Ent, Major Sixth Regiment,
P. R. N. C."
.-\fter his return from the army General
Ent continued to make his home in Columbia

county, being employed for some time in an
iron furnace at Light Street. In 1868 he was
nominated for surveyor general of Pennsylvania, but suft'ered the general fate of his
party that year. In 1869 he was elected prothonotary of Columbia county, and died Nov.
He
5, 1871, before the expiration of his term.
made an honorable record, and was one of the
most respected officials of the county.
He
was made a Knight Templar April 19, 1864,
and at a regular conclave of Crusade Commandery. No. 12, the following resolutions

were presented and unanimously adopted:
Where.\s, Providence has seen fit to remove by
from our .Asylum our late esteemed Sir
Knight Wellington H. Ent, and aUhough no word or
deed of ours can now avail our brother who has
been called to appear where the righteousness of
Jesus Christ alone can secure everlasting life, yet
in respect for the memory of one who was zealous
in the advancement of the interests of our order,
we do resolve
That in the humble submission of
God's will we deplore the loss of a worthy officer
of our commandery and a beloved member of our
death

order.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

428

Resolved, That in this dispensation of our
while we commit to His merciful hands
embodied spirit of our brother with hope
may have joined, in tlie precious blood
Savior, an entrance into the blessed regions

Creator,
the disthat he
of our
of light

and life eternal, yet we remember that as Knights
Templars we are again admonished that in the
midst of life we are in death, and that it is our
duty ever to persevere in the path of honor, truth

and

integrity.

Resolved, That to the family of the deceased we
tender our deep sympathy in their bereavement, and
may the God of the widow and the orphan give
them strength to bear up under the trials which

may

occasion.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be
presented to the widow, and another to the newspapers for publication. In testimony whereof we
tlieir loss

set our hands and seal of this commandery to be aflixed at Bloomsburg, Pa., this 22A
day of December, 1871.

have hereunto

Thomas

E. Geddis,

Rudolph H. Ringle,
John Thomas.
C. F. Kn.\pp, Recorder.

On
to

Jan. 14, 1869, General Ent was married
E. Petrikin, daughter of Dr. William

Mary

H. and Sarah

(Snyder)

Petrikin,

and

granddaugliter of Plon. Daniel Snyder. They
had one daughter, Anna M.
Ent Post. G. A. R., of Bloomsburg, was
named in honor of (ieneral Ent.

win),

Mary

JAMES TURNER

Greenwood township July 2, 1847. He is a
member of the famous Fox family of Pennsylvania, whose ancestor was of English ex-

traction.

George Fox, great-grandfather of Dr.
James T. Fox, emigrated from England to
America, settling in Shamokin township,
Northumberland Co., Pa., where he farmed
for a tiiTie, and later moving to Berks coimty.
He had six children Joseph, Matilda. Susan,
Rachel, Polly and Jacob.
Jacob Fox, grandfather of Dr. Fox, was
born in Berks county, where he learned the
At an early stage of
trade of stonemason.
his career he came to Catawissa, where he
:

obtained the contract to build a church. On
the completion of the contract he decided to
remain, and buying a farm entered upon agricultural life, plying the stonemason's trade in
the intervals between harvest and seedtime.
He died in 1851, his wife having preceded

fifteen years.
Mclntire, and to them

lows:

married Rachel M.

came children

William, Plannah

as fol-

(wife of Isaac Ir-

Jacob,

James

and

Shenandoah City, Schuylkill Co., Pa.
Jatnes Turner Fox and his brother John C.
were twins, and but one year old when their
father was taken by death.
The widowed
mother was compelled to face the world alone,
and bravely took up the task, and the result
of her work and training is to be seen in the
career of her son. When he was five years
old she moved to Hemlock township, remaining there two years, then going to Jerseytown
and later to Millville. Her boy attended the
public schools at Millville and Jerseytown, and
the Millville Academy.
On leaving school
he took up the study of dentistry, completed
the course required, and began practicing in
the summer and teaching school in the winter,
continuing thus until 1880. In 1886 he located
1878, at

Beaver township, where he practiced

moved

where he inade

FOX, D.D.S., president
of the First National Bank of Catawissa, exassociate justice of Columbia county, and a
proininent dentist of the borough, was born in

Price,

Daniel Fox, father of Dr. James T. Fox,
was a farmer and school teacher in Catawissa and Greenwood townships, where he
taught in the subscription and public schools
in the winter and farmed in the summer.
His
home was in Greenwood township, where he
(lied in 1849, still in the prime of manhood,
lie married Jane Morris, who died March 26,

profession,

him by

E.,

Daniel.

thence

his

Bloomsbtirg,

home

for three years, and
to Catawissa in 1893.
his

came
Opening an office on Main street, he soon
built up a large and lucrative practice, in 1898
taking his only son, John C, into partnership,
under the firm name of J. T. Fox & Son. In
])olitics Judge Fox has always been a loyal
finally

Democrat, supporting the principles of the
old and new leaders, and has served as a member of the Democratic Coutity committee.
While residing in Beaver township he was tax
collector, also school director, assessor and
auditor, and served as justice of the peace for
eight years. In 1886 he was elected a member
of the State Legislature, and again in 1S88,
during his two terms being a member of sevIn 1897 he was
eral important cominittees.
elected associate judge of Columbia county,
havitig for his colleagues President Judge
He
Ikeler and Associate Judge Millard.
served a full term of five years and in 1902

was

reelected, serving until 1907, in company
Judges Little and Evans, Kurtz and
Krickbaum. Altogether he was on the bench

with

for ten years.

Judge Fox was school director of Catawissa township for nine years, and during that
time held the office of treasurer of the board.
For many years he has been a director of the

COLUAIBIA AND
i'irst

MONTOUR COUNTIES

National Bank of Catawissa, served as

vice president two years, and upon the death
1910 of S. D. Kinard was elected president,

which he still holds. Judge Fox
of the Methodist Church at Catawissa, and belongs to the P. O. S. of A. and
the K. of P. He married June 10, 1871, Lydia
Ann Fisher, daughter of Jacob and Sarah
Mrs. Fox is a
Fisher, of Beaver township.
woman of refinement and good taste and devoted to her home and family. They are the
parents of six children: Minnie Elmerta, wife
a position
is

member

Bowman Cortright, has four children, Ruth,
.Martha, Lydia and John Cortright; Frances
.\dora is the wife of Charles E. Smith, clerk
for the county commissioners at Bloomsburg,
and has one child, Christina Sarah E., wife
of Charles M. Harder, postmaster of Cata(if

;

wissa, has one child, Catherine Mary Rachel
is at home; Elsie J. married James M. Rhawn,
son of W. H. Rhawn, a lawyer of Catawissa;
;

John Concer is mentioned below.
John C. Fox, D.D.S., son of Judge Fox and
partner with his father in the practice of dentistry at Catawissa, was born in Beaver township March 4, 1877, and educated in the public

He began the study
schools of the borough.
of dentistry under his father in 1894, entering
the Philadelphia Dental College, whence he
was graduated in 1898 with the degree of
D.D.S. Returning from college he became associated with his father in business.
He is
a young man of great promise, following
in
the
of
his
He
befather.
closely
footsteps
longs to the Reformed Church and to the
Knights of the Golden Eagle. On Dec. 26,
1900, he married Anna May Roberts, a native
of Catawissa township, and daughter of \Villiam Henry and Ellen (Roth) Roberts. They
have two children, Alarjorie Jean and John
Roberts.
John C. Fox, twin of James T. Fox, lives in
Hailey. Idaho, where he has a general merchandise and millinery business.

SOLOMON

S. SCHULTZ, M.D., late of
Danville, was a native of Berks county. Pa.,
born July 5, 1831, and died Sept. 27, 1891. He
was the youngest son of Jeremiah and Mary
S. Schultz, both of whom were natives of
Berks county.
The Doctor's first paternal ancestor in this
country was Rev. Christopher Schultz. his
great-grandfather, who landed in the New
\\'orld Sept. 22. 1734, then sixteen years old

and a fugitive from religious persecution in
Silesia.
Young as he was, he was a fine
scholar, and became subsequently an able theo-

logian, leader and organizer of
tainly there is not often found

429

men. Ceran instance

more completely verifying the phrase "born
to command."
He was the organizer and
leader of the religious body to which he belonged, the Schwenkfelders, in this country.
He wrote a catechism, a constitution, a large
compendium of their religious doctrines, and
made the collection for their hymn book used
by the fugitives. The theological works of
this divine and temporal leader are
yet, in
much of their entirety, incorporated in the
church formulas of his denomination.
His
son David was the Doctor's grandfather.
On the maternal side the first emigrant to
come to this country was George Schultz, the

great-great-great-grandfather, who came to
America in 1734, in the twenty-fourth year of
his
He was a brother of Rev.
age.

Christopher.
father of

Jeremiah Schultz,

Dr.

Schultz,

was born June 7, 1797, and died Feb. 3, 1874.
The mother was born Sept. 5, 1798, and died
Feb. 2, 1873. Their children were: Henry,
born June 16, 1821 Edward, born June 20,
1824; John, born Sept. 6, 1828, and Solomon
;

Schultz.

Solomon Schultz Schultz was reared and
educated in his native county until he was
fourteen years old, when he went to school
at

Washington Hall, IMontgomery county.
there he went to the academy in Allentown, Pa., which has since become Muhlenberg College, where he remained one year;

From

then studied a short time at Freeland

Sem-

.Montgomery county, after which he
entered Princeton College, New Jersey, where
inary,

he graduated in 1852. Following his graduation he taught school for a short time until
he began the study of medicine with Dr. Daniel D. Detwiler, of
Montgomery county. After
careful preparation he entered the University
of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1856.
Immediately upon leaving the university he
opened an office for the practice of medicine
in -Allentown, where he met with flattering
success.
But soon an opportunity offered for
him to pursue the natural bent of his mind,
and he accepted a position in the State Hospital for the Insane at Harrisburg, as assistant
He
physician, remaining there until 1861.
then made the tour of Europe, where he spent
one year studying the hospitals and public
institutions of Germany, England and France.
In the meantime war was raging in his native
land, and he hastened his return and entered
the army as acting assistant surgeon and as
assistant surgeon and surgeon of Pennsyl;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

430

\olunteers, and assistant surgeon and
surgeon of United States Volunteers, he rein the service to the close of the war.
He served with the 75th and 23d Pennsylvania

press of a pure, simple, honest and consistent
Christian life.
He loved the institution to
which he gave the best and busiest years of
his life.
He loved the work and responsible

Regiments, and as executive officer and surgeon in charge, successively, in general hospi-

though it was which devolved upon him as the
head of that institution, yet above all he loved
the Church of God and delighted to sit in
the Sanctuary where in the providence of God
he was led years ago to enroll his name as a

vaiiia

mained

tals at

Harrisburg, Pa., Covington, Ky., Madand Columbus, Ohio. Here he re-

ison, Ind.,

signed as superintendent of hospitals at the
close of the war in 1865. He then returned to
Harrisburg, and was in active practice frorn
1865 to 1868, when he was appointed by the
commissioners of the hospital to come to

Danville and take charge of the construction
and the superintendency of the Danville Hospital, and from the commencement of the
work on the building until his death he was
its efficient and able superintendent, to the
great advantage of the State in its vast expenditures here, and to the blessing of the
poor unfortunates who were dwellers in this
benevolent home.
That part of his professional career in which Dr. Schultz became
best noted commenced with his connection
with this office, and his history and that of the
institution, the conscientious care he gave to
all its wards, are practically one and the same.
His death was regarded as an irreparable loss.
Dv. Schultz married Sept. 23, 1872, Hannah
L. Magill, daughter of William H. and Mary
(Montgomery) Magill, and a granddaughter
of Gen. Daniel Montgomery.
Mrs. Magill
was born May 6, 1805, and died Jan. 7, 1882.
children
Edward
They had two
Magill, born
July 22, 1873, who is now engaged in the
brokerage business in Philadelphia and William Magill, M.D., born Feb. 15, 1878, now a
medical missionary in China.
Dr. Schultz was an honored member of the
Presbyterian Church, and the committee on
resolutions of the session passed the following
unanimously Oct. 23, 1891
"It is with sorrow we cannot express that
we record the death of Dr. S. S. Schultz on
Sept. 2-j, 1 89 1, who for many years was a
faithful and devoted member of this church
and for over eleven years a member of this
session, and because we knew him and loved
him and can attest to the interests of our
church we desire to place on record an expression of our appreciation of his worth as
a man, one of efficiency as a ruling elder. Dr.
Schultz was called by the State and entrusted
with arduous duties and high responsibility
which occupied his time and filled his heart,
yet ever was active in the work of the church,
and ready to respond to her every call of duty.
Upon all his official life he stamped the im:

;

He was intelligent, thoughtful,
ruling elder.
wise, kind, active, generous and devoted, and
in the council of the church we deeply feel
His vacant chair, his hushed voice,
absent form all sadden, but our hearts
are thankful that so precious a memory is
ours, and that for years past this church has
felt the power of his life, and for years to
come will look with love upon the beautiful
record of his devoted service.
"Therefore, Resolved, that this paper be
placed upon the records of this session and a
copy forwarded to the family of our devoted
brother, who are assured of our deep sympathy with them in this their bereavement.
his loss.
his

"H. M. Hinckley,
"Clerk."

JAMES LAWRENCE BRANNEN,

pres-

ident of the Farmers' National Bank, of Exchange, Montour county, is a native-born citizen of that place who has made a substantial
name for himself as one of the leaders in the
public life and financial affairs of his section.
He is at present associate judge, to which
honorable position he was elected in 191 1,
and he has many other evidences of the high
esteem in which he is held by his fellow citi-

Mr. Brannen was born at Exchange,
.\nthony township, July 21, 1855, and is of
Irish extraction. His grandparents, John and
Julia (McGuire) Brannen, lived and died in
zens.

Ireland.

James Brannen, father of James Lawrence
Brannen, was born in 1803 in County Meath,
Ireland, and lived in that country until eighteen years old.
He then came to America,
the passage from Liverpool to New York taking eight weeks and three days not an un-

—

usually long voyage in the days of sailing vessels.
\\'hen he landed he had but $7.50 in
money, and he had neither friends nor acc|uaintances to make his start in the New

World any

easier.
Coming directly to Pennsylvania, he found work on the canal at Nanticoke Falls, beginning with Barnum & Brown,
by whom he was employed one year. Thence
he went to Pottsville, Pa., where he became
employed on the Schuylkill railroad, then in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
course of construction. He was at Port Clinton when the engine used in the construction
of the road arrived there, hauled by six horses

from Philadelphia, and was put on to
the honor of

fire this

been

having
engine, thus having
the first fireman on the first engine used in
Pennsylvania. He was so employed for one
to work on the repairs
year, and then went
of the railroad as section boss on three miles
of road. He next bought a canalboat and was
for two years engaged in the coal carrying
trade from Port Clinton to Philadelphia, his
boat being hired out, and he himself employed
by the company. After two years he ran his
own boat for two years more, and then bought
another boat, and for twenty-one years he was

carrying trade with them on the canal,
being one of the first to take a boat to New
York. At one time he worked for Stephen GiAfter leaving the canal, Mr. Brannen
rard.
in the

Anthony township, Columbia county,
and bought 268 acres of land from the Glen
property, to which he added from time to
time until he owned four farms, comprising
about 700 acres, besides other property the
largest land holding farmer in his township.
In his later years his sons farmed his property
He was a highly reputed as well as
for him.
prosperous resident of Anthony township,
took considerable interest in the welfare of
the locality, and even held minor offices, serving as school director, overseer of the poor
Politically he
(eight years) and roadmaster.
was a Democrat. He was a remarkable man
settled in

—

physically as well as intellectually, living to
the age of nearly ninety, his death occurring
He is buried in St. James'
April 30, 1891.

Roman

Catholic

Cemetery, Exchange.

In 1834 Mr. Brannen married, at Port Carbon, Pa., Hanora Meehan, a native of County
Tipperary, Ireland, daughter of Patrick Meehan.
Mrs. Brannen died Oct. 4, 1S67, aged

and
James Catholic cemetery at
Exchange. She and her husband were both
devout Catholics, bringing their children up
in the same faith.
They had a family of
eight
Judith, deceased
Mary, deceased
forty-nine years, nine months, eight days,

was buried

in St.

;

John, deceased William,
deceased
Annie Hannah
and
James L.
Patrick Francis, deceased. James L. Brannen
and his sister Annie H. Dennin own all the
estate and have stocked the woods with pheasCatherine, deceased

;

and squirrels.
James Lawrence

ants

advantages
in

his

academy

llrannen

by the
afterward

ofi'ered

locality,
at Turbotville,

Pa.,

had the early
])ublic

schools
the

attending

and the State

Normal School

431

Bloomsburg, where he was

student for thirty-two weeks.
He then
taught school for two terms in Anthony townthat
with
another
ship, following
period of
a

study, at Binghamton, N. Y., where he attended the Lowell Business College, graduHe learned telegraphy
ating May 23, 1878.
there and took an all-around business course.

He lived at home on the farm until twentythree years old, in 1879 removing to Danville to take charge of the "Hudson River
Hotel" as proprietor.
He conducted that
house for four years, during which time his
active political career began with his appointment, in 1882, by Ciovernor Pattison, as
chairman of the Democratic county commitHe also
tee, which position he held one year.
served on the State committee one year. In
Mr.
Brannen
was
candidate
of
his
1883
party
for the office of county treasurer, receiving
every vote cast in the convention, and being
elected by a majority of '/']'/, he and Dr.
Simington receiving the greatest number of
votes at that election. Mr. Brannen held the
position for one term, giving the thorough
satisfaction for which he has been noted in
his discharge of all public duties intrusted to
Then he returned to Exchange, where
February, 1886, he reopened the hotel origIt
inally known as the "E.xchange Hotel."
was not afterward operated as a hotel until
Mr. Brannen took charge, and he carried it
on successfully for fourteen years.
For a
number of years Mr. Brannen has given his
attention principally to the aff'airs of the Farmers' National Bank, at Exchange, established
Oct. 19. 1906, of which he was an organizer,
and he has been president throughout the period of its existence.
Alfred H. Litchard is
him.
in

vice

president,

and James F.

Ellis

cashier.

The

directors in 1912 (report Oct. 14, 1912)
were: Marks Graham, D. R. Rishel, William
Brannen, William S. Ellis, James F. Ellis, R.
S. .\mmerman, J. N. Herr, VVilliam C. Houghton, James L. Brannen, A. H. Litchard and J.

The capital stock is
Harvey Litchard.
$25,000, and the liabilities and resources were
$102,620.43 ^t that time. The bank is established in its own building, a modern brick
structure 20x40 feet in dimensions.
'Mr. Brannen's high standing in the community is well deserved. He has a practical
knowledge of finance in its relation to local
conditions gained in wide experience.
He is
the owner of 850 acres of farm land. He is
still giving his services to his fellow citizens
in public work, having been elected associate
judge in 191 1. He was secretary to the county

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

432

judges. His religious connection is with St.
James Catholic Church, and socially he holds
membership in Aldora Grange, P. O. H., and
in the Woodmen of the World.
On March 25, 1879, Mr. Brannen was married, at Milton, Pa., to Hannah M. Smith, who
in Anthony township, Montour

was born

county, daughter of Jonas and Mary A. (Bitler) Smith, who subsequently moved to Hazelton, Barber Co., Kans.
They are now deceased.
Mr. Smith was a farmer and cattle
dealer.

CHARLES

C. EVANS, President Judge
of the Twenty-sixth Judicial district of Pennsylvania, is a native of Columbia county and

was born Jan.

10,

1858, in Briarcreek town-

The Evans

family is of Welsh extraction,
the great-grandfather coming to this country
from Wales in the latter part of the eighteenth

century and settling in Briarcreek township.
James Evans, the grandfather, a millwright by
occupation, was born in Columbia county in
17OQ.

built

ing.

Two

most of the gristmills

this

family.

still

Columbia and Luzerne counties, and on Aug.
1883, he opened an office in Berwick,
where for more than twenty years he enjoyed
a rather large and lucrative practice.
On March 30, 1906, Mr. Evans was appointed President Judge of the Twenty-sixth
Judicial district, and the succeeding fall was
elected for a term of ten years.
Known
23,

throughout the district as a careful, painstaking student and a tireless worker, conscientious in his decisions, which have been uniformly affirmed, and by thorough performance
of duty without fear and without favor, he has
won the merited confidence of the people.
On Feb. 23, 1888, Mr. Evans was married
to Annie Windle Sloan, youngest daughter of
Morris C. and Emily (Pursel) Sloan, of
Their children are
Morris
Bloomsburg.
Sloan Evans, a graduate of Lafayette College,
as a civil and mechanical engineer, now in the
employ of the American Car and Foundry
Company, in the mechanical department and
Charles Clarke, a student at Lafayette College.
Mr. Evans is a member of the Presbyterian

ship.

neighborhood, some of which are

in Briarcreek township, and in the fall of
1877
matriculated at Lafayette College, Easton,
from
which
institution
he
was
Pa.,
graduated
in June, 1881.
The next month he became a
law student in the office of Hon. Simon P.
Wolverton, of Sunbury, with whom he read
law, being admitted to practice in the courts
of Northumberland county July 14, 1883.
Subsequently he was admitted to the bar in

in the
stand-

children, Francis,
living, and
Anna, who died in her sixteenth year, were
born to him. His own death occurred in 1879.
The village of Evansville takes its name from
still

;

Francis Evans was born in Briarcreek township, July 13, 1828, and followed farming as
an occupation until 1885, when he retired, Church.
moving to Berwick, where he now makes his
home.
In 1852 he married Jane Lamon, a
P. PURSEL, the leading dry
daughter of James and Hannah ( Spear) goods and general merchant at Bloomsburg,
Lamon, both natives of Donegal, Ireland. The has attained his substantial position in the
business world through his own efforts and
following children were born to this union
Annie M., who married Henry Wiederhold, is an honored as well as successful citizen of
now residing at .A.tlantic City, N. J. Helen A., his town. He began in the old-fashioned way,
who married M. B. Kantz, now deceased; working for others until he had enough faCharles C. James L. LilHe B., who married miliarity with the business and knowledge of
Dr. James C. Bloomfield, now residing at local trade demands to qualify him to start
and Grace G., who married for himself. Though conservative in some
Athens, Ga.
Percival Currin, of Berwick.
respects, he has proved himself one of the
Mr. Evans is the senior elder of the Presby- most progressive men in Columbia county in
terian Church of Berwick, having served for the installation of up-to-date business methods,
more than half a century. He is associated not only accommodating his own patrons, but
with the financial interests of the town, having also establishing a standard for the others in
been a director of the First National Bank the same field in this section.
since its organization in 1854.
Mr. Pursel belongs to an old family of CoCharles C. Evans was reared on the farm lumbia county, being a descendant of Jonaand began his education in the public schools than Pursel. who lived in New Jersey before
of the home district. In 1874 he entered the settling in Pennsylvania, in the latter part of
Bloomsburg State Normal School, which he the eighteenth century. The Pursels are of
attended for two years.
In the winter of Scotch-Irish origin. Jonathan Pursel located
1876-77 he taught the Martzville public school in the Frosty valley, in what is now Hemlock

FRANK

;

C-i-^,

Til or N

FCl.iiD'V

IONS

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

433

township, Columbia county, on the farm afterwards owned by his grandson, James Depew
He cleared the land he took up, and
Pursel.
devoted the remainder of his active years to
its
improvement. His first wife, Nancy
Kitchen), was the mother of all his children.
He passed his closing years on the Depew
To quote from an earlier acPursel farm.
"The farm on which Sylvester
count (1887)
lives was owned by his maternal ancestor,
whose name was Green, and who later sold it

Isaac G. Pursel, born Sept. 8, 181 5, was the
grandfather of Frank P. Pursel. He followed
farming in Hemlock township, where he
passed his active years, spending the end of
his life in retirement at Buckhorn, Columbia
county, where he died Feb. 19, 1898, in his

to his son-in-law, Daniel Pursel. Shortly after
this he died, and the wife of Jonathan Pursel

Dennis.

(

dying about the same time also, the two old
people inarried, and lived on the Depew Pursel
farm."
Daniel Pursel, son of Jonathan, was born
Dec. 19, 1771, learned the trade of blacksmith,

and also engaged in farming.
Though he
started life a poor man, by industry and hard
work, and with the help of a capable and devoted wife, he prospered and succeeded in
accumulating a competence. From his father
he bought the farm where his son Sylvester
passed all his life, and in 1816 built the stone
house upon that place. He also acquired ownership of the farm now owned by his son

He was a man of high
Isaac G. Pursel.
character, a member of the Episcopal Church
at Bloomsburg, and one of the respected citiHis death occurred
zens of his community.
Daniel Pursel married Mary
Feb. 17, 1854.
Green, who was also from New Jersey, and
who survived him, dying during the Civil war,

year
aged ninety-one years, one month.
before, though ninety years old, she had knitted a large number of stockings and mittens
for the soldiers.
Daniel and Mary (Green)
Pursel are buried in the Rosemont cemetery
at Bloomsburg.
Of the twelve children born
to them one died in infancy, and the others
were born as follows
John, Jan. 22, 1793
(died at the home of his son in Montour
:

county when

ninety-three years old) Dennis,
1793 (died aged ninety-one years)
Jonathan, Dec. 20, 1795 (died in Canada)
Robert, May 9, 1799 (settled in Michigan and
attained very advanced age)
Daniel, Aug.
Hester,
5, 1 801 (died at an advanced age)
Samuel
Kahler
and died
Jan. 4, 1804 (married
in Lycoming county)
William, April 9, 1808
( lived in Montour county and reached a great
age) Ann, June 30, 1810 (married a Wertman, lived in Ohio and died when very old)
Maria, March 10, 1813 (married
.^bigai!
Frank Plartman. and died in Bloomsburg)
Isaac G., Sept. 8, 1815; Sylvester, Oct. 11,

Dec.

;

1818.

eighty-third year. His wife, Mary (Wilson),
died March 21, 1876, aged sixty years, four
months, eighteen days, and they are buried
at Bloomsburg.
Three children were born
to

them

Wellington

B.,

Thomas Wilson and

Wellington B. Pursel, son of Isaac G., was
born in Hemlock township, Columbia county,
Dec. 3, 1836, and died Nov. 15, 1864, in his

On March 24, 1859, he
Patterson, daughter of
James and Sarah (Eves) Patterson, and she
survives, making her home at Bloomsburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Pursel had two children, Frank
twenty-eighth year.
married Sarah E.

and Georgiana.
Frank P. Pursel was born Feb. 3, 1863, in
Hemlock township, Columbia county, and
P.

there obtained his early education at public
school.
Later he was a student for a time
in the State Normal School at Bloomsburg,
hut he was still very young when he commenced work as a clerk in the grocery store
of T. W. Conner at Bloomsburg. Afterwards

he was similarly employed by Mr. Hartman,
with whom he remained for a considerable
period, and then entered the establishment of
I. W. .McKelvy, one of the oldest merchants
in the town.
By faithful work and intelligent
attention to his duties he received promotion

head of the dry goods department, taking full charge of that end of the business.
He continued in AIcKelvy's employ for fourteen years, at the end of which time he and
Samuel H. Harman bought the business for
themselves, conducting it under the firm name
of Pursel & Harman. They were associated
for five years, until Mr. Pursel purchased Mr.
Harman's interest, and has since been doing
business alone. He has a fine three-story and
basement building, 46 by 112 feet in dimenMarket
sions, at the corner of Main and
streets, and an addition for warehouse purMr. Pursel carries a
poses 28 by 40 feet.
comprehensive and well assorted stock of dry
goods, shoes, furniture, crockery, groceries,
etc., and his patrons appreciate the excellent
service to be had in his establishment, where
their accommodation is always the foremost
consideration.
Mr. Pursel anticipated the
satisfaction which the introduction of many
of the new features would give to his customers, and the store is not only a credit to his

to the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

434

enterprise, but to the community whose support has made his endeavors worth while.
On Feb. 27, 1900, Mr. Pursel married Vida
Miller, daughter of C. W. and Cora (Eshleman ^liller, of Bloomsburg, and they have a
Elizabeth, Frank,
family of four children
Charles and Margerie. In religious connection 'Mr. Pursel is a Presbyterian, and socially
he holds membership in the B. P. O. Elks at
)

Bloomsburg.

DORANCE

R. RISHEL, of Ottawa, the
leading business man of northern Montour
has
county,
gained this creditable and substantial position through his own efforts and is
one of the influential citizens of his section.

He was

born March 4, 1875, '" Mahoning
township, near Danville, at what is known as
Frogtown, son of Peter Rishel.
The family is an old one in these parts.
Martin Rishel, great-great-grandfather of

Dorance R. Rishel, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and shortly after its close came
Mahoning township, in what is now Montour county, taking up about two hundred
acres of government land from which he
cleared the farm where he passed the remainder of his life. The farm is still owned
in the family (by J. C. Rishel, a son of George
to

W. Rishel), a deed for part of it being at
one time held by George W. Rishel, grandfather of Dorance R. Rishel.
Martin Rishel
was a farmer and most of his descendants
have followed the same vocation.
Solomon Rishel, son of Martin, was born in
1799 in Mahoning township, and married
Sarah Harpine, a native of Berks county.
Pa., whose father, David Harpine, was a
colonel in the Revolution.
George W. Rishel was born July 24, 1825,
within half a mile of the place in Mahoning
township where he made his home for so many
years, grew up on the farm, and received his
education in the subscription schools conducted
in the locality.
Then he began farming on
his own account, carrying on stock growing as
well as general agriculture, so successfully
that he acquired the ownership of two well
improved farms in Montour county, as well
as three houses and lots in the town of
Mechanicsville, near Danville. He died when
about eighty years old. at the old homestead

of Solomon Rishel, in Mahoning township.
He lived on his own farm almost to the end
of his days.
Mr. Rishel was not only enterprising in the management of his own affairs,
but took a leading part in local movements,
particularly church work, serving as class

steward, trustee and Sabbath school
superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which his wife was also an active
leader,

member. He was a Republican in his political
convictions.
In 1847 ^I""- Rishel married Susanna Cousart, daughter of Hugh Cousart, and of English and Irish origin, and they had children
as follows
Peter, mentioned below Sarah J.,
wife of Alfred Thompson, a farmer; James
C, a house plasterer, living on the old homestead in Mahoning township
William E. ;
Elizabeth A., wife of Michael L. Leighow, a
railroad man H. Clarence, farmer and dairyman George W., a farmer; Charles H.;
:

;

Arthur

Union county, Pa.; and Ella
deceased.
Peter Rishel, son of George W. Rishel, was
born at Mechanicsville, near Danville, and died
-April I, 1912, at Jerseytown, Columbia county.
He followed farming, in 1881 moving to Mausdale, where he was so engaged for several
years, at the end of that time settling in
F.,

\'irginia,

.\nthony township, where he remained six
Then he bought the home and a farm
at White Hall which he operated for nineteen
years, shortly before his death moving to JerHe married Margaret Roberts, a
seytown.
years.

native

Mahoning township, daughter

David Roberts, and she survives him, living
Jerseytown. Seven children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Rishel
William, who is on
the old home place; Dorance R.; Essie, wife
of James Wesley Campbell, of Danville; Roy,
of South Danville, an insurance man; John, a
merchant at Jerseytown, married to Nellie
Kraemer Joseph R., a coal and grain dealer at
Turbotville, Pa. and George, who lives with
his mother at Jerseytown (he married a Hartat

;

ranft).

Dorance R. Rishel obtained a good common
school education in the home neighborhood,
and soon after leaving school located at Ottawa
station,

Montour county, where he has proved

a highly successful business

man.

learned

telegraphy and in 1895 became station agent
and operator for the S. B. & B. Railway Co.,
also acting as express agent, for all of which
he received a salary of fifteen dollars a month,
out of which he had to pay board. He is still
station agent.
But he was thrifty and on the
alert for business opportunities, and about a
year after locating at the station he began
the handling of coal, hay and grain, as well
as various other farm products, buying and

In 1898 he bought the general merWilliam Gearhart, which
he has since continued, and in connection with
shipping.

cantile business of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
which he has the post office, having been postmaster since 1896, succeeding Mr. Gearhart.
Mr. Rishel has been continuously widening his
interests and taking advantage of good openings for trade and he has erected an elevator
with a capacity of 15,000 bushels, one of the
largest in the county, using timber from his
own land in its construction he has also a
modern coal dock, with a capacity of about
;

hundred tons. He is engaged in dealing
in farm implements, and is the owner of two
large farms, aggregating 250 acres in Limestone township. His numerous activities have
naturally made him concerned about the banking facilities in this section and he is now a
director of the Farmers' National Bank of
Exchange (organized in 1907), which he
helped to organize. He was also active in organizing the Turbotville Bank in 1910, and
the bank is in a prosis one of its directors
perous condition. Mr. Rishel is still a young
man, and the success he has achieved in the
twenty years of his active business career is
enough to show that there are still many opportunities for men of ambition and energy.
He has also been prominent in the administrafive

;

tion of local public atifairs, having served several terms as school director and for three

years as township treasurer. He was elected
on the Republican ticket.
On Nov. 22, 1897, Mr. Rishel married Jenny
Everitt, who was born May 10, 1877, a native
of Northumberland county. Pa., daughter of

Asa and Anna (Muffley)

Everitt,

and they

have one daughter, Ruth, born Nov. 22, 1898,
now attending Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport.
is known as one of the best
Pennsylvania, and he has some
which he is very proud. Three
times at State shooting tournaments he has
tied with competitors.
He has a large collection of birds and other game which he has
secured in his home vicinity, among them
a black bear which he himself killed.

Mr. Rishel

marksmen

fine trophies of

JA.MES LEE HAR]\L\N is one of the
men of Bloomsburg, being
president and general manager of Harman &
prominent business

Hassert (Inc.), with which concern he
been associated for twenty-five years.
father, Peter S. Harman, was one of
founders, and from the first it has been

has

His
the

one

of the leading industrial plants of the city.
The family is of German extraction, Jacob
Harman, the great-grandfather of James Lee
Harman. having been born in Alsace. Com-

ing to America in 1770 with his brother Con-

435

whom we

have no further record, he
landed at Philadelphia and thence proceeded
to Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., later moving
to Mit'fiin township, Columbia Co., Pa., where
he died ^lay 12, 1823. He served in the war
of the Revolution at various times, between
1777 and 1782, taking part in the battles of
His enlistBrandy wine and Germantown.
ments were from Northampton. By occupation he was a farmer and tanner. He married
Elizabeth, daughter of Conrad Lysingring, of
rad, of

White Hall township, Northampton county,
and had two sons, Samuel and George.
George Harman, grandfather of James Lee
Harman, was an early settler of Columbia
He was a native of Westmoreland
county.
county. Pa., born June I, 1793, and settled in
Miffiin township, Columbia county, in 1833,
afterward moving to Orangeville, where he
died Jan. 6. 1876. in his eighty-third year.
In early life he learned the trade of tanner,
and followed it for many years, and he passed
his later days in retirement, having acquired a

comfortable competence.
He married Mary
Knorr, and they had children, Peter S., Harry,
James, John, Jacob, Louisa, Maria, Sallie,
Rebecca and Phoebe.
Peter S. Harman was born June 5, 1831,
in MifHin township, Columbia county.
When
but thirteen years old he commenced his apprenticeship to the trade of molder, serving
with Louis H. Maus, of Bloomsburg, and
after completing his term traveled through the
Then he
West, working as journeyman.
worked three years in Philadelphia, and in
1 861
began business on his own account in
Mahanoy City, Pa., opening a foundry and
machine shop which he operated for three

Removing to Bloomsburg at the end
years.
of that time he entered into partnership with
Benjamin F. Sharpless, and they continued
in business together for four years under the
name of Sharpless & Harman, conducting a
foundry and machine shop. Two years after
the close of this association Mr. Harman
joined George Hassert. and they established,
in 1875, the car building and machine business
still carried on under the name of Harman
& Hassert, now an incorporated concern, purchasing a tract of land formerly known as the
Barton farm, upon which they erected a building 50 by 60 feet and began the manufacture
of the Eclipse cooking stove and heater, and
the ]\Iontrose plow.
They also did custom
work, and by 1879 their patronage was

in-

creasing so rapidly that they were obliged to
add to their facilities to enlarge the capacity,
buying more land and putting up a large addi-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

436

employing from

tion in 1880. They were then
At
twenty to thirty hands.

that time they
of mining cars and

added the manufacture
castings to the old lines, turned out all kinds
of machinery for opening and operating
mines, and established a complete repair

shop, repairing threshing machines, etc. The
foundry has a frontage of 300 feet on the
south end of East street, near the Delaware &
railroad, and is 300 feet deep.
are employed regularly, and a large
work is turned out, the methods of

Lackawanna
Sixty

men

amount

production and product being kept strictly upMr. Harman and Mr. Hassert both
to-date.
being practical mechanics as well as good managers, the business has always had the benefit of experienced and skillful supervision, and
all the work has been up to the highest standMr. Harman continued his connection
ards.
with the foundry until his death, which oc-

curred Oct. 15, 1899. After his wife's death
a few years later the business was incorporated
as Harman & Hassert (Inc.), and their son
James Lee Harman, who had been associated
with his father from 1888, became president

and general manager, which
since sustained.

The

plant

relations he has
is

the largest of

kind in Bloomsburg.
Mr. Harman was a self-made man, and
was as enterprising and progressive in every
respect as he was in the promotion of his own
interests.
He was always concerned for the
welfare of the town and the general good, and
gave practical proof of his spirit when the
elevator works failed, being one of the first
to invest money to start same running again.
Employment was then given to a large number
of men and business interests were materially
its

served four years as president
of the borough council of Bloomsburg, and
three years as councilman. He was originally
a Whig in politics and a Republican from the
formation of the party, and in religious connection a member of the Episcopal Church.
Fraternallv he was a Mason, belonging to
Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., of
which he was a past master he was a past
high priest of Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218,
R. A. M. past T. I. G. master of Mount
Moriah Council, No. 10, R. & S. M. past
eminent commander of Crusade Commandery,
No. 12, K. T. and V. (i. treasurer of Zerubbabel Council, P. of J., sixteenth degree.
benefited.

;

On June 29, 1856, Mr. Harman married
Rebecca Freeze, daughter of James and
Frances (Gosse) Freeze, the former one of
the early millers of Bloomsburg. To this marriage were born nine children, two of whom

died young, Frank Freeze when five years old
and Howard Feton at the age of three, the
others being Grace, the wife of Daniel Butler;
Fanny, wife of William E. Hartman Jennie,
who wedded Amos H. Stroh James Lee;
Mary John G. F., former district attorney
of Columbia cotmty; and Paul Zahner, who
was educated at the Bloomsburg State normal
The family home was on Iron street,
school.
Mr. Harman having bought a lot of John Pen:

;

man on which he

built a handsome residence.
The mother of this family died July 5, 1902.
Harman
Lee
was born at Bloomsburg
James

April 23, 1867, and there received his early
education in the public schools. Subsequently
he studied four years at the Bloomsburg State
Normal school. Having decided to enter his
father's field of work, the molder's trade, he
served a regular apprenticeship. He then took
a course in business college at Scranton, Pa.,
graduating in 1888, after which he entered the
office of Harman & Hassert's establishment,
He continued to be
becoming bookkeeper.
associated with his father in business tmtil
the latter's death, since when he has had charge
of same as president and general manager.
He is one of the most successful business men
in Bloomsburg, where his keen intelligence
and strong qualities are much appreciated.
Mr. Flarman is the owner of a farm convenient
to Bloomsburg and spends much time in the
scientific cultivation of that property, in which

work he finds pleasant recreation. He is a
high Mason, belonging to Washington Lodge,
No. 265, F. & A. M., of which he is a past
master to Bloomsburg Royal Arch Chapter,
No. 218: Mount Moriah Council, No. 10, R.
& S. M. (of which he was T. I. G. M.) Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T.
Enoch
Grand Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth degree,
Scottish Rite (of which he was T. P. G. M.)
Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S. (thirty-second
degree), of which he has been grand treasurer; Oriental Conclave, No. 2, of which he
has been treasurer; the Craftsman Club of
Bloomsburg; and Lu Lu Temple, A. A. O. N.
:

;

M. S., of Philadelphia. He takes a prominent
part in the activities of these bodies. In church
connection he is a true Episcopalian.
On May 28, 1895, Mr. Harman married
Jessie Kimble, daughter of Smith W. and
Sarah (Howell) Kimble.

MILTON J. HESS. D. D. S., was for over
twenty years a successful dental practitioner at
Bloomsburg, but is now giving all his time to
business, principally lumber interests and the
management of

the

estate

his

brother,

COLUAIBIA AND
He was

Harvey W. Hess.

born July

MONTOUR COUNTIES

1862,

at Mifflinville, Columbia county, and is a
of the late Aaron
Hess, of that place.

son

Dr. Hess is a descendant of a family of
Swiss origin founded in this country by
Samuel Hess, who came to America with a
colony of his countrymen in 1712. He settled
at what is now Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

Jeremiah Hess, great-grandfather of Dr.
•Milton J., brought his family to this section
from one of the lower counties of Pennsyl-

Beach Haven, Luzerne
vania, settled at
county, and followed farming and the trade of
stonemason. He died there and is buried in
His children
the graveyard at Wapwallopen.
were: John, Abraham, Jacob, William, Jeremiah, and several daughters.
Jeremiah Hess, grandfather of Dr. Milton
J., was born at Easton, Northampton Co., Pa.,
and was a boy when he moved with his parents
settling in Salem township.
learned milling, and followed it for eight
or nine years, acquiring a mill property at
Wapwallopen. This he traded for a farm in

Luzerne county,

Salem township and

later

bought another tract

there, part of which he sold, upon which he
continued to live the remainder of his life.

farm was owned
by his son John.
Jeremiah Hess followed
farming, and although he lived retired from
active work the last twenty or twenty-five

the time of his death this

years of his life continued to oversee the cultivation of his land.
He died there in 1877,
when eighty-si.x years old, and is buried at

Beach Haven, as is also his wife Mary. They
were members of the Reformed Church, in
which he took an active interest.
He was
twice married, the

first

time to

Mary

Fenster-

macher, daughter of Philip Fenstermacher.
She was a native of Luzerne county, and
died on the farm in 1857, at the age of sixtytwo.
About two years later Mr. Hess married a widow, Mrs. Ruckle, who died shortly
after him. Thirteen children were born to the
first union, of whom ten reached
maturity,
viz.: Philip; Susan, wife of John Fenstermacher John Mary, who married Thomas
Brader; Jeremiah M., who married Maria
Pohe; Nathan; Aaron W., father of Dr. Milton J. Hess, of Bloomsburg Elizabeth, wife
of Charles Hill; Reuben, the only one of the
;

;

family
ried

now

Reuben

and died

living and Catherine, who marHill (deceased, cousin of Charles)
;

Dixon,

Illinois.

Aaron W. Hess was born Nov.
Luzerne county, Pa.

worked with

his

He made

parents

30, 1827, in
his home and

tmtil

the

age of

437

twenty-one, and from that time until twentyfive worked at home in the winter and boated
in the summer on the canal from Wilkes-Barre
to Baltimore and Philadelphia. He had a boat
built, of which he was the owner, and with
which he was engaged during the time mentioned in the lumber and coal carrying busi-

ness.
He married, Jan. 2, 1855, in Beaver
township, Columbia county, Esther Bittenbender, a native of Luzerne county, daughter
of Jacob and Catherine (Nuss) Bittenbender,
the former of whom is buried near Shamokin
and her mother at Nescopeck, Luzerne county.
I'or the first two years of their marriage Mr.
less and his wife lived on his father's farm
I

Luzerne county. The year after his marriage he discontinued work on the canal and
sold his boat.
On removing from Luzerne
county he located in Mifflin township, Columbia county, where he had purchased a farm
of 113 acres. There he lived for eight years,
in

and then removed

to Mainville

and took charge

of the hotel afterwards conducted by Mr. Longenberger, which he had also purchased. The
ne.xt s])ring, 1867. he sold both the farm and
hotel and moved to Mifflinville, where he
bought the hotel property which he owned and

conducted

until

1888,

when he

retired.

Mr.

Hess owned

thirty-five acres outside the corporation, besides ten or twelve acres in lots
and residence pro])erty in Mifflinville, and a

house and lot in Mountain Grove. In politics
he was a Democrat, and he served as overseer of the poor for two years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Aaron W. Hess were born

whom died in infancy
the wife of A. W. Snyder, a

six children,

two of

Clara Adora

;

prosperous general merchant at Mifflinville
Harvey W. is mentioned below Milton J. is
mentioned below and George W., who learned
the jewelry business at Hazleton, is in Bloomsburg he married Victoria Brown, daughter
of William Brown, and sister of J. C. Brown,
;

;

(

known postmaster at Bloomsburg).
The mother of this family died in 1903. She
was a member of the Lutheran Church, to
which some of the family belong. The father
died March I, 191 1, and is buried at Mifflinville.
He was one of the most enterprising
men of the locality and prominent in business
the well

afi'airs

for years.

Milton

Hess obtained

his preliminary edu-

cation in Mifflinville, later attending

Wyoming

Seminary, at Kingston, Pa., where he took
both the academic and business courses. For
some time thereafter he was employed at home,
with his father, and then he clerked in a general store at Hazleton for one year.
For a

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

438

time he studied dentistry with Dr. Ervin, of
Catawissa, and then entered the Philadelphia
Dental College, from which he was graduated
1 888.
He at once started practice in
in
Eloomsburg, where he followed his profession

until 1909, establishing a large patronage.
belongs to the Susquehanna Dental Associa-

to the Pennsylvania State Dental AsSince the death of his brother
he
has abandoned practice to devote
Harvey
all his time to the brother's estate and his own
business interests, the demands of which have
been increasing steadily of late years. He is
the owner of two valuable farms, one of 220
acres, the other of 140 acres, which he has
tion

and

sociation.

stocked, and gives his personal management
to their operation. One of the farms is the old
Since the death of his
Appleman place.
brother he has been a director of the Bloomsburg National Bank, taking the latter"s place
on the board. On June i, 1912, he was appointed a trustee of the Bloomsburg State
Normal School, succeeding R. E. Hartman.
He is also a trustee of the Methodist Church
of Bloomsburg, in whose work he takes an
active part, and socially he is a Mason, holding
in \Vashington Lodge, No. 265,
A. M., Caldwell Consistory, and Irem
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre.
On Aug. 18, 1887, Dr. Hess was married
to Minnie A. Winterstine, daughter of Joseph
O. and Lydia (Wolf) Winterstine, and they

membership
F.

Miriam
are the parents of three children
local high school and in
State
Normal
from
the
1
Bloomsburg
191
School: Helen graduated from the same institutions, finishing her course at the Normal
in 1910; Esther also graduated from the high
school and Bloomsburg State Normal School,
The daughters are all engaged
class of 1912.
in teaching school, Miriam and Helen in the
:

graduated from the

(N. J.) schools, and Esther in
Bloomsburg. The family home is on Fifth
street, Bloomsburg.
H.VRVEY Wilbur Hess, late of Mifflinville,
was one of the well known business men of
central Pennsylvania. He was born at Mifflin-

Hoboken

April 28, i860, and received a common
school education at that place. When a young

ville

man he went to Hazleton, Pa., where he
learned the jeweler's trade with Stephen Engle.
His intelligence and aptitude soon obtained
for him the position of salesman and advertiser
Some time
for a patent engraving machine.
later he became manager of the oil plant of
T. C. Bright & Co., shippers and dealers in
oil, continuing in this position until the firm
merged with one of the large combinations.

Then he engaged in the lumber business, in
which he was particularly successful, having
large mills in Columbia and surrounding
counties.
He was both a manufacturer and
dealer on a large scale, handling railroad and
mining supplies, and also acquired extensive
interests in other lines.
He was one of the
organizers of the Bloomsburg National Bank
and was a member of its first board of direccontinuing to serve as such until his
He also held stock in other banks in
At one time he owned one of the
farms in this part of the State,
a tract of about two hundred acres lying near
Mifflinville, part of the farm of his father-intors,

death.

this locality.
finest stock

law, William Keller, selling this property to
a Wilkes-Barre company. Though still in his
prime at the time of his death, which occurred
in October, 1909, Mr. Hess had accumulated
a very large estate, which is now managed by
his brother, Dr. M. J. Hess.

Mr. Hess married Carrie E. Keller, daughof William and Margaret (Bowman)
Keller, and two children were born to this
union, both of whom died young.
Mr. Hess
was buried at Mifflinville, where his widow
continues to make her home. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.
ter

RILEY L. KLINE, one of the most representative men of Berwick, Columbia county,
and a power in the Bower Memorial Church,
was born Feb.
Columbia Co.,

17,

Pa.,

1861, near Mordansville,

on a farm owned by

his

grandfather, Phillip Kline.
William W. Kline, father of Riley L. Kline,
was born Sept. 4, 1831, near Hornellsville,
Steuben Co., N. Y., a son of Phillip and
Kline.
(Dildine)
Charity
Kline,
Phillip
grandfather of Riley L. Kline, was born in

Greenwood township, Columbia
there

received a

common

Co., Pa.,

school

and

education.

Soon after his marriage to Charity Dildine,
who was born in August, 1808, at Orangeville,
Columbia Co., Pa., he moved to New York
State and engaged in general farming.
He
cleared a farm out of the forest in Steuben
county and could relate many experiences with
the tribe of Indians in that part of the State.
life he moved back to MordansColumbia county, where he lived until
his death, which occurred in 1880. He and his
wife had the following children: James was
accidentally killed in a collision on the road
while returning from a campmeeting, and he
is buried in Greenwood
cemetery in Greenwood township William W. married Phoebe
E.
Reichard
Margaret married William

Later on in

ville,

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Karchner, and has the following children,
Boyd, Elmer, Alveretta and Riley
Lloyd Paxton Kline married Theressa Kester,
who died having no children, and he later married Alveretta Kester, by whom he had the
following children, Oram, Floyd and Ivan
(they are now living at Woodbury, N. J.). In
politics Phillip Kline was a Republican, but
he never aspired to public preferment, devoting himself to his private affairs rather than
those of his community, although he at all
times took a creditable interest in those movements which tended towards the betterment of
existing conditions or the general moral upLloyd,

;

lift.

William

Kline, one of the children of

was also a- farmer by occupaHe spent some of his active years near
tion.
Buck Horn, in Hemlock township, Columbia
county, where he owned a farm of one
hundred acres on which he carried on general farming. By experimenting he found that
fruit growing was profitable, and devoted considerable attention thereto, becoming enthusiastic upon apple and peach culture.
His
death occurred, after a long and useful life,
June 14, 1910. His wife, Phoebe E. Donohoy,
was born March 9, 1839, and lived prior to her
marriage in Madison township, Columbia
Co., Pa. When two weeks old she was adopted
by the family of John Reichard. The name is
sometimes spelled Donohue.
Two of her
brothers were among the first engineers on the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad
during the early sixties, and ran between
Northumberland and Scranton, through Columbia county, on the Bloomsburg division.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. William W.
Kline were as follows
Lydia C, born Sept.
13, 1863, married Charles W. Nuss, and they
have
the
children,
following
Raymond,
Howard, Floyd, Earl, Charles, Glenn and
Phillip Kline,

Hazel; Ida M., born July 12, 1865, married
Willits B. Kester, and has two children, Veda
and Zoe; Nora B. was born Dec. 26, 1873;
Riley L. is mentioned below. In political faith

Kline was a Republican, but like
he never aspired to public honors.
Methodist Episcopal Church held his

William

his father

The
membership and received his faithful support.
Riley L. Kline was educated at the Christian schoolhouse in Madison township until the
family moved to Hemlock township, when he
attended the Leidy school. With the removal
of the Klines to the vicinity of Buck Horn he
was given the advantages of attendance at

Buck Horn high
therefrom.

school,

April

and was graduated
1880, he

moved

439

Berwick, and began working for the Jackson

& Woodin

Manufacturing Company in the
car shop, under Abram Cortright, foreman, and Charles H. Zehnder, general superintendent.
After four years at Berwick Mr.
Kline's parents moved back to the farm, but
he continued in Berwick for a year. He then
joined them on the family farm, and taking
a teacher's preparatory course at the Bloomsburg Normal School fitted himself for teaching, and in 1886 taught the McMahan's school,
near Shafl:er's bridge, just outside Bloomsburg,
for one term. Going back to Berwick, he reentered the employ of his old company as
cellar clerk in their general store and was

wood

owing to his efficiency and
becoming head of the hardware
department, and also head of other departments.
With the formation of the Berwick
Store Company he was put at the head of
the credit department, which responsible office
he still retains, having held it since 1898. For
twelve years he has been one of the directors
of this company.
Riley L. Kline was married Sept. 8, 1887, to
Alice Walton, who was born in Salem township, Luzerne Co., Pa., a daughter of Morris
and Caroline Walton. Mr. and Mrs. Kline
have had the following family: Harry R., born
June 14, 1888, at Berwick, was married on
Feb. 28, 1912, to Margaret Brobst, and they
have a daughter, Ruth Beulah G. was born
Oct. 3, 1890, at Berwick; Ruth G. was born
June 21, 1893, at Berwick; Russell W., born
Dec. 25, 1897, died Oct. 2, 191 1, and was
buried m Pine Grove cemetery.
Politically
Mr. Kline has usually voted with the Prohibition party in national and State affairs, but is
an independent voter when he knows the charrapidly promoted,
faithfulness,

;

acter of the candidate. He is conscientious in
his conviction that the licensed
liquor traffic
is the great
problem before the people to-day,
and that many other troublesome questions of
State will begin to adjust themselves when

once

this "offspring of hell" is
wiped off'
the American map.
So no candidate, either
national or municipal, need hope to receive his
vote or support unless he stands against the
open saloon. Mr. Kline has not confined himself to this phase of good work
only, for he has
given his services to the Young Men's Christian Association both as a member and an
officer, having been a director of the organization at Berwick for twenty-six years
this
branch was but two years old when he associated himself with it. The Bower Memorial
Church, of Berwick, has received both material
and spiritual aid from Mr. Kline which has
;

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

440

assisted it most ettectually, for he is Sunday
school superintendent, trustee and member of
man of strong convicthe official board.

dresses on important occasions, and his grasp
of difficult questions of law put into his hands
much of the legal business of the county.

tions, he is never backward in living up to or
expressing his sentiments, and his influence
for good cannot be easily overestimated.

In 1882 Mr. Scarlet was elected district attorney for Montour county, serving until the
end of the term. In 1885 he was nominated

on the Republican

JAMES SCARLET,

a prominent attorney
of Montour county, was born in Elizabeth,
N. J., Dec. 31, 1848, and is a son of George
and Alary Scarlet, the mother of Scotch-Irish
ancestry. His father was a sea captain and of
English birth. James was the eldest of three
sons, and was taken under the care of W. W.
Pineo at the age of twelve. Air. Pineo brought
him to Danville, where the boy worked on the
He then was
Pineo farm for three years.
apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, at which
a
comfortable
and
earned
he became e.xpert
It was while he was thus
living in the town.
engaged, working at the trade, that Miss
Mary Grier, daughter of M. C. Grier, who was
always interested in capable and ambitious
young men, took a deep interest in young
Scarlet and drew out many of the latent talents
that he developed in later life.
The results of his labor with his hands
were insufficient to gratify the ambition of
the young man, whose active brain sought a
more extensive field for the ability of which
even at that early day he had given evidence.
Together with Judge H. M. Hinckley, of Danville
Judge C. R. Savidge, of Sunbury; and
Rev. John D. Cook, of Renovo. then youths
in the town of Danville, Mr. Scarlet took up
;

an e.xtcnsive course of study, with a view to
entering college. With steadfast attention and
perseverance they studied by night, after the
toil of the day had ended, reciting their lessons before J. M. Kelso, then professor of
the Danville Institute. Together they passed
entered
the
examinations and
necessary
Princeton L'niversity in the fall of 1870,

graduating from that institution

the class

of 1874.

James

.Scarlet

once began

Thomas

read law

Galbraith, Esq., and
in 1877 was admitted to practice before the
of
Montour
He
bar
was admitted to
county.
the Supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1885,
and to the Supreme court of the L'nited States
He practiced in Danville for
at a later date.
the most part, taking his chances with the
companions of his class in the legal profession, often pitted against them, and finally his
evident merits forced him to the front in the
His remarkable gift of oratory
profession.
caused him to be often called upon for adin the office of

ticket for the State Legis-

lature, but defeated, the

county being strongly
also a candidate on the
judge of the Twenty-sixth district, against Robert R. Little, but was defeated by a small majority. He was selected
as attorney for the committee which investigated the Capitol graft case in igio-ii, and
later was appointed attorney for the
prosecution of the grafters. He was also given charge,

He was

Democratic.

same

ticket for

which the difby the United
of these cases he

at diiferent periods, of cases in
ferent trusts were prosecuted

States government.
In all
gained honor and renown.

Mr. Scarlet was

elected as delegate from
Republican National conwhich
nominated William
1908,
H. Taft to the presidency, and there he seconded the nomination of Philander C. Knox
this district to the

vention

for that high position, though without avail.
In 1883 James Scarlet was united in marriage to Lizzie G. Lyon, the daughter of

and they have one
home.
Mr. Scarlet a keen lawyer, an
and a successful business man,

Moyer Lyon, of Danville,
son, Jaines, Jr., residing at
Not only

able politician
but 'he is a fine conversationalist, well read,
and keeping up a keen interest in all questions of local and national character.
He has
a fine library in his home, which is one of
the oldest houses in Danville, being the first
dwelling built of brick there, and he has fitted
up the interior with furnishings entirely in
harmony with the character and tastes of the
occupants. His collection of engravings and
pictures is one of the best in Danville, and
the genial glow of the lights from this home
are bright spots in the eyes of passers along
the main business street of the town.

Mr. Scarlet takes delight in outdoor life
and is a keen fisherman and hunter. He seldom goes upon an expedition without returning laden with trophies, and to be his partner
in a

his

hunting trip

many

a favor

much sought

friends.

James Scarlet

man

of brilliant

intellect,

with a warm, sympathetic heart, readv to divide his last dollar with sufl^ering humanity
an opponent who always commands respect
at the bar, but one
ah^ays ready, when the
contest is over, to forget the blows given and
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
He

received and to live again in peace with his

in the office of

opponents.

what was then known as the
Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania
uated

Mr. Scarlet is not a member of any soHe and his family are attendants of
cieties.
the Mahoning Presbyterian Church at Danville.

RUTTER,

Jr.,

formerly editor

of the Scmi-Jl'eekly Democratic Sentinel
of the Daily Sentinel, of Bloomsburg,

and
and

now propresident of the Sentinel Printery,
is a busiprietor of Putter's Printing House,
ness and newspaper man of Columbia county
whose activities have been productive of uncommon good in his community. He is enterin the conduct of his own affairs, as the
prising
prosperity of
and a citizen
the

his

various interests

indicate,

whose usefulness in promoting
general welfare has placed him among the

most valued residents of his borough.
The Rutters are of English origin, Joshua
Rutter, great-grandfather of John C. Rutter,
been a native of England. Coming
Jr., having
to this country with his brother Thomas (who
became a merchant at Baltimore around 1790
or earlier), he located on a farm near the city
of Baltimore. He was married probably near
Baltimore, and his wife, Elizabeth, was a
native of Sweden.
They reared a family of
four children, two sons and two daughters,

Thomas, Margery and Mary.
Rutter, son of Joshua and Elizabeth, was born about 1792, on the homestead
farm, and died in 1848, near Chester, Dela-

John,

Thomas

ware Co., Pa., at the age of fifty-six years.
By occupation he was a farmer. He married
Sarah Baker, daughter of John and Lydia
(Marks) Baker, the former of whom was a
plasterer, and
at Brandywine

followed that trade

all

his life

Hundred, Newcastle Co., Del.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rutter
were John C. Elizabeth, who married Daniel
:

;

Crowther (he died first) ]\Iargery, Mrs. Holt
(he died first) Mary, Mrs. Taylor; William,
;

;

died young Joshua, who was interested
and Thomas,
cotton works in Delaware
who died in youth. The mother lived to advanced age, dying at Chester, Pa., when aged
eighty-seven years.
John C. Rutter, son of Thomas, was born
Dec. 12, 1826, near Wilmington, Del., and re-

who

;

mained

home

until fourteen years old.

to public school meanwhile.
live with his grandmother at

there

contmuing

going

Then he went

Newcastle, Del.,

to attend school until

he was

then found employment as a
clerk in \\'ilmington, and there began reading
medicine when about twenty-one years old.
seventeen.

Dr. Caleb Harlan.

grad-

(now Hahnemann College, Philadelphia),
March 3, 1855, ^^^ the following May located
for practice at Bloomsburg, where he made
his

JOHN

441

age

permanent home, acquiring a large patron—
the largest up to that time ever held by

there. His professional and personal popularity continued throughout a long
and busy career. He is still living at Bloomsburg. He was the first homeopath to engage
in practice in Columbia county, and the only
one for twenty-five years.
With unusual
facilities for observation of the needs of the
he
formed
well
people,
grounded opinions on
the judicious methods of administering afl:'airs
atiecting the general welfare, and supported
and encouraged all sound measures for improving conditions. He was an advocate of
temperance, and in politics associated with the

any physician

Democratic party.
as a

member

For many years he served
the board of pension

ex-

aminers.

On Aug. 26, 1848, Dr. Rutter married Jane
Clayton, of his native place, daughter of John
and Ann (Perkins) Clayton, the latter of
whom died in 1857 ''' Delaware. Mr. Clayton
remarried, and moved to Monroe county, Pa.,
where he died in 1875, near Stroudsburg, aged
about seventy years. He was a carpenter and
followed his trade in Brandywine Hundred
and \\'ilmington, Del. Eight children were
born to Dr. and Mrs. Rutter: Lamartine married Lydia Rodemoyer (both now deceased)
and settled near Bellefonte, Pa.
Henry
Harlan, at one time editor and proprietor of
the Hughesville, Pa., Mail, and later of the
;

in Lycoming county, and
of the State Legislature in 1894-95,
married Eva Cloud; Everett Webster is a
physician, located at Freeland, in Luzerne
county. Pa.; Mary Ellen is the widow of Dr.
D. W. Conner, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Adah
Louisa is the widow of Newton W. Barton
Margaret remained at home; Rachel M., deceased, was the wife of Dr. C. B. Frantz John
Croghan is mentioned below. The family attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Blooms-

Muncy Democrat,
member

;

burg.

John C. Rutter, Jr., was born at Bloomsburg, July 2, 1862, and received his education
there, attending public school and later the
State normal school.
When seventeen years
old he became an apprentice in the Columbian
Printing House, at Bloomsburg, and served

Then he went to Freeland,
his full time.
Luzerne county, where he clerked in a drusr

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

442

store for nearly a year, after which he secured
employment as a compositor on the Wilkes-

Several months later he
formed a partnership with A. S. Hottenstine,
with whom he published the Economist, a
weekly newspaper, at Milton, Pa., for about
one year. Thence he returned to Bloomsburg,
in 1886 taking a positior? as compositor on the
Democratic Sentinel, of which he became man-

Barre

Record.

ager shortly afterward, holding that position
for thirteen years.

Meantime the Bloomsburg

Daily was started, under his management also.
He retired from his connection with these
papers in 1899, in which year he was elected
register and recorder of Columbia county, an
office he continued to fill for six years.
During this period, on Jan. i, 1904, he purchased
the Democratic Sentinel and Bloomsburg
Daily, changed the weekly to a semi-weekly,
and carried on the establishment successfully
for two years and five months, selling out at
the end of that time.
Soon afterward, in
August, 1906, he founded Rutter's Printing
House, an up-to-date job plant, the ownership
of w-hich he has retained ever since. In July,
1909, he was made president of the Sentinel
Printery and editor of the Semi-JVcekly Democratic Sentinel and the Daily Sentinel, and he
carried on the papers successfully until March,
1914, when he retired from newspaper work.
His influence as editor was used conscientiously for the furtherance of many worthy
projects for the advancement of conditions in
this section, and Mr. Rutter is highly respected
for the high standards he has upheld and the
courageous position he has taken on all vital
questions. He was one of the directors of the
Bloomsburg school district for a period of
nine years, and has been a notary public for
the last twenty-three years.
On Feb. 17, 1887, Mr. Rutter married

HarNeal McKelvy, daughter of Dr. J. B.
and
are
the
of
six
McKelvy,
they
parents
sons J. B., who is a lieutenant in the United
States navy, married Sept. 2, 1914, Irma Mcriet

Closkey, of New York City; R. C, a civil engineer, is now in San Diego, Cal. J. Clayton
is a student at Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y.,
preparing for the ministry George M. has
been appointed as midshipman at the Naval
;

;

at Annapolis, Md.
liam are attending school.

Academy

;

Louis and Wil-

VASTINE. Abraham Van De

Woestyne,

with his wife and their three children, viz.,
John, Catherine and Hannah, left Holland in
the seventeenth century and crossed the ocean

on a

sailing vessel, landing in

New York

(then

New Amsterdam) in 1690. They soon crossed
New Jersey. About the time Wil-

over into
liam

Penn founded Philadelphia they came
we find them in

into Pennsylvania.
In 1696
Germantown, Pa., where

the
daughters,
Catherine and Hannah, joined the Friends.
John Van De Woestyne, son of Abraham,
was born in Holland May 24, 1678, and came
to America with his father, and records show
him living in Germantown in 1698, where he
owned real estate. In that year he purchased
several tracts of land from one Jeremiah
Langhorn, in Hilltown township, Bucks Co., Pa.,
whither he moved in 1720, being one of the

pioneers in that county. He was very influential in the opening of roads there.
There he
erected a granite dwelling along the pike leading from Philadelphia to Bethlehem. It stood,
as was the custom in that day, with its gable
to the road, fronting south, at a point two
miles north of Line Lexington and four miles
southwest from Sellersville, Bucks Co., Pa.

The name John Van De Woestyne appears on
a number of official papers and documents on
record in Bucks county it is found on many
;

pertaining to roads and improveHilltown township. On these petitions the name is spelled Van de Woestyne.
John Van De Woestyne died at Hilltown Feb.
His wife, Abigail, survived him some
9, 1738.
petitions

ments

time. They were the parents of five children,
as follows: (i) Abraham, born May 24, 1698,
died in October, 1772, in Hilltown. He married Sarah Ruckman, and they were the

parents of five daughters: Abigail, married to

Andrew Armstrong: Ruth, married

to James
Robert JameHugh Mears and

Armstrong; Mary, married
son

Rachel, married to
Sarah, married to Samuel Wilson. Thus far
we have been unable to learn anything about
their descendants.
(2) Jeremiah, born Dec.
24, 1 70 1, died in Hilltown in November, 1769.
He and his wife Debora were the parents of
one son and two daughters Jeremiah died in
;

;

New

Britain, Bucks Co., Pa., in April, 1778
his wife's name was Elizabeth
Martha married John Louder
Hannah married Samuel
(

)

;

Greshom.
died Aug.

(3)

Benjamin, born July

1703,

1749.
(4) John died Feb. 9,
Hilltown, Pa., unmarried. (5) Mary,
born March i, 1699 (?), married a Mr. Wilson and removed to South Carolina.
Benjamin Vastine, son of John and Abigail, was the progenitor of the family in
Northumberland county. Pa. He became a
member of the Friends Meeting and at one of
the meetings held in Philadelphia requested
in his house.
permission to hold
1765, in

17,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
what

About 1738 he married Mary Griffith, and
their union was blessed by the birth of seven
children, as follows: Hannah married Emerson (or Erasmus) Kelly John married Rachel

Elizabeth, the eldest, died at the age of seventeen years.
(2) William is mentioned below.
(3) Amos, born in 181 3, married Susan Lerch,
and died Nov. 15, 1889. His principal business was farming, but at one time he was engaged in the mercantile business at Paxinos.
He owned some six hundred acres of land,

;

Amos married Martha Thomas.
The name Van De VVoestyne has changed
;

gradually,

and

first

Voshne, then

lastly to Vastine.

known as the "stone
G. P. Savidge.
He

Abraham married

Elizabeth WilMorgan
liams Benjamin married Catherine Eaton (he
died in September, 1775)
Jonathan married
Elizabeth Lewis Isaac married Sarah Mat-

thews

now owned by

married Catherine Osmun, and to them were
born four sons and three daughters
I )
(

;

to his descendants

house,"

443

Vashtine

tilled, and also had large real estate
interests in Alount Carmel.
He was one of

which he

has also been written

Styne. The name in Dutch meant forest,
hence the early settlers often called John
\'an De Woestyne "Wilderness."
Jonathan Vastine, fourth son of Benjamin
and Mary (Grififith) Vastine, with his nephew
Peter, who was also his son-in-law, came to

Van

the promoters of the Mount Carmel Savings
Bank, of which he was president from its

was also one
organization until his death
of the organizers of the Shamokin Township
Fire Insurance Company and was treasurer
of the same at the time of his death. Politically he was a Republican, and he filled the
office of county commissioner from 1871 to
1874. Mrs. Vastine was the daughter of Felix
Lerch, one of the pioneer settlers of Mount
Carmel.
Mr. and Airs. Vastine were the
Felix, who died
parents of the following:
;

Northumberland county, Pa., where they purchased two large farms, the former about six
hundred acres (which later Valentine Epler
latter three hundred acres
The original deeds
near that of his uncle.
for Jonathan Vastine's land are in the possession of Mrs. Elisha Campbell, at South Dan-

owned) and the

mem- young

Bird
John, who married Kate
Thomas, who married Lizzie Haas, and has
Amos
and
Hattie
children,
Catherine, who
married E. S. Persing (children, Anna, Sadie,
Amos and Susan) and Hattie, who had two
children (Amos and William) by her first husband. Oliver Reed, and married for her second
William Metz. (4) Margaret married Charles
Heffley and they were the parents of three
children. Elizabeth (married Harvey Robbins
Lewis v., who married Martha Boone and had and had children Margaret, Charles and
Hannah (Mrs. Dudley Andrews), Margaret Joseph), Harriet and George W. (married
(Mrs, Jacob B. Gearhart), Rachel Jane, Eliza- Emma Persing and had children, Harriet and
beth (Mrs. John H. Morrall), Matilda (Mrs. Harvey).
(5) Sarah Ann married Robert C.
Abraham Gulick), Sarah, Martha, William B., Campbell and was the mother of Abram (died
Lewis B. and George; Mary, who married unmarried), John L. (unmarried, lives in DanSamuel Boone Ann, who married Isaac Wol- ville, Pa.), James C. (married Margaret Metverton
and Rachel, who married John M. tler), and Margaret C, Hannah J., Isabella
Housel.
(2) Ann married Thomas Robbins. A. and Sarah Alice, all four of whom died

ville.

Jonathan, like his father, was a

;

He was a
ber of the Society of Friends.
He
farmer, and built a house on his farm.
died about 1830-33, and is buried in the old
Quaker burying ground at Catawissa, Pa.
About 1770 he married Elizabeth Lewis,
daughter of John and Anna Lewis, and to
them were born five sons and three daughters:
(i) Benjamin married Elizabeth Van
Zant and their children were as follows

;

(6) Thomas Prine, born in 1808,
(3) Hannah married Peter Vastine, son of unmarried.
Benjamin Vastine. (4) Mary married Wil- married Lanah Vought, and they had chilliam Marsh.
(5) John married Catherine dren John Wellington, who married Emma
Catherine and Matilda, both unOsmun. (6) Jeremiah married E. Reeder, and Fisher
their children were
Mary, who married C. married Rosanna, who married George W.
Miller
and was the mother of Gussie M.,
Fisher Margaret, who married D. Robbins
Lourissa, who married William Leighaw (or Florence V., Daniel O. and Ruth A. (7) John
Leighow), and Thomas, who married Eliza began the study of medicine at the age of
Reeder and had children Catherine and Eliza- eighteen, in Jefferson Medical College, Philabeth. (7) Thomas died unmarried. (8) Jona- delphia, Pa., and graduated at the age of
than married Nancy Ann Hughes.
twenty-one years, dying shortly afterward, in
John Vastine, second son of Jonathan and his twenty-second year.
William Vastine, son of John and Catherine
Elizabeth (Lewis) Vastine, inherited a portion of his father's farm, and in 1833 built
(Osmun) Vastine, married Jan. 24, 1833,
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

444
Elizabeth,

John and

daughter

(Reed) Hnrsh.

He was

Salome

twenty-one years old
when they settled on the farm then owned
later
descending to his
by his father-in-law,
wife. In 1843, in line with the custom of his
forefathers, he built himself a house, which is

now

the

property

his

granddaughters,
daughters of

Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1858.
For a
time he practiced in Numidia, Columbia Co.,
later
to
Pa.,
Danville, Alontour
removing
county, where he was located five years, and
in
in
finally,
1883, settling
Catawissa, Columbia
county, where he died Jan. 2, 1904. His widow

still resides there.
He was president of the
Simon and Elizabeth (Faux) \'astine. He First National Bank of Catawissa until his
was a large landowner, cultivating between death. This bank was organized and charfour hundred and fifty and five hundred acres. tered in 1 89 1, taking over what was known as
In religious faith he was a member of the the Catawissa Deposit Bank, whose first presiLutheran Church, and politically he was a dent was M. G. Hughes George M. Tustin
Whig. He died in 1859, his widow in 1890. was cashier and his brother, A. L. Tustin, also
To Mr. and Mrs. \'astine were born six sons held that position for a time. Dr. J. H.
\astine was the first president of the First
and two daughters
( i ) Amos is fully mentioned elsewhere in this work.
(2) Jacob H. National Bank, and upon his death S. D.

Katherine

M. and Ellen

E.,

;

mentioned below. (3) Hugh Hursh, born
1838, married Susan, daughter of
Wilson
and
followed
Mettler,
farming
throughout his life, operating three farms in
Rush and Gearhart townships, NorthumberWilson
land Co., Pa.
They had children
M., Elizabeth B. and Hugh Spencer (married
Sarah Mettler). (4) Simon owned two large
farms in Rush township, including the homestead property previously mentioned. He married Elizabeth Faux, daughter of William, and
their children are Katherine M. and Ellen E.
(5) Ezra, born in 1843, upon reaching his
majority joined his brother Amos in buying a
is

July 22,

farm, disposing of his interest the following
year and later buying another, which he also
sold. In 1876 he bought the farm now known
as the Ezra Vastine estate and in 1877 built
on it the brick house. In the spring of 1895
he removed to Danville, Pa., residing on West
Market street. He died Feb. 24, 1896, and
was buried in a lot beside his parents in a

Lutheran cemetery

Montour county.

Mayberry township,

He was

a successful farmer,
time of his death was a director
of the Danville National Bank. He married
Sarah C, daughter of Robert and Bethia
(Banghart) Davidson, and to them were born
two daughters, Bethia and Sara Mary. (6)
Elizabeth Ann married James Oglesby, M. D.,

and

at the

of Danville, Pa., and had two children, George
Bell (deceased) and William V. (an attorney
of Danville).
(7) Daniel and (8) Ellen died
before reaching the age of twelve.
LIursh
Vastine, M. D., second son of
Jacob

Rinard succeeded
he died

When

to the presidency.
elected, and

Fox was

still

serving. In November, 1893, William M. Vastine, son of Dr. J. H. Vastine, was made
cashier, and has filled the position successfully and satisfactorily ever since. In November, 191 2. the other officials were Luther Eyer,
vice president
directors, C. E. Kreisler,
lawyer; Karl Reifsnyder, druggist; W. H.
Roberts, retired farmer; Dr. J. M. Vastine,
physician Wilson Rhoads. farmer, of Roaring Creek.
In October, 1861, Dr. Vastine married
.^arah Hughes, daughter of George and Nancy
;

;

Harder) Flughes, of Catawissa, and they
had children as follows
Henrietta Hughes
married Asa Spencer, of Philipsburg, Pa., and
has two children, Muriel Lee and Sarah
Hughes; Elizabeth died when one year old;
George Hughes, AI. D., is mentioned below;
William Alayberry is mentioned below Jacob
Marion, M. D., is mentioned below; Harriet
B. married Horace C. Booz, of Ardmore, Pa.,
and has two children, Horace C, Jr., and
Donald Vastine
Sarah Hughes married
Ralph Roy Griffith C. Alder, who lives at
Catawissa. married Mabel Thomas and they
have two sons, Thomas Hursh (now eight
years old) and Spencer (aged six).
George Hughes \'astine, M. D., was born
Nov. 6, 1867, and died at his home in Cata(

;

Collegiate Institute.

He received his
30, 1913.
education in the Danville Academy,
Catawissa schools, Bloomsburg State Normal
school and Susquehanna University, from
which he was graduated in 1887. He then
entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania! from which he was
graduated in 189 1, spending the winter of

taught school in his native county for two
Then he took a course at Jefferson
years.

1891 and spring of 1892 in study at Heidelberg and \'ienna. Returning to this country

William and Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, born
April

later

Academy and Shamokin

common

1836, attended the

his native township,

schools of

going to Danville

wissa

March

literary

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
he located at Mainville, Pa., where he practiced five years, after which he practiced at
Catawissa until his death. He was a member
of the Columbia County Medical Society, and
well known professionally and personally

throughout

Columbia county.

Pfahler, and

Nellie

married

survived by one son,

Jacob H.
\\iLLi.\M

M.WBERRY \'astine was bom

July 30, 1871, at Numidia. Columbia Co., Pa.,
attended Danville Academy and public school
at Catawissa, and later entered Pennsylvania
College, at Gettysburg,

Pa.,

from which

in-

he was graduated in June, 1893. He
has ever since been connected with the First
National liank of Catawissa, of which he has
been cashier since November of that year.
This has been his principal business interest,
and he is a director of the local shoe manufacturing company. He has served two terms
as school director, and is now filling his second
term as councilman of the borough, in the
administration of whose affairs he has taken
an influential part. Politically he is a Republican, in religious connection a member of St.
Matthew's Lutheran Church.
Mr. Vastine is well known in the fraternistitution

ties,

particularly in his

Masonic associations,

member

of Catawissa Lodge, No. 349,
F. & A. M., of which he is a past master
Catawissa Chapter, No. 178, of which he has
been treasurer since 1910; Crusade Commandery, K. T., and the Council, both of
Bloomsburg; Caldwell Consistory (thirtysecond degree), of Bloomsburg: the Craftsman Club of Ijloomsburg and Irem Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre. He has
passed all the chairs in the local K. G. E.
lodge, and has been treasurer of that body
since Feb. 4, 1902; and he is a past grand
of Lodge No. 60. I. O. O. F., of Catawissa.
being a

;

Aug.

10,

891, Mr. ^^astine married

Elizabeth
L.
Kostenbauder, daughter of
George L. and Lucy (Manley) Kostenbauder,
and they have one son, Douglass H., born Dec.
23, 1898: a daughter, Harriet Boone, died in
infancy.
J.ACOB M.KRiON Vastine, M. D., son of Dr.
Jacob H. Vastine, was born in Numidia. Columbia Co., Pa., Aug. 8, 1874. After attending Danville Academy and public school at
Catawissa he became a student at the Pennsylvania State College, from which he was graduated with the degree of B. S. in 1896. He
then matriculated at the
Aledico-Chirurgical
College, Philadelphia, completed the course in
1899, and spent more time specializing on the
He has since been
eye, ear, nose and throat.

445

successful practice at Catawissa,
engaged
where he has become prominent in his profession, being a past president of the Columbia
County Medical Society and a member of the
State Medical Society and the American
in

Aledical Association.

belongs to the Sigma

fraternity of State College, and
also has social connections with the I. O. O. F.,
K. G. E. and B. P. O. Elks, holding his mem-

Alpha Epsilon

the last named at Bloomsburg. He
of the Lutheran Church.
Since
January, 1912, Dr. Vastine has been a director
of the First National Bank of Catawissa. and
of the All Wear Shoe Company, manufacturers
of women's and children's shoes, of Catawissa.

bership
is

member

On Ajjril 20, 1904, Dr. Vastine married
Catherine Sharpless, daughter of G. H. and
Ella (Schnick) Sharpless, of Catawissa. They
have one child, Dorothy Sharpless, born in
1906.

MAUS.

The

celebrated

Maus farm

\'alley township, Montour county,
its fine springs, is now owned
by

Bachman (Maus)

erine

famous for
Mrs. Cath-

Jones, daughter of

David Maus, and widow of Horatio C. Jones,
of

Philadelphia.

family

The

inseparably

history of the Maus
associated with the

opening up and advancement of Montour
county from its earliest days of civilized ocMausdale, in Valley township, a
cupation.
small village less than two miles from Danthe county seat, perpetuates the name
the section where the Mauses have been
most numerous, and where the family has
been represented continuously for a period of
ville,

almost one hundred and

fifty years.

Maus, a native of Prussia, born in
came to the New World with his parents

Philip
1

73 1,

1741, the

family landing at Philadelphia,

where they settled. He attended school there,
and soon learned to speak and write English
In 1750 he was
fluently, as well as German.
apprenticed to learn stocking manufacturing,
and within five years he had established himself in the business, in which he met with substantial success, continuing it for about twenty
years, until the troubles incident to the progress of the Revolutionary war made it necessary for him to suspend operations. During
the war his familiarity with the business en-

abled him to be of great service, for he was
an earnest upholder of the Colonial cause and

made many

sacrifices

its

interest.

His

means were ample for the time, and he invested largely in furnishing clothing for the
soldiers, taking his pay in Continental money,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

446

which he had several thousand dollars
The late Philip
it became
worthless.
F. Maus, one of his descendants, had baskets
of

when

full of this old

currency

session of P. E.

Maus).

(it is

now

in the pos-

letter written

Philip Maus during this period, and still preserved, is of interest in this connection:
Philadelphia, 9 Octo. 1776.

—

and William Montgomery a few
years before, and consisting of a few log
cabins occupied by a half dozen families, nearly all from southeastern Pennsylvania and
western New Jersey,
Breeches, moccasins
and hunting shirts of leather were generally
worn, and all the surroundings and conditions
of living were exceptionally primitive.
The
ers Daniel

Mr. Samuel Updegraff, Sir: By the bearer, Mr.
Joseph Kerr, I send you the ballance of the price of
doz
8
pairs of buckskin breeches I bought of you,
having paid you £9 in advance, the ballance being
£143 3s. which he will pay you on delivering him
the goods. If you have any more to dispose of he
will contract with you for them, and I shall be glad
if you and him can agree. Your humble servant.
Philip Maus.

Maus

Incidental to his activities during the Revolution Mr. Maus formed an intimate acquaint-

erected in what is now Valley township. It
stood on the right bank of the stream, nearly
half a mile above the present stone mill and
homestead. He and his son Philip commenced
to clear the forest immediately around the
house preparatory to cultivating the land, and
he intended to have the other part of the tract
cleared.
But the Indian troubles commenced

ance with Benjamin Franklin and Robert
Morris which lasted to the end of their days.

Of Mr. Maus's

three brothers, Frederick,
Charles and Matthew, the last named became
prominent as a surgeon during the Revolutionary war, serving throughout the conflict,
was with General Montgomery on his expedition into Canada, and when the General fell
before Quebec aided Colonel Burr in carryDaniel Maus was in
ing away his body.

Washington's army.
Several years before the Revolution Philip

•Maus had invested some surplus capital in
600 acres of land in what is now Alontour
county, in the rich and fertile section of Valley township. The patents, from Thomas and
John Penn, are dated April 3, 1769, among the
earliest issued from the county (as soon as it

was possible to obtain titles in the new Indian
purchase, which included all this part of Pennsylvania), and the proprietaries reserved a
perpetual quit rent of twopence per acre,
which was paid until the Commonwealth compensated the Penns and became the proprietor
of the lands. At the time Mr. Maus made the
purchase this tract was on the outer fringe of
the settlements, and no improvements were
made on the property until after the Revolution.
When the war ended his fortune had
been so reduced, by the stoppage of his regular business and the unfortunate deterioration
of Continental currency, with which he had
been paid for the material he bought to make
garments for the army, that he turned his
attention to his land,

and

safety

hither.
it

was

With
his

and as soon as peace

brought his family
the brief exception mentioned
for the next thirty years.

permitted

home

Danville was an incipient town, then called
Montgomery's Landing, founded by the broth-

tract, stretching along the northern base
of Montour's ridge, with the Mahoning creek
flowing through it, was overgrown with timber and brush. It was typical of the man and
his custom of doing things systematically that

when he and his son Philip came to prepare
home he brought two carpenters with him
from Philadelphia, and his cabin was the first

the

before any great progress had been made, and
as there was no provision for protection for
the settlers here they had to go to Northumberland. Articles they could not conveniently
carry, tools, implements, etc., were buried to

them from the Indians, and Mr. Maus
rented his place to Peter Blue, Frederick Blue

secrete

Stutfelt, who agreed to take possession as soon as the Indian hostilities would
cease.
This arrangement was probably made
in Northumberland at the fort, as these men
came on according to contract and set vigorously to work. After a brief stay at North-

and James

umberland Mr, Maus then went to Lebanon,
where they lived for a year, thence returning
to Northumberland for three or four years,
after which they again ventured to settle on
It is supposed Philip Maus
the Mahoning,
was the first permanent settler in what is now

Many of the incidents of
Valley township.
these early days are best recorded in his recollections, which by reason of his intelligence
Mr. Maus
are regarded as authoritative,
which was operated by the
waters of Mahoning creek, and there for years
the lumber for nearly every building erected
The mill
in the surrounding country was cut.
and other improvements were the attractions
which brought together the settlers whose
homes formed the nucleus of what is now
In the year 1800 he erected his
Mausdale.
for
flouring mill, a stone building imposing
built his sawmill,

the times, and
ently as sound

which is still standing, apparand durable as ever. The fol-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
lowing, taken from
pubhshed a quarter
highly typical of the
a part of the Maus
of repetition

a history of the county
of a century ago, is so
times and so interesting
history that it is worthy

;

"His experience in digging his mill race
was varied, one portion beitig dug by the
Catholics and the other by the Protestants;
and several times Mr. Maus had to take possession of the clubs and shillalahs of both
parties to prevent their
being used over bloody
heads.
This was called their amusement, and

way of
discussions
by

explanation of these theological
may be stated that these men

consumed eleven barrels of whiskey while at
the work and play of
digging the mill race.
"The experiences of the Maus family are
a graphic illustration of what were the sources
of pastime and work of a respectable, intelligent and well-reared people. How completely
were they thrown upon their own resources
Only when they had raised their sheep could
they clothe themselves in woolen goods in the
winter.
For summer they made linen goods
!

Woolen or linen, the
shirts' much after the
style

of the flax they raised.

men wore 'hunting

to be seen in the
pictures of Daniel Boone.
The Maus family cultivated, early, two acres
of flax.
There was a Scotch family in the
settlement that did most of the
weaving. Before the era of flax and wool
they dressed
deerskins and hides of other animals, and
of these made clothing.
Rabbitskin caps were
quite an elegant luxury at one time.
We are

Maus home during the long
winter evenings, by the light of lard oil iron
read
books of devotion, "Cook's
lamps, they
Voyages,' Weems's 'Life of Washington,' and
then, oh, rare treat, they sometimes took turns
and read Goldsmith's 'Deserted
Village,'
'Vicar of Wakefield,' and even 'Don
told that in the

Quixote.'

These were read aloud, and sometimes Mr.
Maus would contribute immeasurably to the
enjoyment by apportioning the dramatis personae among them.
"When the family reached the possession
of an ample fortune a
family carriage was
purchased it was of the style of Louiv XIV.
Nothing ever created a greater sensation in
the valley than the arrival of this
family carIt is said to be the first in what is now
riage.
;

Montour county. The two Montgomerys had
each, and these three were the only

a gig

pleasure carriages
miles around."

the

county for

manv

A fragment of a letter from Mrs. Maus
dated "Northumberland,
1783," is so full of
we give all that part of it con-

interest that

447

tained in the torn portion of the
original
ter, as follows

let-

Your brother George likes this place very well.
you come, do not fail to bring 100 White
Chapel needles and two or three ounces of thread
suitable for sewing calico and home-spun linen.
Give my love to your grandpa and grandma, and
tell her I wish her to come with
you and see us
we will arrange for her journey to Lebanon and
back.
You will see Rev. Stoy's' palace. Tell her
the Penintori's house up Race Street is nothing to
compare to it and Dr. Stoy lives only seventy-five
miles from us. * * * Tell the girls that Susy
and the young girls here take a canoe and go into
the river fishing by themselves the river is as clear
as a spring and not half a yard deep.
This is a
most beautiful and picturesque place.
We have

When

;

the wild deer not half a mile from us, skipping
about the hills where the boys go to fetch the cows.
Your loving mother,
Frances M.\us.

Philip Maus married Frances Heap, a naof England, "a most estimable wife,
mother and friend," and children were born
to them as follows:
George, 1759; Elizabeth,
tive

Philip, 1763; Susan, 1765; Samuel,
1767 (he was a watchmaker and jeweler at
Philadelphia, in 1831); Lewis, 1773; Charles,
1775; Joseph, 1777; Jacob, 1781.
Lewis Maus, born in 1773, bought an extensive tract of land in Valley township (in
what is now Montour county), at that time
He ran the first keel botall a wilderness.
His wife,
tom, boat on the Susquehanna.
Catherine Bachman, was of French descent,
and her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; the gun he carried passed into

1761

;

the possession of his grandson,

son Maus.

Andrew

The Bachmans were

Mr. and
Pennsylvania family.
Maus had ten children, nine of
to maturity,

Andrew

Jack-

also an old
Mrs. Lewis

whom grew

among them being David D. and

Jackson, the latter the youngest of

the family.

David D. Maus was born at the old homenow owned by his daughter (.Mrs. Jones)
in October, 181 8.
By trade he was a machinLewis H. Maus,
ist, and with his brother,
built the first threshing machine in this part
of the State. He also followed farming. Mr.
Maus married Agnes Shoemaker, who was
born in May, 1833, in Hughesville, Pa., daughter of Jacob and Marjory (McCoimell) Shoemaker, of Muncy, this State; Mr. Shoemaker
was a farmer and also engaged in milling.
Mrs. Maus died Nov. 19, 1895, Mr. Maus
Feb. 12. 1898.
They had only one child,
Catherine Bachman. born Nov. 26, 1862, at
the place where she now lives, the widow of
Horatio C. Jones. She received an excellent
stead

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

448

education, and taught school in Valley township for a number of years, from 1887 to
1S99.
Horatio C. Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 9, 1861, and came of an
old Quaker family, one of the oldest in that
city.
They were of titled stock in Europe.
Mark Thackeray Jones, of Philadelphia,
grandfather of Horatio C. Jones, married
^lary Conway, who belonged to a family of
Irish
associates
of
distinguished
patriots,
Robert Emmet, who suffered banishment.
Rev. Edward C. Jones, father of Horatio C.
Jones, was a clergyman of the Episcopal
Church, and he was a noted writer of his
day.

Horatio C. Jones was only nine years old
his father died, and though he began
quite young had excellent educational
advantages, attending Andalusia College, at
Philadelphia, also a military school at BurHis parents had planned to have
lington, Pa.
him enter the ministry, but he preferred busi-

when
work

ness, and when fifteen years old commenced
to do office work in the Bank of the Repubat Philadelphia, remaining in the same
until his death, Dec. 31, 1886, at which
time he was holding the position of general
ledger bookkeeper.
On Sept. 16. 1882, Mr. Jones married
Catherine Bachman Maus, and they had three
children, of whom but one survives, Horatio
lic,

employ

born Nov. 28, 1884, at Camden, N. J. he
resides with his mother at the old Maus homestead, managing the agricultural work. Grace
Ashton and Catherine Pearson died in infancy.
Mrs. Maus lived on Broadway, Camden,
N. J., and later moved to Sharon Hillr- Delaware county. Pa., near Philadelphia, returning
to the Maus homestead in the spring of 1887.
Mrs. Jones taught school in Valley township from 1887 to 1899, but she has since
given her time to the care of the old Maus
homestead, which is in a highly cultivated condition.
She is interested in dairying, having
twenty-six head of fine stock, registered
The fine springs on this place,
Guernseys.
which have been known throughout this section for over one hundred years, have been
profitably exploited for the last four years,
the water being sold for table use. The residence which Mrs. Jones occupies was built
P.,

;

by the family, and the old log
ing,

102 years old.

part,

still

stand-

The family has one

of the largest collections of relics of ancient
days owned in Montour county, and Mrs.
Jones has numerous relics, papers dating back
over a century, etc., which she preserves in a

substantial glass case.
The old Maus farm
has many associations of interest in the deof
the
The old Franklin
velopment
county.

furnace, built in

was on

1845 by Samuel R. Wood,

this property.

Mrs. Maus reared her family in the Episcopal Church, 5he being a member of Christ
Memorial Episcopal Church, Danville. The
Mauses generally have been associated with
the Republican party.

HINCKLEY,

II. Al.

born

attorney, Danville, was
2, 1850. a son

Harrisburg, Pa., June

of Joel and Theodosia (Graydon) Hinckley.
His mother was a native of Harrisburg, of
Scotch-Irish origin. His father was born in
Vermont, a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, of the "Mayflower."'
Mr.
Hinckley is the only survivor of eight children. He began his education in the common
schools of Harrisburg, and subsequently entered Princeton College, where he graduated
in 1874.
While in college he studied law, and
after graduation entered as a student the law
office of I. X. Grier, and was admitted to
practice in 1875.
In 1874 Mr. Hinckley married Amelia S.,
daughter of Mayberry and Catherine Gear-

Mrs. Hinckley's parents were members
of the Society of F"riends and of German
The following children have blessed
descent.
this union
Sarah G. John Maclean Eleanor
wife of Charles F. Zimmerman, of
G.,
and
Lebanon, Pa.
Edna, now deceased
Elizabeth S., member of the faculty of the
hart.

;

Normal School

Mr.
Bloomsburg.
Hinckley and his family are Presbyterians,
State

members

the

Mahoning

Presbyterian

which he has been an elder for
For nearly twenty-three
thirty-four years.
years Mr. Hinckley was superintendent of the
Church,

of the Mahoning Church. He
the East End mission, an
institution established for the uplifting and
betterment of men and women.
Mr. Hinckley is a Progressive Republican.

Sunday school

now conducting

In 1888 he

was appointed by Governor Beaver

as president judge of the Twenty-sixth Judicial district,

composed of the counties of Mon-

He served until January,
1889, when he resumed practice.

tour and Columbia.

GRIER YOUNGMAN,

Danville National
prominent of the

cashier of the
of the most
citizens of that

Bank and one
younger

borough, was born at Ilazleton. Pa.. May 30,
1871, being a son of Maj. John C. Youngman,
a banker of that city, and Hannah Jane Grier.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
When
moved
fifteen

he was eleven years of age his parents
to Wilson, Kans., where at the age of
he was taken into the employ of his

bookkeeper and clerk

father as

the

He rapidly acquired a thorough
knowledge of the banking business, and in
January, 1891, came to Danville as bookkeeper
for the Danville National Bank. On Nov. 21,
1894, he was elected assistant cashier, and on
tinues at
duties of

president

Thomas

was

elected cashier, and con1897,
present to discharge the responsible
He has also served as
that office.
of the board of trustees of the
Beaver Free Library, treasurer of

the Danville State Hospital, and treasurer and
manager of the Consumers' Gas Company.
He is now a director of the local Y. M. C. A.,
a trustee of the Bloomsburg State Normal
School, and a member of the board of trustees
of the Grove Presbyterian Church.
On Oct. II, 1894, Mr. Youngman was married to Anna M. Gearhart, daughter of Bonham R. and Mary Louise (Yorks) Gearhart,
Dr. McAtee, pastor of Grove Presbyterian
Church, Danville, performing the ceremony.
They have three children Mary Louise, John
Bonham and Emma Margaret. Mr. Youngman is a past master of Mahoning Lodge, No.
516, F. & A. M., past high priest of Danville
Chapter, No. 229, R. A. M., past commander
of Calvary Commandery, No. j^J, K. T.. Di:

vision

Commander

sion of the

the

Eighteenth Divi-

Grand Commandery of Knights

Templar of Pennsylvania and a

member

S.,

of
of Wilkes-

late

Maj. John

Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M.
Barre.

Mr. Youngman's father, the
C.

after

the
came to Danville and entered the

Youngman,

shortly

Civil

war

employ of
the First National Bank.
Later he went to
Hazleton as an ofiicer of the Pardee, Markle
& Grier bank. About that time he was mar-

Hannah

Grier, daughter of Michael
M. Grier there were five
children in the family, the others being
George C, cashier of the Turbotville National
Bank; John M., of Chicago; Mary G., wife
of Prof. G. C. L. Riemer, of Lewisburg, Pa.
P., of DanJean, of Elwyn, Pa. ; and
ried to

Besides

C. Grier.

;

Emma

ville.

GEORGE

GEARHART,

deceased, was
Danville through his association with the Danville National Bank, with
which he was connected from 1864, for many
best

known

years as

cashier

and assistant

cashier.

Mr.

Gearhart belonged to an honored old family
Northumberland county, Pa., where he was

449

18, 1841, in

Bonham

Rush township, son

and Elizabeth

(Boyd)

Gearhart.

The Gearharts have been numerous and

Bank

of Wilson.

July 15,

born March

in Northumberland
county since
shortly after the close of the Revolutionary
war, and one township of the county has been

prominent

named in their honor. Two brothers, Jacob
and William Gearhart, came to Northumberland county about 1790, the former
settling in
what is now Gearhart township, the latter in

Rush township.

J.,

years.

where he made

When

the

was among the
his

his

home

for

many

Revolution broke out he

first

to offer his services to

in 1775, in the
volunteers, with which he
served as a private.
man of brave and
fearless spirit, he was soon promoted to ensign and later to captain of the 2d New Jersey
Regiment, and stood so high in the confidence
of his superior officers that he was one of the

adopted country, enlisting

Hunterdon county

two

New

Jersey

men chosen by Washington

to take charge of the crossing of the Dela-

ware on the eventful night of Dec.

25, 1776,
the Hessian camp at Trenton was attacked. The other was Captain Van Tenyck.
After the crossing had been eft'ected the boats
were placed in their charge, with orders to
destroy them should the expedition prove a
failure.
Captain Gearhart also took part in
the battle of the Brandywine and spent the
hard winter of 1777-78 with Washington at
At the close of the war he
Valley Forge.
returned to his old home in Hunterdon
county, N. J., but a few years later he joined
the tide of emigration which took many west-

when

ward from New Jersey into Pennsylvania and
from the eastern counties of Pennsylvania
Between 1785 and 1795 many
farther out.
families from that region settled in what are
now Rush and Gearhart townships, Northumberland county, among them those of Capt.
Jacob Gearhart and his brother William. In
1
781 the former came West on a prospecting
In
tour, and he brought his family out later.
1790 (another account says 1782) the Captain
his family left Hunterdon county by
wagon train. Late one afternoon they came
to a deserted Indian hut close by a fine spring,
on the farm now owned by Mrs. I. H. Tor-

and

rence, a great-granddaughter of the Captain,
When
night.

and decided to camp for the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

450

the land was examined in tlie morning it was
found to be fertile, and the water was so
abundant and of such good quality that the
old warrior determined to found his home on
that site.
He purchased land along the Susquehanna from Kipp's run to Boyd's run, one
mile back from the river, all of it at that time
a dense forest.
With the aid of his sons he
began to clear and till the land, and after
a
clearing
portion on a small blutf overlooking
the beautiful Susquehanna river he erected a
small frame house which is still standing,
though more than a hundred years old, and
is one of the old landmarks of the vicinity.
It
is still owned by his descendants
it was occupied by William F. Gearhart, who died in
1905.
Captain Gearhart set out an orchard
which was completely destroyed by a hailstorm in 1846. He acquired 1.500 acres, 200
of which he cleared. In 1813, after an active
life of seventy-eight years, Captain Gearhart
died, and his wife, Catharine Kline, survived
him a few years. They had a family of eleven
children, namely: Jacob, born in 1763, who
died in 1841
Herman, born in 1765, who
died in 1835; George, mentioned below; Wilin
born
liam,
1776, who died in 1854; Charles,
born in 1783, who died in 1863; John, bom
in 1788, who died in 1858: Isaac; Benjamin;
Elizabeth Mary and Catharine.
George Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob and
Catharine (Kline) Gearhart, was born in what
is now Hunterdon county, N. J., and he became a prosperous farmer and landowner.
He had a beautiful farm one mile from Riverside, along the bank of the Sus(|uehanna river
one mile south of the bridge, now forming
It was a present
part of South Danville.
from his father to him at his majority, and
He erected many
there he lived all his life.
Iniildings there, and as he prospered pur;

;

chased more land, at his death owning between three hundred and four hundred acres
along the Susquehanna. He was twice married, his first wife being Acsah Runyan. who
died when a vnung woman, the mother of four

Philadelphia, from which he was graduated.
For two years Dr. Gearhart practiced at Sunbury, and he was subsequently in W'ashingtonville and Turbotville
(1839-1844) before
settling at Danville, where he was in successful practice to the close of his life.
He
was one of the most popular physicians of his
day, and his death, which occurred May 9,
1855, when he was in his early forties, was
He died of pneumonia.
widely mourned.
Dr. Gearhart married Elizabeth Steel
I'.oyd,
of
William
and Eliza (Steel) l!oyd[
daughter
of Danville, and granddaughter of William
Boyd, the founder of the family in America.
He was a colonel in the Revolution, and was
later promoted to general in the militia.
Mrs.
Eliza (Steel) Boyd was the niece of General
of
the
Steel,
Revolution. Mrs. Gearhart survived the Doctor many years, dying Jan. 21,
at
the
advanced age of eighty-seven
1904,
years, eight months, twenty-nine days.
They
were the parents of a large family, viz. William Boyd, born Oct. 8, 1839, who lives at
:

No. 9 East Market street, Danville, married
daughter of Thomas Butler, and
they have had children, Elizabeth Boyd and
Mary Atta, the former the wife of R. Scott
.\mmerman and the mother of four children,
Robert Boyd, William Edgar, Elizabeth Christine and Dorothy Atta; Acsah, born March
18, 1841. died April 3, 1841
George M. was
born March 18, 1841, on his father's birthday,
in the same room where his
father was
born; Bonham R. was born May 20, 1843;
born
Oct.
26, 1844, died May i,
James B.,
1846; Jasper Boyd, born Oct. 26, 1845. who
lives at the corner of Bloom and Walnut
Florence
streets,
Danville, married (first)
Yorks and after her death, Mrs. Margaret
(Thompson) Gearhart, and has one daughAlexander Montter, Emma G., Mrs. Fisher
gomery, born in Danville July 26, 1846, died
Elizabeth,

;

April 24, 1901, for many years station agent
at Danville for the Delaware, Lackawanna &

Western Railway Company, married Martha
McCoy, daughter of Robert and Eleanor
children: Bonliam R., Benjamin (who moved
\'oris) McCoy, and they had two children,
out West), Eliza and Rebecca (married Wil- Nell Bonham and Jasper (the daughter marson Mettler). His second wife was Phoebe ried William L. McClure and had three chilAchie, dren, Harold Russel, Donald C, and MontLott, by whom he had three children
gomery) M. Grier, born in December, 1849,
George and Herman.
Bonham R. Gearhart. M. D., son of George is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Gearhart, was born March 11. 181 1. on his
George M. Gearhart received a good educafather's homestead in Rush township, and tion in the public schools at Danville, gradthere received his early education, later at- uating from the high school. He learned the
as
tending acadeniv at Danville. He read med- drug trade with ]\Iichael C. Grier, and,
icine with Dr. H. Gearhart, of Bloomsburg, the telegraph office was in the same store, he
and took a course at Jefferson Medical College, learned telegraphy and subsequently was train
(

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
dispatclier at Kingston, Pa., on the
Lackawanna & Western railroad.

Delaware,

He was

engaged until 1864, when he moved to Danand became teller in the Danville Nafor
tional Bank, serving in that capacity
twenty-seven years, during which time he
thoroughly familiarized himself with the
banking business and banking methods. He
was thus well qualified for his next step in

ville

assuming the duties of cashier of the
bank, which position he held in a highly satisfactory manner until 1896, when he was
obliged to give up work on account of ill
Mr. Gearhart spent some time in rehealth.
tirement, but recuperated to such an e.xtent
that he was able to do work about the office
and acted as assistant cashier until his death,
life,

It was re1910.
garded as a distinct loss to the community
where he had been active in financial circles
He was possessed of exfor so many years.
cellent business ability, and was decidedly
successful in the management of his affairs,
owning his beautiful residence on Market
street and considerable other property in the
town. He had many excellent traits of char-

which occurred March

and no citizen of Danville ever had
more friends or was held in higher esteem
He was treasurer and
than Mr. Gearhart.
secretary of the Danville Bridge Company,
and served on the school board for three years.
He was a member of the Grove Presbyterian
Church, of which he was an elder.
acter,

In 1865 .Mr. Gearhart married Cordelia E.
who was born April 19, 1842, at Pottsville. Pa., and survives him, continuing to
'make her home at Danville. Three children
Clark,

were born to this marriage: David C, born
Nov. I, 1866, died May 26, 1870; Charles
Willets. born July 15, 1871, a graduate of
Lehigh University, was for a time electrical
engineer at the power house of the Brooklyn
bridge, later in the electrical supply business
Brooklyn, N. Y., and is now with the

]at

Berkely Construction Company, New York
(he married Louise M. Rodman, and their
children are Louisa, Georgianna and Rodman) Eleanor Clark, born Nov. 13, 1873, is
the wife of Frederick C. Kirkendall, of
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (president of the TimesLeader Publishing Company), and has three
;

Fred Charles, Eleanor and Cordelia.
D.wiD Clark, father of Mrs. Cordelia E.
Gearhart, was born Jan. 31, 1814, at Cata^vissa. Pa., son of John and Jane (Clark)
Clark.
The parents were not related, though
The ancestors on
bearing the same name.
ooth sides were early settlers of Pennsylvania.
children,

451

John Clark was a saddler by occupation. He
and his wife had a family of seven children,

of whom David, the youngest, long survived
the rest.
He attended school in his native

town and passed his early manhood there, beginning work as clerk in a store. After being
thus engaged for a few years he became a
merchant on his own account, keeping a general store until 1845, when he was elected
Soon after this, howjustice of the peace.
ever, he changed his residence to Danville,
in 1846, where in 1850 he became associated
actively with the Danville National Bank, of
which institution he was one of the founders.
His first position in the bank was that of
teller, from which he was promoted to as-

and in 1864 he became cashier.
Subsequently he was elected president of the
bank, and served in that capacity until his
death, which occurred Dec. 17, 1893, in his
eightieth year. Though most of his time and
attention was devoted to the bank he had interests in various other local enterprises,
among them the nail works, of which he was
a director.
He was elected burgess of the
borough, discharging the duties of that position to the satisfaction of all concerned, and
was highly esteemed in every relation of life.
Politically he was a Republican, fraternally
a Freemason.
He attended the Alahoning
Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Clark married Eleanor Gearhart, who
was born in 1819, daughter of William Gearhart and granddaughter of William Gearhart,
brother of Jacob Gearhart. She died in October, 1842, the mother of one child, Cordelia
For his second wife
E. (Mrs. Gearhart).
Mr. Clark married Desdemona Wadsworth,
of Catawissa, and had two children: Mary,
wife of William C. Frick and William Mcsistant cashier,

;

who

died young.
William Gearhart, brother of Capt. Jacob
Gearhart, was born in Strasburg, Germany,
and came to America in 1754. He settled in
Hunterdon county, N. J. When the Revolutionary war broke out he enlisted in the
Gill,

Hunterdon county

militia

and was promoted

After the war, about 1790, he
ensign.
came to Northumberland county and purchased a large tract of land to the southeast
to

of his brother Capt. Jacob Gearhart's tract,

In New Jersey he
settling in Rush township.
married Eleanor DeKnight, and they became
the parents of four sons and three daughters,
as follows: William, Aaron, Tobias, Jacob,
Elizabeth (Mrs. Amens), Ann (Mrs, .A.mens)
and Mary (Mrs. Lamberson).
Williarn Gearhart, son of William, was

COLUMBIA AND .MOXTOUR COUNTIES

452

born in New Jersey, married Sarah Boone,
and had children as follows: Mayberry, born
in
1813; Harriet.
(married Lewis
1S15
Yetter
1818 (married Samuel
Juliann,
(married David
Eleanor,
Darder)
1819
)

;

Clark)

;

Amelia,

1821

(married

Shoop).

EDWIN ADAMS CURRY,

M. D., physician of Danville, Montour county, is a memof
his family in
ber of the fourth generation
the county, where the Currys have always
maintained high standing.
They have been
especially prominent in the iron manufacturing industry, which has brought considerable
wealth to the community and made possible
much of the advancement evidenced in the
condition of the borough and the prosperity
of its institutions.
Robert Curry, the Doctor's great-grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of this
He was born in the
part of Pennsylvania.
North of Ireland June 9, 1741, and educated
in the schools of his native county, where his
father was a well-to-do linen manufacturer.

America in 1772, settling on Main what is now Valley township, Montour Co., Pa., and there followed
was
killed and scalped by the
He
farming.
Indians June 9, 1780. He was a Presbyterian

He came

honing creek,

in religious belief, served as trustee of his
church, and was one of the first to give his
money and influence toward the propagation
of the gospel in these parts. He married Jane
McWilliams in Belfast, Ireland, and four
children were born to them
James, who was
:

born

Ireland,

grew

manhood and

set-

Ohio Robert, who settled on the north
branch of the Susquehanna river; William,
who settled on the home place in Valley township, Montour Co., Pa. (he married Jane
Moore and they were the parents of Hon.
James Curry) and Jane, the first white child
ijorn between the north and west branches of
the Susquehanna river, who married Robert
.McWilliams. The sons were well-to-do farmers, noted for their honesty and integrity.
tled in

;

Robert Curry, the son of Robert mentioned
as having settled on the north branch of the
Susquehanna river, was the grandfather of
Dr. Edwin Adams Curry. He was a farmer

by occupation.
Thomas Cousart Curry, son of Robert Curry and a grandson of Robert Curry, the pioneer, was born in 1830 on the old homestead
of his parents in Northumberland county.
He came to Danville in 1849. and had
Pa.
two sisters who also made their home in the

town;

his brother

ing county;

Robert lived

brother

his

Hugh

in
in

an adjoinMichigan,

and William in Kentucky. Thomas C.
Curry
was a machinist by trade, and he became enin
that
line
of
business
as a member
gaged
of the firm of Cruikshank,
Mayer & Co., owners of the property and business of the Enterprise Foundry & Alachine Shops, on Ferry
street, Danville, which they conducted for
years. After selling his interest in this
concern Mr. Curry lived retired the rest of
his days, dying in September, 1910, at the
age of eighty years. He gave strict attention
to his business affairs, but took the interest of

many

a public-spirited citizen in the general welfare,
and served as school director and member of
the council.
He married Phoebe Ellen Musselman. who was born July 21. 1833, and died
Jan. 24, 1906, in her seventy-third year. Of
the children born to them seven survive,
namely: Mrs. Elizabeth C. Fisher; Hugh C.,of Riverside, Pa.
William M., an attorney,
of Scranton, Pa. Thomas C, a machinist, of
Sunbury, Pa.; John R. M.. of Danville;
Ralph, and Edwin Adams. The late Daniel
M. Curry, of Danville, a prominent iron manufacturer, was also one of the sons.
;

;

Edwin Adams Curry was born June

1863,

Danville, where he received his early education in the public schools.
Later he took a
in

classical course at

Pa., after

Dickinson College, Carlisle,
which he entered the medical de-

partment of the University of Pennsylvania,
from which he was graduated in May, 1889.
This was followed by a year's work in the
city hospital at \\'ilkes-Barre, and since 1890
he has been in general practice at Danville.
He is a member of the Montour County MedSociety, the Pennsylvania State ^ledical
Society and the American Medical Association, and has been honored with election to
the presidency of the first named.
His high
reputation, both in his profession and perwell
is
deserved.
In
sonally,
spite of the duties of an extensive practice he has given some
time to local affairs, having served eleven
years as school director, in which office he has
done valuable work, his facilities for observation qualifying him particularly well to judge
of the needs of the community. He is a director of the Danville National Bank. Fraternally the Doctor holds membership in the B.
P. 0. Elks (Lodge No. 754. Danville) and
the Masons, in which latter he has attained
the thirty-second degree and is a Shriner.
In 1893 Dr. Curry married Ella May
Haupt, of Danville, and they have one child,
ical

Phoebe.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Daniel M. Curry, son of Thomas C.
and Phoebe (Musselman) Curry, was born
Sept. 25, 1861, in Danville, where he passed

his life.

all

received a public school edu-

and learned the trade of machinist
which he continued to follow, as employe and
owner of works, all his life. He was first in
business as partner with F. H. Vannan, in
association with whom lie carried on a machine shop and foundry for thirteen or fifteen
Mr. Vannan retiring at the end of
years.
that period, Mr. Curry purchased his share,
becoming sole owner of the business, which he
cation

continued to conduct for four or five years.
In i<j02 he was associated with Messrs. Price
& Pursel in the organization of the Danville
Structural Tubing Company, and remained a
of that concern until his death, June

member
10,

This last named concern was and
one of the largest employers of labor

1906.

still

and Mr. Curry's services in establishing its affairs upon a solid basis were
Danville,

highly appreciated by his partners, who still
carry on the business. He was considered one
of the notably successful men of the borough.
Mr. Curry was a Knight Templar Mason,

belonging to Calvary Commandery, No. ^J
he was a past master of Blue Lodge, No. 224,
F. & A. M., and a member of Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A. .M.

;

FORBES HARLEY VANNAN

now

living retired at South Riverside, but still retains large interests at Danville, Montour Co.,

Pa.

He was

24, 1837, a

born at Glasgow, Scotland, Nov.
son of James and Mary (Binning)

Vannan.
James Vannan was in early life a chemist.
Coming to the United States in 1842, he
learned the machinist's trade at Carbondale,
Pa., where he worked until 1864, the year of

removal to Scranton, Pa. There he worked
his retirement and continued to reside
until his death, which occurred when he was
eighty-one and a half years old, as he was
born Oct. 31, 1806, at Alloway, Scotland,
and died March 23, 1888. He had married at
Bathgate, Scotland, on Jan. 25, 1830, Mary
Binning, born at Bathgate, July 24, 1805, who
died Aug. 2, 1847.
Mrs. Vannan and the
children remained in Scotland for three years
after Mr. \'annan came to this country, waiting until he had firmly established himself.
Mary HutThey had the following family
ton Eaton, who was born at Bathgate, Scotborn
at
land, Oct. 3, 1830; James,
Glasgow,
Scotland, Feb. i, 1834; Joseph Binning, born
his

until

Laurieston,

Scotland,

Jan.

20,

bondale, where he attended the public schools.
He learned the trade of machinist in the D. L.
& W. railroad shops, where he was employed
for nine years, following which he went on
the road for a year as an engineer.
He was
then with F. K. Haine, working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company (Erie division)
as foreman of the machine shops at Lock
Haven, Pa., for six months, when he became
foreman for Charles Graham at Kingston, Pa.,
and so continued for eight years. For the next
eight years he was superintendent of the Wy-

Valley rManufacturing Company at
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and in 1879 came to Dan-

oming

employ of Waterman &
master mechanic. Later, when the Philadelphia & ReadRailroad
this
ing
Company bought
plant, Mr.
to

ville

Beaver,

enter

1836;

the

their iron works, as

\'annan continued with the latter for seven
He was with the South Scranton mill
at Scranton, Pa., as master mechanic for one
year, and was afterward with the North

years.

Branch

Steel

Rolling Mills
is

453

Forbes H., and Thomas Binning, born at GlasAfter the
gow, Scotland, Nov. 14, 1839.
death of his first wife Mr. Vannan was married May 25, 1849, to Mrs. Janet Craig BryShe died and is
den, of Carbondale, Pa.
buried at Forty Fort, Luzerne county.
Forbes Harley X'annan grew up at Car-

ville,

Company and the Mahoning
Company as an engineer at Dan-

until his retirement therefrom, in 1908.

Meantime,

in association

with Daniel

M. Cur-

Vannan bought

the foundrj' and machine department of the old Mahoning Rolling Mills Company, but after a few years sold
ry, !Mr.

his

interest to

Mr. Curry.

However, when

the latter died, Mr. Vannan and Thomas J.
Price took over the shops and incorporated
the Danville Foundry & Machine Company,
of which he has since been president.
Mr. \'annan designed and built the first

locomotive constructed
he was the head of the

Wilkes-Barre, while

Wyoming

\'alley

Man-

His wise and capable
ufacturing Company.
supervision of the men under him always
gained their confidence and respect, and while
he was superintendent at Danville, in 1881,
his men evinced their friendship by presenting him a watch, which he cherishes to this
day.

Dec. 15, 1859, Mr. Vannan marEmeline Albright Parr, of Scranton, Pa.,
who was born at Belvidere, N. J., in May,
1841, daughter of William and Caroline (AlMr. Parr was an iron molder.
bright) Parr.
Mrs. Vannan died at South Danville, Aug.
31, 191 1, the mother of children as follows:
ried

COLU.MBIA AND

454
Irvin.

born Oct.

12,

MONTOUR COUNTIES

who minutes and was

i860, in Scranton,

general manager and mechanical engineer
of the Danville Foundry & Machine Company
is

at Danville; George, born June 4, 1862, who
died Sept. 2, 1863, in Scranton, Pa.; and Walter, born Dec. 26, 1866, who is at home.
St.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church
holds Mr. Vannan's membership and receives
In 1867 Mr.
generous support from him.
Vannan joined the Masons, and has continued an enthusiastic member ever since. He
is now the only
living charter member of

Kingston Lodge, No. 395, F.

COL. CHARLES
now deceased, was
avenue

life.

WESLEY ECKMAN,
a

noted

He was

man
born

every

June

27,

1837. at Punxsutawney, Pa., where he received the meager educational advantages of
He was first
its public schools at that day.

educated to more peaceful fields. His youthful days were spent on a farm which never
An an early date he
lost its attractions.
came to Danville, Pa., to reside with an uncle.

the age of nineteen years, Garfieldhe trod the towpath of the now abandoned
Pennsylvania canal and became a boatman.
At the tocsin of Civil war he enlisted, belike

coming a private in Company H, 93d Regiment of Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers,
and for a time was lost as a private soldier
in the ranks of the Union army.
But only for
a time, for the retiring boy climbed rapidly
from the musket way up into the shoulder-

wounded
the head
saddle.

himself

almost

mortally

in the side
oft'

by a bombshell that tore
his horse and the pommel off his
led that matchless charge up

iMarye's Heights at Fredericksburg and received special recognition from President
Lincoln.
He took part in the following battles fought
by the Army of the Potomac
Siege of York:

town,

1862; Williamsburg, Va.,
Mav 5. 1862; Fair Oaks, \'a.. May 31, 1862;
Malvern Hill, Va., July i, 1862; Chantilly,
Va., Sept. I, 1862; Antietam, Md., Sept. 17,
1862; Fredericksburg, \'a., Dec. 13, 1862, and
\'a.,

April,

\'a.
Salem Heights, Va.,
1863; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-3, 1863;
Rappahannock Station, Va.. Nov. 7, 1863
Mine Run, Va., Dec. 2, 1863; Wilderness, Va.,
Alay 5-6, 1864; Spottsylvania Court House,
\'a., ^lay
12-13. 1864; Cold Harbor. Va.,
June 1-2, 1864; before Petersburg, Va., June
18. 1864; Fort Stevens, D. C, July 17, 1864;
Charlestown, \'a.. Aug. 21, 1864; Bunker Hill,
\'a.. Sept. 13, 1864; Opequan, \'a., Sept. 19,
1864; Flint Hill, Va., Sept. 21, 1864; Fishers
Hill, \'a., Sept. 22, 1864; Cedar Creek, Va.,
Oct. 19, 1864; Winchester, Va., Oct. 19, 1864;
before Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865 before Petersburg, \'a.. April 2, 1865; Sailor's
Creek, \'a., April 6, 1865; Lee's surrender,

Marye's Heights,

May

;

April

1865.

At the

close of the Rebellion Colonel Eckreturned to Danville, Pa., where he was
in
the mercantile business for the
engaged
term o'f three years. In 1866 he. with other
straps of military distinction.
As a Union soldier his term of seiTfice was business associates, purchased the Danville
He enlisted at Danville. Pa.. Sept. 15, Oil Refinery, which he operated for about
long.
Meantime he was also engaged
1861. and constantly continued in the service three years.
in other business pursuits.
In 1869 he was
until he was mustered out at Danville, Va.,
June 2-/, 1865. As already stated, his rise appointed postmaster of Danville, Pa., which
on
the
field
was rapid. He was promoted
position he held continuously for seventeen
twice in a single day for meritorious services, and a half years. He then removed to the city
and at the close of the war he was in command of Reading, Pa., where he resided for about
of the 1st Brigade of the 2d Division of the one year, thence removing to the city of Har6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac
risburg, Pa., where he first became the supersaid to have been "The finest corps that ever intendent of the Lochiel Iron and .Steel \\^orks
faced a foe." He was assigned to the head of and afterward superintendent of the Coleman
He then returned
his corps (6th) at the grand review of the blast furnace at that place.
Army of the Potomac at Washington, D. C, to Danville. Pa., where he became a manager
after the sunset at Appomattox. He was then of the Danville Bessemer Steel Company.
C)n July 3. 1866, Colonel Eckman married
tendered the rank of brigadier general in the
regular army service, which he declined with Sophia Starker Gearhart, a daughter of Maythe modest remark that he had "seen enough berry and Mary Catherine Gearhart. and who
of war." He was wounded three times in the still resides at the Roaring Creek home. Three
Miss Kathabattle of the Wilderness, but he never left the children also still survive him
rine G. Eckman, who resides at home; Miss
field until the end of that long and doubtful
Cedar
Creek
he
Boone
a
had Elizabeth
Eckman,
graduate of the
struggle. At the battle of
two horses shot under him in less than twenty Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, former-

man

—

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Iv superintendent of the Bryn Mawr Hospital,
and of the Good Samaritan Hospital at Lexington, Ky. Hester R. Eckman, now the wife
of George W. Darby, of the city of Harris;

burg, Pa., and
dren, Elizabeth

who, in turn, have two
and Christine Darby.

chil-

Declining years lured Colonel Eckman back
and he spent his last years in his
Roaring Creek home. The roar of a mountain
stream called another Cincinnatus back to the
to the soil,

continues to

455

make her home on

the old place

Mayberry township before mentioned,
where she was born Jan. 31, 1846, daughter
of Mayberry and Mary Catherine (Nixon)
Gearhart.
Her godmother was a Mayberry,
of the family which at one time had such exin

Mon-

tensive holdings of land in that part of
tour county named in their honor.

The Gearhart

The camp of the
regiment of four tlags.
Sons of Veterans at l3anville, Pa., still bears

which Mrs. Eckman belongs, has been numerous and prominent in Northumberland county since shortly
after the close of the Revolutionary war, and
one township of the county has been named
in their honor.
Two brothers, Jacob and
William Gearhart, came to Northumberland
county about 1790, the former settling in what
is now Gearhart township, the latter in Rush

honored name. He was the soul of honor
and the badge of integrity. He never left a
duty and he never betrayed a trust. He was
The world never saw his
a modest man.
He told no story of matchless conflict.
scars.
For years he suiifered in silence the renewed
pangs of Cedar Creek and then there fell on
his wasted brow the breath of the eternal
morning. He died May 3, 1906, regretted by

township.
William Gearhart, brother of Capt. Jacob
Gearhart, was born in Strasburg, Alsace-Lorraine
now part of Germany and came to
.\merica in 1754. He settled in Hunterdon,
N. J.
When the Revolutionary war broke
out he enlisted in the Hunterdon county militia and was promoted to ensign.
After the
war, about 1790, he came to Northumberland

plough. His home life was ideal. To know
him there was to love him. He had no eneIn vanmies. His friends were everywhere.
ishing
call

army

circles

they

still

—

affectionately
the

him "the old war horse of the 93d"

his

all

who

ever

knew him and to
memory.

all

whom

his life is still a gentle

"Sedgwick," his faithful steed, has long
since ceased to graze along the shady hillside.
bridle without a rein and an old saddle,

once flecked with blood and foam,

still hang
empty on memorial walls. But his magnifiis still
cent sword
the gift of his soldiers

—

Time has tarnished
as spotless as his life.
In the City of the Silent he sleeps
neither.
as

modestly as he

lived.

His monument

a reunited nation.
Colonel Eckman was a Freemason, belonging to the blue lodge and commandery at DanHe
ville, and to the chapter at Bloomsburg.
also held membership in the G. A. R. post at
Danxille.

He was

acti\e in politics for years,

working long and effectively in the interest of
the Republican party, in which his influence
He was
did much to shape local atifairs.
brought up in the .Methodist Episcopal Church.
Colonel Eckman was a grandson of John

New Jersey, who settled
with his family at Kline's Grove, Northumberland Co., Pa., where the family is still
represented. -He was a farmer all his life.
Isaac Eckman, son of John, and father of
Colonel Eckman, was born Nov. 8, 1809, '^^
Northumberland county, and died Nov. 3,
He was a carpenter by trade and also
1874.
followed farming.
Eckman, a native of

Mrs. Sophia Starker (Gearhart)

Eckman

family, to

)

(

county, Pa., and purchased a large tract of
land to the southeast of his brother, Capt.
Jacob Gearhart's tract, settling in Rush townIn New Jersey he married Eleanor
ship.
DeKnight, and they were the parents of four
sons and three daughters, as follows William,
Elizabeth
(Mrs.
Aaron,
Tobias,
Jacob,
:

Aniens),

Ann (Mrs. Aniens) and Mary (Mrs.

Lomison).
William
i)orn

Gearhart,

son

William,

was

New

Jersey, married Sarah Boone,
children as follows
Mayberry. born

and had

May

26, 1813; Harriet, 1815 (married
Yet'ter)
Juliann, 1818 (died Nov. 8,
;

Lewis
1910,

aged ninety-two years) Eleanor, 1819 (married David Clark), and ,\melia Douglass, 1821
(married Gideon M. Shoop).
Mayberry Gearhart, born !\Iay 26. 1813,
was a prominent man in the township which
was named in his honor. In his early life he
was a school-master and singing teacher, and
in his later manhood, as a farmer, he was one
of the most successful and substantial citiHis remarkable
zens of his neighborhood.
constitution enabled him to withstand the
trials and hardships which beset the husbandman of fifty years ago. and such was the con;

fidence imposed in his integrity his neighbors
considered his word as good as his bond.
He possessed an excellent memory, and his
recollections of the old training days and the
early history of this section of the State were

all

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

456

all who were permitted
^Manufacturing Company, becoming one of
him when in a reminiscent mood. the active managers of the concern. He was
His death occurred Aug. 5, 1893. On Feb. also part owner of the Jackson Iron Company
in Union county. Pa.
.\fter serving as a
18, 1845, Mr. Gearhart married Mary Catherine Nixon, who was born June 20, 1827, and director of the First National Bank until 1903
he
was
then
elected
died Jan. 19. 1883.
president, which position
They had a family of
William G., de- he continued to fill until his death.
seven children, as follows
On Sept. 3, 1873, Mr. Jackson was married
ceased, married Margaret Thompson, of Dan-

highly entertaining to
to listen to

Sophia S. is the widow of Charles W.
Clarence Frick, deceased, married
Malissa Bird (whose father was the founder

to Alice Amerman, of Danville, Pa., a member
of one of the leading families of that section.

of Sliamokin, Pa.), and they had two children, Minnie Hinckley (married Elton Meade,
and Magdalen (married
of Lincoln, Nebr.
Gustav Peter, of York, Nebr., and has one
became the wife of
Amelia
child. Stein)
Henry M. Hinckley, of South Danville, Pa.

E.,

ville

;

Eckman

;

)

;

Sayre, who lives in Danville, married
Ella Creveling, and their children are .Mary
Catherine, Helen Sophia, Marian and Evelyn
Regina Elizabeth Boone is the wife of William Vastine, of Danville, and George S., who

Edward

;

Catawissa, married

lives

Harriet Louisa

Yetter, and has one child, William Lewis.
The mother of this family, Mrs. Mary

(Nixon) Gearhart, was born at
Morristown, N. J., and was of Puritan descent, the only daughter of James and Sophia
Her father was an ex(Starker) Nixon.
tensive contractor and assisted in building the
Morris canal. Mrs. Gearhart was only a child
when he died, and her early training devolved
entirely upon her mother, who was regarded
as a woman of sterling character and remarkWhen Mrs. Gearhart
able powers of mind.

Catherine

mother moved with her
to Easton, Pa., where they remained three
years, and then moved to Columbia county,
where she resided until her marriage to Mr.
Gearhart, at which time she made her home in

was

ten years old her

Roaringcreek, continuing to reside there until her death.

FRANK

late of

JACKSON,

Berwick,

ablest men of his generation
one of the managers of the Jackson

was one of the
there.

One

was born

to this marriage, Katharine
Henry P. Field, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Jackson served as treasurer of the

child

now

the wife of

County Agricultural Society and was for years
one of the trustees of the Y. M. C. A. of
Berwick.
Besides taking an active interest
the development of the business of his
native city he was a contributor to all other
afifairs that had for their object the betterment
of Berwick. He was a member of the Methodist Church.
In politics he was a Republican,
and a firm believer in and liberal supporter
of the policies of the party.
Mr. Jackson died June 23, 1909. Mrs. Jackson passed away May 25, 1899, and they are
buried at Berwick.
in

HON. DENNIS BRIGHT,
was during

\ille.

most prominent merchants of the borough,
and though he lived retired for several years
before his death he retained his interest in
various enterprises. He was also in the public
service

some

won and

years, and in every association
retained the respect and admiration

His prosof those whose lives touched his.
perity was the result of intelligent application
to whatever he undertook, his popularity the
reward of just dealings with all his fellow
men.
He belonged to a family of German
and French extraction established in this
country by his great-grandfather, Michael
liright, who came here from the Palatinate
almost two centuries ago.
Michael Bright was born in Christianstadt,
6. 1706, son of John Bright.
Coming to America in October, 1726, at the
age of twenty years, when the Province of
Pennsylvania consisted of three counties,
Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester, he located
In 1728 he located at
in Chester county.
SchaefTerstown, Chester county, one of the
oldest towns in the State, and there he became
He married Maran extensive landowner.
and
garet Simon, a daughter of Jacob Simon,
to their union were born the following chilm
dren
Jacob, born .\pril 13, 1729; George

& Woodin Manufacturing Company, whose Germany, May
plant at Berwick became one of the branches
of the American Car and Foundry Company
in 1899, and president for several years of the

National Bank at Berwick, he had a
foremost place in the financial and manufac-

First

turing activities of the place.

Mr. Jackson was born

Berwick Nov.

10,

He was edu1850, son of M. W. Jackson.
cated in the schools of Berwick, Williamsport
and Mechanicsburg, Pa., and when of age
became interested

the Jackson

& Woodin

late of Danhis active years one of the

<y^ j^^.

i.J.1^-"-"

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
1
73 1 ;, Micliael, Nov. 24, 1732; CathApril 6, 1734; John, Jan. 20, 1736;
Peter, May 13, 1738; David, Aug. 9, 1740;
Maria, Aug. i, 1742; Sally, June 7, 1745; and
Christian, April 6, 1747.
Michael Bright, son of Michael, was born
in Lebanon county, Pa., and was a saddler
At an early day he located in
by trade.
Reading, Berks Co., Pa., where he kept one
of the first hotels and was a very large landowner. In 1760 he built a residence on the
comer of Fifth and Washington streets, and

June,

erine,

His

there lived until his death, in 1814.

first

marriage was to Sarah Stoner, by whom he
had two children, Michael and Jacob.
His
second union was to Mrs. Catherine Brower,
and their union was blessed with four children: Sarah, born Nov. 11. 1769; David;
Peter; and John,

who

died in infancy.

David Bright was born in Reading, Aug.
1771, and took up agricultural work upon
He also followed teamreaching manhood.
ing and did considerable building in and about
that city, being one of its most enterprisiu":
citizens.
On Jan. ij. 1793, he married
5,

Catherine Hottenstien,

who

lived to the age
they became the parents

of eighty years, and
of the following children

born Dec.

Sally,

who married M. Yeager;

Michael,
born Aug. 16, 1795; Abbie, born Jan. i, 1797.
who married George Fisler William, born
25,

1793,

;

Sept. 2, 1798, who married Susan Lora
Catherine, born Feb.
1800, the wife
19,
of John Green; Peter, born Nov. 21, 1801
;

;

John, born Dec. 5, 1803; David, born Dec. 25,
1808; Aaron, born July 8, 1809, who married
Maria Miller; and Francis, born Sept. i. 1812.
Peter Bright was born Nov. 21, 1801, at
Reading, and early in life moved to Valley
township, Montour county, where he purchased the farm which his son Dennis afterward owned. There he carried on general
farming and became one of the foremost men
of that section.
He erected new buildings on
the propert}', and made many other improvements, opening up a limestone f|uarry, from
which he supplied limestone to the Danville
furnaces.
He also burned considerable lime,

457

married Rhoda A. Butler, and lives in the
State of Indiana; Evans, deceased; Dennis;
Albert, deceased; Penina, of Danville; Philip,
deceased; Abbie, the wife of William AchenHiram and Mrs.
bach, and Mary, deceased.
Achenbach, the latter a resident of Gladare
the only survivors.
brook, Iowa,
Dennis Bright was born March 22, 1839,
on the old homestead in \alley township, and
obtained his primary education in the district schools.
Then he walked three miles
back and forth daily, that being the distance
from his father's farm to Danville, in order
that he might further his education by a
course in the Danville Academy.
He next
entered Greenwood Seminary, where he remained for two years, following which he

became a student in the Pittsburgh Commercial College, where he received a business
graduating in 1856.
Returning
home, he assisted his father in the labors of
the farm until 1861, when he removed to
Lafayette, Warren Co., Ind., which was the
home of one of his brothers. Upon the comeducation,

mencement of

hostilities in the Civil war he
determined to enter the service, and on April
20, 1861, he enlisted in the 15th Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, for three months. The regi-

ment was held in Indianapolis by Governor
Morton until the expiration of that term, and
when the call for three years' men was made
he reenlisted. on June 14, 1861, becoming first
sergeant of Company A, of the same regiment.
The regiment's first engagement was
at

Rich ^lountain,

the

enemy

rout,

where, having put
regiment was gi\en

\'a.,

the

orders to pursue them in their retreat.
At
Elkwater the retreating regiment turned and
made a bold stand, and in the engagement
which followed Mr. Bright was wounded i)y

musket ball passing through his ankle, dishim to such an extent that he was prevented from active service until the following
spring. He was then ordered to his regiment
and was promoted to a captaincy on the statif
of Brig. Gen. George D. Wagner, his brigade
having been transferred from West \'irginia
to the army of General Buell in Kentucky for
and was a very energetic and prosperous busi- the investment of Fort Henry and Fort
ness man.
He died at the age of eighty-one Donelson. Having figured in the capture of
In December, 1827, he married ^Iary these two important points, the
years.
brigade joined
Evans, who was of Welsh origin, a daughter the army of General Grant in Tennessee, and
of Philip and .Ann Elizabeth (Van Reed)
at the battle of Pittsburg Landing Captain

Evans.
Her ancestors settled in Chester
county. Pa., as early as 1730. Eleven children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bright Rebecca,
who married Emanuel Sidler Abner and
David, who died at an early age Hiram, who
:

;

abling

Bright received an injury in his wounded
ankle and was incapacitated for further active

He was detailed to garrison and produty.
vost duty, and after a service of two years
was lionorably discharged.
Immediately

COLUMBIA AND MUXTOUR COUNTIES

458

thereafter he received an appointment as an
assessor
of
internal
revenue.
Governor
Geary subsequently appointed him lieutenant
colonel of the 8th Division. National Guard

of Pennsylvania.
Locating in Danville Mr. Liright, in company with Col. Charles Eckman. purchased
the plant of what became known as the
Atlantic Oil Refining Company, which was
established
by John Heller and Charles
Shultz.
From the crude oil they refined il-

luminating
([uantities

oil and lubricating oil in large
and did a very extensive business.

In 1872 they disposed of this business to
Mr. Bright, having heard
Bailey & Welsch.
nothing for some jxars of his brother Philip,
who had gone to California, crossed the continent to search for him and found that he

had been robbed and murdered. Returning
one year later he bought the hardware establishment of \'an Alen & Company, which
business he continued to carry on for fifteen
years, first at the \'an Alen place on Mill
When the opera house was built he
street.
moved the business to that building, where he
remained until he sold out to E. J. iloore.
After the death of his mother he became
owner of the family estate in Valley townincluding the limestone quarries
He owned a winter
nected therewith.

ship,

con-

home

and orange grove in Marion count}'. Fla.,
where he spent the winters for several years
His home at Xo. 132
before his death.
]\Iarket street. Danville, is a fine brick residence, and the site commands an excellent
view of the Susquehanna river, as well as
beautiful mountain scenery.

In 1872 Mr. Bright was elected a member
of the State Legislature, and he had the honor
of being the first Republican to represent his
He died Sept. 17, 1910.
district in that body.
and is buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at
Danville.
In Februarv. 1872. Mr. Bright married
Lucy M. Reay. who was born Sept. 8, 1843,
in
the suburbs of Birmingham, England,
daughter of John and Mary (Summerfield)

Reav.

}ilr.

and Mrs. Bright had no children.

whose ancestors were among the
settler

ville,

has long been one of the best

Dan-

known men

hardware trade in and around that boresough, where he founded the wholesale
tablishment now known as the Welliver Hardware Company.
Mr. Welliver was born in Montour county
Feb. 3. 1841. son of Abraham and Martha
in the

(_\\'inder)

Welliver, natives of Pennsylvania.

then conducted the store for the widow
also with Mr. Waters" successor one
year, at the end of that time entering the
hardware business on his own account, in
1875. A year later he formed a partnership
with James McCormick which lasted for seven
years, when Mr. Welliver bought out Mr.
McCormick's interest and in 1883 formed an
association with Mr. J. H. Cole, establishing
the firm of Welliver & Cole, who conducted
the business for the next seven years. Then
Mr. Welliver purchased iMr. Cole's share, and
in 1894 the Welliver Hardware Company was
incorporated with a capital of $25,000, which
in 1896 was increased to Sioo,ooo.
This concern has high standing in the trade all over
this section of the State.
For five years Mr.
Welliver conducted a hardware store at Xanticoke. Pa., which he had established, selling

and was

same

to his son.
In 1865 Mr. Welliver enlisted in Company
I,
104th Pennsylvania \'olunteer Infantry,
with which he served until the close of the
war. principally as clerk in the provost marshal's office.
At the close of the war he was
deputized to administer the oath of allegiance.
He has served his fellow citizens in Danville
as member of the board of health.
He is a
Democrat and has acted as judge of election.
Elizabeth
In 1866 Mr. Welliver married

Best,

SAMUEL JAMES WELLIVER.

early set-

The grandfather was an
Columbia county. Abraham
early
Welliver was a shoemaker by trade, and
worked at farming all his life.
Samuel J. \\'elliver attended the common
schools and later Greenwood Seminary, at
His first occu^Millville, Columbia Co., Pa.
pation was teaching school, which profession
he followed for six years. He then came to
Danville, and in company with his brother,
William R., established a book and stationery
store.
Two years later they merged this
business into a general store, which they carried on for several years, when Samuel J. Welliver sold his interest to his brother and subsequently took charge of the hardware store
of Charles H. Waters, until the latter's death.
tlers of the State.

who

Simeon
of

of English origin, daughter of
They have had eleven children,
four died in childhood, the others
is

Best.

whom

being: Warren W.. ^lary Martha, Bertha,
and
Lulu.
(deceased)
Harry, Jessie J.
Mrs. Welliver is a member of the
Frances.

Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. WelChurch. He is a
of Lodge Xo. 109. I. O. O. F., of

liver belongs to the Baptist

member

Danville.

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

WARREN
the wholesale

ment

W. \\ELLI\'ER,
and

retail

proprietor of

hardware

establish-

Danville whicli he conducts under his
name, and also a director of the Welliver
Hardware Company, a wholesale concern,
bears a name which has long been associated
with tlie hardware trade in this part of PennHe is one of the most progressive
sylvania.
in

merchants in the borough, a fact to which his
up-to-date store and stock testify.
Mr. Welliver was born in Danville July 23,
1866. son of Samuel James W'elliver, and obtained his education in the public schools of
the borough.
When only fourteen years old
he started a modest business of his own, selling paints, oils, leather, etc., and a year later
he went to work for his father in the hardware business. In 1884 he was sent to Nanticoke to manage the store of Welliver & Cole
(his father and J. H. Cole), and after he had
been there three years he bought the interest of Mr. Cole, from which time the business
was continued under the name of S. J. Welliver & Co.
In 1887 Air. Welliver bought his
father's interest and changed the name to the
Welliver Hardware Company.
He remained
at

Nanticoke until

189.^,

when he returned

Danville and entered the wholesale trade, in
which he has since been interested. In 1894
the \\'elliver Hardware Company was incorporated, with a capital of $25,000, which in
1896 was increased to $100,000, and W. W.
Welliver became secretary and general manager, continuing his connection with the concern in that capacity for a period of sixteen
He is still
years, until he resigned, in iQio.
one of the directors, however.
When he
severed his active connection with the Welliver
Hardware Co.. he acquired by purchase the
sole ownership of the wholesale and retail
hardware business then being conducted by
the firm known as S. J. Welliver"s Sons Company, which he has since carried on under the
name of W. \\". Welliver. In 1910 he made
extensive additions to the store occupied by
this com])any, the building being now 25 feet
wide and 500 feet deep. The stock is large
and includes complete assortments of all the
lines carried, affording patrons the widest
choice, and all the modern appliances and fitMr. Welliver
tings are to be found here.
knows the business from the ground up, and
he not only aims to supply the needs of his
customers, but to offer them goods in advance of their demands, suggesting the up-todate productions of the trade and giving them
the benefit of his knowledge of what is in the
market.

459

Mr. Welliver married Elizabeth Lewis, of
Pittston, Pa., and to them was born one child,
In 1894 .Mrs. Welliver died, and
Dorothy.
Mr. Welliver has since remarried, his second
union being to Grace I. Irland, of Danville,
daughter of James M. Irland, the photographer. Mr. Welliver belongs to the Mahoning Presbyterian Church, and socially he holds
membership in the B. P. O. Elks Lodge No.
754) and Masons, Mahoning Lodge, No. 516,
F.
A. M., Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A.
M.. and Calvary Commandery, No. 2,7, K. T.,
(

,Jt

all

of Danville.

McMahan Irland, father of Mrs.
Welliver. was born Sept. 23, 1846, in Northumberland county, Pa., son of John M. and
Amanda (-McMahan) Irland. His parents
were of S'-otch-Irish stock, and settled early
in Pennsylvania.
James M. Irland was reared
to farming, and was engaged at such work until his enlistment in the Union
army, Aug.
He became a member of Company
17, 1864.
E, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was in the
senice until the close of the war. At Woodbury. Tenn., he was captured, but paroled a
short time later. Mr. Irland has been engaged
in business as a photographer at Danville
since 1866.
He married Lucy F". Maxwell, of
Carbondale. Pa., daughter of Robert and
Jane (Douglas) Maxwell, the former a merJames

chant.

Airs.

Irland died Dec.

12, 1898, the
Grace I., wife of
Welliver, of Danville Robert D.,
a physician, of Kansas City, Mo. Thomas C,
agent at Danville for the Delaware, Lackawanna & W'estern Railway Company, and
Helen C. wife of Paul A. Vannan, an electrical engineer, of Elyria, Ohio.
Air. Irland
is a member of
Lodge No. 754, B. P. O.
Elks, of Danville, and the Alahoning Presby-

mother of four children

Warren W.

;

terian Church.

EDWARD

PURPUR, vice president and
superintendent of the Nam-Trah Knitting &
.Spinning Company, of Danville, Alontour Co.,
Pa., was born in that place Alay 29. 1873. son
of Frederick and Louisa (Horwart) Purpur.
Frederick Purpur was with the Philadelphia & Reading Iron Company as a puddler
for some years, and later with the Alahoning
Rolling .Alills Company as timekeeper and
puddler boss, so continuing imtil his death,
which occurred Nov. 28, 1898, at Danville,
when he was sixty-two years old. His widow,
now eighty years of age, still makes her home
at

Danville.

Edward Purpur was educated
lic

in the pubschools of his native borough, and began

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

460

business career as an office boy for the
Mahoning RolHng Mills Company. Later he
learned patternmaking, which trade he followed for ten years. In order to learn the
knitting business he entered the employ of the
Danville Knitting Mills Co. as a clerk, and
was later made superintendent of the plant,

secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association in W'ilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
In the spring of 1882 he entered the Central

holding that responsible position until 191 1,
when upon the organization of the Nam-Trah
Knitting & Spinning Company he became
vice president and superintendent.
Mr. Purpur has been quite prominent in

Shamokin;

his

municipal

affairs,

serving

three

years

borough auditor, and is now councilman from
the First ward, having been elected to that
He
office for a term of four years, in 191 1.
was trustee of the Thomas Beaver Public Library for some years, and for one year was
chief of the fire department.
On April 26, 1905, Mr. Purpur married
Lillie M. Allgaier, a daughter of Frederick
and Catherine (Bausch) Allgaier, her father
a shoe manufacturer of Danville.

Mr. Purpur belongs to Beaver Lodge, No.
132, Knights of Pythias: to the Heptasophs,
and to Danville Lodge, No. 754, B. P. O.
Elks, serving as secretary of the latter organization.
He still holds his membership in the
He
Friendship Fire Company of Danville.
and his family belong to Christ Memorial

Episcopal Church.

The Nam-Trah Knitting & Spinning Company was organized in 191 1 with John H.
Goeser as president Edward Purpur, vice
president David J. Reese, secretary, and F.
It is capitalized at
Q. Hartman, treasurer.
$40,000, and the building owned by the company is 40 by 80 feet in dimensions, three
stories in height, and built of brick.
Employment is given to one hundred persons. This
corporation is the outgrowth of the Danville
Knitting Mills Company, manufacturers of
men's half hose, established in 1897.
;

;

EDWIN

H. WTTMAN, pastor of
St.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church in
He
Danville, was born in E'loomsburg, Pa.

REV.

received his early educational training in the
public schools of Bloonisburg and was subsequently tutored by the late Prof. J. W.
Ferree, an eminent educator of his day, and
a member of the faculty of the State Nor.Afterwards he
mal School at Bloomsburg.
became a student in the State Normal School
preparing for the profession of teaching, and
for five years thereafter ser\ed as a teacher
in the public schools of Bloomsburg and vicinFrom 1880 to 1882 he was the general
ity.

Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Lock Haven,
Pa., and has served the following charges in
1882, Benton; 1883, West
1884-85, Duboistown
1886-88,
Osceola Alills; 1889, Ramey 1890-92, West
Clearfield; 1893-97, Roaring Spring; 189899, Patton; 1900-01, Ashland; 1902-03, Fatten: 1904-05, Austin; 1906-07, Jersey Shore;
1908-10, Bellwood; 1911-12, Curwensville;
1913-14, St. Paul's, Danville.
In 1884 Mr. Witman married Miss Lilian I.
To this union two children were
Edgett.
born Eleanor Ewing Witman, now wife of

Pennsylvania:

;

Rev. James McKendree Reiley, at present residing at State College, Pa. and Mary Corinne
Witman, now Mrs. Howard A. Ryder, of
;

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

CHARLES
tired

ZEHNDER, now

Allenhurst,

prominent figures

in the

J.,

living

was one of

re-

the

industrial develop-

ment of Berwick, for some time president of
The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, whose business has been absorbed by
the American Car and Foundry Company.
Mr. Zehnder was born April 16, 1856, in
Northumberland county, Pa., of German
descent, his grandfather having come to this
country from Germany early in the nineteenth
He was a miller, and followed the
century.
trade nearly all his life.
For some years he
resided at Rupert, Columbia county.
The
father of Charles H. Zehnder, also a miller
by trade, spent most of his life in Columbia
and Montour counties, and eventually settled
at Danville, in the latter county.

Charles H. Zehnder was given a public
school education, and in 1874 became a clerk
Danville National Bank. He remained

in the

with that institution until October, 1878, when
he went to Harrisburg, for three months holding the position of assistant secretary of the
Then for four months he was
general secretary for the association at Norristown. Pa., resigning on account of ill health.

Y. M. C. A.

During 1879 he became private secretary to
Colonel Jackson, of The Jackson & Woodin
Manufacturing Company, car builders, at
Berwick, being so engaged until Colonel Jackson's death.
Then he served Mr. C. R.

Woodin

in a similar capacity for some time,
elected secretary of the company, and
in December, 1885, the duties of superintendent of the plant were added to his responsi-

until

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
In 1892 he became president of the
bilities.
company, resigning from that office in 189O.
In the year last named Mr. Zehnder became
Dickson Manufacturing
of
the
president
Company, of Scranton, and during the five

years he

filled

that position assisted in organ-

Company, who took
over the machinery building interests of the
In 1902 Mr. Zehnder
Dickson corporation.
formed the Allegheny Orr & Iron Company

izing the Allis-Chalmers

of \'irginia, which acquired three blast furnaces and valuable iron ore lands, and afterwards, when this property was sold, he transferred his interest to the bituminous coal and
coke regions of West Mrginia, where he be-

came president of the Austen (\V. \'a.) Coal
& Coke Company. Mr. Zehnder is at present vice

president

of the

Scranton Bolt

Nut Company, of Scranton, Pa., which he and
two brothers organized, and he is a director of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, Empire Steel & Iron Company, of Catasaqua. Empire Trust Company of New York
and L'nion National Bank of Philadelphia.
He is a member of the American Institute of
Mining Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Union League Clubs of
New York and Philadelphia, as well as the
his

New York.
Berwick Mr. Zehnder was very
the Y. M. C. A. work, for a time

Lawyers' Club,

While

active in
acting as president of the local association,
and he was managing trustee during the erection of the building there, afterwards serving
as one of the managers.

GARRICK MALLERY,

at one time vice
president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, at Berwick, predecessors of

the

American Car and Foundry Company, was
in
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co.,

born

Pa. Garrick \'. Mallery, his father, a nati\e
of Jetiferson county, N. Y., was living in Cumberland county, Pa., at the time of his death
in 1X64.

He was

a nephew of Judge Garrick
lived for a time at VVilkes-

Mallery. who
Barre, and afterwards was judge of Berks
county, and for many years a resident of Philadelphia.

Garrick Mallery was reared and educated
Mechanicsburg.
Coming to Berwick in
July, 1864, he entered the store of Jackson &
Woodin, as clerk, which position he held until
Jan. 5, 1865. He was then promoted to bookin

keeper of the firm, and retained that position
until the organization of The Jackson
&

Woodin Manufacturing Company, in 1872,
when he was made treasurer. He was re-

461

tained in that capacity until December, 1882,
when he was made vice president. In 1889
he left Berwick, and has since resided at

Chestnut

Hill,

Philadelphia.

Mr. Mallery married in October, 1872,
Helen A. Hoyt, a native of Columbia county,
and they had four children, viz. Ernest, deceased Garrick, Jr. Helen Pauline, and Lawrence R. Mr. Mallery and all the family are
members of the Presbyterian Church.
:

;

CHARLES EDWARD HAUCK,

associate

judge of Columbia county, and one of the
foremost citizens of this section of Pennsylvania, belongs to an old family of the State.
The first of whom we have record was Jonathan Hauck, his great-great-grandfather, who
was born in Berks county, Pa., and settled in

Columbia county
pation he was a

in the early days.
By occumiller, and he also ran the
old forge at Mainville.
died in Columbia

county.
Peter Hauck, son of Jonathan, was bom
at Mainville, and settled down to farming in
Beaver township, Columbia county, where he
died.
He is buried in the churchyard at Har-

Union Church in that township. The
following children were born to him and his
wife Elizabeth (Michael): George W., now
living in Beaver township; Sallie, Mrs. Bride-

ger's

bender; Eliza, Mrs. Bridebender; Hattie, Mrs.
Frey Mary, Mrs. Bason; and John.
John Hauck, son of Peter, was born in
Beaver township, Columbia county, where he
followed farming. For about eight years he
was also in the employ of the Philadelphia
;

& Reading Railway Company

as bridge cardied upon his farm in Beaver
township Nov. i, 1910, aged seventy-five
He was a man well known and much
years.
respected in his community, having served his
fellow citizens eleven years in the capacity of
school director, as well as in other public

penter.

Politically he was a Democrat, and in
religious connection an active member of the

ofifices.

Lutheran Church, which he served as deacon.
married Emeline Singley, daughter of
John Singley, of Beaver township, and to them
were born children as follows Peter H., who

now a resident of
Edward and Francis

;

township.
Charles

Pottsville, Pa.
F., a

;

Charles

farmer of Beaver

Edward Hauck was born June

1870, in Beaver township,

25,

where he had the
educational advantages afforded by the public
schools.
Later he furthered his studies in
the Bloomsburg State Normal School, and at
the Scranton business college, graduating from

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUXTIES

462

For the next
1894.
employ of the Hooven
Mercantile Company, at Sunbury and WilkesBarre. I'a., at the end of that period returning
to the old Jlauck homestead in Beaver township, Columbia county, which he now owns.
He is one of the third generation of Haucks
His
to which this property has belonged.
in

the latter institution
ten years he was in the

contains seventy-two acres of cleared
land and thirty-eight acres of woodland, and
a desirable location about ten miles southSince his return to his
east of Bloomsburg.
native county Mr. Hauck has been quite active in the local government, and has served
his township as school director, overseer of
Oil Nov. 8,
the poor and in other offices.
tract

is in

191

he was elected associate judge.

Natur-

ally fitted for positions of trust, his experience
in public posts of responsibility has strength-

ened his qualities and ripened his judgment,
and he has been very successful in the administration of his local offices.
crat,

member

Demo-

of the Grange, and belongs

The Dodson family

is of old PennsyKania
and Mr. Dodson's immediate ancestors
been farmers. His grandfather, Joseph B. Dodson, a native of Northampton. Pa.,
settled in Union township, Luzerne county,
where he owned a tract of eight hundred

stock,

have

all

He cleared all this land of the timber,
sawmill, and engaged extensively in
farming. The old log house in which he had
He was a
his home is still standing there.
man of energy and force of character. In
His wife. Susanna
politics he was a ^^'hig.
(Bennetj, was from the Wyoming valley,
and their children were as follows Dr. William B. died in Philadelphia at the great age
of ninety-three years Richard married Rhoda
Goss; Dr. Elijah married Rachel .\ddleman;
Jesse S. and Joseph B. are mentioned below;
Esther married John \'an Horn; Olivia marElizabeth married a Mr.
ried Elijah Santee
acres.

ran

;

Watson

John married Susanna.
Jesse .S. Dodson, born in 1803
township, Luzerne county, obtained
;

common

L'nion

his ediica-

to the Lutheran Church, in whose work he
has been active from the age of sixteen years.
He served as Sunday school superintendent
at Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre, and is now
holding that position at Bloomsburg.
Mr. Hauck married Mary lireisch, daughFetterolf
ter of John and Polly
Breisch,

children
Cordelia, who married Alonzo .\dlenian; Dr. D. W., who married Annie \'incent;

and they are the parents of eight children
Harold J., Hubert A., Leah Irene, Catherine
and Mary E.
A., Ruby E., Onille E.,

Anna Sarah E.,
B. F., who married Eva
who married Clarence Brader (he is buried
at Nanticoke)
Boyd H.; J. B., who married

(

)

tion in the
all his life

schools there.

spent

farming, on his father's land in
that township, where he held a high position
his
By his marriage to
neighbors.
among
Lucinda Wynings he had a family of nine
:

;

Lola Hontz (he is buried at Harveyville)
Emma, Mrs. Nichols and A. L., wdio married
Bertha Remaley.
loseph B. Dodson, son of Joseph B. and
Bennet
Susanna
Dodson, was born June
4, 1804, in Union township, Luzerne county,
where he had a common school education. He
followed agricultural pursuits on his father's

;

BOYD H. DODSON was born Sept. 13,
1861. in the vicinity of Fairmount Springs,
Luzerne Co., Pa., and was given common
He has been engaged in
school advantages.
the lumber business and contracting throughout his business career, for many years as
head of a prosperous concern at Berwick,
where he

resides.

Mr. Dodson has been pubdevelopment of

lic-spirited in furthering the

Berwick since he became a resident of the
borough, and his assistance has been recognized and appreciated by his fellow townsmen, who place much importance upon the
influence his encouragement has in local affairs.
His social connections are with the
Freemasons, Royal Arcanum and Knights of
Malta at Berwick, and in religion he is associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On political questions he is a Republican.
Mr. Dodson married Sarah Hess, daughter
of Joseph O. and Helen (Cole) Hess, of
Sugarloaf township, Columbia county, and
two children have been born to them Martha
:

E. and Phyllis Olga.

;

(

)

property, which was divided, Joseph clearing
Hunpart of a 160-acre portion. Moving to
lock township, Luzerne county, he passed the
remainder of his life there, dying in 1893,
and was buried at Sangertown, in that town-

Originally a Whig in politics, he suban
sequently became a Republican, and took
active interest in the questions of the day
and in local affairs, serving his township as
tax collector. He belonged to the Methodist
large family was born
Episcopal Church.
ship.

to his

union with Martha Parks, daughter of

Toseph and Martha Parks, of Union township,
William married Lucinda Sauber Alexander married Rachel Davenport; Catherine
Chester married
married Patrick Morton
Amelia Owen Charles married Tulia Daven-

viz.

;

COLU.MBIA AND

MONTOUR COUNTIES

port and (second) Emma Roberts; Susanna
married Hiram Croop and (second) Harry
Grozier; Lafayette married a Aliss Winters
and Marietta Brown Mary married Wilson
Wolfe; Frederick married Mary; Jonathan
Olivia married Joseph
married a Alears
Mathers Franklin died young.
;

;

HARRY STERNER,

recognized as one of

the leading building contractors of liloomsburg and vicinity, is a member of the fourth
generation in his family to engage in that busi-

Columbia county.

ness in

Abraham

Sterner,

his

great-great-grand-

was of German extraction.

father,

At one

time he lived in the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania, but the Indians, who were friendly
towards him, warned him to leave, and ht
moved to Lehigh county, Pa., where the rest
of his life was passed.
He was the father
of .Abraham, George (who died at Allenand
Nicholas
town)
(who died at Allentown).
Abraham Sterner, son of Abraham, was
born in 1789 in Lehigh county, and came
thence to Columbia county.
After a short

moved to Luzerne county, this State,
where he cleared land in what is now Nescopeck.
Returning to Columbia county he settled at h'spytown, where he engaged in boatHe had learned the carpenter's
building.
trade, and he subsequently followed it at
The reBloomsburg, Columbia county.
mainder of his life was spent in Columbia
county, and he died at Bloomsburg
stay he

He
past eighty years old, in 1870.
interred in the old Methodist burial
ground. His wife's maiden name was Seiple,
and they had children as follows
Catherine
lived to be over one hundred years old
when
was

;

Lydia became Mrs. Ketner; Susan married
Kinley
Mary died in Columbia
county Solomon died in Michigan John S.
was the grandfather of Harry Sterner.
John S. Sterner was born in 1814. and died
in 1894.
Like his father he learned the trade
of carpenter, and he followed brickmaking
and farming in addition to contracting.
In
the latter connection he became well known
as one of the most important men in his line,
and he erected all the best buildings put up

Nathan

;

in
Bloomsburg in his day, being engaged in
business there from 1837 until his retirement.
All the best residences, the first normal school,
the Exchange hotel and many other structures
of note were of his construction, and he acquired a high reputation as a skilled mechanic
and conscientious builder. He lived retired
some time before his death, which occurred

463

when he was past eighty. He is buried in
Rosemont
His
wife,
cemetery.
Juda
(Trump), also of Columbia county, was born
in 1 810, and died in 1896.
They had the
William E.
following family
James C.
born
George W.,
April 2, 1846, who died in
was
a
Bloomsburg (he
prominent citizen of
Columbia county, having served six years as
register and recorder and three years as county
:

;

commissioner) Emma, who married Thomas
(jorey and Charles, a carpenter, who is liv;

;

ing in Bloomsburg.
William E. Sterner,
Sterner, was born Nov.

father of
Harry
7, 1840, in Orange
Columbia
and
learned
the
township,
county,
carpenter's trade under the direction of his
father, who was a most competent instructor.
He has followed it for many years in BloomsFor
burg, also engaging in contracting.
some time he was in the brick manufacturing
business, turning out over one million bricks
a season at his plant and supplying a large demand in Bloomsburg and vicinity. He has
been one of the active business men of the
place, of which he is one of the old residents,
and he erected his fine home there at the
corner of West and Fifth streets, in 1887.

From February,
of the Civil

war

18^)4, until

Air.

after the close

Sterner was in the Union

member

of Company B, 103d
Pennsylvania X'olunteer Infantry,

service, being a

Regiment,
of which he was second lieutenant.
He returned home in July, 1865.
Mr. Sterner married Delilah Fowler, and
they ha\-e four children Ella, wife of Elwood
Christman Mattie, wife of Lafayette Leffler;
h'annie, wife of E. P. Smith and Harry.
Harry Sterner, son of William E. Sterner,
was born Dec. 17. 1868. at Bloomsburg, and
:

;

received his education in the public schools

and in the Bloomsburg State Normal School.
For five years, from 1887 to 1892, he was at
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Pa., learning the business of making horse collars, after
which he went to Philadelphia, remaining in
that city until 1895.
Returning to Bloomsburg, he made only a short stay, going to Elmira. N. Y., where he was located until 1897,
in which year he came back to Bloomsburg
and engaged in carpenter work with his father.
In 1903 he began contracting and building on
his own account, and after two years thus
engaged became employed at the carpenter's
trade on the Tustin mansion and Science Hall,

Normal

1908 he
under the name of Gersinger & Sterner, but this
has been dissolved and Air.
association
of

the

State

School.

formed a partnership with

Air. Gersinger,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

464

Sterner has been carrying on business on his
He is a member of the
since.
Friendship Fire Company.
Mr. Sterner married Margaret E. O'Neal,
daughter of Thomas J. and Mary (Reinhart)
O'Neal, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland counMaria, who
ty, and they have three children
is
now studying music at the Bloomsburg
State Normal School; and Eugene and Margaretta, who are attending public school.

own account

The family

COL.

SON
1842.

are Presbyterians in religious assois a Democrat.

Politically ^Ir. Sterner

ciation.

CLARENCE GEARHART JACK-

bom in Berwick, Pa., March 25,
He was a son of M. W. and Margaret

was

Hartranft. In 1879 he was honored with an
appointment by Governor Hoyt, making him
quartermaster general, which office he held at
the time of his death.
He was chosen as a
delegate to State and national conventions and
took an active part in the management of his
party.

He was

vice

president

the

Woodin Manufacturing Company,

Jackson
president

of the rolling mill, a director of the First National Bank, and a member of the firms of
Jackson, Woodin & Jackson, bankers, and
Jackson Bros. & Crispin. He was a trustee of
Dickinson College and of the State Normal
School at Bloomsburg. He was a director of
the schools of Berwick and a trustee of the
Methodist Church, all of which positions he
filled with great credit and unusual
ability.
On Feb. i, 1866, Mr. Jackson was married
to Elizabeth Seybert, who bore him two children, Henrietta M. and Jane B.

(Gearhart) Jackson. At the age of fourteen
he entered Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., where two years later he graduated
with the highest honors of his class. He then
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa.,
IMr. Jackson was one of the substantial busiwhere at the age of eighteen he graduated at
the head of his class. After his college career ness men of Pennsylvania and one of the
he returned home, where he remained during prominent members of the Republican party,
the eventful period covering the beginning of His wide acquaintance, his liberal views and
the Civil war. At the age of twenty years he his political acumen made him one of the
chief advisers of the party, and he was
felt that it was his duty to aid his country, and
promientered its service Aug. 2, 1862, as second lieu- nently mentioned for the highest office in the
tenant of Company H, 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. On Jan. 2d of the following year he was promoted to first lieutenant

and passed safely through many sanguinary
At Chancellorsville he was captured
battles.
by the enemy and taken to Libby prison, where
he remained many months, but not without
making a daring attempt at escaping. He with
his companions succeeded in getting away
from the prison to the country, but was captured and brought back.
Later he was exchanged and appointed to a captaincy, serving
in that capacity until the close of the war.
At
the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded
and again taken prisoner, and returned to the
prison from which he had been released but a
short time before.
His stay, however, was
short, for he was included among six hundred
officers who were taken to Charleston and
placed under the fire of the Federal cannon
that thundered on them from Fort Moultrie.
From Charleston they were taken to Columbia
and placed in a guarded field, with no roof
to shelter them, and where they dug underground cells for themselves. He was finally
exchanged and returned home to engage in a
more peaceful occupation.
In 1870 Mr. Jackson was appointed major
on the staff of General Osborne and later promoted to colonel on the staflf of Governor

gift of the State.

WILLIAM

FISHER,

farmer, P. O.
was born on
township, Co1836, a son of

Mainville, Columbia Co., Pa.,
the Fisher homestead in Main

lumbia county, on March 7,
John and Juda (Kiefer) Fisher.

The F""isher family is of German origin,
being descendants of Johann Michael Fischer,
who came to this country in 1746 and located
in Berks county. Pa., whence has
sprung a
powerful family with widespread connections.
Henry Fisher, son of Henry and Susanna
of
(Ruth)
Fisher,
Heidelberg township,
Berks Co., Pa., the grandfather of William S.
F'isher, moved to Columbia county in 1821.

He settled in what is now Main township, buying a tract of land comprising 400 acres. He
married Elizabeth Bastuss, also born in Berks
county, and both are buried in the Fisher cemetery in Main township. Mr. Fisher gave the
land for the church behind which the cemetery
lies, and in compliment to him it was given his
name. Henry Fisher was among the pioneers
of this district and was recognized as one of
He and his wife had children
its leading men.
as follows
John, Henry. Solomon, Jonathan,
Elizabeth (who married Benjamin Kercher),
Maria (who married John Deemer), Catherine (who married Christ Fegley), Alice
:

C2£ct^.

4^.M^i^

t^'i'-*-.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
(who married John Fensterniacher), Bebbie
(who married Philip Fegley), Nancy (who
married Samuel Kercher), Susan (who married Conrad Bredbenner), and Mary (who

465

After graduating in the elementary
in 1884 he taught school in Main and
Beaver townships for three years. He was
married Dec. 27, 1887, to Hettie Hartzel, a
married Jacob Hinterliter).
daughter of Joseph and Matilda Hartzel, of
John Fisher, son of Henry Fisher, was a Main township.
Following his marriage he
native of Berks county, and was brought to took up farming in Main township for three
Columbia county by his parents. He operated years, moving thence to Philadelphia, where
He he engaged in the dairy business for ten years.
the Fisher homestead until his death.
married Juda Kiefer, a daughter of Daniel Subsequently he purchased a dairy and poulboth
are
buried
and
Kiefer, of Berks county,
try farm near Hartsville, Pa., a suburb of
in the Fisher Church cemetery in Main townPhiladelphia, where he now resides and is enDan- gaged in high-grade dairy and poultry
ship. They had the following children
iel, William S., James, Henry, Catherine (who
farming.
married Daniel Miller), Eliza (who married
HoR.vcE M. Fisher, of Plainfield, N. J.,
William Mosteller), Esther (who married son of William S., was born on the homestead
John Shipe), and Mary (who married Martin in Main township on July 14, 1863. He obSchool.

course

Nuss).
William

tained his education in the

Fisher received his educational

training in the private schools of his neighborhood and in the Dickinson and Millville

For a few years following the
Seminaries.
completion of his studies Mr. Fisher taught
school, but later devoted all of his time to
farming in Main township. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and an active worker
in his church.
He served as clerk of the
church and Sunday school superintendent
for twenty-five years and was instrumental in
the erection of the present church edifice at
Mainville.
talented musician, he was for
many years the leader of the church choir,

his district

and became

common

schools of

telegraph operator
of the Philadelphia & Reading
Railway Company. In the year 1883 he
resigned and took a course at the Bloomsburg
State Normal School and a commercial course
at a Philadelphia business college.
On leaving
school he entered the service of the Chesain the service

peake

& Ohio

Railroad

Company

Lexing-

ton, Ky., as stenographer, being subsequently
promoted to a more lucrative position with the

same company
this

Richmond, Va.

resigned

position to accept a similar one in the
department of the Rome, Watertown &

traffic

Ogdensburg Railroad Company in New York
City, under Traffic Manager L. A. Emerson,
being afterwards promoted to chief clerk. Hs
remained with this company until the road was
talents for the benefit of others. sold to the New York Central
System, when
he was a Democrat, and served as he was appointed auditor of the R. W. & O.

and during his leisure hours also taught singA man of more than usual abiling school.
ity, he led an upright Christian life and sought
to

use his

Politically

school director of his district for years.
In
1861 he married Mary Margaret Breisch, of
Columbia county, who survives him and lives

No. 370 East street, Bloomsburg, Pa. Mr.
Fisher died Jan. 26, 1912, aged seventy-five
years, and is buried in the Fisher cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher had the following children
George A.; Horace M.
John L.
Emerson T., who died at the age of nineteen
William
C.
who
married
W.
Fannie,
years
C. .Stevenson and resides in Berwick, Pa.
Sadie R., who died unmarried Pearl J., who
married Hurley Sidler and lives in Philadelat

Fast Freight Line in Boston, Mass.

In the

meantime Mr. Emerson took charge of the
traffic department of the Central Vermont
railroad at St. Albans, Vt., and at once sent
for Mr. Fisher to take charge of the claim
department of that road. In 1894 Mr. Emer-

Main township and Bertha, who
married John Reedy and resides in Wilkes-

son resigned to accept the appointment of
general traffic manager of the South Carolina
& Georgia railroad, in Charleston, S. C, and
telegraphed Mr. Fisher to join him there,
placing him ultimately in charge of both
claim and traffic departments.
He remained
with Mr. Emerson in Charleston until 1899,
when the road was sold to the Southern Railway System. Although ofl:'ered a position with
that company in Washington, D. C, he de-

Barre, Pennsylvania.

clined,

;

phia;

Irene,

who married Roy Beaver and

lives

George

;

Fisher, of Hartsville, Pa.,
was born on the homestead
Main townshjp on Jan. 14, 1862. He ob-

son of William
in

S.,

tained his education in the schools of his district and at the
Bloomsburg State Normal
30

and came to New York City, accepting
a position as private secretary to Hon. xA.ugtist
Belmont, banker and

capitalist.

Sept. 12, 1899, Mr. Fisher married Ellen
Chapman Black, of Charleston, S. C, daughter

Samuel Chapman and Mary Jenkins

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

466

(Mikell) Black, both of Scottish descent. Mr.
Fisher remained with Mr. Belmont during
the construction of the great New York subway (underground railroad). In 1903 he was
elected secretary of the Rapid Transit Subway
Construction Company, organized to construct
the subway, and in 1904 secretary of the In-

terborough Rapid Transit Company, organized to operate both the subway and elevated
railroads of New York City. In 1905 he was

New York & Queens
Company, controlling the
Borough of Queens, and in

elected secretary of the

County Railroad
railroads in the

1906 secretary of the Interborough-MetropoliCompany. During 1907, 1908 and 1909
he was elected a director of all of the above
tan

companies, as well as secretary of the Subway
Realty Company. Subsequently, in 1910, 191 1
and 1912, he was elected, in addition to the
above positions, secretary of the New York
Railways Company, a director of the Metropolitan Securities,

New York

Transportation

and Fifth Avenue Coach Companies, and secretary and director of a number of subsidiary
companies composing part of the New York
Railways System.
Mr. Fisher is a member of the Montauk
Club, Brooklyn, the Country, Park and Park
Golf Clubs, Plainfield, N. J., and the Pennsylvania Society of New York. He recently purchased the homestead in Main township, and
aside

from

scientific

his

other duties

farming and

interested

in raising the

standard

of the schools in that district. Politically he is a
Democrat, although of independent tendencies.
John L. Fisher, of Bloomsburg, Pa., son
of William S., was born on the homestead in
Main township, Aug. 23, 1867. He received
his education in the district schools of his
neighborhood and fitted himself for agriculIn 1895 he married Belle
tural pursuits.

Yohe, of
in

Main

Mifflinville, Pa., and began farming
township, later purchasing the farm

and bringing it to a high state of cultivation.
In 1909 Mr. Fisher sold his farm and moved
to Bloomsburg. purchasing and rebuilding the
property at No. 370 East street, where he now
resides. Having retired from business, he has
again become interested in the study of more
advanced agricultural methods, and is devoting a great deal of his time to experimenting
along these lines and in promoting other
measures tending towards the betterment of
the community in which he lives.
Politically, Mr. Fisher is a Democrat and
has served as school director, auditor and justice of the peace, and fraternally he belongs to

the P. O. S. of A. and the

Owls organiza-

tions.

William

C. Fisher, of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
son of William S., was born on the homestead in Main township on July 7, 1883. He
was educated in the public schools of his district and Bloomsburg State Normal School,
which latter school he entered in 1901, graduating in 1904 in the regulation course, ancl in 1905
in the college preparatory course.
During his
course in the normal school he was prominent in all branches of athletic sports, including football, basketball, track and gymnastics,
winning the all-around individual athletic
championship in 1905. He entered Syracuse
University in the fall of 1905, taking up the
course of mechanical engineering, and graduated in the class of 1909. During his course

Syracuse University he played football
four years on the 'Varsity team, and was
chosen for the All- American team in 1908.
at

Me was
ball

also a

member

of the 'Varsity basket-

team and navy crew for four years, row-

ing in

all

the races during this period.

was chosen captain of the 'Varsity crew

He
for

ihe spring of 1908, having been a member of
the crew which won the inter-collegiate championship the previous year, defeating Cornell,

Wisconsin
and
Columbia,
Pennsylvania,
jeorgetown at the Poughkeepsie regatta. Mr.
Fisher is also a graduate of the Brooklyn
(

Polytechnic Institute, class of 191 1, in elecHe is a member of the
engineering.
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the Monx Head
Senior Society, the Senior Dinner Club, the
Tau Delta Sigma Engineering Society of
Syracuse University, and the Alumni Association of New York.
Since his graduation
from the above institutions he has been connected with the Flatbush Gas Company,
trical

Brooklyn, N. Y., and now occupies the posiis a memtion of assistant superintendent.
ber of the National Electric Light Association,

secretary of the Technical Society of Brooklyn
L'nion Gas Company, and a member of the
Park Club, Plainfield, N. J., and of the Pennsylvania Society of New York.

REV.

HENRY FUNK

was born near
Hagerstown, Md., May 7, 1816, and was desHe
tined from childhood for the ministry.
was educated in the public schools of Hagerstown and at Marshall College, Mercersburg,
Pa., from which institution he graduated in
1841. He immediately entered the theological
seminary of the Reformed Church, spending
altogether about nine years in the two institutions.
He was licensed to preach and first

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
served for six

months the lioonesboro charge,

during the absence of its regular pastor.
In the fall of 1844 he was called to Bloomsburg as assistant English pastor to Rev. D. S.
Tobias, in the Bloomsburg charge, and on Dec.
8th following he was installed as pastor at
Orangeville, Pa., by Rev. E. Kieti'er and Rev.
Dr. Henry Harbaugh, the committee appointed
He served acby the Susquehanna classis.
ceptably this large field, which at that time
consisted of a number of congregations,
widely separated, for ten years, giving all of
his time and energy to the work, arranging
it is said a sermon for each day of the month,
a task, in addition to long rides on horseback
in inclement weather, too severe for one of
His life of self sacrifice came
his physique.
to an early end, by his death on April 16,
1855, and he was laid to rest in the cemetery

467

became merged into the Columbia & Montour
Electric Company.
He is also a member of
the board of trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute and State Normal School.
In 1881 Mr. Funk was married to Mary
L. Elwell, daughter of Judge William and
Mary (Thayer) Elwell. They have had four
children: Nevin Elwell Funk, Marie Amelia
Funk, Henry E. Funk and William E. Funk,
the last named deceased. Mr. Funk is a member of the Reformed Church at Bloomsburg,
and has been an elder, trustee and treasurer
continuously since 1877. He is a Democrat,
and has served several times as a delegate to
the State conventions of his party.

CHARLES
of

KLINE,

a leading attorney

Columbia county, was born
1876, son of Dr. Luther B., grand-

Catawissa,

March

23,

son of Harmon G., great-grandson of Isaac
and descendant of Herman Kline, the last
named the founder of the family in America.
Herman Kline emigrated to America in

Hagerstown, Md.
His wife, Matilda (Snyder) Funk, was a
daughter of Daniel Snyder, Sr., one of the
early settlers of Bloomsburg, and Mary Mickley Snyder, a granddaughter of John Jacob
Mickley, who brought the Liberty Bell from
Philadelphia to Allentown Sept. 22,, 1777;
they had but one child, Nevin U. Funk.
Nevin U. Funk, son of Rev. Henry and
Matilda (Snyder) Funk, was born at Blooms-

the early part of the eighteenth century and
settled in Hunterdon county, N. J., where
he bought considerable land. It is said that
he was rich, and generous to his less fortunate
neighbors. He reared a large family of sons
and daughters. The date of his death is not

burg. Pa., Feb.

known.

of the

Reformed Church

He was educated
11, 1852.
Bloomsburg Literary Institute (subseinto
the
quently merged
Bloomsburg Literary
Institute and State Normal School) and at
Princeton University, from which institution
he graduated in 1874 with the degree of Bach-

Isaac Kline, son of Herman, came to Pennsylvania in 1799 and settled in Augusta township, Northumberland county, near the site of
the village of Klinesgrove, on the road leading from Sunbur}' to Danville, at the line of
elor of Arts.
In the succeeding year he took Upper Augusta and Rush townships. In this
up the study of the law, attending lectures' locality he bought four or five hundred acres
at the Columbia Law School and afterwards of land, which was nearly all forest, made a
read law in the office of Hon. Charles R. home and raised a family of two sons.
He
Buckalew, of Bloomsburg. In 1877 he was died in 1818 at the age of ninety years; his
admitted to the bar of Columbia county, and wife, Margaret, preceded him to the grave by
since that date has developed a large and lu- three years.
crative practice.
Besides being a tine lawyer,
Isaac Kline (2), one of the sons of Isaac,
Mr. Funk is a good business man, and is was born in Northumberland county and lived
He marclosely identified with some of the principal on his father's farm all of his life.
institutions of the town of Bloomsburg.
He ried Elizabeth DeWitt, and they had a large
is one of the charter members and one of the
family of children, whose names have not
three surviving original directors of the Farm- been preserved.
ers' National Bank of Bloomsburg.
In 1890
Harmon G. Kline, the other son of Isaac,
he and several others organized the Blooms- was born in Rush township Aug. 30, 1818, and
burg Land Improvement Company, which pur- like his father was a farmer, at Klinesgrove.
chased a large farm adjoining Bloomsburg He was very active in the Methodist Church
on the east, laying same out into streets and and contributed largely to its support.
In
1
lots, upon which have since been built many
841 he married Mary, daughter of Luther
fine residences and large factories.
He was Bassett, a native of New Jersey and a resione of the ten charter members, a director dent of Sunbury, Northumberland county, for
and secretary of the Irondale Electric Light, seventeen years before her death. Mr. and
Heat & Power Company, which subsequently Mrs. Kline enjoyed over fifty years of wedded
at the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

468
before his

life

death,

which occurred

five

She
years after their removal to Sunbury.
died Sept. 2j, 1914, aged ninety-three years,
Her
five months, seventeen days, at Sunbury.
health was remarkable, and her mental faculties unclouded up to the time of her death,
though she had a paralytic stroke the June
preceding.

They were

the parents of nine children, sev-

whom have become noted in educational and medical circles, viz.:
(i) Luther
B. is mentioned below. (2) Elisha B. graduated from Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport,
Pa., studied law and was prepared for admiseral of

sion to the bar just before his death.
(3)
Elizabeth Cecilia, a graduate of Dickinson
Seminary, married H. C. Wallize, of Klinesgrove. (4) George M., also educated at Dickinson, is now a merchant at Winfield, in Union
county. (5) Margaret Eleanor, also a graduate of Dickinson, widow of I. Lewis Bender,
resides with her son, Prof. Harold \\. Bender,
of Princeton University. (6) Dr. David C.
attended the Bloomsburg Normal School,

Dickinson Seminary and Hahnemann Medical
College, from which he was graduated in 1883,
and now practices in Reading. He is an expresident of the Homeopathic State ^Medical
Society. (7) I. Clinton, a graduate of Bloomsburg Normal, L'nion Seminary, Bucknell
Academy and Lafayette College, has practiced

law

Sunbury since 1894. (8) J. Simpson,
studied at Lafayette College, is an attor(9) Rachel Estelle is the
ney of Sunbury.
wife of Prof. William S. Hall, head of the
of
Department
Mining and Engineering at
Lafayette College, Easton. Mrs. Mary (Bassett) Kline was survived by thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Luther B. Kline, M.D., father of Charles
in

who

S.,

was born

Rush township, Northumber-

land Co., Pa., Dec. 24, 1842. He resided on
the farm of his father until his eighteenth
After
year, attending the country schools.
that he taught a small school and then took
a course in the Sunbury Academy.
In the
fall of 1865 he entered Jefiferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from
ated in Alarch, 1867.

which he was gradu-

The following April
he came to Catawissa, where he has gradually
built up an extensive practice.
In 1870 he
married Desdemona W., daughter of J. K.
and Mary M. Sharpless, and they became the
Charles S., Grace
parents of four children
Mrs.
E., and two who died in childhood.
Kline died in 1904. She was a member of the
Methodist Church, to which Dr. Kline also be:

longs.

connected

with

Catawissa

Lodge, No. 349, F. & A. M., the Royal Arch
Chapter and Scottish Rite bodies. He has been
school director, is a member of the County
Medical Society, and was vice-president of
the State Medical Society in the years 1910-11.
Charles S. Kline attended the public schools
of Catawissa, spent one year in Susquehanna
L'niversity, attended Dickinson College as a
member of the class of 1901, and in 1903
graduated from Dickinson Law School. He
read law in the office of W". H. Rhawn. He
was admitted to the bar in May, 1903. While
at college he took a strong interest in athletics, and was also prominent in the Phi
Delta Theta fraternity.
He is a member of
the Alethodist Church and is connected with
several Masonic bodies.
On Sept. 7, 1910,
Mr. Kline married Laura, daughter of George

Seymore and Anna Ploughman (Sharpless)
Mrs. Kline graduated from the
IMoomsburg State Normal School in 1895 and
for several years was a successful teacher in
the public schools of Catawissa. She is a memGilbert.

ber of the Episcopal Church.

George Seymore Gilbert, father of Mrs.
Kline, was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., and
He came to this
died in Catawissa in 1912.
part of Pennsylvania as a surveyor on the
line of the Catawissa railroad, and was made
the first station agent at Rupert.
He also
carried on a mercantile business.
He was a
member of the Episcopal Church and of the
Masonic fraternity. His wife, Anna Ploughman, daughter of John Sharpless, was a descendant of the Sharpless family of Bolton
Harriet
Manor.
Leicestershire,
England.
Sharpless and her cousin, members of this
family, were noted nurses in the days of the
Civil war.
Mr. and Mrs. Kline are also related to the

Harder family, the ancestors

which came from Haarlem, Holland, and setThree of the
tled in New York in 1616.
Harders fought in the Revolution and two
others were practicing physicians in this State
in early Colonial times.

JOHN

TOWNSEND

has had so active

a part in the various movements which have
worked together for the promotion of the best
interests of Bloomsburg that the results of
his efforts can hardly be estimated at the
His work is recognized and
present time.
appreciated by his fellow citizens, who have
been encouraged to cooperate in many projects
of importance to the town because of their
confidence in his judgment of their relative
value. As chief executive for three successive
terms he gave the most conscientious atten-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
tion to the administration of his duties, and his
live interest in local affairs has abated in no

469

As one

office,

of the most trustworthy figures in
business circles he was for a number
of years president of the Board of Trade, in

and as carefully
Broad-minded and farexercised as ever.
sighted, he has shown thorough sympathy
with the most progressive conservators of

and president of the Bloomsburg Industrial
Building & Loan Association, which has been

degree since his retirement from the
his influence being as potent

Bloomsburg's resources.
Mr. Townsend is a native of GloucesterHe has been
shire, England, born in 1840.
a resident of Bloomsburg since 1871, his father and uncle settling here some years pre-

In 1891 he opened a merchant tailor-

viously.

ing business in the First National Bank buildhe
until 1908. when
ing, continuing there

which property
Mr. Townsend's connection with
the civic affairs of Bloomsburg began in 1888
with his election to the school board, of which
body he continued to be an efficient member

moved

to his present location,

he owns.

—three terms of

for the next nine years
years each. In 1902 he

three

was

elected president
of Bloomsburg, which is the only town in
the State of Pennsylvania where the president
of the town council is also mayor, and he was
twice reelected, holding the office for three
Such unqualified indorsesuccessive terms.

ment of

his

policies

and personal exertions

requires no comment. Of his special achievements, the success of the Bloomsburg CentenHe served
nial may be cited as an example.
as chairman of the Centennial committee,
without pay. The celebration was held during
the first year of his administration, and he is
given credit for being the "backbone" of
the whole plan. Though there are many who
predicted its failure he carried it through

local

that

new

position working assiduously to attract
industries to the town. He is a director

a great benefit to the town.
Mr. Townsend has been an ardent Democrat and participated in the workings of the
party for many years. In 1893 he was elected
county chairman, serving two terms as such,
and his work during the campaign of Governor Pattison was most effective in bringing
out a large Democratic vote. Fraternally he
is a prominent Mason, a past master of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M. past high
Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218; past
eminent commander of Crusade Commandery,
No. 12, K. T. and past commander in chief
He was one of the
of Caldwell Consistory.
untiring workers who secured the erection
of Caldwell Cathedral, and served as a member of the building committee.
Mr. Townsend is a leading member of St. Paul's Church,
which he has served as vestryman for years.
;

priest of

;

Mr. Townsend was married

England

Elizabeth Derrett. Of the four children born
to them. Louis John is deceased Harry William. Emma Jane and Joseph Leon are married, and the two sons are in business with
their father. Joseph L. Townsend, the youngest son, is following in the footsteps of his
father as an interested worker in town affairs.
Having been elected president of the town
council, on the Republican ticket, he served
;

as such for

He is
years, 1910 and 191 1.
of the school board, to which
elected in 191 1 for a term of

two

triumphantly, and the town had anniversary
exercises appropriate and adequate to the ocWhen
a bright spot in her history.
casion
the memorable flood of 1904 damaged the unprepared town he acted promptly in the relief
and aid work and as chairman of the relief

now

committee gave his services ungrudgingly to
raising and disbursing the funds so generously
For the last twenty
placed at his disposal.
years he has been serving as a State trustee

lawyer and business man, Bloomsburg, was
born near that city, in Orange township, June
27,
1858, eldest son of John McMurtrie and
Tacy E.( \'anderslice) White. The father was
the eldest son of William and Jane (McMurtrie) White, and grandson of Peter White.

—

for the

Bloomsburg Normal School, and in
member-

that capacity, as well as during his

ship on the board of education, has rendered
important service to the promotion of educational affairs.
He is also president of the

board of directors of the public library, of
which he was one of the earliest advocates,
and he has always been one of its ablest supporters. For some time he has been the representative

Columbia county of the State

Forestry Commission.

member

body he was
six years.

HIESTER

VANDERSLICE

WHITE,

The Whites were among

the early English
England, and the branch of
the family here under consideration moved to
New Jersey and came thence to Pennsylvania,
settling in the Briar creek. Fishing creek and
colonists in

New

Here they interHuntington creek valleys.
married with the Hidlays, Omans and BritThe McMurtries, who were of Scotch
tains.
extraction, settled in the vicinity of Belvidere.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

470

and have a creditable Revolutionary war

J.,

record.

Captain Richardson, one of the ancestors
White in the maternal line, was commissioned by the king of England to take
of
Crown lands in and near Philadelcharge
His daughter Tacy married Thomas
phia.
\'anderslice, and their son Joseph married
Rebecca Hiester, daughter of Capt. John Hiester, who purchased large tracts of land near
of yir.

the intersection of Big and Little Fishing
creeks in 1803. In 182 1 his son-in-law, Joseph
V'anderslice, came with his family from Pottstown and settled on this land, building a
log house where \V. P. \'anderslice now lives.
The war and political records of Pennsylvania show that the Hiester and Vanderslice
families took an active part in shaping the
John
early history of the Commonwealth.
Hiester Vanderslice, son of Joseph, was born
married
Catherine
in Chester county. Pa., and
Melick, a native of Columbia county, whose

family came to this section from New Jersey.
Mr. and Mrs. John Hiester Vanderslice are
buried in the \'anderslice graveyard in Hemlock township, this county.
They were the
parents of Mrs. Tacy E. (Vanderslice) White.
Peter White, great-grandfather of Hiester
Vanderslice White, settled in Columbia county

previous to the year 1800, first in the vicinity
of Orangeville, whence he moved about 1806
to Scott township, in the neighborhood of
Light Street. He was a farmer, and bought
the farm on the edge of that village in recent
years owned by the Hartmans. He passed the
rest of his life there, he and his wife both
dying on that place, and they are buried at

His death occurred when he
Light Street.
was comparatively a young man, and his
widow, Elizabeth (Brittain). survived some
twenty years. They had a family of thirteen
children, of whom we have the following
surviving member of
the family, was a farmer, residing in Indiana
Mary Maud married a Mr. Garrison, a farmer
of Salem township, Luzerne county Zebeth,
who was a farmer, resided in Michigan John,
a farmer, was a resident of Richland county,

record

Harry, the

last

;

Joseph married Lydia Ann Robbins
William was a farmer Samuel followed agricultural pursuits in Richland county, Ohio
Peter also made his home in Richland county,
Ohio; Catherine was the wife of Samuel
Oman, who was a farmer in Mount Pleasant
Sarah was the
township, Columbia county
wife of Samuel Melick, also a farmer of
Mount Pleasant township Elizabeth married
a Mr. Emerson, a farmer of Indiana
Isaac

Ohio

;

was

a farmer

ship

;

and lime burner

in Scott towna resident of Indiana.
William White, son of Peter, was born in

Henry was

1803 in what is now Orange township, Columbia county, and lived with his parents until
his marriage.
He then bought a farm
about a mile north of Light Street, partly
cleared and improved to some e.xtent. After
about twenty-five years' residence there he
bought another farm, adjoining his first purchase, and removing to that place passed the
remainder of his life there, dying Feb. 18,
He erected new buildings on this prop1879.
His holdings comprised five' farms.
erty.
Mr. White was married in Columbia county
to Jane McMurtrie, who was born near Bel-

Warren county, N. J., daughter of
Abraham McMurtrie, who died in that State,

videre, in

as did also his wife; he followed farming
there until the latter part of his life, when

he engaged in milling. Twelve children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. William White, of
whom Elizabeth M. married J. D. Alelick, of
Muncy, Pa., a traveling salesman Mary married George Conner and lived in Centre town;

ship, Columbia county
John McMurtrie is
mentioned below Abram M. settled in Wood
county, Ohio Isaiah S., in Orange township,
Columbia county Samantha A. married Peter
Evans and lived near Rupert, Columbia
county W. Pierce is living in Almedia, Columbia Co., Pa.
Anna Margaret was the
widow of Alen Van Liew, and died at Light
Street; M. Alvaretta married A. P. Howell;
Sarah Jane, deceased, was the wife of Howard
Grimes the other two were deceased before
1887. The mother of this family passed away
;

;

1871.

John McMurtrie White was born Dec. 30,
1833, in Orange township, Columbia county,
was reared there, and remained at home with
over twenty-three years old.
After that he was occupied for several years
in the cultivation of one of his father's farms,
in 1868 buying the farm in Centre township,
near Light Street, to which he moved three
At the time he purchased the
years later.
his parents until

was a tannery in operation there,
and he rented the same for several years and
then sold it. His attention during his active
years was given to farming, in which he was
place there

very successful. He has held various offices
in his township, in politics
supporting the
Democratic party. He and his wife, who now
live at Nescopeck, Pa., belong to the Presbyterian Church.
On Feb. 10, 1857, Mr. White married Tacy
E. Vanderslice, who was born in Columbia

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUXTIES
became the parents of five
Hiester V'andersHce, WilHam LeRoy, Clara, Hattie and John.
Hiester Vanderslice White received a thorcounty, and they

children:

471

in the milling
industry is another indication
his keen sense of live issues
of the

typical

day.

school,

Mr. White is a Presbyterian in religious views
and a Democrat in politics.
Mr. White married Jan. 3, 1884, Clara Elisabeth Aikman, daughter of Levi and Elisabeth
(_Ohlj Aikman, of Cabin Run, in Briar creek
valley, near Bloomsburg.
They have one
daughter, Elisabeth Aikman White, born April

until

ough preliminary education, attending the public
schools, Orangeville Academy and the
Bloomsburg State Normal School. Meantime,
when but fifteen years old, he began teaching
continuing to follow that profession
ready to enter upon his life work. Having read law, with Col. John G. Freeze, he was
admitted to practice at the Columbia county
bar in December, 1881, and on Jan. i, 1882.
became associated with his preceptor in the
firm of Freeze, Eyerly & White, this partnership terminating in 1884, after which Mr.
White continued practice alone. He bought
the valuable law library of Colonel Freeze.
In the year 1885 Mr. White established the
grain and milling business of H. V. White &
Company, at Bloomsburg, and has been president and general manager of its successor,
The White Milling Company, since it was

incorporated in 1900. He is president of the
Business Men's Association of Bloomsburg
and interested in every organization and undertaking that will vitalize and improve his
town and community. He is a charter member
of the Royal Arcanum Council at Bloomsburg;
was a member of the Pennsylvania State Board
of Agriculture from 1897 to 1903
is a life
member of the Columbia County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association, of which he was secretary many years;
;

president of the Pennsylvania Millers' State
Association
and has been a trustee of the
Pennsylvania State College since 1886, devotmuch
of his time and thought to its weling
fare, serving for many years on the executive
committee, the advisory board, the legislative
committee, the bookkeeping committee and the
building committee. In 1913 he was commissioned milling and cereal expert for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,
and at present is chairman of a committee to
prepare a code of "rules and regulations governing the type of buildings, machines and
equipment for mills, grain elevators and warehouses."
The various responsibilities to which he has
been called indicate sufficiently the progressive
trend of Mr. White's makeup.
His effective
work in all those connections shows a breadth
of comprehension and insight possible
only
to the fearless thinker who has the
vigorous intellect which sees the greatest
possibilities in
any undertaking and has the courage to atis

;

tempt their realization.

His advanced position

1893.

The Aikman

family, who were among the
early settlers in Briar creek valley, were of
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock.
The Ohls,
who were of German extraction, came from

Pottstown

1804 and settled on the land
the Hiesters.
Henry Ohl, who
served in the Revolutionary war with Capt.
John Hiester, came as caretaker for the Hiester lands and built his first home near where
in

owned by

Frank Aloore now lives. He died
and is buried in the soldiers' circle,
mont cemetery, at Bloomsburg.

GEORGE
of

HASSERT,

Harman &

the

1840,

Rose-

superintendent

Hassert Company, of
Bloomsburg, Pa., was born Jan. 3, 1867, in
that city, and is a son of George Hassert. The
family

German

descent.

George Hassert was born in Reichensachsan,
Hesse Cassel, Germany, Nov. 5, 1824, son of
George and Ehzabeth (Wagner) Hassert. He
learned the trade of millwright, and at the
age of twenty entered the German army, serving for six years and participating in battles
of the war with Denmark. In 1848 he was in
the regular army at Baden engaged in the
suppression of the rebellion, being stationed at
Carlsruhe. He was wounded by sabre strokes
in the chin and forehead at the
storming of

Fort Dabbelar, Denmark. Upon leaving the
to America, locating at Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade for five
Afterwards, in 1856, he came to
years.

army he came

Bloomsburg and worked at his trade until
when he formed a partnership with Peter
Harman and began business in a room 50

1875,
S.

by 60 feet

dimensions, manufacturing plows

and stoves and doing custom foundry work. In

Harman &

Hassert enlarged the foundry
thirty men. At Mr. Hassert's death in 1899 the plant had grown to be
one of the largest in the town. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and a Democrat
1879

and were employing

in politics.

Mr. Hassert was married in Philadelphia,
Feb. 12, 1854, to Magdalena Decker, a native
of Germany, born in Baden July 15, 1829, who
came to America when twenty-four years old.

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

472

and survived her husband for fifteen years
less one day, her death occurring in October,
From the time they moved to Blooms1914.
burg Mr. and Mrs. Hassert occupied the same
house, at the corner of Fourth and Catherine
streets, where all but one of the children were
born, and where she died after an illness of
"In her death Bloomsburg
almost a year.
loses one of its finest old women, and one loved

who knew

all

consecrated

her. From childhood she was
member of the Lutheran

day or two before her death her
"Her life has been a beautiful
one; her death will be a joyous going to her
home on high." She was buried in Rosemont
Six of the children born to Mr.
cemetery.
and Mrs. Hassert survive, the son Henry being
deceased. The living are Charles W., Annie,
The
Elizabeth, Emma, Ella and George E.
sons and Miss Anna are in Bloomsburg Mrs.
W. K. Armstrong lives in Sunbury Mrs. E.
W. Sleppy, in Northumberland; Mrs. C. W.
Erath in Wilkes-Barre.
George E. Hassert received most of his education in the public schools of Bloomsburg,
after graduation entering the Kingston business college for a complete course. Returning
to Bloomsburg he entered the foundry of his
father, serving an apprenticeship of three years
in the machine shop, after which he was taken
into the office of the firm (Harman & HasChurch."

pastor said:

;

the death of his father George
E. Hassert acted as manager of the shops
for three years, and in 1902, when the firm
was made a corporation, he became superintendent, the position he now holds.
In July, 1887, George E. Hassert was united
in marriage to Sarah M. Wilson, daughter of
Rev. Henry and Sarah Mercy Wilson, the
former a Methodist minister. Mrs. Hassert
sert).

Upon

was born March 3, 1869. To ^Ir. and Mrs.
Hassert have been born four children Eunice
Lenora, born July 19, 1888, died in infancy
and is buried in Rosemont cemetery George
Lee, born Aug. 25, 1894, is a graduate of the
;

;

Bloomsburg Normal and now a student at
State College James W. was born Sept. 6,
1901 Robert Edwin was born Aug. 16, 1909.
]\Ir. Hassert is a Democrat, but has held no
He was reared under the teachings
offices.
of the Lutheran Church, but is now an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church
;

;

Bloomsburg.

nections, public and private, he has had his
part in the making of the history of his adopted
borough, where he has made his home since
1868.
His family has been in the country for

one hundred and seventy-five years, and in
Pennsylvania since the latter part of the
eighteenth century, the emigrant ancestor settling first on Long Island, and moving thence
to Warren county, N. J.
The Browns are of
English descent.

James Brown, great-great-grandfather of
James C. Brown, was born Nov. 12, 1716, in
England, and coming to this country in 1736,
when a young man, lived first on Long Island.

a fly-leaf of an old Bible
belonging to the
family he wrote: "England is my na-

Brown

tive land and Long Island my home."
It is
dated 1736. He moved to Warren county, N.
near
where
he
owned a large
J.,
Hainesburg,
tract of land, extending three miles
along the
Pawlins Kill from Columbia to
Hainesburg.
He died Aug. 9, 1784. On July 25, 1745, he
married Sarah Allison, born July 18, 1721, and
they are buried in Warren county, N. J. Their
six children were born as follows
John, June
25, 1746 (died Sept. 24, 1819) James, May 5,
Nov.
Martha,
1750;
15, 1753; Sarah, April 10,
1757; Daniel, May 3, 1762; Charity, April 15,
All but John lived and died in New
1765.
:

;

Jersey.

John Brown, son of James, born June 25,
was a blacksmith by trade, and as such
served in the American army, in the Revolutionary war, shoeing horses and repairing
guns in camp besides doing the regular duties
1746,

of a soldier. He married Mary M.
Brugler.
who died Oct. 3, 1793, in Warren county, N.
and
his
second
on
Oct.
J.,
21, 1794,
marriage,
was to Mrs. Margaret Haines, widow of
Henry Haines, ^ir. Brown owned considerable property in New Jersey, and built a stone
house with the date. 1789, above the door.

This

ville,

BROWN,

for over twelve years
postmaster at Bloomsburg, has long been one
of the foremost citizens of Columbia county.

JAMES

Associated with local interests in various con-

still

standing and in use

;

until

re-

cently it was owned by a Mr. Brugler, one of
his descendants, who has sold it to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Company. Disposing of his property in New
Jersey, 5lr. Brown came to Pennsylvania with
his family in 1795, first
purchasing a large
tract four miles east of the town of Mifflinin
Columbia
ville,
county.
Finding this unsuitable for farming he sold it and
bought
about five hundred acres adjoining MifflinMifflin township, what was later
as the Rosebud farm, for which he

known

paid about four thousand dollars. There Mr.
Brown continued to reside until his death,
which occurred Sept. 24, 1819. He was one

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of the leading men of his section in his day.
He built a grist and saw mill along what was
known as the Ten-Mile run, and followed

For many years he was
milling and farming.
a justice of the peace, being elected in 1808,
and serving until his death. He was treasurer
of the Nescopeck Bridge Company at Berwick, Pa., as is shown by a share of stock. No.
into the
105, dated Aug. 6, 1814, which came
Hiram H.
possession of his great-grandson,
Brown, of Scott township, Columbia county.
His five children were all born to his first mar-

namely:

riage,

James, born Sept.

(died June 4. 1820); Samuel;
Elizabeth, twins, born ]\Iarch 30,
former of whom married Joseph

10,

1773

Mary and
1782,

the

Otto and
moved to McKean county. Pa., where she died
married
while
Elizabeth
George
.^pril 29, 1862,
Hess and settled in Benton township, Columbia county, where she died Oct. 21, 1850; and
Sarah, born April 13, 1787, wife of Henry
Bowman she lived and died in Mifflin township, Columbia county, passing away Sept. 12,
(

473

Brown was born Nov.

Mrs.

Mifflin township.

and died Feb. 23, 1847. She belonged
to a family of Nices living near the Delaware

6, 1783,

Water Gap.
William N. Brown, father of James C, was
born Feb. 15, 1807, on the old homestead in
Mifflin

came

township, Columbia county.

a farmer,

agricultural pursuits until 1870, when he
to the village of Mifflinville, renting his
farm. He built a house and lived in peaceful
retirement until his demise, Sept. 17, 1876. He
is buried in the family lot near Mifflinville. For
many years Mr. Brown also conducted a grist
and flouring mill. Religiously he was an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

moved

holding various

among them steward

offices,

Mr. Brown's first wife, Nancy
I'^reas, a daughter of John Freas, of Centre
Columbia
township,
county, died in 1845, the
mother of five children George A., deceased
Albert, a farmer of Ottawa county, Kans.,
now deceased John F., who lived on the old

and

trustee.

early members of the Brown family in
this region were Methodists, and were among
the principal founders of the early Methodist
congregation at Mifflinville, the first Methodist
church of this district being erected on part
of John Brown's farm, he donating the land.
Many of his descendants are associated with

because of

ill

and moved

to Mifflinville,

-MilHinville,

Pa.,

same denomination.
Samuel Brown, grandfather of James C.
Brown, was born April 2, 1778, in Warren
county, N. J., and came thence to Columbia

-Nov. 20. 1817.

county. Pa., with the rest of the family. Upon
his father's death he inherited the homestead,
a tract of 130 acres which was in the family

over one hundred years, now owned by A. R.
Henrie. His father's large holdings here were
divided among four of the children. He cultivated that place, and also engaged in grist
and saw milling, until his death, which occurred when he was in his prime, Oct. 12,
To him and his wife Dorathy (Nice)
1823.
were born nine children: John, born Jan. 13,

died

Feb.

1855; -^lary Margaret,
born March 13, 1803, married Samuel Creasy:
Sarah, born April 29, 1805. married George A.
Bowman, and died Aug. 15, 1856; William N.
1801,

21,

was the father of James

Brown Matthew,
;

born June 11, 1809, died June 25, 1854: James,
born Oct. 18, 1811, died Jan. 5, 1833; Elizabeth, born March 5, 1814, married Alexander
George B., born
Thompson, of Berwick
Sept. 3, 1816, died at Danville; Elisha B., born
;

died Sept. 23, 1885. The parburied in the Brown cemetery in

May

13, 1819,

ents

are

;

homestead

the

be-

1869).

The

and was successfully engaged

in Mifflin

until 1898,

township

when

from farming
where he later died
of
and
Dorcas, deceased.
Almira,
Bloomsburg;
health he retired

;

In 1847 ^^^- Brown married Loretta Yonker,
a daughter of Henry Yonker, a native of Germany, who upon coming to this country located

where Loretta was born
marriage were born:
James C. Martha, deceased Samuel C, emsixteen
in
for
the Railway Postal
years
ployed
Service between New York and Pittsburg,
now deceased; Melissa J., deceased; and \'ictoria, the wife of George W. Hess, of BloomsThe mother died in Bloomsburg
burg, Pa.
at

;

Jan.

this

;

1902.
C. Brown

was born April 29, 1848, at
Columbia Co., Pa., and lived at
home on the farm until fifteen years of age,
meantime receiving his early education in the
public and select schools and attending a seminary at his native place. He then entered
James

Mifflinville,

Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., in
1864, took the classical course, and was graduated from that institution in 1868, with the
The same year
highest honors of his class.
he became a teacher in the Bloomsburg
Literary Institute

(now known

as the State

normal school), and remained there

until

Jan-

uary, 1872, the last half year holding the position of principal.
Resigning, he became engaged as a civil engineer in the spring of that
year, and in the work of making original surveys for the North & West Branch railroad,
and continued his association with that work

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Like his ancestors Mr. Brown

a Metho-

completion of the road in 1882, servthe
ing not only as engineer but also as one of
Meantime he did similar work for
directors.
other railroad companies, and he is considered
one of the most competent civil engineers in
In that capacity
this section of the State.
he has been associated with the construction
of several railroads, including the surveying
of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad and
He has
the Pittston & Hawley railroad.
served Bloomsburg as municipal engineer for
many years, and has frequently rendered serv-

been very active, serving a number of years
member and secretary of the board of trusAt
tees, of which body he is now president.
the present time he is secretary and treasurer
of the Bloomsburg Hospital, and has been one
of the board of managers since its beginning.

ice in that line to

lished

until the

neighboring boroughs. He
has often been called into court to give expert

He
professional testimony in damage suits.
has had other business and public interests in
Bloomsburg besides those connected with his
On

i, 1875, he purchased
the plant of the Columbia
County Republican, a four-page, eight-column
weekly, having a good local circulation and

profession.
from E. M.

also

Aug.

Wardin

considerable

patronage in surrounding

counties. He was editor and proprietor of this
paper for a quarter of a century, and in that
connection exercised considerable influence in

many changes which took

place in the
town and county, casting the weight of his
and
of
the
on
the
side
doing his
right
opinion
utmost for the best interests of his fellow
The paper
citizens, without fear or favor.

the

has always been Republican, and Mr. Brown
has also been a devoted worker in the party,
in whose activities he has had a leading part
In 1884 he had the honor
in this section.
of being a delegate to the National convention
held at Chicago, and again in 1900 at Philadelphia. He has frequently been a delegate to
State conventions, and a speaker during the
State campaigns, making a tour of the State
as a member of General Hastings' staff when
Hastings was candidate for governor. He has
filled a number of local ofHces of importance,
having been a member of the school board
continuously from 1878 to the present time,
and for part of that period its president. In

1902 he became postmaster at Bloomsburg, in
which position he gave thorough satisfaction,
serving until September, 1914. His administration was marked by clean, business-like
methods and steady improvement in all departments, for he is by nature progressive, and
discharges every duty with characteristic
He is a member of the board of
efficiency.
trustees of the State normal school, and for
several years has been vice president of the
board.
He was formerly treasurer of the

Columbia County Agricultural Society, in
which capacity he served for thirty-two years.

dist in religious connection and a prominent
member of the church, in whose work he has

JOHN JORDAN BROWN,
Bloomsburg,

Brown

M.D.,

member

of the old-estabfamily of Mifflin township, Cola

umbia county, where he was born March 31,
1848, son of Elisha B. Brown. The Browns
have had intimate and honorable connection
with the history of this region for one hundred
and twenty years, and have been in America
since the day of James Brown, the Doctor's
great-great-grandfather.

James Brown was born Nov. 12, 1716, in
England, and coming to this country when a
young man lived first on Long Island. On a
fly-leaf of an old Bible belonging to the Brown
family he wrote
''England is my native land
and Long Island my home." It is dated 1736.
He moved to Warren county, N. J., near
Hainesburg, where he owned a large tract of
land, extending three miles along the Pawlins
:

Kill from Columbia to Hainesburg.
He died
Aug. 9, 1784. On July 25, 1745, he married
Sarah Allison, born July 18, 1721, and they
are buried in Hainesburg cemetery, in WarTheir six children were
ren county, N. J.
born as follows: John, June 25, 1746 (died

James, May 5, 1750; Martha,
1753; Sarah, April 10, 1755; Daniel,
May 3, 1762; Charity, April 15, 1765. All
but John lived and died in New Jersey.
John Brown, son of James, born June 25,
1746, was a blacksmith "by trade, and as such
served in the American army, in the Revolutionary war, shoeing horses and repairing
Sept. 24, 1819)

Nov.

;

15,

in camp besides doing the regular duties
of a soldier. He married Mary M. Brugler,
who died Oct. 3, 1793, and was buried at

guns

Hainesburg, in Warren county, N. J., and his
second marriage, on Oct. 21. 1794, was to
Mrs. Margaret Haynes, widow of Henry
Haynes. Mr. Brown owned a farm in New
Jersey, and built a two-story stone house with
the date, 1789. above the door. This is still
standing (1914) and in use: it was owned by
a Mr. Brugler, one of his descendants. Disposing of his property in New Jersey, Mr.
Brown came to Pennsylvania with his family
1795, first purchasing a large tract four
miles east of the town of Mifflinville, in Colin

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

475

Finding this unsuitable for
county.
farming he sold it and bought four hundred
about
one
mile
south of Mifflinville, in
acres
Mifflin township, for which he paid about four
thousand dollars. There Mr. Eirown continued
to reside until his death, which occurred Sept.
24, 1819, and he was one of the leading men

died June 25, 1814; James, born Oct. 18, 1811,
died Jan. 5, 1833
Elizabeth, born March 5,
1814, married Alexander Thompson, of Berwick (he died before her); George B., born
Sept. 3, 1816, died at Danville; Elisha B. was
the father of Dr. John J.
The parents are
buried in the Brown cemetery in Mifflin town-

of his section in his day.

Mrs. Brown was born Nov. 6, 1783,
ship.
and died Feb. 2^, 1847. She belonged to a
family of Nices living near the Delaware
Water Gap.
Elisha B. Brown, youngest son of the family
of Samuel and Dorothy (Nice) Brown, was
born May 13, 1819, on the Brown farm near

uinbia

He built a grist and
what was known as the Ten
Mile run, and followed milling and farming.
For many years he was a justice of the peace,
being elected in 1808, and serving until his
He was treasurer of the Nescopeck
death.
Bridge Company at Berwick, Pa., as is shown
by a share of stock, No. 105, dated Aug. 6,
1814, which came into the possession of his
sreat-grandson, Hiram H. Brown, of Scott
township, Columbia county. His five children
were all born to his first marriage, namely
James, born Sept. 10, 1773 (died June 4,
1820); Samuel; Mary and Elizabeth, twins,
saw

mill along

born March 30, 1782, the former of whom
married Joseph Otto, and moved to McKean
county. Pa., where she died April 29, 1862,
while Elizabeth married George Hess and setin Benton township, Columbia county,
where she died, Oct. 21, 1850; and Sarah,
born .\])ril 13, 1787, wife of Henry Bowman
she lived and died in MifHin township,
Columbia county, passing away Sept. 12,
tled

(

1869).

The

of the Brown family
Methodists, and were
founders
of the early
among
principal
Methodist congregation at Mifflinville, the first
Methodist church of this district being erected
on part of John Brown's farm, he donating the
land.
]Many of his descendants are associated
with the same denomination.
Samuel Brown, grandfather of Dr. John
J. Brown, was born April 2, 1778, in Warren
county, N. J., and came thence to Columbia
county, Pa., with the rest of the family. Upon
his father's death he inherited the homestead
in

this

early

;

Mifflinville.
In 1837, when a youth of only
eighteen, he engaged in the mercantile business
at that place in partnership with
Samuel
Creasy and John Brown, under the firm name
of Browns & Creasy.
They purchased the
business of Robert McCurdy, paying seven
thousand dollars for it, and were themselves
highly successful, drawing their patronage
from a wide area. John Brown died in 1856
and was succeeded by N. B. Creasy, the style
changing to Creasys & Brown. In 1873 Samuel
Creasy died and in 1882 Mr. Elisha B. Brown
retired, after forty-four years' continuous connection with the business, which then passed
into the exclusive control of N. B. Creasy.
The firm always had the highest standing for
substantial worth.

members

region

were

the

(a tract of 130 acres which was in the family
for over one hundred years), together with

two other farms and the mills. He cultivated
that place, and also engaged in grist and saw
milling, until his death, which occurred when
he was in his prime, Oct. 12, 1823. To him
and his wife Dorothy (Nice), a native of
New Jersey, were born nine children: John,
born Jan. 13, 1801, died Feb. 21, 1855; Mary
Margaret, born March 13, 1803, married Samuel Creasy; Sarah, born
April 29, 1805, married George A. Bowman, and died
Aug. 15,
William
born
Feb. 15, 1807, died
iSsCf;
N.,
born
Sept. 17, 1876; Matthew,
June 11, 1809,

During

Harrison's

administration

Brown was appointed postmaster
ville,

and with the exception of

continued to

fill

six

Mr.

Mifflin-

months

that office, as principal or as1885 a pe-

sistant, until his death, Sept. 23,

—

riod of over forty years. Though always an
active business man Mr. Brown found time for

reading and study, and his good judgment
a keen observer and broad-minded
all questions.
His counsel was frequently

made him
on

sought, and his opinions highly valued. Loyal
to his friends, and a man of high principle
in all the relations of life, he merited the regard
in which he was held.
In religious connection
he was a Methodist, and took an active part in
the work of the church.
In 1845 Elisha B. Brown married Martha
Bowman, daughter of John H. and Sophia

Bowman.

Mrs. Brown's mother dyshe was a child, she went to live with
her maternal grandfather, John Freas, near
Briarcreek, Columbia county. In 1837 her father went to Michigan and became interested
in business there, engaging in merchandising
(Freas)

ing

when

and building several large flouring mills. He
was one of the founders of the village of
Colon and of the town of Three Rivers. He

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

476

member of the State Legislature.
Mrs. Brown attended public school in the
home neighborhood, and later went to the

Jeremiah John Brower was a resident of
Bloomsburg for over fifty years. He was
a native of Berks county. Pa., born April 10,

Catawissa, where she was under

82 1, in Union township, at Browertown,
which village was named after his father,
John Brower. His grandfather was Abraham
IJrower.
The Browers are of German extraction.
John Brower was born in Berks
county and lived in Union township, where
he engaged in the manufacture of grain
scoops (which he patented), door locks, and

served as a

academy

the tuition of a Mr. Bradley. She died June
Three children were born to Mr.
II, 1905.

and Mrs. Brown, John Jordan, Dorothy Nice
and Martha Bowman. The eldest daughter
spent two years as a student at W yoming
Seminary, Kingston, Pa. She and her sister
have not married.
John Jordan Brown received his early education in the select schools of his home district, and then took a course at Dickinson

Seminary. Williamsport, Pa., graduating from
that institution in 1867. After teaching school
for two terms he entered Jefferson Medical
College,

Philadelphia,

from which

was

graduated in ^March, 1870, with the degree
The same year he began practice
of M. D.
at MifHinville, where he continued for seventeen years, since when he has been located at
During his regular course at
Bloomsburg.
college he took a special course in operative
surgery under the personal supervision of
Prof. 'William H. Pancoast, and in 1888 he
took a special course on the eye at the New
York Polyclinic, New York City, fitting himself for the branch of practice to which he
gives his whole attention. He is ophthalmologist at the Bloomsburg hospital and of the
State Hospital at Danville. Pa. He is one of
the directors of the

Bloomsburg Water Com-

pany, a Trustee of the State Normal School,
Bloomsburg, Pa., and \'ice President of the
Farmers' National Bank of Bloomsburg he
was one of the first stockholders in the latter
He is a member of the Methodist
institution.
Church, of which he is a trustee. Socially he
is a high Mason, belonging to W ashington
Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., of Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M.: Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T. Caldwell
Consistory (thirty-second degree) and Irem
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre.
In 1880 Dr. Brown married Mary S. Brands,
daughter of David F. Brands, of Hackettstown, N. J. Mrs. Brown received her educa:

;

tion at Blair Academy and Scholley's Mountain Seminary.
She died Aug. 13, 1907, leav-

ing no children.

various

other

specialties.

married

(Fanny) Millard, who was of
Quaker descent, and they reared two children,
Jeremiah J. and Matilda, who married Richard H. Jones, whom she survived she lived
at Browertown.
Jeremiah John Brower received a good education in the public schools and before he was
seventeen years old was teaching in Catawissa, which profession he followed for eight
years. He was known as an e.xcellent teacher
in penmanship.
He first came to Columbia
county in 1839, where he resided until 1843,
and then for two years kept a boarding school
at Browertown.
In 1846 he returned to Catawissa, and in 1848 embarked in the mercantile business at Mifflinville, Columbia
county.
In 1850 he sold his store there and moved to
Bloomsburg, w'here he opened a large general
store on the corner of Main and Iron streets,
conducting same for a period of nineteen
Meantime in 1868 he began the erecyears.
tion of the Paul E. Wirt block, which was
completed in 1869, and he carried on his
business in that building until 1870. when he
was elected justice of the peace, in which
position he served for a term of ten years.
In 1 88 1 he began dealing in carpets and oilcloths, and continued thus until he retired
from active business. He was succeeded by
his grandson. William H. Brower, who is
Frances

;

now

successfully carrying on the business.
In 1853-54 ^Ir. Brower built his beautiful

home

No. 229 Market street, at a cost of
thousand dollars, one of the finest
brick residences in the town of Bloomsburg.
He took an active part in the development of
his town and always lent a helping hand towards any measures that tended to benefit his
fellow citizens.
He assisted in forming four
building and loan associations served as secat

fifteen

;

WILLIAM

HOR.\CE

BROWER,

of
business

Bloomsburg, has been engaged in
there as a merchant for the last twenty-five
years, having become associated in 1888 with
his

grandfather, Jeremiah John Brower,
he shortly afterward succeeded.

whom

retary and treasurer of the Mutual Building and Savings Fund Association and was
president of the first such association which
was a success, organized Oct. 19, 1867, and
which terminated in June, 1877. He served
as school director and was treasurer of the
;

COLU.MBIA AND

MOXTOUR COUXTIES

Masonic lodge about twenty-seven years. He
was a stockholder and officer of many industries started in Bloomsburg and was one of
the chief promoters of many enterprises that
have led to the building up of the community.
He died Jan. 5, 1903, and was buried with
his wife in Bloomsburg cemetery.
In 84 1 Mr. Brower was united in marriage
to Eliza Brothwell, who was born Dec. 19,
1

1816, a daughter of Dr. Eleazer Brothwell,
of Mifflinville, and died in July, 1893, at the
age of seventy-si.x years, six months, two

Frances
Brugler; Eleazer B.
J., wife of James K.
Ada Eveline, wife of L. S. Wintersteen and
Mary Eliza, who married J. H. Lingle.
Eleazer Brothwell Brower, son of Jeremiah John Brower, was born Feb. 2, 1844, ''^
Columbia county, where he was reared. For
a time he was engaged in business at Mcdays, leaving the following children

;

Northumberland county, and in
1871 went South, locating at Elizabeth, N. C,
where he was in the brick business for the
next few years. In 1875 he returned to Pennsylvania and engaged in the tinning business
Ewensville,

Then
Xanticoke, also dealing in stoves.
he added a line of groceries, and he remained
there about ten years, selling out at the end
of that period.
Coming back to Bloomsburg
he embarked in the plumbing business, which
he carried on until he sold out to Hartman
& Mendenhall. He then became manager
of the tube works at Bloomsburg, holding
that position for some time, after which he
at

was engaged

in building gasoline

engines and

launches, following this line until his death,
Oct. 21, 1910.

Mr. Brower was married
who was born Dec. 2-/, 1837,
lumbia Co., Pa., daughter

Sarah Rote,

at Millville, Coof \\'illiam and Eliz-

abeth (Eves) Rote, of Millville, and now resides in Bloomsburg. Four children were born
to this marriage: Jennie, who died when six
years old; William H.; J. Jeremiah, now a
merchant of Bloomsburg and Lewis, who
died when two years old.
;

William H. Brower was born Feb. i, 1867,
Millville, Columbia county, and his early

life

was spent

his preliminary

Bloomsburg.

obtained

education in the public schools,

and afterward took a course at the Bloomsburg State Normal school, from which institution he was graduated in 1884. He
taught
school for three years, in Luzerne county, this
State, and in 1888 became associated with his
grandfather, under the firm name of J. J.
& W. H. Brower. On June i, 1889, he took
over the business entirely on his own account,

477

and has so continued it ever since, being now
ranked among the leading merchants of the
town. His stock comprises carpets, mattings,
rugs, oilcloth, lace and tapestry curtains, window shades, and all similar goods, and is
large and comprehensive, ofifering an extensive
range for his customers to choose from.
is

up-to-date and well selected, and the wide

territory from which his patronage is drawn
shows that the facilities for satisfactory buying afforded by his establishment are recog-

nized and appreciated.
Mr. Brower belongs to the Royal Arcanum,
and is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, which he has served for some
time as elder and clerk of the session; he was
formerly superintendent of the Sunday school.
On Oct. 8, 1901, Mr. Brower married Margaret Love, daughter of William and Sarah
Brittain
Love, of Derry township, Montour
county, and they have one child, Mary Eliza)

(

beth, born Dec.

19. 1902.

JAMES

E. TEPLE, of Bloomsburg, has
been interested in various lines of business
during his active career, but now devotes all
his time to his duties as secretary of the Afri-

Farm & Feather Company, breedand importers of ostriches and importers
of feathers.
can Ostrich
ers

The Teple family

(the

name

variously

Teple and Teeple) in Columbia
county is descended from Samuel Teple,
grandfather of James E., who came hither
from New Jersey and settled in Locust township.
By occupation he was a charcoal burner
and furnace man. He died in Catawissa townand
is buried at the Thomas schoolhouse.
ship
To him and his wife Elizabeth (Lamberson)
were born the following children Mary, who
married Mahlon Creasy Rachel, who married John Rohrbauch Charlotte, who married
Catherine, who married
.Augustus Grove
lienjamin Ludwig
Henry: William: John,
and Robert.
\\ illiam Teple, son of Samuel, was lx)rn
Aug. iQ, 1838, in what was then Locust (now
Cleveland
township, Columbia county, and
received his education in Luzerne county, atspelled

;

)

tending select school.

known

in this section as

himself became well

an educator, having

followed the teacher's profession for thirty-

terms during the course of his active life.
His e.xperience in this line began in Black
Creek township, Luzerne county, and he was
five

subsequently engaged in Franklin township,
Columbia county. Mount Carmel, Xorthumberland countv. Locust and Cleveland town-

478

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

ships. Columbia county, closing with his
in Ijcaver township, Columbia county.

work
Mr.

his energies to the interests of the African

all

(Jstrich

Farm & Feather Company,

of which

Teple was a particularly accomplished history
scholar, and a great Bible student, and he took
an active part in the work of the United
Brethren Church, of which he was a member.
He belonged to the P. O. S. of A., and
in political connection was a Republican.
His
death occurred in Franklin township, Columbia county, April 12, 1905, and he was buried
at McEntyre, in Catawissa township.

He is winning firm standing
secretary.
among the substantial business men of the

Mr. Teple's first wife, Ermina (Driesbach),
was born Oct. 10, 1839, and died July 15, 1868,
the mother of two children
Anna E., born
in 1862, who died in 1864; and George W.,
in
in
the
born
same year.
1867, who died
On May 29, 1869, he married (second) Mary
A. Hile, who was born Jan. 29, 1845, datighter of James and Hannah (Campbell) Hile.
She now resides at Catawissa. Children as
follows were born to this marriage: Clara B.,
born Jan. 20, 1870, was a teacher, and died
^lay 6, 1892, aged twenty-two years Hannah
E., born July 8, 1871, married Warren Carl,
lived in Berwick, and died Oct. 24, 1913;
Minnie J., born June 6, 1874, is the wife of
John Mc. Shultz and lives at Rupert, Pa.
James E. was born Aug. 18, 1875; Kimber
C, born June 26, 1879, died April 15, 1880;
Nettie May, born April 29, 1881, married
James Hile and lives at Bloomsburg Myrtle

son

;

town and county.

Mr. Teple

an independ-

ent voter.
His religious connection
the Methodist Church.

with

On July 27, 1910, Mr. Teple married Helen
G. Masteller, daughter of John W. Masteller,
of Bloomsburg, and they have had a daughand a
ter, Elizabeth M. (who died young)
;

Edwin

Russell, born
Mrs. Teple is also of

June

20, 1913.

New Jersey ancestry,
being descended from Henry Masteller, who
came from

that State and located in what is
township, Columbia Co., Pa.,
where he followed farming. He lived to the
of
His son, George
age
ninety-six years.
Masteller, was also a farmer in Sugarloaf
township, where he died. His children were:
Emma (married William Cole), William,
Thomas, Clarke, Washington and Loyl.
William Masteller, son of George, and
grandson of Henry, was born in Sugarloaf
township, and was engaged as a huckster

now Sugarloaf

throughout
Civil war,
army. To
were born

his active life.

enlisted in the

serving four years in the Union

him and

M., born April 20, 1883, died Feb. 27, 1902,
while a student in the Normal school at

his wife Martha (Fritz)
Parvin
following children
(living at Orangeville), John W., Albert,
George, William (who died young), Verdelia,
Alvenia, Alice and Emma.
John W. Masteller was born Sept. 28, 1857,

Bloomsburg.

at Orangeville,

;

James E. Teple, born
Columbia county, Aug.

in
18,

Franklin township,
1875, attended the

schools there during his earlier years
and subsequently took a course at the Bloomsburg State Normal school, graduating in
local

He taught one term at Beaver Valley,
1896.
Columbia county, and two terms in Northampton county, near Easton, and then went
to Alaska, where he was engaged in prospecting.
Following his experience there he was
in the State of California for six years, two
years of that time being in Trinity county,
employed as a bookkeeper. The other four
years he was in San Francisco, during which
he was special State Representative for the
Continental Casualty Company.
Returning'

East March i, 1906, he was in Bloomsburg
for two months, on May ist of that year going to New York City, where he became
manager of the Harlem branch of the Continental Casualty Company, with office at No.
217 West 125th street. He was there four
years and three months, at the end of which
period he returned to Bloomsburg to devote

the

Columbia county. During his
voung manhood he entered the employ of A.

P). Stewart at Orangeville, Pa., for whom he
clerked eighteen years, after which he became
interested in business on his own account at

Bloomsburg, running a novelty store for fourteen years. For some time he has been in the
steel plant of the American Car & Foundry
Company, at Berwick, where he holds the position of foreman.
On Jan. i, 1889, he married Ida Kistler, daughter of Benjamin and
Frances (Goho) Kistler, and they have three
Helen G.. Mrs. James E. Teple;
Mrs. Masteller
Ruth, at home; and John.

children:

taught school in Columbia county for eight
years before her marriage.

ALFRED BRUCE BLACK,
penmanship

instructor

Bloomsburg State Normal
well known in Columbia county,
at the

School, is
not only in his present association, but also
through his several years of public service.
He is a son of the late William W. Black,
who served two terms as sheriff of the county,
and was court crier at the time of his death.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The Black family

Irish

Protestant

Jeremiah Black, great-grandfather of
A. Bruce Black, was born in Londonderry,
Ireland, and came to America about the year
stock.

1800, first locating in Lewisburg,

Northum-

berland Co., Pa., and later moving to Columbia county.
He was a skilled mechanic and
followed
and milhvrighting.
In
milling
Northumberland county he operated a large
flour mill until 1822, the time of his removal
to Columbia county, and the remainder of
his

life

was spent

operating a

mill

for

He was drowned in attempting to ford a swollen stream below Bowman's mills on Dec. 7, 1827. His wife surJames Heberman.

vived him many years, dying Jan. 27, 1865.
Her maiden name was Alary Thomson, and
she was of Belfast, Ireland, a member of the
same family as the late William Thomson,

Lord Kelvin, the noted British mathematician
and physicist, being his great aunt. Mr. and
Mrs. Black had the following children James,
born in 1806, was a miller and inventor, and
:

died

Philadelphia at the age of eighty
John is mentioned below Mary married Theodore Pinkerton, a resident of Indiana Jeremiah died at an early age; William was a jeweler of Tioga county: Caroline,
deceased, married a Mr. Pearsali, an actor
Lovina died at an early age Horatio Nelson,
who, like his father, was of a mechanical
years

;

turn of mind, resided in Philadelphia.

John Black was born in Northumberland
county Oct. 26, 1809, and learned the trade
of miller with his father.
After the latter's
death he assisted in supporting the
family
and rearing his younger brothers and sisters.
He was first employed in Hoffman's mill, near
Light .Street, and later at Bowman's and other
mills in the locality.
up his trade

He was

finally obliged

on account of his failing
health and for some time was
engaged in
burr dressing, after which he
purchased a
tavern at Rohrsburg, which he conducted in
connection with a general merchandise store,
also engaging in the lumber and furniture
to give

trade.

built a

new

hotel

known

as the

"Rohrsburg House," and carried it on in conwith farming.
His son Perry D.
succeeded him as proprietor of the store', but
Mr. Black assisted him until his removal in
1898. to Bloomsburg, where he afterwards

junction

lived

retirement at the

home

of his son
William.
He had excellent health until one
year previous to his death, which occurred in
1902.

Mr. Black married Ann Lemon, daugh-

of Jonathan Lemon,
Jan. 31, 1833, and
they reared seven children, "as follows
Lemon
ter

479

farmer near Rohrsburg; Isaac F., reof Morris, Tioga Co., Pa., where he
was formerly a hotel keeper; Perry D., formerly a merchant of Rohrsburg; Mary C,
deceased; Alfred B., who died Feb. 22, 1866,
a

J.,

tired,

from disease contracted in the war of the
Rebellion, having enlisted in 1864, in Company D, 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served
until the close of the war; William W.
and
Elizabeth, who married J. W. Fortner, of
Centralia, Pa. John Black was a member of
the Presbyterian Church for some years.
William W. Black was born Nov. 19, 1845,
at Eyers Grove, Columbia county, and reared
in his native township, where he attended
common school. He then engaged in huckstering, which business he continued until he
[)urchased his father's hotel, which he managed successfully for over fifteen years. Subsequently for a time he followed farming
;

connection

with

the

hotel

business,

but

later rented his hotel property.
In 1893 ^^^
was a candidate for the office of sheriff, but

was beaten for the nomination. In 1896 he
received the nomination, was elected by a
comfortable majority, and moved into the
residence part of the jail, which is fitted with
all modern improvements and is in
keeping
with the remainder of the building, a massive
and beautiful stone structure, of two stories
and basement. At the close of this term Mr.
Black was succeeded by Sheriff Knorr, but
on Jan. i, 1903, resumed the duties of the
office for another term, having been honored
with reelection. During the last three years
of his life he was court crier, and he had
served earlier as constable and tax collector.
He died Feb. 28, 191 1, and is buried at
liloomsburg.

On Dec. 28. 1871, Mr. Black married
Rachel A. Unger, daughter of Lafayette Unger, of Unityville, and they became the parents of two children
Ella M., who married
John W. Mather, by whom she had two sons,
and
Bruce
and
A.
Bruce. Mrs. Black
Ray
:

;

died at Bloomsburg Dec. 4, 1913, when sixtythree years of age.
In 1864 Mr. Black enlisted in the 210th
Regiment, Pa. Vol. Inf., and continued in the
service until the close of the war.

Alfred Bruce Black was born Sept. 20, 1873,

Rohrsburg, in Greenwood township, Columbia county, and began his schooling in the
Later he was sent to Dickinson
locality.
Seminary, at \\'illiamsport. Pa., and then to
the high school at York, Pa.
He continued
his studies at Michael University, Logansport,
at

Ind.,

graduating from that institution

the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

480

spring of 1896, after which he took a special
course in penmanship at the Zanerian Art
College, Columbus, Ohio, graduating in the
fall of 1896.
Returning to Bloomsburg, he

became deputy sheriff under his father in
1897 and served during the three years of
his term, continuing as deputy under Sheriff
Knorr and then again in his father's second

term. For the next three years he was clerk
to
the county commissioners, completing
twelve years of service at the courthouse. For
a short time following Mr. Black taught penmanship in the summer school at Benton,
Columbia Co., Pa. In 1909 he took his present position at the Bloomsburg Normal School.
He has done valuable work for the institution,
not alone in the discharge of the duties assigned to him, but in setting and maintaining
standards of work in his particular field which
aid his pupils in all their endeavors.
He is
a conscientious and respected member of the

of its first industrial enterprises, and
such of her early residents as these does
Danville owe its present standing. With wonderful foresight and pride they had faith in
the success she would attain, and none who
have had the good fortune to see Danville in
recent years can doubt the correctness of their
predictions.
Joseph Cornelison was born in
Holland, and upon coming to this country settled in the State of New Jersey, but soon afterwards moved to Danville, Montour Co., Pa.,
where he established the first blacksmith shop.
He followed that line of work the remainder
of his life, died in the town, and was laid to

many
to

rest in Grove cemetery.
His wife, whose
maiden name was Martin, was also buried

Cirove cemetery.
To their marriage were
following children
Joseph, who
was the first male white child born in Danin

born the

William:

ville;

Jacob;

Isaac;

Cornelius;

and
James Massey
Alary, Mrs. Yorks
Mr. Black is a devoted stu- Anna, Mrs. Best.
teaching
Isaac Cornelison, son of Joseph, was born
dent, a lover of good books, and has already
acquired a creditable library, including some in Danville, and at an early age learned the
rare and old volumes. During the summer of trade of wagonmaker, carrying on business on
191 1 he took a European trip, and another Mill street, where he was engaged in such
in 1914.
work until his death, Oct. 6, 1843, at the age
Mr. Black devotes considerable time to lit- of forty-three years. He married Abigail Pana daughter of Mordecai and Mary
erary work, and in 1900 issued a little volume coast,
(Mears) Pancoast, who were strict adherents
entitled "Like Expressions,'' which he has
Mrs. Cornelison
since revised and enlarged, so that at present of the Society of Friends.
died at the age of twenty-four years, six
it is
printed in two good-sized volumes. The
work is intended to do away with parallelism months, leaving two children
Mary E., the
arguments, especially in the Bacon-Shake- wife of D. Rice, both now deceased; and AbiMrs. Geisinger.
speare controversy, and has met with much gail A.,
favor among literary students and authors.
Abigail A. Cornelison was first married to
Mr. Black has been prevailed upon to grant Jacob Cornelison, who was for some years
of the hotel known as the "White
permission for its publication in Edinburgh, proprietor
He was the son of the Jacob CorScotland. He is also joint author of a novel, ."^wan."
nelison, who in 1820 purchased the ground on
'.\ Random Shaft.''
On Feb. 23, 1907, Mr. Black married Helen which the "City Hotel" is now situated, and
ten years later erected a building in which he
\\'illiams, of Bloomsburg, who died Aug. 30,
conducted a fine hotel.
This establishment
910. They had one son, Tasso Lessing. Mr.
became well known throughout that section
r>lack belongs to the Methodist Church and
as the "White Swan," and the sign which hung
socially is a member of the Sons of \ eterans.
over the door was appropriately an artistically
he is a Democrat.
;

;

staff.

Politically

MRS. ABIGAIL A. GEISIXGER, of Danville, is a descendant of one of the earliest
and most prominent families of the borough,
the Cornelisons.

Joseph Cornelison, the grandfather, located
in Danville when it was but a small settlement, in striking contrast to the now thriving
business center widely known throughout the
State for its up-to-date establishments and inHe and his family associated with
stitutions.

painted white swan. He continued at the head
of this establishment until 1852, when his son,
Jacob, succeeded him as proprietor. The latter conducted the business with success until his death in 1865. at the age of thirty-five

The

building was large and substan1872 it was purchased by Adam
Geringer, who erected the present structure
known as the "City .Hotel."
Mrs. Cornelison married for her second
husband, June 7, 1865, George F. Geisinger,
who was born in Hingham. Mass., in 1821.
years.
tial.

Birthplace of Mrs. Georue

lIu.ME UF Mrs.

Geuuge

F. Geisinger,

F. Geisixger.

Dawille,

Ua.wille.

I'a.

Pa.

u^.

/^^^i%

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

481

GEORGE
GEISINGER was born in active life in quiet retirement; his only busiHiiighain, Mass., Sept. 24, 182 1, and was a ness for the rest of his days being the manThe agement of an interest which he
son of Commodore David Geisinger.
acquired
Geisinger family is of German ancestry, and with Daniel Edwards and Thomas Beaver in
F.

whom

authentic record is known
in the war of 181 2
He was a midshipman
with Great Britain.
the
United
States
on
frigate "Wasp," which
David
captured the British boat "Atlanta."
Geisinger was placed in charge of the boat
with sealed orders, which he was to deliver
He
to any United States district attorney.
turned his charge over to the district attorney
of New York, and immediately returned to
He was promoted at various
the service.
times until he was retired, as rear admiral of
He was buried in Baltimore, where
the navy.
His children were
he died.
George F.,
Helen and Sarah.
George F. Geisinger attended the public
schools at Hingham, and later entered Worthe first of

was David, who served

mining and dealing in coal at Kingston, Pa.,
and in i88i he made a trip to CaHfornia.
After his death, which occurred Nov.
16,
1883, his wife assumed his interest in the
business, and has continued as a member of
the firm up to the present time,
conducting
her affairs with characteristic
ability and good
judgment.
Mrs. Geisinger purchased the old Shelhart
residence on Center street, Danville, remodeled it, and greatly improved the lawn
by
the addition of shrubs and trees,
converting
the place into a model home, one of the finest
residences in the city.
She is the principal
supporter of the Mahoning Presbyterian
Church, of which her husband was also a

faithful member, and served as trustee.
Mrs.
he went to Geisinger possesses many excellent
qualities
he
a
where
Baltimore, Md.,
posi- and occupies a high place in the estimation
accepted
He remained there of her many friends.
tion in a mercantile house.
until 1844, when he accompanied his father
on a pleasure trip abroad, returning to BaltiWILLIAM H. RHAWN, one of Colummore two years later. In 1847 he went to bia's most prominent attorneys at law, was
South America, and spent two years in pros- born in Catawissa Oct. 11, 1856, son of
His
pecting, and upon returning, in 1849, made Casper and Catherine (Kruck) Rhawn.
the trip out to California.
Subsequently he grandfather, Henry Rhawn, was a native of
went to Philadelphia, where he acted as his Montgomery county. Pa., where he resided
father's secretary at the Naval Asylum until most of his life.
He was the father of a large
cester College.

Upon graduation

In June, 1853, he accepted the posi1854.
tion of bookkeeper for Grove
Brother, a

concern

of
Danville, Pa., who then operated the plant of
what is now the Reading Iron Company.
They managed the works until 1857, during
which time the new mill was built, greatly inIn 1857 the entire
creasing the capacity.
plant passed into the hands of I. S. Waterman,

prominent

iron

manufacturing

Thomas Beaver, William Neal and Washington Lee, as trustees for the Montour Iron
Company, and they operated it until 1859, in
it was purchased by Waterman &
Beaver, and the name changed to the Pennsylvania Iron Works. In 1868 Thomas Beaver,
Daniel Morgan, C. Mulligan, George F.
Geisinger and Daniel Edwards became proprietors, carrying on the works until 1880.
During the various changes Mr. Geisinger
continued to act as head bookkeeper, retaining
which year

that position during his connection

with the

possessed unexcelled business propensities, and proved a valuable man to have
at the head of this industry.
However, in
1880, he disposed of his interest in order that
he might spend the remainder of an unusually
firm.

family.

Casper Rhawn,
Rhawn, was born

where he attended

father
in

William

1814, at Halifax, Pa.,
the public schools and

learned the trade of tailor.

In 1835 he was
induced to locate in Catawissa, Columbia Co.,
Pa., where he built up a lucrative tailoring
business, following the trade until his death

He was united in marriage to
1882.
Catherine Kruck, daughter of Jacob Kruck,
a resident of Berks county, and this union was
blessed with seven children: Susan (KostenCatherine
bauder)
George B.
Stephen
in

;

Jacob; William H., and Jessie. Mr.
a firm supporter of the Democratic party, taking an active interest in local

(Haas)

;

Rhawn was

He was for many years postmaster
of Catawissa, a position which he held with
affairs.

credit.

William H.

Rhawn

received his education
schools of Catawissa and attended Dickinson Seminary, after his graduation taking up the study of law under the
preceptorship of W. H. Abbott, of Catawissa.
He was admitted to the bar in 1879, and has
since lived in Catawissa, where he maintains
in

the

public

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

482

his office, although the largest part of his practice is before the Columbia county bar.
He is

an active and energetic worker, and his great
success is due to his natural abilities and superior legal qualifications. He is attorney for
the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and
Iron Company, and Pennsylvania Paper Mill.
In politics Mr. Rhawn is a Democrat, and
stands high in the councils of the local orHe is a member of the Methoganization.
dist Church, and of the B. P. O. Elks.

ALEXANDER BILLMEYER,

whose

in-

have always been centered at Washingtonville, Montour county, is one of the
foremost men of that section.
He repre-

terests

sented his district in Congress several years
and from early manhood has filled a
His
prominent place in its business life.
beautiful home property in Derry township,
including "Billmeyer Park." is one of the
notable estates of that part of the county.
The Billmeyer family has been in this region
for several generations. Martin Billmeyer.
grandfather of Alexander, having come to
ago,

Liberty township, in what is now Montour
county, with his father, who took up a large
There he
tract of land on the Chillisquaque.
died, and the land was afterwards divided
Martin
and
of
his
three
sons, George,
among
/'..ndrew.
They erected a sawmill on the
creek (the first in the township) which is still
in use and is known as the Billmeyer sawmill.
Martin Billmeyer died there in the early
fifties, his

wife, Margaret (Himmelrigh), sur-

viving him several years. They were the parDaniel
ents of six sons and six daughters
Martin
Mary Catherine Fannie
Jacob
Peter, at one time sheriff of Columbia county,
:

;

who made his home at Bloomsburg;
who lived in Liberty township Andrew

John,
Jackson, of the same township; .Sarah, wife of
John Gouger, and Margaret, wife of George
Wagner, both of Limestone township and
Harriet, wife of A. J. Maus, of Valley townAll are now deceased.
ship.
;

Jacob Billmeyer, father of Alexander Billmeyer, was born Oct. 17, 1808, and lived in
Liberty township until a year or two before
He
his death, which occurred May 30, 1881.
had been a farmer and lumberman all his life.
His wife, Eliza Hower, was born in North-

ampton county.
Feb.

1873.

Pa.,

Aug.

16,

1814,

They had seven

;

Springer, of Liberty township; Jacob H., of
Daniel, of Talbot
county, Maryland.
Alexander Billmeyer was born Jan. 7, 1841,
and remained at home until twenty-six years
old.
Meantime he went to work for his
uncle in the sawmill, receiving fifty cents a
day, and being ambitious and energetic he
took advantage of every opportunity to forge
ahead. Having obtained a contract to furnish
the walnut lumber for the Grove mansion at
Danville, at $65 per thousand feet, he filled
the order by running the mill evenings after

Anthony township; and

work was over, paying his
help himself, and had to keep at it sometimes
until midnight, or even later.
Subsequently
he bought his father's share in a mill owned
by the latter and two of his brothers, Peter
and Jackson, and then began to make a
specialty of getting out white oak timber,
his regular day's

which

line

found very

profitable.

For

was associated with his brother
Henry, farming and lumbering, the sons buyeight years he

ing their father's interests, paying off the obligations he had incurred, and bringing their
affairs into excellent condition.
When they
dissolved partnership, Alexander Billmeyer
bought the lumber business, his brother taking the homestead. They had acquired other
holdings, including the 400-acre tract which
is now Alexander Billmeyer's home farm, extensive tracts of timber on the eastern shore
of Maryland, and others in Clarion county,
Pa. (at what is now Bethlehem), Somerset
county. Pa. (at Elk Lick), and West Virginia.
Mr. Billmeyer continued to look after his
lumber business in Montour county personally, sending a brother-in-law to supervise the
manufacturing in the other sections where he
owned timber. He had the largest share of
the lumber business in his home neighborhood,
his progressive policy, and sincere desire to
give his patrons the best that could be
obtained anywhere, holding their custom
throughout all the changes which have attended the production and use of lumber. In
1872 Mr. Billmeyer began to invest in farm
lands, and he has made purchases from time
to time until his possessions now include fif-

and died

teen farms with an area of about two thousand
acres, of the best agricultural property in the
county, all but about 150 acres being cleared.
Having extensive business affairs Mr. Bill-

children,

meyer has naturally taken an

Alexander Henry, of Liberty townSarah, wife of Martin Blue, of Derry
ship
township; Mary, wife of B. F. Umstead, of

namely

Anthony township; Margaret, wife of David

interest in the

and he is
of the directors of the Danville National Bank. He has also taken an active part
financial institutions of his section,

now one

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
furthering the general welfare of his home
and county, and he was formerly one
of the trustees of the State Hospital for the
Insane located at Danville. In 1902 Mr. Billmeyer was appointed to represent the Sixteenth Congressional district, comprising Sulin

locality

483

until

1
90S. in which year he acquired possession of his present farm in
Derry township.
Before that he had been
in

engaged

breeding

Columbia, Montour and Northumber-

pedigreed horses, in which line he has been
interested for ten years, and since
going into
agricultural work he has also dealt in stock, as
well as hay and grain. His land is devoted to

land counties, and served one term, with the
ability and fine regard for his obligations to
his constituents which had been expected of
Mr. Billmeyer's life has been one of
him.

general farming, and he is operating it with a
degree of success which stamps him as a
typical representative of the name he bears.
Business has claimed all of his attention so

livan,

activity

and achievement, and he

looked up to by the

whom

justly

fellow citizens

he has passed his

life,

means by which his position and prosperhave been reached.
In 1865 Mr. Billmeyer married Angeline
Blue, who was born Oct. 12, 1845, daughter
the
ity

of Daniel Blue, of

Muncy, Lycoming

Co., Pa.,

and they have had a family of five children
Ella, born Feb. 2, 1866, married Glen Crawford, and died in 1904: Alice, born Aug. 13,
1867, is the wife of Taswell Vincent, a lumber
manufacturer of Danville, Pa., and has three
children, Lydia, Florence and Alexander;
Harry, born April 16, 1870, is mentioned below; Mary B., born July 17, 1874, is the wife
of Dr. Henry Sweigart, of Lewistown, Pa.,
and has three children, Alexander B., Mary
and Ethel; Florence, born Jan. 20, 1879, is
the wife of George Gilbert Kulp, of Shamo:

president of the street railway company of that place and also interested in the
lumber business (they have no children).
kin. Pa.,

In 1876 Mr. Billmeyer erected the residence
his beautiful 400-acre estate in Derry
township, having one of the most attractive

country homes in this part of Pennsylvania.
Fifty acres of his place have been set ofif for
what is known as "Billmeyer Park," where
Mr. Billmeyer has indulged his love for nature
and the creatures of the forest which he undoubtedly learned to love in his varied exIt
is
periences in the lumber districts.
estimated that there are over a thousand
squirrels on this tract, besides fifty wild turkeys, a number of deer and thirty elk, all of
which thrive under the ideal conditions
afforded.

H.NRRY Billmeyer. only son of Alexander
was born April 16, 1870, on the old
Billmeyer homestead in Liberty township, and
received his early education in the common
schools.
Later he attended the Millville
Billmeyer,

Academy, in Columbia county, and
young man of twenty entered his
employ as secretary and business
He continued to be so engaged
manager.
Friends'

when

father's

far.

public honors

making no appeal

his

among ambition, though he takes
and who know good citizen in the welfare

the interest of a
of the community
and the proper administration of local alTairs.
Mr. Billmeyer married Nellie lone Jameson, a native of Danville, Pa., daughter of

Charles A. and Martha (Lyon) Jameson, and
granddaughter of the late Moyer Lyon, of
Danville, who was one of the oldest butchers
in the borough.
Mrs. Jameson died May 7,
Mr. Jameson
1895. aged forty-three years.
was one of the old established merchants of
Danville.
Mr. and Mrs. Billmeyer have one
child, Martha Blue, born July 30, 1907, who
is

attending school.

Mr. Billmeyer was reared
faith, his

wife

JOHN

in the

Lutheran

Presbyterian Church.

LYMAN RICHARDSON,

Bloomsburg, treasurer of the Richard Manufacturing Company, one of the noteworthy industrial concerns of the locality, is a native of
Pennsylvania but of old New England stock.
The Richardsons and Lymans, with which
latter family he is connected through his
grandmother, Laura (Lyman) Richardson,
have been in this country from Colonial times.
Amos Richardson, the first of this line in
America, must have come to New England
prior to 1640. We find he was in Boston as
early as 1645, but he was doubtless there several years before.
He is described as a merchant tailor, and he was a man of great reAfter the departure of Stephen
spectability.
\\'inthrop, the governor's son. for England, in
1641, he was agent for him in New England,
as he afterwards was for his brother, John
Winthrop, the first governor of Connecticut
after the charter.
With Dean Winthrop and
others he was one of the original grantees of
Groton, Conn., though he never went there

He was

man

of strong convictions
will, and a good
deal of original talent, good-hearted, but never
submitted to a wrong without an effort to
He died at Stonington,
secure the right.
to live.

and determined energy and

Conn., Aug.

1683.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

484

Stephen Richardson, third son of Amos,
was born in Boston, June 14, 1652, and lived
and died in Stonington, Conn. He was a man
of character and influence.

Amos
was born

Richardson, third son of Stephen,
in 168 1, and settled in Coventry,

Connecticut.

and was president of the

first organized temperance society of his town. When more than
of
eighty years
age he removed with his wife
to Butternuts,
Otsego Co., N. Y., where the
the
remainder of their lives with
couple spent
their son-in-law,
Edward Converse.
Mr.
Richardson died Feb. 28, 187 1.
John L. Richardson was born near Jericho
Center, Chittenden Co., Vt., Sept. 15, 1816.

Nathan Richardson, eldest son of Amos,
was born March 20, 1725.
Nathan Richardson (2), fourth son of The county was named after the first govNathan, was born at Coventry, Conn., Oct. 27, ernor, and one of the most renowned gover1760, and about 1780 removed to Manchester, nors, in the State; was the county in which
Vt., from there going to near Burlington, Col. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga,
Chittenden Co., Vt., where he soon after died. lived and died; the native county of Senator
William P. Richardson, son of Nathan (2), Edmunds; the native county of Dr. Higbee,
was born at Manchester, Vt., July 22, 1784. former superintendent of public instruction in
and the iirst public school
In his early childhood he developed more than Pennsylvania
ordinary aptness and excelled as a reader. In which Mr. Richardson attended was soon
he
was
after
of
which
the Congregational Church,
taught by the father of President
a member, regular service at that time was Arthur. During his first terms in the academy
always held on the Sabbath in the absence of of his native town he was a schoolmate of
On such occasions and they Judge Poland, for many years member of
the minister.
occurred hundreds of times during the course Congress from Vermont. At the age of nineof his life Mr. Richardson was invariably teen Mr. Richardson taught his first school
called upon by one of the deacons to conduct near his native town, and soon after entered
the service and to stand in the pulpit and read Burr Seminary, at Manchester, Vt., then
For weeks, under the principalship of his relative. Rev.
a sermon to the congregation.
and sometimes months, he served the church Lyman Coleman, D. D., subsequently profesHe sor of ancient and modern history in Lafa}'in this way in the absence of the pastor.
he taught winters during the
studied theology under the instruction of Rev. ette College
Ebenezer Kingsbury (grandfather of E_^ P. four years of his connection with the seminKingsbury, of Scranton), pastor of the Con- ary. In 1842 he left Manchester, on a visit
On to his sister Hannah, who, with her husband,
V' t.
gregational Church at Jericho Center,
account of the protracted sickness of his John C. K. Truair, had charge of the Gilbertsmother, who required his constant care, he ville Academy and Collegiate Institute at
was compelled to relinquish all thoughts of Butternuts, Otsego Co., N. Y. He spent a
the ministry as a profession. Mr. Richardson year at that place, teaching in the academy,
married Sept. 7, 1807, Laura, daughter of and during one term was associated with the
Capt. John Lyman. He was an old Jeft'erson- late Rev. Reuben Nelson, D. D., who was a
ian Democrat, an ardent supporter of the teacher of languages in the same institution.
Madison and Monroe administrations, and a Mr. Richardson moved to Luzerne county. Pa.,
decided advocate of the war of 1812. He was in 1843 and taught school several years. In
a volunteer in that war and was an officer in the fall of 1855, while he was principal of
his company, which was ordered to Platts- Madison Academy, at Waverly, Pa., he was
After the close of the war he pur- commissioned by Andrew G. Curtin, then
burg.
chased a farm near Jericho Center, directing secretary of State and superintendent of
He was for public instruction, as superintendent of the
his attention to agricultural life.
many years a justice of the peace, often a schools of Luzerne county. The act authorizmember of the board of selectmen, and rep- ing a superintendent was passed in 1854, and
resented Chittenden county in the State Leg- the late Rev. J. W. Lescher was the first
He wrote superintendent, but he resigned shortly after
islature in 1821, 1822 and 1824.
Mr. Richardson's
the early history of Jericho township which the law went into effect.
was published in "Thompson's Gazetteer of first act as superintendent was to issue a cirHis intellect and training made cular which gives considerable insight into his
the State."
him a leader in the most advanced movements sentiments regarding the obligations and
of his day. He became interested in the cause responsibilities of his chosen profession. The
of education and secured the establishment office of county superintendent was objected
of a good academical school in his township; to by a large number of people at first, in a
;

—

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
day when

the

important mission of jniblic
schools was httle understood or appreciated,

and Mr. Richardson had to perform his duties
in the

But

face of

in spite of

much

opposition and distrust.

unfavorable circumstances his

conscientious and enlightened attention to
those duties did much to improve the effiHe
ciency of the system and popularize it.
retired voluntarily after five years' service.
The Richardsons are a race of teachers,
They are found scattered throughout the
country, in colleges, seminaries, public schools,
and in every department of scholastic labor.
Of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Richardson, Betsy, Nathan and Martin L. taught in

Vermont Mrs. Edward Converse taught in
Lackawanna county. Pa., almost seventy vears
;

ago; Mrs.

C. K. Truair

had charge of the

department in the Gilbertsville
Collegiate Institute Mrs. Emily
Hillhouse taught an academical school in
Columbus, Ohio and Simeon L. taught in
Minnesota. Thus out of a family of ten children, who grew to maturity, eight were teachIt is a fact worthy of note that during a
ers.
portion of the time that L L. Richardson was
county su]:)erintendent of Luzerne county.
Rev. Willard Richardson was county superintendent of Susquehanna county, and Judson
Richardson was county superintendent of Sul-

young

ladies'

Academy and

;

livan county.
It seems but natural that a man of such
high character and strong sense of justice
should have been active in the Abolition cause,
and later in the betterment of conditions
among the former slaves. Mr. Richardson
was for six years an agent of the New York
American Missionary Association, and as
such addressed thousands of his countrymen
in
favor of the newly-created citizens of
African descent.
His first year's residence

He was

485

and solicitor for the Tunkhannock Republican, a temperance paper, and
for the Scranton City Journal.
In 1879 he
retired to a farm in Cooper township, near
His death ocDanville, Montour Co., Pa.
curred suddenly, in March, 1885, at Mount
also agent

Carmel, Pennsylvania.
On June 19, 1846, Mr. Richardson married
Catherine Heermans, at that time living in
Hyde Park (now Scranton), Pa., sister of
Edmond and John Heermans and niece of
Joseph Fellows. She survived him, after his
death making her home at Bloomsburg. They
had nine children, of whom Catherine was
the first to die; Mary married Isaac P. Haud
and lives in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Laura married
Gallitzin T. went out to
.\ngus Morrison
Idaho Florence D. married Willis Emmons
;

;

and moved to Pomona, Cal. Emily E. married Walter T. Hall and moved to Idaho;
William P. moved to Jordan Valley, Oregon;
John L. went to New York City; Harriet H.
lives in Norwalk, California.
John Lyman Richardson was born March
2,
1863, at Waverly, Pa., and received his
primary education in the public schools of
;

Wilkes-Barre, Pa., later taking a course in the
State Normal School at Bloomsburg, where
he prepared for Lafayette College, entering
the class of 1885. He then taught school for
a short time, and in 1886 became shipping
clerk and buyer for the Manhattan Brass
Company, of New York City, remaining in
the position for three and a half years he
then accepted a position with Randolph &
Clowes, of Waterbury, Conn. In 1891 he removed to Bloomsburg and in company with
F. J. Richard built the tube plant, serving as
treasurer of the company until 1894.
Wlien
the Richard
Manufacturing Company of
Bloomsburg was formed, in 1900, he became
treasurer, and he has been one of the most
;

during this work was in St. Louis, Mo., where
he devoted his time to the organization of influential directors of that prosperous conschools and employing teachers for them. He cern since.
visited the States of New York, Pennsylvania
Mr. Richardson married, Nov. 28, 1894,
and Vermont, and raised thousands of dollars Minnie Bittenbender, daughter of Evan E.
for his work among the freedmen.
He was liittenbender, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and
a pioneer antislavery man, and cast his vote
they have had three children Catherine R.,
for James G. Birney, John P. Hale and other born
June 5, 1896, who graduated with the
The Prohibition cause class of 1913 from the Bloomsburg State Norantislavery leaders.
also found a strong advocate in him.
At the mal School John L., bom July 4, 1897, a memage of fourteen he signed the pledge at a ber of the class of 1915; and Emily E., born
at
which
his
father
was Feb. 21, 1899, a mernber of the class of 1916 of
temperance meeting
The
president, and he never drank a glass of wine the Bloomsburg State Normal School.
in his life.
In two presidential campaigns he family are Presbyterians in religious connecwas employed by the State committees of the tion. In 1898 Mr. Richardson built his handtemperance organization to canvass for votes, some home on East Main Street, Bloomsburg.
and do all in his power to build up the cause. He is a Republican in politics.
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

486

Henry Bittenbender, grandfather of Mrs.
Richardson, settled with his family at Forks,
Columbia Co., Pa., purchasing what afterwards became known as the Zander farm, one
of the best in the Fishing creek valley. Evan
E. Bittenbender, her father, was born Feb. 26,
1842, at Cambra, I.uzerne Co., Pa., and came
with the family to this section. When he attained his majority he enlisted for service in
the Union army, joining Company E, 209th
P. V. I., with which company he served to the
end of the war, taking part in a number of
important engagements, including those at
Fort Stedman and Petersburg. On Sept. 28,
1865, he married Rebecca Matilda Stoker,
daughter of Daniel Stoker, and the same year
removed to Constantine, Mich. In 1881 he
removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Through his grandmother, Laura (Lyman)
Richardson, Mr. Richardson is a descendant
of Richard Lyman, who landed on these

shores in 1631, only eleven years after the
Two years before King
Pilgrim Fathers.
Charles I. had granted the charter incorporat"The
Governor
and Company of the
ing

Massachusetts Bay in New England." The
year before John Winthrop had been chosen
governor of Massachusetts and had emigrated
to the Colony. This Richard Lyman was also
an ancestor of Admiral George Dewey, his
granddaughter, Hepzibah (daughter of his
son Richard, of Windsor, Conn., who died in
1662), marr\-ing Nov. 6, 1662, Josiah Dewey.
Thus an article which appeared in the Philadelphia Press Aug. 14, 1898, relating to

Dewey's early ancestors,

also properly in-

cluded

in this account of the Lymans.
"Admiral Dewey's pedigree begins on the
border of mythology with Thor, the Saxon
God, or cult-hero, who is almost a myth,
called variously Vothinn, Othinn, Odin, Bodo,
and Woden, the King of the West Saxons,
A. D.. 256-300; he and his spouse, Frea, were
the Mara and \'enus of Saxon Mythology.
This King Woden, the God of war, is described as the great-grandfather of bugaboos
of English historj', Horsa and Hengst, brothers, freebooters and pirates, of whom the
Saxon annals tells us that Hengst was the
King of Saxons, and died between A D. 474
and 4Q5, the first King of Kent.
"Leaving this progenitor of the Saxon
rulers of Britain, Admiral Dewey's royal
lineage passes along the royal Saxon line on
the continent, through King Hengst's son.

Prince
Dieteric.

Hartwalker,

and

his

the

'famous'

historic

wife

King
(he had

others), Wobrogera, a daughter of the unique

character, Bellun, King of the Worder. Their
grandson, Witekind the Great, was the last
king of the Saxons, A. D. 769-807, and then
dwindled into only their dukes, and Duke of
\\'estphalia, while his descendants for a few
generations were only Counts of Wettin, until on the
genealogical line we come to the
Robert Robert-fortis who by his
great
sword became Count of Axjor and Orleans,
Duke and Marquis of France, and won the
hand of the fair Lady Alisa, sister-in-law to
the King of France, Ilothaire I.
"This hero of medieval history, Robertfortis, the great-grandson of the great Witekind, was the founder of the so called Capuchin line of monarchs of France, for from
him, through a line of Dukes of France and

—

Burgundy, Counts of Paris, etc., who by their
swords and intermarriages became firmly
seated on French soil, was descended the celebrated

Hugh

Capet,

Duke

France,

who

usurped the throne of France and supplanted
Charles,

Duke

of Lorraine, the heir of Louis

d'Outremere, or King Louis IV, the last Carlovingian, or descendant of the great Emperor
Charlemagne, to occupy the 'French' throne.
"Two other kings of the Capuchin line
Robert the Pious, and Henry the first Dewey
numbers among his illustrious ancestors, and

—

Jibbon, in his "History of the Roman Empire,'
us of the high lineage of one of his early
ancestresses, Anne of Russia, wife of Henry
Gibbon states she was the
L, of France.
daughter of Jaroslaus, Grand Duke or Czar of
(

tells

Russia. A. D. 1015-1051, who was a descendant of Basil, the Macedonian, the first emperor
of Constantinople of his line, A. D. 867, and
that Basil was descended, on his father's side,
from the Araeides, the rivals of Rome, possessors of the scepter of the East for four

hundred years, through a younger branch of
the Parthian monarchs, reigning in Armenia;
and on his mother's side, from the European,
Constantine the Great, and Alexander the
Great, the Macedonian.
"Continuing Dewey's pedigree, we find
the one necessary
that one of his ancestors
to connect him with these historic characters
was the son of King Henry L, of France,
Hugh the Great, or Magnus, Duke of
France and Burgundy. Marquis of Orleans,
and Count of Paris, and through his wife
Count of \'ermandois and \'alois, a noted

—

man

of his day.
is here that

Dewey's pedigree leaves
and begins to be a part of English history.
Dewey's ancestress. Lady Isabel
de \'ermandois. was the daughter of the
"It

the continent

COLUMBIA AND MOxXTOUR COUNTIES
aforesaid Hugh Magnus, and was the first
wife (he was her first husband) of Robert de
Belloinont, or Beaumont, a Norman, Earl of
Millent, who accompanied WilHam of Normandy on his expedition to England, and for
the part he took in the conquest was created
in 1 103 Earl of Leicester, and granted many

manors

He had
England, dying in 11 18.
Isabel, Robert Bosse de Bellosecond Earl of Leicester, who was

issue by

mont,

Lady

justiciary of England, and, dying in 1168, had
issue by his wife. Lady Amelia or Arnica, a

daughter of Ralph de Waer or Waher, who in
1066 was Earl of Norfolk, Sufifolk and Cambridge, but forfeited these earldoms in 1074
Robert-blanc-Mains, third Earl of Leicester
and steward of England, whose daughter.
Lady Margaret de Bellomont, was an ances;

tress of

Admiral Dewey.

"This lady married Saher de Quincey, an
English baron, created in 1207 by King John,
to win him over to his side, Earl of WinchesThis baron accepted and enjoyed the honter.
ors conferred upon him by John, but never
was friendly with him. On the contrary, he
was. next to Fitz \\'alter, the leader of the
insurrectionary barons, and did as much work
any of them to compel King John to grant
the charter of liberty
the Magna Charta
and was one of the twenty-five sureties chosen
to enforce its observance.
It is through this
as

—

"baron that

Dewey

eligible

membership

Order of Runnymede.
"Turning now to the pages of the Scottish

in the

we learn that this Earl of \\'ingranddaughter, Elizabeth de Quincy,
wife of Alexander de Comyn.
second Earl of Buchan. who was a descendant of Donalbane, King of Scots, which gives
peerage books,

chester's

was

the

And
a 'strain' of the sturdiest sort.
reverting again to the English peerage, we
find that Gilbert, Baron d'Umfraville, married Lady .Agnes, a daughter of the aforesaid
Elizalieth, Countess of Buchan, and was the
progenitor of a line of d'Umfravilles to Lady
Joan d'Umfraville. who married Sir \\'illiam
Lamliert. Knight. Lord of Owlton Manor, in
Durham. From the authentic pedigrees of
the otficial Heralds of England, we learn that
Dewey

great-granddaughter of this marriage, was
Thomas Lyman, Gent., of Navi-

the wife of

who died in 1509, and mother
Henry Lyman, of High Ongar, in Essex,
who was the ancestor of Richard Lyman.
"Richard Lyman, the patriarch of the Lymans of English descent in .America, was
born at Hugh Ongar Alanor, Essex County,
England, and was baptized Oct. 30, 1580.
stoke. in Essex,

The

487

not known.
He
married Sarah Osborne, of Halstead, in Kent.
She went to America with her husband and
all her children, and died in
Hartford, Conn.,
about the year 1640, soon after the death
of her husband. Mr. Lyman embarked about
the middle of August, 1631, with his wife
date

and children,

his

birth

the

ship

"Lion,"

New-

for

departure from the
There went in the same ship
Martha Winthrop, the third wife of John
\\'inthrop, at that time governor of New England, the governor's eldest son and his wife
and their children, also Eliot, the celebrated

England,

taking

their

port of Bristol.

The
apostle of the Massachusetts Indians.
ship made anchor before Boston on Nov. 2,
1.
Richard
first
became
a
settler
163
Lyman
in Charlestown, ^lass., and, with his wife,
united with the Church in what is now called
Roxbury, under the pastoral care of Eliot, the
'Apostle to the Indians.' He became a freeman at the General Court June 11, 1635, and
on Oct. 15. 1635, he took his departure with
his family from Charlestown, joining a party
of about one hundred persons who went
through the wilderness from Alassachusetts
to Connecticut, the object being to form settlements at Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield.
He was one of the first settlers at Hartford.

made

The journey from Massachusetts was

about fourteen days' time, the dismore than one hundred miles, and
They had
through a trackless wilderness.
no guide but their compass, and made their
way over mountains, through swamps, thickets
and rivers, which were not passable except
with the greatest difficulty.
They had no
cover but the heavens, nor any lodgings but
those which simple nature aflforded them.
They drove with them one hundred and sixty
head of cattle, and, by the way. subsisted
in a great measure on the milk of their cows.
in

tance being

The people
utensils.

carried their packs, arms and

some

This adventure was the more

re-

markable as many of the company were persons of figure, who had lived in England in
honor, affluence and delicacy, and were entire
Richard Lystrangers to fatigue and danger.
man on his journey suffered greatly in the
He' was one of the original
loss of cattle.
there is little
proprietors of Hartford, and
doubt that he and his wife formed a connection with the first church in Hartford, of
which the Rev. Thomas Hooker was pastor.
His will, the first on record in Hartford, is
dated April 22. 1640, is first in the valuable
collection of Trumbull, and stands Record T.
of his
page 442, and followed by an inventor}'

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

488

He died in August, 1640, and his name business ventures was the building of a founinscribed on a stone column in the rear of dry at Foundryville, in Briarcreek township,
the Centre Church, of Hartford, erected in Columbia county, where he engaged in the
memory- of the first settlers of the city. His manufacture of pig iron, later turning out
Richard stoves and plows. In 1849 '''^ joined interests
wife, Sarah, died soon afterward.
Lyman is reported to have begun life in the with Mordecai W. Jackson, who, in partnernew world as a man of 'considerable estate, ship with George Mack, had established the
foundry at Berwick in 1840. Later Mr. Jackkeeping two servants.'
"John Lyman, known as Lieutenant Lyman, son was associated with Robert McCurdy,
estate.
is

born

High Ongar, September,

1623,

came

England with his father. He marDorcas, daughter of John Plumb, of
Branford, Conn. He settled in Northampton,
]Mass., where he resided until his death, -Aug.
Lieut. John Lyman was in com20, 1690.
mand of the Northampton soldiers in the
famous Falls fight, above Deerfield, May 18,

New

to
ried

1676.

"Moses Lyman, son of Lieut. John Lyman,
was born in Northampton, Mass., Feb. 20,
16
and died Feb. 25, 17OT.
of
"Capt. Moses Lyman, the only son
Moses Lyman, was born Feb. 27. 1689. and
He married Minddied March 24, 1762.

—

well Sheldon, Dec.

13,

1712.

"Simeon Lyman, son of Capt. Moses Lyman, was born in 1725 in Northampton.
Mass.. settled in Salisbury. Conn., and joined
the church in that place in 1740 by letter
from the church in Northampton. He married .Abigail Beebe. of Canaan, Conn., and
both died in Salisbury in the year 1800.
"
fohn Lyman, son of Simeon Lyman, of
Salisbury, Conn., was born March 11. 17(10.
He married Huldah Brinsmade, of Stratford,
He migrated to Jericho. \'t.. soon
Conn.
after the Revolutionary war. among the first

He was a man of deep
judgment, and an earnest
-As a bold and fearless soldier
Christian.
and sure marksman, he served his country
settlers of the State.

thought,

sound

He
faithfully in the war of the Revolution.
Laura Lyman was born Nov.
died in 1840.
William
10. 1789, and married Sept. 7, 1807,
She died at Butternuts. OtP. Richardson.
sego Co.. N. v.. Feb. 28. 1869."

WILLIAM HARTMAN WOODIN

was

born in .Salem, Luzerne Co., Pa.. Nov. 4. 1821.
His father. David Charles Woodin (from Connecticut), an architect by profession, settled in
In
Pennsylvania, where he died Oct. 21, 1825.
was
1 81
9 he married Sarah Hartman, who
born in Catawissa. Columbia Co., Pa., in 1792,
and died in 1825. the same year as her husband. They had two sons and one daughter,
the sons being William Hartman and Joseph B.
One of ^Villiam Hartman Woodin's early

whose

interest

was taken up by Mr. Woodin,

the firm becoming Jackson & Woodin. They
started business at Berwick in a building 25 by
40 feet in dimensions, on the corner of Market
and Third streets, producing the Robb stove,
with open grate, and a round stove, with a
top, also turning out plows and
a specialty of the old Bull plow, which
ranked with the best of its kind at the time.

bakeoven on

making

The practical energy- and executive ability
which both partners displayed gave the business a substantial position from the very outIn 1850 they entered upon the manufacset.
ture of iron pipes, and in 1858 commenced
making bridge castings for the Philadelphia &
Erie railroad. In 1861 the btisiness was given
a strong impetus by an important order from
Mr. Creveling, who was extensively engaged
in
the manufacture of lime at Espy, in
Columbia county. They took a contract to

make

sixteen four-wheeled cars for him. Considering their equipment and the usual volume
of their business, it might have been regarded
as too much for them to handle, but they did
not hesitate about accepting it, nor did they fail
in its completion.
When the cars were finished, the sides of the shop in which they were
constructed were torn down, as it was the only
means of running them out conveniently, and
they were drawn to the railroad by horses. The
instance was a momentous one in the career of

the firm, and many large orders came in the
future because of the confidence which its sucAfter a while the firm
cess had established.
made a specialty of mine cars and mine cast-

which line they were never excelled.
Their plant has always maintained a reputaings, in

The late
tion for superiority in this regard.
-\. C. Whitney, of Philadelphia (friend of both
took great interest in their progress,
partners
) ,

and his able advice and generosity in loaning
them patterns and chills for molding car
wheels was a considerable factor in their early
Facilities and equipment were imsuccess.
proved as the business enlarged and great
progress had been made by the time the Jackson & \\'oodin Manufacturing Company was
At that time
organized, on March i, 1872.
both ]Mr. Jackson and Mr. Woodin retired, as

William

]I.\im\max

Woodin

I
t

CaJ^^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the actual heads of the business,
Clarence G. Jackson and C. R.

and their sons,
Woodin, took

the active executive positions.
W. H. Woodin was a man of remarkably
He married Elizabeth Foster,
fine character.
daughter of John and Ellen Foster, and she

survived him, passing

away

Jan.

1901.

They

489

north of the town and on the highest point,
which is 1,200 feet above sea level, he cleared
home sites for himself and son.
fine graded
road, almost three miles long, leads up to the
summit. The beautiful view to be obtained
there makes the location doubly desirable. Mr.
Woodin built a beautiful wood and stone residence there in 1891, and his son built one near
The estate is equipped with every device
by.
for convenience and beautified in the most

had the following children
Joseph B., deceased Sarah A., deceased Clemuel R. Eudora W., who married S. P. Hanly, of Berwick; Harry, deceased; John Foster, of Ar- artistic manner. Mr. Woodin married Mary
kansas and Elizabeth, deceased.
Dickerman, daughter of Dr. Charles and
Mr. Woodin adhered to high standards Adelia Dickerman, of Hartford, Pa.,, and they
he
have
one son, William Hartman.
but
his
career,
though
expected
throughout
William H.artm.\n Woodin obtained his
the same honorable treatment as he gave others
he lacked neither generosity nor tolerance, and early education in the public schools of Bergave the utmost satisfaction to all with whom wick. When fourteen years old he became a
he had dealings. His death occurred Nov. 10, student in the New York Latin School and
1886. He had the affectionate esteem of all in then later in the Woodbridge School of New
York City, taking his higher technical course
his employ, was benevolent and liberal to those
who needed his assistance, and left a name un- later in the School of Mines of Columbia Coltransactions.
lege.
Coming back to Berwick he went into
spotted by questionable
Clemuel Ricketts Woodin was born on the plant of the Jackson & Woodin ManufacDec. 26, 1844, in Cambra, Luzerne Co., Pa. turing Company, and entered upon a practical
He obtained his education in this section, study of its operation, with which he became
attending Kingston Seminary until sixteen thoroughly familiar, as his able executive
He then began work with his services have since demonstrated. In five
years old.
father, but not long afterwards his business
years he became general superintendent of the
career was interrupted by his service in the plant and a director of the company, of which
Union army for one year; in 1863 he entered he was chosen vice president in 1896, and
Company C, 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania president in 1899. When the American Car
Emergency Reserves. At the close of his serv- and Foundry Company purchased the plant of
ice he returned to Berwick and resumed work
the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Comwith his father, applying himself so closely that pany Mr. Woodin became district manager,
he became familiar with every detail of the operating the plant at Berwick until 1902,
business. When the Jackson & Woodin Manu- when he was made assistant to the president,
Like his
facturing Company was organized (a full de- which position he now occupies.
father, Mr. Woodin has always been interscription of the concern appears in the Berwick chapter of the historical section of this ested in the welfare of Berwick, and he was
work), March i, 1872, he became its president, formerly a director of the Berwick Water
and remained at the head of the concern for Company and secretary and director of the
He gave
twenty years, resigning in 1894, because of Berwick Electric Light Company.
poor health. In his connection with the Jack- his interest and influence generously to the
son & Woodin Manufacturing Company Mr. support of every worthy movement set on foot
Woodin became known all over the LTnited for the advancement of the borough.
States in his line, and throughout his business
On Oct. 9. 1889, Mr. Woodin married Annie
career maintained a leading position among Jessup, daughter of Judge William H. Jessup,
of Montrose, Pa., and they have four children:
Pennsylvania manufacturers.
Mr. Woodin has been one of the most in- Mary Louise, born in Scranton, Pa., on Oct.
fluential citizens of Berwick and his interest
Anne Jessup, born in New York
31, 1891
in the
progress of the borough has been mani- April 10, 1894: William Hartman, born in
in
fested
many ways. Nothing can show more Berwick. Pa., May 14, 1899; and Elizabeth
Foster, born in Scranton, Pa., Jan. 29, 1901.
clearly his real devotion for the locality than
the beautiful home which he established on Mr. Woodin in 1898 was honored by the ReFSerwick Heights, one of the finest and most jjublican party with the nomination for repre:

;

appointed residences of central
In 1890 he bought the \'an
Pennsylvania.
Pelt and other farms lying on an elevation
L-ompletely

sentati\-e
district,

Kulp.

the

.Seventeenth

Congressional

upon the retirement of Monroe H.

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

490

GEORGE

DANIEL

EDMONDSON.

The Edmondson family had

Denthem
England, where large numbers

origin in
mark, but centuries ago the majority of

emigrated to
bearing the

name

its

now

are

found.

in agricultural
are to be found
artists, while an

Although principally engaged
of the

name

jnirsuits, many
in the ranks of artisans

member

and

the family became
prominent in the affairs of that nation. In
the records of the old families of Britain the
name of Edmonson occurs frequently, and
those interested in genealogical research will
find much of interest in tracing this and other
families contemporaneous therewith.
In the early part of the seventeenth century
the founder of the American branch of the

occasional

Edmondson family came
tled in the beautiful

and

to \'irginia and sethistoric Shenandoah

\alley, where now many of his descendants
hold positions of honor. The earliest of the
line of whom we have record is William H.
Edmondson, a soldier of the Revolutionary
war, through which he served with distinction,
retiring to the life of a peaceful tiller of the
soil when the struggle of the Colonies had
ended. He was a strong, energetic man, and
exerted much influence in his locality.
He
died at the age of seventy-one 3'ears, and
was buried beside others of the family who

had preceded him

to the grave.
His family
consisted of eight children
\\'illiam, RodSanford R.,
erick.
Strother, George \\'.,
Rachel. Fannie and Jennie. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and a supporter of the
:

Methodist Church.
Sanford R. Edmondson, the father of
George D., was born in Middletown, V'a.,

a deacon.

lives

and the respect of his fellow citizens.
George D. Edmondson was born in Middletown, \'a., Jan. 15. 1853, and after a brief
attendance at pay schools and a private acad-

emy commenced

all his

various undertakings.

After conducting his manufacturing business for twenty years ]Mr. Edmondson disposed of his interests and devoted himself
entirely to the task of writing life insurance,

having for some time previous been partially
engaged in that work. From that time for
twenty years he represented the Mutual Life
Insurance Company of New York, being for
foureighteen years the district manager, with
teen counties under his care, together with

numerous agents in the district. In 1903
had the credit of writing the largest
amount of insurance of any agent in the
In 1906 he was selected to
United States.
the

the

;

Clarence

Royal.

\'a.

;

\'enable,

and Jesse

druggist of Front
cashier of the

R.,

Mutual Life Insurance Company
ton.

Wilming-

Delaware.

Mr. Edmondson is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Church, of which he

blacksmith's
this occu-

to Danville, where he opened a
shop on East Market street and continued for
a period of twenty years. He soon began the
manufacture of wagons, and his thorough
knowledge of the business and careful and
conscientious work soon brought him a
flourishing trade, so that he became known
throughout a large section as an honest -manufacturer. His products were readily sold and
his business greatly increased until he had
the largest patronage in his section. His success was not easily won. but required the tenacity of purpose, tireless energy and business
acumen which have made him successful in

in the

;

the

mastered

coming next

Company

;

represent

Gordon and now lives at Hagerstown.
Md.; Charles E.. a merchant of Middletown.
Edward G. and Lemuel L., deceased
\'a.
H. Reese, of Danville, Pa. Anna Mabel, wife

learn

pation at an early age and became a journeyman at the age of twenty.
then went to
West Newton. Pa., where he remained a year,

In 185 1 he was united
in marriage to Mar)' E. Huff, whose parents
were Daniel and Sarah (Walters) Huff, and
the children of this union were eleven in number:
George Daniel; William H.. deceased;
Ella, also deceased Sarah, who married .Samuel

trade with his father.

;

which

and has attained deserved prominence

Sept. I/, 1829. and is still living at the home
He
place at the age of eighty-ti\e years.
was a blacksmith, and followed the trade
during his active years, which have but re-

cently been completed.

has always taken an active

interest in the affairs of the section in

Philadelphia

Life

Insurance

and now maintains offices in both Philadelphia and DanHis unbounded energy, his forceful
ville.
and accurate
personality, and his complete

same

territory,

have
knowledge of the insurance business,

and
placed him in the front rank of managers,
he has repeatedly written more life insurance
than any other agent in the country, winnmg

many

valuable prizes therefor.

So favorably

he known among the companies that his
advice is frequently sought regarding new
is

policies

and other matters pertaining

to the

business.
varied
Notwithstanding Mr. Edmondson's

outside interests he has always remained loyal
to Danville, where he has invested large sums

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
His properties are among the
most valuable in the town and he has done
much to improve the appearance and surroundings of every piece of real estate which
in real estate.

has

come

into, his

The Opera

possession.

House, one of the finest in this State, has been
greatly improved and refurnished since passing into his ownership, and being located on
a prominent corner of the business district he

made it a handsome and attractive landmark and one of the sights of the town. The
has

building is four stories high, cost about $1^5,000, and has a seating capacity of 1,200.
On Dec. 2, 1872, Mr. Edmondson was married to Anna A., daughter of Cyrus B. and
residents
of
Christiana
Columbia
Reese,

union have been born six
whom, Lloyd Barton,
George H. and .\nna L., are deceased. Those
are:
li\ing
Margaret L.. wife of George M.
Hornberger, mechanical engineer at the Danville .^tate Hospital for the Insane
Charles
P.. who is associated with his father in the
insurance business and David Edward, who
is manager of the Opera House and has charge
of the various business interests of his father
county.

chililren,

this

three

;

David
Danville.
to Elmira,
Foust, of Danville.

married

Edward Edmondson
daughter

Webster

Mr. Edmondson is a member of the Democratic party and was for years one of its leaders in Montour county.
He took an active
part in the State campaigns and brought into
the work the same ability and energy w^hich
have characterized all his labors. He has been
chairman of the county committee and member of the State Democratic committee, and
served as councilman for nine years. He and
his family are

members

of St. Paul's Metho-

Episcopal Church and liberal supporters
of their denomination.
dist

Mr. Edmondson's family was well represented in the bloody struggle of the Civil war,
on his mother's side two uncles being in the
Union army and one on the Confederate
side, while two of his father's brothers were
The Edadherents of the Southern cause.
mondson home in \'irginia was the scene of
one of the famous battles of the war. When
Early repulsed the army of Sheridan at
Cedar Creek the retreat was past the house
and some of the shots struck the building.
During the engagement the old brick chapel
near by was com[)letely riddled with cannon
shot, and the family were compelled to seek
refuge in the cellar until the lighting ceased.

When

from

Sheridan made
Winchester he gathered his forces near the
his

famous

ride

491

house and the family were interested witnesses of

all

the evolutions at the time.

WILLIAM R. MONROE, head of the
Monroe-Hall Furniture Company, of Bloomsburg, manufacturers of high-grade furniture,
is though a
young man one of the leading
figures in the business life of that place.
native of that great furniture
manufacturing
center, (jrand Rapids, Mich., he had e.xcellent
opportunities in his early life for observing
how valuable a thorough knowledge of his
chosen line of work would be, and he has been

highly successful.

Mr. Monroe was born Feb. 20, 1876, and
received most of his education in the public
schools of his native place.
Then he took a
course in the college at Big Rapids, Mich.,
graduating in 1895. During his early years he
had been trained to farming, but after leaving
school he found employment at office work,
and from the beginning of his career has been
connected with the furniture manufacturing
business, .\fter working at Grand Rapids for
a time he went to Wisconsin, where he spent
six years, coming to Bloomsburg, Pa., in 1902.
There he became superintendent of the factory conducted by Robert Hawley and William H. Slate, who were doing a prosperous
business.
His worth soon won recognition,
and in 1905 he was made treasurer of the

concern, in 1906, when the Hawley & Slate
Furniture Company was incorporated, becoming president, treasurer and general manager,
with W. H. Slate, of Philadelphia, as vice
president, and H. A. Hall, secretary. In 1910
the business was reorganized under the name
of the Monroe-Hall Furniture Company, with

Mr. Monroe as president and treasurer, and
Mr. Hall as secretary.
The establishment
has ranked among the progressive business
houses of Bloomsburg since it was opened.
The original buildings of the plant were put
up in 189 1 by W. H. Schuyler, Theodore
Redeker and Jacob Keitfer, who conducted the
business for about one year, when it was taken
over by the Bloomsburg Furniture Company,
who operated it for a time. The company was
reorganized as the North Branch Furniture
Company and continued to operate the plant
until 1898, when it was leased to Messrs. Hawley and Slate, who carried it on until 1906.
The factory has a desirable and valuable location, in the east end of the town, and its
connections with the Delaware, Lackawanna &
W^estern railroad afford admirable shipping
facilities.
The buildings are substantial twoor three-story brick structures, the main one

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

492

having a frontage of 80 feet and depth of 300
feet, thoroughly equipped with all the modern
wood-working machinery required in the
manufacture of high-grade furniture of all
kinds.
The company's specialties, however,
are sideboards and dressers, and their articles
in this line are noted for individuality and
original designs. Their aim is to combine conscientious construction with beauty of lines
and careful finish, giving touches which distinguish artistic products, without in any way
lessening their usefulness. The Monroe-Hall
Company market their goods all over the
United States, and the high-grade material
and expert workmanship put into their product enables it to compete with the best wherever introduced. In the various departments
of the factory constant employment is afforded for from 150 to 175 hands, skilled
workmen and their assistants, and for this
alone the plant would hold an important relation to the industrial prosperity of BloomsThe quantity of lumber used annually
burg.
amounts to over two million feet. Mr. Monroe devotes the greater part of his time to his
duties as president and treasurer of the Monroe-Hall Company, and has made a place for
himself among the substantial business men of
He is also president of the
the borough.
Monroe-Heberling Ice Cream Company, of
Newark, N. J., whose business is confined to
the wholesale trade.
Fraternally he is a

Mason, belonging to Washington Lodge, No.
265, F. & A. M.; Bloomsburg Royal Arch
Chapter, No. 218; Crusade Commandery, No.
Caldwell Consistory (thirty-second
12, K. T.
degree), and Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.,
of Wilkes-Barre.
;

July

1899,

to Bessie Stocks, of
ter of W. H. and

Mr. Monroe was married
Eau Claire, Wis., daughAmelia Stocks, and they

The family are Preschild, Claire.
byterians in church connection.

have one

WILLIAM KASE- WEST

one of the

distinguished attorneys at Danville, Montour
comity, where he has been in active practice
The
since his admission to the bar, in 1886.

for

many years. L'pon the outbreak of the
Revolutionary war he left a happy home and
family to battle for independence. He had the
misfortune to be taken prisoner by the English, but after a short term of imprisonment
etifected his escape and organized a company,
of which he was captain, and rendered valuable aid to the American cause.
In 1808, or
soon after, he and his children removed to
Ararat, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he took
up land and passed the remainder of his life.
He died at the age of sixty years, and his wife
attained the advanced age of eighty.
had the following children
Thomas,
:

nah,

Jones,

Benjamin,

William,

They
ilan-

Nathaniel,

Permelia and Eunice.
William West, grandfather of William
Kase West, was born in Schoharie county, N.
Y., near Schenectady, and learned the trade of
blacksmith.
After moving to Susquehanna
county with his parents he cleared a farm and
engaged in agricultural work. Later he settled at Masonville, Delaware Co., N. Y., where
he continued at his trade until his death,
which occurred at the age of seventy-five
He married Eliza Rogers, who was
years.
born in Delaware county, N. Y.. daughter of
Robert Rogers, for many years a sea captain.
Tiring of that life Captain Rogers wishing
to establish an inland home, bought a lariii in
Delaware county, N. Y., and followed agriculLater he built a boat and with his famture.
sailed down the river to Chesapeake bay,
where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr.
West and his wife became the parents of
two children, (ieorge W'illiston and Robert
ily

Mrs. Eliza (Rogers) West died at
Rogers.
the early age of twenty-seven years, and William \Vest subsequently married Hannah
Demenshaw, by whom he had three children,
Milo, Filo and Jabez.

George \N'illiston West was born Sept. 30,
1818, in Delaware county, N. Y., and attended
the common schools and seminary there. He
began life on his own account at the age of
thirteen years, in the employ of a farmer at

Mount

Ararat, Pa., and by practicing

strict

economy saved enough from his scanty wages
Wests have been prominent
to enable him to reenter school at the age of
He recounty from the time of its foundation, and nineteen years, at Birch Academy.
his father, George W. West, was for years mained there for one term, after which he
becounty surveyor, being noted for the accuracy took a course at the Wyoming Academy,
in

and

reliability of his

Montour

work.

Thomas West, great-grandfather

of Wil-

liam Kase West, was of English-German
descent and was born in Schoharie county, N.
He built a log house near the paternal
Y.
homestead and there engaged in tilling the soil

ing one of the first students at that institution,
where he studied surveying. He then taught
school six years in what was then Cokunbja
now Montour county, coming hither in
In 1830, when Montour county was
1845.
of
organized, he received the appointment
(

)

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES
county surveyor, and each successive year
afterwards was elected to that office, serving
He was largely
until his death, June 30, 1906.
engaged in looking u]) original lines. He was
considered an aulhorit)' on lines and boundaries in this section of the State, his work not
being confined to Montour county, as he was

often called to different counties in northern
and central Pennsylvania, and he ran a great
many lines in the coal regions to settle disHe also served twenty-four years as
putes.

county commissioner's clerk, and from 185 1
until 1904 was city engineer.
When past
eighty years of age he walked straight as an
and
of
stature
was a man
arrow,
being large
Mr. West was
of commanding appearance.
a prominent figure throughout his section and
held in high esteem by a large circle of friends
He owned a fine home at No. 212 Pine street,
Danville, where he resided for a number of
In 1854 Mr. West married Catherine
years.
Ann Kase, who was of German origin and a
daughter of John Kase, of Elysburg, Pa.
They were the parents of eight children,
namely: John, who died in infancy; Charles
VV., a carpenter and painter of Danville;
Eleanor Eliza, wife of Oliver Diehl, of Norfolk, Va. William Kase; George M., manager
;

of the electric light plant and waterworks at
Lehighton, Pa.; Louise M., now deceased;
Isaac Dewitt, of Danville and Catherine, who
The parents were memdied in childhood.
bers of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics the father was a Democrat.
;

William Kase West was born March 8,
1800, in Danville, and obtained his early eduLater
cation there in the public schools.
he attended

the

Bloomsburg State Normal

School, devoting his spare moments to study
He
and the broadening of his education.
then was employed as a civil engineer by the

Duluth Winnipeg Railroad Company, with
Duluth, Minn., and located the line
for a railroad from Duluth, Minn., to Winnipeg City. Upon returning home he read law
with (irier & Hinckley.
He was admitted to
the bar in 1886 and has since practiced in Danville, where the large number of cases he has
office in

493

Feb. 12, 1891, Mr. West married Ella
Patterson, daughter of John C. Patterson, of
Dan\ille, and they are the parents of three
children, born as follows:
John Patterson,
March 16, 1892; Mary Louise", Oct. 12, 1893;
and William K., Oct. 6, 1895.

Mr. West is a member and past master of
Danville Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M.
past
high priest of Danville Chapter, No. 239, R.
A. M. past eminent commander of Calvary
Commandery, No. 37, K. T. past exalted
ruler of Bloomsburg Lodge, No. 436, B. P. O.
Elks and is at present a member of the Danville Lodge, No. 754, B. P. O. Elks.
;

;

Is.\Ac D. West, youngest son of
George W.
and Catherine A. (Kase) West, was born

Sept. 25, 1865, at Danville, obtained his literary education in the public schools there, and
studied surveying and engineering civil and
mining with his father. In 1884 he began
teaching school, following that profession four
Before that time he had been assoyears.
ciated in business with his father, and continued the connection while teaching, becoming thoroughly grounded in all branches of
the work, though he made a specialty of mining engineering. In order to be thoroughly at
home in this field he has also made a particular

—

study of real estate and mining laws, and as
special agent of coal companies has been able
to turn his information to good account.
He
is

one of the most up-to-date and

in this line in the State,

reliable

men

and a high estimate

placed on all his work.
In 1890 Mr. West married M. Pauline
Groff, daughter of Rev. J. R. Groff, of Doylestown. Pa., and they have had three children:
Elizabeth (deceased), Karl Groff" and Alan
Dewitt.
They have a comfortable and commodious residence just outside the limits of
the borough.
Socially Mr. West is a Mason,
belonging to Danville Lodge, No. 225, F. &
A. M.

FREDERICK

RICHARD

president

and general manager of the Richard Manufacturing Company, of Bloomsburg, one of
won for his clients testifies that their con- the industrial concerns of that place which has
fidence in him is not misplaced. He is popular been of distinct value in promoting its proswith a large clientage, and has attained a lead- perity. Mr. Richard has been interested in his
ing jjosition among his fellow men, who have present line at Bloomsburg for over twenty
given substantial recognition of their apprecia- years, and as the head of a modern manuHe facturing establishment and large employer of
tion of his high character and ability.
has a large practice also in Columbia, Lycom- labor is entitled to be classified as one of its
From progressive business leaders and a most useful
ing and Northumberland counties.
1887 to '892 he served as district attorney, citizen of his adopted place. Mr. Richard is a
native of Scranton, Pa., bom Dec. 19, 1857,
giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned.

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

494

son of Jacob F. and Josephine
Raubelty)
Richard.
of
was
a
native
Richard
F.
France,
Jacob
born about one hundred miles from Havre.
He learned the trade of machinist in his own
(

land,

and came

Xew York

America

in 1849, landing at

His first location here was
at Paterson, N. J., where he followed his
trade until 1854, in that year going to Scranton, Pa., and finding employment in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western shops. Thence
he removed to Waterbury, Conn., where he
did well, and remained until his death, in 1892.
His widow has since resided in New \ ork
her daughter.
City, making her home with
Four sons and one daughter were born to Air.
Frederick J.,
Richard:
and Mrs. Jacob F.
Elizabeth (who married E. Hosbach, of
Woodhaven, N. Y.), Henry J., George J. and
Jacob
Frederick J. Richard grew up in New York
in the public
City and received his education
He inherited mechanical ability and
schools.
love for mechanics, and early in life begged
his father to allow him to choose the trade of
machinist for his life occupation. His father
would not consent until he had tried other
lines of work, and met with disappointment,
when he was finally allowed to enter the emCity.

J.-

He
ploy of Bliss & Williams, at Brooklyn.
served an apprenticeship of five years, during
which time he became thoroughly acquainted
with the trade and was qualified to undertake
the duties of the next position offered him,
that of foreman of the Manhattan Brass
Company.

his

work proved very

satis-

factory he was soon after appointed superinLater he took charge of the brass
tendent.
tube works of Holmes, Booth & Hayden, of
Waterbury, Conn., which is known far and
wide as the "Brass City," and held that posiFor the following two
tion for three years.
for Randolph &
years he was superintendent
Clauss, manufacturers of seamless brass and

copper tubing.
In 1891 Mr. Richard removed to the thrivtown of Bloomsburg and, in association
with J. L. Richardson, built the plant of the
Brass' & Copper Company, manufacturers of
seamless brass and copper tubing, a two-story
ing

brick

structure, 175 by 75 feet,
throughout with machinery of the
own manufacture. Mr. Richard
manager and superintendent and
careful guidance the venture was

and fitted
company's

made

eminently

In 1892 the

superintendent.

burgManufacturing Company's plant, a building 60 by 40 feet, with boiler room 30 bv 30
The company manufacfeet, both of brick.
tured a large variety of articles, ciispidors, oil
In 1894 a stock comcans, currycombs, etc.
pany was formed with the following ot^cers:
F. J. Richard, president; George L. Richard,
vice president; and L. E. Waller, director.
As the growth of the business had been so
rapid it was found necessary to enlarge the
Another story was added to it, the
building.
length increased to no feet, and an L, 50 by
added.
feet,
25
Alachinery was put in for
the manufacture of carpet looms for the

Bloomsburg Carpet Manufactory, and

also six

An average
cutting and stamping machines.
of fifty competent workmen were employed
regularly, the concern being then as now a
strong business factor of Bloomsburg, and
the output was the finest on the market, finding a ready sale in the larger cities.
In 1900 the present organization, known as
the Richard Manufacturing Company, was
formed, with F. J. Richard, president and
general manager; J. L. Richardson, treasurer;
and Dr. Charles F. Altmiller, secretary. The
company is incorporated under the laws of
Pennsylvania with a capital stock of $75,000.
The plant, which is located on Ninth street,
between Catherine and Iron streets, has been
enlarged and developed until it consists of a
group of buildings of substantial modern construction, the main one 40 by 220 feet in
dimensions, the foundry and erecting building
40 by 150 feet, and the blacksmith shop 30
by 40 feet. The equipment is complete, including the latest and best makes of machinery required, lathes, planers, drills, gear
cutters, etc. The concern is one of the busiest
in central Pennsylvania, and the output has

become more and more important as the experience and success of the owners have
enabled them to undertake responsible work,
the company now giving attention to the manufacture of special machinery and gray iron
castings.

They make machinen,-

for bronze,

was made copper, brass and steel rod and tube drawing;
under his wire (bronze, copper, brass) dra\ving and cov-

Bloomsburg Brass &
Copper Company was formed, and he was

successful.

plant of the Shickshinny Tube Company, of
which he was a director and stockholder. He
was also a director of and a stockholder in the
Bloomsburg Elevator Company, builders and
makers of machinery. In 1893, in
partnership
with J. L. Richardson, he built the Blooms-

1893 he built the

ering any kind of sheet metal work, following designs furnished or making same themalso manufacture and build presses
selves
;

;

and grinding machinery.

The

fact that

many

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
machines of the kind they manufacture are in
daily use at their own plant has given them
unexcelled opportunities for observation and
paved the way for many of the most valuable

improvements in this product. They aim to
turn out machinery that will surpass any
In addition, they underclaims made for it.
take all kinds of high-class mechanical en-

CHARLES

J. FISHER, attorney at law
president of the Catawissa National
of Catawissa, Pa., was bom in Rush
township, Northumberland Co., Pa., near
Danville, and is the son of William G. and
Sarah A. (Swayze) Fisher.
Joseph Fisher, his paternal great-grand-

and

Manufacturing Company employs one hundred skilled mechanics and constructional

April,

The trade controlled extends all
engineers.
over the United States, and they have done
considerable work for the government, having
built several machines for use in the Panama
The heads of the concern are
canal work.

fortune to lose her by death soon afterwards.
Jersey was their destination, and was
the home of the brother until 1788, from
which time he was settled in Northumberland
county, Pa., where he died. He was married
June 5, 1764, to Catherine ^linegar, born in
Holland Aug. 24, 1746, who lived for a time
in Harmony township, Warren Co.. N.
J.
Ten children blessed this union, Catherine,

of the highest standing in manufacturing,
and industrial circles, and Mr. Richard is not only a man of fine executive ability
but possessed of skill and experience which
makes him regarded as the foremost mechanic
financial

in the administration of
public afthe borough, having served several
member of the town council, at one
election receiving the
largest vote ever cast
for a candidate for that otifice.
He was also
mayor of Bloomsburg for one term.

fairs

terms as

gineering work, designing and building rod,
tube and wire mills, some of the largest wire
mills being of their construction.
They lay
out manufacturing plants, planning all the details, and arranging for the economical handling of the work in every stage from the raw
material to the finished product. The Richard

men

495

some part

this part of the

State.

designed and

the plant,
supervised most of the machinery in
and it is generally conceded that no man has
done more to bring Bloomsburg fame as an
industrial town than he.
Personally he is a
man of the highest character, and his strong
influence is always exerted in favor of the

community. Besides his
business property and home he owns a large
house on the Light Street road and one on
best interests of the

which he rents.
1879, Mr. Richard married
Catherine Koch, daughter of August and Marand
garet Koch, of Woodhaven, Long Island,
she died Oct. 10, 1897, at Bloomsburg, aged
six children
thirty-seven years, the mother of'
Fourth

street,

On May

27,

William (deceased), Catherine, Julia, Jennie,
In
Lizzie (deceased) and Lillie (deceased).
married (second)
Tuly, 1898, Mr. Richard
Hannah Susan Christ, of Bloomsburg, daughChrist, of that

George T. and Margaret
MarThey have had four children
The
garet, Fred J., Jr., George and Henry.
Hill.
family have a fine residence on Norma!
Mr. Richard is a Mason, belonging to Harmony Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of Waterter of
place.

bury, Conn.; to Caldwell Consistory (thirtysecond degree), of Bloomsburg; and to Irem
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre.
He also holds membership in Lodge No. 436,
He has taken
B. P. O. Elks, of Bloomsburg.

Bank

father,

was born

Saxony,

Germany,

1734, and came to America with his
sister, Elizabeth, about 1747, but had the mis-

New

Henry, Man,-, Hannah, Elizabeth, John Closes,
David, Jacob and Joseph. During the Revolution the father fought for the Colonies.
Jacob Fisher, grandfather of Charles J.,
was born in Sussex county, N. J., Dec. 18,
1783, and died Oct. 29, 1841, in Rush township, Northumberland Co., Pa. At the age of
five his parents brought him to Northum-

berland county, where he was reared on the
home farm. .An old tax list of the year 1820
shows him assessed with 153^2 acres adjoining the farm of William Osmun, having thereon a log house and barn, two horses and three
cows. He later moved to a farm on Roaring
creek, near Sharp Ridge, where he resided a

few years, finally removing to the "Boyd"
farm on the Susquehanna river, three miles
east of Dan\ille, Pa., where he died. Lie married Margaret, daughter of .Albert Kimpbel,
and by her had twelve children
Rebecca,
:

Catherine, Fannie, Joseph, Albert, Sarah, Pat-

Daniel

K., Clatworthy,
George W.,
Asher and Ellen. After the death of his first
wife, which occurred Nov. i, 1831, he married Elizabeth Shreffler, who died June 15,
1S67.
By her he had two children, William
G. and ]\Iargaret.
William G. Fisher was born in Rush township, Northumberland county, May 6, 1834,
and was only in his eighth year at the time

terson,

He remained with
mother about one vear. and then went
of his father's death.

his
to

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

496

with his brother Joseph six years on the
He then worked four years for
place.
Jesse Mensch on the farm where he was born
for
later
Jacob Shultz in Mayberry township,
Montour county, with whom he remained
three years. He then moved to Danville, and

well feel proud.

live

may

same

Knights of the Golden Eagle and of the I'atriotic Order Sons of America.
In religious
affiliation he is a Methodist and a faithful
adherent of that denomination, for which he
has not hesitated to use his time and
money.
Mr. Fisher is in politics a Republican, and
has served as member of the school board for

;

remained one year, when he married and setabout three miles from Danville on the
Boyd farm east of the mill, continuing there
three years.
Following this, in 1859, he
bought the Jacob Swayze homestead in Franklin township, Columbia county, where he remained six years, selling out and moving to
The next
Danville, where he dealt in coal.
two years he was on Boyd's big farm, and
in 1867 settled at another location in Franklin township, buying 143 acres of good land
upon which he made most of the improveHe continued to farm in that townments.
to Catawissa borough,
ship until his removal
tled

He owns a
1887, where he still resides.
farm of 140 acres in Franklin township, which
he has rented. Mr. Fisher married Dec. 20,
in

1855,

Sarah

Ann Swayze, who was born

Feb. 27, 1838, a daughter of Jacob C. and
of New Jersey,
Charity (Quick) Swayze,
Elizabeth
and they have had two children
and
Charles
Jacob. Mr.
C, residing at home;
and Mrs. Fisher are members of the M. E.
took
Church.
During his active years he
some part in public affairs, serving as school
director, supervisor and overseer of the poor.
Charles 1. Fisher was educated in the pubthe
lic
schools" of Franklin township, and
summer school at Catawissa. After teaching
school several terms he took a special course
then
at the Millersville State Normal and

member

of the

two terms. At present his efforts are devoted to his profession and to the interests
of the bank, of which he is president.

The Catawissa National Bank was organized in 1904, chartered April
30th of that year,
and opened for business Dec. nth, with a
The original directors
capital of $50,000.
were
C. J. Fisher, president C. P. Pfahler,
vice president; Dr. Ambrose Shuman.
John
L. Kline, Lloyd Burger, I. H. Seeshohz,
Jeremiah Kester. All are still serving but Messrs.
:

;

and

Seesholtz

Kline,

deceased,

Irvin

Kreischer and Hon. William T. Creasy having been elected to succeed them. The cashier

C. S.

Fox, and his

Nelle P. Vastine.

efficient assistant is

surplus of $20,000 has
been accumulated at the present date and the
institution

financially solid.

entered the Bloomsburg State Normal, from
which he graduated in 1884. On June^ 21,
of the Cata1886, he was elected principal
wissa school, holding that position for one
after which he accepted the pnncipalyear,
ship of

the schools of Carnegie. Allegheny
for eight years. Durcounty, remaining there
the
he studied law
ing the summer months
and
offtce of C. E. Geyer, Esq., of Catawissa,
was admitted to the bar of Columbia
in

1898

the Catawissa Naand
tional Bank building, and he has a large
Mr. Fisher in 1901 marlucrative practice.

county.

His

office

have one
ried Margaret M. Manley, and they

son,

Manley Walter.

Mr. Fisher

one of the foremost men of
and is completely in

his section of the State

the progress and prosperity of
his home town. He was one of the organizers
and the first president of the Catawissa Natown
tional Bank, an institution of which the

harmony with

THOMAS

J. PRICE, of Danville, Montour county, one of the owners of the Danville Structural Tubing Company, has been
connected with its plant in an executive capacity continuously since
1886, when he
came to this place to take the position of
It was then conducted by
superintendent.
the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company, and
from that time until he and his partners,
William G. Purse! and Daniel M. Curry, be-

came owners
managements.

1902,

was under

He and Mr.

several

Pursel have had

their interest since that year.

Mr. Price

is a native of Wales, born Feb.
1855, at Tredegar, Monmouthshire, son
of Prof. John M. Price and grandson of
Thomas Price. John M. Price, the father,

26,

was

bom

Wales,
States
City.
Pa.,

in
in

1828,
1854,

Rhymney, Monmouthshire,
and came to the United
locating

first

New

York

The same year he moved

to Danville.
roller at the
in
1865 he

where he became boss
Montour Rolling Mills, and
changed to the Rough and Ready mills (so
named for President Zachary Taylor), later
owned by the Mahoning Rolling Mill Com-

Two years afterward he went to
pany.
Syracuse, N. Y., where he accepted a position
as superintendent of the Syracuse Rolling
In 1881 he retired from that
Mill Company.
line of business to devote all his time to

FUL.-

T LD
I

ND'<r|ONS

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
music, having studied music while young and
Mr. Price
also while working at his trade.
possessed a beautiful voice. While a resident
he
a
of Danville, Pa.,
quartet comorganized
posed of John A. Jones, Robert James,
Joseph Parry and himself. This quartet ac-

quired wide reputation and popularity, and
in 1865 took a trip to England and Wales,
Mr.
where they were cordially received.
Parry received numerous prizes for his ex-

compositions and was made jjrofessor
of music in the College of Swansea, Wales.
Mr. Price became successfully engaged in the

cellent

musical profession in New York City, where
he remained until his death. He is buried at

To him and his wife Mary
(Roberts), daughter of Thomas Roberts, a
native of Wales, the following children were
born John T., superintendent of the Spuyten
Duyvil Steel Foundry of New York City
George T., assistant superintendent of the
Danville.

;

Spuyten Duyvil Steel Foundry, of New York
Ella J., wife of Thomas Hoskins, of
City
;

New York City; Frank S., a lieutenant of
New York City police, in which service

the

has gained distinction Mary A., a teacher of
music
Sarah, who died when three years
old
Jeannette, a music teacher and stenog;

;

and
at
Rome, N. Y.
The mother of this family died

rapher,

residing

Thomas

;

1867, at the age of thirty-four years, and
Mr. Price was an inburied at Danville.
dependent Republican, and while in Danville
in
the
elections.
took an active part
Thomas J. Price came to the United States
with his mother in 1856 and passed his boyhood in Danville, Pa., where he received his
in

At Syracuse, N. Y., he assisted
schooling.
his father in the iron works, learning the iron
In 1879 he went to New
where he was engaged in the
Spuyten Duyvil Rolling Mill for a few years,
and in 1883 returned to Danville to accept the
position of boss roller at the Glendower
In 1885 he went to HarrisRolling Mills.
Inirg, Pa., and engaged as a boss roller in
the Lochiel Steel \Vorks until 1886, when he
resigned the jjosition and returned to Dan-

and

steel

York

trade.

City,

accept the superintendency of the
Mahoning Rolling Mill Company.
In 1896 the Alahoning Rolling Mill Company was sold out, and Mr. Price entered into
partnership with F. P. Howe and R. K.
,Polk, under the firm name of Howe & Polk.
This partnership continued until the death of
Mr. PolTv", in 1902, when Mr. Price, W'illiam
G. Pursel and Daniel M. Curry purchased the
interests of Howe & Polk and organized the
to

ville

497

Danville Structural Tubing Company.
Mr.
Price and Mr. P'ursel became sole owners of
the business and property in 1906, after Mr.
Curry's death purchasing his interest, and
under the present regime the development of
the business and growth of the establishment
have gone on so vigorously that the men at
the head are deservedly ranked among the
most progressive business men in their line.
Mr. Price's good judgment and executive

have played a leading part in promoting the advancement of the concern, and he
is recognized as one of the up-to-date, live
men in his line of manufacture by all who
have kept track of industrial progress in this

ability

field.

Mr. Price is justly regarded as a public
spirited citizen of Danville, where his good
intentions have been tested in various offices.

served as chief burgess from 1890 to
was school director one year, and on
April I, 1899. entered upon the duties of
postmaster, to which office he had been appointed Feb. 15th.
an ardent
Mr.
Republican,
Originally
Price contributed time and money to the advancement of his party. In 191 2, like millions of others, believing in the Progressive
1896,

promulgated by Theodore Roosehe joined that party, and has since taken
an active part in the encouragement of its
He was tendered the
interests in his State.
Congressional nomination of the Washington
reasons declined the
but
for
business
party,
honor, consenting, however, to serve as a
State committeeman.
principles
velt,

Mr. Price is a member of Danville Lodge,
No. 224, F. & A. M. Danville Chapter, No.
239, R. A. M.; Calvary Commandery, No. ;^/,
K. T.
Caldwell Consistory, thirty-second
degree, Bloomsburg; Irem Temple, A. A. O.
N. M. S., Wilkes-Barre and also belongs to
Lodge No. 754, B. P. O. Elks, the I. O. O.
F. lodge at IDanville, and the Improved Order
of Heptasophs of Danville.
Mr. Price was married to Sarah Foley,
daughter of Edward Foley, of Danville, and
they have had three children John, who died
;

;

when two years old .\nnie Florence, a graduate of Wellesley College, class of 1912; and
;

Edward

F..

versity,

and

who graduated from Lehigh Uniis now engaged as a mechanical

engineer.

CHARLES THOMAS VANDERSLICE,
member of the firm of Vanderslice &
Eyerly, publishers of the Bloomsburg Morning Press and the Berwick Enterprise, has been
senior

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

498
associated

with the newspaper business at
Bloonisburg since he began work, and has
reached his present position by sincere efforts

which

liave

ai)preciation.

justly

attracted recognition and
a native of Columbia

county.
Thomas Jefferson Vanderslice, grandfather
of Charles Thomas \'anderslice, was a native
of New Jersey.
He had three brothers,
Heister, Joseph and Daniel, and four sisters,

Mrs. Hannah Armstrong, Airs. Ann Chrisman,
Mrs. Tacey White, and Miss Rebecca. Coming to Columbia county. Pa., at an early day,
he settled on a farm located along Little
Fishing creek, on the road from Light Street
to New Columbia.
The old farm is now occupied by William Mausteller, who resides
there with his wife; he is eighty-two years

The cemetery beside
old, she seventy-eight.
the farmhouse contains the remains of many
of the \"anderslices, and there are many unmarked tombstones, most of them being from
the slate quarry on the farm.
IJy his first
wife, whose maiden name was Helen Maus,
Thomas J. \ anderslice had eleven children;
Joseph, Thomas, Jefferson, Augustus, Charles
M., Ellwood, Lot, Harry B., Louise, Helena
and Sadie (wife of David Bomboy). To his
second marriage, with Martha Parker, a
Quakeress, of Millville, were born three,
Frank, Tacey and Adolph B.
Charles M. Vanderslice was l)orn in 1S41
on the home place in Columbia county above
His wife was Catherine Ent,
mentioned.
daughter of John Ent and great-grantldaughter of Peter Ent, and they had children
as follows
Harry M., Zettie, Nellie M., Frederick C, Catherine and Charles Thomas.
Charles Thomas Vanderslice was born Jan.
28, 1875, "1 Bloonisburg, where he grew to
manhood and obtained a good common school
education. However, he had to leave before
graduating and to go to work on account of
his father's death, and he began in the office
of the Bloonisburg Daily, where he learned
Other duties fell to
the trade of printer.
him as increasing familiarity with the work in
the office enabled him to take responsibilities,
and he became foreman and manager in turn.
In March. I(j02, Mr. \'anderslice entered into
:

jiartnership with Paul R. Eyerly in the founding of the Morning Press, and although tiiey

had but little capital, they persevered until
success placed their venture upon a substantial basis, in spite of the fact that they had
entered the field against much competition,
one daily and four weeklies being already in
existence when they started. In 1907, having

made sufficient progress to justify them in
branching out, they bought the Berwick Eiitcrpnsc, which they now publish as an afternoon daily. Messrs. X'anderslice & Eyerly
have endeavored to set high standards in both
their papers, and as a result ha\e gained
influence with the best element both at
Bloonisburg and Berwick, their labors in
behalf of the interests of both communities
making them well deserving of the standing
have attained. Mr. \'anderslice is

they

unmarried.

GEORGE OGLESBY, son of George and
Margaret Neal Oglesby, was born in Castlebar. County Alayo, Ireland, in the year i8oy.
On May 29, 1839, he married Isabella,
daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Boden)
Bell, who was born in 1803 near the town of
Poyntzpass, County Armagh, Ireland. Their
children, James and Isabella Bell, were born
(

)

near Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, Ireland,
the latter,' Feb. 14, 1842. dying in infancy.
In 1841) George Oglesby, with his wife and
son, emigrated to America, landing in PhilAfter residing for a time in that
adelphia.

and Camden, X. J., and Norristown, Pa.,
The family
they finally settled in" Danville.
residence was at the northwest corner of Cencity,

ter

and \'ine

streets.

Following the exaniiile of relatives who had
letter "s"
preceded them to this country, the
was dropped from the name, making it (Jgleby.
This error was not corrected until 1880, when
the first death occurred in the family. George
in the
Oglesby was employed as blacksmith
the Reading
plant which is now operated by
inuntil
Iron Company, continuing there
capacitated bv advancing years.
The family united with the Mahoning
the distance
I'resbyterian Church, and when
becam'e too great George Oglesby and his
wife united with the Grove Presbyterian
Church. Isabella (Bell) Oglesby died Sept.
March 8,
20, iSSf"), her husband following
Their bodies lie in the family plot in
1887.
the Odd Fellows cemetery.
and
I.XMES Oglesby. M. D., son of George
Isabella (Bell) Oglesby, was born Aug. 15,
near Lisbellaw, and came to this coun-

1840,
He attended
with his i)arents in 1849.
the schools at Stone Bridge. Ireland, Camden, X. J., Xorristown, Pa., and the DanIn his boyhood, in demonville Academy.
of
strating his strength for the entertainment
his elders, who urged him on, he "received
try

an injury to his heart which handicapped him
for the remainder of his days. Dr. Yeomans,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
pastor of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church,
took a great interest in the young man, and
through his influence he was preparing to
enter Princeton College with the view of becoming a minister of the gospel. Impaired
health, coupled with defective sight, compelled

him

to give

and he was
he must follow
Accordingly he

his studies,

advised that to save his

life

some outdoor occupation.

learned the carpenter's trade, and was employed on several of the local Ijuildings still

James Oglesby taught in the local
standing.
schools, and for one year in Dickinson SemWilliam

Thom])son, the noted eye
specialist of Philadelphia, in a newspaper
article described an instrument for detecting
astigmatic defects in the eye. James Oglesby,
seeing the article, was able to make the instrument and learned the cause of his defective
.\
vision, which Dr. Thompson corrected.
friendship de\eloped between the two which
terminated only with the death of Dr.
Dr.

Thompson.
With perfect sight and improved health
James Oglesby decided to take up the study
His preceptor was Dr. .Sharp
of medicine.
Snyder, and he graduated from Jefferson
Medical College in 1868. After graduation
he entered into partnership with James D.
Strawbridge, M. D., a noted surgeon of his
day, and the partnership continued until dissolved by mutual consent. Dr. Strawbridge
believing it to be for the younger doctor's
interest to branch out for himself.

Oglesby and
William and
were
united in
\'astine,
marriage by Rev. Samuel Domer, D. D. They
had two children, William \'astine and
George Bell, the latter, born Aug. 16, 1878,
Sept. 23, 1873, James
.Ann, daughter of

Elizabeth
Elizabeth

dying Jan.

(

Hursh

11,

)

1886.

The shock

of his death

shadow over his parents which time,
great restorer, was unable to remove.

cast a

the
In 1887 the family residence, at No. 8 East
Market street, was completed, the Doctor
having surrendered his option on the north-

west corner of Ferry and Market streets in
order that the Thomas Beaver Free Library
might be built thereon. Dr. Oglesby was a
member of the Mahoning Presbyterian
Church, of which he was a ruling elder, serving as treasurer of

several pictures which are now
When
prized by their possessors.
sixty-five years of age he took up the study
of
the
"world's
Esperanto,
auxiliary
language," which afforded him much entertainment.
His correspondents were located
all over the
globe.
Declining health made it necessary for the
Doctor to withdraw from the active general
practice of his profession, whereupon he
made a specialty of diseases of the eye.
.\fter a lingering illness he died Feb. 21,
sulted

highly

1912.

The Morning News

death said

inary, Williamsport.

the

session

for

several

He was a member of the Masonic
years.
fraternity, being a past master of Danville
Politically he was a ReLodge, No. 224.
publican,

Dr. Oglesby's interest

photography

re-

499

recording his

"He was one

of the leading physicians not
only of Danville, but of this section. He was
fond of research he was thorough and pains;

taking in his methods, under all circumstances keeping fully abreast with the times.
Along with his deep knowledge and love for
his profession he combined a genial disposition and gentleness of manner that made him
an ideal practitioner. To the victim of disease in the moments of stress and weakness
as well as the physician he was the tender,
It was thus that he
sympathizing friend.
came to stand so near to the people. It is
thus that the news of his death will cause
genuine sorrow not only among those who
have felt his kind ministrations but also
among all in the community who appreciate
the example of his blameless and devoted
life."

WiLLi.vM \'astine Oglesby, son of Dr.
James and Elizabeth Ann (\'astine) OglesHis
by, was born in Danville Oct. 13, 1874.
education and preparation for college was
M.
the
well
known
under
Kelso,
gained
John

who taught his parents before him.
graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1896, reIn 1899 he
ceiving the degree of A. B.
graduated from the law department of the
University of Pennsylvania, when he returned to Danville to practice his profession.
Mr. Oglesby is now serving his third term
educator

as justice of the peace.

CHARLES SUMNER WAYNE FOX,
cashier of the Catawissa National Bank,

was

born Jan. 25, 1857, at Numidia, Locust townHis father, H.
ship, Columbia Co., Pa.
Haines Fox, was one of the leading physicians of Columbia county.
It is not known where the emigrant ancestors were born or the date of their coming
to America.
It is supposed that they resided
in New Jersey, as the grandfather of Charles

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

500
S.

W. Fox came from

Columbia

that State to

county, Pennsylvania.
James A. Fox. the grandfather, was born
Oct. 21, 1797, and died Aug. 10. 1869.
He

was
and

shoemaker and farmer by occupation,

a
a

Nov.

member

of the Society of Friends.

26, 1820, he

married Ruth, daughter of
Moses Starr, and their children were: Henry
mentioned
below
Haines,
Elizabeth, born
Nov. I, 1824, who married Samuel Reinbold.
and died April 26, 1896: Rowland, born May
;

who

27, 1830,

died Sept. 10, 1834; Charlotte,

born Jan. 16, 1834, who married Samuel P.
Levan, and is deceased and Jeremiah, born
;

19, 1840, who died March 17, 1850.
Henry Haines Fox, father of Charles S. W.
Fox, was born Feb. 15. 1822, and died Feb.
28, 1866. He was a native of Columbia coun-

March

ty,

and attended the schools of that

section.

entered the medical profession, graduat-

ing from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and practiced in Locust township to the
end of his life. On May 13, 1851, he married Eliza, daughter of Reuben and Rebecca
Kunkle
Fahringer, who had a family of
(

)

eight children, of whom Isaac married Christine Dreisbach
Charles married Alice Hona;

berger William died at Scranton Catherine
married Byron Keller; Mary married Isaiah
Hower; Hannah married Allen Fetennan
Herman married Mary Keller. To Henry
Haines Fox and his wife were born six children
Henrietta, born Sept. 10, 1832, died
July 22. 1908; Matilda, born May 2S, 1854,
died May 15, 1861
Charlotte, born Dec. 19,
David died
1855. married Lewis H. Daniel
when thirteen days old Charles Sumner
:

;

Wayne was bom
shall,

born Sept.

Jan. 25, 1857; John Mar7, 1861, married Elizabeth

Adams.
Charles Sumner \\'ayne Fox had rather
educational
attending
advantages,
public school and for a few months a select,
or advanced, school in Locust township later
he was a student at the Bloomsburg State
Normal School for a period of nine weeks.
When nearly fourteen years old he left his
limited

;

home

Numidia and began clerking

in the

.\fter
store of F. P. Coho, at Ashland, Pa.
a period of two years he returned, in the year
In the winter of 1873-74 he began
1872.

teaching school, following this profession at
intervals for six terms. In the spring of 1878
he entered the employ of Dr. J. H. Vastine,
as clerk in his store at Xumidia,

remaining

years, and then engaged with
Daniel, successors of the Doctor,

two

Knorr &
for

six

months.

In the spring of 1885

tion as clerk with

'i^

took a posi-

Jacob Yeager, of Roaring

Creek, Pa., and the following spring was emin a similar capacity by L. H. Daniel,
later becoming manager and
conducting the
business successfully. He remained with Mr.
Daniel nearly nineteen years.
At that time
the methods of accounting in a country store
were very crude and unsatisfactory, so Mr.
Fox, with keen foresight, introduced the system of double entry bookkeeping and completely reorganized the methods of accounting.

ployed

Mr. Fox has been a Republican from the
time he reached his majority and was frequently a delegate to the county conventions
under the former system of nominating candidates, being at one time the party's candidate for prothonotarv'.
During a period of
thirty-six years he never missed attending an
.Although living in a three-to-one
stronghold of the Democrats, on account of
his ability as an accountant he was elected
for seven consecutive terms, of three years
each, an auditor of the township's financial
affairs, being unable to serve, much to his
election.

regret, the last two years, owing to his removal from the district. He was mercantile
appraiser of Columbia county for the year of
For a number of years he was one of
1899.

the

Catawissa

under the

N'cxs.'s-ltem

correspondents,

nom

de plume of "Jim Nasties."
In 1004. when the Catawissa National Bank
was organized, he was offered the position of
cashier, and he has seen the deposits of that
rise steadily until in this year
(1914) they have reached the sum of $300,000.
a remarkable sum for the second bank in a
small town.
Mr. Fox married. Jan. 5. 1882. Rebie Levan.
who was born Sept. 29, 1863. daughter of
Daniel P. and Sarah J. (Christian) Levan.
To this marriage have come four children
A son. born Feb. 9. 1883. who died soon after
birth; Lola Lucretia. born May 19. 1884. who
died Sept. 9. 1S84; Claude Mardo. born Oct.

institution

and Ruth lola, bom Oct. i. 1892.
Mr. Fox became a member of the United
Brethren Church in 1876 and continued his
membership after his removal to Catawissa
28, 1885;

for several years. He is still a firm believer
God and the atonement of Jesus Christ,
and is expecting his return to earth (Acts i.
in

11). His endeavor has been to live an honorable life and to measure up to the standard
declared of him by many of his friends, that

"his

word

good as

his bond."

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
LINES ADDRESSED TO A LADY ON HER WEDDING DAY

(By H. Haines Fox, M. D.)

And

has the vow of mortal love
Been breathed upon thine ear?
And hast thou pledged thy faith, O maid,
To one of earthly sphere?

And

lonely hours pass swiftly on
In peace and comfort true,
O'er the midnight lamp alone.
Till I return to you.

vestal glory shone so pure,
like the modest light

Thy
So

Oh, may

Of the dear twilight star that shines
More tender still than bright.

And must

that

maiden

Sin

Until

So quickly pass away?

Love's blush-roses proudly have
Thy snowy temples crowned,

And Hymen's creamy orange

flowers

In the bridal wreath are found.
fare thee well.

Thy mother weeps
arms.

sighs with
All a mother's fond alarms.

Thy father holds thy hand
And with uplifted eye.

in his

Thy

are pressed to thine
;

full

—

thee,

But fare thee well the hour is come.
The hour when thou must part
From all that most is cherished
;

unwedded

yet

heart.

—be

thy chosen's halcyon love
The lodestar of his life.
Thou once has shone a peerless maid
Be perfect as a wife.
Roaringcrcck, Pa., July 27, 1S4S.

;

THOUGHTS ON HOME BY THE WANDERER
(By H. Haines Fo.v)
parted with my parents dear,
My brothers and sisters, too;
Some time to spend in this vain city.
My arduous studies to pursue.

I've

I've left

Which
In order

Before

home, that sacred spot
most dear to me,

my
is

more knowledge
I

return to thee.

The Le \''an families are of
Huguenot Hneage, and in common

with other families of like religious faith were
subjected to persecution, which caused their
emigration to America. From "Memorials of
the Huguenots," by Rev. A. Stapleton, the
following information is taken:
"Among the members of the Huguenot
Church at Amsterdam, Holland, were Daniel
Le\ an and his wife, Marie Beau, refugees
from Picardy, France.
From a baptismal
certificate, it seems that some of the children
were born at Amsterdam. .About 171 5 four
sons of the refugee set out for Pennsylvania.

Abraham Le Van, as already noted, who
in Amsterdam in 1698, was married
to Catherine Weimer, daughter of Mrs. De

was born

effusive confidence

Of hope, or joy, or pain.
Which sister maidens know with
They cannot know again.

By a

praise and glory

meet.

Isaac, Jacob and Joseph,
whom died at sea. These were
followed in 1727 by their brother Daniel, and
In 1748
all of them settled in Berks county.
Peter Le Van arrived, whose identity and
place of location is not known."

In long and dear embrace
Their tears are mixed with thine
And fall upon thy glowing face.

That

all

the latter of

blessing from the sky.
sisters' lips

give

we again do

They were Abraham,

Invokes upon his lovely child

course be true and holy.
harmless at my feet.

V.\n.

French

must be so; the vow is pledged.
Triumphant at thy side,
Osborn stands and claims thee for
His own, his beauteous bride.
It

To yield thee from her
And prays and hopes and

my
I'll

Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14, 1S43.

That lambent radiance disappear
Before a brighter day?

Then

fall

To God

now

luster

501

Oh, may I well improve the time
In knowledge and in science.
That I in honor may return,
The son of your reliance.

obtain

;

a former husband in France.
He
located at Oley, situated in a beautiful valley
in the eastern part of Berks county, about
fifty miles northwest of Philadelphia, and near
the De Turks, and his beautiful home is still
in the possession of his descendants, after a
He died in
lapse of almost two centuries.
1
77 1, leaving a number of children. His wife,
Catherine, born in France in 1706, died in

Turk by

1768.

Jacob Le Van located in the Maxatawny
which he was one of the first setHe was an extensive landowner, the
tlers.
present village of Kutztown being built on a
valley, of

part of his estate. He erected the first gristmill in this region, which is still in the possession of his descendants. There is a family
tradition that Count Zinzendorf, the eminent
Moravian, preached from the balcony of this
mill during his episcopal tour in America in
1742.

Jacob Le Van was an important per-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

502

sonage in the Province. He was one of the
judges of the County court from 1752 to
He bore an important part in the de1762.
fense of the frontiers during

tlie

French and

Indian war, and was commissioned to provision Fort Allen in 1756.
He died in 1768,
His son, Sebastian,
leaving seven children.
was a man of great prominence. At the outbreak of the Revolution he represented his
He was
district in the Committee of Safety.
a member of the State Assembly in 1779-89,
and of the Supreme Executive Council from
1782 to 1784. He was also a colonel of mihtia.

died in 1794.

Daniel Le
Maxatawny.

\'an, the emigrant, also settled in
His son, Daniel, Jr., was admitted to the bar at Reading in 1768, and be-

came a lawyer of considerable prominence.
After

many important

filling
in 1792.

offices,

he died

which Peter Herbein came to Philadelphia

1732 there also appears in the list of women
and children the names of Anna Le \'an.
Christian Le \'an, Margaret Le Van, Philip
Le \'an and Barbara Le Van (Pennsylvania
Archives, X\'II). In 1733 Anna Elizabeth Le
Van was married to Sebastian Zimmerman, in
Maxatawny. She was probably a sister of

Jacob Le Van, who lived there.
According to another account, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob Le Van came Jan. 9, 1729,
in the ship "Mary Galby," and landed at Philadelphia. Abraham Le \'an bought 150 acres
of land, Isaac 230 acres, and Jacob 250 acres,
Peter Le \'an came
in Philadelphia county.
the ship "Queen of Denmark." Daniel Le \'an came Sept. 21, 1727,
As to the
in the ship "William and Sarah."
Sept.

was

a blacksmith and farmer by
occupation.
In politics he was a firm adherent of the Rein
a
member
of the
publican party,
religion
Methodist Church and for years a trustee of
the church.
He married Sarah J. Christian,
who was bom Dec. 29. 1838, and died Feb.
Her father was William Christian.
7, 191 1.
They had children as follows Anna Mary,
born Feb. 25, i860, married Henry J. Perry;
Emma Corinda, born May 5, 1861, died lu'ly
II, 1868; Rebie, born Sept. 29, 1863, married
C. S. W. Fox; Flora Alice, bom Nov. 26,
1865, married William N. Williams; Benjamin
Franklin, born Jan. 15, 1868, was killed by
:

lightning July i6, 1877; Walter, born May
^^75- married Elizabeth Tobias; Elmer,
born Jan. 2. 1875, married Catherine Knittle
Amy Sarah was born Sept. 6, 1877 Raymond
D., bom May 29, 1879, married Ella Fetterman; William Christian was born May 18,
-3-

\'an, also an emigrant, located in
Exter, near Reading, where he died in 1758.
It is significant that in the same vessel in

Isaac

of William Fox, and three children besides
who died in childhood.
Daniel P. Levan, father of Mrs. Fox, was
bom May 21, 1830, and died July i, 191 1. He

1748,

time of arrival of Peter and Daniel Le Van,
this account agrees with that of Mr. Stapleton.
It does not appear from which of the emigrants mentioned in the foregoing accounts
the families in Columbia county, bearing the
name of Levan, are descended.
Benjamin Levan, grandfather of Mrs.
Rebie Fox, wife of Charles S. W. Fox, was
married to Mary Pohe and had the following
Daniel P., father of Mrs. Fox;
children:

Benjamin, married to Lucy Hess; John P.,
who married Mary Ellen Lee; Samuel P., who
married Charlotte Fox and (second) Ruthanna Gable Sarah, wife of Nathan Driesbach Mary, wife of John Fetterman Eliza,
wife of John Holderman Phoebe Ann, wife
;

;

1883.

LOUIS WALTER BUCKALEW,

a shoe

merchant of Bloomsburg,

Pa., was born in
that city Sept. I, 1882, a son of the late Russell C. Buckalew.

Russell C.

where

his

Buckalew died

widow

still

who

Bloomsburg.

They had

the

W. Lilian Barhome and Raymond Gager. a

following children
ton,

resides.

Louis

;

graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, class of 191 2.
Louis Walter Buckalew was graduated from

Bloomsburg high school in 1902, and then
entering the Bloomsburg State Normal School
did college preparatory work for one year,
and later studied at the Pennsylvania State
the

Following this Mr. Buckalew was
College.
in the employ of the State highway departfor
ment
three years, until in July, 1909. he
bought the shoe business owned by W. H.

Moore, and in company with A. H. Armstrong
formed a partnership known as Buckalew &
Co. Later he bought Mr. Armstrong's interThis
est and took Clyde Kemp as a partner.
firm conducts the largest shoe store and shoe
conand
repairing business in this section,
trols an immense trade.
On Jan. 31, 1911, Mr. Buckalew married
Sophia Nelson, daughter of W. T. and Mary
Frey) Nelson, of York, Pa. They have a
son. Louis W.. Jr.. born in December. 1912.
Mr. Buckalew belongs to Washington
Bloomsburg
Lodge. No. 265. F. & A. M.
(

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
218, R. A. M.
Commandery
Knights Templar; and Caldwell Conas well as to the Odd Fellows and

Chapter, No.

No.

12,

sistory

;

Red Men.
College
Epsilon

;

also a

fraternity Phi
Kappa chapter.

member
Sigma

of the State

Kappa,

Phi

In his business life
man of
e.xecutive ability and his future is bright.
the
elect
of
he
is
numbered
Socially
among
Bloomsburg. where he and his wife are verypopular, both belonging as they do to prominent families long established in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Buckalew has proved himself a

BARTON DILL FREAS,
Columbia county, began
the

financial

Berwick,
with

his connection

Mr.
tion of existing conditions there.
is a native of Berwick, son of the late

Freas

Henry

Clay Freas and grandson of John Freas. The
family is one of old standing in Columbia
county.
in Briarcreek townColumbia county, and owned a large

John Freas was born

farm there, following general agriculture all
His death occurred in 1850. The
his life.
following children were born to his marriage
with Sarah Hidlay George Sally, Mrs. Jonathan Eck; Nancy, Mrs. Benjamin Hicks;
Henry Clay; John A.; William L.. who married Fanny Rittenhouse Horace Hiram, who
married A. Brown; and Isaiah B., who mar:

;

Katherine Hagenbuch.
Henry Clay Freas was born on a farm in
He
Briarcreek township, March 11, 1S21.
was an energetic business man, acquiring various important interests. For years he was engaged in milling at Berwick as well as in his
ried

native township, in the later sixties selling the
Creek to Ash Brothers his mill
at Berwick, located just below the present site
mill in Briar

;

of the Delaware,

Lackawanna & Western

bumed

rail-

In 1873 he
bought the earthenware business of C. A.
Becker, located where Mr. Kurtz's marble

road depot, was

in 187

stands.

About 1890 Mr. Freas gave

up business, and

lived retired until his death,

yard
in

now

1896.

etery.

buried in Pine Grove cemto count him

Berwick had every reason

public-spirited citizens, for he
served faithfullv as burgess for several terms.

among her

Originally a Whig in politics, he subsequently
a Republican.
He took an active inin the Methodist
Episcopal Church,

became
terest

which he served as trustee, and he held membership in Knapp Lodge, No. 462, F. & A. M.
In 1856 Mr. Freas married Dorothy A.
Bowman, a daughter of George A. and Sarah
have the
Brown) Bowman, of Berwick.
following record of their children: John H.,
born Dec. 19, 1856, died in April, 1877, and
is buried in Pine Grove
cemetery at Berwick;

(

Annie Bowman, born July

21, i860, married
Franklin A. Witman Sally A., born May 18,
1862, married A. W. Dickson, and died in
October, 1895, and is buried in Wildwood
cemetery at Williamsport, Pa. Barton Dill is
mentioned below Alberta G.. born March 5,
1867, is the wife of Charles B. Keller, cashier
of the Stroudsburg (Pa.) National Bank.
Barton Dill Freas was born Aug. 10, 1864,
and had his early educational training in local
;

;

institutions of that place over
ago, and his present important

thirty years
relations with same testify amply to his position as an authority. He understands the local
situation thoroughly, a fact which makes his
advice invaluable. His loyal etiforts to secure
to his home community the best advantages
possible have been vital factors in the evolu-

ship.

503

;

Market Street
the Berwick high school he was
the first high school graduating
class, 1881, and Judge A. M. Freas, of WilkesBarre, was one of his classmates.
Subsequently he was a student at the Wyoming
Seminary, and in 1882 he took a business
course.
Returning to Berwick in 1882, Mr.
Freas found a position as clerk in the First
National Bank. In 1895 he was made teller,
and was thus employed until 1902, when he
resigned to become cashier of the Berwick
institutions, attending the old

Academy and
member of

National Bank, organized that year. In 1903,
the Berwick Savings & Trust Company
was organized, he was made treasurer, and
he has continued to fill both positions. His
close association with the banking business in
Berwick during so many years has developed
his natural ability to such an extent that his
fellow officers regard his opinion with the
utmost respect. The sincere concern he has
shown at all times for the welfare of home
enterprises has made him trusted as the worthy
confidant of the best interests in the town.
On Oct. 16, 1890, Mr. Freas married Elizabeth M. Mears, daughter of J. H. and Catherine (Hull) Mears, of Berwick, and they
have one son, Frederick Mears, bom Nov. 25,

when

1893.

Mr. Freas is a member and trustee of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally
is a member and a past master of Knapp
Lodge, No. 462, F. & A. M., and a member
of Caldwell Consistory (thirty-second degree),
A. A. S. R., Bloomsburg, and of Irem Temple,
A. A. O. N. Mystic Shrine, at Wilkes-Barre,
Pa. he also belongs to Berwick Council, No.
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

504

Politically he is a sup176, Royal Arcanum.
porter of the Republican party. He is one of
the trustees of the present Berwick Hospital
board.

CHARLES

C. BARGER, senior member
of the firm of Barger, Bains & Munn, proprietors of the Bloomsburg Hosiery Mills, was

born
of

Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 14, 1863, son

Benjamin Barger.

The paternal great-grandfather was a resident of Philadelphia, the family being an
old and representative one of the State.
George Barger, the grandfather of Charles
C. Barger, was also a resident of Philadelof the watchphia, and early in life was one
men employed to call out the hours of the
When the police force of the city was
night.
he naturally became one of its mem-

organized

and continued a useful citizen until his
He was the father of two
1874.
Benjamin and Annie.
Benjamin Barger, son of George Barger,
and father of Charles C. Barger, was a native
of Philadelphia, where his energetic life was
For thirty-five years he was with the
spent.
firm of Charles McNeal & Co., giving most
bers,

death, in
children,

The death of this excellent
occurred in 1905. Benjamin Barger married Cordelia Streeter, and their children
were: George, David, Charles C, Louis, Corfaithful service.

man

now in the plants in which he is interested,
employment being given to 150 workers. The
output of the firm comprises infants', ladies'
and boys' hosiery. The Bloomsburg plant is
housed in a brick building containing about
five thousand square feet of floor
space, and
the annual output is 200,000 dozen
pairs of infants" hose, the Philadelphia
plant manufacturing the ladies' hosiery.
In .\pril, 1914, Mr. Barger started work
on the construction of a plant at Xescopeck,
Pa., which was opened July 15. It is equipped
with 150 machines and gives employment to
se\'enty-five people, engaged in the production of a heavy stocking for boys.
The total
daily output of the three mills at present is
seventeen hundred dozen pairs.
Mr. Barger
is general
manager of all the mills and vice
president of the company, and he is ably assisted by his son Paul, who has
developed re-

markable fitness for the position.
Mr. liarger married Catherine Laudwhere,
a daughter of Jonathan Paul Laudwhere, and
they have the following children: Cordelia,
who married George Robbins J. Paul, who is
employed with his father; Elsie, who is a student at the State Normal School and Rosie.
In 191 1 Mr. Barger built the beautiful residence at Bloomsburg which is now the family
home. He and his family are Methodists in
;

;

religious faith.

While it is the aim of the firm to ])roiluce
William and Margaret.
Charles C. Barger affords in his career a the best quality of hosiery manufactured, Mr.
accomcan
man
Barger takes an equal amotmt of pride in the
splendid example of what a
faithful and persistent sanitary condition of his plants.
In equipplish through steady,
secured
he
lad
a
still
When
employ- ping them he has given special attention to
effort.
ment in a hosiery mill, and he has continued furnishing adequate sanitation and is alwavs
to work along this line ever since, concentrat- ready to adopt new methods if certain they
towards advancement will further his ideas along these lines. The
ing all his energies
His first employer was a man by local mill aft'ords employment to a number of
therein.
the name of Thomas Brown, and when Mr. families of Bloomsburg, and the industry is
other Philadel- an important one in Columbia county.
Barger left him he went into
delia,

the business so
phia hosiery mills, learning

in business
thoroughly that when he embarked
for himself, in April, 1902, he was able to do
so intelligentlv and successfully. In 1904 Mr.
into partnership,
Barger took Edward Bains

and they operated under the firm name of
later, when
Barger & Bains until two years
the present firm was organized, F. W. Munn
main office
becoming the junior member. The
of the mills is at Adams and Jasper streets,
Philadelphia.

In Tuly, 1906. Mr. Barger came to Bloomsthere, which
burg "and built his present plant
has been materially enlarged since. When he
he had only
began operations in Philadelphia
ten machines, whereas 350 are in operation

JOSEPH G. SWANK, farmer, and excounty commissioner of Columbia county, residing in Mifflin township, was born at Lime
Ridge, Pa.. Nov. 2, 1844, son of John and
Caroline (Kirkendall) Swank.
George Swank, grandfather of Joseph G.
Swank, was born in New Jersey, where he was
a farmer during his younger days.
Coming
to Columbia county. Pa., he settled at Lime
Ridge, where he engaged in the lime business,
and later he moved to Hetlerville, where he
died.

John Swank, son of George Swank and
father of Joseph G, Swank, was born in New
Jersey, whence he came to Lime Ridge with

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and died there when his son, Joseph
Swank, was two years old, in 1846. John
Swank, the father, married Caroline Kirken-

his father,

a daughter of Joseph Kirkendall, a native
of Mifflin township, Columbia county, where
he was a farmer, as had been his father before him. The Kirkendalls bought large tracts
of land in Columbia county, and a portion of
the farm now occupied by Joseph G. Swank,
known as Kirkendall Hill, was included in
Both the Kirkthe holdings of this family.
endall grandparents died on the property now
clall,

owned and occupied by their grandson, Joseph
G. Swank, as did Mrs. John Swank, who
passed away Dec. 10, 1900, aged eighty- four
She and her husband had but one
Joseph Kirkendall was one of the
prominent men of his time and took an active
part in jniblic affairs he built the abutments
of the old bridge which was washed away at
Berwick a few years ago.
Joseph G. Swank lived with his paternal
ten
grandfather at Lime Ridge until he was
years old, at which time he joined his maternal
grandparents on the farm he now owns, and
has resided on this jjroperty ever since, having
in
bought it when they died. He is engaged
In 1894 he became
a general line of farming.
county commissioner and held that office during i8q4, i8ij5 and 1896. Joseph G. Swank
has a war record, for on Sept. 9, 1862, he
years.
child.

;

enlisted for three years, in

Company

E, i6th

Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Col. J.
K. Robinson, of Mifflintown, Juniata Co.,
Pa., and was assigned to Gregg's division of

])articipated in many
engagements, remaining in the service to the
close of the war, and was at the surrender at

Sheridan's cavalry.

505

Mr. and Mrs. Swank belong to the Berwick
Baptist Church, in which he has held offices,
including those of deacon, trustee and clerk.
Joseph G. Swank has been president of the
Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Lime
Ridge, Pa., for eighteen years, and was a
charter member of that company.
He is
deeply interested in all matters tending towards the betterment of agricultural conditions.

NORMAN

S. PURSEL, late of Bloomsburg, was a worthy member of a substantial
old family of Columbia county, which was
established in the Frosty valley over a cen-

tury ago by his great-grandfather, Jonathan
Pursel. and during all his active years followed the trade of blacksmith, at which his
father and grandfather were also engaged.
Mr. Pursel was born in 1837 '" ^h^ Frosty

Hemlock township, Columbia counson of Dennis Pursel, and died at Bloomsburg, Sept. 28, 191 2, in his seventy-sixth year.
Mr. Pursel's great-grandfather, Jonathan
Pursel, lived in New Jersey before settling in
Pennsylvania, in the latter part of the eighteenth century.
The Pursels are of ScotchIrish origin.
Jonathan Pursel located in the
valley, in
ty,

Frosty valley, in what is now Hemlock townColumbia county, on the farm afterwards owned by his descendant, James Depew
Pursel.
He cleared the land he took up and
devoted the remainder of his active years to
its
impro\ement. His first wife. Nancy
Kitchen ). was the mother of all his children.
ship,

(

passed his closing years on the Depew
Pursel farm.
To quote from an earlier ac-

a charter member of
Captain Jackson Post. G. A. R., of Berwick.

"The farm on which Sylvester
1887)
li\es was owned by his maternal ancestor,
whose name was Green, and who later sold it

Pennsylvania.
In 1868 Joseph G.

to his son-in-law, Daniel Pursel.
Shortly after
this he died, and the wife of Jonathan Pursel

Appomattox.

Mary

He was

Swank was married
I,ongenberger. who was born

to
in

Columbia county. Pa., daughter of Simon and
Mrs.
Lucinda (Kirkendall) Longenberger.
Swank died in i8t>(i, the mother of three children
Gertrude, who is the widow of E. M.
Walter,
S. Gould, resides at Scranton, Pa.
who married Dora Klinger, resides at Founat Scranton.
dryville. Pa. Daniel is a druggist
:

;

Pa., superintendent of the

Lorenz drug

store.

in
Toseph G. Swank was married (second)
1898 to Amanda Miller, who was born in
and
of
Mifflin township, daughter
Henry
Phoebe (Kirkendall) Miller, both of whom
were
are deceased.
prominent people
They
of Columbia county, well and
favorably

known.

count

(

dying about the same time also, the two old
people married, and lived on the Depew Pursel farm."
Daniel Pursel, son of Jonathan, was born
Dec. 19. 1 77 1, learned the trade of blacksmith,
and also engaged in farming.
Though he
started life a poor man. by industry and hard
work, and with the help of a capable and de-

voted wife, he prospered and succeeded in
accumulating a competence. From his father
he bought the farm where his son Sylvester
sjient all his life, and in 1816 built the stone
house upon that place. He also acquired ownership of the farm afterwards owned by his

son Isaac G. Pursel. He was a man of high
character, a member of the Episcopal Church

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

506

Bloomsburg, and one of the respected citizens of his community.
His death occurred
Feb. 17, 1854.
Daniel Pursel married Alary Green, who
was also from Xew Jersey, and who survived
him. dying during the Civil war, aged over
ninety years. A year before she had knitted a
large ntmiber of stockings and mittens for the
soldiers.
Daniel and Mary (Green) Pursel
are buried in Rosemont cemetery, at Bloomsthe twelve children born to them
Of
burg.
one died in infancy, and the others were born
as follows: John, Jan. 22, 1793 (died at the
home of his son in Montour county when
ninety-three years old) Dennis, Dec. i, 1793
(died aged ninety-one years) Jonathan, Dec.
at

;

1795 (died in Canada); Robert, May 9,
1799 (lived in Michigan and attained very
advanced age) Daniel, Aug. 5, 1801 (died at
an advanced age) Hester, Jan. 4, 1S04 (married Samuel Kahler, and died in Lycoming
county); William, .Ajjril 9, 1808 (lived in
Montour county and reached a great age);
Ann, June 30, 1810 (married a W'ertman,
Abilived in Ohio, and died when very old
gail Maria, March 10, 1813 (married Frank
Isaac
died
in
G.,
Hartman, and
Bloomsburg)
20,

;

)

;

Sept. 28, 1815; Sylvester, Oct. 11, 1818.
Dennis Pursel, son of Daniel, was

born

1793, in Hemlock township, where he
passed all his life, dying there at the age of
He followed the trade of
ninety-one years.

Dec.

He married Elizabeth Briggs,
blacksmith.
daughter of Richard Briggs, and they had a
James Depew Elisha
family of five children
B. Mary, wife of John Smith Martha, wife
of Matthew Gurtin and Norman S.
Norman S. Pursel passed his early life at
his native place, obtaining a common school
:

;

education and learning blacksmithing. beginning the trade at the age of se\enteen in
Bloomsburg. He became a skilled mechanic,
and followed his trade successfully at various
places, principally Bloomsburg and Centralia,
Columbia county, until his retirement in 191 1.
In 1888 he went west to New Mexico, and

followed blacksmithing there for a year before returning East. He had poor health for
In 1910 he
a year or more before his death.
rebuilt the home at the corner of East Seventh
he was
where
and Cherry streets, Bloomsburg,
was a wellliving at the time of his death. He
known citizen of that place, and highly respected by the many of his acquaintance. For
seven years he was chief of police of Bloomsburg, serving as such at the time Pat Hester
was hanged, during the reign of the Mollie
Maguires, and he was a member of the jury

that convicted them.
In that strenuous time
he went armed to protect himself against attacks by the friends of the criminals.
.Mr.
Pursel was one of the first members of the
the
bass
Bloomsburg band, playing
horn, and
when the Civil war broke out went with his

fellow players as a member of the band of
the local regiment. However, he did not remain long at the front. After the war he was
again a member of the band, and continued to
play his horn until his late years. He was a
member of the Episcopal Church, to which
his family also belong, and on political
questions he was a Republican.
He is buried in

Rosemont cemetery,

Bloomsburg.

April 4, 1863, Mr. Pursel married Susan
Rebecca Rupert, who was born April 13, 1841,
in Bloomsburg, daughter of Bernard
Rupert,
and two children were born to this union
:

who

lives in Philadelphia, marFo.x, and they have children.
Leone, Mabel, Lester, Margaret and Dorothy.
Lula married Millard McBride, of
(2)
Bloomsburg, and they live with her mother;
their children are Ray, Frank, Fred and Ruth.
Daniel Rupert, grandfather of Mrs. Norman S. Pursel, was a native of Germany, and
coming to America settled at Pottsville, Pa.,
where he died. His children were: Jacob,
John, William, Samuel, Bernard. Mary and
(

)

Harry

B.,

Maud

ried

Maria.

Bernard Rupert, son of Daniel, was born at
and when a young man came
where he learned the trade of

Pottsville, Pa.,
to Bloomsburg,

followed that work

all his active
1884, at the age of sixty-nine
years. His wife. Sarah Ann (Fry), daughter
of George and Susan (Long) Fry, died at the

tailor.

dying

life,

age of ninety-one years. They had five children
George, now deceased Luther, a resident of Bloomsburg; Walter, living in New
York State Charles, deceased and Susan Re:

;

becca,

widow

GEORGE

Norman

HERRING,

S. Pursel.

of Bloomsburg,

distinction of having
served as treasurer of that county and also
of
county, anfi he is one of the well

Columbia county, has the
Schuylkill

of the Democratic party in
He served four years as deputy
the State.
revenue for the Twelfth
internal
collector of
district of Pennsylvania.

known members

Mr. Herring was born Dec. 13. 1833, in
Columbia county, son of John
Herring, and belongs to a family of German
peasant origin founded in this country by
Orangeville,

Christopher Herring.
Christopher Herring, the emigrant ancestor.

COLUMBIA AND MUNTOUR COUNTIES
came to this country with his wife and eight
children before the Re\olutionary war. They
were "redemptioners," their services being sold
Two
to defray the expenses of the passage.
of the eight children were killed in the battle
of the Lirandywine.
Another, Ludwick, was
He
the grandfather of George A. Herring.
settled in Orangeville, Columbia Co., Pa., in
1800.
He died in 1838, and is buried in
Orangeville cemetery. He was a teamster and
was engaged in hauling produce and goods
from Orangeville and Pottsville to Reading,
before the introduction of the railroad system
in that section.
He was married in lierks

county to Susan Rright.
John Herring, son of Ludwick, was born

and there resided
He was a carpenthroughout
ter l)v occupation and for twenty years was
a carpenter foreman on the Pennsylvania canal
between Xanticoke and Sunbury. Politically
he was a Jacksonian Democrat, casting his
first vote for Jackson, and adhered to the
For ten
Democratic party until his death.
years he was justice of the peace at OrangeIn 1880 he moved to Bloomsburg, the
ville.
r)range\ille.

Pa., in 1808,
his active life.

rest of his years li\ing in retirement,
i8<.i3.

dying in
married Rachel Snyder, a sister of
Sheriff John Snyder, of Orange\-ilIe,

the late

and she died May
Lutheran Church.

11, 1882, a

member

of the

Mr. Herring was a meml)er of the German Reformed Church.
They
had eight children, six sons and two daughClinton D. George A. Alexters, namely
ander R. Calvin and Elisha R. (twins) RePriscilla
becca (married Jackson Knorr)
(married John S. Xeyhart) and one that died
unnamed.
George A. Herring, son of John, obtained
:

;

his education

in the

academy at Orangeville.
twenty years he moved to

At the age of
Bloomsburg, where he learned the trade of
molder, following same for a period of four
vears in Piloomsburg, Illinois and Michigan.
Returning home he engaged

in carpentering
with his father, building canalboats at Lime
Ridge, Columbia county, until 1864, when he
moved to Shenandoah, Schuylkill county. In
1867 he built a colliery, now known as No. 3,
at Shenandoah, and owned by the Lehigh \'alley Railroad Company, and took in as partner,
it for a few
J. W. Williams, Esq., operating
vears as a member of the firm of Williams &
He then met with a serious acciHerring.
dent, which nearly resulted in his death and
which terminated his connection with the
mine.
He disposed of his interest and en-

gaged

merchandising

Shenandoah up

the year 1876,

when he

507
sold out.

During

this

period he was elected treasurer of Schuylkill
He was
county, serving from 1870 to 1873.
one of the organizers and a director of the

Shenandoah Water Company also a director
of the Shenandoah \'alley Hank.
In April, 1876, owing to poor health, Mr.
Herring sold his store and moved to lilooms;

Columbia county, purchasing a farm
two miles from there; he also rented a tannery, which he operated until 1882, disposing
l)urg,

that year, but he has since continued to
the farm.
From 1881 to 1887 he served
as deputy treasurer of Columbia county, and
for the following three years as treasurer. In
1894 he was made deputy collector of internal
revenue for the Twelfth district of Pennsyl-

own

vania, with office at Scranton, under his son
Grant. For four years he has had the honor
of [^residing over the borough council of
Bloomsburg. Politically Mr. Herring is a firm
supporter of Democratic principles and has
frequently served as delegate to State conventions from Columbia and Schuylkill counties.
He was a delegate to the con\ention which
nominated Pattison for governor the first time
he w^as elected, and the delegation from
Schuylkill county, being the last to cast its
vote, had the distinction of naming the Democratic candidate, as the vote was very close.

On May
A.

Hess,

9, 1861,

Mr. Herring married Mary

who was born

April

1836,

Columbia county, daughter of
Daniel and Priscilla (Yohe) Hess, and died
Mifflinville,

in i8c)3, at the age of fifty-six years; she is
buried in Rosemont cemetery at ISloomsburg.
Mrs. Herring was a member of the Methodist

Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Herring became the

Ida alone survives,
parents of five children
Florliving with her father at Bloomsburg;
ence Gertrude died when three months old
one died unnamed; John died in March, 1890,
Grant, the
at the age of twenty-two years
eldest, was a leading lawyer in Piloomsburg
:

;

for twenty-four years, and in 1907 moved
with his family to Sunbury, Pa., where he
in
])racticed until his death, which occurred

August. 1912, at Berchtesgaden, Germany,
while he was visiting his daughter Laura, who
was there studying music (he was buried
Both
there, not many miles from Munich).
sons graduated from Lafayette College, Grant
in June, 1883, and John in June, 1889; during
hisjunior year at college John recei\ed honors
in oratorical contests upon leaving school he
began the study of law with his brother and
continued it until his death.
Mr. Herring is a Mason and an Odd
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

508

Fellow, having joined Blue Lodge, Xo. 6ii,
& A. AL, at Shenandoah, and Shenandoah

Lodge, No. 591,
he held offices
past grand

O.O.

F. (charter member)
in both fraternities, and is a
of the I. O. O. F.
I.

;

BOYD TRESCOTT,

of .Millville, present
of The Tablet, has had twenty-tive
connection
with
that
years'
paper, beginning
in association with his
father-in-law, G. A.
Potter.
He has also won reputation in his
profession, civil engineering, which he has
followed all over Pennsylvania. For the last
fifteen years he has been county
surveyor of
editor

Columbia county.

The Trescotts are of New England stock,
Solon Trescott, great-grandfather of Boyd
Trescott, having come to Pennsylvania from
Connecticut in 1777. Making a settlement in
the Huntington valley, in Luzerne county, he
remained one winter, but when the settlers
were driven out following the Wyoming massacre he returned to Connecticut.
It was not
until the spring of 1792 that he made another
attempt to settle, at that time coming out
again to the Huntington \alley with his brother
Samuel, both bringing their fanfilies.
Peter .S. Trescott, son of Solon, was a millwright and cabinetmaker, and for many years
was engaged principally at his trade, but the

closing years of his life were spent in farming
on the place where his family was reared. His
son, M. B. Trescott, father of Boyd Trescott,
was also raised there, and his family was born
and brought up on the same farm. The
grandfather married Susan Miller, of Chester
county. Pa., a daughter of George Miller, who
was a farmer.
M. B. Trescott was a civil engineer by pro-

He married Permelia Rhone, whose
George Rhone, was a fanner of Columbia county, and they became the parents
of ten children, six sons and four daughters,
fession.

father,

Boyd being

the eldest

Mary

an attorney

at law, practicing in \\'ilkes-Barre, Pa. Rhone
is engaged in the operation of limekilns at
;

New Columbus Academy. When

schools and

a youth he took up civil
engineering with his
father, and has followed the profession on
his own account since he was

twenty years
old.
His work in this line has taken him all
over the State, and he has gained
high standing for skillful service, having thorough familiarity with the demands of his calling. :\Ir.

Trescott came to Milhille in 1889, and that
year became associated with G. A. Potter in
the publication of The Tablet, in which Mrs.
Trescott has also been interested since childhood.
Beginning to assist her father at an
early age, she has learned all the details of
the work of getting out a newspaper so well
that she can help or handle any of it.
She is
a reliable compositor, and as part owner and
editor has had much to do with
conducting
The Tablet successfully. Mr. Trescott has
been editor since 1912. He also continues to
follow his profession, and as county surveyor

has accomplished much by
and painstaking attention
Otherwise his
position.

his accurate records

to the duties of the
activity

public

has been through the medium of his
is noted for its high policies and
commendable exercise of its power in favor of
local enterprises.
Politically he supports the
afi^airs

paper, which

Democratic party.

Dec.

25,

1888,

]\Ir.

Trescott married

Annie C. Potter, only child of G. A. Potter,
and they have had two sons
Frank, who
died in infancy; and Paul, born Aug. 19, i8g8.
.Mr. Trescott attends the Lutheran Church.
:

JOHN WILLET BRUNER,

D.,

was

Pine township, Columbia Co., Pa.,
Oct. 4, 1865, son of the late John Bruner,
whose ancestors came from Germany. His
grandfather was Peter Bruner, a native of
one of the lower counties of Pennsylvania,
who settled in Lycoming county, where he
He married Hannah Hartlived and died.
man, daughter of John .\. Hartman, and they
had seven children
John, Alargaret, William, Andrew Jackson, Samuel, Lydia and
born

Almedia, Columbia county Minerva is mar- Mary.
ried to C. Willis Snyder, of Williamsport. Pa.,
John Bruner, eldest child of Peter, was
who is in the printing business Josephine is born July 5, 1830, in Franklin township, Lythe wife of H. H. Davenport, a farmer, of coming Co., Pa., and remained at home until
Dorranceton, Luzerne county Rush is prac- of age. In 1857 he came to Columbia county,
renting land in Greenwood township for seven
ticing law at Wilkes-Barre; Emma is superintendent of the Anthracite Mission in Hazle- years, and then moving to Pine township,
Robert is foreman in a cement mill where he bought one hundred acres of land.
ton. Pa.
Later he bought other land, until he had in all
at Bath Ralph and Leroy died in infancy.
lived on this
Boyd Trescott was born .\pril 18, i860, in 27s acres, all in one body. He
of 1882, when he
Huntington township, Luzerne county, and homestead until the spring
had the advantages afforded by the public removed with his family to Millville, remain
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
spring of 1886, when
he moved to the tract known as the Henry
Battin farm, just out of town. But in a year
or two he returned to Millville, Columbia
county, where he died, at the age of seventying at that place until the

tive years, in 1905.

C)n

20, 1853, Mr. Bruner married
C. Fairman, who was born April 10,

May

Martha

I'.attin
1832, daughter of Robert and Edith
Fairman, and granddaughter of William and
(

)

Mary Fairman and Henry and Sarah Battin.
These people were of Scotch-Irish descent.
Mrs. Bruner still survives, living at Millville,
and though past eighty is very active. Eight
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bruner:

Mary
Sarah

I.,

Hannah

E.,

Elizabeth,

John W., Susan

Anna Margaret,
E.,

William P.

1863, aged nearly four years)
J. (who died in 1881, aged twentyMr. Bruner was a
three years, ten months).
progressive man and gave his children good
He was an active
educational advantages.
church worker, belonging to the Lutheran denomination, and was the principal founder of

(who died
and Henry

the Pine Center congregation in F'ine townI'olitically he was a I'rohibitionist.
ship.
John \V. Bruner, only surviving son of John

and Martha C. (Fairman) P.runer. began his
education in the local public schools and later
attended Millville Seminary and the State
Normal School at Bloomsburg. He engaged
in teaching school for a few terms in his home
county, and then entered Jefferson Medical
instituCollege at Philadelphia, from which
tion he was graduated in 1890. His first locain
Branch,
at
tion for practice was
Roaring
Lycoming county, Pa., where he remained
four and a half years. In January, 1895, he
He is now
opened an office at Bloomsburg.
one of the leading physicians in that vicinity.
Since his graduation he has taken two special
courses to fit himself for advanced work, one
in lune. iSgs, when he did post-graduate work
in
at the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and one

509

West Branch Medical Association. Dr.
Bruner takes a deep interest in the administration of local offices, and is at this
writing
vice president of the
borough council. Politically he is a Republican, and in religious connection a .Methodist.
In 1890 Dr. Bruner married Etta S.
of the

Eves,

daughter of William Eves, of :\Iillville. To
them were born two sons: Arthur Henry,
born in 1894, and John Robert, born in
1899,
both of whom are in school.
Mrs. Bruner
died July 24,

Oct.

9, 1912, Dr.
Eves, youngest
daughter of the late Charles W. Eves and
Sarah P.. (Masters) Eves.

Bruner

1910.

married

Margaret

SHUMAN.
been settled

The

Shuman

family

has

Columbia county for several
generations, and its representatives in Catawassa have been among the leading citizens
of the township and borough. Judge Franklin L. Shuman, former business man, associate judge and active in the promotion of vain

rious public utilities, before his retirement
did probably more than any other one man
for the Ijenefit of the place, founding various enterprises and making others possible
by his efforts and infiuence among his fellow
citizens.
His son, Paris H. Shuman, is nowone of the foremost men of the borough.
The first American ancestors of the branches
of the Shuman family found in this region
of Pennsylvania were the brothers, Rudolph

and George Shuman. who came to this country from Wurtemberg, Germany.
George Shuman came over from Wurtemberg in 1760 and in 1772 settled on the upper
end of Turkey Hill, in Manor township, Lancaster Co., Pa.
He had sons as follows
Michael, born in 1758: John, 1761
Henry.
1764; Adam. 1770: Andrew, 1774; Christian,
Frederick, 1786; and
'^777''
Jacob, 1781
His daughters were: ElizaGeorge. 1788.
beth, born in 1779. and Alary, in 1784.
a special course in the
took
he
when
Michael
.Shuman. born in 1758, came with
UJO4-OS,
Medical his
His first
parents from the Fatherland.
Philadel])hia Polyclinic and Jeff'erson
Be- wife was a
his time to surgery.
Manning, and his second wife was
College, devoting all
the Catharine Pfeiff'er. who was a
sides looking after his private practice
Redemptioner.
Doctor has given considerable time and atJacob Shuman, born in 1781, was twice
was
which
married, and by his first marriage, which was
tention to the Bloomsburg Hospital,
founded in iyo6. He was one of the first to to Mary Witman, had children as follows
and
its
establishment,
in
interested
become
(jeorge, Jacob, Daniel, John, Catharine, Henry
served on the building committee and on other (of Lafayette. Ind. ), Frederick (of RichHe was the first presi- mond, Ind.) and Michael S. (of Columbia,
important committees.
dent of the hospital staff, and is still a mem- Lancaster Co., Pa.
by his second marriage,
He is a member of the which was to Margaret Wisler, there were
ber of that body.
the
of
Anfive children, viz.
Christian, deceased
Columbia County ^Medical Society,
Association, and drew, who died in Chicago. 111.
Abraham,
Pennsylvania State Medical
:

;

)

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

510

who

is of South Evanston, 111.
Iowa, deceased and William
teacher of Evanston, Illinois.
;

Rudolph Shuman

first

;

Benjamin, of

settled in

school

Lancaster

county, Pa., but later moved to Beaver township, Columbia county, where he owned a
large tract of land and reared his family.

He had two

sons, Jacob and John.
John Shuman, son of Rudolph, was one of
the early settlers of Catawissa township, Columbia county, and there purchased a farm
upon which he lived until his death. He was

In
a leading citizen of his neighborhood.
he was a Democrat.
He had four
sons and one daughter, as follows
Solomon,
whose children were Charles, Jerry, Rebecca.
Ellen. Katherine, and a son who died in infancy Jacob, whose children were John T.,
Reuben, Elizabeth, Sarah (Shetler), Mary
and David John, whose children were John,
Catherine and Andrew Christian, whose children were George W., Franklin L., Joseph
William, Elliza, Joanna, Thomas J.,
H.,
and Margaret
Charles A. and Catherine
(Mensch), whose children were John, Mapolitics

;

(Beringer), Thomas and
Margaret
(Parr).
Christian Shuman, son of John, was born
and reared in Catawissa, and was about eighteen years old when he went to Northampton county. Pa., where he learned the trade of
tanner.
He followed that occupation there
for some time, thence moving to l^)eaver \ althe
ley, Columbia Co., Pa., where he bought
mill property which he operated for several
In 1855
years, besides carrying on tanning.
he began merchandising at that place, and he
citiactive
influential
and
was one of the most
zens of the town at one time, owning three
farms, a tannery, gristmill, store and hotel,
all of which he had in operation.
Though he
accumulated considerable wealth, he lost much
of it through misfortune before his death, but
he was always looked upon as one of the most
tilda

and enterprising men of his coma Democrat and thoroughly
interested in politics and the success of his
official
party, and though he never had any
intelligent

munity.

He was

in the
aspirations he exercised great influence
selection of candidates in his locality. He died
He married Elizabeth Hendershot,
in 1885.
like himself a native of Pennsylvania and of
German descent, and they had nine children,

as previously mentioned.
Franklin L. Shum.\n. son of Christian,

school there until nineteen years old, meantime assisting his father in his agricultural
work and other business, the store, post office
and mill, and ac(|uiring valuable experience.
He was ambitious, and made the most of his
advantages.
Continuing thus until his marriage, he then engaged in the lumber business and kept hotel at Beaver \'alley.
During this time he had also owned half a dozen
farms, but disposed of them, retaining only
twenty acres near Catawissa. In 1870 he built
a home in Catawissa, but after only a short
residence in this dwelling business matters
made a removal necessary, and Mr. Shuman
returned to his old home at Beaver X'alley

and again engaged in merchandising. He
soon added a coal trade, and while there carried on several lines, being also postmaster.
In 1875 he moved back to Catawissa, where
he has resided ever since. His first home in
Catawissa was destroyed by fire June 7, 1885.
just after his insurance had expired without
The water had just been
being renewed.
turned on in the mains of the town, but there
being then no fire department of any kind,
the dwelling went up in smoke.
Notwithstanding his total loss of property and cash
he rebuilt upon the same site, putting up the
large two-story frame now standing, and removed into it upon its completion. He also
built two other houses in the town.
In 1881 Mr. Shuman bought the Zarr farm
of forty acres adjoining Catawissa, and laid
out in town lots, calling it the Shuman
it
Within a few years over a hunAddition.
dred homes were built there and it soon became a permanent part of the town. A schoolhouse, at the time of its erection one of the
finest in the county, was also built there, and
in 1884 water mains were laid in the addition.
In 1885 he laid out a new cemetery in the
eastern part of the addition, on a beautiful
hill overlooking Catawissa creek.
One of the most important public utilities
of Catawissa with which the Shumans have
been associated, past and present, is the waterworks system. The company, which consisted of members of the family and a lew
other persons, was organized and chartered
in 1882, the original members being F. L.

P. H. Shuman. W.
H. Rhawn and (Hdeon Myers. The works
in
and
built
were
operation soon after the
granting of the charters and the mains laid

Shuman, Reuben Shuman.

throughout the streets of the town. The servwas born Oct. 6, 1834, in Beaver \'allev, ice has been very satisfactory from the beColumbia county, where he was reared. He ginning.
Mr. Shuman also started several other inhad good educational opportunities, attending

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
town and was interested

dustries in the

in the

ried

Politically

connection a
John's Lutheran Church.

member

(

who
who
Shuman is

Alice,

Lillie.

when thirteen years old and
when four years old. Mrs.
member of St. John's Lutheran

died
died
a

;

Church.

;

Johnson, residing on Penn steret in Reading.
Pa.
Lucy Ann, who married Thomas Shuman. a merchant at Beaver \'alley and Angeline
About 1850 the
(Mrs.
Shuman).
widowed mother removed w'ith her family to
Cokmibia county, settling in Beaver township,
where she died Feb. 16, 1884. She is buried
:

;

in St. Peter's

churchyard

(

Harger cemetery

) ,

in that section.

Paris H. Shum.^n. only surviving child of
Franklin L. Shuman. was born Jan. 21. 1857.
at Beaver \'alley. Columbia Co., Pa., and
received

;

well-

(

.St.

Demo-

On July 27, 1854, Mr. .Shuman married
Angeline ^lichael, and to them were born four
children Charles, who was employed at Glen
City, Columbia county, and who was accidentally killed at his father's mines at that
place when twenty-one years old he is buried
at Catawissa)
Paris H.. mentioned below:

;

guires" took place, and he was directly conHis long
nected with the case at the time.

crat, in religious

member

peace for several terms, and for ten years associate justice of the Columbia county courts,
elected first in 1876 and reelected in 1881.
During his term the trial of the "Mollie Ma-

general welfare.

Hossler,

known family of Berks county who had
extensive farming interests, and they had
children as follows
Levi, a merchant in
Beaver township, who died in 1914 (he served
three years in the Civil war)
illiam, a
he was
miller, who died near Allentown, Pa.
in the Civil war for three years)
Manassah,
who was in the hotel business and died at
Pottsville, Pa.
Ebezine, widow of Josiah

shoe factory, the nail factory, and many of
the smaller establishments of the past.
Franklin L. Shuman has seen considerable
public service, having been justice of the

and continuous retention in office shows better
than mere words what his services in the
past have meant to the community, and how
much they have been appreciated by his townsmen, who have given substantial recognition
of his ability by their continued support. His
work has been of permanent value, and few
men have so careful or so ready to give their
time and attention to matters afifecting the

Susanna

511

schools.

his early education in the public
Later he attended the State Normal

In his youth and early
father in the store
in the First NaFor over thirty
tional Bank of Catawissa.
years he has been connected with the CataHe came to Catawissa
wissa waterworks.
with his father in 1875. and in 1882 was one
of the charter members of the company which
established the waterworks, which he and his
mother now own, Mr. Shuman having the

School at Bloomsburg.

manhood he

assisted his

and mines and for a time was

Manasseh Michael, father of Mrs. Angeline entire management. Under his intelligent and
(Michael) Shuman, was born in Beaver town- up-to-date direction the plant is one of the
ship, Columbia county, son of Adam Michael, most effective in this section of the State, and
The
a native of Columbia county, who engaged in is undergoing constant improvement.
farming in Beaver township and also kept reservoir capacity is great enough to meet all
hotel at Beaver \'alley until his death, which demands.
Nature and man's ingenuity have
occurred in that township in 1841. His wife combined to give Cataw-issa this pure water
are
and
several
later,
which
is drawn from springs in the
they
years
passed away
supply,
buried in the family cemetery on the old Catawissa Hills and runs by gravity system
homestead.
into the reservoir, which has a capacity of
They had children as follows
Manasseh. Charles. Washington. Andrew. 330.000 gallons, and from there is fed into
the pipes that supply the town, the gravity
Betsy, Sallie and Caroline.
Manasseh Michael lived with his parents pressure being sufficient to answer all puruntil he reached manhood, when he moved to poses.
In addition. Mr. Shuman has sunk
Berks county, Pa., where he married. He was several artesian wells, which, if necessary, can
a boatman on the Schuylkill canal, having his be used during a very dry season, and has a
own boat, and was engaged in carrying coal modern pumping station fitted with high jx)wfrom the vicinity of Pottsville to Philadelphia er air compressor and force pumps. The esuntil he met with an accident, a piece of tim- tablishment is a model one, and the people of
:

He lingered for nine
falling on him.
vears. dving in December, 1838, at the early
in
Berks county, and he
age of thirty-seven,
is buried there, at Strausstow^n, in the Michael
Church cemetery in P.ern township. He marber

Catawissa have always been satisfied with the
Shumans have supplied.

service the

On March
ried to
(

Bauch

14. 1878. Mr. Shuman was marAdah, daughter of John W. and Sarah
Bover. of Catawissa. and thev have
)

COLUMBIA AXD MONTOUR COUNTIES

512

had these children

(

)

Cora May, born

May

1879, niarried Aug. 10, 1902, Dr. Ambrose
Shuman, son of John T. Shuman. They have
adopted a son, John Eniil, born Sept. 10, 1912.
(2) Frankhn Edward, born Oct. 22, 1880, at
Catawissa, graduated from Hahnemann Col5,

and is practicing
lege, Philadelphia,
medicine in Homestead, Alleghany Co., Pa.
He married Hallie McKee, of Homestead, and
they have one child, Dorothy Jane. Another
died in infancy.
(3) Lilly Alice, born ^larch
8, 1882, is at home.
(4) Beulah Bell, born
Feb. 16, 1884, married W. C. Ruckle, a jeweler
of Danville, and they have one child, Dorothy
S.
(5) Lottie Edna, born April 29, 1886,
married Harry Beckley, of Harrisburg, and
they have two children, William .S. and Charlotte .'\deline.
(6) Anna, born April 2, 1888;
died in June, 1893.
(7) Ruth, born Aug. 7,
married
Lester
1892,
Billig, of Catawissa. and
have
one
Robert
Poe.
son,
they
(8) A child
born May 28, 1895, died unnamed. (9) Russell Lee, born July 3, 1897, is attending school
at Catawissa.
10) Sarah, born July 9, 1899,
in

1903,

(

March
born March

died

20,
20,

1900.
1902,

(ii)
is

Rhea

Beatrice,

attending school at

Catawissa.

JoHX
born July
county.

became a

FREDERICK HEBER EATON,
of the American Car and

was bom

president

Foundry Company,

in Berwick, Pa., April 15, 1863, a son
of Ralph Hurlburt and Eliza Knapp (DickEaton. He is descended from early
Colonial stock, his first ancestors on this side
of the Atlantic, W'illiam and Martha (Jenkins)
Eaton, of Staples, County of Kent, England,

erman

)

settling in W'atertown, ^lass., in 1642, and
later removing to Reading, Mass.
Among

was Jacob Eaton, bom in MereN. H., in 1757, who was twice chosen
of
surveyor
highways in that town served on
a committee to draft war resolutions was aptheir posterity
dith,

;

pointed to select

men

for the Continental army,

and served in the Revolutionary army under
Lieut. Ebenezer Smith, participating in the
His son, Jacob,
siege of Fort Ticonderoga.
born in 1788, instructor in the Hinesburg \'t.
Academy, served in the war of 18 12. His
son, Ralph Hurlburt (father of Frederick
Heber), was born in Mount Pleasant, Pa., in
1830, engaged extensively in mercantile pursuits, and finally removed to Berwick, Penn(

)

sylvania.

Frederick Heber Eaton attended the pubschools of Berwick, and, although he
learned the moulding trade during his youth,
has been identified with car manufacturing enterprises practically ever since leaving school,
lic

Shum.^x, son of Jacob, was
Main township. Columbia
attended the country schools and
farmer, owning a tract just on the

1823, in

Catawissa township.
He died Sept.
He married Cathe1905, in Catawissa.
rine Breisch. and they had these children
William K., Clinton J., George W., John E.,
Isabelle (Hower), David Clark, Sarah Jane
line of
12,

in 1S80.
While chief clerk in the
of the Berwick Rolling Mill Company,
a subsidiary of The Jackson & W'oodin ^Ianufacturing Company, his promise of ability attracted attention, and was so well verified un-

commencing
office

der every test that he advanced rapidly through
sheer merit. During the period from 1892 to
1899 he was first secretary-, afterwards vice

president and eventually president of The
Ambrose Shum.w, M. D., was born March Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company,
He attended the at Berwick, his achievements in the capacity of
10, 1869, in Main township.

(Hartzel), ^Margaret and Ambrose.

schools and later the lUoomsburg
State Normal, after graduation from the latter teaching school for two years in Catawissa
and Main townships. He then entered the
University of Pennsylvania, from which he

country

was graduated in 1894. and at once began to
practice the profession of medicine in Frackville and (lilberton. mining towns of Pennsylvania.
He then went to Mainville and remained four years, in May, 1900. moving to
Catawissa and opening an office, where he has
remained ever since. He has built up a fine
practice and is thoroughly established as one
of the foremost physicians of the county. On
.-Kug. 10. 1902, he was married to Cora May
-Shuman, a distant relative. They have no
children, but have adopted a son.

executive being sufficiently notable to
notice of the New York bankers and
pave the way for the recognition which has
In 1899 he was an active factor
since come.
in the formation of the American Car and
Foundry Company, which consolidated seventeen car building companies, including The

chief

draw the

Jackson

& Woodin Company, and became

its

vice president and a member of the executive
committee. In June, 1901, he succeeded to the
presidency and has since continuously occupied
that office, as well as the chairmanship of the
executive committee. Mr. Eaton is also a di-

American Agricultural Chemical
Company. American Beet Sugar Company.
Columbia Trust Company, Hoyt & Woodin
Manufacturing Company, National Surety
rector of the

'^-''"0,7

FOl

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

513

Company, Seaboard National Bank, and Sligo tained four hundred acres and was divided
& Eastern Railroad Company and is a trustee among the six children, and Philip, of course,
of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of controlled the property left to his wife. On
New York. A man of keen business judg- this farm they reared their children, in the
ment and cultivated salesmanship of the high- woods, away from everything but "real naest order, his counsel and advice are consid- ture," living in obscurity and without any
ered invaluable.
advantages of schools. The children born to
Mr. Eaton is a member of the New York them were:
Henry H., Charles, Philip,
Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania So- Samuel, George, John, Ezekiel, Nancy, Betsy
ciety in New York, the Society of Colonial and Maria, all of whom grew to maturity, and
Wars, Sons of the Revolution, Economic Club, each had a large family. Philip Fritz was the
American Geographical Society, American So- first school teacher and justice of the peace in
the northern part of the country, was a great
ciety of Political and Social Science, Academy
of Political Science, and the Peace Society of scholar for his day. and had more than orNew York. In his political views Mr. Eaton dinary influence in his locality.
is a stanch Republican, and was chosen as a
Henry H. Fritz, son of Philip, was born
presidential elector for Pennsylvania on the June 28, 1786, and in 1814 was married to
McKinley-Hobart ticket, in 1896.
Margaret Roberts, who was born Oct. 18,
Mr. Eaton is a club man of wide acquaint- 1794. Both lived to a good old age at the
in
the
Metropolitan Fritz settlement in what is now Sugarloaf
ance, having membership
Club, Union Club, Union League, Engineers' township. They were the parents of the fol;

Club,

New York

Athletic Association, Auto-

mobile Club of America, India House, Railroad Club, City Lunch Club, City Midday Club
all of New York; the Union League Club
of Philadelphia, and the Racquet Club, St.

—

tiis favorite recreations are golfing
Louis,
and fishing, and he is identified with many of
the leading country clubs in the East, including the Ardsley Club, Beaverkill Stream Club,

lowing named children
John, born July 27,
1815; Charlotta, Nov. 13, 1816; George, May
1, 1818; Jacob H., Jan. 30, 1820; Josiah, Feb.
2. 1822
William, Aug. 30, 1823 Jesse. June
8, 1825; Martha, June 20, 1827; Sarah, May
21, 1829; Mary A., May 2, 1831
Elizabeth,
Jan. 24, 1833 Margaret, May 8, 1835 Rachel,
All
of
these
married
April 15, 1839.
except
:

;

Sarah.

Deal Golf and Country Club (president and
Jesse Fritz, son of Henry H., was born
Oakland Golf Club, Rumson Coun- June 8, 1825, and he became a farmer, living
on the old homestead, commonly known as
try Club and Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
Mr. Eaton married C. Elizabeth Furman at "Fritz Hill," which was his home from the
Bloomsburg, in 1881, and they have one daugh- time he was a boy. He owned eighty acres of
land.
In 1880 Mr. Fritz was chosen justice
ter, Mrs. Clarence G. Crispin, residing at Berwick. Their city residence is Alvvyn Court, at of the peace, and served the township ten
No. 182 West Fifty-eight street. New York, years in that capacity. In politics he was a
and country place at Allenhurst, New Jersey.
Democrat. He was married Jan. 8, 1848. to
Sarah Dills, daughter of George Dills, of
LUCIUS FRITZ, late Sugarloaf township, Columbia county, whose
HON.
of Bloomsburg, was born Aug. 30, 1850, on wife was Sophia Hess, and the following
the old homestead in Sugarloaf township, named children were born to them
John W.,
Nov. 8. 1848 (now in Jackson township, this
Columbia county.
Andrew L., Aug. 30, 1850; Alvar"Fritz Hill" is known all over Columbia county)
Nov. 25, i8£;3 (died Nov. 3, 1857)
county. The first settler on this historic spot etta.
Nov.
Drusilla,
on
Chestnut
2, 1856 (wife of Tasper Lewis,
lived
street,
was Philip Fritz, who
Rachel E., Feb. 5, 1859
of Cole's creek)
Philadelphia, and came from that city to this
of Luzerne county.
county in 1795: he settled on the east branch (wife of William Sutliff.
and Sheridan S., Aug. 9, 1865. Mrs.
of Fishing creek, near where Thomas Fritz Pa.)
now lives, in the vicinity of Central, and in Fritz died March 5, 1881, and Mr. Fritz married June 29, 1883, Mrs. Rosanna (Hess)
1797 he removed to the old homestead at presThis land was Girton.
ent occupied by Jesse Fritz.
Andrew L. Fritz worked on the farm in the
She was Charlotte Dehis wife's heirloom.
to school in the winter for a
borgue. also a native of Philadelphia. Henry summer and went
at
Deborgue and his wife Elizabeth had six chil- number of years, and began teaching school
dren
Marv. Charlotte, Henry. Catherine, the age of sixteen vears in his native township,
The tract of land con- following that profession for a period of six
Esther and Jacob.
director).

ANDREW

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

514

assisting his father on the
to several institulearning and acquired a thorough

meantime
farm summers.

years,
tions

He went

composed of four counhe was defeated for the district nominahis county was not then

gressional conference,
ties,

tion

on the claim that

academic education at the Orangeville (Columbia county) and New Columbia (Luzerne
county) Academies, and Bloomsburg State

entitled to

under three sheriffs in succession, having
charge of the sheriff's office of Columbia
county in the absence of the sheriff until his
practice made it necessary for him to give up
the position. He was receiver of taxes in 1879

Charles C. Fritz.

it.

Mr. Fritz was a good speaker and he carried into public life the same indomitable will,
Normal School. He was a laborious student. and honesty and industry, that characterized
In 1875 he began to study law with ex-United him in the conduct of his private affairs. As
States Senator C. R. Buckalew, and was in a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature he
active practice at Bloomsburg after his ad- made a reputation that few have equaled.
mission to the bar of Lackawanna county, at During the session of 1887, on a bill to "equalScranton, but settled in his native county, and lize taxation," he made a memorable speech.
had a large practice in Columbia and the ad- His death occurred Aug. 22, 1913, at Bloomsjoining territory, being called to try caies be- burg, where he is buried.
In 1879 Mr. Fritz married Dora E. Evans,
fore the Supreme and Superior courts in his
State. When a law student he was appointed daughter of A. J. Evans, of Bloomsburg, and
deputy, and held the office by appointment they had two children, F. Herman Fritz and

(refusing the position in 1880), town auditor,

SA]\IUEL H.

HARMAN,

proprietor of the

Guernseydale Stock Farm at Bloomsburg,
Columbia county, and president of the newly
organized Columbia County Breeders' Asso-

Bloomsburg poor district, and ciation, is practically a recruit in the line of
number of municipalities, and he business which is now receiving the principal
was secretary of the town council for a num- share of his attention. But he has already
ber of years, until he resigned. Though these proved himself a valuable acquisition to the
positions, and by his obliging disposition, he dairying interests of the county, being among
made many friends and became well ac- those who are laboring faithfully to improve
solicitor of the

counsel for a

quainted with the people of his section of the
State.

In 1884 Mr. Fritz was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, receiving
the highest vote on the Democratic ticket. In
1886 he was renominated without opposition
and was elected, running ahead of his ticket
at the general election. In 1891 he was elected
as a member of the proposed Constitutional
convention from the Senatorial district composed of the counties of Columbia, Montour.
Lycoming and Sullivan. He was elected a
member of the House of Representatives for
the session of 1893, and was renominated
without opposition and reelected in November, 1894, for a fourth term, which had never
before been given to a person in this section
of the State. During his last term he served
on the Ways and Means, Appropriation and

Judiciary General committees, an honor given
to no other member of that session, that of
serving on the three most important committees of the House. He was a member of
the Judiciary General committee during his
four terms of office. In the session of 1895 he
was the Democratic caucus nominee for
speaker of the House. In 1896, and also in
1898, he received the nomination for Congress from Columbia countv, but at the Con-

the cattle of the locality and to impress the
farmers of this region with the profit and advantages to be realized from high-grade stock.

Harman family has long been settled
Pennsylvania, and is of German extraction.
Jacob Harman, the great-grandfather, was
born in Alsace, whence he came to America in
1770 with his brother Conrad, of whom we
have no further record. He landed at PhilaThis

delphia, and proceeded to Kutztown, Berks
Co., Pa., later moving to Mifflin township,
Columbia Co., Pa., where he died May 12,
He served in the war of the Revolu1823.
tion at various times, between 1777 and 1782,
taking part in the battles of Brandywine and

His enlistments were from
Northampton. By occupation he was a farmer
and a tanner. He married Elizabeth, daughter
of Conrad Lysingring, of White Hall township. Northampton county, and had two sons.
Samuel and George.
Samuel Harman, grandfather of Samuel H.
Harman, was born Dec. 2, 1789, at Kutztown,
and when a young man came to Miffiinville,
Columbia county, where he was a pioneer mer-

(jermantown.

chant.

lived eighteen years at the Half-

wav house between Bloomsburg and Berwick,
and there died June 18, 1859. in his seventieth
He was a veteran of the war of 1812,
year.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and

member
A. M.

515

of Washington Lodge, No. 265,
His wife, Elizabeth (Shellborn
heimer),
May 19, 1795, was a daughter
of General Shellheimer, of Briarcreek town-

his

She died July 23,
Columbia county.
and is buried with her husband in Rosemont cemetery, Bloomsburg. Four children
were born to them
Jeremiah H. Harriet,
who died unmarried Sarah, who married
Franklin J. Schreiber, of AUentown, Pa. (they
had no children) and Margaret, who became
the wife of W. R. Tubbs (they had no

back to Bloomsburg. Entering the law office
of Fred Ikeler, he read law for two
years,
until he formed a
partnership with F. P. Pursel to carry on the mercantile
business, the
firm being known as Pursel & Flarman.
Mr.
larman continued in this association for five
because
of
years, retiring
failing health; he
sold his interest to Mr. Pursel.
After withdrawing from business activities for a time
he organized the Harman Advertising Agency,
and five years later consolidated with the
Scranton Agency, later forming the Pennsylvania Railways Advertising Company and
out to the Railways .Adfinally
selling
vertising Company, one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country.
For the five years following Mr. Harman
traveled in the East and Middle West, and
on Nov. 27, 191 1, he bought the stock
farm near the town of Bloomsburg, Columbia county, to which he is now devoting
all his attention.
His interest has been serious
from the start. In June, 1912, he was one of
the founders and organizers of the Columbia
County Breeders' Associations, and is serving

ship,

1877,

;

children).

Jeremiah

H. Harman was born Nov.

For some time in his
1830, at Mifflinville.
early life he worked for his father, later gohe clerked for the
to
where
Scranton,
ing
Scrantons several years. Then he returned to
Columbia county, as the first agent of the
Reading Railroad Company at Rupert, Pa.,
where he remained several years. His next
venture was as partner with Lloyd Paxton,
dealing in feed, grain, etc., and they were associated for many years. During this partnership Mr. Harman became president of the
Salem Coal Company, at Shickshinny, Pa.,
with whom he continued until oI)liged to retire
on account of the loss of his sight. After that
he lived in Bloomsburg until his death, which
occurred Feb. 27, 1885. He is buried in Rose-

employ for a few years. He then went to
Hazleton, Pa., and became coal shipper for the
Pardee Coal Company, holding that position
two years, at the end of which time he came

its

president, his election to that office being

mont cemetery. He was a member of the an expression of the unqualified approval of
his associates in his activities as a stockman.
Episcopal Church and served as vestryman.
In 1855 Mr. Harman married Almira CarGuernseydale, as Mr. Harman's estate is
penter, daughter of George Carpenter, of known, consists of three adjoining tracts, one
Philadel])hia, and she died in tS68, leaving one of fifty-four acres in the town of Bloomsburg,
child, Elizabeth, who married Edwin W. Ful- at the mouth of Fishing creek, another of one
ton Oct. II, 1876, and had one son, Lloyd hundred and eight acres adjoining it. nearer
Paxton, who died when twenty months old
Bloomsburg. a third of ninety acres lying opMr. Fulton died March 9, 1879. In 1870 IMr. posite, at Rupert, on the Catawissa trolley
:

Harman married (second) Mrs. Mary N.
Hess, widow of John S. Hess, of Philadelphia,
and youngest daughter of William McKelvy,
of Bloomsburg.
She died in 1887. and is
buried in Rosemont cemetery. By this union
Samuel Howard
there were three children
Helen Willetts, who married Charles Paist,
where
of
Pa.,
Norristown.
they reside
Jr.,
:

(they have a daughter, Mary H.)
L., who died when two years old.
at

and Percy

Samuel H. Harman was born Aug. 16, 1872,
Rupert, Columbia county. He obtained his

line.

Rupert

advantageous

railroad

center, which materially enhances the value of
the location for a dairy farm.
The property
all bottom land and all under cultivation.
Mr. Harman has made decided changes for
the better on his farm even in the short time
it has been in his
possession, two silos being
is

the improvements he made in 1912.
has a fine herd of sixty Guernseys, thirty

among

them registered, among which are several
famous milch cows. The cream is separated
and sold to an ice cream manufacturer at
of

The conditions on this
early education in the public schools, later Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
was a student at the Bloomsburg State place are very favorable as affording the best
(Cheltenattended
facilities
for
the
maintenance
of high-grade
and
then
Normal School,
ham Military Academy at Ogontz. near Phila- dairy cattle in the most desirable condition.
delphia, from which he was graduated in 1890. Considerable limestone is underneath the land
Returning to Bloomsburg he became a clerk in this locality or readily available, and Mr.
for his uncle, Isaiah ]\IcKelvy, remaining in Harman. like his neighbors, uses much lime.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

516

and follows the practice of turning
quently

the

;

soiling

soil

fre-

system prevails on his

James MacCrea married Hannah Downer,

a
native of the Isle of Wight, a daughter of

George and Nancy (Chivertonj Downer,

place.

Oct. 5, 1004, Mr. Harnian married Gertrude Cleveland, daughter of F. F. and Catherine AI.
Maus Cleveland. They have no
(

)

family.
Fraternally Mr. Harman belongs to
the B. P. O. Elks (at Bloomsburg) and to the
Masons, in the latter connection being a member of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A.

M. Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M.;
Crusade Commandery, No 12, K. T. (of which
he is past eminent commander)
Caldwell
Consistory (thirty-second degree), and the
Craftsman Club. His religious connection is
with the Episcopal Church.
;

;

CLARENCE

HAUPT,

vice president of

Foundry & Machine Company, of
Danville, has spent all his life in the borough,
where he was born. His father, Michael
Haupt, a tanner, settled here early in the fifties.
He married Anna Hoats.
Clarence E. Haupt obtained his education
in the public schools. All his active years have
been spent in the line of business in which he
When fifteen years old he
is now engaged.
entered the employ of the Montour Iron &
Steel Company, where he learned his trade,
that of foundryman and molder. He was engaged by Curry & Co. as foreman, and in
1906, upon the organization of the Danville
Foundry & Machine Company, he became
vice president of that concern, with which he
has ever since been connected in that capacity.
the Danville

Mr. Haupt was one of the charter members
of the B. P. O. Elks lodge at Danville. Personally as well as in business life he is highly
respected by all who come in contact with

him.

the

Isle

ALEXANDER

M.\cCREA, M.

D., phy-

the car shops located at that point, continuing
in that position until 1842, when he went
West as far as northern Indiana. After two
years there he returned to Mauch Chunk,
where he resided until death claimed him. in
1880, at the advanced age of ninety-five years.

;

was then studying medicine, interrupted his
work to enlist in the 8ist Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served until discharged on
account of disability, being mustered out at
Harrisburg. Returning home, he resumed his
medical studies, attending the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor, and later Bellevue
Medical College, New York, from which he
was graduated in 1865. Following this he im-

mediately began the practice of his profession,
at Shenandoah, Pa., but after a stay of one
year there removed to Berwick, where he had
since continued, becoming one of the leading
physicians and surgeons of the city. A man
thoroughly prepared for his profession, he has

developed into a skilled practitioner, whose
terest in his

sician and surgeon, of Berwick, was born in
Carbon county. Pa., April 12, 1838, son of
James and Hannah (Downer) MacCrea.
William MacCrea, his paternal grandfather,
was a native of Scotland.
James MacCrea, the Doctor's father, was
born in Scotland, near the home of Robert
Burns, and came to the United States in 1817.
A year later he located at Mauch Chunk, Carbon Co., Pa., where he was placed in charge of

also

of Wight
they never came to
Mrs. MacCrea died in 1875, aged
Both she and her husband
eighty-five years.
were people of more than average ability. Of
the seven children born to them, William died
in the State of Indiana; John is deceased;
James is deceased Josiah, also deceased, was
next in the family Isabella, who is deceased,
married John Nichol and lived in California;
Matilda married Judge Houston, associate
Ale.xander B.
judge, of Mauch Chunk, Pa.
completes the family.
Alexander B. MacCrea grew up at Mauch
Chunk, Pa., reared by careful parents, and
taught lessons of thrift and industry that have
been remembered through life. He attended
the local schools, including the Packard school
at Mauch Chunk, and then entered the employ
of the Beaver Railroad Company, as weighmaster. Feeling that his country has need of
him during the Civil war. Dr. MacCrea, who
of

America.

work

in-

unbounded and whose

constantly increasing, for he is a
efiiciency
Broad-minded and publicclose student.
spirited. Dr. MacCrea has been recognized as
the kind of man well fitted for service to his
fellow citizens, but aside from serving as
school director of his district for twenty years
he has not held office. He has always been a
stanch Democrat, supporting the candidates
is

his

party

Church holds

The
faithfully.
his membership.

Presbyterian

In 1867 Dr. MacCrea was married, at Berwick, Pa., to Emma Miller, born at Berwick,
a daughter of Abram and Mary (Klotz)
Miller, natives of Lehigh county, Pa., Mr.
Miller a pioneer settler in Columbia county.
For a number of years he was a leading merDr. and Airs. MacCrea
chant of Berwick.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
have become the parents of children as follows
Mary, Downer, a civil engineer, now
of Little Rock, Ark., who married Liva Davenport, of Plymouth, Pa., and has one child,
Catherine and Chiverton, who resides with
his parents at Berwick.
:

;

WILLIAM A. BUTT, partner in the
Benton Store Company and United States
ganger for the Twelfth district, was born in
Columbia county. Pa., near Waller, in Jackson
1874, son of Zephaniah A.
Butt, grandson of Joseph Butt and greatgrandson of William lUitt, a pioneer settler of
the county.

township, June

William Butt came from England to America in the early part of the nineteenth century,
and located in
About 1S40 he
Jersey.

New

came

Columbia county and bought two

farms, one near Derrs and the other near
Waller. He was a shoemaker, and followed
his trade at intervals when the farm tasks
were completed. He died at the age of ninetyfive, leaving two sons, Joseph and Zephaniah.
The latter was a physician and slave owner,
living in Ocala, Florida.
Joseph lUitt, grandfather of William .'\.
Butt, followed fanning for a short time after
reaching his majority and then went to work
on the old Pennsylvania canal, in Schuylkill
county, continuing in this work for a number
of years. In the later years of his life he returned to the farm, where he died at the age
of seventy-two.
He was married to Mary,
daughter of Peter Hodges, and they had six
children: Sarah, deceased, wife of W. L.
Parker: Theodosia, deceased, wife of S. W.
McHenry Anna, wife of S. L. Hess, of
Benton Josephine, wife of S. B. Stein Zephaniah A., mentioned below and J. A., living
:

;

317

Mary, a school teacher,

Anna Alverda

living

home;

is the wife of
Roy McHenry.
Butt is a Republican politically.
He
served as tax collector and school director for

Mr.

eighteen years, and was president, secretary
and treasurer of the board; was assessor for
six years, and served as
county auditor for one
term.

member

of the P. O. S. of A.

and was at one time an Odd Fellow.
William A. Butt attended public school and
a

select

school at Benton, later entered the

Bloomsburg State Normal School, and then
took a course at Woods Business College,
from which he graduated.
He taught six
terms in the schools of Columbia county, until
1898, when he established the Benton
Marble and Granite Works. He was also for
a time interested in a confectionery at Benton.
In ifjoo he was appointed United States ganger
for the old Twelfth district, a position which

he still holds.
In 1905, when the Benton
Store Company was organized, he became one
of the partners, and in 1912, when the firm
was incorporated, he assumed the presidency
of the organization. He is a half owner in the
business and sole owner of the store building.
In 1900 Mr. Butt married Georgiana, daughter of Thompson and Clara
(Hess) McHenry. Mr. Butt is a past master of Orangeville Lodge, No. 460. F. & A. M., but has
transferred his membership to Benton Lodge,
No. 667. He belongs to the Craftsman Club
of Bloomsburg, is a Republican, and is a member of the Christian Church,

ROBERT YORKS GEARHART

is assist-

ant cashier of the First National Bank of Danville, with which institution the family has
been continuously connected for a period of
almost fifty years, since his father became

teller in 1865.

ness,

and engaged in the marble and granite busiwhich he is still operating, his son, Wil-

The Gearharts have been a numerous and
prominent family in Northumberland county,
Pa., since shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, and one of its townships has
been named in their honor.
Two brothers,
Jacob and William Gearhart, settled in that
county about 1790. the former in what is now
Gearhart township, the latter in Rush town-

liam A., being associated with him as partner.
Mr. Butt has a fartii of 107 acres in Benton
township. In 1870 he married Clara, daughter of Daniel L. and Mary (Brown) Everhart, and four children came to this union
Hon. Clarence Butt, attorney at law and representative in Congress from the State of
Oregon, has two children, Ralph A. and
Joseph D. William A. is mentioned later

Jacob Gearhart was born in 1735 in Strasburg, then a city of France, now belonging to
Germany, and came to the New World when
a young man, landing at New York in 1754.
He soon crossed over into Hunterdon county,
N. J., where he made his home for many
When the Revolution broke out he
years.
was one of the first to ofTer his services to his

DuBois, Pennsylvania.
Zephaniah A. Butt, the father of William
A. Butt, was born in Jackson township May
18,
1830, and while attending the country
schools assisted his father on the farm.
For
sixteen years he followed the occupation of
lumberman, and then in 1903 came to Benton

;

ship.

518

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

adopted country, enlisting in 1775, in the
Hunterdon county volunteers, with which he
served as private. A man of brave and fearless spirit, he was soon promoted to ensign
and later to captain, of the 2d New Jersey
Regiment, and stood so high in the confidence
of his superior otificers that he was one of the
two New Jersey men chosen by Washington
to take charge of the crossing of the Delaware
on the eventful night of Dec. 25, 1776, when
the Hessian camp at Trenton was attacked.
The other was Captain \'an Tenyck. After
the crossing had been effected the boats were
placed in their charge, with orders to destroy
them should the expedition prove a failure.
Captain Gearhart also took part in the battle
of the Brandywine. and spent the hard winter
of 1777-78 with Washington at \ alley Forge.
At the close of the war he returned to his old
home in Himterdon county, N. J. but a few
years later he joined the tide of emigration
which took many westward from New Jersey
into Pennsylvania and from the eastern counties of Pennsylvania farther out.
Between

Gearhart died, and his wife, Catharine Kline,
survived him a few years. They had a family
of eleven children, namely:
Jacob, born in
1763, died in 1841 Herman, born in 1765, died
in 1835; George is mentioned
below; Wdliam,
born in 1776, died in 1854; Charles, born in
1783, died in 1863 John, born in 1788, died in
;

;

1858; Isaac: Benjamin; Elizabeth; Mary, and
Catherine.
George Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob and
Catharine (Kline) Gearhart, was born in

what is now Hunterdon county, N. J., and he
became a prosperous farmer and landowner.
He had a beautiful farm one mile from Riverside, along the bank of the Susquehanna river
one mile south of the bridge, now forming
It was a present to
part of South Danville.
him from his father at his majority, and there
he lived
ings

all his life.

there, and as he
land, at his death

erected

many

build-

prospered purchased

owning between three
hundred and four hundred acres along the
Susquehanna. He was twice married, his first
wife being Acsah Runyun, who died when a
1785 and 1795 many families from that region young woman, the mother of four children
settled in what are now Rush and Gearhart Bonham
R.,
Benjamin (who moved out
townships Northumberland county, among West), Eliza and Rebecca (married Wilson
them those of Capt. Jacob Gearhart and his Mettler). His second wife was Phoebe Lott,
brother William.
In 1781 the former came by whom he had three children
Archie,
West on a prospecting tour, and he brought George and Herman.
his family out later.
Bonham R. Gearhart, M. D., son of George
In 1700 (another accoimt says 1782) the Captain and his family Gearhart, was born March 18, i8ri, on his
left Hunterdon county by wagon train.
Late father's homestead in Rush township, and
one afternoon they came to a deserted Indian there received his early education, later athut close by a fine spring, on the farm now tending the academy at Danville.
He read
owned by Mrs. I. H. Torrence, a great-grand- medicine with Dr. H. Gearhart, of Bloomsand
took
a
of
the
course
at
and
decided
to
daughter
Captain,
Jefferson Medical
camp burg,
for the night.
\\'hen the land was examined College, Philadelphia, from which he was
in the morning it was found to be fertile, and graduated.
For two years Dr. Gearhart practhe water was so abundant and of such good ticed in Sunbury, and he was subsequently in
quality that the old warrior determined to Washingtonville and Turbotville ( 1839-44)
found his home at that site. He purchased before settling at Danville, where he was in
land along the Susquehanna from Kipp's rim successful practice to the close of his life. He
to Boyd's run, one mile back from the river, was one of the most popular physicians of his
all of it at that time a dense forest.
With the day, and his death, which occurred May 9,
aid of his sons he began to clear and till the 1855, when he was in his early forties, was
land, and after clearing a portion on a small widely mourned. He died of pneumonia. Dr.
Gearhart married Elizabeth
Steel
bluff' overlooking the beautiful Susquehanna
Boyd,
he erected a small frame house, which is still daughter of \\'illiam and Eliza (Steel) Boyd;
standing, though more than one hundred jears of Danville, and granddaughter of William
old, and is one of the oldest landmarks of the Boyd, the founder of the family in America.
He was a colonel in the Revolution, and later
vicinity. It is still owned by his descendants
it was occupied by William F. Gearhart, who
promoted to general in the militia. Mrs. Eliza
died in 1905.
Captain Gearhart set out an (Steel) Boyd was the niece of General Steel,
Mrs. Gearhart survived
orchard which was completely destroyed by a of the Revolution.
hailstorm in 1846. He acquired 1.500 acres, the Doctor many years, dying Jan. 21, 1904, at
200 of which he cleared. In 1813, after an the advanced age of eighty-seven years, eight
Thev were the
active life of seventy-eight years. Captain months, twentv-nine davs.
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
parents of a large family, viz.: (i) William
1839, who lives at No. 9 East
Market street, Danville, married Elizabeth,
of
Thomas
Butler, and they have haf!
daughter
Elizabeth Boyd and Mary Atta, the former
the wife of R. Scott Ammerman and the

Boyd, born

mother of four children, Robert Boyd, William Edgar, Elizabeth Christine and Dorothy
Atta.
Mary Atta is a nurse at Fountain
(2) Acsah,
Springs hospital, Ashland, Pa.
born March 18, 1841, died April 3, 1841.
born
March 18,
w^as
(3) George M., twin,
1841, on his father's birthday, in the same

room where his father was born.
ham R. was born May 20, 1843.
B.,

born Oct.

26, 1844, died

May

(4) Bon(5) James
1846. (6)

Jasper Boyd, born Oct. 26, 1845, who lives at
the corner of Bloom and Walnut streets, Danmarried (first) Florence Yorks and
ville,
after her death ]\Iargaret Thompson Gearhart,
widow of William Gearhart, and has one
daughter, Emma Grier, married to Charles
Fisher.
(7) Alexander Montgomery, born at
Danville July 26, 1847, died April 24. 1901.

For many years he was

station agent at

Dan-

Lackawanna & Western Railway Company. He married Martha
of
Robert and Eleanor
McCoy, daughter
(Voris) McCoy, and they had two children,
ville

for the Delaware,

Bonham and Jasper (the daughter marWilliam L. McClure and had three children, Harold Russel, Donald C. and Montgomery). (8) M. Grier, born in December,
Nell

ried

1849, completed the family.

Bonham

Ge.-\rh.\rt,

Jr.,

son of

Dr.

Bonham R. Gearhart, was born
20, 1843,
at Turbotville, Northumberland Co., Pa., and
died in March, 1904, at Danville. Montour

May

county, where he had resided for many years.
He received a jjublic school education, and

during his boyhood was a clerk in a store at
After serving
Wrightsville, York Co., Pa.
five years as clerk he learned telegraphy, and
was employed as operator and agent at Catawissa, Pa., serving in that position until 1863.
In October, 1865, he became teller of the First
National Bank of Danville, being in that position but a short time when he was promoted
tp cashier. The bank was established Jan. 23.
1864, a charter being obtained from the government by the first board of directors, who
were as follows: Samuel Yorks, George F.

Geisinger, Christian Laubach, Charles Fenstermacher, William Yorks. Fred Peiper and G.
H. Fowler. At their first meeting Samuel
Yorks was chosen president and W. A. M.
Grier cashier. The bank was located in what
was known as the A. F. Russel store, on the

519

corner of Mill and Bloom streets the second
floor was used for residence purposes, the first
;

floor being occupied by the bank and offices.
It is still in the same location and building.

Mr. Gearhart

continued

act

cashier

1898, when he became president, ofiiciating as such until the time of his
death.
He was one of the most prominent
and highly respected citizens of Danville,
where he received many honors at the hands
of his fellow men, serving in the city council, as treasurer of the State Hospital at Danville, and as treasurer of the Thomas Beaver
I'ree [.library.
He was a trustee of the Grove
Presbyterian Church and served as treasurer
of the building committee when the church was
built.
Socially he was a Knight Templar Mason, and in politics he was a strong RepubliIn
can.
1863, during the Civil war, he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment, under Col.
until

Sept.

19,

in Company D. and
term of his enlistment.
Mr. Gearhart was married in 1870 to Mary
Louise Yorks. a daughter of Samuel and Mary
Ann Yorks, and to this union were born two
children. Anna M. and Robert Y. Anna M.
is the wife of M. Grier Youngman, who is

Washington

served the

Ramsey,

full

cashier of the Danville National Bank of Danville, son of John C. Youngman, and they
are the parents of three children, Mary Louise,
John I'.onham and Margaret Emma. Mr. and
Mrs. Gearhart had a handsome home on

Bloom

street.

Robert Yorks Gearhart was born Sept. 9,
1876, at Danville, and received his early education in the public schools, graduating from
He took his higher course at
high school.
In April,
Lafavette College, Easton, Pa.
1898, he enlisted for service in the SpanishAmerican war, joining Company F, 12th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was made corporal in a month, serving as such until mus-

In 1899 he attered out, in October, 1898.
tended Pratt's business college in Brooklyn,
N. Y.. in igoo entering the Fourth Street National Bank, Philadelphia, where he held the
In December, 1901, after
position of teller.
the death of S. A. Yorks, he was appointed
teller of the First National Bank of Danville,
and on Sept. 16, 1902, became assistant cashier, in which capacity he has since been rePie is one of the most respected
tained.
residents of Danville, holding a high posiIn
tion in the regard of all who knew him.
April, 1908, he was elected first lieutenant
of Company F, 12th Infantry, Pennsylvania

National Guard, and in December, 1910, was
Fraternally he
appointed battalion adjutant.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

520
is

Mason, belonging

Lodge No.

516, F.

Feb.

12,

1902,

Mr. Gearhart married

of Philadelphia, daughter of Joseph and Harriet Farrey, the former
of
a
superintendent
post office sub-station in
that city.
Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart have one

Lyda Rogers Farrey,

Harriet Bonham.

child,

MONTGOMERY

ington Lodge, No. 265, of Bloomsburg.

Hervey Ewing Smith was born March 22,
He attended
1848, and died May 15, 1890.
the public schools of Alontoursville, Lycomfrom Dickinson
He then went to
Seminary, Williamsport.
Harrisburg with his father and studied law,
being admitted to the bar in 1870. In 1874
he came to Bloomsburg, established an office,
and practiced law very successfully until his
death.
He was a member of the Democratic
He and his wife
party, but never held office.
were members of the Methodist Church. Mr.
Smith was married Oct. 27, 1874, to Agnes,
daughter of Dr. D. W. Montgomery and his
wife Margaret
(Curry), of Orangeville.
ing county, and graduated

SMITH,

a prominent attorney of Bloomsburg, comes of a line
of lawyers, his father and grandfather having
been eminent in the legal profession in their
time. He was born July 8, 1875, in Bloomsburg, and there has established his home and
business.
John Smith, the first ancestor of H. Montgomery Smith of whom we have record, was
of near Jerseytown, Columbia county.
He
was born April 11, 1750, married Nellie McNall, and had the following children
Henry,
Francis, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Hugh,
Elisha B., Anna and Alexander M.
Henry Smith, son of John, above, married
Mary Creveling, and they had these children
:

John, Henry, Jackson, Creveling, Margaret,
Eleanor, Elizabeth, Delilah, Mary, A. C,

Martha and Nancy.
A. C. Smith, grandfather of H. Montgomery Smith, was born Sept. 4, 1826, and died
He was reared on the farm
July 28, 1884.
at Jerseytown, and at the age of seventeen
was apprenticed to the trade of harnessmaker,
under John K. Grotz of Bloomsburg, for three
He then went to Montoursville, Lyyears.
coming county, where he took up the then
new business of daguerreotyping. In 1852 he
located at Harrisburg, where he studied law

under Hon. Robert A. Lamberton, working
at the photograph business in the intervals of
In 1862 he was admitted to the bar,
1869-70 he was a member of the AsHe came to Bloomsburg next and
sembly.
opened an office, later going to Scranton,
where he died July 28, 1884. Mr. Smith was
married twice. His first wife was Prudence,
daughter of Rev. James and Justina (Grove)
Ewing. She was born Aug. 16, 1821, and
died in July, 1863. They were married June
15, 1847, 3nd their children were;
Hervey
Ewing, who is buried at Orangeville and
Alice Bartine, deceased, wife of Charles H.
Ewing, who lives at Altoona. Mr. Smith's
second wife was Amelia Kaufmann, and thev
had one child, Arthur Creveling, who died
Sept. 22, 1887, and is buried at Harrisburg.
study.

and

vice president of the missionary society of the
Adams Street Methodist Episcopal Church,
of Scranton. He was also prominent in Masonic .circles, being a past master of Wash-

;

They had

children as follows

H, Montgom-

mentioned below Ralph Ewing, who marFannie Comstock and lives in Bloomsburg and Margaret Moore, a school teacher,
of Newark, N. J.
H. Montgomery Smith was educated in the
public schools of Bloomsburg and graduated
from the State Normal there in 1893. He
next took a two years' course at Dickinson
College, Carlisle, Pa., and then went to the
ery,
ried

;

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from
which institution he graduated in the literary
department with the degree of A. B. in 1897,
and in the law department with the degree of
LL. B. in 1899. He then entered the law office
of Charles G. Barkley, Esq., at Bloomsburg,
and was admitted to the bar of Columbia
in September, 1899.
Mr. Smith has built up a fine practice and
has been prominent in the official circles of
the town.
He has been town solicitor and

county

solicitor for the

Democrat

Bloom Poor
political

District.

affiliation.

Feb.
Bushnell,

1900, he married Harriet E.
daughter of E. P. and Mary (Greenwood)
Bushnell, of Springfield, Ohio, and they have
three children
Mary Agnes, born Dec. 20,
1900; Hervey Bushnell, born Dec. 23, 1904;
and Mont Paul, born Aug. 9, 1906.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist
Church. He is connected with the Phi Delta
Theta fraternity, is a member of Washington
Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., and of Bloomsburg Council, No. 957, Royal Arcanum,

WILLIAM H. MILLARD, a highly reMr. Smith was a Republican in politics. In spected and successful farmer of Centre
church matters he was very prominent, being township, Columbia county, was born on the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
old homestead where he now resides, and is
a son of Mordecai and great-grandson of
Joseph Millard, one of the first Quaker settlers of the county.
Joseph Alillard, the great-grandfather, came
to Columbia county some time before 1800
and bought a tract of five hundred acres along

the river. He was a member of the Society
of Friends and regular in attending meeting
twice a week. He was originally from Berks
county, and was probably a descendant of one
of the company of Quakers who came to
Pennsylvania after the first settling of this
State by the Penns.
Reese Millard, son of Joseph, was born in
Centre township, lived on the homestead, and
there died in 1833.
His widow survived unHe was twice married, first to
til
1852.

Catherine Rittenhouse, by whom he had a
Phoebe, who died
family of seven children
in
childhood
William, living in Illinois
Joseph B., in Kalamazoo, Mich. Phoebe (2)
Anne, Mrs. William Bowman Rebecca, who
married Col. James Tubbs, of Shickshinny,
Pa. and Catherine, who married Isaac Conner, of Orangeville. The mother of this family died about 1818 and is buried in BerMr. Millard later married Elizabeth
wick.
Horton, and they had four children Mary B.,
who married D. K. Sloan, of Orangeville
Frances L., who married Jesse Hoffman, of
Briarcreek Mordecai and Reese, who mar-

521

Fannie H. Charles B. and Hattie L. He
a member of the Methodist Church and
stood high in the community.
\\'illiam H. Millard was the fourth of the
family in direct succession to grow up and
reside on the old homestead.
He never married, his sister, Anna Elizabeth, residing with
him and keeping house for him. Of their
brothers and sisters only two are living: Mary
Imogene, wife of Joseph Cressy (they have
;

;

was

no children)
and Ernest S., who married
Edna Moore, of Wilkes-Barre, has two sons,
and resides in Kingston. Mr. Millard, like
his father, is a member of the Methodist
Church.
Mrs. Sarah J. (Hoffman) Millard, mother
of William H. Millard, was born in Centre
township and lived at home until her marriage. She died in 1905. Her father, William
;

Hoffman, was proprietor of the Wolverton
Mills and a prominent man in Centre townPhilip Hoffman, his grandfather, came
ship.
to this county from the neighborhood of BethHe
lehem, Pa., and located at Fowlerville.
was a farmer, and had served in the Revohis
are
buried
war.
He
and
wife
lutionary
in the old cemetery near the Grange hall.
His son, John, father of William Hoffman,
was a veteran of the war of 1812, and followed farming on his place of 170 acres until
his death, in 1849. at the age of seventy. His
wife died about 1840. William Hoffman was
ried Jane Fowler, residing in Morris county, one of four children, lived with his parents
until he was of age, and then married Annie
Kansas.
Mordecai Millard was born in Centre town- Dietrich, who was of German parentage.
Jesse
ship April 7, 1831, and received a common They were the parents of six children
school education.
In 1867 he received the John, a mill owner Sarah J., Mrs. Millard
nomination of the Democratic party for the Charles, William, and Elizabeth.
office of sherifif, was elected, and removed
to Bloomsburg.
CHESTER S. FURMAN, deceased, was
After serving his term as
sheriff he was appointed steward of the State born at Bloomsburg, Columbia Co., Pa., Feb.
Normal institution at Bloomsburg and filled 14, 1842, and for many years was one of the
the position for one year.
He next received best known citizens of that town. He erected
the appointment of doorkeeper of the State a three-story brick building in 1876 at No.
Senate, serving through the session of 1871- iig West Main street, and there conducted
He resided in Bloomsburg until 1875, a harness business until the day of his death.
72.
when he retired to his farm, dying in 1897. The business is still carried on for the estate
He also served two terms as associate judge by his son, Clinton.
of the county.
His brother, Reese, was a
Elias Furman, grandfather of Chester S.,
captain in the 112th Regiment Artillery dur- was born near Trenton, N. J., and moving to
the
war.
The
their
Civil
one
of
ing
only
gen- Espy, Columbia Co., Pa., located on the farm
eration living (1913) is Frances L., widow of now owned by the Snyder heirs, where he
died. His family consisted of: Elias R., who
Jesse Hoffman, who lives in Almedia.
Mordecai Millard was married Dec. i, 1852, married Sarah Barkley Sally, who married
to Sarah J., daughter of William and Annie Levi Gulick Moore, who married Mary Bark(Dietrich) Hoffman, and they became the ley Josiah, and several other children whose
William H. Anna names have not been preserved.
parents of nine children
E. Mary I. Ernest S. John L. Reese M.
Josiah Furman, father of Chester S., was
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

522

born near Espy on the homestead, and attended the country schools. He came to Blooms-

burg and worked at the coachmaking business with Elias R. Furman and Isaac D.
Gulick, who had established the shop in 1831.
He had previously worked at the trade in
When Isaac
Danville, Pa., and Bath, N. Y.
D. Gulick went into the business of canalboating Mr. Furman took charge of the boats

preserve with loving care. Mr. Furman and
a comrade, George W. Mears, were the only
men in Company A, from Bloomsburg, to receive medals. Mr. ]\Iears is still living (1914)
in

Bloomsburg.

At the

close of the period of

service

for

which he enlisted Mr. Furman returned to
Bloomsburg and resumed his trade, following

until his death, July 22,

igio.

and operated them from Bloomsburg to Co- buried in Rosemont cemetery. For years he
For a time after was a member of W. H. Ent Post, No. 250,
lumbia, Dauphin county.
that he was a part owner of the Paxinos fur- G. A. R., and also of the Union Veterans
He was independent in politics and
nace, for two years superintendent of a coal Legion.
mine at Kingston, Luzerne county, and then was a member of Trinity Reformed Church,
returned to Bloomsburg to open an office for Bloomsburg.
He was a director of Rosethe sale of coal and hauling it from the canal- mont cemetery and a charter member of the
boats to the railroad. He also had an inter- Royal Arcanum Lodge of Bloomsburg.
On
est in several bridge contracts.
Nov. 25, 1868, Mr. Furman married Sarah
In 1861 Jbsiah Furman was elected sheriff Barkley, who was born Feb. 23, 1844, daughof Columbia county for a term of three years. ter of Joseph and Julia (Melick) Barkley.
He was made director of the Bloomsburg Their children were: Ralph B., who died at
poor district and elected to the office of jus- the age of eleven Josiah H., Julia H., Hervey
tice of the peace, holding the position until
F., Boyd W., Chester Clinton and Clora G.
His remains lie in
his death, July 22, 1870.
Josiah H. Furman attended the schools of
Rosemont cemetery. In February, 1831, he Bloomsburg and entered the Philadelphia Colmarried Fanny Wells, daughter of Solomon lege of Pharmacy, from which he graduated
He then became dean of the pharWells, of }*Iassachusetts, and they had the in 1893.
Watson; Martha, wife maceutical department and lecturer at the Colfollowing children:
Erastus
Chester S.. and lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Memphis,
of John Pursel
He next entered the drug business
Elias.
Tenn.
Elias Furman, son of Josiah, was a cabinet- with a prominent firm in Memphis, later openmaker by trade and resided in Bloomsburg. ing a store of his own at the corner of WelHe enlisted at the age of sixteen in Company lington and Walker streets, that city. On
C. 28th Pennsylvania \^oIunteers, serving un- Oct. 31, 1907, he was united in marriage to
He married Glovenia Myrtis May Long, of Memphis, and they
til the end of the war.
Howard C, had one child, now deceased. Mr. Furman
Barkley, and they had two sons
born July 30, 1874: and Kenneth, born June died in that city on April 6, 1913, and his
Howard C. Furman married Mary widow still resides there. He is buried in
29, 1882.
Pursel and they had three children
Dorothy, the beautiful Forest Hill cemetery, one of the
famous spots of Memphis.
Clinton and Joshua.
H. Furman graduated from the
Chester S. Furman learned harnessmaking
Julia
in Bloomsburg with John Grotz, and was
Bloomsburg high school in 1893, and from
working at it when he enlisted in Company the State Normal school in 1895. She then
A, 6th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for attended the Lying-in Hospital for Nurses at
;

;

service during the Civil war, being then but
nineteen years of age. He served three years
and participated in fourteen engagements of
note.
For his bravery and valor in action he
received a medal from Congress, and was promoted to be corporal of his company. During the battle of Gettysburg he was sent with
a few comrades to charge a log house filled
with the enemy's sharpshooters, who were
The
rapidly decimating the Union ranks.
charge was successful, and for the valor diswas
Furman
this
action
^Ir.
played during
given his highly prized gold medal, which is
now a relic of their father which his children

Philadelphia, graduating therefrom

1901.

She is now a registered nurse at Bloomsburg.
Hervey F. Furman married Nellie Gandy,
of Greensburg, N. J., on July 4, 1902, and
she died Sept. 30, 1909.

Sept. 18, 1910,

he married Beatrice Falkenberg, of Barnegat,
N. J., and they have one child, Hervey F.

Mr. Furman

resides

Philadelphia.
after his school days
were past, clerked for different firms in
Bloomsburg, and after his marriage was for

Boyd W. Furman,

some time bookkeeper

for his father-in-law,
L. Dillon, the leading florist of Bloomsburg.
In 1914 he bought the farm formerly owned
T.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
by the late David .Armstrong, near BloomsOn May
burg, and is now residing thereon.
29, 1897, he married Alice, daughter of the

John Lloyd Dillon, and they have had
these children:
Josephine Dillon, who married Daniel \V. Beckley, Sept. 21, 1914; Helen
Hutchison.
and
Louise
Hortense,
Chester Clinton Furman is carrying on for
the estate the harness business established by
He married Esther
his father in Bloomsburg.
Ellen Rader, of Pcttstown, Pa., on Sept. 28,
late

1905.

Clora G. Furman attended the public schools
of Bloomsburg, graduating from the high
school in 1S99, and from the State Normal
School in 1900. She is now a teacher of the
first grade in the Third street school of that

523

employed at the car works at Niles, Ohio
Tilghman, who was killed in an accident in his
father's gristmill
Tillie, who married Frank
Pirobst, and is a resident of Denver, Colo.
Elizabeth, who married Victor Werley, residing at Niles, Ohio and Sarah, who married
;

;

P^rank Semmel, of Lehighton, Pa. Jacob Bittner was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the German Lutheran Church. He and
his wife are buried in the Weisenburg cemetery in Lowhill township, Lehigh county.
Silas H. Bittner was educated in the public

schools of his native place and assisted

his father in the milling business.

Later he

engaged in the manufacture of cigars, which
he conducted at Bittner's corner, in the same
township, for a number of years.

Selling his

manufacturing business he entered the hotel
business at Weatherly, Carbon county, conducting the "Gilbert House." Flis next move
was to Hazleton, where he conducted the
Re"\'alley House" for a number of years.
tiring from the hotel business he removed to
California, and again entered the cigar manufacturing business, which he is conducting at

town.

Iddings Barkley, grandfather of Mrs. Sarah
Furman, was a native of Northampton county.
Pa., and a pioneer at Bloomsburg, where he
developed a large business as a carpenter and
cabinetmaker, dying there at an advanced
He was married to Mary Jackson, and
age.
John, Minerva,
they had these children
Sarah, Lewis and Joseph (twins), and Susan. the present time.
Mr. Bittner was married to Ida Frey, who
Joseph Barkley was born in Bloomsburg,
April 13, 1814, and became a cabinetmaker was horn Nov. 4, 1857, in Lowhill township,
and undertaker. He died March 13, 1887. Lehigh county, daughter of Peter Frey, a
His wife was Julia, daughter of Samuel and farmer of that locality, and died April 19,
Sarah (Brown') Melick, and their children 1905. She is buried at Weatherly, Pa. They
were:
Sarah, wife of Chester S. Furman; had the following children
Hattie, who marGlovenia, wife of Elias Furman; and Clora, ried Ernest Tweedle, residing at Hazleton,
:

who died at the age of twenty.
The property now owned by Mr.

ARCHIBLE G. BITTNER, assistant treasurer of the Berwick Savings & Trust Company, was born in Lowhill Township, Lehigh
Co., Pa., July 26, 1878, a son of Silas H, Bittner, and grandson of Jacob Bittner.
Jacob Bittner, the grandfather, was born
in Lehigh county, and was a miller and farmer.
He owned a large tract of land, which he
cultivated, erected a gristmill on his property,
and engaged in milling in connection with
He lived to the advanced age of
farming.
ninetv years. He had the following children
Wilson, who is trucker and lives at Allentown,
Pa. .Silas H. Calvin, a clerk in Hess Brothers' department store of Allentown
Charles,
:

;

Pa.
Archible G. Thomas V., who married
Carrie Buck, residing at Hazleton, Pa. Bar;

Barkley's
descendants has been in the family for over
her life
the
whole
of
seventy years. During
Mrs. Sarah (Barkley) Furman has resided
upon this land, and the house in which she
was born is still standing near the corner of
West and Main streets, and is in a good state
of repair.

;

bara,

who married Percy Germyn,

residing at

Nellie, of Niles, Ohio Violet,
who married Stanley Peifer, of Hazleton, Pa.;
Harry P., of Weatherly, Pa. and Lillie, who
died aged five years.
Silas H. Bittner is a Democrat, but though
an ardent supporter of the party never held
public office. He is a member of the German

Hazleton, Pa.

;

Lutheran Church,
Archible G. Bittner received his early training in the public schools of W'eatherly, Pa.,
graduated at the Emaus high school, of Le-

high county, and was granted a teacher's certificate in that county.
He taught school there
He was emfor two terms, at Hosensack.
ployed by the Central Railroad Company of
New Jersey as clerk at Mountain Top, near
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Resigning this position
he came to Berwick and entered the employ
of the American Car and

Foundry Company,

as assistant paymaster. This position he held
for five years, when he entered the employ
of the Berwick Savings & Trust Company

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

524

and was made

Aug. 5, 1867, in Bloomsburg; Azima \'., born
Jan. 26, 1842, now living in Bloomsburg, married Ruth Ziegler, and they have three chilBittner
was
marMr.
i6, 1910,
ried to Sophia E. Moore, who was born July dren, Gertrude, Jessie and Charles R.
Three
21, 1882, daughter of W. VV. and Annie (Wal- of the sons served in the Civil war: John A.
ton
Moore. Mr. Bittner is a Republican, enlisted for three years in the 6th Pennsyland he and his wife are members of the Pres- vania Reserves, and led the band when they
left Bloomsburg; Azima V. served in Combyterian Church.
Mr. Bittner, by his pleasing personality and pany E, I32d Pennsylvania Volunteers, and
in
all
business
matters, has won in Company B, 103d Pennsylvania Regiment,
promptness
an enviable place among his associates, and is and saw active service to the end of the war;
recognized as a rising man in his chosen field. Jackson M. also served in the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves and was a member of the
CHARLES E. HOWER, of Bloomsburg, band.
Jackson M. Hower was born June 6, 1828,
plastering contractor, commands the leading
business in his line in and around that borough. in Catawissa township. He learned the trade
He was born Aug. 13, 1856, in Mount Pleas- of plasterer, and upon his return home after
ant township, and the family is an old and his services in the Civil war engaged in business for himself in that line, at Bloomsburg,
honored one in Columbia county.
The Howers are of German origin. Michael continuing thus until his death, which occurred
Hower, great-grandfather of Charles E. .Sept. 21, 1894. He married Rebecca .Ann
Hower, was an early resident of what is now \ anderslice, who died March 20, 1904, aged
Catawissa township, Columbia county, where seventy-nine years, three months, si.xteen days,
he settled about the latter part of the eigh- and is buried with her husband in Rosemont
teenth century, being one of the first pioneers cemetery, Bloomsburg. They had children as
in that section.
He acquired the ownership follows: John P., who died in 1869, at the
of several hundred acres of land, on which age of eighteen years Catherine A., wife of
he lived and died. Among his children were Dr. J. C. Kisner, of Carlisle, Pa. Charles E.,
John, Daniel, Jacob, Moses, George, and Se- of Bloomsburg Elizabeth, living in Berwick
bastian.
Henry W., of Bloomsburg: and Dr. Hiester
John Hower, son of IMichael, was born v., a well known physician of Mifflinville,
June 24, 1700, in Catawissa township, and Columbia Co., Pa.
died Sept. 30, 1870, at Bloomsburg, where he
John Heister Vanderslice. father of Mrs.
passed his latter years in retirement, having Jackson M. Hower. was born Aug. 9, 1805,
moved to the town in 1858. During most of and died Oct. 26, 1874: his wife, Catherine A.
his active life he was engaged in farming in
(Melick), died Oct. 5, 1865, aged sixty-two
Columbia county, in Catawissa, Hemlock and years, nine months, ten days. Their son. Henry
Mount Pleasant townships, though he was a W., was born Dec. 22, 1826, died Nov. 22.
hatter by trade. He served as a soldier in the 1907. Joseph Vanderslice, father of John H.,
war of 1812. On April 6, 1817, he married died Feb. 6, 1828, at the age of forty-seven
Rebecca Davis, who was born in .August, years, and his wife, Rebecca (Heister), died
1798, daughter of Jonathan Davis, an early .A.ug. 19, 1867, aged eighty-five years, two days.
settler near Catawissa, and died May 30, 1888.
His old shotgun, an old style flint-lock weapon,
Mr. and Mrs. Hower are buried in Rosemont was handed down to his great-grandson,
cemetery, Bloomsburg.
They were the par- Charles E. Hower. who had an up-to-date gun
ents of the following children
Elizabeth, made from it which he still uses, and which is
It is almost
born Aug. 8, 1818. died March 6, 1868: Lavina greatly valued in the family.
T. J. \'anderslice, brother
died at the age of eighteen years Ruthanna, seven feet long.
born March i, 1822, died April 7, 1861 Hiram of John H., born in Februarv, 1808, died Dec
C, born in March, 1824, had for years the i8,"i88i.
Charles E. Hower attended public school
largest dental practice at Bloomsburg and was
also engaged in business there
William E., and worked on the farm until seventeen years
born .'Kprii 22, 1826, died Jan. 10, 1899: Jack- old. He then came to Bloomsburg and learned
son M. is mentioned below Phebe A., born the trade of plasterer, which he has ever since
Jan. II, 1831, died Nov. 22, 1889: Rebecca followed, engaging in business for himself in
.'\., born Nov. 28,
1832, died two years ago: 1880. He and his brother, Henr>' W. Hower,
Harriet J., born March 25, 1835. d'^d one formed a partnership in 1900, under the firm
year ago: John A., born Oct. 15, 1837. died name of Hower Brothers, and thev became the
he

now

assistant treasurer, the position

holds.

On March

)

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
leaders in this line of work in liloomsburg,
the larger part of the best contracts being
given to them. The class of construction on

525

byterian, in political views a Democrat.

married

Joanna Appleman, daughter of
IMathias Appleman, a farmer of Benton townwhich they engaged and their constantly in- ship, Columbia county, and they became the
N. Patterson Matcreasing patronage, were sufficient to show parents of eight children
The thias A.; Samuel; John; William Boyd;
their standing among local contractors.
dissolved
in
C.
E.
takwas
who
died
when
lO,
Greer,
19
partnership
eighteen years old;
and Mary
ing the plastering business and H. W. attend- Sarah, who married Levi Cox
Ellen, who married Green Pursel.
The paring to his architectural work.
On Dec. 26, 1878, Charles E. Hower mar- ents are buried in the old Moore cemetery at
ried Mary Joanna Moore, daughter of Mat- New Columbia, the land for which was
given
thias A. and Catherine (Straub) Moore. They by this family.
have no children. Their niece, Maria HartN. Patterson Moore was born March 17,
man, now resides with them and is attend- 1824, in Madison township, Columbia county,
Mr. and Mrs. Hower occupy the and received his education in the public schools
ing school.
tine residence at No. 145 West Third street, and at the Bloomsburg Academy, after which
erected in 1886. Mrs. Hower is a member of he taught school for one term.
He learned
the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Hower belongs wagonmaking, which he followed first in
to the Liberty Fire Company, which he joined
Northumberland county and then in Hunteras a charter member.
Politically he is a don county, N. J., where he was employed in
Democrat.
a first-class shop. In 1848 he moved to BenThe Moore family, to which Mrs. Hower ton, Columbia county, where he conducted a
belongs, was founded in this country by her shop in connection with agricultural pursuits
great-great-grandfather, a native of England, until 1862, that year moving to Buckhorn,
:

;

who came to this country prior to the war of
the Revolution, settling on the New Jersey
side of the Delaware river just above PhilaHe
delphia, where he owned three farms.
reared a family, one of his children being
Samuel Moore, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a great champion of
\^'ashington, under whom he served, and during his latter days would not stand by and
hear the "Father of his Country" criticised.
At the close of the war he settled on a farm

near Petersburg, in Northumberland county.
Pa., and later in Madison township, Columbia
county, where he owned two farms, •iggreHe was a member of the
gating 224 acres.
Presbyterian Church, in which he served as
elder for a number of years.
He died Feb.
1840, aged eighty-eight years, and his
wife, Sarah, died /\pril 8, 1836, aged seventynine years.
They had a family of ten chil24.

whom

John, Abraham, Nancy (Mrs. Armstrong), Catherine
(died unmarried), Nellie (Mrs. Kinney),
Betsy (Mrs. Quick), Phebe (Mrs. Kuhl), and
Hett'ie (Mrs. Girton).
John Moore, the youngest of the family,
was born in Northumberland county. Pa., in
He was one of the prosperous farm1797.
dren, of

West

are mentioned

Hemlock

township, Montour
Columbia, where he
owned a good tract of 124 acres, one of the

ers

county,

living

New

Appleman farms. He died there. Durwas for a short time engaged in distilling. In religion he was a Presold

ing his early life he

there the rest of his
1906.
During the
many years he worked at his trade he acquired
great skill and his services were always in
demand. He was held in high esteem by his
fellow citizens.

following

active

wagonmaking

life.

died

On June

6, 1840, Mr. Moore was married
Araminta Kline, born in 1825, daughter
of Isaac Kline, who was for many years a
justice of the peace in Orange township, Columbia county, and they became the parents
of three daughters and two sons:
Mary
Joanna, wife of John Shultz, a farmer of Madison township, Columbia county
John, a

;

wagonmaker of Wilkes-Barre Lavina, formerly a teacher, now a milliner Charles H.,
ex-county surveyor of Columbia county,
teacher and principal of the Nescopeck
schools and Elizabeth, a graduate of the
State Normal School at Bloomsburg and for
;

;

seven years a successful teacher, who is now
the wife of John H. Wingert, a prominent
farmer and teacher of Lewisburg, Pa. The
mother of this family died in 1900.
Politically Mr. Moore was a Democrat and
was elected justice of the peace in May, 1869,
which office he satisfactorily filled. Socially
he was a member of Catawissa Lodge, No.
349, F. & A. M. Catawissa Chapter, No. 168
and Crusade Command(past high priest)
ery, No. 12, Knights Templar (past eminent
commander).
Matthias A. Moore, another son of John,
was born May 24, 1826, at West Hemlock,
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

526

Montour Co., Pa. He was one of the prosperous farmers in Hemlock, near Euckhorn,
spending most of his life there. He owned
two farms in that township, one of lOO acres
and the other containing over 200. near Buckhorn, and there he resided until his death,
His wife,
which occurred Jan. 22, 191 1.
Catherine (Straub), daughter of Adam and
born
was
April 30,
Mary (Gruver) Straub,
1831, and died Sept. 20, 1890. Mr. and Mrs.
Moore are buried in the old Moore cemetery
at New Columbia.
They had a family of
twelve children, namely
John G., who is a
:

West Hemlock township; Mary
Joanna, 'wife of Charles E. Hower; Lydia E
who married John H. Hartman, and died Eeb.
resident of

was engaged
Chalf ant's

until

his

Company

enlistment in Captain

(D),

iS3d

Regiment,

Pennsylvania State Militia, for ninety days'
service.
He was enrolled June 30, 1863, and

On
discharged at Reading, Aug. i8, 1863.
March 22, 1864, he reenlisted, becoming corporal in Capt. John E. Reilly's Company (F;,
187th Pennsylvania \'olunteer Infantry, for
three years. Assigned to the ist Brigade, ist
Division, 5th Army Corps, of the Army of the
Potomac, he participated in all its battles from
Cold Harbor until after the engagement at
W'eldon railroad. Then he was relieved from
duty at the front and sent to the State
He served as one of the
Pennsylvania.
corts when President Lincoln's body was
ceived in Philadelphia and conducted it

of
esre-

two children, Cleveland and
to
Maria Adam Frank, who lives on the old the .Statehouse. Upon receiving his discharge,
homestead farm in Hemlock township, Co- Aug. 3, 1865, at Harrisburg, he returned to
lumbia county; Neil, who died young; Sara Danville and resumed work in the employ
A., wife of George J. Hartman, of Wilkes- of Waterman & Beaver; later he was emBarre Nora J., Laura J. and Alza C, all ployed in the old Rough and Ready mill, and
24, 1908, leaving
;

whom died in 1875 Maggie, who died
1878; David, who died in 1875; and May,
died in 1878.

three of
in

;

who

FRED LENHART,

C.
sioner of

commis-

county

Columbia county, and a resident of

Berwick, was born Oct.

1882,

son of
Lenhart,

Eugene and Sarah Maria (Mills)
and grandson of George Lenhart.
George Lenhart, the grandfather, was born
May 9, 1819, and was an early settler at Danville, Montour county, where he conducted
Later leava general store for some years.
ing Danville and settling at Bloomsburg, he
followed the tailor's trade for a number of
some years before his death,
which occurred April 2, 1905. He is buried

years, retiring

Bloomsburg. His wife, whose maiden name
was Margaret Jane,McCollister, was born Oct.
at

1824, and died at the age of sixty-six years
she is buried at Danville. Though he did not
take any part in public affairs he was interested in politics, first as a Whig and later
as a Republican. He and his wife were members of the German Lutheran Church. They
were the parents of the following children
George, of Danville, is unmarried Mary married James Hulligan and after his death (second) Daniel Larue: Eugene is mentioned below; Sarah married Charles Ware, of Danville
Clarence died young.
Eugene Lenhart, the father of C. Fred
Lenhart, was born Oct. 10, 1845, in Danville,
where he received his education. After leaving school he entered the employ of Water9,

;

man &

Beaver, in their rolling mills, where he

On May

in the Cooperative mill.
31,
1875, Mr. Lenhart left Danville and removed
10 Berwick, where he entered the employ of

also

the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company as puddler and roller, continuing with

them about eighteen years, until he embarked
in the wholesale and retail ice cream busi-

He sold out
after conducting this business about twelve
years and took a position in the general offices
of the American Car and Foundry Company
at Berwick, where he remained three years.
He was then appointed janitor of the courthouse at Bloomsburg, and held that position
four years, since when he has been living reness, also handling newspapers.

tired, at

Berwick.

Mr. Lenhart was married at Bloomsburg
to Sarah Maria Mills, who was born June 9,
1848, at Wilkes-Barre, daughter of John
Beemer and Nancy (Lafferty) Mills. Her
father, born Feb. 23, 1812, was an attorney
and in practice some years at Danville, whence
he removed to Jerseytown. Pa., later returning to Danville: he died Oct. 22, 1899. Mrs.
Mills died Jan. 15, 1875, aged sixty-three
years, two weeks, five days. Six children were
iDorn to Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart
Eva Eugenia,
born Oct. 28, 1867; George A., July 19, 1869;
Sarah Mae, Feb. 21, 1873 (married C. B. Wil:

liams, of Kingston, Pa.)

;

Walter. Dec.

Clarence E., Nov. 13,
(of Berwick)
C. Fred. Oct. i. 1882.
(of Berwick)
The mother of this family died Feb. 12, 1891.
Mr. Lenhart is a member of Susquehanna
Commandery, No. 18, Knights of Malta, Berwick; since 1866 he has belonged to the G.
187^
1879

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
first as a member of Goodrich Post,
No. 22, of Danville, and later as a member
of Capt. C. G. Jackson Post, No. 159, Berwick, of which he has been commander twelve
Mr. Lenhart has attended the Presbyyears.
terian Church at Berwick, with which his wife
was also identified.
C. Fred Lenhart entered the employ of the
Berwick Stove Company when only fifteen
years of age, and gave it faithful service for
three years, when he went into his father's
line of work, forming a connection with the
American Car and Foundry Company, with
which he continued for five years. Becoming
a candidate for county commissioner in the
meanwhile, he was elected as the Republican

A. R.,

nominee, serving from 1908 to 191 1. In November of that same year he was reelected,
to succeed himself, after a hotly contested
He is the youngest man ever
campaign.
elected to this office in Columbia county, and
at present the oldest in point of service.
On Dec. 14. 191 1, Mr. Lenhart was married
to Frances Beatrice Gorrey, born Nov. 27,
1887, at Bloomsburg, Pa., a daughter of

Thomas and Emma A, (Sterner) Gorrey,
both of whom are deceased. For some years
the father was a prominent contractor at
Wilkes-Barre and Bloomsburg, having built
most of the best buildings in his time. Mr.
and Mrs. Lenhart have one child, Helen BeaMr. Lenhart was a
trice, born Dec. 2, 1912.
member of Susquehanna Commandery, No. 18,
Knights of Malta, and has been closelv identified with the Rangers Hose Company of
he
Berwick, assisting in its organization
served as its president for some years.

527

in his native
township, where he became one
of the well known citizens and
progressive
agriculturists.
Politically he was a Democrat,
and very active in local affairs, serving as
county treasurer of Columbia county from

Adam M. Johnson married
1883 to 1885.
Elizabeth Campbell, a daughter of Nicholas
Campbell, of Northumberland county. Pa. She
passed away July 4, 1906, and her husband
in December,
1909, and both are buried in
Ralpho township, Northumberland Co., Pa.,
near Elysburg.
This excellent couple had
Ella, who married Jacob
who married Elwood Gilger McClellan Bertly, who died young Arthur E., and Bartlett H.
Bartlett H. Johnson received the educational advantages afforded in Cleveland townchildren as follows
E. Thomas Nora,

;

and at Elysburg Academy, following
which he taught school in Ralpho township,
Northumberland county. To further fit himself for the profession he entered the Bloomsburg State Normal School, from which institution he was graduated in 1896, afterwards
ship

teaching school for five years in Franklin
At the expiratownship, Columbia county.
tion of that period Mr. Johnson entered the
office of Ikeler & Ikeler, of Bloomsburg, and
read law for one year. His next business association was with the Morning Press, one
of the popular journals of Bloomsburg, as solicitor and collector, which position
he retained for five years, to the entire satisfaction of all parties concerned.
Mr. Johnson

then entered the employ of the American Car

and Foundry Company at Bloomsburg. remaining with this concern until it closed its
plant at this point in 191 1.
Having then deBARTLETT H. JOHNSON, principal of cided upon taking up a line of business which
the Third Street school at Bloomsburg, Pa., would enable him to get away from office
and an intensive farmer and poultryman dur- work, Mr. Johnson bought the old vineyard
ing the summer months, was born in Cleve- known as the Lem. Rupert property, at the
land township, Columbia county, Sept. 11, corner of Second and Barton streets.
This
1876, son of Adam M. Johnson, of Locust property comprises four acres, where Mr.
one
of
the
descendants
of
a
line
is
on
and
of
township,
Johnson
carrying
poultry
produce
He is making his land yield large
agriculturists whose efforts have resulted in raising.
the present development of the agricultural returns by keeping it all cultivated according
His grandfather to the most approved modern ideas.
possibilities of the county.
In 1902 Mr. Johnson married Miss Hattie
Johnson was a resident of what is now
Cleveland township
(during his lifetime M. Rider, daughter of Lloyd T. and Esther A.
known as Locust township), and there he
Bucher) Rider, and they have two daughdied.
He had the following children Han- ters, Pauline M. and Alta M. Mr. Johnson is
nah, Asberry, Leib, John, Adam M., and a Democrat politically, and has given good
Thomas.
The Methodist
service as election judge.
.A.dam M. Johnson was born in Locust town- Church is his religious home, and he is servship, Columbia Co., Pa., where he was reared ing as trustee, and has been a teacher in the
and taught the shoemaker's trade, following .Sunday school.
it for a time.
Later he engaged in farming
Lloyd T. Rider, a veteran of the Civil war
;

(

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

528

residing at Bloomsburg,

was born

in Franklin

township, Columbia Co., Pa., July i, 1838,
son of John Rider. His paternal grandfather
His children
died at North Mountain, Pa.

were
Solomon, John, Mary and Hannah.
John Rider was born in 1812, and became
a successful farmer in Franklin township,
where he owned 125 acres of land. His death
:

occurred

in the vicinity of

Catawissa, Pa., at

home of his son, Wilson, when he was
He married Eliza
seventy-nine years old.
Yetter, daughter of Daniel Yetter, and their
children were
Lloyd T. Sarah, who married Christ Artley Mary, who married Abraham Stine; Wilson, who is living in Catawissa township, Columbia county Daniel, deceased and Willam, also deceased.
Lloyd T. Rider, son of John Rider and
father of Mrs. Bartlett H. Johnson, was
brought up a farmer, and followed such work
all his active years, living first in Franklin,
and later in Catawissa township. In 1898 he
the

;

and coming

retired,

Bloomsburg

built his

present residence, which he has since occupied.

When
defend

the country needed brave men to
during the Civil war Mr. Rider en-

listed in Company H, I32d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for ten months' service. After the expiration of this term he reenlisted in
Company H, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and
was with General Sherman on his famous
march to the sea, continuing in the service
until the close of the conflict, at all times proving a gallant and brave soldier.
Lloyd T. Rider married Esther A. Bucher,
of Franklin township, daughter of George

Bucher, and they had the following family:
Charles George Harry Sadie, who married
Nelson Munson Hattie M., who married B.
;

;

Rear Admiral William Crispin, of the British
navy, who was appointed by his wife's
nephew, William Penn, proprietary of the
Province of Pennsylvania, one of his commissioners

for settling the colony in that
Province, but died on the voyage from Eng-

land.

The names of William Crispin's parents are
now unknown, but he was undoubtedly born
in Devonshire,

name had been
several
counties.

where a gentle family of

the

settled since the Conquest, with
branches in that and

adjoining

According to Dr. Lipscomb's "History of
Buckinghamshire" Milo Crispin, one of William the Conqueror's great captains in the
Conquest of England in 1066 A. D., had, besides the Honour of Wallingford in that
county, eighty-eight other lordships, most or
all of them in the southern counties of
England, some of them being in Devonshire. Milo
died without issue in 1106, and his lordships,
or at least a part of them, were inherited by
the heirs of his elder brother, William Crispin, Baron of Bee, in Normandy. Some of the
descendants of this William Crispin came to
England and settled on Milo Crispin's lands
which they had inherited. From them descend
the Devonshire Crispins. The celebrated Gilbert Crispin, Abbot of Westminster, was a
son of this William, Baron of Bee, Milo's
brother.

This family presents
of a family surname in
The brothers WilHam,
bearing the surname of
Gilbert Crispin, Baron

a remarkable instance
use at so early a date.
Gilbert and Milo, all
Crispin, were sons of
of Bee, Constable of
Normandy, who was son of Crispinus,
Baron of Bee
about
1000
(flourished
A. D.), from whom the family took its

H. Johnson Bessie, who married Howard name. This Crispinus, also called Anagothus,
Pursel and Mattie, who married Roland A. because of Gothic blood, derived through his
;

;

Mr. Rider belongs to Ent Post,
Fitterman.
No. 150, G. A. R. He is a member of the
Methodist Church and takes an interest in its
good work. Politically he is a Republican,
but not an office seeker, having always preferred to give his support to the candidates
of his party as a private citizen rather than
enter into public life.
Both the Johnson and Rider families are
prominent in Columbia county, and the records show that their representatives have been
numbered among the honorable, upright men
and women of their day.

CRISPIN. The founder of the Crispin
family in America was Captain and Acting

mother's mother, was son of Grimaldus I, first
Prince of Monaco, by his wife Crispina,
daughter of Rollo, Duke of Normandy. "The
Gentleman's Magazine," London, T832, Part
I, pp. 26-30, has a full account of this part of
the family, and derives Grimaldus, through
the Dukes of Brabant, from the ancient Kings
of the Franks.
No detailed history or pedigree of the family from William Crispin, Baron of Bee, at the
time of the Conquest, down to Capt. William
Crispin, founder of the American family, is
known to exist, though there may be some
unpublished herald's visitations of Devonshire,
or pedigrees in private possession, that would
throw much light on the subject. But vari-

s i^

Curt^'^^ ^-^^i:?Ui^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ous documents of different years during this
long period show the continued existence of
a gentle family of Crispins in Devonshire, to
which our Capt. William Crispin undoubtedly
belonged.
to have been born
In the British Calendar of State
the
Domestic
name of William
Series,
Papers,
Crispin occurs several times between 1634 and
1652, but it is only on the latter date that we
can positively identify the name as referring
In that year
to the ancestor of our family.

William Crispin appears

about 1610.

commanded

monwealth

;

the

"Hope" for the Com"Hope" was a certain portion

at the

of the harbor of Portsmouth, devoted to the
use of the navy, though, of course, it is possible that there might have been also a vessel
of that name.
In May, 1653, an expedition was sent
against the Dutch, under Col. Richard Deane
Col. George Monk, generals and admirals
The fleet consisted of
of the Parliament.
three squadrons, one of which was commanded
Admiral
Vice
(afterwards Admiral Sir)
by
William Penn, Crispin's brother-in-law. Captain Crispin commanded the "Assistance" frigate, 180 men and 40 guns, in Penn's squadron. This fleet on the 2d and 3d of June, 1653,
took or destroyed between twenty and thirty
Dutch ships-of-war, took 1,350 prisoners, and
pursued the Dutch to their own harbors.
The next year Oliver Cromwell, who was
then Protector, sent an expedition against the

and

Spanish West Indies, secretly because Engwas at peace with Spain. The fleet of
thirty-eight ships, in three squadrons, was
commanded by Admiral Penn. Captain Crispin commanded the "Laurel." 160 seamen, 30
soldiers and 40 guns, in Penn's own squadron.
They arrived in sight of Barbadoes Jan. 29,
After a repulse at Hispaniola (now
1654-5.
land

the island of Haiti) they eventually captured
Jamaica. On June 25th part of the fleet went
back to England, Penn with it. This made
a temporary promotion for the other admirals

and Crispin became acting rear admiral.
Capt. William Crispin, Richard Wadeson
and Thomas Broughton were appointed to
take charge of supplying the English forces in
the island, and were called by the home authorities
"Commissioners
for
supplying

Jamaica."
Crispin was back in England by April, 1656.
Meanwhile Penn and others of the expedition
had gotten into trouble with Cromwell and

Penn was

Tower.
brother-in-law and
sent to the

with his
After Penn's release he

Crispin sided
left the navy.
moved to Ireland.

529

Crispin followed him and settled in or near
Kinsale, in County Cork.
In September, 1681, William Penn, son of
the Admiral, having obtained the grant of
Pennsylvania, appointed his uncle by marriage, William Crispin, one of three commissioners to settle the colony there he also intended him for Chief Justice, as appears by a
;

letter to

Deputy Governor Markham, dated 8

mo. (at that time October) 18, 1681. Crispin
started for Pennsylvania in the ship "Amity"
the same year, but after nearly reaching the
capes of the Delaware was blown ofi' by contrary winds, and put into Barbadoes, where
Captain Crispin died.
Capt. William Crispin married, first, about
Anne Jasper, sister of Margaret Jasjier,
Their
wife of Admiral Sir William Penn.
1650,

father, John Jasper, has until very recently
been described in all accounts as a merchant
in Rotterdam, Holland, though most of them
Within a few
say he was of English birth.
years, however, it has been discovered that he
lived in Ireland and probably had never been
The mistake is attributable to
in Rotterdam.

Samuel Pepys, who in his "Diary" described
Lady Penn as a "well-looked, fat, short, old
I^utchwoman." Pepys' mistake was due to the
fact that ALargaret Jasper had first married a
Dutchman, who died soon after marriage, and
Margaret married Sir William Penn.William and Anne (Jasper) Crispin had issue:
Ralph, probably eldest son, remained in Ireland, and no doubt inherited his father's eslater

By patent of July 25, 1688, WilPenn granted to his "loving cousin Ralph

tate there.

liam

Crispin" 500 acres in Pennsylvania, as part of
the purchase of his father, Capt. William Crispin this he sold in 1690. In the patent he is
described as "Ralph Crispin of Cork in the
Kingdom of Ireland, gentleman." His will,
dated 1730, was probated in the Diocese of
Cork and Ross he was then of Kilcaha,
County Cork. He left issue.
Silas, see below.
;

;

Rebecca married first, Aug. 24, 1688, at
Friends' Meeting in Sussex, Edward
Blackfan, son of John IMackfan, of Steyning,
County of Sussex, England. Her cousin, William Penn, Proprietary of Pennsylvania, and
some of his family attended the wedding. The
Blackfans, father and son, belonged to the Society of Friends, and came in for a share of
Ifield

directed against that body.
to go to Pennsylbut
was
His
vania,
prevented by death.
with
their
widow,
only child, William Blackfan, went there about 1700, and her relatives,

the

persecution

Edward Blackfan intended

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

530

the Penns, put her in charge of their Manor
of Pennsbury, in Bucks county, where she
Hved a number of years. Their son Wilhani
was ancestor of the Blackfan family of Bucks
county, Pa. Rebecca married second, in 1725,
Nehemiah Allen, of Philadelphia, whose
father, Nathaniel Allen, had been a colleague
of her father as one of the commissioners for
settling the colony in Pennsylvania. She is not
known to have had any children by Allen.

Rachel married Thomas Armstrong, and
had issue they appear to have remained in
Ireland.
She had a grant of 1,000 acres in
;

Pennsylvania, as part of her father's purchase,
which she, her husband, and their heirs, after-

wards

sold.

veyor, to lay out a road from Philadelphia to
Bucks county. They laid out the present Bristol pike.

He was executor of the will of his fatherin-law and spent a great deal of time in caring
for the large landed interests left by the latter.
own

was dated May 5, 171 1, and he
31st of that year.
Silas Crispin married first, 1683, Esther
Holme (died April 17, 1696), daughter of
Capt. Thomas Holme, who had been a captain in the Parliamentary army during the
His

died

will

May

great Civil war in England, removed to Ireland before the Restoration of King Charles
II, became a Quaker and was persecuted for
his religion, and was joint author of seveial

Capt. William Crispin married, second, in
1665, Jane Chidley or Chudleigh, of County

publications in regard to Quaker persecutions
in Ireland.
On April 18, 1682, William Penn
appointed him surveyor general of Pennsylvania, and he sailed for that province the same
month. He owned 11,000 acres of land in

William and Jane (Chudleigh)

Crispin had

Pennsylvania, mostly in Philadelphia county,
though some was in Chester and Bucks coun-

He removed

ties.

Cork. On Aug. 8, 1687, William Penn granted
her and her children 3,000 acres in Pennsylvania, in right of her husband's purchase.
issue

James married and had
to the island of

St.

issue.

Christopher in the West

Indies.

served three years in the Provincial
was some time president of that

body.

Joseph died unmarried.
Benjamin married Alice
Jane married Greenslaid Lucomb.
Eleanor died unmarried.
Elizabeth married
Milliard.
Amy married Daniel Johnson.
Silas Crispin, son of Capt. William and
.

Anne

(Jasper) Crispin, who was the first surveyor general of Pennsylvania, came to Pennsylvania with Capt. Thomas Holme, the second
surveyor general, in the ship "Amity," which
left the Downs April 23, 1682 (probably her
second voyage). On arrival, he no doubt lived
with Captain Holme's family at Shackamaxon.
He was a member of the Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania. In the list of "First Purchasers" the names of William Crispin and
Silas Crispin are bracketed as purchasers of
5,000 acres. William was probably the actual
purchaser after his death Silas was given 500
acres in Hilltown township, Philadelphia
;

county (now in Abington township, Montgomery county), as his share of his father's
land.

Council, and

also

had a plantation of 500 acres

Pennepack creek, in Dublin township,
Philadelphia county, on which he lived from
1684 to the end of his life. As a perquisite
to one or both of these lots he had forty acres
in the "liberties of Philadelphia" and three
city lots.

On Aug. 28, 1689, the Provincial Council
appointed Silas Crispin and others, with a sur-

and Esther (Holme) Crispin had issue
Sarah, born March 31, 1684, married Leeson Loftus, of the city of Philadelphia.
Rebecca, born May 6, 1685, married Joseph
Finney, son of Samuel Finney, Provincial
Councillor and Provincial judge, and a brother
Silas

of Capt. John Finney, Provincial Councillor,
high sheriff of Philadelphia county, of the
family of Finney of Fulshaw Hall, Cheshire,
England.
Marie (or Maria), born in October, 1686,
married John Collet, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Rush) Collet, and grandson of Capt.
John Rush, formerly of the Parliamentary
army in the Civil war in England, who came to
I'ennsylvania in 1683, and lived on his plantation in Byberry township, Philadelphia county.
Eleanor, born Sept. 11, 1687, married Nov.

John Hart, Jr., high sheriff and coroner of Bucks county, justice of the County
courts, son of John Hart, from Witney, Ox-

25, 1708,

fordshire, a member of the first Provincial Assembly, by his wife, Susannah Rush, daughter
of Capt. John Rush, above mentioned.
irHliam. born Sept. 3, 1689, died young.
Esther, born Oct. 29, 1691, married Thomas
Rush, grandson of Capt. John Rush, above

mentioned.

Thomas, born June 22, 1694; see below.
Susanna, born April 14, 1696. died young.
Silas Crispin married second, 1697, Mary,
daughter of Richard and Abigail Stockton, of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Springfield township, Burlington county, West
Jersey, and widow of Thomas Shinn, of the
same county and province. Her father, Richard Stockton, was an Englishman of good birth

and some fortune, who settled in Flushing,
Long Island, where he was lieutenant of a
troop of horse in 1665, and afterwards joined
the Society of Friends and removed to Burlington county, West Jersey. Fie was ancestor
of the Stockton family of

New

Silas

Jersey.

and Mary (Stockton-Shinn) Crispin had

is-

sue:

Joseph, born Oct. 7, 1698, removed to Delaware, where he married Elizabeth Barrett.
Benjamin, born Sept. i, 1699, married Aug.
21,

1722, Margaret, daughter of Joshua

and

Martha Owen, of Springfield township.
Abigail, born Jan. 20, 1701, married John
Wright, of Springfield township.
Silas, born March 19, 1702, died in November,
1749, married Nov. 9, 1724, Mary,

of Thomas and Ann (Pearson)
Wetherill, of Burlington.
Mary, born May 12, 1705, married Nov. 6,
1727, Thomas Earl, of Burlington county.

daughter

John, born

Dec.

11,

1707; nothing more

known.

Springfield township; she had no issue by him.
Thom.\s Cuispin, eldest surviving son of

and Esther (Holme) Crispin, was born
Tune 22, 1694, on his father's plantation in
Lower Dublin township, Philadelphia county,
which he afterwards inherited, and made his
home the remainder of his life. He and his
Silas

(of the full blood) inherited through
mother their grandfather Capt. Thomas
Holme's plantation, called Well Spring, and
land adjoining, amounting in all to over 2,100
acres, which in 1723 was divided among the
sisters

their

One acre laid out by Capt.
for a family graveyard, in
1694, was reserved for their use in common;
it is still held by trustees composed of descendants of Thomas Holme, and known as the CrisThe trustees at
pin Cemetery Corporation.
then living heirs.

Thomas Holme

present

has been dormant, the last meeting having been held
in April, 1863.
Messrs. Crispin and Green first held
a preliminary meeting and filled two of the vacancies, by electing as Trustees, Mr. James Watts Mercur, of Wallingford, Delaware County, Pa., and
Mr. Oliver Hough, of Philadelphia.
These two
gentlemen being in waiting, a meeting of the Board
was tlien held, and an organization was effected,
]\lr. Crispin being made President, Mr. Green, TreasThe last vacancy
urer, and Mr. Hough, Secretary.
in the Board was then filled by the election of General William Watts Hart Davis, of Doylestown,
Bucks County, Pa., as the fifth trustee.
This corporation is not a public cemetery company,
nor in any sense a financial institution, but was
chartered to protect the interests of the heirs in a
private family burying-ground, laid out by Capt.
Thomas Holme in the year i6t)4, for the use of
himself and Iiis descendants.
In an account of the burying-ground. written by
Silas Crispin, son of Thomas, in 1794, he says that
only about a quarter of an acre was then in use
this was in the northern corner of the lot.
On April
I,
1825, the descendants of Thomas Crispin met at
the house of Benjamin Crispin in Holmesburg, when
Paul Crispin and Robert C. Green were appointed
;

visit George Henry Walker, who
owned the estate of Longford. Mr. Walker
agreed to preserve the plot and keep it in good order.
He kept his agreement, but as the ground was unenclosed, it was found that cattle sometimes wandered
in and trampled down the mounds and broke some
of the tombstones. Therefore, on January 22. 1831,
the descendants again met at Benjamin Crispin's

committee to

tlien

After Silas Crispin's death his widow, Mary
married third,
(Stockton-Shinn)
Crispin,
Sept. II, 1714, Richard Ridgway, Jr., of

the

531

poration, Mr. B. F. Crispin, of West Philadelphia,
and Mr. Charles Green, of Sandiford, Philadelphia,
met at the home of George S. Clark, Esq., in
Holmesburg, for the purpose of filling the three
vacancies in the Board of Trustees and to reorganize the corporation, which for thirty-two years

time

are

Mr.

Mercur,

Oliver

Crispin, C. G. Crispin and
This graveyard is located about a
J. S. Clark.
mile northwest of the main street of Holmesburg, and a short distance from Rowland station on the Bustleton branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. In an article in the Frankford

Hough, M. Jackson

Herald, 1895, Oliver Hough tells us that:
On Wednesday afternoon, November 20, 1895, the
two surviving trustees of the Crispin Cemetery Cor-

and

formed a society

called

the

"Crispin

Burial-

Gruund Community" to take charge of the property.
The members of this society then present or afterwards admitted were
Benjamin Crispin, Paul
Crispin, George Crispin, John Creighton, James A.
:

Thomas

Creighton, George C. Creighton,
Robert C. Green, James D. McKean and Paul K.
Hubbs. The "Community" had the ground surveyed
the same year and fenced in the part then in use.
They afterwards held annual meetings until 1840.
In the latter year Benjamin Crispin introduced a
bill in the State Legislature, of which he was a
member, which passed both houses, and was approved by the Governor in the session in 1840, incorporating Benjamin Crispin, Paul Crispin, Robert C.
Green, Thomas Creighton and James A. Creighton,
and tlieir successors, under the title of the "Crispin
Cemetery," to take charge of the burial-ground.
These incorporators, or trustees, as they afterwards
called themselves, divided the ground into twentyfour lots, part of which they assigned to the different branches of the family, two lots being reserved
for the ciiurch. and one for strangers or persons
not connected with the Crispin family. They planted
a cedar hedge around the whole acre and cedar trees
to mark the boundaries of lots.
Very few persons
not connections were ever buried there. In 1847 or
1848 Robert C. Green, of Sandy Hill, took charge
of the cemetery under a lease, he keeping it in order
in consideration of the profits from hay. etc., grown
on the unused portion. He renovated about twentyfive or thirty of the graves, birt when he gave up the
Creighton,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

532

superintendence of the ground

iS6o,

became

neglected.

annual meeting of the Trustees was held
in 1863, in which year the last burial (Mrs. Rachel
Polk) was made there. Before the reorganization
in the present year, thirty-two years after the last
meeting, it was brought to the attention of the
surviving Trustees that the "Community" and the
corporation succeeding it had been composed entirely
of the descendants of Thomas Crispin, one of the
parties to the division in 1723; while the descendants of the latter's sisters (co-heirs with him in the
ground), having mostly removed from the neighborhood, liad made no effort to join these organizations
until recently, when some of them awakened to the
knowledge of their interest in the ground which contained the remains of their forefathers and desired
The Trustees exto participate in the care of it.
pressed their willingness to associate some of the
representatives of the other branches of the family
with themselves in the management of the corporation and elected Gen. Davis, Mr. Mercur and Mr.
Hough, who are all descendants of Thomas Crispin's sister Eleanor, wife of John Hart: Gen. Davis
and Mr. Mercur being also descendants of anotlier

The

sister,

last

Mary

Collet.

the present time the traces of about one hundred graves can be found, only half of which have
stones, and of these only a dozen have legible in-

Silas,

born Alay

ently.
SiL.\s Crispin,

11,

born

1767, of

May

whom

11, 1767, in

pres-

Lower

Dublin township, died there Aug. 13, 1806,
from lockjaw, caused by running a needle into
his foot.
He married in 1788 Esther Dougherty (born 1767, died

May

1838).

Issue:

Martha, born March 18, 1789, died April 3,
1817; married James Simon.
Benjamin, born 1792, of whom presently.
Mary died unmarried, Nov. 13, 1865.
Paul married Sarah Lesher; died September, 1847.
Silas, born

April

1798,

died April

13,

1823.

Ann, born Oct. 2, 1800, died March 18,
1829 married ^lichael Jacoby.
Hester, born Aug. 31, 1803, died Aug. 20,
;

1832.

Hon. Benj.-\min Crispin, son of Silas and
Esther (Dougherty) Crispin, born in 1792 on

father's estate, known as "Bellevue," on
Welsh road above Holmesburg, part of the
Well Spring plantation that had come down
in the family from their distinguished ancestor,
Capt. Thomas Holme's own grave was
Thomas Holme, was educated at the
marked only by a smooth round stone until Cajit.
Lower Dublin Acadeiny, with which his famerected
small
monument
was
a
when
1863,
was so closely identified. In 1822 he was
over it bv the trustees of the Lower Dublin ily
his

the

scriptions.

Academy, whose foundation was due

to him.
Crispin married Jane, daughter of
Philadelof
the
Joseph Ashton, Esq., a justice
phia County courts, and a considerable land-

Thomas

owner

Lower Dublin township.

They had

issue:
Silas: see below.

Thomas: nothing was known.
nothing was known.

Joseph

Hannah married April 2, 1748, John
Mercy married March i, 1753. Joseph

Engle.
Engle,

brother of John.
Sii..\s Crispin,

(Ashton)
father in

son of Thomas and Jane
Crispin, inherited the land of his

Lower Dublin township and

lived his

In 1794 he wrote an account
of the family graveyard. His will, dated Oct.
his son
14, 1794. was proved Jan. 25. 1800,
Silas Crispin and his
Silas being executor.

whole

life there.

wife Martha had issue
Joseph, born 1761. died
:

18. 1828.

was

at Philadelphia, Feb.
a soldier in the Revolution. He

was twice married,

first to

Elizabeth Rickey,
9, 1775;

born in Bucks county, Pa., March
second wife's name unknown.
William, nothing known.
Sarah, nothing known.
Jane, nothing known.
Thomas, nothing known.

commissioned a lieutenant of Pennsylvania
In 1823 he was appointed by the govmilitia.
ernor of Pennsylvania as justice of the peace
for the townships of Byberry, Lower Dublin
and Oxford, Philadelphia county, and held
that ofifice until 1837.
In 1828 he was appointed by the court of Quarter Sessions of
Philadelphia director of the public schools in
his district.
In 1837 he was elected a member
of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, and
reelected in 1838-39. In 1840 he was elected
State Senate, and in 1843 was made
speaker of the Senate, as the presiding offithat
cer of
body was then designated. When

to the

the whole of Philadelphia county was incorporated with the city, in 1854, Mr. Crispin
was elected as the first common councilman
from the Twenty-third ward, then compris-

ing the present Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth,
Thirty-fifth and Forty-second wards, and a
part of the present Nineteenth ward. He continued to manifest a deep interest in the
schools, and on leaving council was again
new pubelected to the local school board.
lic school in Holmesburg has recently been
named for him.
Benjamin Crispin was a founder of Einmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church, at
Holmesburg, and served for twenty years as

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
its vestrymen, and eight years as acHe also represented the
counting warden.
parish in the Diocesan Convention in 1854,

533

(Kearney) Clark, of Holmesburg, and an
of George S. Clark, who married a
granddaughter of Hon. Benjamin Crispin, and
was
conspicuously active in the preservation
1856, 1858 and i860. He was one of the originators, and president of the board of trustees, of the old burial-ground, as heretofore shown.
William
and Catharine M. (Crispin) Clark
Athenaeum
Association,
the
of
Hohnesburg
William Crispin Clark, married
and chairman of its building committee, which had issue
in 1850 built the town hall, called the Athe- Gertrude Wilson, of Frankford, Philadelphia,
naeum, in which until 1906 was housed the and had issue, Benjamin Crispin Clark, John
Thomas Holme Library. In May, 1837, he Wilson Clark and William Mclntyre Clark
was elected one of the trustees of the Lower (William Crispin Clark, the father, died in
Dublin Academy, and in 1838 its president, May, 1900); John Clark, living, unmarried;
an office he held until his death, twenty-six Louis George Clark, living, unmarried.
Benjamin Franklin Crispin, born Aug. 2,
years later. He was the founder of the "Crispin Burial-Ground Community," and prin- 1821, of whom presently.
charter
Eleanor Jane Crispin, born Aug. 4, 1823,
cipally instrumental in obtaining a
from the Legislature for the Crispin Cemetery died unmarried.
Thomas Holme Crispin, born June 22, 1824,
Corporation, while he was a State senator, in
one of

uncle

1840, thus perpetuating the title to the heirs
of Thomas Holme, under the care of a board
of trustees, of which he was president.
Benjamin Crispin married, Oct. 17, 1816,
Amos and Elinor
Maria,
daughter of

died unmarried.
Silas Crispin, born at

(Thomas) Foster, of Collegeville (so named
Lower Dublin Academy, located there
The Fosters came from being
near Holmesburg.

for the

)

England, and the Thomas family from
Wales.
Benjamin and Maria Crispin began
their married life at "Ijellevue," the old Crisbut subpin homestead on the Welsh road,
sequently removed to a house on Main street,
now Frankford avenue, corner of Mill street,
Holmesburg, where they continued to reside
the remainder of their lives; Benjamin Crispin dying there July 4, 1864, aged seventytwo years, and his widow May 13, 1882, aged
Both were buried in the
eighty-two years.
yard of Emmanuel Church, Holmesburg.
Issue of Benjamin and Maria (Foster)

New

Crispin

T. Crispin, born Oct. 2, 1817, died
Philadelphia, March 29, 1873; married
Sarah Simmons, of Darby, Delaware county,
Children
Pennsylvania, now also deceased.

Edward

Emily Crispin married Martin Guyant, and
had issue, Kate Guyant, Edward Guyant.
Frank Guyant. Sarah Crispin died in earlv
life.

William Crispin, born July 29, 1819, died
Holmesburg, May 12, 1869; was for some
years a trustee of the Lower Dublin Academy
married Mary Praul (who was living in 1907,
at the age of eighty-three years), daughter of
John Praul, of Churchville, Bucks county two
Maria Louise Crispin married
daughters
Tames C. Sickle (now deceased), and died in
March, 1869. Catharine M. Crispin married
William Clark, son of George and Anne
at

;

Holmesburg, Sept.

1828; educated at local schools, and the Philadelphia high school; appointed to U. S. Military Academy at West Point by Hon. Charles
J. Ingersoll, M. C, and entered there July i,
1846, graduating July i, 1850, with distinction,
third in his class was appointed brevet,
second lieutenant in the ordnance department
of the United States army, and assigned to
duty at the arsenal at Watervliet, N. Y., where
he remained two years, subsequently serving at
;

the arsenals at Allegheny, Pa., St. Louis, AIo.,
and the Leavenworth Ordnance Depot, KanIn i860 he became assistant inspector of
sas.
arsenals, and was promoted to captain of
ordnance, Aug. 3, 1861, and served in that
grade in the Civil war was for a time on the
was also
staff of Gen. George B. McClellan
in charge of the New York Ordnance Agency
commandant of New York arsenal, and president of the Ordnance Board for five years.
He received successive brevets up to colonel
in the Lhiited States army at the close of the
Civil war
and promotion to actual rank as
;

;

major of ordnance, on March

1867

;

lieu-

tenant colonel, April 14, 1875; colonel, Aug.
After the war he was sent to Eng23, 1881.
land by the government to study the making
of ordnance. He was the inventor of a breechloading cannon, called the "Crispin Gun," several of which were made by the government
Colonel Crispin
at a cost of $46,000 each.
was commandant at the Frankford arsenal,
Philadelphia. June, 1885, to June, 1886, and
at the Benicita arsenal, California, June, 1886,
until shortly before his death, which occurred
He was
in New York City, Feb. 28, 1889.
buried from the residence of his niece, Mrs.
Catharine M. Clark, daughter of his brother,

COLUMBIA AND :\IONTOUR COUNTIES

534

William Crispin, at Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Catharine Roe. His children were,
however,
March 8, 1889. The funeral services were all by the first wife, viz.
in
held
Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal
Franklin
born
Benjamin
Crispin, Jr.,
July
Church, Rev. D. Caldwell Millett, D. D., rec- 21, 1847, of whom presently.
tor of that parish, officiating.
The interment
Robert Glenn Crispin, born at
Holmesburg,
was made in the grounds connected with the Philadelphia, Feb. 4, 184.9; received his
church.
Colonel Crispin had never married. early education at the
:

Charles H. Crispin married (first) Elizabeth Gibbs, and had one daughter, Louise
Crispin, who died unmarried; married (second) her sister, Emma Gibbs, and had a son,
Franklin Gibbs Crispin, D. D. S., living in
1901 at No. 2029 North Twelfth street. PhilThe
adelphia, married to Lydia De Witt.
two wives of Charles H. Crispin were from

Bucks county, Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Fr.\nklin Crispin, third son of
Benjamin and Maria (Foster) Crispin, was
born in Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Aug. 2,
1821, and died at his residence. No. 3258
Chestnut
1898.

street.

He was

West

Philadelphia, July 19,
at the Lower Dublin

educated

Academy and other educational institutions,
and became a member of the firm of Collins
& Crispin, which later was changed to B. F.
Crispin & Company, and he continued at its
head the remainder of his life. He resided
in Holmesburg until 1873, when, having lost
his first wife and a daughter, he removed to
Camden, N. J., and resided there for a number of years, finally removing to West Philadelphia, where he died. While a resident of
Holmesburg he took an active interest in local
He was for a number of years secaffairs.
retary of the Frankford and Holmesburg
Railroad Company was one of the founders
of the Holmesburg Public Library, and served
;

its president for a number of years.
In
1871 he was elected a trustee of the Lower
Dublin Academy, and in 1891 was made
president of the board, a position previously
held by his father, holding that position to
the time of his death, presiding at a banquet

given in January, 1894, at the "Green Tree
Hotel," Holmesburg, to celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary of the incorporation
of the board. He was elected in 1872 a vestryman of Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal
Church, an office also held by his father, whom
he also succeeded as president of the board of
trustees of the Crispin Cemetery Corporation,
an account of which is given above, and served
in that position until his death.

Benjamin Franklin Crispin married (first),
June 29, 1845, Elizabeth R., daughter of Robert and Sarah Glenn, of Holmesburg.
She
died March 31, 1873, and he married (second)

Episcopal Academy,
Philadelphia; 1872 went to Berwick, Pa.,
where he became connected with The Jackson
and Woodin Manufacturing Company. He
became after a time a member of the firm of
Bowman & Crispin. For several years he re-

sided at Rupert, Pa.
In 1902 he returned to
Berwick and was elected teller of the First
National Bank of Berwick, which position he
occupied at the time of his death, which oc-

May 16, 1913. He married
Sept. 10, 1873, at Berwick, Frances M.,
born at Berwick, Pa., Dec. 4, 1852, daughter
of Seth B. and Louise F. (Doane) Bowman,
of Berwick. Her mother was a
great-granddaughter of Hannah Sharpless, who married
May 23, 1 771, William Iddings, and this Hannah Sharpless was a great-granddaughter of
John Sharpless, founder of the Sharpless famSeveral children
ily of Chester county, Pa.
were born to this marriage who died in incurred in Berwick

fancy.

William Henry Crispin, born in PhiladelJune 11, 185 1 married May 27. 1875,
Matilda, daughter of John Mitchell of Philadelphia, and they resided for a number of
years in that city but finally removed to Beverly, N. J., where they now reside.
They have
Franklin Mitchell Crispin,
issue,- one son:
born in Philadelphia, April 13, 1876; married
in 1905 Emma Fowler, daughter of the late
Joseph D. Weeks, of Pittsburg, Pa., at one
time editor of the Iron Age.
]jhia,

;

Sarah Frances Crispin married Hon. George
Clark, of Holmesburg, Pa., June 4, 1874.
They had issue: John Stevenson Clark, born
Aug. I, 1875; Benjamin Crispin Clark, born
March 28, 1877, died Dec. 24, 1878; Arthur
Douglass Clark, born Aug. 14, 1883; Elizabeth
Frances Qark, born Sept. 16, 1878.
S.

Benjamin Franklin
est

son

(Glenn)

Crispin, Jr., the eldFranklin and Elizabeth R.
Crispin, was born in Holmesburg,

Philadelphia, July 21, 1847, and received his
early education at the Lower Dublin Academy,
later attending high school in Philadelphia.
He began his business career in Philadelphia in
1863, and was connected with the firm of B. F.
Crispin & Company until 1870. He then entered the employ of the firm of Longacre &
Company, which conducted a large printing

i\^ •(T^^'nyb^c^

ASTOR, L'^NOX

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and lithographing business in the same city,
and with which he remained for two years.
In 1872 he removed to Berwick, Pa., and was
elected superintendent of the Berwick Rolling

From time to
Mill Company's plant there.
time he acquired other interests, until he was
associated with nearly all the leading enterIn 1876 he was elected
prises of the town.
teller of the first National Bank of Berwick,
in

1879 a director,
1804 president.

in 1891 vice president,

and

In 1892 he was elected
president and treasurer of the Berwick Electric
Light Company, of which he was the founder.
In 1894 he was chosen president of the MounThe
tain Grove Camp Meeting Association.
same year he was elected chairman of the
board of managers of the Berwick Store Company, limited, which position he held until
March i, 1899. I" 1898 he was elected vice
president of the Lagrange Light & Water
Company, of Lagrange, 111. In 1876 he was
chosen trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of Berwick, and in 1895 president of
the board. In 1894 he became a trustee of the
Young Men"s Christian Association. For ten
years he was a memlier of the board of education of Berwick and served several terms as
in

its

president.
In 1874 Mr.

Crispin was married to
Margaret Emily Jackson, daughter of Hon.
Mordecai W. Jackson, whose sketch appears
elsewhere. They had children as follows
Mordecai Jackson Crispin, see below.
:

Clarence Gearhart Crispin, see below.
Helen Jean Crispin was born Jan. 11, 1886,
She was a student in the
at Berwick, Pa.
schools at that place and later entered the
National Park .Seminary at Washington, D. C.
She finished her education at Tvlrs. Merrill's
School, New York City. She married Charles
Belaud Owens June 8, 191 1. Since this time
Mr. and Mrs. Owens have resided in Toronto,

Canada, where Mr. Owens is secretary and
manager of the Canadian Powers Regulator
Two children have been born to
Co., Ltd.
them
Margaret Crispin Owens, born May
17, 1912, and Elizabeth Crispin Owens, born
Nov. 4, 1914. Charles B. Owens was born in
:

Maysville, Ky., Oct. 29, 1881, and is a graduate in engineering of the Kentucky State
University, Lexington.
Mr. Crispin was a Republican in politics,
and took an active interest in the success of
his party, contributing much to its welfare.

never aspired to

office

except in

local

affairs, his varied business interests requiring
all

his time, energy

and

attention.

He was

deeply interested in everything that tended to

535

the benefit of Berwick, and was an ardent
supporter of its educational, religious, financial and industrial development.
Mr. Crispin fully maintained the reputation
of the Crispin family, which for generations
has stood in this State for honesty and uprightness in business, for development in the highest degree in church and educational matters,
and for the greater growth of its various industries.

Mr. Crispin died in Berwick July 3, 1903,
and was buried in Pine Grove cemetery in
that city.

MoRDEC.\i J.vcKSGN CRISPIN, SOU of BenjaCrispin, Jr., was born in BerHe attended the
wick, Pa., IMay 13, 1875.

min Franklin

I'erwick high school, and in September, 1892,
entered Princeton University, from which he
was graduated in June, 1896, with the degree
of Bachelor of Arts. He was employed from
1896 to 1901 at the First National Bank of
Berwick, and with The Jackson & Woodin
Manufacturing Company. On Feb. i, 1901,

he was elected director, secretary and treasurer of the United States Metal & Manufacturing Company, of No. 165 Broadway, New
York City. On Jan. 31, 1907, he became genOn Sept. 23, 1899, he was
eral manager.
elected a trustee of the Crispin Cemetery AsIn September,
sociation, Holmesburg, Pa.
1903, he was chosen a director of the First
National Bank of Berwick, Pa. Jan. 14, 1908,
;

elected vice president, and July 12, 1909,
elected president.
On June 7, 1900, he was married to Marie,
daughter of F. E. Brockway, whose sketch

was
was

appears elsewhere in this work. One child,
Elizabeth Brockway Crispin, was born Jan.
Mrs. Crispin died
3, 1905, to this marriage.
Oct. 26, 1907, in New York City.
Mr. Crispin, while a resident of New
City, still retains Berwick as his home.

York

connected, in an important way, with nearly
all its business interests and devotes much of
his time and attention to them. He is Republican in politics, and takes a deep interest in
educational affairs. He has served as school
director in his native city and is a director of
He is a dithe Berwick Water Company.
rector and vice president of the Empire State
Steel Products Company, of Jersey City, N. J.,
director and vice president of the Berwick &
Nescopeck Street Railway Company, and a
trustee of the Berwick Hospital.
I\Ir. Crispin is a member of the Society of
Colonial Wars in the State of New York, the
Sons of the Revolution, the Society of the
War of 1812, Veteran Corps of Artillery, and

536

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

the Pennsylvania Society. He is also a member of various clubs, among them being the
Berwick Club, of Berwick, Pa. the UniverNew York Athletic, the Lambs, the
sity,
Princeton, the Railroad, City Lunch, and the
Bankers' Club of America, of New York City
the Racquet, the Princeton, and the Philadelphia Country Clubs, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Nassau Club of Princeton. N. J.; the Sleepy
Hollow Golf Club, of Scarborough on the
Hudson, N. Y., and the Great Neck Golf Club,

carpenter's trade, this occupation eventually
leading into a successful contracting business.
He also conducted a mercantile enterprise and
owned and maintained an iron furnace at
Light Street. Tradition states that the fires
of this furnace, together with the glow from
another iron furnace, located at the other end
of the settlement, gave Light Street its name.
Peter B. Ent in the strength of his maturity became prominently identified with the
councils of the Democratic party.
Political

Great Neck, Long Island.

preferment came to him in many forms. He
represented Columbia county at the Democratic National convention in i860, and later
his personal popularity and ability were recognized in a more tangible way, by his election to the commissionership of Columbia
county he was serving in that capacity when

;

Clarence Gearhart Crispin, second son
of Benjamin Franklin Crispin, Jr., was born
at Berwick Sept. 27, 1879.
He received his
early education at the Berwick high school and
Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pa. In 1898
he entered Cornell University, and was graduated in June, 1902, with the degree of mechanical engineer.
After graduation he entered the employ of the Railway Steel Spring
Company, of New York City, as assistant enIn 1903 he came to Berwick
was
gineer.
elected vice president of the Berwick W'ater
Company and a director of the First National
Bank of Berwick. In 1908 he was appointed
;

assistant district manager of the Berwick district of the American Car & Foundry Com-

pany. In 1909 he was elected vice president
of the P'irst National Bank of Berwick and in
191 1 president of the board of trustees of the
In 1913 he was elected
local Y. M. C. A.
president of the Berwick Water Company.
He is interested in the manufacture of a number of waterworks appliances of which he is
the inventor. These are made and sold by the
Multiplex Maiuifacturing Company of Berwick.
Mr. Crisjiin is a member of the Delta Kappa
Epsilon Fraternity, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, the Deal Golf Club, the Pennsylvania
Society of New York City, and of Knapp
Lodge, No. 462, F. & A. M'.
On Oct. 19, 1904, Mr. Crispin was married
to Mae Lovely, daughter of Frederick H.
Eaton, of New York City. Two children have
been born to this union Benjamin Eaton, born
Oct. 10, 1905, and Frederick Eaton, born Sept.
:

17, 1906.

CHARLES

ENT

is a descendant of a
B.
family whose ancestral record is woven into
the warp and woof of Columbia county hisHis grandfather, Peter B. Ent, who
tory.
was the issue of Charles and Elizabeth Ent,
was a native of Roaringcreek township, that
county, and was born Feb. 11, 1811.
Peter B. Ent received his education through
such facilities as the time and place afforded,
and when he attained manhood followed the

;

the county seat was moved to Bloomsburg.
Other public offices he filled were those of collector of tolls, at Beach Haven, and representative in the General Assembly of PennsylHe was elected to this latter office
vania.
twice, serving during the years of 1836 and
He died at his home in Light Street
1857.
(luring the centennial year, 1876, greatly be-

loved and mourned by all.
His wife, Sarah
f
Myers), survived him a great number of
years, her demise occurring in 1898.
Peter B. and Sarah Ent reared five
sons
Wellington H., born Aug. 16, 1834
William M., born Feb. 19, 1836 LTzal H. and
:

;

13, 1838, and Robert S.
These five sons were raised in the
spirit of the times and their patriotism and
love of country were excm])lified when they
answered the calls for volunteers in the dark

Oscar

P., twins,

born Jan.

days of the Civil war. The
ferent times bade farewell

and

five

sons at dif-

their

parents

the terrible conflict with unardor, acquitting themselves with
honor and credit in the different paths of duty

entered

dimmed

which they were assigned.

Sarah Ent, their
passed awav during the closing
days of the nineteenth century, was buried on
the first Flag Day that the nation observed.
Flags were draped from the home on that

mother,

who

day, as fitting

emblems

had produced
of American

five

honor a

woman who

sturdy loyalists to the cause
The bright flame of
liberty.
their patriotism has brought a perpetual luster
to the family name, which neither time nor
event can diminish.
Of these five sons, Wellington H. Ent
achieved the greatest progress in the profesHe was born at Light Street
sion of arms.

on Aug. 16, 1834, and passed away in Bloomsburg Nov. 5, 1871. After receiving the benefits of such educational facilities as his community afforded, he entered Dickinson Semi-

0(^yi^C't,^($J^

Cy^ L^:2,J\L(^U(

34 IONS
'

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
nary, at Williamsport, in 1855, an institution
from which he graduated with the highest
At the completion of his
honors in 1858.
studies at Dickinson the young man took up
the serious study of arms, entering the West
Point Mihtary Academy, where he received
the training wliich later materially aided his
advancement as a soldier on the fields of war.
After he had finished his course at the West

Point Military Academy, Wellington H. Ent
placed himself under the tutorship of Robert F. Clark, Esq., an eminent attorney of prerebellion days,

and prepared to embrace the
He was admitted to the bar

legal profession.

In June, 1861,
of Columbia county in i860.
the ardent young patriot rallied to the colors
of his country and entered the United States
lieutenant of a volunteer
receiving his commission as
of his regiment, a unit
captain of Company
of the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves. The valor
and service of Captain Ent soon won the attention of his superior officers, and steady promotion marked his army career through the
course of the great conflict. After the battle
of Antietam he was promoted to the majorship of his regiment, and after Gettysburg
he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant
colonel.
His brevet followed later. The promotions accorded to the brave young officer
indicate the brilliancy of his military record.
When the war drew to a close Colonel Ent
returned to civil life. His townsmen showed
their appreciation of his military services by
electing him prothonotary and clerk of the
He died during
courts of Columbia county.
his term of office, and left a memory that is
of
the
revered in the annals
county, where
he is classed with those other brilliant heroes
of this section which the war developed
Colonel Ricketts, of Ricketts' Battery, and
His widow, Mrs.
Capt. C. B. Brockway.
Mary Ent, still survives, and is a highly esteemed and i)rominent resident of Blooms-

army

company,

the

first

later

—

burg.

William M. Ent, the father of Charles B.
Ent, inherited the sturdy tendencies of his
He acquired
illustrious father, Peter B. Ent.
a thorough knowledge of the trade of tinsmith, which he followed at Light Street, the
place of his birth, until he was cut down oy
the hand of death at a comparatively young
His life was even and uneventful, but
age.
like his brothers he answered his country's
After becall, enlisting in the State militia.
ing mustered out he returned to the peaceful
He passed away
pursuits of his occupation.
in

in his thirty-third year.
Like his
William M. Ent was a stalwart Demo-

1868,

father,

537

and he was a member of the Light Street
His wife, who was
Presbyterian Church.
Miss Bernetta B. Smith, of Light Street, and
to whom he was married in i860, still survives, and is passing through the autumn of
her life a greatly beloved woman. She lives
crat,

at the old

homestead

Four

Light Street.

children were born to William and Bernetta
B. Ent: Minnie, who passed away in 1880, at
the age of twenty years; Charles B.
Herbert, who died in his youth; and William M.
The latter is engaged in business at the present time in Light Street, conducting a hardware store and following his trade of tinsmith.
Charles B. Ent was born at Light Street on
Oct. 19, 1864. He was but four years of age
;

when

his father, William M. Ent, passed away,
his early boyhood was passed without paternal guidance and care. Thrown upon
his own resources, the lad had to sacrifice his

and thus

more immediate and material reFor some time he lived at the home

schooling for
turns.

of his grandfather, Peter B. Ent, while he
earned a boyish wage by doing farm work.
At the age of thirteen he went to Berwick,
where he secured employment in the shops of
the Jackson & Woodin Car and Manufacturing Company, a concern which was later absorbed by the American Car & Foundry ComHe worked at the car plant for two
pany.
years, resigning his position at the age of fifteen years to take up an apprenticeship with
Young & Ent, of Berwick, tinsmiths. During
an association of several years with this firm
he mastered the trade of tinsmithing, and left
their employ for the purpose of establishing
a business of his own, which he set up at

Light Street.

Upon

reaching

manhood Charles

Ent became interested in State and local
politics, and in time won a reputation as a
He
consistent and hard working Democrat.
served as a district committeeman, and in the
course of time was appointed to the secretaryship of the county organization, an office
which he held for two years. His party at
B.

three different times elected him a delegate
to State conventions, at Altoona, Erie and
Harrisburg, and he was sent to Denver as a

delegate in 1908, to represent his district at
the Democratic nomination for president,
which was accorded to W^illiam J. Bryan.
In 1893 Mr. Ent was elected to the office of

county recorder and register, and his record
of efficiency and of courtesy to the public,
was such that reelection to the same office,
three years later, was a matter of course.
His six years of service were marked by ex-

treme loyalty to duty and by personal

ability,

538

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

for recognition of which his party and friends
had other honors, which were to come later,
in store.

After the expiration of his terms of servMr. Ent conducted the "Central Hotel,"
one of Bloomsburg"s popular hostelries, for a
After leaving the hotel business he
year.
was connected with the Columbia & Montour
Traction Company, and ran the first through
car between Bloomsburg and Berwick when
ice

He then entered
the railroad was opened.
the employ of the Bell Telephone Company,
as solicitor, and often laughingly refers to
that experience, when the powerful Bell organization of the present day, even locally,
had but ten telephones in Berwick, a few in
Bloomsburg, and a limited number pay staHis territory was
tions scattered between.

Ent started a garage at the corner of Main
and East streets, Bloomsburg, an enterprise
which he conducted in such a manner that
the patronage of the public made it a great
His latest occupation, and probably
the one of greatest responsibility in his career,
is that of superintendent for the State
highway department, which gives him jurisdiction
of road maintenance and improvement in Cosuccess.

lumbia, Montour and Northumberland counties, with supervision over hundreds of men.
The demand on his time of this work compelled the relinquishment of his private enterprise, and for several years Mr. Ent has
devoted all of his working hours to this great
field of public betterment.
Whether the incumbent of a minor office,
like the tax collectorship of a small community like Scott township, to which he was

between Scranton and Northumberland and
He was elected many years ago, to the important rehis efforts were signally successful.
finally assigned to the Benton district, which sponsibility of guiding the efforts of hunboasted of but one telephone, that one being dreds of men working for the public good,
Mr. Ent has consistently demonstrated his
in the home of the late John G. ^IcHenry,
and his solicitation was so successful as to conscientious endeavor and ability to handle
warrant the formation of the very prosperous the propositions intrusted to him.
In every movement for either county, comsubsidiary company which at the present day
controls the telephone facilities of that entire munity or party betterment, ]\Ir. Ent is a
factor.
His hand is always ready to help
region.
His work done. Mr. Ent accepted an offer financially, and hjs shoulder to aid in pushmade to him by the firm of Messrs. P. Mc- ing along the wheel of progress. He is promManus & Co., of Philadelphia, who were con- inent in Elkdom, being a charter member of
structing the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & the Bloomsburg lodge, and having served as
Berwick railroad, with terminals at Berwick its secretary for five years. He is a member
and Watsontown, as construction foreman. of the Sons of Veterans Camp at Berwick,
In this work, which he carried to a successful and an honorary member of the Columbia
termination, Mr. Ent gained the experience County \'eteran Association and the Sixth
and ability to handle large bodies of workmen Pennsylvania Reserves. Mr. Ent took a very
which afterwards was to prove such an ad- prominent part in the erection of Bloomsburg's
vantage in his work. At the completion of notable soldiers' and sailors' monument, which
the construction work on the S. B. & B. rail- stands in the public square, at the intersection
road he became associated with Alessrs. Riter, of Market and Main streets.
On' Dec. 6, 1888, Mr. Ent became united in
Curtis & Hill, of Philadelphia, as a construction foreman, with their contract of relaying marriage with Florence Hoffman, of Light
the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad Street, a daughter of John W. and Mar>'
west of Harrisburg. When the contract was (Millard) Hoffman. Her father was sheriff
To Mr. and
completed, the American Car & Foundry Com- of Columbia county in 1876.
pany, of Berwick, tendered Mr. Ent the po- Mrs. Ent have been born the following chilsition of construction foreman at their plant dren:
Elizabeth, Millard, Harold, Wellingin Berwick, which he accepted and retained ton. Mary, Martha, Ruth (who died at the age
The comfortuntil he entered into the contest for election of five), Irene and Frederick.
to the office of sheriff of Columbia county. able home is on West Third street, and the
His former record as a county official had large family which have sprung from this
survived the passing of the years and his elec- union are not only a credit to their parentage
Mr. but to their sturdy and prominent ancestry as
tion was assured upon his nomination.
Ent fulfilled the functions of that office on well.
the same high plane of efficiency which had
characterized his former public service.
CHARLES E. WELLIVER, of BloomsFollowing his term of several vears Mr. burg, at present serving as one of the board

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
commissioners of Columbia county, belongs to a family which has been established
He was born in
here for about a century.
Montour township, Columbia county, April ii,
1858, son of Evan W'elliver, and is a grandson of Samuel W'elliver, who founded the
family in this section.

Samuel W'elliver was born
and came to Columbia county

New

Jersey,

an early date.

Settling at Mordansville, he lived and died
His widow, whose maiden name was
there.
Martha Jones, married for her second hus-

band, Samuel W'olf. By her marriage to Mr.
Welliver she had the following children
John Evan Eli Daniel Mary Mrs. Kil:

;

Rebecca Ellen, Mrs. John German
guss
Lavina, Mrs. High Alberton and Margaret,
Mrs. Theodore Smith;
Evan W'elliver was born Feb. 15, 1825,
in the western part of Columbia county. He
followed the trade of shoemaker and was also
engaged in teaming. On April 26, 1849. he
married Mary C. Guild, who was born Feb.
28, 183 1, in Hemlock township, and died April
II, 1883, surviving her husband, who had
passed away March 12, 1876; his death occurred in I\Iontour township, Columbia county.
They were buried at Bloomsburg. Mr.
and Mrs. Evan W'elliver were the parents of
William B. G., John E.,
children as follows
Mary E. (Mrs. Jonathan Pursel), Charles E.,
Sarah M. (Mrs. C. P. Curtin), Alice R. (Mrs.
William Christian), Katie M., Evan D. and
;

;

Elmer Wood.
in

Charles E. Welliver attended public school
Montour township, and learned telegraphy

Rupert, Columbia county, following that
business for a short time. Then he engaged
in the carpentry and building business at
Bloomsburg, at which he was engaged for a
period of twenty years. In 1911 he was elected
to the ofifice of county commissioner on the
Democratic ticket, receiving a highly complimentary vote substantial testimony of his
at

—

wide acquaintance and popularity.
devotes

all

sponsible
ability

his time to the duties of his re-

position,

and

He now

which

calls

for

business

efficiency of the highest order.

W'elliver married on June 25, 1884,
E. Rabb, ilaughter of William and
-\bigail Rabb, of Bloomsburg, and they have
]\Ir.

Clara

had four children, namely

Pauline

Bloomsburgr.

father

Mrs. Riley L. Kline, was a native of Salem
township, Luzerne Co., Pa., and of Quaker
stock, his grandfather, Joseph Walton, having
been a member of the Society of Friends. The
latter died Aug. 3, 1851, aged seventy-five
years, eight months. He cleared the property
upon which ^lorris Walton died.
Enoch W'alton, father of Rev. Morris Wal-

was born Nov. 29, 1805, in Salem township, Luzerne county, and he lived and died
there, owning and operating a farm of 120
acres at Beach Grove.
engaged in genton,

eral farming, and was very prosperous, owning five hundred acres, all in Luzerne county.

His death occurred Nov. 24, 1885, on the farm
where he always lived. His first wife, Juliann
(Lunger), died Jan. 29, 1834, and his second
marriage was to Rachel Garrison, born March
22, 1811, who died Aug. 17, 1887. Three children were born to the first union Joseph, Feb.
14, 1830; Anna, Jan. 2, 1832; and Ellis, Sept.
'S- ^^33By the second there were five:
Morris, born June 9, 1837; Almira, Aug. 17,
Rosanna, Nov. i, 1843 (died Aug. 3,
1841
:

;

Mary

Jane, July 6, 1847 (died July 21,
Ellis and
E., May 9, 1854.
George are the only survivors of the family.
Morris \\'alton, born June 9, 1837, followed
farming, living on his father's 120-acre tract
above Beach Haven, all of which was cleared
and under cultivation. He continued to en-

1851)
1850)

;

George

in general agriculture until about twentynine years old, when he became a minister of
the Evangelical Association, preaching on the
Columbia circuit. His wife, Rosanna Caroline
Kline ), born Oct. 4, 1836, was a daughter of
George and Sophia ( Malthaner Kline, both
of whom were natives of Germany.
Three
children were born to Air. and Mrs. Morris
Walton: Sarah Alice, born Dec. 3, i860, Mrs.
Riley L. Kline; Charles N., born May 8, 1863,

gage

(

)

who

lives in

Monroe, N. Y.

;

and Harry

E.,

1865. The father of this family
died Aug. 6. 1870.
In the Garrison line Mrs. Riley L. Kline is

born July

descended

from

Matthias

Garrison,

who

the Revolutionary war from New
Jersey. He lived in Amwell township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., later in Stissex county and

served

Knowlton, Warren county, same State, where
died. By occupation he was a farmer. His
wife. Elizabeth (Fortner), born July 13, 1744,
died July 13, 1823, aged eighty-one years, and

who he

j\I.,

died in infancy W'illiam E. Walter E. and
Charlotte B. Mr. W'elliver is a member of the
Presbvterian Church, and sociallv belongs to
the P.' O. S. of A. at Danville, Pa., and to the
United Americans and Knights of Malta at
:

MORRIS WALTON,

REV.

539

;

Their children
buried at Mifflinville, Pa.
were: Mary, wife of Emanuel Kirkendall
Jacob, who married Annie Seeley; Joseph,
who married Mrs. Annie (Seeley) Garrison:
is

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

540

Benjamin; Matthias; Elizabeth, wife of Edand Rachel, who married

mond Freeman

;

Matthias Fisher.

Benjamin Fortner, Airs. Elizabeth (Fortner) Garrison's father, was a son of Benjamin
Fortner. His wife, Isabelle Douglass, was a
daughter of Lord Archibald Douglass (son of

Alary White, who was born Nov.
and by whom he had these children:
Alem B., born Nov. 30, 1833, died when ten
years old; Henry, born Jan. 31, 1836, married
.\bigail Brader; Martha, born July 6, 1837,
died young; Joseph, born July 26, 1840, married Sidney ll. I'ollock; Drusilla, born
Aug.
i(\ 1842, married Tobias Henry.
(second)

17. 1797.

James Douglass), born in 1691, at Bothwell
Castle, Scotland, and died in 1 781, at Glasgow.
Her coming to America and subsequent exHERBERT S. GROVE, proprietor of the
periences before her marriage were very try- II. S. Grove department store at Catawissa,
Her father first married Jane Edmunds, Pa., was born in Kelly township. Union Co.,
ing.
who bore him the following children Isabelle, Pa., June 28, 1877, son of Abraham Grove and
His paternal
James, Sholto, Joseph, Jane and Charles. grandson of David Grove.
When he remarr.ied, the stepmother practically great-grandfather brought his family from
made a servant of Isabelle, who finally de- Lancaster county. Pa., to Union county, and
cided to leave home. She started for America settled in Kelly township, near Lewisburg.
with a lady bound for Philadelphia, but the There he engaged in farming for the remainvessel was captured by pirates, who brought der of his life, and died upon his property.
the passengers to Philadelphia, but only re- His children were: Adam, David, Abraham,
leased those who could pay ransom. Isabelle John, and several daughters.
was practically sold as a slave, her time being
David Grove was one of the pioneers of
bought by a man from Anwell township, Kelly township. Union county, and died on
Hunterdon Co., N. J., then at Philadelphia on the farm which he had acquired and operated.
business. He took her to his home, expecting He married Mary Gemberling, and their chilher to work out the sum he had paid. There dren were:
Abraham; Adam, who is deshe met Benjamin Fortner, who fell in love ceased Lewis, deceased Philip, who is residwith her, and they worked together to accu- ing near Lewisburg, Pa, and Elizabeth, who
mulate enough money to redeem her. After married Andrew Lesher and lives in Lewistheir marriage they lived for a number of burg, Pennsylvania.
Abraham (irove, son of David Grove, is a
years in Hunterdon county, N. J., where nine
children were born to them two more chil- farmer in Kelly township, where he owns
dren were born after their removal to Sussex farming property. He married Mary C. Walcounty, X. J., where both ]\lr. and Mrs. Fort- ter, daughter of Solomon Walter and sister
;

;

ner died.
Matthias Garrison, son of Matthias and
Elizabeth (Fortner) Garrison, was born Oct.

New

30, 1777, and lived in
Jersey until after
his father's death, when he removed to Penn-

sylvania,

December,

1800.

married

Susanna Seeley, who was born Feb. 24, 1784,
and by whom he had a family of twelve children
Elizabeth, born Dec. 8, 1801, married
Joseph Firierton, and died in Illinois; Elsie,
born Nov. 6, 180.^, married Jacob Cope, of
Moore's Church, Salem township Benjamin
died young John, born Aug. 8. 1808, moved to
Illinois in 1843: Sarah died young; Rachel,
born March 22, 181 1, married Enoch Walton;
^Villiam Garrison, born July 22, 1813, married
Nathan, born Dec. 3, 181 5, married a Miss
Seybert and (second) Rachel Lyons; Mary,
:

;

of ex-Judge L. S. Walter, of Mount Carmel,
Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Grove became the parents
of the following children:
Minnie, who is
deceased David W., who is clerking for his
Lillie C, who married
brother, Herbert S,
;

;

Rev. Caleb Ayers John M., who owns and
operates a farm in Union county Harry W.,
who is also clerking for his brother. Herbert
S.
Chester George
Herbert S.
Abraham
M. Edwin \'. and Franklin A.
Herbert S. (irove attended the schools of
Kelly township and the Milton high school, remaining at home until he had attained his majority. At that time he took a business course
in a commercial college at Rochester. N. Y.,
and in 1902 came to Catawissa. where with
only fifty dollars of capital he embarked in the
;

;

three years old;

confectionery business in a small way. From
the beginning he was successful, notwithstand-

Matthias, born April 24, 1820, married Mary
E. Girton Jacob, born Aug. 25, 1822, died
young; Susannah, born Sept. 15, 1824, married William H. Harris.
On Nov. 29 1832. Mr. Garrison married

ing the fact that his health for the first eight
years of his business career was such that the
physicians said life was only a matter of a few
He underwent an absolute fast of
years.
thirty-four days, as advised by his physician.

born Jan.

12, 1818, died

;

when

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
heaUh became normal. Mr.
Grove has extended the scope of his business,
adding different lines to his stock until he is
now the leading merchant of Catawissa, carrying a full line of dry goods, groceries and
men's furnishings. In 1906 he put up what is
now his main building, but in 1909 found it
necessary to erect an addition on JNIain street,
adjoining the Catawissa National Bank, and
after which his

fall

employment

according to the seaHis store is largely patronized not only
the
of
Catawissa, but those from a
people
by
large territory contiguous to the borough.
Mr. Grove belongs to the P. O. S. of A., Camp
No. 540, of Catawissa.
Herbert S. Grove married Lillian L. Oberdorf, a daughter of Martin L. and Frances
Oberdorf, and grandaughter of
(Kissler)

Nathan Oberdorf.

concern

New York

manufacturing automoand he still conis

member

of the

Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
New York, and has taken an active part in

SH.XRPLESS

SHUMAN,

now

a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., is a descendant of the Shuman family which has been
settled in Columbia county for several generations, its members ranking among the lead-

ing citizens of

parts and accessories,
tinues in this business. He

bile

Mr. and Mrs. Grove have

issue.

CHARLES

a severe cold,

teen years old, when his father died. He then
went to the grammar and high schools at Catawissa and later to the State Normal School at
Bloomsburg. He taught school at McAuley
one year, and at the age of twenty went to
Philadelphia, where he graduated from the
Later he took a
Palmer business college.
course in electrical engineering at Drexel InIn 1906 he became affiliated with a
stitute.

from

son.

was taken with

due to over-exposure, which developed into
typhoid fever, and after a short illness he
died, Nov. 8th, at his home in Main township,
and was buried at Catawissa. His widow is
still living at Espy, Pa.
The youngest son,
George Ario Shuman, is a student at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.
Charles Sharpless Shuman, son of William
K. Shuman, was born at Mainville, Pa., Oct.
23, 1880. His early education was received at
a country school, which he attended until thir-

another enlargement has been necessary since,
made in the summer of 1913. At present he
has 14,000 square feet of floor space, which is
barely sufficient for the exacting demands of
his large trade, and gives
thirteen to twenty clerks

of 1893 he

541

Main township and Catawissa

borough, where it
ent day by several

represented at the presare bearing the name

who

creditably.

work of the fraternity. He is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution of the State
In
of New York, as well as several clubs.
June, 1913, Mr. Shuman married Evelyn Creveling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Crevthe

They have no children.
eling, of Espy, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Shuman reside at No. 802 President street, Brooklyn. They are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically
he is an independent Republican.

William K. Shuman, father of Charles S.
Shuman, was born in Main township, Columbia county, April 8, 1849, son of John T.
WILLIAM FREDERICK JACOBS, who
Shuman, a lifelong resident of that township, is engaged in a general insurance business at
being the eldest of his family of six sons and Danville, has established a lucrative patronthree daughters. His early education was se- age in the comparatively short time he has
cured in a country school, and he later at- followed that line. He was born in Danville
tended and graduated from the Millville Aca- Oct. 5. 1862, son of John and Charlotte
demy, of Millville, Pa., after which he taught (Frisch) Jacobs, and belongs to a much reschool four years. On April 18, 1871, in his
twenty-third year, he married Emma J. Hess,
a daughter of Phillip and Sarah (Pohe) Hess.
She was born May 12, 1852, at Mifflinville, Pa.
MinThree children were born to this union
nie, who died at the age of thirty-four years
After
Charles Sharpless, and George Ario.
marriage Mr. Shuman purchased one of his
:

father's farms,

He was

where he

temperate

lived mitil his death.

in his habits

and

at all

times

a progressi\e and hard-working farmer. Politically he was a Democrat, and held several

township offices. Both he and Mrs. Shuman
were members of the Lutheran Church. In the

spected family of the borough.
John Jacob's, late of Danville, was one of
the substantial business men of his day. Born
in Germany Sept. 19, 1836, he was a son of
Henry and Elizabeth (Weber) Jacobs, both
also natives of that country, where they were
farming people. They had a family of eight
He
children, of w4iom John was the sixth.
was reared on a farm until he reached the
age of seventeen years, at which time, in 1854,

he came to America.

His

first

location in this

country was at Pottsville, Pa., where he
learned the trade of baker and confectioner.
In the year 1859 he came thence to Danville,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

542

Montour county, and in i860 opened a bakery
and confectionery store, this being the beginning of the large wholesale and retail business which he built up as time passed.
His
Mr.
place of business was on Mill street.
Jacobs retired from active participation in
the business in 1901, since which time it has
been conducted by his sons. His death oc.Mr. Jacobs was a man
4, 1907.
of enterprising nature, and was an interested
worker in local matters, serving the borough
for one term as member of the council. PoHe was a memlitically he was a Democrat.
ber of Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M.,
Danville Chapter, No. 239, R. A. M., and Cal-

curred July

vary Commandery, No. 37, K. T., and was
well known in that fraternity
he also held
membership in the I. O. O. F. and Knights
of Pythias. With his wife he belonged to the
Lutheran Church, which he served for years
;

as trustee and treasurer.

1859, Mr. Jacobs married Chardaughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Dietrick) Frisch, both of whom were
natives of Germany.
Mr. Frisch was a patternmaker, and followed his trade in Danville
for some time.
Mrs. Jacobs died Sept. 28,

Dec.

lotte Frisch,

She was the mother of eight children,
1909.
William Frederick, Charles H.,
namely
George B., Clara L., Alfred E., Elizabeth
Margaret, John R. and Mary H.
W. Fred Jacobs was educated in the public schools of Danville, and learned the bakery
and confectionery business with his father,
with whom he worked continuously with the
exception of about five years when he was
at the State Hospital for the Insane at Danville, having charge of the bakery there from
:

When the
father retired, in 1901, three of his sons, W.
Fred., George B. and John R. Jacobs, took
over the business, which has since been conducted under the name of J. Jacobs' Sons. W.
Fred. Jacobs remained a member of the firm
until 1910, when he sold his interest in the
For one year
business to his two brothers.
afterward he conducted the Danville Steam
Laundry, and in January, 191 2, he started the
insurance business, handling all kinds of insurance and doing a particularly good business as a fire underwriter. Mr. Jacobs maintains the high business standards for which
his family has been noted, and deserves the
high regard in which he is held by all his fellow citizens. He takes a deep interest in the
general welfare, as may be judged by his connection with the ^Municipal League, of which
he is secretary, and he has served part of a

January, 1893, to October, 1897.

two years,

as assessor of the Third
In political faith he is a Democrat.
Socially he is a Alason (member of Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M., which he

term,

ward.

secretary) and a member of the
Royal Arcanum. His religious connection is
with the Pine Street Lutheran Church.
On March 11, 1885, Mr. Jacobs married
Jennie McCoy, of Danville, who was born Jan.
1862, daughter of Robert and Ellen
19,
Voris) McCoy, the former a contractor
and builder. Four children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs
Randall, now a
lieutenant, junior grade, in the United States
navy, stationed in the Navy Department at
Washington, D. C, was married Aug. 28,
1913, to Emily Voris, daughter of John L.
and Mary (Hamor) Voris, of near Pottsgrove; Robert M., of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., an
ophthalmologist, married Margaret Evans, of
Danville, and they have one child, Eleanor
Elmerta George F. is an ensign in the United
States navy, on the "Minnesota" Samuel j\L

serves as

(

;

a student at Pennsylvania State College.

EDWARD WHITE

PETERS, secretary
of the Danville Foundry & Machine Company,
has been associated with that concern since
He has been a citizen of the borough
1910.
since 1884 and has been employed at iron
works of various kinds throughout that period.
Mr. Peters was born March 25, 1870, at
Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pa., and
received an excellent education, attending
high school at Danville and the Franklin and
For a
Marshall Academv at Lancaster. Pa.
number of years he was employed by the Mahoning Rolling .Mill Company and the Reading Iron Company, being chief clerk of the

Mount

In 1910 he
latter for a period of ten years.
liecame secretary of the Danville Foundry &
Machine Company, in which position he has
done valuable work in building up the fortunes
Mr. Peters has been
of this establishment.
quite prominent in the local government, havnine
as
tax receiver of Danserved
ing
years
ville, and he is at present councilman, to which

he was elected in 1912. He is a Knight
Templar IMason and a member of the Shrine,
and also belongs to the B. P. O. Elks. His
religious connection is with the Reformed
office

Church.

In 1896 he married Ella B. Aten,

of Danville.
The Danville

Foundry & Machine Company is engaged in the manufacture of special machinery and structural iron work, and
its plant occupies an entire square along East
The concern was originally
[Market street.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
organized
Mill

1887 as the Mahoning Rolling
in 1893, was taken in

Company, which,

hand by a receiver, who operated it until 1895.
Then C. H. Frick ran it for a short time, and
in 1898 it was purchased by Howe & Polk
(F. P. Howe and R. K. Polk), who carried
The next owners were Curit on until 1903.
ry & Vannan, who conducted the plant for
some time and were succeeded by Curry &
Company, who ran it for two years, until
1906, in July of which year the business was
incorporated under its present title, the Danville Foundry & Machine Company, with a

The officers at that time
capital of $40,000.
were: F. H. Vannan, president; R. B. Pursel,

Thomas J. Price, treasurer. The
secretary
present officers are: F. H. Vannan, president;
Clarence E. Haupt, vice president; E. W.
Peters, secretary; Thomas J. Price, treasurer,
and Irvin Vannan, general manager and mechanical engineer. The employees number 135,
a fact which gives this establishment an important place among the various enterprises
of the town.
;

JOHN N. HERR, manufacturer of wheat
and buckwheat flour and dealer in all kinds of
feed, at Schuyler, Pa., was born at Strawberry Ridge, Montour Co., Pa., Sept. 12, 1858,
son of Samuel and Christianna (Snyder)
Herr.

John Herr, paternal grandfather of John
N. Herr, was one of the first settlers in the
he
vicinity of Strawberry Ridge, Pa., where
He was
acquired a large tract of land.
and
became
in
all
of
his
life,
farming
engaged
one of the substantial and influential men of
His wife bore the maiden
his community.

name

543

Lake Jenkins.
(3) Mary Emma married
Emmanuel Mowrer, and their children are
Eva
and Mollie. (4) Samuel WilCharles,
born Jan. 4, 1868, a resident of Danville,
first married Ida Fenstermacher, who
died in California, leaving one son, Charles.
His second marriage was to May Reichley,
by whom he has one child, David Martin. (5)
Annie Cora, born Jan. 27, 1873, is the wife
of Charles Strauss, of Sunbury, Pa., and has a
lis,

Pa.,

family of six children, Lillian, Willis, Violet,
Elrey, Jennie and Elwilda.
(6) Franklin
died in infancy.
(7) David, deceased, married Effie Gresh.
(8) Catherine married
Clinton Jenkins, and died, leaving two daughters, Stella, now the wife of Robert Farnsworth, and Sadie, married to Frank Miller.
John N. Herr remained under the parental
roof until he attained the age of eighteen
years, at which time he left home and went to
Iowa, being there engaged in farming for two
years. At the end of that period he returned
to the home of his parents, who in the meanwhile had moved to Derry township, locating
on the old Brailey farm. After his father's
retirement Mr. Herr managed the home farm
until

was disposed

after his retirement

who
home at Washmoved to Schuy-

of by his father,

made

his

Mr. Herr then
where he bought the Schuyler flour mill,
which he has since improved, and is now do-

ingtonville.
ler,

ing a

constantly

increasing business

the

manufacture of high-grade wheat and buckwheat flour, as a dealer in all kinds of feed,
and as a shipper of grain and baled hay. The
plant is now known as the Keystone Steam
]\.oller Mills.
Industry and careful management have made this one of the leading business concerns of Schuyler, and have given

of Elizabeth Moyer.
Samuel Herr, son of John Herr, was born Mr. Herr a firmly established position among
Aug. 14, 1818, in Lancaster county. Pa., and the leading citizens of the place. He was a
as a young man accompanied his parents to charter member of the Farmers' National
Strawberry Ridge, there engaging in farming Bank of Exchange, Pa., and one of its difor many years. Like his father he was suc- rectors.
On March 15, 1883, Mr. Herr was married
cessful in his ventures, accumulated a good
property, and was known as a man of enter- to Anna L. Gibson, born Sept. 13, 1864, daughHe died Aug. 23, ter of George and Mary (Flickinger) Gibprise and public spirit.

Montour

Two children have been born to this
union: Murray E., born Feb. 3, 1884, and
Olive Vesta, born July 2, 1894, the latter living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Herr are Luther-

ter of

ans,

1889, at Washingtonville, Pa., at the age of
seventy-one years. Mr. Herr married Christianna Snyder, a native of Derry township,
Co., Pa., born Nov. 10, 1829, daughDaniel and Elizabeth Snyder. She died
April 25, 1895. Eight children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Herr, namely: (i)John N.
(2) Sarah Jane married Daniel Edward Frazier, of Derry township, Montour county, and
their children are Samuel Rolland, Minnie
Alice, Raymond Edward, Christine Pearl and

son.

ville

Mr. Herr belonging to the WashingtonChurch, and Mrs. Herr to St. James

Church, at Turbotville.

member

Warrior Run Lodge, No. 645, I. O. O. F., of
Turbotville, to which his son also belongs.
Murray E. Herr was married June 25, 1908,
to Hannah K. Betz, and they reside at Schuy-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

544

ler, Pa.
They have one child, John Larue,
born Aug. 24, 191 1. Mrs. Herr was bora
Oct. 3, 1877, daughter of Willard and Cordeha (.Smith) Betz, natives and residents of
Exchange, Anthony township, Montour counThe latter's father, Jonas Smith, was also
ty.
born at Exchange, and his wife was a Bitler
both are deceased.
Henry Gibson, the grandfather of Mrs.
John N. Herr, was born in Berks county, Pa.,
and there followed farming throughout his
;

life.

Cumberland county. Pa. To Aaron Mereand his wife were born children as fol-

dith

Annie, who married Dr. C. D. Fretz,
living at Sellersville, Pa.
Carrie, who
married S. F. Day, a civil engineer, now
living at Norfolk, Va. Laura \'., unmarried;
lows:

now

;

Fannie, who married Rev. Frank Aliller, now
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Nobles-

Ind. and Hugh B.
The father of this
family, .Aaron Meredith, died and was buried
at Doylestown, Bucks Co., Pa.
Dr. Hugh Bradshaw Meredith attended the
jiublic schools and graduated from the private academy at Doylestown, and during his
ville,

;

George Gibson, son of Henry Gibson, and
was born April 28, 1820,
Liberty township, Montour Co., Pa., and
as a youth learned the trade of wheelwright.

young manhood taught school for a year. He
soon took up the study of medicine, entering

Subsequently he turned to the vocation of
farming, and was thus engaged during the

father of iMrs. Herr,

greater part of his

life.

died Feb.

1891.

Mr. Gibson married Mary Flickinger, who
was born Alay 30. 1824, and died Aug. 5,
1886, and of the children born to this union
four survive:

Charles, born April 27, 1852,
14, 1866, both resid-

and Edward, born Sept.

Sarah, born Aug. 19,
L., Mrs. John X. Herr.

ing at Washingtonville

i860; and

Anna

;

HUGH BRADSHAW MEREDITH,

and physician in charge of
the State Hospital for the Insane, Danville,
was born at Doylestown, Bucks Co.. Oct.
26, 1853, son of Aaron and Martha S. (Scholl)
D., superintendent

Meredith.

The Meredith family is of Welsh descent,
and has been established in this country since
the early Colonial period, the emigrant ancestors settling in Bucks and Chester counOf this family was -Samuel Mereties. Pa.
dith, the first treasurer of the United States
and an active participant in the Revolutionary
He is buried near Carbondale, Pa.
war.
Hugh Meredith, the Doctor's grandfather,
married when a young man. and reared the

Simon, who became a coal
following family
merchant in Philadelphia Moses, who was a
farmer of Bucks county; a daughter who married Henry Clymer Hannah Gregory; HarThe Merediths have been
riet, and Aaron.
Whigs and Republicans down to the present
time. The early members of the family were
:

Friends in religious persuasion.
.\aron Meredith, son of Hugh, was born in
Bucks county. Pa., and became a farmer,
which calling he followed throughout his ac-

His wife. Martha S. (Scholl), was
born in Perry county. Pa., and her father was
also a native of Pennsylvania and a minister of the Reformed Church, and located in
tive life.

New York,
and graduated from the medical de-

Bellevue Hospital Medical College,
1875,

partment of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1877. Following this he began general practice in his native place, and on Feb. 19, 1879,

came

to Danville, Pa., having accepted a position as assistant to Dr. Schultz, the superin-

tendent of

the State Hospital for the Incontinued in this capacity until the
death of Dr. Schultz, which occurred in 1891,
when Dr. Meredith was appointed his successor, and in 1892 he was elected to the posiHe has been
tion for a term of ten years.
retained continuously since, having been resane.

1902 and again in 1912, for ten
Dr. Meredith came to the hospital there were accommodations for only
four hundred patients, and during his administration it has been enlarged to several times
elected in

years.

When

that capacity, there being quarters at present
for 1,450.
Dr. Meredith has come to be regarded as

one of the leading authorities on insanity and
kindred ailments. He is a man of original
ideas, and has inaugurated forms of treatment which have proved successful in his own
His unbounded
institution and elsewhere.
energy and executive ability have made the
Danville hospital one of the leading asylums
As an administrator of afof the countrv.
fairs he has shown remarkable executive abilto a high
ity and has brought the institution
standard of usefulness. He is a member of
the Montour County Medical Society, the
Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the
American Medical Association, and MedicoPsychological Association.
On Dec. 30, 1891, Dr. Meredith was married to Mary S. Eyer, of Bloomsburg, Padaughter of Frederick C. and Emma (Linn)
Eyer. the former a merchant, and for years
Both he
steward of the Danville Hospital.

/
Jzj^J^

J^l^Z^e.^^^j2-jJ^Zlp^

I
i

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and

his

children

wife are natives of Pennsylvania. Two
have been born to Dr. and Mrs.

Meredith, Mary Eyer and Emily E., the latter
dying when six years old. Dr. Meredith is
a member of Christ (Memorial) Church of
Danville. He is a Republican in politics.

DANIEL NORMAN DIEFFENBACH-

545

school, where he was engaged until
At the same time he pursued a course
of study at the Bloomsburg State normal
He then
school, completing same in 1898.
did some post-graduate work at that institution and subsequently did special work at
Grove City College. In 1901 he was elected
professor of science and mathematics in the

grammar
1

90 1.

Germany, born March

Danville high school.
He held that position
which year he was elected superintendent of the Danville public schools, and
assumed the duties of that office, which he has
held continuously since. He is a member of
the Pennsylvania State Educational Association, the East Central Pennsylvania Round
Table Conference, chairman of the examining
board for permanent State certificates in the

near Strawberry Ridge; he was
a farmer by occupation. His death occurred
Aug. 6, 1813. His wife, Catherine, whom he
married Jan. 30, 1769, died Jan. 3, i8og.
Philip Dieffenbacher, son of Conrad, died
March 25, 1840, aged sixty-two years, one

Eighteenth district, and his efficient work in
every capacity has won him the confidence
and cooperation of all concerned in the welfare of public education in this locality. Fraternally he is a member of Mahoning Lodge,
No. 516, F. & A. M., and an Odd Fellow.
On June 10, 1890, Mr. Dieffenbacher mar-

superintendent of the public
schools at Danville, has been engaged in public school work here since 1890, as teacher
and superintendent. He was born Jan. 28,
1863, at VVashingtonville, Montour county,
son of Benjamin S. Dieffenbacher and grandThe greatson of Conrad Dieiifenbacher.
great-grandfather, Conrad, was a native of

ER, present

i, 1745, and on coming to this country took up land at VVash-

ingtonville,

month, twenty-two days. His wife, Rosanna,
born Oct. 13, 1782, died Sept. 16, 1869.

Conrad Dieffenbacher, son of Philip, died
Oct. II, 1884, aged seventy-eight years, seven
months, ten days. His wife, Catherine, died

March

19,

1866, aged fifty-three years, eight

months, eleven

days.

Benjamin S. Dieffenbacher, son of Conwas born in Montour county. He learned
the trade of wheelwright, which he followed
rad,

for fifteen years, thereafter engaging in farmHe is now
ing to the close of his active life.

Mr. Dieffenbacher has been
and has served his fellow men

living retired.
useful citizen

efficiently in various capacities, holding
office of road supervisor for eight years,

the

and

also serving as member of the town council
and school board of Washingtonville. His
wife, Margaret E. (Berger), was also a native

of Montour county. She died in 1900, and is
Mrs. Dieffenburied at Strawberry Ridge.
bacher, like her husband, belonged to the Reformed Church, which he has served as elder
and deacon in politics he is a Republican.
They' had children as follows besides Daniel
;

N.
William C, Lettie, Cora, Margaret,
Laura, Carrie, David and Irma.
Daniel Norman Dieffenbacher received his
early education in the public schools of the
home locality, later taking a course at the
Millville Seminary, which he finished in 1884.
After teaching several years in country
school, he came to Danville in 1890 to take the
:

position
35

principal

the

Second ward

until 1907, in

ried Mary Kaufman, of Lewisburg, Pa.,
daughter of Robert and Arminta Kaufman,
farming people. She died Sept. 8, 1892, the
mother of one child, Gordon Leslie, born June
27,

1892.

Aug.

29,

1894,

Mr. Dieffen-

bacher married Margaret A. Phillips, of Danville, daughter of Joseph Reese and Mary
(Alleger) Phillips, the former a boss in the
puddling mill of the Reading Iron Works
;

Mr. Phillips was also a justice of the peace,

Two
serving in that capacity many years.
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Dieffenbacher
Thelma Viola, Oct. 25, 1900,
and Paul Nevin. Sept. 27, 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. Dieffenbacher are active members of Shiloh Reformed Church, of which
he has been deacon for the last fourteen
years. He served as church organist for eight
years, and has been superintendent of the
Sunday school for a number of years. All his
life he has been deeply interested in church
work and the furtherance of religious projects, and his labors in that line since coming to Danville have been greatly appreciated.
His success as an educator and in his present position as superintendent has brought
him in contact with citizens of all classes in
the community, and he is universally respected.
Politically he gives his support to
the Democratic party.
:

DAVID
board

WILLIAMS, member

of the
ex-sheriff of
a resident of Danville,

commissioners

Montour county, now

and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

546
Pa.,

was

1858, at Danville, son

Ijorn Jan. 6,

of George
Williams.

and

Margaret

(Williams)

have had no children, but by her

George C. Williams was a native of Great
Britain, born in 1831 in South Wales, whence
he came to this country with his sister Anna,
when he was fourteen years of age. Settling
first at Pottsville, Pa., he there followed the
trade of iron worker, and later came to Danville and secured a good position in the mills
In his latter years he withdrew from
here.
active life, and was living retired at the time
of his death. May 26, 1899, when he was
He was a veteran
sixty-eight years of age.
of the Civil war, having served under two
On Sept. 2, 1861, he was musenlistments.
tered in as a member of Company E (Capt.
M. R. Manley), 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania
Reserves, having enlisted Aug. 7th, for three

years' service.
Pierpont, Va.,

He was

discharged at

Camp

on account of physical disaHis second enlistment,
bility, Jan. 8, 1862.
Feb. 6, 1864, was in Company F, 187th Pennsylvania Regiment, under Capt. John E. Reilhe was discharged at
ly, for three years, and
Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 3, 1865.
Mr. Williams married Margaret Williams,
daughter of Thomas and Jane Williams, also
Welsh people, and her father was a mill
worker.
She was born in June, 1830, and
died Dec. 31, 1897, the mother of eight children: Thomas, born in 1852, died Feb. 13,
1880, while studying medicine; Josiah, born in
1857, died young; David C. is next in the
family; Sarah, born in 1859, died young;
John, born in 1863, lives in Butler, N. J.
Sarah (2), born in 1869, married John Lunger and after his death became the wife of
William J. Mann, of Philadelphia; Josiah (2),
born in 1871, lives in Philadelphia; Elizabeth,
born in 1874, is married to \'alentine Bierman, of Philadelphia.
David C. Williams, son of George C. Williams, attended public school until he was
twelve years of age, and then entered the
Danville Iron Works, where he was em;

ployed until 1893. I'^ that year he commenced
following the roofing and slating Ijusiness, in
which he has been engaged to the present
time, building up an excellent patronage in
Danville and the adjoining towns and vilHe is a man of industry, ability and
lages.
perseverance, and has been able to accomplish a great deal in the business world, deserving of

all

the

credit in that his suc-

due entirely to his own efforts.
June 19, 1906, Mr. Williams was married to Mrs. Clara Ida \'an Horn, the cerecess

mony being performed at Philadelphia bv Rev.
Raymond Wilson, formerly of Danville. They
riage, to

had

five

mar-

first

Norman Van Horn, Mrs. Williams
Jennie, now a stenographer in the

of "Collier's Weekly," at New York
City, is married and has a daughter, Katherine, born at Danville (now
1914 thirteen
years old) Nellie, married to Lewis Reick, of
an
iron
has
three children;
Danville,
worker,
William, a barber, of Danville, married Gertrude Snyder, and has one child; Alice is a
student in Russell's business college at DanMrs. Wilville; Catherine lives at home.
liams has been a member of Shiloh Reformed
Church at Danville since 1902.
Mr. Williams is well known among the Odd
Fellows, being a member of Montour Lodge,
No. 109, of which he is a past grand, and he
has been representative to the grand lodge
several times.
Since 1876 he has been a
member of the Danville fire department,
served one term as its chief, and is at present a trustee.
For thirty-three years he has
belonged to the noted musical organization
known as the Washington Drum Corps. In
offices

—

;

politics a Republican, Mr. Williams was elected sheriff of Montour county in i(p6, and in

was

the successful candidate for the
of county commissioner, in which he
at present is serving with his customary effi191

office

ciency.

William Hollingshead, father of Mrs.
David C. Williams, was born July 18, 1827,
in Montour township, Columbia county, son
of Francis and Sarah (Richards) HollingsHe followed farming
head, farming people.
and lime burning in Cooper township, Montour county, and died Sept. 26, 1892, at
His wife,
Bloomsburg, Columbia county.
Ruphena (Strausser), a native of Berks
County, Pa., born March 18, 1829, died in
May, 1907, at Danville, Montour county. She
was a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran
Church. They had children as follows
El:

mira, born Jan. 22, 1850, died Feb. 3, 1872;
Mary Alice, born Dec. i, 1853, married
Thomas Jones, who is deceased Sarah Catharine, born Dec. 19, 1855, died April 28, 1859;
Harriet, born Aug. 3. 1857, died Dec. 13,
1857; Frances Elizabeth, born Mav 15, 1859,
married John Christian and lives in BloomsInirg; Clara Ida, born July 19, 1861, is the
\vif e of David C. Williams
Jesse, born June
16, 1863, died Nov. 25, 1863; Margaret, born
July 2, 1865, married George Kahler, of
;

;

Wesley, born Sept. 21,
1867, a carpenter in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., mar-

Bloomsburg; John

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Sarah Sheatler, who died Jan. 21, 1893,
and he has since married Cora Autman; Barbara Ellen, born Oct. 24, 1869, married Frank
Boone, of Bloomsburg; Nola, born Jan. 20,
1872, married Frank Kashner, a blacksmith,
of Bloomsburg.
lied

JAMES ELSWORTH ROBBINS,

D.,

has been in practice for twenty years, most of
the time at Uanville, Montour Co., Pa., where
he is first assistant at the State Hospital for
He is one of the most influenthe Insane.
Dr.
tial men in the profession in his county.
Robbins was born Feb. 22, 1864, at Asbury,
Columbia Co., Pa., son of Cyrus and Lovina
His father was also a
(Stoker) Robbins.
native of Columbia county, and by trade a
carpenter; he took an active interest in politics and held a numljer of local and county
offices.

The
first

Doctor's
in

settlers

ancestors were among the
the Fishingcreek valley of

Columbia county, about Orangeville and Benton.
His great-grandfather, Alexander Colthe age of seven came with his lirother,
Jonathan Colly, from Chester county. Pa.,
and settled in Jackson township, above BenHe was educated in Philadelton, in 1792.
phia, and became a civil engineer and school
ly, at

teacher.

Most

of the original surveys of the

northern part of Columbia county were made
by him. He wrote deeds and other legal papers and represented Columbia county

in the

Legislature a couple of terms, before the Civil
war. He was a man of firm convictions, but
was genial and witty and had a fund of funny
His chilstories to fit almost any occasion.

dren were: Stott, Alexander, Jr., Benjamin,
Robert, Elsie (wife of Samuel Hess), Rebecca (wife of Cotner Auten), and Elizabeth
(wife of Daniel Stoker), maternal grand-

mother of the subject of our sketch.
Dr.

Robbins's

paternal

great-great-grand-

father, William Robbins, lived in New Jersey and served in Washington's army in the
Revolutionary war.
Thomas Robbins, born in 1757, son of Wil-

came from New Jersey and settled near
Orangeville about the time of the American
He married Elizabeth Kline,
Revolution.
liam,

whose
from
Jr.,

father,

New

Abram

Kline, Sr., also came
brothers, .'\bram,
George, Isaac and Harmon

Jersey.

Mathias,

Her

home with

These
Kline, made
Klines were sturdy and capable people, and
have left numerous descendants living in Columbia county, along the west branch of the
Susquehanna and in other places. The chiltheir

her.

dren of

547

Thomas Robbins were

Charity,

Mas-

William, Abraham, Thomas, Jr., Daniel,
Mathias, John and Isaac.
Dr. Robbins's maternal grandfather's
par-

sy,

ents

came up from Harrisburg and were

German

descent.

His

grandfather,

Daniel

Stoker, was noted for his piety and charity
to the poor.
He was superintendent of a German Reformed Sunday school for thirty
years and was largely instrumental in building the Zion's Reformed Church near Pealertown. Lovina (Stoker) Robbins, the mother
of Dr. Robbins, combined the moral and religious qualities of her father with the intellectual capacity of her grandfather
Colly. She

was an

intelligent

woman,

good judgment,

sincerely religious, and taught a women's
Bible class most of her life. Of an unselfish,
kindly and generous disposition, she literally
"went about doing good." She cared for and
relieved the sick and comforted the sorrowing. She led a most useful and helpful life

and exerted a beautiful influence for miles
about her home.
James Elsworth Robbins received his early
education from his mother, in the public
schools, and at Orangeville Academy, in his
native county, attending until 1882.
Meantime he had taught country school for two
years, and after completing his course at the

academy was engaged there as teacher for one
He then entered Lafayette College, at
year.
Easton, Pa., where he took a four years' classical course, graduating in
1887, following
which he taught one year in the Harry Hillman .\cademy. at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., one year
in the Irving Institute, at
Tarrytown, N. Y.,
and also one year at the Mohegan Lake
School, at Mohegan, N. Y.
In 1890 he took
up the study of medicine at the University of
in
Pennsylvania, graduating
1893, after which

he did general hospital work in the city hospital at Wilkes-Barre, and the Johns' Hopkins hospital at Baltimore, Md.
In 1895 '^^

came

to Danville, Pa., as assistant at the State
Hospital for the Insane, and for the last eight
years has been first assistant at that institution.
He has taken an active interest in the
welfare of the medical fraternities since coming to the county, was honored with the position of president of the Montour County Medical Seciety, in 1896 and 1897. and is at
present a member of the American Academy of

Medicine.
He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society.
Dr. Robbins
was long interested in the local Y. M. C. A..
of whicli he served as director for fifteen
years.

a leading

member and

elder of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

548
the
ville,

Mahoning Presbyterian Church at Danin whose work he has taken an active

and useful

Dr. Robbins throughout his
part.
residence in the borough has been one of its
most esteemed citizens, and his labors in behalf of all that concerns the welfare of the
locality deserve recognition and appreciation.

EMANUEL
of Danville,
citizens

SIDLER,

a retired resident

one of the oldest surviving

who have

held

office

Montour

county. He was born March 26, 1829, in Valley township, on the farm where he continued
to live until his retirement, and several generations of his family have lived in Montour
county.
Jacob, the grandfather of
spelled the name Sittler he
;

Germany, and on coming

Emanuel Sidler,
was a native of

to this

country first
Jacob
Jersey.
moved to Montour county, Pa., then a part
of Columbia county, and purchased a tract
of land in Valley township which later became
the property of Emanuel Sidler, and there
the father carried on general farming the remainder of his active days. He passed from
this life at an advanced age and was buried
in the grounds of the old log church in Mahoning township. He had four children, as
follows: Philip, David, Martha and Jacob.
settled in

New

He and

his son

country dwellings in the township. The property comprises one hundred acres, and Mr.
Sidler still owns it, though he moved thence
to Danville in 1895, since when he has led a
retired life.
His son, N. E. Sidler, now
On May 10,
operates the homestead place.
1
85 1, Mr. Sidler was struck by lightning, and
felt the eftects of his
injury for many years.
In his earlier manhood Mr. Sidler was well
known as an able administrator of public affairs, having held many offices.
He served
his township as overseer of the poor for the
of
fifteen
as
school
director
long period
years,
for six years, and as township supervisor for
two years. In 1870 he was elected county
treasurer, which office he filled for one term
of two years, and he was subsequently county

commissioner for two terms, during which
period the county jail was built at Danville;
he is the only survivor of the commissioners
In political connection
serving at that time.
he has always been a Democrat. He is now
treasurer of the Montour Mutual Fire Insur-

ance Company.
In 1853 Mr. Sidler married Rebecca Fenstermacher, who was born in Valley township,
daughter of Abraham and Christiana Fenstermacher, and died in 1872, aged thirty-five
Three children were born to this
years.
union
Martha married Calvin Schultz and
Jacob Sidler, father of Emanuel Sidler, was is deceased Nathan Elmer, a farmer, living
born in 1798 in Lehigh county, Pa., supposedly on the home place, married Ida Moser and
He learned the trade of car- has two children, Clyde and Mary William
at Allentown.
of
married
Pearl
penter, which he followed for some time, and Hurley,
Philadelphia,
then engaged in farming on the old home- Fisher. Mr. Sidler's second marriage, which
of
of
which
consisted
acres
took
in
was
to
Rebecca Bright,
stead,
140
highly
place
1874.
cultivated land. He had come to Montour who was born Dec. 3, 1828, at Reading, Pa.,
wife
and
the
time
with
his
father.
of
Peter
and
By
county
daughter
Alary Bright, and sisof his death, when he was sixty-two years ter of Hon. Dennis Bright.
Her father was
old, he had also acquired another farm, of of German extraction, her mother of Welsh
210 acres. His wife, who was Elizabeth Ben- descent. No children have been born to this
:

;

field,

also a native of Pennsylvania, daughter
Benfield, died aged fifty-two years.
are interred in the Straub burial ground

marriage.

Thomas

Mr. Sidler was reared in the Lutheran
Church, being confirmed in Straub's Lutheran
Church
in Valley township, and he was very
were
the
parents
They
of the following children
John, Mary, Jacob, active in that organization, holding the offices
Since taking
Emanuel, Sarah. Lavina, Franklin and Eliza- of elder, deacon and trustee.
beth, Emanuel being the only survivor. Jacob up his residence in Danville, he has connected
Sidler, the father, was a strong Democrat, and himself with the I'ine Street Lutheran Church.
of

They

in Valley township.

served as supervisor many years in religious
views he was Lutheran, holding membership
at the old log church in Mahoning township.
Emanuel Sidler, the fourth child of the fam;

received his education in the public schools
of the home district.
Farming was always
ily,

his principal occupation, and the home place
was considerably improved during his active
years, becoming one of the most desirable

JUDGE HENRY DIVEL

one of the

men of the town of Danwhere he has been engaged in the same
line, butchering, as employee and proprietor,
since 1859. He was born in Milton, Pa., Dec.
26, 1839, son of Joseph and Maria (Bowers)
Divel, and grandson of Joseph Divel.
Joseph Divel, the grandfather, was a native
substantial business

ville,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of Germany, and was a butcher and marketman in W'lirtemberg all his life. Joseph Divel,
the father, was also born in Germany, and followed the trade of butcher all his active days.
In 1839 he came to the United States, arriv-

New York City, whence he proceeded
He next went to Harrisburg,

ing at

to Milton, Pa.

where he worked as a journeyman for some
time, and then returned to Milton, where he
formed a partnership with Jacob Bowers,
opening a butcher shop. They continued the
business for two years and then dissolved
partnership, Mr. Divel going to. Mooresburg,
Montour county. There he engaged in the
meat business, which he carried on until his
death, in 1884, at the age of seventy-five years.
Mr. Divel was twice married, his first wife
being Maria Bowers, a native of Germany.
To them were born two children, Henry and
Mary, the latter the wife of John Moyer, of
Mr. Divel chose for his second
Milton, Pa.
wife Catherine Griff, by whom he had the
children
Sophia, wife of Robert
following
Pa.
Mills, of Lock Haven,
Joseph F., a
veteran of the Civil war; Joanna, who wedded
P. Lyman Ritter, of Mooresburg, Pa.
and
three who died in infancy.
:

;

Henry Divel was educated in the common
schools of his native town and at the age of
sixteen years went to work with his father,
learning the trade of butcher, which business
he has since followed. In 1859 he removed to
Danville and worked as a journeyman for
Moyer Lyon six years, during this period of
employment losing only one week's work, and
that was owing to a felon on one of his

fingers.

July

1865, in

company with

John Rock fellow, he opened a butcher shop
at No. 334 Mill street.
On April i, 1875,
Theodore Hoftman purchased the interest of
Mr. Rockfellow and the firm was then known
as Hoffman & Divel until 1900. when Mr.
Divel purchased Hoffman's interest.
Mr. Divel married Barbara Fleckenstein, a
daughter of Peter Fleckenstein. born April 2,
1843, ^"fl children as follows have been born
to them
Emma, wife of S. G. Johnson, a
:

large real estate dealer of New Mexico Mary
Elizabeth, who married W. L. Sidler, Register
and Recorder of Montour county. Pa. Lilly
May, married to Henry Woolheater. a farmer
of Montour county. Pa. Charlotte ^largaret.
deceased; Laura, now the wife of George W.
Billman, of Reading, Pa., insurance adjuster
and agent Ella, a trained nurse, now in Philadelphia Minnie, also a trained nurse in that
;

;

city; Joseph,

who married

of Danville

and Anna, married

;

Luella Werkheiser.
to

Amnion

549

Keiser, ticket agent at Danville for the Dela-

ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company.
Air. Divel owns a handsome residence at No.

404 Church

street, and two large tenement
houses.
He and his family are members of
the Lutheran Church at Danville. Politically
he is an earnest adherent of Democratic principles and lends the weight of his influence to
the support of that party. He enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow townsmen,
has served one term in the council, and two
terms as associate judge, from 1890 to 1900.
Socially Judge Divel is a member of Danville Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M.
He belongs to the Pine Street Lutheran Church, of
the General Synod.

FRANCIS EUGENE HARPEL, M.
physician and surgeon of Danville,

D., a

Montour

Pa., was bom at Reading, Berks Co.,
June 15, 1844, son of Mark and Martha
(Morgan) Harpel.
Mark Harpel was born Nov. 10, 1810, at
Philadelphia, Pa., and was a Lutheran minister all of his mature years. An accomplished
linguist, he spoke and wrote Latin, Greek,
He died at
P'rench, German and English.
Shamokin, at the home of his son Dr. M. H.
Harpel, Nov. 16, 1892.
Francis Eugene Harpel accjuired his early
education in the public schools of Bethlehem
and in Lancaster county, and took summer

Co.,
Pa.,

courses at Millersville.
In order to defray
the expenses of tuition he taught during the
winter seasons.
In Lancaster county he
learned the trade of marble cutter, but his
health failing him he resumed school teaching in that county, where he was so engaged
until 1868, when he commenced the study of
at Shamokin with his brother. Dr.
M. H. Harpel. In 1869 he entered Hahnemann

medicine
^ledical

College,

Philadelphia,

and

was

graduated from that institution in 1871, immediately afterward coming to Danville,
where he followed general practice a short
time.
Removing to White Oak, near Manheim, Lancaster county, he was located there
for one year, and was then associated in practice with his brother at Shamokin for three
months, after which he spent a short time at
Hamburg. Berks county, returning to DanHe has been in practice there
ville in 1873.
continually since.
During the Civil

war Dr. Harpel was not
found lacking in patriotism, for he enlisted
from Lancaster county with the militia, being mustered out after three weeks' service

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

550

He was in the action at Chambersburg, and
was lying in camp while the battle of Antietam
was being fought. Dr. Harpel has given lojal
service as a public official also, having been a
school director for nine years in Danville. He
belongs to the State Homeopathic Medical
Society and to the Inter-State Homeopathic
Medical Society of Pennsylvania and New
York.
Fraternally he is a member of the
Odd Fellows and a past grand of the local
organization. Myrtle Lodge, No. 858, and also
belongs to the grand lodge of the State and
to Mnemoloton Encampment, No. 40. of Danville.
His church membership is in St. Paul's

Methodist Church, which he formerly perved

number of years.
1883, Dr. Harpel was married

as trustee for a

Dec.

Euphemia A. Brader, who was born Dec.

i860, daughter of Joseph M. and Minerva
(Wight) Brader, the former a minister of
the Evangelical Association. Mr. Brader was
born Feb. 24, 1839, and died Dec. 25, 1889
his wife, born Sept. 9, 1841, died May 20,
3,

;

Dr. and Mrs. Harpel have two children: Martha A., born Feb. 14, 1886, is the
wife of Theodore Angle, editor of the Morning Nezvs of Danville Frances Eugenia, born
May 29, 1895, graduated from the Danville
high school in 191 3, and completed the course
in music at the
liloomsburg State normal
school as a member of the class of 1914.
191

;

JAMES WOLLASTON

REV.
D.

KIRK'!

eleventh

minister of the Mahoning
Presbyterian Church, Danville, Pa., has been
in this charge since 1907.
Dr. Kirk is a
Pennsylvanian, of Scotch-Irish stock, the old
family Bible showing that his grandfather,
James Kirk, born Aug. 18. 1776, died Feb. 21.
D.,

1858, married Margaret Hillis, born Sept. 16.
Both were of
1775, and died June 5. 183 1.
Scotch descent. About 1808 they emigrated
from County Down, Ireland, to the United
States, and made their home in Delaware. By

occupation

they

were farmers.

eight children, four of

manhood.

Robert and

whom,

They had

sons, grew to
David, twins, were

Her

father,

Thomas Turner Fargo, was born

New London, Conn., May 19, 1766, and
died Oct. 6, 1861.
His father and eldest
brother were stanch defenders of the Colonies
in the war of the Revolution.
Thus Mrs.
Kirk was a lineal member of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. Her mother was
Cynthia Randall, of Rhode Island, born March
Both the Fargo
23, 1787, died May 19, 1861.
and Randall families were of Welsh descent.
also
were
fanners.
They
James Wollaston Kirk, son of Robert and
Elizabeth (Fargo) Kirk, was born in Fairview, Erie Co., Pa., and was the fourth of
seven children, all of whom grew to full age.
In early life he attended the public schools
and later taught in them. In 1870 he studied
in X'ermillion Institute, Hayesville, Ohio, and
in
1871-73 in the West Jersey Academy,
In the latter institution he
Bridgeton, N. J.
also tutored for two years.
In 1873 he entered the junior class of the University of
in

Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, from which he was
Persuaded
graduated in the class of 1875.
that his calling was to be in the gospel ministry he entered Princeton Theological .Seminary in

1875,

and graduated from

that in-

stitution in the class of 1878.

The summer

1878 Dr. Kirk spent as

pulpit supply of the French Creek PresbyIn
terian Church, in L'pshur county, W. Va.
the autumn of the same year he became pastor's
assistant in the Olivet Presbyterian

Church, Philadelpliia, Pa., working in the
Hebron mission, now the Hebron PresbyIn 1879 he became pastor's
terian Church.
Presbyterian Church,
In 1880 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Ashbourne (Pa.) Presbyterian Church, but recently organized, thus becoming its first pastor.
In 1882 he accepted a call tendered by the
assistant

the

First

Germantown, Philadelphia.

Leverington Presbyterian Church, Ridge and
Leverington avenues, Philadelphia, Pa., and remained in this pastorate seventeen years, resigning in i8<)9 to accept a call from the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions to assist
in the organization of mission work along the
Yukon river, in the arctic portion of Alaska.
He was stationed at a point now known as
Eagle, in the far interior of that cotmtry.
After four seasons spent under the strenuous
conditions of that pioneer life Dr. Kirk was

born .Aug. 26. 1809.
Robert Kirk became a contractor and
builder, serving seven years to learn the trade
About 1840 he took up his
thoroughly.
residence in Fairview township, Erie Co., Pa.,
and on April 10, 1844. married Elizabeth
Fargo, soon afterward settling upon a farm granted a furlough, during which he became
in the same township two miles south of the chaplain for the summer of 1903 at Fort
It was arranged between
Elizabeth Fargo, born Stanton, N. Mex.
shores of Lake Erie.
in Fairview township, Erie Co., Pa., Oct. 7. the department at Washington and the Board
1817. was the youngest of twelve children. of Missions in New York that Dr. Kirk might

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
open up missions in the destitute countr}surrounding and serve them in connection
with his work at the Fort.

were opened
distant, North

stations

miles

Thus preaching

South Capitan,

six

Capitan, eight miles,
Angus, ten miles, Lincoln, ten miles, Glencoe,
twelve miles, and Parsons, twenty miles. These
points were all reached on horseback, Dr.
Kirk preaching in some one of them each
Sunday morning and returning to the Fort for
the evening. In this field as well as in Alaska
there were some thrilling incidents in his ex-

perience.

In 1904 Dr. Kirk returned to Alaska and
spent one year at Fort Wrangell, rebuilding
and equipping the old mission station, the
This work
first Protestant mission in Alaska.
A conwas mainly among the Indians.
spicuous feature of the Yukon life was work
among the Indians. In 1905 Dr. Kirk took
charge of the Presbyterian work among the
white people of Juneau. .Alaska. In 1906 he
severed his connection with the Board of
Missions, and after a tour of several months'
visitation among the various mission stations
in southeastern Alaska returned to the States.
After seven years with the Board in the
Alaska work and about one year in lecturing in the States Dr. Kirk accepted a call ex-

tended to him

November, 1907, from the

Mahoning Presbyterian Church,
Pa., and entered upon the work

Danville,

551

Fenn graduated from Mount Holyoke College in the class of 1890, and was splendidly
equipped to help her husband in his w^ork.
Upon their marriage they went immediately to
Juneau, Alaska, where Dr. Kirk was in
charge of the mission.
In 1906, when Dr. Kirk relinquished the
work in Alaska, Mrs. Kirk accompanied him

round of visitation of the various mission stations, viz.
Ketchikan, Saxman, Metin his

Klinquan, Howkan, Klawock, Wrangell, Sitka, Haines, Killisnoo and the Chilkats. During this visitation Dr. Kirk preached
many times. Prior to this he had visited
nearly every mission along the Yukon and the
coasts of the Bering sea as far north as the
lakatla,

ocean, viz.
Forty Mile, Circle City,
Fort Yukon, St. James, Rampart, Anvik, St.
Michael, Nome, Teller. Cape Prince of Wales
and King Islandin the Bering sea.
In June. 1911. the honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by
his alma mater, the University of Wooster.
In the autumn of 1910 Dr. Kirk was ap.Vrctic

pointed chairman of the Judicial committee
of the Presbytery of Northumberland to prosecute Rev. William D. Grant, of NorthumIjcrland, who had been charged with heretical views and denials of Presbyterian faith.
a

ma-

Presbytery's Judicial commission by
of one" acquitted Dr. Grant, but Dr.

jority

December

Kirk and his committee were so thoroughly

being formally installed Jan.
The church was organized in 1785,
17, 1908.
and celebrated its 128th anniversary in
October, 1913.
Dr. Kirk was twice married. His first wife,
whom he married June 2, 1880, was Anna L.
Aloore, daughter of Rev. George Rodney and

satisfied that the verdict was contrary to the
evidence that the case was appealed to the
General Assembly for review and the findings
of the Presbyterv were unanimously reversed.
Dr. Grant being suspended from the Presby-

Phoebe (Patterson) Moore, of Philadelphia.
She was born Nov. 13, 1855, and died Feb.
8, 1903, while home from Alaska on furlough. Mrs. Kirk had been with her husband

eral

that

through

year,

all

the severities of the far northland.

where the United States government record
of the weather showed the temperature sixtyeight below zero. She assisted in all the work
of the mission and was specially helpful
through her rare musical abilities, stipulating
as one condition of her going that she be allowed to take her piano with her, regardless
Indians as well as white people
of all costs.
keenly felt and mourned her untimely death.
On Nov. 30, 1905, Dr. Kirk married
Isabelle H. Fenn. the only daughter of Samuel
Purviance and Martha (Wilson) Fenn, of
West Pittston, Pa., and sister to Rev. Dr.
Courtenay H. Fenn, of Pekin, China. Miss

terian ministry.

Dr. Kirk has been a member of four GenAssemblies, meeting in Springfield, 111.,
1882, Minneapolis, Minn., 1899, Los Angeles,
N. J., 1910.
Cal., 1903, and Atlantic City,
In political conviction and affiliation Dr.
Kirk has been a member of the Republican
election of 1912 he
party, but in the general

voted the Progressive

ticket.

GEORGE LAUBACH ROTE,

Phil-

Fort Ann, New York
adelphia, Pa., born in
Montour Co.,
State, was reared in Danville,
where his maternal ancestors, the LauPa.,

bachs, have been prominent for many years.
His grandfather. Christian Laubach, later referred to in detail, reared a family of six
whom
children, one son and five daughters, of
Ellen was the mother of George L.

Mary

Rote.

the paternal side he

from Friends of the orthodox

descended

type, his grand-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

552

father and grandmother, Daniel Rote and
wife, having been leaders in the Society. They
reared a family of seven children, four sons
and three daughters, and made their home on
a farm near Millville, Columbia Co., Pa. Their
son, William H., married Mary Ellen Laubach, and they had a family of three children,
one daughter, Estella M., who died in infancy, and two sons, Harry Lees Rote and
George Laubach Rote. The former is an accountant with the Central Railroad of New
Jersey, recently removed to No. 6i Broadway,

New York

City, and is unmarried.
George
Rote is in the mortgage and insurance
brokerage business in Philadelphia, having
his main office on the eighth floor of the North
American building, and his uptown office at
He has
No. 3812 North Sixteenth street.
been active along political, Masonic and church
lines.
On June i, 1909, George L. Rote married Mary Adelaide Moore, of Philadelphia,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stickney
Moore, and granddaughter of the late Thomas
Moore, of the former chemical firm of
Powers, Weightman & Moore. Both brothers,
Harry L. and George L. Rote, were educated

in the Danville schools, tlie latter brother also
completing courses in Potts Shorthand College,

Williamsport, Pa., and Temple College,

Philadelphia.

WilHam H. Rote

died in Danville, Feb. 19,

1881.

members of the Laubach family
country came from Holland and settled in Pennsylvania.
John George Laubach,

The

first

in this

born in Bucks county. Pa., Nov. 11, 1729, is
the ancestor of several branches who settled
in Bucks, Northampton, Columbia and Montour counties, and reared large families. The
children of John George laubach were
Susan John Michael John .\nna Alay John
Christian (great-grandfather of George Laubach Rote) John Conrad, who died in in:

;

fancy; John Conrad (2);
Catherine; John
George;
Elizabeth.
John Christian

Anna Margaret;
and

Walburg;

Laubach, born

Bucks

county. Pa.. June 30, 1764. was the first of
the family to locate in Columbia county, setThree years later he
tling there in 1790.
moved to Sugarloaf township, took up a tract
of four hundred acres on what is now known
as Fritz Hill, and followed farming until his

He and
death, on March 15, 1825.
were buried at St. Gabriel's Church.
united in marriage

who was born
and died July

in
8.

Anna

j\Iary

Pennsylvania Feb.
1823.

They

his

wife

He was
Frutchy,

1773.
reared a large
3,

Susan, who marJohn Moore, was the mother of eight
and lived to the age of ninety-one

family of children, namely
ried

children,

years; John, who married Anna Kline;
George, who married Elizabeth Coleman, a
daughter of Benjamin Coleman, and who was
one of the early settlers of Sugarloaf township, but during his later years resided in

Michigan; Frederick, who married Alary
Larish, by whom he had eight children Peter,
a leading citizen of the county and State;
Hannah, who became the wife of Thomas
Conner, of Bloomsburg, Pa., and had three
;

sons and two daughters Elizabeth, who was
the wife of William Cole, and bore him nine
children Anna Margaret, who married William Ikeler, and died in Fishingcreek township; Polly, wife of John Ikeler, who moved
to Michigan Catherine, who married John R.
Davis, was the mother of nine children, and
resided in Benton township, Columbia county;
and Christian, late of Danville, Pennsylvania.
Christian Laubach, youngest in the family
of John Christian Laubach, was born Feb.
;

;

in Sugarloaf township, Columbia
and had lost both of his parents
when he was nine years old. At about the
age of fifteen he left the old home farm and
went with his handful of belongings to
Orangeville, and later to Danville, where he

22,

Co.,

1816,
Pa.,

lived with Peter Baldy, Sr., for whom he
He had attended
clerked in a general store.
the old log schoolhouse in his native township.
When seventeen years old he commenced his
career as a merchant, and in 1837 returned to
Danville, where he continued clerking until
he began business on his own account, in
1845. Meantime he had earned enough to enable him to open a mercantile establishment,
and he had a profitable trade from the start,
remaining in business at the same location
about Nos. 317, 319 and 323 Mill street, for
fifty-five years, by industry and application accumulating a comfortable fortune. He
was one of the oldest and most respected merFrom time to time,
chants of the borough.
as his increased patronage demanded, he enof
his
business, and he conlarged the scope
ducted the grocery and dry goods branches in
separate stores when that Ijecame advisable.

about

Few men of his town were more progressive
or alive to the interests of the place. He was
associated with many civic and municipal
for the betorganizations, and all movements
terment of his fellowmen enlisted his attention
and had

his

encouragement.

He had

important

business investments besides his stores, having
been treasurer of the Danville Mutual Insur-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ance Company, and long prominently connected with the First National Bank, being
one of its organizers, for three years president,
and afterward member of the board of

However, it was his high character,
that gained him personal adwhich
miration,
gave Mrr Laubach his position of influence in the community.
He was
elected chief burgess, and held that office to
trustees.

the

qualities

the satisfaction of all concerned. On political
He was a
questions he was a Republican.
member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
Church, and served as trustee and steward,
for wherever he went he was depended upon
to assist with the management of affairs.
He
died in Danville, June 22, 1903, at the age of

eighty-seven years, having retired from active
business three years before his death.
In 1842 Mr. Laubach married Hannah Hefler, who was of German descent, daughter of
Jacob Hefler. Mrs. Laubach was considered
one of the leading women of her day, particularly during the active and exciting times
of the Civil war, when she assisted in equipping companies of soldiers and doing much
humane work, such as a public-spirited woman
could do. Her house in the heart of the town

was headquarters for military organizations.
She conducted one of the most fashionable
millinery establishments of the time, and her

memory remains dear

many

of the older

people of Danville. She was born in Hyacinth
township, Bucks Co., Pa., Oct. 17, 1815, and
died in Danville, Pa., Jan. 30, 1890, aged
seventy-five years. Like her husband she was
an active member of the Methodist Church.
They were the parents of six children, one
son and five daughters, namely: Martha B.,
who married S. T. Lees, and died April 30,
1890; Emma A., wife of Lewis E. Woods;
Mary Ellen, wife of William H. Rote (deceased) ; Sallie K., wife of Albert W. Pierce;
George; and Elizabeth, wife of Charles A.

Jameson.

553

former owner having been Reuben Haines, a
It would appear,
brewer, of Philadelphia.
however, that he had concluded the purchase
and settled in this section some years previous
to the time this title was acquired.
His settlement in this section marks an important
period in

But

its

little

history.
is

known regarding

the personal

He was an Irish
history of John Eves.
Friend, born in 1720, and reiimved to America
about the year 1738. He was in good circumstances in Mill Creek Hundred, and held
various offices of responsibility. One of his
experiences as constable reveals the resolute
and determined character of the man. He was
given the warrant for the arrest of a miscreant who defied the power of the law, and
threatened to take the life of the officer as he
But the latter walked boldly
approached.
forward and disarmed him without a struggle.
was
not complete, however, as
The victory
the obstinacy of the culprit

was

eijual to his

cowardice, and he refused to walk, whereupon the constable tied his prisoner to the
horse, and they proceeded without further
Another trait of his character is
difficulty.
illustrated
by an occurrence during his
residence here. While in Philadelphia on one
occasion he advanced the passage money of
Larry Flinn and his wife, two destitute
Friends who had recently arrived from England.
They would then have been obliged to
remain in his service for several years, but he
received them into his family and they never
In 1 75 1 John Eves married Edith
left it.

an English lady, said to have
as well
possessed great strength of character
as personal beauty. They were the parents of
seventeen children, fourteen of whom reared
Their names with dates of birth
families.

Yeatman,

Sarah, 4th mo., 24th, 1753
(died in 1762); Thomas, 2d mo., sth, 1755;
loth mo.,
John, 2d mo., 22d, 1757; Joseph,
in
30th, 1758; Mark, 7th mo.. i6th, 1760 (died
1762) William. 2d mo.. 2d. 1762; Chandlee,
i2mo., 14th. 1763; Elizabeth, i2mo.. 30th,
1765; Sarah. 5th mo., 14th. 1767; Edith, Sth
mo.^ 14th, 1767; Andrew, 6th mo.. 4th, 1769;
nth
Mary, nth mo., 24th. 1770; Priscilla,
mo., 3d, 1772; Mark, 4th mo.. Sth. 1774; Ann,
4th mo.. 2ist, 1775; Samuel, ist mo., 1778;
Ezra. 6th mo., 28th, 1782. John Eves, Sr.,
died 7th mo., ist, 1802. and Edith (Yeatman)
Eves, 4th mo., 14th. 1818. Many of those who
bore the name have occupied positions of
honor and respectability in the various walks
are as follows:

;

SCOTT EVES,

druggist, of Danville,

Montour county, belongs to a family of
Quaker origin which has been located in Columbia county for one hundred and

forty

years.

John Eves, his earliest ancestor in this region, was one of the pioneer settlers in the vallev of Fishingcreek. He had come there from
Castle Co.. Del,
Mill Creek Hundred.
and located on a tract of 1,200 acres in the

New

townships of Greenwood and Madison,

in-

cluding the present site of Millville. The land
was secured by deed dated Nov. 29, 1774. the

life.

Joseph Eves, son of John, born loth mo.,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

554

married Sarah Parvin, and they
J. Parvin, Ezra, Milton, Sarah
(Mrs. Shively), Asenath (Mrs. Ashton),
Francis, Ehzabeth (Mrs. Swisher J and Marv
(Mrs. Marten).
J. Parvin Eves was born Dec. 9, 1790, on
the original plat of ground where his grandfather John located.
His wife, Anna, died
in the fall of 1872. when about
seventy-five
Tlie- children born to J. Parvin
years old.
and Anna Eves were:
Chandlee. Joseph,
Francis, George, Sarah, Rachel, Shadrach,
Elizabeth, Parvin. Ezra, Chalkley, Susan and
30th,

i/Sii,

had children

Elijah.

All lived to be

grown except

Chandlee Eves, son of

Elijah.

Parvin Eves, was

a tanner by trade, and for some time was interested in the tannery at Sereno, Columbia
county, at which place he died in the spring
of 1846.
His wife, Mary (Reece), also a
descendant of one of the jsioneer families of
the county, survived him many years.
They

had three children who lived
P., Anna R. and Joseph C.

to maturity,

these,

John
John

served in the Union army as a meniljer of
Company I, 136th Pennsylvania \'olunteer In-

was severely wounded

in the

arm

fantry,
the close of the Ijattle of Fredericksburg, by a
piece of shell, and died three days afterward.

Joseph C. Eves was born
at Sereno, Columbia county,
third child in the family of

Jan.

24,

1844,

second son and
Chandlee Eves.

During the Civil war he enlisted in Company
H, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, for one
hundred days' service. After his return from
the army he was engaged in driving team for
one year, and then learned the trade of wheelwright,
following that and wagonmaking
principally during the rest of his
tled

life.

set-

where he was a much reand he acted as postmaster at

Alillville,

spected citizen,
that place, receiving his appointment in 1904,
and serving until 1914. He is a member of
J. P. Eves>ost, No. 436, G. A. R.
On Oct. 28, 1871, Mr. Eves married Charlotte Heacock, daughter of Charles S. and
Hannah W. (Watson) Heacock, both of whom
were members of families settled at Millville.
Mr. Heacock was a farmer all his life. Mr.
and Mrs. Eves had a family of five children,
viz.: May B., who lives at home; Eunice, who
teaches domestic science in the Philadelphia
Curtis C, an ear. nose and
public schools
Charles
throat specialist in
Philadelphia
Scott; and one child that died in infancy.
C. Scott Eves was born Dec. 13, 1879, at
Millville, Columbia county, where he received
When fifteen years old he behis schooling.
;

gan clerking

in a

drug store

at Millville, be-

ing thus engaged four years, during which
time he acquired considerable knowledge of
pharmacy, besides familiarizing himself with
the details of the business. He then attended
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy three
years, finishing the course in 1901.
Coming
to Danville, he was a druggist's clerk here for
four years, at the end of that time going to
Detroit, Mich., where he was with the large
house of Parke, Davis & Co., for a year and a
half.
He next went to Oklahoma, where he

was employed

in a drug store a year and a
Returning to his home at Millville, Pa.,
he soon went to Renovo, Pa., but after about

half.

months there came to Danville again, this
At that time he opened his
being in 19 10.
present drug store, which has been a success
six

from the start, his thorough knowledge of the
business combined with a sincere desire to
give satisfaction to his patrons resulting in a
Besides his intersteady increase of trade.
ests in Danville Mr. Eves owns land in the
South. He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks
No. 754
of the Sons
at Danville
lodge
of Veterans of Danville Lodge No. 224, F.
(

)

;

A. M.

;

and Beaver Lodge No.

132,

Knights

of Pythias, Danville.

DERR, formerly principal of the Danhigh school, then county superintendent,
afterward a merchant and now in the insurance business, was born in Moreland, LycomF. C.

ville

July 29, 1836. His parents,
and Mary (Opp) Derr, were
natives of the Keystone State and descended
from English and (lerman ancestors, respecThe father was born in what is now
tively.
Anthony township, Montour county, and was
ing

Co.,

Pa.,

Christopher

only a boy

Mary Opp

when his father died. He married
in Lycoming county, apd they had

ten children, viz.
Frederick, Jane,

Hannah, Philip Opp, John
Phoebe Ann, George Wash:

M., James Wilson. Franklin
ington,
C, and Jacob Daniel. The parents are buried

Thomas

Moreland.
Derr spent his boyhood on a farm with
his parents, and, like most country boys of
the time, his early educational advantages were
At the age of
limited to the district school.
eighteen he entered the academy at McEwensLater he beville, Northumberland county.
came a student at Bucknell University, Lewisin

F. C.

burg,

leaving

this

institution

his

sopho-

more year and entering the University of
Rochester. N. Y., where he graduated in i860.
In an academy near his alma mater, Mr. Derr
entered upon his chosen profession. In 1862
he returned to his native State, and accepted

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the jjosition of principal of the Danville high
school, remaining at the head of this institution for twenty years.
He soon popularized

himself by elevating the high school to a degree of excellence seldom attained in a country
town. Possessing, in addition to a vast store
of knowledge, the faculty of bringing himself
into iiappy fellowship with the young in their
aims and aspirations, he at once endeared liimself to his pupils and impressed them with
his rare ability as a teacher.
Mr. Derr now
finds himself surrounded in all circles by those
who were his pupils at one time or another
during his long career as a teacher. It would
be (litficult. indeed, to limit the extent to whicli
Danville is indebted to him for its mental culture.
In 1881 he received his appointment as
school superintendent of Montour county, and
his term of three years in that responsible
position

ment

was marked by a gradual improveunder his charge, besides

in the schools

the unusually pleasant relations existing be-

tween the teachers and superintendent.
In 1882 Mr. Derr went into the boot and
shoe business in Danville, in partnership with
William E. Lunger. The same confidence reposed in him as a teacher was shown during
his career as a merchant, and at no time was
the firm of Derr & Lunger without a liberal
In 1887 he
portion of the town's patronage.
and IMr. Lunger dissolved partnership, Mr.
Derr acquiring the sole ownership and continuing the business until 1898.
During this
time he also took up life insurance work, in

which he

is still engaged.
1873 ^Ir. Derr married Martha B.
Bowyer, daughter of John Bowyer, of Danville, and this union was blessed with one
Clarence F.
Mr. Derr is a Knight
child,
Templar, a member of Danville Lodge No.
F.
&
A.
and
M.,
224,
Chapter No. 239, R. A.
M. He is a Republican in politics and has
taken some part in public affairs, serving three
In June, 1863, he enyears as councilman.

listed

the

L^nited

States

service

for

the

''Emergency" when Lee invaded our State.

is a member of the Mahoning Presbyterian
Church, which he has served as trustee twelve
years, retiring from the office at the end of the

time.

now

trustee of the

Thomas

Beaver Public Library.
Clarence F. Derr, only child of Mr. and
Mrs. F. C. Derr, was born June 23, 1883, and
died April 22. 1905. Had he been spared until
June following he would have been twenty-

two years of

age.

He was

yoimg man of
shown in his

fine character, his disposition, as

intercourse

with

his

fellowmen, being uni-

555

formly kind, generous and obliging. Although
of retiring manners and without any vanity,
He
yet he had many talents, well cultivated.
was finely educated and was well read. He
was fond of music and he loved the beautiful,
the pure and the good. All in all, whether as
a child or as a young man, whose estate he
had just attained when cut down by the Grim
Reaper, he was such a person as commanded
the love and respect of everyone.
He was a
member of the Alahoning Presbyterian Church.
He was a graduate of the Danville high school,
belonging to the class of 1901. Immediately
after graduating he entered the Danville National Bank as clerk, a position which he held
at the time of his death.
"Oh Clarence, we do not think of Death
think of you
as ever having come to you.
as some strangely beautiful being, that one day
rose out of these earthly marshes, where hunts
the dark fowler, and uttering your note of
divine farewell spread your wings toward the
!

to await

our com-

JASPER NEWTON PURSEL,

of Dan-

open sea of Eternity, there

clerk for the Danville Structural Tubing Company, whose plant is one of the two
large industrial establishments where so many
ville, is

residents of the borough find employment. He
is a brother of William G. Pursel, one of the

Mr. Pursel was born in Danville
owners.
Dec. 21, 1874, son of Hugh Pursel, who has
been a resident of this place since 1845.
Mr. Pursel's great-great-grandmother was
an Arnwine her brother was a colonel in the
English army during the Revolution.
:

Jacob

Pursel,

great-grandfather

came to this region from
and was the first settler in Frosty
wife was Jane Hill.
Pursel,

New

Mr.

Jersey,

\'alley.

His

Hugh Pursel, son of Jacob and Jane (Hill)
Pursel, was born in 1800 in Valley township,
lived in Frosty \'alley, Limestone township,
with his parents, and learned blacksniithing,
which trade he continued to follow until
some time after his marriage. He worked
in Milton, Northumberland
Shore, and while at the latter
acres in the
place" bought a tract of 173
all
Nippenose valley. Limestone township,
Some time later he moved
then in timber.
and
house
barn,
a
onto this tract, built
log
and started the work of clearing, continuing
to live there until 1845, when he moved
There he was
with his family to Danville.
at

and

that

calling

Jersey

employed at liis trade in Brandon's blacksmith shop until the spring of 1850. when he

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

556

returned to his farm in the Nippenose valley,
operating same until his death, which occurred

He married Rachel
born in 1798, daughter of
(Gregg) Childs, the former
the latter of Scotch descent.
in 1868.

Childs, who was
John and JNIary
an Englishman,

Mrs. Pursel died

Sept. 15, 1850. To Mr. and Mrs. Pursel were
born the following children Mary Elizabeth
married Thomas Perry, and both are deceased ;
:

Francis Bond married Elizabeth Van Dyke,
and both are deceased Rebecca Jane, deceased, married Frank Everhart; Joseph Newton, deceased, married Priscilla Lewis, of
Buffalo, N. Y.
Hugh married Mary Ann
Lentz, who is- deceased Agnes Jamella is the
widow of Lampert Van Dyke, and makes her
;

;

home

at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Pursel, son of Hugh and Rachel
Pursel, was born Aug. 9, 1832, in
Northumberland, Northumberland Co., Pa.,
and passed his childhood in Nippenose Valley,
Limestone township, coming thence with the
Before that he
family to Danville in 1845.
had assisted with the farm work, the family
living on land which the Pursels had cleared.
When the "big mill" was built at Danville he

Hugh

(Childs)

found employment there, and he continued to
work at that plant and in other rolling mills
1905, since when he has lived retired.
one of the promoters and a stockholder of the Cooperative Iron & Steel ComHe has always been faithful to his
pany.
until

He was

and served at one time
borough council for six
Ann Lentz,
years. Mr. Pursel married Mary
daughter of John and Catherine (Welshans)
Lentz, and granddaughter of William \\'elshans, of Lycoming county, Pa., where the
Welshans were located for a considerable
at the
period. Mrs. Pursel died May 20, igo6,
age of sixty-four years. She was the mother
William Grant
of six children, namely
duties as a citizen,
as member of the

;

Elizabeth, wife of W. J. Williams; Francis,
deceased; Robert B., of Danville, who marand
ried Lillian Andrew
Jasper Newton
Agnes R., who married Arthur Prout, of DanDanof
master
ville.
Hugh Pursel is a past
ville Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M.
After his school days were over Jasper Newton Pursel clerked for a time and later engaged
In 1899
in the cigar business for four years.
he began work at the Danville Structural
Tube Works, where he has since been em;

;

holding the position of
a valued official, and has labored
where
zealously in the interest of the company,
He is a
his services have been appreciated.
Mason, belonging to Danville Lodge, No. 224,
ployed,

clerk.

present

& A. M., and is also a member of Beaver
Lodge, No. 132, Knights of Pythias. He is a
working member of St. Paul's Methodist
Church, being president of the board of
trustees and assistant superintendent of the
F.

Sunday school. Air. Pursel is at present
treasurer of the Danville school board; after
eleven years' service in that body he was reelected in 1913, for six years.
Mr. Pursel married on Aug.
Martha E. Evans, who was born

18,

1897,
Sept. 11,

1878, in East Danville, daughter of Thomas
B. and Mary Ann (Evans) Evans, of DanBeaville, and they have had four children
:

trice

E.,

born July

15,

1898; Marion, born

Aug. 14, 1902; Helen A., born Nov. 11, 1906;
and William T., born Alay 8, 191 1. Beatrice
is in high school, and Marion and Helen are
attending the grade schools.

ADONIRAM JUDSON

STILL, who

lives

retired at Danville, belongs to an old Pennsylvania family of Swiss origin, the emigrant
ancestor having come to this country from
Switzerland and settled in what was then the

Province of Pennsylvania. His descendants
are quite numerous in the southeastern part
of the State.
Charles Still, grandson of the emigrant, was
He was
the grandfather of A. Judson Still.

farmer by occupation, and lived to be
seventy-nine. His wife, Catherine (Sheldrich),
who was born in Pennsylvania July 21, 1784,
lived to the age of eighty-two years. She was
the daughter of Mary Ann (Laughbaugh)
a

Sheldrich, born in i/(X). and granddaughter
of Johannus Laughbaugh, who was born in

1728 in Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Still
had a family of twelve children, all of whom

grew

to maturity.

Oct.

15,

Rev. Amos B. Still, son of Charles, was
born near Chester Springs, Chester Co., Pa.,

and was the eleventh in his
He was reared on the farm.
sixteen years old he was converted and
1823,

parents'' family.

When

tlie Vincent Baptist Church, of
which his parents, brothers and sisters were
members. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the miller's trade, having spent
the previous years working on the farm in
summer and attending the public school in the
winter seasons. After spending six years at
the milling business he became convinced that
and in
it was his duty to become a preacher,

united with

October, 1846, left home to prepare himself
He entered the academic defor the work.
in New York
partment of Madison University
and there completed his academic
State,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
studies; thence,
1848, he entered the university at Lewisburg, Pa., the
collegiate department, and graduated in 1852
with the second honors of his class.
Soon
after he took charge of the Logan Valley
Baptist Church, in Blair county, Pa., where
he had an opportunity to study theology, having the use of the library of Rev. A. K. Bell.
On Aug. 15. 1854, he married Hannah, daughter of John Deen, Sr., of Danville, and shortly
in

the

fall

after accepted a call to the

Huntingdon Baptist

Church, entering upon his labors in the
autumn. There he had arduous duties, preaching three times on Sunday, and also through
the week, and spent the greater part of the
winter in protracted meetings in his own
field, and assisting at meetings in neighboring churches. His labors were greatly blessed,
and large numbers were converted and added
to the church.
He remained pastor for over
four years, during which time he was instrumental in organizing the Spruce Creek
In the fall of 1858, at the
Baptist Church.
earnest desire of the Center Baptist Assohe
entered
ciation,
upon missionary work and
spent over a year in earnest and self-denying
labor with the feeble destitute churches atid
in

destitute places.

The

calls

for his labors

were numerous and pressing, and were
abundantly blessed in the salvation of many
souls.
He next accepted a call to the First
Baptist Church at Danville, where he began
Here he
his duties as pastor April i, i860.
remained for two years amid the excitement
of the Civil war. He then became pastor of
the Lawrenceville Baptist Church, in Chester
county, in ,\pril, 1862. where he had a field
of labor which taxed all his energies, and at
that time, though he never entered the army,
took a deep interest in supporting the government.
Having spent two years there he ac-

cepted a

call

the spring of

1864 to the

Grove Baptist Church, Salem county,
N. T-, where he reaped abundant harvests in
lui the spring
the building up of the church.
Pitts

of 1867 he returned to Danville that he might
give some attention to his wife's estate, and
spent the greater part of the following seven
years in preaching for the destitute churches
in the Northumberland Association.
During
this

time he was instrumental in reorganizing

Baptist Church, and also in
Church at
first
the
Baptist
In the spring of 1874 he acShamokin.
cepted a call and became pastor of the Marlthe

Sunbury

organizing

New

ton Baptist Church,
Jersey, where he
remained about four years, and in April, 1878,
took up his labors as pastor of the Bethlehem
in

557

Hunterdon county, N. J.,
Baptist Church,
where he continued for eight years. During
that period he gave much time to
Sunday
school and Prohibition work.
In the fall of
1885 he was chosen moderator of the Central
in

New Jersey Baptist Association, at Baptistown, and in the spring of 1886 closed his
labors with the Bethlehem Church and returned to Danville. After returning to Danville he did not have
charge of any church,
but frequently was engaged with temporary
services to various churches in the Northumberland Baptist Association. He reached the
age of eighty-nine years, his death occurring
Jan. 26, 1913. His mental faculties remained
clear until the last week of his life. The latter years of his life he spent with his son
Judson. His wife passed away Dec. 21, 1899,
at the age of seventy-eight years.
They had
two

children, Adoniram Judson and William
the latter dying JNIarch 18, 1864.

Mrs. Haimah (Deen) Still was born at DanDec. 28, 1820, daughter of John Deen,

ville,

who was born

Dec. 22, 1783, in Pennsylvania,
of Scotch origin.
His father was an old sea
His mother,
captain and was lost at sea.
Eleanor (Frazier), was a native of Scotland.
She married John Wilson, and died in Danville, Oct. I, 1827, in her sixty-sixth year;
she was buried in the old Presbyterian cemetery.
John Deen lived at Danville with his
uncle, Daniel Frazier, with whom he came

from Philadelphia in 1790. His uncle's log
house was on the hillside a little east of Bloom
street, near the present site of the Reformed
Church, his farm covering the ground that is
now the Fourth ward. Here, at the shorttermed subscription schools, John acquired
what education he possessed. In 1796 he was
apprenticed to Mr. Hendrickson to learn
Later he followed farming.
blacksmithing.
In 1809 he married Mary Flack, daughter of
Hugh and Susan Flack, who was born near

Washingtonville. in April, 1785. The Flacks
were a large family, of Irish extraction, and
their descendants are intermarried with many
In 1809 ^Mr. Deen
of the pioneer families.
and wife came to Danville. The town was
then a mere hamlet of log buildings scattered
over the territory west of what is now Church
He located on
street and south of the canal.
the corner now occupied by W. G. Shoop,
where he lived until 1814. Here he had his
smith shop here three of his children were
born, viz.: Thomas (who died at the age of
He then
five years), John and Julia Ann.
purchased ground on the opposite side of the
street of Daniel Montgomery, and thereon
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

558

is now the eastern end of'the
frame house adjoining the pubUc Hbrary on
the west, in which he hved the remainder of

erected what

his life.

The work in a blacksmith shop in those
days was very different from to-day. There
was very little machinery everything had to
be hammered out on the anvil, and charcoal
was the only fuel used. Mr. Deen's account
;

the canal was opened he owned and ran a
boat thereon in the coal trade.
At an age
when ordinary men retire largely from active
business life, he built a
tannery on the river

near Church street. On Jan. 5,
1852, his wife
died.
After a long and useful life,
widely
and
beloved by a great circle of
esteemed,
and
he
breathed
his last July
family
friends,
10, 1864, leaving behind seven children.
One

books are still in the possession of the family child died young. His oldest son, John, marand here are recorded business transactions ried Jane Hutton, and died in 1874.- Julia
dated at so remote a period as now to pos- Ann became the wife of John
Bowyer.
For instance, James married Margaret Sanders. Jane marsess much historical interest.
here
are
some
ried
between 1820 and 1830
Thomas Brandon. Hannah married Rev.
prices
for his work: "Setting pair horseshoes, 123^ Amos B. Still. Perry, the youngest son, marcents pair steel-toed shoes, 58 cents toeing ried Mary Jane Ritchie, and after her death
old shoes, 12^2 cents; pair of shoes (not he married Jane Fullmar. Susan, the youngtoed), 463/2 cents; mending bridle-bit, 123/S est of the family, married Isaac Tyler and
;

;

cents; 12 screws, 59 cents; laying a hammer
with steel (both ends), 46'-j cents; ironing a

two-horse wagon, $15; laying an ax with cast
Bar iron at that time was
steel, 70 cents."
worth $100 to $120 per ton. Soon after making his residence here Mr. Deen obtained an
interest in a fishery located above the mouth
of Mahoning creek, and also one at Gulp's
Eddy, above. The tish caught here at that
time were many and of the best quality, shad
weighing as high as seven pounds, salmon

weighing fifteen pounds, and rock-fish thirt.\The best fish sold at six or seven
pounds.
The women made the twine
cents a pound.
of which the nets were made, and they then
also made the clothes worn by men and women.
The spinning-wheel and the loom were
then to be heard in almost every house. The
first woolen factory was erected in Danville
about a century ago.
It was on Mahoning

died in 1865.

A. Judson Still was born Dec. 25, 1855, in
Huntingdon county, Pa., and received his education at the various places where the family
lived as his father's duties necessitated.

When

he was sixteen years old his health failed and
he took up gardening to recuperate, doing that
kind of work in .\ew Jersey for five years.
In 1886 he came to Danville, where he fol-

lowed gardening eight years, after which he
was in the employ of the Welliver Hardware

Company for five years.
the rural mail service, in
until 1904,

In 1901 he entered

which he continued

when he engaged

in the insurance
business.
After three years in that line he
retired from active business pursuits, and has

since been enjoying his leisure.

Mr.

Still

and

family have always been interested and
effectixe workers in the Baptist Church.
He
has not been especially active in town aft'airs,
he
takes
the
interest
of
a
public spirthough
ited citizen in advancing the betterment of the
and
has
been
a
in the Prohe
worker
locality,
his

Northumberland .street crossing.
These writings are suggested by gleanings
from Mr. Deen's old account book. His close
industry and economy brought him prosperity, hibition party.
In ]888 ^Ir. Still married Dora Kneibler,
and in 1820 he purchased of General Montgomery the land rvmning eastward along the who was born in Danville Oct. 29, 1866,
south side of Market street, paying $100 per (laughter of Henry Kneibler, of Xew Jersey,
acre for it.
This was stony ground, not fit and his wife Rebecca (Reed), the latter born
Mr. Kneibler was an iron
for cultivation.
It was once a great place
.\pril 9, 1845.
It has long been covered
to pick blackberries.
worker, and his father was employed in the
with fine improvements. In 1826, in addition mines connected with the Waterman & Beaver
Mrs. Rebecca (Reed) Kneibler
to his business of farming and his large black- iron works.
smith shop, he purchased of the patentee the was a daughter of Alice (Barret) Reed, born
right to manufacture threshing machines and Dec. 13, 1816; granddaughter of Nathan Baropened a factory. These were evidently good ret, born March 21, i7<'>6, and great-grandmachines and well made, and A. J. Still, daughter of Jonathan Barret, born Dec. 8,
grandson of Mr. Deen, saw one of them in 1722.
Mr. and Mrs. .Still have had one child.
1868, which was still fit for service. Mr. Deen
had contracts on the canal, then being con- Ralph A., born June q. 1891, who graduated
structed, as well as on the river bridge. When in 1913 from Bucknell University, at Lewiscreek, at the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
where

his

grandfather graduated
burg,
He at once ensixty-one years previously.
tered upon his chosen profession, newspaper
work, as reporter with the Philadelphia Press.
I'a.,

559

Ryan, who was born June 4, 1845, daughter
of P>anklin and Elizabeth
(Uillmeyer) Ryan,
of Muncy, and
granddaughter of George and
Annie (Himmelreich) Billmeyer.
Mr. and
Mrs. Ryan had three children Mary A., Mrs.
Kelley; Emma J., born Sept. 21, 1847, Mrs.
William Billmeyer; and Sarah E., born March
10, 185 1, Mrs. Daniel Billmeyer.
Mrs. Kelley
survives her husband, living in her home near
Six children were born to
Washingtonville.
them, namely: Ida E., born Sept. 25, 1865,
wife of James Mowrer; Emma L., born Sept.
7, 1866, at home; Bruce C.
Jesse B., born
Aug. 31, 1872, who is in partnership with his
brother in the milling business at Washingtonville; Mame V., born Dec. 17, 1874, wife
of Frank E. Martz; and Fannie M., born
:

BRUCE

KELLEY

is senior member of
C.
the firm of Kelley Brothers, proprietors of
the flour mill at Washingtonville, in Derry
township, Montour county, who have the only
industrial establishment in their immediate

now

Although
locality.
in equipment, it is
section,

for

and has

many

thoroughly modern

the oldest plant in that
supplied the neighborhood

years.
Kelley,

born Dec. 22, 1803, the
grandfather of Bruce C. Kelley, was a farmer
and hotel keeper in Liberty township, Montour county, when he died. On Feb. 10, 1820,
he married Catherine Billmeyer, a native of
Liberty township, born Sept. 10, 1800, who

Martin

preceded him

death occurchildren as fol-

to the grave, her

ring in Danville.

They had

John, born Sept. 24, 1823, who marRoat Frances, born Nov. 28,
1825, Mrs. Thomas Leidy; Jesse, born Feb.
10, 1827, who married Catherine Crawford;

lows

ried Elizabeth

;

Andrew, born March

1829; Benjamin,
born July 20, 1832; Martin, born April 10,
1835; George, born March 9, 1838, who married Annie Billmeyer; and Jacob, born Aug.
George is the only survivor of thi«
5, 1841.
18,

family.

Martin Kelley, son of Martin and Catherine
(Billmeyer) Kelley, was born April 10, 1835,
at Mexico, in Liberty township.
Being quite
young when his ])arents died, he worked among
well
as
relatives, lumbering as
farming, continuing thus until the Civil war broke out,
when he enlisted for three months in the
"Columbia Guards," Company C, 14th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. Wade HampThe company served a month over its
ton.
term, and was discharged at Carlisle, Pa. Moving to Muncy, Pa., a couple of years after his
marriage, Mr. Kelley remained there sixteen
near
years, in 1882 moving to Spruce Run,
Millville, Columbia county, where he operated
a sawmill for a year and a half. Then he settled upon the Frazier farm near Washingtonville, where he lived until his retirement,
twenty years later, at that time moving to the
home near Washingtonville at which he resided until his death, which occurred Jan. 24,
He was a c|uiet man. attending strictly
1905.
to his work and taking no part in other affairs.
In politics he was a Democrat.
A vear after his return from the army Mr.
Kelley married, .March 17, 1864, Mary A.

;

April 26, 1881, who died Feb. 7, 1882.
Bruce C. Kelley was born March 3, 1870,
at Muncy, Pa.
He received his education in
the common schools, but was only a boy of
eleven years when he began to work, tiring
the boiler in the sawmill for his father, remaining with his parents until nineteen years
old.
Subsequently for seven years he was

employed in the Washingtonville flour mill,
after which he worked among farmers until
1903, when he and his brother bought the mill.
This mill

run by both steam and water

now fitted with all the modern
was established about the time
appliances.
the town started, and is the oldest manufacpower, and

turing plant in this section, where through all
it
has held its own.
The present

changes

proprietors have pursued an energetic policy,
and the product is justly popular, so that their
trade is not confined to the immediate locality, on which the mill had always depended
for support, considerable flour being shipped
Mr. Kelley is a reliable and
to other points.
enterprising business man, as the improvements made in the mill alone would testify,
and he is considered one of the most subHe has
stantial citizens of his community.
never had any ambition to hold office.

On
Lydia

Nov.
St.

22,

Clair,

1904,

Mr.

married
December,

Kelley

who was born

1869, in Derry township, Montour county,
daughter of .Abraham D. and Rosanna (Turner) St. Clair, the former of whom is deceased he was a farmer by occupation. Mr.
and Mrs. Kelley have no children. His famwith the Methoily has long been associated
dist Church.
;

WILLIAM BENTON STARTZEL,
sheriff of

was born

Montour county,
at that

ex-

living at Danville,

borough Sept.

1870, son of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR. COUNTIES

560

Frank P. and Sarah (Gulick) Startzel. Both
parents are natives of Northumberland county.
Frank P. Startzel came of German

stock,

while his wife's ancestry was Scotch-Irish.
He was a painter and paperhanger, and early
in the sixties located at Danville, Pa., where
he has since carried on a good business in his
line.
During the Civil war he enlisted for

service in the Union army and served from
Coming
1863 until the close of hostilities.
back home after his honorable discharge, he
resumed his business cares.

W'illiam Benton Startzel received his educatraining in the public schools of his
native place, and then went into the painting
and paperhanging business with his father,
thus continuing until 1905. For the next five
years he was a salesman, and then in 1910
was elected sheriff of Montour county for a
period of four years, on the Democratic
ticket, he being one of the leading members of
His term of
his party in Alontour county.
tional

expiring in 1914, he resumed his former
occupation, painting.
In 1897 Mr. Startzel married Viola Reed,
of Rush township, Northumberland Co., Pa.,
a daughter of J. Miles and Sarah (Fields)
Reed. Mr. Reed is a farmer in Rush townFour children have been born to exoffice

ship.

and Mrs. Startzel Frank Reed, Jacob
and Sarah, who are living; and one
who is deceased. Shiloh Reformed Church
holds the membership of Mr. and Mrs. Startzel, and he is a Blue Lodge Mason (member
of Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. ^l.)
and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of
Sheriff
Orville

America.

Limestone township, lived in Frosty Valand learned blacksmithing, which trade he continued to follow until
in

ley with his parents,

some time
at

that

after his marriage.

He worked

Milton, Northumberland
and Jersey Shore, and while at the latter
place bought a tract of 173 acres in the
calling

Nippenose valley. Limestone township, all
then in timber.
Some time later he moved
onto this tract, built a log house and barn,
and started the work of clearing,
continuing
to live there until 1845, when he moved with
his family to Danville.
There he was employed at his trade in Brandon's blacksmith
shop until the spring of 1850, when he returned to his farm in the Nippenose valley,
operating same until his death, which occurred in 1868.
He married Rachel Childs,
who was born in 1798, daughter of John and
Mary (Gregg) Childs, the former an" Englishman, the latter of Scotch descent.
.Mrs.
Pursel died Sept. 15, 1850. To Mr. and Mrs.
Pursel were born the following children:
Mary Elizabeth married Thomas Perry, and
both are deceased
Francis Bond married
Elizabeth Van Dyke, and both are deceased
Rebecca Jane married Frank Everhart, and
both are deceased; Joseph Newton, deceased,
married Priscilla Lewis, of Buffalo, N. Y.
Hugh married Mary Ann Lentz, who is deceased
Agnes Jamella is the widow of
Lampert Van Dyke, and makes her home at
;

;

\\'illiamsport,

Pennsylvania.

Pursel, son of Hugh and Rachel
Pursel, was born Aug. 9, 1832, at
Northumberland, in Northumberland county.
Pa., and passed his childhood in the Nip-

Hugh

fChilds)

Pursel,

penose valley. Limestone township, coming
thence with his parents to Danville in 1845.
Before that he had assisted with the farm
work, the family living on land which the
Pursels had cleared.
When the "big mill"
was built at Danville he found employment
there, and he continued to work at that plant
and in other rolling mills until 1905. since
when he has lived retired. He was one of
the promoters and a stockholder of the Cooperative Iron & Steel Company. He has alwavs been faithful to his duties as a citizen,
and served as member of the council of the
borough for six years. Mr. Pursel married
Mary .'Vnn Lentz, daughter of John and
Catherine fWelshans") Lentz, and granddaughter of William Welshans, of Lvcom-

Hugh Pursel son of Jacob and Jane (Hill)
Pursel, was born in 1800 in Frosty \'alley.

Pa., where the Welshans family
for a considerable period.
Mrs.
Pursel died May 21. 1906. at the age of
sixtv-four vears. She was the mother of six

WILLIAM GRANT PURSEL.

joint proof the Danville
prietor with Tliomas J. Price
of the
is
one
Structural Tubing Company,
where he
leading manufacturers of Danville,
has been associated with the rolling mills

from the time he began work. He and Mr.
Price have had common interests for years.
Mr. Pursel is a native of Danville, born May
.\nn
1863, son of Hugh and Mary
30,
in
(Lentz) Pursel, who moved to Danville
1845.

Mr. Pursel's great-great-grandmother was
an Arnwine, and her brother was a colonel in
the English army during the Revolution.
Jacob

Pursel,

great-grandfather

Mr.

came to this region from New Jersey
and was the first settler in Frost>' Valley. ing county.
was located
His wife was Jane Hill.

'ci^tCUiA/'

AAJiy^

ASTOfi, L' KoX
TILDEN FCUNOA.IONS

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
namely: William Grant; Elizabeth,
wife of W. J. Williams; Francis, deceased;
Robert B., who married Lillian Andrew, of
Danville; Jasper Newton; and Agnes R.,
married to Arthur Rrout, of Danville. Mr.
Hugh Pursel is a past master of Danville
Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M.
William Grant Pursel received his educachildren,

tion in the public schools of Danville, attending high school, and as a youth began working in the Cooperative rolling mills here,
domg mill work for a year and a half, after

which for three years he was in the office.
His next position was with the Danville Nail
Company, for which he was clerk four years,
He left their employ to become chief clerk
the

for

Mill

Mahoning Rolling

Company,

which then operated the plant of which he is
now owner, and here he has remained,
through the various changes, to the present
In April, 1903, he united with Thomas
Price and Daniel M. Curry in the organiza-

time.
J.

tion of the Danville Structural

pany (Price, Pursel

Tubing Com-

Curry), he and Mr.

561

burg; and Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M.

S.,

of VVilkes-Barre.
On Oct. i8, 1894, Mr. Pursel was married
to Elizabeth Catherine Reinhardt, of Dan-

who was born Oct. 18, 1867, daughter
Mary Reinhardt. Mr. and Mrs.
Pursel have had five children, born as follows Harold Reinhardt, Oct. 26, 1895; Mary,
Jan. 13, 1899; Robert Newton, Feb. 4, 1902;
Catherme, Feb. 15, 1905; aixl Elizabeth,
ville,

of John and
:

March

21, 1908.

BENTON

BROWN

B.
resident of Danville,

has been a lifelong

Montour county, where

he was born Aug. 21, 1839, son of George B.
and Sarah A. (Gearhart) Brown.
His
father was a well

known man

circles of the place for years,

in tho business

and the Browns

have had intimate and honorable connection
with the history of this part of the State for
one hundred and twenty years. They have
been in America since the days of James
Brown, great-great-grandfather of Benton

Brown.
James Brown was born Nov. 12,
England, and coming to this country

Price taking the entire interest in the business and ownership of the property when Mr.
Curry died, in 1906. The record of growth
and progress made by this concern since then
is a credit to the borough and to the enterprise of the men who have its afl'airs in

old Bible belonging to the Brown family he
wrote: "England is my native land and Long
Island my home."
It is dated 1716.
He

liand.

moved

Mr. Pursel is a director of the Danville
National Bank.
He has filled several important public offices, and in the discharge of
their duties has given his fellow citizens the
benefit of that acumen and attention to detail

which has been so effective in securing the
He was treasprosperity of his own affairs.
urer of the borough from March. 1893, to

—

March, 1897; burgess one and a half terms
four and a half years having been first appointed to that office to fill an unexpired term
and then elected school director for three
years and is now president of the board of
water commissioners, to which body he was
He was
first appointed, under the new law.
treasurer and one of the directors of the
local Y. M. C. A., is a member of St. Paul's
Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political
sentiment is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the B. P. O. Elks, Lodge No. 754, of
Danville, and to the Masons, holding membership in Danville Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M.
Danville Chapter, No. 239, R.
(past master)
A. M. (past high priest)
Mount Moriah
Council. No. 10, R. & S. M. Calvary Commandery. No. 37. K. T. (past commander);
Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S., of Blooms-

—

;

lived first

on Long Island.

1716, in
in

1736

a fly-leaf of an

to Warren county, N. J., probably to
Hainesburg, where he owned a large tract of
land, extending three miles along the Pawlins
kill from Columbia to Hainesburg.
He died
Aug. 9, 1784. On July 25, 1745, he married
Sarah Allison, born July 18, 1721, and they
are buried in Warren county, N. J.
Their
children were born as follows
John. June
:

1819) James, May
15, 1753; Sarah, April
3, 1762; Charity, April
All but John lived and died in New

25, 1746 (died Sept. 24,

;

5, 1750; Martha, Nov.
10, 1757; Daniel, May

15, 1765.
Jersey.

John Brown, son of James, born June 25,
was a blacksmith by trade, and as such
in the American army, in the Revolutionary war, shoeing horses and repairing
guns in camp besides doing the regular duties
1746,

served

married Mary M. Brugler,
Warren county, N.
J., and his second marriage, on Oct. 21, 1794,
was to Mrs. Margaret Haines, widow of
Henry Haines. Mr. Brown owned considerable property in New Jersey, and built a stone
house with the date, 1789, above the door.
The house was still standing in 1899 and in
use; it was owned liy a Mr. P>rugler, one of
of a soldier.
died Oct.

who

his

descendants.

1793. in

Disposing of his property

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

562

in New Jersey Mr. Brown came to
Pennsylvania with his family in 1795, lirst purchasing
a large tract four miles east of the town of
Columbia county.
Mifflinville, in
Finding
this unsuitable for fanning he sold it and
bought four hundred acres about one mile
south of JNIifflinville, in Mifflin township, what
was later known as the Rosebud farm, for
which he paid about four thousand dollars.
There Mr. Brown continued to reside until

which occurred Sept. 24, 1819, and
he was one of the leading men of his section
his death,
in

his day.

built

a grist

and saw

mill

along what was known as the Ten Mile run,
and followed milling and farming. For many
years he was a justice of the peace, being
elected in 1808, and serving until his death. He
was treasurer of the Nescopeck Bridge Company at Berwick, Pa., as is shown by a share
of stock. No. 105, dated Aug. 6, 1814, which

came
son,

into the possession of his great-grand-

Hiram H. Brown,

Columbia county.
born to his
born Sept.

Scott township,
His five children were all

first

marriage, namely
1773 (died June 4,

James,
1820)
Samuel; Mary and Elizabeth, twins, born
March 30, 1782, the former of whom married
Joseph Otto, and moved to McKean county.
Pa., where she died April 29, 1862, while
Elizabeth married George Hess and settled in
10,

;

Benton township, Columbia county, where she
died Oct. 21, 1850; and Sarah, born April 13,
1787, wife of Henry Bowman (she lived and
died in MifHin township, Columbia county,
passing

The

away

Sept.

12,

1869).

members of

the

Brown

family
Methodists, and were
the
founders
of
early
among
Methodist congregation at Mifflinville, the
first Methodist Church of this district being
erected on part of John Brown's farm, he
donating the land. Many of his descendants
are associated with the same denomination.
in

this

early

region were

were born nine children:

John, born Jan. 13,
died Feb. 21, 1855; Mary Margaret,
13, 1803, married Samuel Creasy,
of Mifflin township; Sarah, born April ig,
married
1805,
George A. Bowman, of Scott
township, and died Aug. 15, 1856; William
N., born Feb. 15, 1807, died Sept. 16, 1876;
Matthew, born June 11, 1809, died June 25,
1851 (he farmed and had a powder mill in
Mifflin township j James, born Oct. 18, 181 1,
a boatman on the Schuylkill canal, died Jan.
5, 1833; Elizabeth, born Alarch 5, 1814, married Alexander Thompson, of Berwick, who
died before her; George B., bom Sept. 13,
1816, died at Danville; Elisha B. was born
May 13, 1819, and died Sept. 23, 1885. The
parents are buried in the Brown cemetery in
1801,

born March

;

Mifflin township.

Mrs. Brown was born

She belonged
1784, and died Feb. 23, 1847.
to a family of Nices living near the Delaware

Water Gap.
George B. Brown, son of Samuel, was born
Sept. 13, 1816, in Columbia county, and until
he reached the age of fourteen years remained
Durat home on the farm with his mother.
ing that time he attended one term of three
home
the
school
in
the
dismonths at
public
trict.
He then hired out to do farm work, be-

ing thus employed until seventeen years old,

when he went

to Mifflinville to clerk in a store.

Before long, however, he came thence to Danville, in 1834, and for the next two years
clerked in a dry goods store near the canal.

He then purchased the store of S. M. Bowman & Co. and engaged in the general mercantile business on his own account, conducting same for three or four years, at the

cultivated that place, and
in grist and saw milling, operating the mills his father erected until his death,
which occurred when he was in his prime,

end of which time he was sold out by the
His failure, instead of discouraging
sheriff.
him, gave him something more to work for,
as he was determined to pay oft' his debts,
which he did in full. He tried various undertakings which seemed promising, and at
one time had nine different enterprises under
way in Danville. In 1842 he put up the
Brown building and opened up the temperance hotel which he carried on for a few
he
years, later adding a livery business which
He then studied
conducted in connection.
for
practice
dentistry and when prepared
opened an office, following the profession sucthe
same
life.
At
his
the
end
of
to
cessfully
time he continued to be one of the active business men of the borough. In 1853 he became
interested in the book store with which he was
connected during the remainder of his days,

Oct. 12, 1823. To him and his wife Dorathy
(Nice), of Philadelphia, a native of Holland,

until i8s8,

the

principal

Samuel Brown, grandfather of Benton B.
Brown, was born April 2. 1778, in Warren
county, N. J., and came thence to Columbia
county. Pa., with the rest of the family. Upon
his father's death he inherited the homestead,
his father's holdings here being divided among
His was the tract of
four of the children.

130 acres which has been in the family for
over one hundred years, being still owned by
the Browns.
also

engaged

being associated with others in this venture
when he bought them out and be-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
came

the sole proprietor,
lie dealt in books,
stationery, artists' supplies, etc., and it was
he who circulated the lirst daily newspaper
in Danville, this branch of his business

grow-

ing steadily from the time he started it. He
was a member of the firm of Brown & Gearhart, general merchants, formed in 1837,
sold out in 1841. P^or a time Mr. Brown

a position

and
had

wath

the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, as tourist ticket agent.
Mr. Brown also took a leading part in the
government of the borough, serving as member of the council, one term as burgess, and
for many years as one of the most influential
members of the school board, of which body

he was treasurer over thirty-five years.
Pohe was a Republican, in religious connection a member of the Methodist Ei)iscopal
Church, which he served as one of the buildHis wife also belonged to
ing committee.
that church.
For about fifty-one years he
was a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. P".,
belonging to Danville Lodge, No. 224, F. &

litically

A. M., and to Odd P'ellows Lodge, No. 299.
In 1837 Mr. Brown married Sarah Ann
Gearhart, who was of Gennan origin, daughter of John and Sophia (Bowman) Gearhart,
and tliey had a family of four children: Benton B. Melissa D., born Aug. 23, 1842, Mrs.
Ostrander, of Danville John G., born Feb.
29, 1852, of Meriden, Conn. and William G.,
;

;

of Danville.

Mr. Brown died

May

27, 1896,

Mrs. Brown in August, 1900.
Benton B. Brown grew to manhood

Dan-

receiving his education in the public
schools and academy, and his early business
experience as clerk in his father's store. He
was thus engaged until 1861, when he enlisted,
April 22d, in Company C, 14th Pennsylvania
He
Volunteer Infantry, for three months.
was also in the Union service under a subse-

quent enlistment, on Jan. 22, 1864, in Company C, 187th Pennsylvania Regiment, and
received his discharge Aug. 5, 1865. For some
years after the war lie was an apprentice in
a machine shop, continuing in this work until
Then he became associated with the
1881.
local government, with which he has ever
since been connected in one official capacity or
In February, 1887, he was elected
another.

assessor for the Third ward, serving one year.
In 1893 he was elected constable and high
constable, which offices he is still holding. In
1897 he was appointed health officer for the
borough and he held that office continuously
the

in this

until

capacity

and notably

Dec.

1912.

His

was highly commend-

and worthy of the
fellow citizens showed by
efficient

appreciation his
retaining him in the public service for so long
a period.
Mr. Brown is prominent in lodge
circles, being a past grand of Lodge No. 109,
I. O. O. P"., and a past commander of G. A.
R. I'ost No. 22.
Pie is a member of St.
Paul's M. E. Church.
On Feb. 4, 1864, Mr. Brown was united in
marriage with Mary Elizabeth Bassett, and

home

their

on Walnut

street.

They have

living children
Tarring Gearhart Brown
married Nora J. Seidel, of Danville; Mary is

two

the wife of Beverly Whiting Musselman, manager of the Globe Warehouse, of Danville,
and has one child, lilizalieth George, de;

ceased, left one child, Kirk
living in

Wellwood Brown,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

G. Brown, youngest of the famof George B. and Sarah Ann (Gearhart)

William
ily

Brown, was born Aug.
in the

14, 1857, in Danville,
building on Mill street which
He was educated in the
occupies.
In 1875 and 1876 he was
schools.

Brown

still

common

employed in Houston's machine shop at Montgomery station, and during 1877 became engaged as news agent on the Reading railroad
under B. F. Gowan, serving as such for two
When he gave up this work he went
years.
into the cigar business, which he carried on
time after his marriage. Failing

until a short

ville,

I, 1913, meantime, in 1905, receiving
appointment of State health officer, in

to Feb.

which he served

work
able

56a

1881, he commenced to serve
at the machinist's trade with
the Montour Iron & Steel Company, and after
completing his four years of service spent
as a
eight years more in the same employ,
in

business in

an apprenticeship

he
journeyman machinist. During this time
was sent out to work for Curry & Vannan,
and also for the North Branch Steel Comextra mechanic
pany, when the services of an
He worked faithfully to
were required.
liquidate all
in business,

his obligations after his

failure

and succeeded, paying cent for
cent, and no man in Danville has any higher
standing to-day, his integrity and reliability
He owns the Brown
being unimpeachable.
building on Mil! street, containing office and
store rooms, and has other valuable property
He also has a machine shop
in the borough.
and garage, where he has built up an excellent

business,

making a

specialty

repair

work.

On May 13, 1880, Mr. lirown married
Keturah Antrim, who was born Nov. 25, 1858,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

564

near Watsontown, Northumberland Co., Pa.,
daughter of W'iUiam L. Antrim, a native of
Bucks county. Pa. They have one son, Frank
A., born Alarch 20, 1883, who is associated in
business with his father; he married Ferda

Washington, D. C, where he was in the
grocery business for fourteen months, at the
end of that time selling out and returning to
Danville.
In 1901 he went from here to
Waynesboro, Va., to take a position as foreman in the foundry of the Loth Stove Company, but did not remain long, in 1902 taking
charge of the foundry of the Danville Stove
W'orks as foreman.
In 1903 he was pro-

Wingert.

Mr. Brown has been an active member of
the Friendship Fire Company of Danville
since 1878.
The day after his marriage he
worked in Milton lighting a fire which nearly
wiped out the town. He also belongs to the
Knights of the Golden Eagle, and to Lodge
No. 754, B. P. O. Elks. He was reared in
the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
the Browns being prominent in the work of
that church at Danville; Mr. and Mrs. Brown
and their son and daughter-in-law belong to
St. Paul's Church.

moted

to his present position, that of superintendent, in which he has given high satisfaction to all concerned.
Mr. Haring's efficiency and thorough familiarity with the business of stove molding make him invaluable to
this concern and his conscientious work has
won the appreciation of his employers and
the respect of those in his charge.

ELLSWORTH

DA\ID
HARING, superintendent of the Danville Stove & ^Nlanufacturing Company, is one of the well known
figures in the industrial circles of Danville.
He was

born April

;

Slabtown, Columbia Co., Pa., son of Charles B. Haring
and grandson of David Haring. The latter
was born in April. 1800, in Bucks county. Pa.,
6, 1867, at

and was a potter by

trade.

Charles B. Haring, father of David E. Haring, was born in April, 1841, in Bucks county, and learned the trade of carpenter and
cabinetmaker, which he followed during most
of his active years. He gave it up, however,
in 1895, ">vhen he became messenger in the

United States treasury department at Washington, D. C, being appointed under the civil
service

rules

Cleveland's

administration.

continued to hold that position until his
He married
death, which occurred in igog.
Sarah A. Fetterman, a native of Columbia
who
still
survives.
She
is a daughcounty,
ter of John and Mary (Lavan) Fetterman,
of Columbia county, the former of

whom was

a blacksmith during his active years.
Four
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles
B. Haring: David E.
Etta Belle, wife of
;

Wilbur Hampton, M. D.. of Washington. D.
C. Walter Wellington, of Washington. D. C.
and John W'illard. of \\'ashington. D. C.
David E. Haring attended school until thirteen years old. He then began work at Danville, cleaning brick, for which he received
twenty-five cents a day. and later clerked in
a general mercantile business.
He went to
learn the trade of molder in the big mill
and
on
at
Oct.
Danville,
9. 1882,
foundry

;

commenced work
thus engaged until

1894.

stove

molder. being
then went to

On Dec. 21, 1886, Mr. Haring married
Sarah Ann Knerr, of Northumberland county,
Pa., daughter of Jeremiah Knerr, and they
have had three children, namely: Ralph E.,
deceased Irving Leroy, deceased and Ethel
Irene, now living at home, who is a graduate
of the Danville high school. Mr. Haring is a
member of Trinity Lutheran
Ijrominent
Church at Danville, and is serving in the
church council. He is also prominent in .Sunday school work, having a class of thirty
whose members are preparing themselves for
;

teaching in the Sunday school. He has twice
been elected a member of the school board
from the Second ward, first in the fall of
1900.
Socially

Mr. Haring belongs

Mahoning

Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M.; Beaver Lodge.
No. 132, K. of P.; Montour Castle. No. 186.
K. G. E. Lotus Conclave, No. 127, Improved
Order of Heptasophs (of which he is a past
archon) and Iron ]\Iolders' Union No. 124,
of Danville, of which he is a past president,
and he was corresponding representative of
;

;

that organization for eight years.
Jeremiah Knerr, father of Mrs.

Haring, was born July

13,

David E.

1847, '"

North-

county. Pa., where his father,
Knerr, passed most of his life. The

umberland

Andrew

was a miller by trade. He married
a native of Germany, from
which country the Knerr family also came.
They had a family of seven children, only two
of whom survive, Jeremiah and Ella, the latter the wife of E. Koch, and living in ShamoAndrew Knerr died in 1895, ^t the
kin, Pa.
latter

Anna Uhner,

age of sixty-five years.
After his school days were over Jeremiah
Knerr learned milling with his father, with
whom he remained until nineteen years old.
He then engaged in milling on his own ac-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
at Riverside, Northumberland county,
being in business there for six years when he
sold out.
He next learned the trade of plasterer, at which he was employed thereafter
during his active years, for seven years be-

count

ing engaged in that capacity at the State HosIn 1910 he retired from
at Danville.
that position and has since been engaged as
janitor at the Montour county courthouse.
pital

Mr. Knerr married Hannah Snyder, who was
born

1846, daughter of Jacob Snyder, of

Northumberland county, and died in 1907. A
family of five children was born to this union,
of

whom

four survive:

Jennie, wife of J.
of David E.
Ida, wife of Charles

Thompson; Sarah Ann, wife

Haring, of Danville;
Michael, an engineer; and Montgomery, who
on the old homestead at Riverside, Northumberland county. Mr. Knerr is now making his home with his son-in-law, Mr. Haring.
He has never taken any active part in politics.
All of this family have been brought up
in the faith of the Lutheran Church.
is

D. ELLIS was during his active
years one of the busiest residents of Limestone township, his extensive agricultural
operations, his official duties and the other
interests he acquired during the course of a

JOHN

565

Amos Heacock. The first officers of
the church were William Ellis,
Stephen Ellis,
C.
Ellis and Amos Heacock,
John
ner and

vestrymen;
Heacock, wardens.
were
Charles Reeder,
1887
William Ellis, John Caldwell, John D. Ellis,
Robert Caldwell, Stephen C. Ellis, vestrymen
Charles Reeder, senior warden; Stephen C.
Ellis, junior warden.
Stephen Ellis, the pioneer of the family,
was born in Ireland, and came from Londonderry, that country, to America in or about
His father, who was a sea captain,
1770.
when he retired from the water took up land
near Baltimore, Md., but finally went back to
Donegal, Ireland, wdiere he died.
Stephen

William

Ellis

the

and

Amos

officers

;

Ellis assisted his cousin at Juniata in
Juniata
county. Pa., before coming to this section, and
then settled permanently near Exchange, in

Anthony township.

Here he and

his

wife

spent the remainder of their long lives in the
vicinity in which they first located, he farming until his death, which occurred June 23,
He
1845, wlien he was eighty-two years old.

Though now

keeping him thoroughly occupied.
living somewhat retired, he has

married Eleanor Cunningham, like himself a
native of Ireland, and she survived him a few
years, dying Oct. 30, 1853, at the age of
eighty.
They are buried in the Episcopal
graveyard at Exchange. They were the parents of twelve children.
William Ellis, second son of this large

relinquished none of his interest in the general welfare, and he e.xerts a strong and
Mr.
wholesome influence in local affairs.
Ellis was born in Anthony township, now in
Montour county, June 14, 1836, son of William Ellis and grandson of Stephen Ellis.

family, was born in Anthony township May
In 1833 he
1800, and died Feb. 24, 1862.
married Sarah Murray, of Lewis township,
Northumberland county, born April 3, 1806,
daughter of John and Mary (Watts) Murray
They then bought and cleared up a tract of

woods of Murray Hill, now in
Madison township, Columbia county. Upon
this they lived and carried on the pursuit of
agriculture, finally becoming possessed of sev-

long

life

a great-grandson of Stephen Ellis, the
of the name to settle in this region, one
of the early residents of Anthony township.
Rev. Milton Lightner, the first regular pastor
of St. James' Episcopal Church at Exchange,
is

first

made

his first visit to this place to preach at

the funeral of Stephen Ellis. When the latdied he left a verbal will giving $200
toward the erection of an Episcopal Church
at
Exchange, "should there ever be a
The
disposition to erect such a building."
ter

Church was commenced

on land purchased for that purpose, the cornerstone was
laid that year by Bishop Alonzo Potter, and
the completed building was dedicated by the
Bishop, assisted by Rev. Milton Lightner and
Prominent among the contributors to
others.
the work were the estate of Stephen Ellis,
in 1848,

Ellis, Stephen Ellis (son of Stephen,
deceased), Catharine Ellis, Jane, William, Isabella, Ellen and John C. Ellis, Milton Light-

William

land in the

eral other tracts of land in adjoining counties.
Mr. Ellis was a member of the Episcopal

Church

Exchange, at which place he is
His wife survived him until Jan. 21,
1892.
They were the parents of three children
Andrew, John D. and Stephen M.
(born June 8, 1839, died Nov. 10, 1900), John
at

buried.

D. being the only survivor.
John D. Ellis grew to maturity in his native
township, receiving his education in the common schools there. Subsequently he remained
at home, working with his father, until thirtytwo years old, when he married and left home,
farming for himself near Exchange, at which
location he remained for about five years.
Then he settled on his present place in Limestone

township, in

1872,

first

buying

fifty-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

566

seven acres, the old Abraham Walter place on
the Wilkes-Barre railroad. On this place he

Bloomsburg Literary
tended

Institute.

then at-

also addto time as prosperity en-

College, graduating from
that institution in 1870.
He was tutor there
during one year, after which he attended

abled him, until his holdings aggregated 312
acres, besides which he acquired an interest in
timber lands with his brother, the late Stephen
M. Ellis. He became one of the stockholders
of the Exchange Bank, and he also became a
stockholder and director of the Farmers' Na-

Princeton Theological Seminary, and later
graduated from the Union Theological Seminary, of New York, in 1874.
During the
year 1874 and 1875 Dr. Waller was pastor
of the Logan Square Presbyterian Church,
Philadelphia, and the following year and a

made numerous improvements, and
ed to

tional

from time

Bank

Watsontown, being

tor of the latter.

member

still

a direc-

Exchange

Grange, No. 65, P. of H.

Mr.

his

wife belonging

town-

Exchange.
On May 10, 1867, Mr. Ellis married Eurannah Litchard, who was born July 4, 1846, in
Moreland township, Lycoming county, one of
the six children of George and Rebecca (Dewalt) Litchard, who lived about two miles
from Moreland Mills. The former was of
English, the latter of German descent. James
grandfather, settled in
township, Lycoming county.
He and his wife Catherine (Shires) were the
parents of nine children. George being the
Litchard,

]\Irs.

Ellis's

Muncy Creek
third son.

Mrs.

Ellis died Jan. 30, 1913, in

Limestone

Four children
Montour county.
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis: Sarah Ida,
born March 22, 1868, is the wife of Edward
J. Menges, of Lewis township, Northumbertownship,

land county, and has one child, Ella, who is
married to John Plotts and is the mother of
a daughter, Grace Franklin, born Sept. 22,
1870, married Hattie Robenalt, of Watsontown, and has two children. Randall and
Dorothy; Ellen May, born May 5, 1876, is
the wife of Ira Smith, of Anthony township,
and has one child, Norman Roscoe, born Jan.
;

;

married May Watson, of Limestone
township, and they have one child, Thelma.

23, 1882,

DR.

DAVID JEWETT WALLER,

was born

in Bloomsburg, Jan. 17, 1846,
son of David Jewett and Julia
He received his early
Waller.
maker)
tion in the schools of the city and

the

was pastor of the Orangeville, Rohrsburg
and Raven Creek Churches. In 1877 he was
half

principal of the Bloomsburg State
Normal School, and served for thirteen years

elected

Ellis has held practically all the

ship offices, serving -six years as school director, but he is probably best known in the
capacity of justice of the peace, to which position he was first elected in 1886, and reelected four times, his services covering a
period of twenty-five years. His vigilant care
in all that afi"ected the general welfare has
been highly appreciated by his fellow citizens.
In political connection he is a Democrat, in
he
religion a member of the Episcopal Church,

and

Lafayette

Jr.,

;

has served in that capacity also in the nor-

mal school at Indiana, Pa., and Bloomsburg;
was State superintendent of public instruction, 1890-1893; and became principal of the
Bloomsburg Normal School again in 1906,
serving to the present time.

JAMES BOYD ROBISON
was

bom

(deceased)

Bloomsburg, Pa., Jan.

1838,

son of William and Betsey (Barton) Robison.
His great-grandfather, William Robison, was born in the north of Ireland, in
1733, his parents having emigrated there from
Scotland to escape religious persecution. In
1752 he emigrated to this country and settled
at Wilmington, N. J., where he lived until
1771, in which year he removed to Mifilin
county. Pa., near McVeytown, where he died.
He married Martha Houston, who was bom
in America, and their children were
James,
John, William, Alexander, Margaret, Agnes,
Rebecca, Robert and Martha.
Alexander Robison, grandfather of J. Boyd,
was born at Mc\'eytown, Pa., and followed
farming all of his life. He married Elizabeth,
daughter of John McKee and Esther Boyd,
:

formerly of Carlisle, Pa., and their children
John, who married Margaret Chrissman and William, mentioned below.
William Robison was born Jan. 19, 1789,
on his father's farm near McYeytown, Pa.,
and was educated in the district schools. He
located at Orangeville in 1810 and ran a country store for several years, after which he
went to Bloomsburg to work for his brother
They conducted a tannery on Third
John.

were

;

street

and

Miller's alley until

1826,

and

connection therewith built the house on that
corner which still stands, the oldest house in
the town. It was erected in 1815 and thev be-

gan housekeeping there in 1816. For a short
time in 1822 \Mlliam Robison acted as sheriff,
educa- and between 1826 and 1840 he conducted a
at the first-class hotel at the corner of Second and
and

(Ello-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Center streets, also operating a stage line.

1840 he went to farming in Hemlock township, and from 1846 to 1855 carried on a general mercantile business at Bloomsburg, after

which he
In

retired, at the

age of sixty-six.

many ways William Robison was an

enterprising citizen. He took a great interest
in all public affairs, and as an evidence of his
public spirit it is recorded that he donated a
part of the land upon which the present courthouse is built. He was a Democrat, then a
'Whig and later a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in
1866, greatly regretted by all who knew him.

On Jan. 30, 18 16, William Robison married
Betsey, daughter of Elisha Barton, of Bloomsburg.' She was bom Jan. 30, 1799, and died
Both of them are buried in
Tan. 9, 1877.
Rosemont cemetery. Their children were
(i) Alexander, born Nov. 2, 1816, died in
:

E. Thompson. (2)
Jan. 13, 1819, married
Lynd Elliott, and died Aug. 20, 1885. (3)
.Vnna Maria, born Nov. 25, 1820, married
Ariovistus Pardee, and died Jan. 25, 1892.
(4) Martha E., born Jan. i, 1823, married
Andrew M. Rupert, and died April 4, 1874.
married
(5) Harriet, born Nov. 6, 1824,
Charles E. Frazier, and died May 9, 1903. (6)
Dr.
WilEllen, born Dec. 24, 1826, married
liam B. Hawkins, and died Oct. 5, 1884. (7)
born Feb. 8, 1829, married George B.
April, 1878, married

lane

Mary

McKee, born

Emily,
Markie, and died Sept. 17, 1888. (8) Isabelle,
born Feb. 15, 1831, married Nathaniel L.
WilCampbell, and died April 17, 1873. (9)
liam Barton, born Sept. 21, 1833, died in 1837.
10) Mary Augusta, born Jan. 3, 1838, died
Feb. 2, 1892.
(11) James Boyd, born Jan.
below.
(12) Isaiah B..
3, 1838, is mentioned
born Jan. 10, 1840, first lieutenant of the 28th
(

Pennsylvania Volunteers, was killed July 20,
1864, while at the head of his company dur(13) Haning Sherman's march to the sea.
nah .\melia, born Jan. 13, 1844, married Frederick E.

Barber, and resides at McPherson,

Kansas.

James Boyd Robison attended the schools
of Bloomsburg and in his spare time assisted
his father in the store. At the age of sixteen
he began to teach school in Mifflin township,
and after three months received the first permanent certificate issued by the county superintendent of Carbon county, in August,^ 1854.
He also taught a seven months' term in the
Summit school district of the same county.
In 1855 ^^^ served on the engineer corps enbranch
gaged' in laying the lines for the Jeddo
of the Hazleton railroad, after which he

567

entered Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa.,
where he took a two-year course, subsequently
receiving the degree of A. M., in 1867. He
next worked in the patent office at Washington, for five months, returning to Pennsylvania to keep books for his brother in Mauch
Chunk. In 1858 and the summer of 1859 he
taught school in Tazewell county, 111., paying
his way during vacations by selling books

through Henry and Mercer counties. The day
after the campaign for senator between Lincoln and Douglas was decided by the election
of the former, Mr. Robison suggested the
nomination of Lincoln for the presidency.
In August, 1859, Mr. Robison came to Mercer county, Pa., and began to read law with
Jason T. Gibner. paying his way by clerking
in the sheriff's office.
In the spring of 1861,
when Fort Sumter was fired upon, he announced his intention of enlisting, and the
following day he was the first one in the
county to enlist in the Mercer Rifles, having
drawn up the enlistment paper and been first to
This company was incorporated in the
sign-.
loth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, for a term of three years, and
was mustered into service June 19, 1861, the
captain being the late General Warner. James

Boyd Robison was appointed sergeant. He
participated in all the Seven Days' Battles,
and at the second battle of Bull Run was
wounded in the hand and sent to the hospital,
being discharged on Dec. 18, 1862. In June,
1863, he enlisted in Company H, 35th Regin Columbia county,
Harrisburg the company
captain was promoted to major and Mr. Robison was made captain. His company was on
guard duty until August, from Gettysburg to

iment,

and on

Emergency Men,
its

arrival at

Greencastle.
In September

Mr. Robison returned to
kept books for his brother for
a short time, and then resumed his studies, being admitted to the bar of Mercer county in
November, 1863.
During the rest of the
winter he taught school at Sandy Lake, and
then went to Washington, D. C, to be clerk to
Capt. J. T. Gibner, in the commissary department, being assigned to the 19th Army Corps,
under Sheridan, in the Shenandoah valley.
During his service he was captured, Sept. 26,
1864, by Confederate stragglers, and on Oct.
17th was confined in Libby prison, where he
remained until Feb. 17, 1865.
Mr. Robison returned to Mercer in 1865
and was elected district attorney, serv'ed one
vear. and then resigned to ejiter the real estate
business in St. Louis. In 1867 he located in

Mauch Chunk,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

568

Bloonisburg, practiced law for one year, and
then was appointed United States commissioner for a four-year term, resigning in 1872.
He was notary public from 1872 to 1S75, and
ser\'ed three terms as general corporation
In 1870 he was nominated for the
counsel.
Legislature by the Republicans, and in 1880
ran for Congress on the Greenback ticket,
receiving double the number of votes Weaver
had for president. He was a candidate again
in 1884, but failed of election.
From 1881 to
1885 he operated a farm about four miles
south of Catawissa, after which he retired
from the farm and resumed his practice in

Bloomsburg.
Mr. Robison was a member of the Presbyterian Qiurch, taught in the Sunday school in
Bloomsburg, and was president of the Columbia County Sabbath School Association during the year 1872-73.

A man

of high prin-

and ideals in his law practice, he was
always an advocate of peace, and would frequently settle disputes without having them
brought into court. He was a deep student of
economic conditions, and his opinion was
widely sought and accepted. During the last
years of his life he was a strong advocate of
local option on the question of the manufacture and sale of liquor. He was a Knight
Templar and a thirty-second-degree Mason,
Scottish Rite, and had held all of the offices.
He was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, of Col. W. H. Ent Post, G. A. R., and
of the Union Veteran Legion of Bloomsburg.
He died March 2, 1909, in Espy, where he had
had his residence for fifteen years, and is
ciples

buried in the Creveling cemetery, near Espy.
Mr. Robison was married. Oct. 16, 1873, to
Mary Jane Breece, daughter of Daniel and
Mary Ann (Case) Breece. Mrs. Breece was
a daughter of William and Sarah (Irvin)
Case, and a granddaughter of Adam Case,
whose ancestors came from Holland in 1614.
according to old records. Children as follows

were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Robison:
(1)
Martha E. is mentioned below. (2) James
of
Berborn
a
resident
Oct.
16,
1876,
Boyd,
wick, married Lillie Oberdorf. and has five
children, John Boyd, Charles Oberdorf, William Isaiah (the sixth William Robison in
direct line of descent), David Elmer and
Martha Elizabeth.
(3) Bessie Mary, bom
June 21, 1879. married Dr. John Decker
Butzner. of Scranton, and had two children.
Elizabeth Robison and William Boyd.
(4)
Isaiah, born Sept. 13, 1881. died Dec. 25, 1882.

and

burg.

buried in Rosemont cemetery. Blooms(5) William Daniel, bom March 23,

1883, married Lillian DeBault, and resides in
Pa.
(6) [ean Breece was born
Sept. 4, 1884.
(7) Emily, Oct. 31, 1886.
(8)
Andrew Horace. Dec. 22, 1888. (9) Irvin

Scranton,

Alexander, Nov. i, 1890.
Thomas Barton, grandfather of Mrs. William Robison, married Hannah Clarke in England and emigrated to America, landing in
Mrginia about the time of the first settlement
of the country. Later he moved to the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
They had seven sons and three daughters:

Daniel, Elisha, Theophilus, Roger,
Undrel, Thomas, Clarke, Amelia, Sarah and
These sons grew to manhood and
settled in various portions of the country.
Daniel and Elisha in Pennsylvania, TheoIsabella.

philus in Kentucky, Roger in Tennessee and
Clarke in Virginia. Thomas and Undrel disOf the daughters only one,
appeared.
Amelia, lived to maturity. She married Abraham McMurtrie, of New Jersey, and died at
an advanced age, leaving a large family (see
k>ederick Hagenbuch sketch).
Elisha Barton, father of Mrs. William Robison, and the second son, was bom in VirHe was married to his
ginia June 21, 1742.
first

wife,

Mary Simonton,

Northampton

county. Pa., about the year 1766, and they had

one son, Thomas, bom May 11, 1768. This
wife died about 1769.
Mr. Barton's second
wife was Anna, daughter of John and Mary
(Paine) McCarter, and a native of New JerHer father was an Irishman and came
sey.
to America in youth her mother, Mary Paine,
;

was bom in New Jersey.
Marth.a E. Robison, daughter of James
Boyd Robison, was born Nov. 17, 1874, at
Bloomsburg. At the age of six she moved
with the family to the Esther Furnace farm,
south of Catawissa, where she spent much
time out of doors. On this farm was located
one of the oldest charcoal furnaces

the

The part of
State, built by Samuel Bittler.
the farm owned by her father was formerly
purchased from the Penn family by Samuel
Shakespeare, and the original deed is now in
Four years of
Miss Robison's possession.
outdoor life built the delicate child into robustAt the age of ten she returned to
ness.
Bloomsburg, lived there until 1893, and then
to
went
Espy for a time, returning after her
father's death.

Miss Robison was educated by her parents,
the alphabet at two years of age, and

knew

At six she could
shown her, and for the
vears she spent most of her time

learned to read at three.
easily read anything

next ten

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
She went to school but little until
reading.
her sixteenth year three terms, and probably enough short periods to aggregate another
full term, but worked and studied at home.
Entering the State Normal School she graduated in June, 1892, one of the youngest in a

—

class of ninety-six.

Between 1892 and 1897

she taught four terms in the graded schools,
one in Union county, one in Luzerne county
and two in Espy. She then returned to school
for a year and completed her post-graduate
work, receiving the B. P. degree in 1898.
Then followed one year of ungraded work in

Columbia county, in 1899-1900, and more in
1902-04, at Rohrsburg, and in 1905-07 in
Cornwall, Lebanon covmty.
In 190'r Miss Robison was elected superintendent of the home department of the County
Sabbath School Association, in 1906 added the
duties of primary superintendent, and in 1907
left the Cornwall school and was called back
to take the position of field secretary of the
county association. This was new w'ork and
she was obliged to go slowly, but managed to
it on until January, 1908, when she was
called to the field work of the State Association and given full charge of Columbia,

carry

Northumberland, Montour, Union and Snyder
counties. In two years her work had reached
a high standard of excellence, and she is moving steadily toward the goal of success. Unthe fall of 1913 she did general field

til

work

In Novemin the central part of the State.
ber, 1913, the .State board of directors created
the department of Rural Work, of which she
Miss Robison
was made superintendent.
united with the Baptist denomination at the
age of sixteen, and continues in the same

Church.

JEREMIA?!

FOWLER

(deceased), at

one time county treasurer of Columbia county.
Pa., was born in Pine township, Columbia

March 17, 1854, son of John F. and
Julia A. (Fortner) Fowler. The family is of
English descent.
Benjamin Fowler, the great-grandfather,
county,

was one of the first settlers of Columbia counHe was a British subject, and when a boy
came to this country as a ser\-ant to one of
the officers in the English army fighting
ty.

After surrendering
the Colonists.
with Cornwallis at Yorktown, the war closing, he learned the trade of blacksmith and

against

settled above Espy, in Columbia county. Pa.,
where he followed his trade and farmed. He
married Deborah, a daughter of David Fowler, but not a member of the same family, and

569

ihey had these children
James, David, Daniel.
Benjamin, William, Gilbert, Sarah and
Xancy. His son, David, the grandfather of
Jeremiah R., died in 1876, at the age of ninetyone years. He raised four children
Catherine, Sarah, John F. and Sophia.
John F. Fowler, father of Jeremiah R., was
born in Centre township. May 2, 181 3, and
having been reared to farming operated his
father's farm until 1842, when he went to Pine
township and bought a farm. He remained
there until 1866, and then bought a farm near
Pine Summit where he resided until his death.
On May 29, 1836, he married Julia A., daughter of John Fortner; and she died Jan. 29,
1866, leaving seven children: Dorcas F., Mary
E., Alvin C, Sarah E., David, Jeremiah R.
and William M.
For his second wife Mr.
Fowler married, Jan. 10, 1867, Hannah M.,
daughter of Joseph and ]\Iary (Sparks)
Houghton, and by this union had two children,
Harvey O. and Mattie M.
Jeremiah R. Fowler was reared on the home
farm and remained with his parents until
twelve years of age. After his mother's death
he went to Danville and learned the trade of
:

puddler, working in the rolling mill for sevIn 1875 he engaged in the lime
business in Muncy township, Lycoming county, continuing there until 1880, when he came
to Pine township and carried on the same
business for one year. He also established a
eral years.

Pine Summit, which he conducted
sold out and ptirchased the
Fowler Lyons farm of 250 acres. This he

distillery at
till

1883,

when he

greatly improved

when he moved

and cultivated

until

1885,

Bloomsburg and entered
the restaurant business.
He also managed
the Opera House there. He served one term
as county treasurer, taking office in 1894, and
was a vigorous worker for the iinprovement
He was connected
of the city and county.
with the Odd Fellows lodge. Mr. Fowler died
in 1908, and is btiried in the Rosemont cemeto

tery.

Mr. Fowler was united in marriage with
Eliza Lathlean, daughter of Joseph and Mary
(Dunn) Lathlean, natives of Sourleo, Engand they had one child, Lillian Dunn
Mrs. Fowler died in 1914. at her
First street. Bloomsburg, aged
sixty-two years, five months, ten days, and
was buried in Rosemont cemetery. She was
a native of the north of England and came to
land,

Fowler.

home on East

country when twenty-one years old. living
with her sister in New Jersey. She and Mr.
Fowler were married during the Centennial at
After her husband's death she
Philadelphia.

this

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

570

took a trip to England in the hope of benefitFormerly
ing her heahh. but without rehef.
a member of the M. E. Church in Philadelphia, she joined St. Paul's Episcopal Church
in Bloomsburg, and Rev. Air. Musser, the
She is surpastor, officiated at her funeral.
vived by her daughter and a sister. Miss Elizabeth Lathlean, of Exeter, England.

PHILIP

YOUNG

has been a leader

the progress of agricultural interests in his
section of Pennsylvania for several decades,
and his success in enthusing others to a proper
appreciation of the dignity and value of intelligent

farming has gone hand

hand with

.^n
the prosperity of his own undertakings,
eminently practical farmer, he has made some
demonstrations in his work which are truly

examples. The thorough methods and system
he has advocated in his addresses before farmers' institutes, at picnics and at Grange meetinto practice and
ings, are those he has put
proved worth while in his own experience, and
he merits the position of authority which he
has held for many years. Over fifty years
ago he bought a wornout, rundown tract, lonow
cally known as the "old Briar farm,"
converted into one of the best cultivated, best
equipped and best kept farms in the county,
productive beyond the ordinary.
Mr. Young was born near Benton, Nov. 17,
in
1835, and the family has been established
Columbia county for over a century. The
Youngs are of Scotch extraction. Mr. Young's
grandparents both died before his birth. His
father, Abram Young, a native of New Jersey, came to Pennsylvania from that State
about 1810, arriving in Columbia county in
1812. On the way he worked at different occupations. He was employed on the construc-

tion of the river bridge at Harrisburg, which
was then being erected. Upon arriving at
Benton, Columbia county, he purchased a tract

came to where Benton now is from Montgomery county, Pa.; he was a blacksmith.
Mrs. Young was born in Montgomerj' county.
Pa., of Revolutionary stock, and she lived to
the remarkable age of ninety-seven years. Of
her children, two sons and two daughters

reached maturity
Mercy Ann married MathRoberts and died without issue Aaron,
deceased, went in 1851 to Illinois, settling at
Round Grove, Whiteside county, and became
a well-to-do farmer he married and had several children)
Sarah is the widow of Eli
McHenry, of Benton. Columbia county A. P.
:

ias

;

(

;

completes the family.
A. Philip Young lived and worked on his
father's farm near Benton until he reached
majority, meantime having received all
the advantages of the local public schools.
Then he took a course in the Greenwood Semhis

inary at IMillville and subsequently engaged
in teaching, for three years in the public
schools and two years at Greenwood SemHis interest in education was not coninar}'.
fined to this work, for he took an active part
in the institute and educational gatherings of
all kinds, and in the various movements which
had the advancement of school standards for

Before engaging reg^ilarly in
object.
farming he took a trip to the South and West,
returning in the fall of i860, and in 1861 purchased and took possession of the eighty-acre
farm where he has since lived, in the fertile
Greenwood valley. Entering upon the work
of improvement systematically and scientificalIv, he has carried on the development until
the whole tract has been brought up to modem
standards of use and profit a triumph for
the owner and an encouragement to every
farmer in the neighborhood. Mr. Young has
followed general farming, but he has also
Thirty
given much time to special work.
years ago he established his herd of regishe
has
worked
zealousand
tered Jersey cattle,
their

—

of timberland consisting^ of in acres, later
he
the property of Washington Knouse
cleared part of his purchase, and engaged in
He entered
farming the rest of his life.
heartily into the advancement of his section.
In politics he was a strong Democrat, held
the office of county cominissioner, and also
was justice of the peace for over thirty years.
He took an active part in the war of 181 2,
and was a captain in the militia. Though he

many of its important offices, ser\'ing fifteen
years as deputv master in his county, and two
terms as member of the e.KCCutive committee
of the State Grange. His early experience in
educational work has been of great value in

belonged to no religious denomination he inHe passed from
clined to the Baptist faith.

tion

;

this life at his

home

Benton

in 1872, at the

age of eighty-seven years. His wife was
Peterman, a daughter of Tames Peterman,

improve the stock

his

locality.

number of years ago he began breeding
Brahma poultry, later adding bronze turkevs.
Mr. Young has been a member of the
Grange since its organization and has filled

his activities in spreading scientific informaamong his fellow farmers. For a number
of vears, commencing almost with the estab-

Ann lishment
who was on

of farmers' institutes in the State, he
the State list of lecturers for the

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Farmers' Institutes of Pennsylvania,
capacity delivering

many

talks in his

that

own and

neighboring counties. This he continued until the strenuous nature of the work in get-

and consequent exposure to the
elements, together with advancing age. caused
him to desist. In recognition of his all-around
ting about,

familiarity with agricultural conditions, and
valuable services rendered, he was appointed a member of the State board of agriculture, on which he has served for the last
He assisted in the establishfifteen years.

ment

the

Farmers

Produce

Exchange,

Limited, at Bloomsburg, and was one of the
managers of the same for several years, reof
tiring when departure from the principles
establishment, by a majority, in his opinion meant ruin, which speedily followed. His
indefatigable labors in the general interest are
well illustrated in his endeavor to have the
its

road from Rohrsburg to Millville, which runs
past his farm, built it was only granted after
a severe contest, extending over a long period,
Mr. Young working for twenty-five years be;

fore success rewarded his

efl^orts.

him
and

served six years as school director, during all
that time acting as secretary of the board, and
school
it was during his term that the best

was

son of David E. and Sarah (Bechtel)
Landis.
David E. Landis, father of John Bechtel
Landis, was born Dec. 24, 1S52, at Boyertown, where he was educated in the public
schools.
Under the preceptorship of his
father he learned the trade of tanner, and followed that vocation for some time at Boyertown, but subsequently moved to Rock Glen,
Luzerne county, continuing to be engaged in
the same business there until 1897.
In that
year Mr. Landis turned his attention to the
and
at
the
greenhouse business,
present time
is the proprietor of an establishment at Rock
Glen.
Pa.,

Mr. Landis married Sarah Bechtel, daughJohn and Mary (Longacre) Bechtel,
and to this union have been born the followJohn Bechtel; Laura B., a
ing children:
ter of

teacher in the schools of Hazleton, Pa. Samuel B., a teacher in the Philippines David B.,
a chemist with the West Virginia Pulp &
;

;

Paper Company, who married lilanche \'iolet
Ricks, and resides at Covington, Va. William
B., a lawyer, who resides at Scranton, Pa.
;

;

spirit has drawn
into all things affecting the local welfare,
he has filled various positions of trust.

Mr. Young's public

building in the township

571

erected.

For

who married

Florence B.,

Clarence Shepherd,
boys' secretary of the \^oung Men's Christian
Association at Lynchburg, Va. George B. and
Edgar B., who are associated with their father
;

in business.

John Bechtel Landis received his elementary education at Rock Glen, and prepared for
the

State

Normal

one term he filled the office of justice of the
peace, and for several terms was township
He has been a candidate for the
auditor.
Legislature. Politically he has been associated
with the Democratic party since the candidacy

college

of Horace Greeley for president.

Mr. Young married Rachel Wilson, daughter of Reuben Wilson, a
farmer of Madison township and well known

Pennsylvania State College, being graduated
1903 with the degree of bachelor of arts,
and three years later was given his degree of
mechanical engineer. In 1903 he entered the

member

Jan. lo, 1861,

School.

He was

Bloomsburg

in 1897. and
years in Rock Glen,

graduated there

following this taught two
Luzerne county. He took the regular four
years' course in electrical engineering at the
in

of the Society of Friends in this sec-

employ of the American Car and Foundry

Four children have been born to them
Alice graduated from the Bloomsburg Normal
School and taught two years before her marriage to Alfred H. Potts, of Parkesburg.

Company, at Berwick, in the forge department, as assistant to the superintendent, and
in December, 1906, succeeded Mr. Faust in

Chester county; she died leaving six children.
Ella, also a graduate of the Bloomsburg Nor-

Mr, Landis married Emily McCullough,
daughter of William J. and Emily Brooks
Alexander) McCullough. of Wilkes-Barre,
Pa. Thev have one daughter. Emily Alexander, born June 2. iqi2. Mr. Landis is a member of the Methodist Church and an active
member of the Young Men's Christian Asso-

tion.

Emma is living at
mal, is living at home.
home. Mary, deceased, was the wife of Henry
Shaffer, of Rohrsburg. and had one child.

JOHN BECHTEL LANDIS, who
bered

among

the well

known and

num-

progressive

the superintendency.

(

ciation.

much

interested in athletics,

citizens of IBerwick, Pa., where he is superin- and has some local reputation as a baseball
tendent of the forge department for the player.
William James McCullough came from
.'\merican Car and Foundry Companv, was
born Aug. i, 1877, at Boyertown, Berks Co., Port Deposit, Md., to Philadelphia, as a boy.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

572

In his early manhood he moved to Wilkes- ^farmer of Bridgeton, N. J.; David, an iron
Barre, Pa., to become bookkeeper and pay- worker Rachel, who was drowned at the age
master at the Frankhn mines. He was a man of eighteen Amy, wife of William Camm, of
of unusual mental attainments and particularly Bridgeton, N. J.; Lincoln H.; and Hattie,
winning personality. He met a tragic death wife of John Fletcher, of Bridgeton. The
mother died at her home in Bridgeton Feb. 25,
in 1883, when run down by a train.
His wife, Emily Brooks Alexander, was 1914, at the age of eighty-four years. The
born in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter of Thomas son Lincoln by his will became executor of her
Alexander, who came to America from Scot- estate.
The death of his father had a depressing
land and settled in that city. Both she and her
husband were devout Episcopalians.
They effect upon the fortunes of Lincoln H. Boody.
had two children: Emily, who married Mr. His mother lost a considerable portion of the
Landis and Elizabeth Orr, the wife of Dr. family property and removed from Mullica
Hill to Bridgeton, where the boy, at the age of
A. G. Morrish, of Wilkes-Barre.
ten went to work in a nail factory.
Followis probably one of
LINCOLN H.
ing this for a time, he next worked as cabin
the most successful as well as public-spirited boy and assistant cook on several boats, until
men of this portion of the Commonwealth of the Centennial year, when he went to Philain
the delphia to work in a market.
interested
From there he
specially
Pennsylvania,
growth and development of the town of Ru- proceeded to Rupert, Columbia Co., Pa., where
His rise to affluence he decided to learn the trade of stonecutting.
pert, where he resides.
has not been spectacular, but by steady and Completing the apprenticeship, he went out
on honor and busi- on the road as salesman for his brother, R. H.
founded
substantial steps,
ness ability. He is the largest dealer in lum- Boody, later being taken into partnership in
ber in this section. Mr. Boody was born at the marble and granite works.
They were
Mullica Hill, N. J., Sept. 28, i860, son of very successful in time adding another plant,
In 1888 the firm was disin Hughesville.
David and Elizabeth (Looper) Boody.
The Boody family is of English origin, the solved and Lincoln H. became the sole profirst of that name locating in the State of
prietor of the plant at Rupert, later buying the
New Jersey in early Colonial times. George works at Hughesville. In 1900 he disconBoody, the grandfather of Lincoln H., was tinued the marble and granite business and
the owner of a large farm in that historic sec- invested in timberland, and in 1902 began the
tion of New Jersey called V^ineland, where wholesale lumber trade, in which he is now
His customers are scattered
the relics of the Norsemen are to be seen to engaged in.
Here David, the father of Lincoln through the States of Pennsylvania, \'irginia,
this day.
H. Boody, was born.
West Virginia and Maryland. Most of his
David Boody was a man of more than pass- output is sold to the American Car and Founing note, and the native wit and genius he dry Company and to the coal mines.
Mr. Boody was married, Dec. 21. 1887, to
displayed have in a great measure descended
to his son. He was a versatile worker, being
Sarah L. Nichols, of Bridgeton, N. J., and
in turn millwright, carpenter and cabinetMary Catherine,
they have four children:
maker. He contracted for and erected many wife of Howard F. Fisher, residing at Rupert;
in
in
of
the
who
died
edifices
different
Porter
infancy Letitia
country
parts
Rupert,
large
ancl was successful in the majority of his
Morgan, at home; and Leonard R., attending
But there was another side to his school.
ventures.
character.
I\Ir. Boody has been as versatile in his tastes
Apart from the multifarious details of construction he found time and inand attainments as his father was before him.
clination to write and partially complete a When the bicycle craze was in full force he
graphic and interesting history of the Civil entered the trade, did a fine business, and bewar. His death prevented the completion of came noted as a racer and trick rider. He is
this work.
He had assisted in forming one interested in art, and has the interior of his
of the first of the New Jersey companies, home decorated by a German artist at a cost
went to the front, and passed through three of $3,000. The home is of great interest hisyears of battle and privation, which were the torically as well as artistically, having been
He married erected by Leonard Rupert, the founder of the
chief cause of his early death.
Elizabeth, daughter of John Looper, a well town, in 1818. subsequently passing into the
known resident of Gloucester, N. J., and they hands of the Paxton family, and then to the
R. H., a ownership of Mr. Boody. It contains fourhad three sons and three daughters
;

;

BOODY

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
teen rooms, has been completely modernized,
is surrounded by a beautiful lawn of six
acres, well kept and dotted with flower beds.
In a prominent place upon the lawn stands an
ancient log hut, built in 1760, which Mr.
Boody has had preserved with reverent care
in all its hoary dignity. It is of quaint appearance and affords an interesting contrast to the
more commodious and modern structures

and

around it.
Mr. Boody

a lifelong

Democrat and has

held the position of school director, but his
many immense interests preclude his taking
any more direct jjart in politics. His strength
of character and ability will, however, soon be
applied to the uplift of political conditions

and it is possible that he will
round out his career in some ofifice of dignity
and power within the gift of his fellow townsmen.
in the county,

HARVEY

McKILLIP,

attorney-at-law,

Bloomsburg, was born in Martinsburg, Pa.,
son of Charles A. and Delilah (Skyles) McHe attended the conmion schools,
Killip.
clerked in a general store, engaged in the
photographic business, read law, and was admitted to the Columbia county bar in 1891
has been in practice since that time. Mr. Mc;

Killip married
ter of Dr.

Mary Craig McKelvey, daughJames Boyd and Mary E. (Abbett)

McKelvey.
In politics Mr. ?iIcKillip is a Republican,
He is
in the party in his section.
a member of the several Masonic bodies, an
active member of the Grand Cross, U. S., and

and active

a thirty-third degree

Mason.

CHARLES ANDREW RASELEY,
printer and publisher, of
bia Co., Pa,, was born at

Berwick,

job

Colum-

West Berwick,

Briarcreek township. Columbia county, Feb.
Ann
23, 1873, son of Charles and Sarah

(Engle) Raseley. Henry Raseley. the grandwas an early settler of Northampton
county. Pa., and farmer.
father,

Charles Raseley, son of

Henry Raseley. was

a tailor by trade, but after

coming

to Briar-

creek township he became a farmer, and he
died on his homestead at the age of seventyDuring the Civil war he served
eight years.
his country as a soldier, enlisting for nine
months in the 178th Pennsylvania Infantry,
and at the expiration of that period reenlisted
in the cavalry joining Company D, 3d Pennsylvania Regiment, with which he served until
.After his discharge he
the close of the war.
located at Nanticoke, Pa., later coming to Co-

573

lumbia county, where the remainder of his life
was so usefully spent. His wife was born
near Easton, Pa., and her parents remained
in that vicinity.

30, 191

dren
wick

;

Harry,

Her death occurred March

Mr. and Mrs. Raseley had

Clara,

Mary
who

who

Alice,
lives at

now

living at

five chil-

West Ber-

of West Berwick
West Berwick; Charles

also

;

Andrew; and one that died in infancy.
Charles Andrew Raseley was born at

the

old homestead in Briarcreek township, now
He attended
the borough of West Berwick.
the public school near his home during the
winter months, and at the age of fourteen left
school and entered the office of the Berwick
Independent as a printer's apprentice. After
an apprenticeship of three years he obtained
a position with the Berwick Advertiser, and
later started a job printing ofifice of his own.
After successfully carrying on that business

for about a year, he was ambitious to become
a publisher, and launched on the sea of journalism a small weekly known as The Berivick
Enterprise. This new paper struck the public

fancy from the beginning, increased in size
and rapidly attained a wide circulation. In
the spring of 1900 Mr. Raseley purchased the
building where his office is now located and
continued the publication of the weekly newspaper and the business of job printing until
April,

1904,

when he decided

that the time

had arrived for the inception of a non-partisan
and non-sectarian, independent daily newspaper, with many of his fellow citizens suggesting and encouraging. In consequence the
Daily Benvick Enterprise, the first daily newsThis sheet
paper in the borough appeared.
was several times enlarged and its facilities
for news gathering and news giving increased.
The mechanical facilities were likewise augmented. The first type was set by hand, but
this

method was soon found

be entirely

inadequate, and a new two-magazine, Mergenthe only typethaler linotype was installed

—

setting machine then between Wilkes-Barre
and Harrisburg. A large press was also added
to the equipment and the Daily Enterprise soon

took its place as a progressive reliable journal.
Later Mr. Raseley purchased the Berwick
U'ecklv Independent, with its entire plant, and
consolidated the two weekly papers, which he
published until Jan. i. 1907. when he sold his
newspapers and again turned his attention to
job printing, which business he is still continu-

Operated by electric power, his plant is
one of the largest and best equipped in Columing.

bia county.

On June

14. 1889,

Mr. Raseley was married

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

574

to Harriet Shollenberger, a teacher in the pubhe schools, who was born in Wabash, Indiana,

(laughter of John G. and Delia (Wildonerj
Shollenberger, who are living retired at Alniedia,

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Raseley is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Berwick, the Berwick Y. M. C. A. and of the following secret
societies
Washington Camp, No. 105, P. O.
;

S. of

Susquehanna Commandery, No. 18,
Knights of Malta; Berwick Council, No. 1761,
Royal Arcanum, and Berwick Lodge, No.
1
138, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks and he also holds membership in the
Berwick Club.
;

;

JAMES
was born

L.
in

EVANS,

attorney, of Berwick,
Pa., Oct. 10,
of the fourth generation of

Columbia county.

i860, a member
the family in this section.
The Evans family is of

the gristmills in the neighborhood.
He built
and owned an oil mill near Evansville, which
town was named after the family, and his

death occurred in Luzerne county in Jtine,
1879, in his eightieth year. He had two children, Francis and Annie, the daughter dying
when about sixteen years of age.

Francis Evans, son of James, was born in
Pennsylvania and reared on the farm, and
followed agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale until 1885, in which year he retired,
to Berwick, where he still has his

has been a successful man.
A
of the Presbyterian Church, he is one
of its stanch stipporters, and has been a ruling elder for over half a century, a position he

home.

member

He married Jane Lamon, who was
Pennsylvania, daughter of James and
(Spear) Lamon, both natives of
County Donegal, Ireland, and the following
children were born to this union
Annie, who
still

holds.

bom

and Lafayette College, from which latter he
was graduated in 1888. Entering the office of
his brother as a law student, he was admitted
to the bar of the Twenty-sixth Judicial district
in 1893, and has been in continuous
practice
since that time, with much success. His practice is

mostly

civil cases, the

management

and as counselor. He is attorney for
the Berwick National Bank and the Berwick
Savings and Trust Company. Mr. Evans is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, he and
his family being active workers and
supportestates,

ers of that society.

In politics he

a Re-

publican.

June 2, 1904, ^Ir. Evans was married
Fannie L. Adams, daughter of Enos L.
Adams, a member of one of the oldest families of Columbia county.
They have no children.
An extensive account of the Adams
in
the
sketch
of Charles E.
family appears
.Adams, elsewhere in this work.
to

Welsh extraction,
Mr. Evans's great-grandfather coming to this
from
Wales
and
country
settling in Briarcreek township in the latter part of the
eighteenth century. James Evans, the grandfather, was born in 1799 in Columbia county,
and followed farming here. However, he was
engaged principally as a millwright, following
that trade most of his life, building nearly all

moving

having been one of the original
directors of the First National Bank.
James L. Evans received his higher literary
education at the Bloomsburg Normal School
interests,

Hannah

married Henry Wiederhald, now residing at
Atlantic City, N. J. Helen A., who married
M. N. Kantz, now deceased Charles C.
James L. Lillie B., who married Dr. J. C.
;

;

Bloomfield. now residing at Atlanta, Ga. and
Grace, who married Percival Currin, of Berwick. Mr. Evans was prominent in the afifairs
of the town, and associated with the financial
;

WILLIAM FILMORE RUCH
ing his life one of the best

Berwick,

known

was durcitizens of

which town he was born Nov.

1848. His father, Henry Ruch, was a native
of Luzerne county. Pa., where the family had
long been residents.
Henry Ruch received the advantages of the
schools of his locality, and while a young man
entered the employ of a merchant with whom

he remained until he had thoroughly mastered
the business of general merchandising.
He
then opened a general store at Hobbie, Luzerne county, where he did a thriving business, and invested his surplus in farms, acquiring at different times the possession of
These he conducted with
eight large tracts.
the same vigor and foresight that characterized his store business and made him one of
the well-to-do residents of his locality.
He
was a member of the Methodist Church and
gave freely of his time and money to the cause.
Politically he was a Whig, and on the formation of the Republican party became a member
of the new organization. While a young man

he was married to Catherine Fowler, who
bore him the following children
Charles,
William F., Emma, Frank, Reuben, Harry and
Gilbert.
The parents are buried at Berwick,
in Pine Grove cemetery.
William Filmore Ruch attended the public schools of Bervi'ick until he was sixteen
years of age, when he began work on the
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Pennsylvania canal. At the age of eighteen
he began business for himself, purchasing
horses and a boat, and running from Nanticoke to Baltimore.
He added to his equipment from time to time and did a large and
profitable business, becoming one of the best
known of the boatmen, popular alike among
his customers, employers and fellow workmen.
Many stories are told of his unusual ability in
overcoming the various difficulties which occurred in the canal business. It became a saying,

"Wait

until 'Fil'

Ruch comes

along, and
During the

he will straighten out things."
time that the canal was closed in the winter
he conducted a livery business in Berwick,
and about 187S he gave up the canal business
and gave his entire attention to the liverv business. He also conducted a sales stable, buying
and selling horses, which his knowledge of
horses enabled him to do with profit. He was
a man of integrity, one whose word was as
good as his bond, and his fair dealing and
honesty won him a large circle of friends.
On June t. 1872, Mr. Ruch was married to
Mary E. Brobst. a daughter of Thomas
Brobst, of Lime Ridge, a sketch of whose famChildren as follows
ily appears elsewhere.
were born to this marriage: Edward F., born
Feb. 16, 1875: Virginia, born May 26, 1878;
George W., bom March 14. 1881 Hudson,
bom Nov. 12, i88.'^; Jessie K.. bom July 4,
1887 and two children that died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Ruch were members of the
Methodist Church of Berwick and actively
Mr.
engaged in the work of that society.
Ruch was a member of Knapp Lodge, No.
F.
&
A.
Berwick.
He
died
M.,
462,
Sept. 30.
1900. and was buried in Pine Grove cemetery.
After the death of Mr. Ruch the business
was conducted by his widow, and is now under
the management of his son Hudson.
It has
grown constantly, the quarters have been enlarged from time to time, and the location is
now at No. 308 East Sixth street. The equip-

Furniture Company, has been a resident of
few years, but his activity as

that place only a

one of the owners of an important enterprise
of the locality has made him very well known.
The high standing of the fimi with which he
is connected is indicati\e of the personal character of its members, both of whom are
counted among the most desirable citizens of
this section.

Mr. Hall was born

ment consists of a fine lot of horses, carriages
and other vehicles, including automobiles.
The business is now the leading one of its
kind in the town.

Hudson Ruch began his business career with
when a voung man, and his cour-

his father

treatment of his patrons, close and
prompt attention to his business, have gained
a large and profitable patronage.
He is a
Republican and an active worker in the ranks
teous

of that party.

HORACE

A. HALL, of Bloomsburg, vice
president and secretary of the Monroe-Hall

Northumberland, Pa.,
A. Hall, a native

May 17, 1872, son of Horace
The
of New York State.

father

made

his

permanent home at Northumberland, where he
died, and for many years was engaged as a
conductor of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Horace A. Hall attended public school at
Northumberland, and when a youth became a
messenger for the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. He continued in their employ, in
various capacities, until 1906, when he came

Bloomsburg and became secretary of the
Hawley & Slate Furniture Company, incorporated that year, with William R. Monroe as
to

president, treasurer and general manager, and
W. H. Slate, of Philadelphia, as vice president.
Mr. Hall was also a member of the board
In 1910, when the business
of directors.
was reorganized, becoming the Monroe-Hall

Furniture

;

575

Company, Mr. Hall was chosen

and again made secretary. The
factory has been one of the valuable industrial
plants of the locality since it was established,
vice president

iSgi.by W. H. Schuyler, Theodore Redeker
and Jacob Keiffer, who put up the original
buildings and carried on the business about
one year.
Then the Bloomsburg Furniture
in

the plant for a time, finally
reorganizing as the North Branch Furniture
Company and continuing to run the business
until 1898. That year it was leased to Messrs.

Company operated

Hawley and Slate, who conducted it until
1906, since when the Hawley & Slate Furniture Company and its successors, the MonroeHall Furniture Company, have carried on the
manufacture of furniture with constantly

in-

creasing success. The site is valuable, affording convenient manufacturing and shipping
facilities, the equipment is up-to-date and complete, and the output a credit to owners and
workmen. High-class material only is used,

handled by excellent workmen whose
artistic ability insure a product of the
From 150 to 175 hands are
highest value.
employed regularly, and over two million feet
of lumber consumed.
Mr. Hall married Margaret W. Hawley,
daughter of Alfred Hawley, of Northumber-

and

it is

skill

and

oib

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

and they have two children, Harold
G. and H. Clay.
land, Pa.,

dren

Edward Hurley, Martha Hurley, Mary

Catherine, Peter,

WILLIAM JENNISON BALDY,

presi-

dent of the Danville National Bank, is the
representative of a name whose connection
with the financial institutions of the borough
has been continuous since his grandfather,
Peter Baldy, St., established the first bank
Danville can boast of one of
there, in 1848.
the most beautiful churches in this section of
Pennsylvania, erected as a memorial to this

honored early citizen and his wife. He was
one of the foremost men of the borough in
his day, and his descendants in every generation have upheld the high reputation he established for business ability coupled with public
spirit and unimpeachable character.
Peter Baldy, Sr., was born in Sunbury,
Northumberland Co., Pa., son of Paul and
Catherine

(Beam) Baldy.

1814 he

left

his native place and located in Danville, where
he followed his trade, that of blacksmith, several years.
He subsequently engaged in the

general merchandise business, at which he was
very successful, and at which he continued the
rest of his business life. He did much for the
borough of Danville, and did considerable
It was in 1S48 that he orbuilding there.
ganized the first bank, of which he served as
president until he resigned and was succeeded
by his son Edward. During the Civil war
Mr. Baldy gave liberally toward the support
of the volunteer soldiers of Danville, especially
of the Baldy Guards, under Captain Ramsey,
and the Fencibles, under Captain Shreeve.
He retired from active business affairs some
twenty years before his death, which occurred Nov. 24, 1880. Mr. Baldy was always
especially interested in religious works. When
a young man he was an active member of the
Lutheran Church, but in 1828, when Christ

scholarly

Jr.,

Hurley

Edwaiud

Hurley and Ellen Ann.
Bai.dv

attainments.

was

man

from

Graduating

Princeton College before he was of age, he
then took up the study of law with Josiah
Comly, and was admitted to the bar when

twenty-two years of age, immediately beginning practice in the village of Danville. He
became known as one of the most successful
in this part of Pennsylvania, his
reputation extending throughout the State,
and he gained high standing among the fore-

lawyers

most men

in his profession.

He was

elo-

Energetic, farsighted and enterprising, his activity in promoting the welHe
fare of Danville was much appreciated.
was attorney for the early manufacturing conHe succeeded
cerns in this part of the State.
his father as president of the Danville Na-

quent orator.

tional

Bank.

In company with Charles Pax-

ton he laid out a tract of land which is today within the corporate limits of the borough.
He accumulated a fortune. In 1872 he erected
a handsome stone residence on West Market
street, one of the finest in the town at that

Nov. 15. 1891, at
Mr. Baldy married
Mary E. Jennison, daughter of William Jennison, who was for many years connected with
the Pennsylvania Iron Works, at Philadelphia,
but finally located in Danville, residing on the
time.
His death occurred
the age of seventy years.

of the present Methodist Episcopal parFive children blessed this union,
namely Mary J., Mrs. Grove, deceased Kate

site

sonage.

;

Mrs. Watson; Edward H., Jr.. deceased;
Emily, deceased and William Jennison. The
mother of these died at the age of twenty-si.x
years, and Mr. Baldy married (second) Henrietta C. Montgomery, daughter of John G.
G.,

;

and Henrietta Montgomery, who came from
one of the early families of Pennsylvania. She
Episcopal Church was built, he became one was descended from one Robert Montgomery,
of its first vestrymen. His son, Peter Baldy, who with his wife, Sarah, emigrated from
Ireland at the age of thirty-two years and loJr., was the first to be baptized in the church,
and afterward he became the organist. Peter cated on the present site of the city of HarrisBaldy, Sr., was one of the main supporters burg, Pa., where he engaged in the cultivation
of the church. He bequeathed $5,000 for the of the soil.
His son, John, was born in
support of the clergy of the church, $500 to the County Armagh. Ireland, and was but four
Sunday school, and $50,000 for a suitable years old when he came to America with his
memorial to himself and his beloved wife. parents. He lived in the vicinity of HarrisHis will was conscientiously executed, and as burg all his life, and his death resulted from
a result one of the most beautiful churches in an accident in 1792, when he was fifty-eight
eastern Pennsylvania was erected at Danville. years old. By his union with Christina Foster
Mr. Baldy 's wife, Sarah (Hurley), a daughter he had a son, David, the grandfather of Mrs.
of Daniel and Martha Hurley, died in Novem- Baldy.
David Montgomery married Agnes
ber, 1875, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.
Shaw, by whom he had the following chilThey were the parents of the following chil- dren: Eliza, John G.. Margaret, William S.,

<^^<

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
David

B.,

F., Christina, Nancy and
John G. Montgomery was born

Robert

Caroline B.

After reaching his maturity
1805.
he studied law under the direction of Judge

Jan. 28,

Cooper, of Danville, became a prominent
lawyer of that place, and led an active life
until his demise, in 1857.
His first marriage
was to Deborah B. Kerr, a daughter of Jacob
and
after
her
death he married HenKerr,

Cooper, a daughter of his former preJudge Cooper. To this union were
born Agnes, Alice, Elizabeth, Henrietta C,
Margaret, John C. and Caroline. Mrs. Baldy
rietta

ceptor,
:

died

1864,

leaving

five

children:

Sarah

Hurley, the wife of Dr. Irving H. Jennings,
a record of whose life is given below Dr.
John Montgomery, of Philadelphia Alice,
who married Paul A. Hartmann, of Paris,
France Henry Waller and Henrietta Cooper.
Edward H. Baldy was again married, his
third wife being Alice Montgomery, sister of
his second wife.
Dr. Irving H. Jennings, dentist, of Danville, Montour county, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 24, i860, son of John C. JenHe obtained his early training in the
nings.
;

;

public and high schools of Harrisburg, after
which he was prepared for the dental profession in the University of Pennsylvania,

from which he graduated
diately thereafter he

1883.

began practice

ImmeHarris-

remaining there until 1885, when he
came to Danville, where he has since conDr. Jennings married
tinued to practice.
Sarah Hurley Baldy, and they have three chilburg,

Edward Baldy (born Sept. 4, 1897),
Henrietta Cooper and Alice Montgomery.
Dr. and Airs. Jennings are members of Christ
dren,

Episcopal Church at Danville.

Edw.\rd Hurley Baldy,

Jr., eldest

son of

the late Edward Hurley Baldy, was born at
Danville Dec. 7, 1849, and received his education in the Exeter School and Andalusia ColPhiladelphia, where he studied law
lege,
under Charles E. Lex. He was admitted to
the bar. and began to practice in Philadelphia,
where he was regarded as one of the brightest
minds in the legal profession in that city at
the time of his death, which occurred when
Even
he was but twenty-six years of age.
at that time he had attained the position of
assistant district attorney, under William B.

Mann.
WiLLi.\M Jennison Baldy, second son of
Edward Hurley Baldy, Sr., was born at Danville March 27, 1853, and obtained his early

education at private schools there. He then
attended Andalusia College, Philadelphia,
37

577

after which he took up the
study of law in
the office of John C. Bullitt, of that
citv, for
two and a half years. He visited the South
with his brother Edward, and after the latter's
death returned to Danville, where after completing his legal studies he was admitted to
the bar in 1877. From that time to the
present he has been practicing law in the courts
of Montour county, with more than usual
success.
His principal work is in connection
with the Danville National Bank, of which he
was elected president on Oct. 2, 1897, holding the office continuously since.
His interests are identical with those of the
borough
and he has given active and valuable service
as water commissioner. Since the
completion
of the Thomas Beaver Free Library he has
been one of the trustees, and has proved a
stanch and valuable friend to the institution.
He is also a member of the Art Club of

Philadelphia.

James Montgomery Baldy, ]M. D., son of
Edward H. Baldy, Sr., by his second marwas bom in Danville, Pa., June 16,
i860, and attended at first the private schools
of that place. Later he was sent to St. Paul's
riage,

School, Concord, N. H. He began his medunder Dr. James D. Strawbridge,
of Danville, subsequently taking the regular
course at the University of Pennsylvania,
ical studies

from which he graduated in 1884. He first
located for practice at Scranton, but remained
only a year, going thence to Philadelphia,
is
now located. Surgery is his
and he has done much work at the
Agnes, the Pennsylvania and the Gynecean

where he
specialty,
St.

has been prominently conPost Graduate College of
Philadelphia, and in spite of the heavy drafts
made upon his time by his large private practice and hospital work has found opportunity
for active membership in the various medical
and surgical societies of the country. He has
served as president of the American Gynecological Society, and has been president of
the Pennsylvania Bureau of Medical Education and Licenses, to which he was appointed
by Governor Tener.
hospitals.

nected with the

\\TLLIAM

WHITE

E\'ANS, Columbia

county superintendent of schools, has held
that position by repeated reelections since he
first chosen, in Alay, 1902.
The record of
progress and development which the schools
of the county have made under his guidance is
the best evidence of his interest in his work
and his fitness for the fulfillment of its

was

requirements.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

578

a descendant of Mark Evans,
the family in Columbia county
about a century ago.
He was a native of
Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster Co., Pa. For a time
he lived in Pennsdale, Lycoming Co., Pa.,
after some years moving to "Shinn Street,"
which later became the eastern part of

Mr. Evans

who founded

Millville.

bering,

followed

well

his

and

farming
trade

and

lum-

carpenter
one of the

cabinetmaker, becoming
well known men of his day in his section.
He died in that township, and is buried there.
He was a member of the Society of Friends.
His children were
Esther, who died unmar:

ried

Anna, who married Joseph Shannon

;

Sarah, who married Thomas McGee; Elsie,
who married Jeremiah Heacock Josiah, a
;

Lutheran minister, and Jacob, the father of
Issachar M. Evans.
Jacob Evans was born probably in Greenwood township and passed all but the last few
years of his life there. He was reared on the
farm, but learning the carpenter's trade, was
engaged principally at such work until he
reached middle life, when he turned to farming and followed it the rest of his active years.
After retiring he lived at Bloomsburg, where
he died Sept. 3, 1874; he is buried in Greenwood township. He held a number of local
offices, and in 1856 was honored with election
as associate judge, in which position he served
one term. Originally a member of the Society
of Friends, before his marriage he was class
leader in the meeting at Pennsdale. He married Hannah Morris, daughter of Issachar

who

Morris,

settled

on the farm which

now

known

as the Billmeyer place, in Greenwood
township. Mr. Morris was a pioneer Methohis daughter Hannah after their
and
dist,
marriage brought Jacob Evans into that
church, of which he was a member for fiftyfive years, and held official position for many
years ministers of that denomination made
his home their stopping place.
He and his
wife Hannah (Morris) had children as fol;

lows:

Sarah,

who married

Shively Staddon;

Elizabeth, married to Rev. Albert Hartman ;
Issachar M., who died in Bloomsburg; Andrew J. and Joseph, a well known physician,
who died in Bloomsburg. The three brothers
married three sisters, daughters of Peter

Revolution.

Peter Appleman,- Mrs. Evans's

was bom Feb. 17, 1808, in Hemlock
township, Columbia county. At one time he
owned the homestead in Alontour township,
that county, upon which ;\Ir. and Mrs. Peter
A. Evans lived.
Peter A. Evans, son of Issachar M., was
born Jan. 15, 1846, in Montour township, and
father,

received his education in the old seminary at
Bloomsburg. In 1865-66 he pursued higher
studies at Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport,
Pa.
Returning to the homestead, formerly
the property of his maternal grandfather, he
followed farming there, and was interested in
the improvement of agricultural conditions in
the county, being an active member of the
He was one of the best known
Grange.
figures in local politics for years.

From

the

time he was old enough to vote he worked for
the success of the Democratic party, and in
1882 sensed as a delegate to the State conven-

which nominated Governor Pattison.
After serving in many local offices he was, in
1884, nominated and elected county treasurer,

tion

receiving the largest majority of any candidate
on the ticket he filled the office one term. In
1880 Mr. Evans was appointed United States
census enumerator of his district. His public
services were marked by the utmost fidelity to
;

duty and a close understanding of the obligations of the office.
He was a member of the

Odd Fellows fraternity. In 1872 Mr. Evans
married Samantha White, daughter of William White, of Scott township. He died Sept.
II. 1896.

William White Evans was born April 4,
o" '^he Evans homestead in Mon-

1873,

tour township.
His first teacher, in the
school at Rupert, was Mrs. Ellen Schoonover,
now an instructor in the Bloomsburg State
Normal School. Subsequently he attended the
Bloomsburg Normal, during the spring, teaching in the winter season to defray the cost of

and he was graduated in 1894. After
that he taught various schools in the county,
and was the first principal of the Orangeville
school after its purchase by the township from
the Orangeville Seminary stockholders. Foltuition,

Matthias Apple-

lowing this experience he taught at HuntingWest Pittston, both in Luzerne
county. He took a college course at the University of Wooster, in Ohio, whence he returned to Bloomsburg to teach in the high
school, being thus engaged until he assumed
the county superintendency, to which he was
elected in May, 1902.
His devotion has been

man, was born near Trenton, N. J., and settled
in Millville, Columbia countv, shortly after the

he has been reelected to succeed himself term

;

Appleman.
Issachar M. Evans, grandfather of William
White Evans, married Maria Appleman, a

member
county.

of one of the oldest families in the

Her

grandfather,

ton Mills and

so sincere, his efficiency so indisputable, that

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
after term to the present, with Httle opposiAs such a record of loyal support would
indicate he has raised the standards and improved conditions, particularly in the township
schools. Mr. Evans has been especially active
in local history and has interested the teachers
and pupils in the gathering of relics and records. In recognition of his activities and zeal
in this field he was, in 1914, elected the first
Historical
president of the Columbia County
Society.
On Dec. 30, 1902, Mr. Evans was married
to Bertha Rees, daughter of lienjamin and
Louisa Rees, at Taylor, Pa. Three children
tion.

have been born to them:

Eleanor, Frances

and Esther.

HENRY

P. FIELD, Assistant Mechanical
Engineer of the American Car and Foundry

Company, was bom

May

at Louisville, Ky.,
His father, born at Moravia, N. Y.,
16, 1875.
Oct. 27, 1839, later moved to Gallatin, Tenn.,
and on Nov. 26, 1868, was married to Alary

Alexander, of Dixon Springs, Tenn. He was
then engaged in the farming implement business at Louisville, Ky., and afterwards moved
to Chicago, where he spent the remainder of
his life

and died June

25, 191

The

children

union were: William A., who is
the general superintendent of the Illinois
Steel Company, Chicago; May, who married
Charles Lanier, son of Sidney Lanier, the well
born to

this

known poet; and Henry P.
Henry P. Field attended

the public schools
of Louisville and while a young man entered
the employ of the Michigan Peninsular Car
Company, located in Detroit, Mich. He was
transferred to Berwick April 19, 1899, after
the organization of the American Car and
Foundry Company, and is now in charge of
the mechanical department as assistant to
John McE. Ames, of the New York office of
"the company.
Mr. Field is a member of the
Berwick Club, the New York Railway Club,
and of the various bodies of Masons, and a
past master of Knapp Lodge, No. 462. He is
a Democrat, and a member of the Episcopal
Church. He is a director of the First National
Bank of Berwick and the president of
the Berwick and Nescopeck Street Railway

Company.

Oct. 24, 1900, Mr. Field was married to
E., a daughter of Frank R. Jackson, whose sketch appears elsewhere.
They

Katharine

have one child, Mary Alice, who was bom
Nov. 10, 1901.
The Field family comes from a long line of
New England ancestry and the Alexander fam-

579

are of the oldest of this country. Captain
Alexander, great-grandfather of Mr. Field's
mother, was one of the heroes of the Revoluily

tion.

STERLING W. DICKSON,

the eldest son
Rev. James and Jeanette Dickson, was
born at Birmingham, Allegheny Co., Pa., Aug.

He came to Berwick when ten years
18, 1858.
old and entered the employ of the Jackson &
Woodin Manufacturing Company at the age
of
fourteen,
remaining with them and
their successors, the American Car and Founin various positions,
for thirty-five years, acting as paymaster during the last twenty-five years of that time. He
was married May 14, 1884, to Lillie E.
Baucher, the youngest daughter of David and

dry Company, employed

Rachel Baucher. \\'hile working for the connamed he studied law, and was admitted

cern

to practice in the courts of
in the month of December,

Columbia county
1886, and at the

present time is senior member of the law firm
of Dickson and Dickson.
He served as director of the poor in the borough of Berwick
for a period of six years, and on the school
board for the period of six years, acting in the
capacity of president and treasurer of the
board.
He was also president of the board
of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association for fifteen years, and it was under his
administration that the addition to the Association building was constructed, including the
gymnasium. As a member of the State committee of the Young Men's Christian Association Mr. Dickson has a part in directing the
State-wide activities of this institution. He
has been president of the Berwick Savings &
Trust Company since its organization in the
year of 1903 for ten years has acted as secretary and treasurer of the Berwick Land &
;

Improvement Company, and in that capacity
hundred lots at the

laid out a plot of fifteen

time of the organization of the borough of
West Berwick, and is at the present time president of that company.
He is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having
served for twenty-five years.

Mr. and Mrs. Dickson have two

way W. Dickson and David

sons, ConC. Dickson, the

former of whom is associated with him at the
present time in the practice of law, and the
latter now a resident of the State of
Oregon.

CoNW.^Y W. Dickson was bom Aug.

14,

of Sterling W. and
attended the Berwick
public schools, from wiiich he was graduated
in 1903 as valedictorian of his class entered
1885,

Lillie E.

Berwick,
Dickson.

son

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

580

Lawrenceville Preparatory School, and graduated therefrom in 1904, class orator and

honor student. He was a member of the football team and the debating term, and of the
Philomathean Society. Matriculating in the
academic department of Yale College in the
fall of 1904, he graduated in 1908, having
taken part in interclass debating, held membership in the University Glee Club, and in the
Zeta Psi fraternity. In the fall of 1908 he
became a student in the law department of the
of Pennsylvania, and graduated
therefrom in 1910. While in that institution
he was a member of the Sharswood Club and

University

bald, James,

Margaret, Robert, Janet, John,
Alexander, Jessie, William and Elspeth."
James Dickson, father of Sterling W. Dickson, was born in Kelso, Scotland, Oct.
23,
1 82 1, and received his
early education in the
normal school at Glasgow. In 1843 he went
as a missionary to the West Indies, where he
remained for ten years. At Brownsville, the
point of his mission in the Island of Jamaica,
was stationed Rev. Warren Carlisle, whose
daughter, Mary, was a teacher in the mission
school. In the course of their work the
young

missionary and the girl teacher fell in love,
and were married June 9, 1844. These children
He entered upon came to bless their home: Elizabeth Agnes
editor of the class report.
the practice of law in the fall of 1910 in the was born June 29, 1847; Mary Carlisle, bom
Feb. I, 1849, is now the widow of C. N. Mcoffices of M. J. :\Iartin and Ralph W. Reimer,
Scranton, Pa., and has since opened law offices Farren; Agnes D. was born July 8, 1850;
in Berwick, having formed a partnership with Warrand C, born Jan. 7, 1852, and James Ir\-his father, S. W. Dickson, for the general ing, born Jan. i, 1853, died young.
In 1853
Mr. Dickson sailed for America, and on the
practice of law, on Jan. i, 1912.
Mr. Dickson is interested in the building voyage the wife died and was buried at sea,
of the

new

of the
hospital, acting as secretar>'

board of trustees through the period of its
construction, and is secretary of the Berwick
Land and Improvement Company. He is a
member of the lodge of the Knights of Malta.
David C. Dickson was born at Berwick

He was graduated from the
Tune 6, 1892.
"Berwick high school in the year 1910, and the
following year attended Lafayette College,
transferring to the scientific department of
Yale University in the fall of 191 1, from
which institution he was graduated in the
month of June, IC)I4, with the degree of
bachelor of science. While at Yale Mr. Dickson was the editor in chief of the "Eli Book,"
which was named after the founder of the
University, Eli Yale, the book being a yearly
record of the activities of undergraduates, givto the
ing complete details with reference
various athletic, literary and class organizabaseball
He played on the all-class
tions.
After graduation he left for Marshteam.
with the C.
field, Oregon, to take a position
A. Smith Lumber Company, with mills located

age of twenty-six. The family being
broken up, the father sent the children to
Scotland, and they were educated in that country and in France. He landed at Philadelphia
after a long quarantine owing to fever, and
remained in that city for some years, being
first made associate pastor of the Fourth Presat the

byterian Church after his ordination into the
He then went to
ministry, Sept. 13, 1854.
Harrisburg, Pa., and while there married
Jeanetta Hoffman Duval, daughter of Michael Duval, a native of Normandy, France,
and Eleanor (Hatfield-Maize) Duval, a native-born American. By this union there were
seven children
Ellen Duval, born Nov. 27,
1856, is uimiarried and residing in Berwick;
:

William Sterling has been previously mentioned; Alexander Whilden, born Dec. 12,
1859, a merchant of Williamsport, married

Freas, by whom he had six children,
J., James H., Freas, Pauline, Alexander
and
W.
Dorothy (who died in infancy), and
his second wife was Martha Helmrich Conway Phelps Wing, bom Dec. 20, 1862, a resiat Marshfield, Oregon, where he expects to dent of Scranton, and traveling auditor of the
Connell I\Iine & Lumber Company, married
be permanently located.
Archibald Dickson, the elder, great-grand- Sylvia Dieft'enbach and has one child, Eleanor
father of Sterling W. Dickson, was a native James, born Oct. 7, 1863, real estate broker,
of Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland, and was a residing in Milton, Pa., married Annie B. Low
shoemaker. He was the father of four chil- and had one child, Myron L., who died fn
dren, Robert, Jane, Elizabeth and Archibald. December, 191 1; Duval is mentioned elseSallie

Edna

;

Archibald Dickson, the younger, enlarged

and manufactured
shoes upon a large scale all of his life, dying

upon

his

father's

trade

age of fifty. He left a wife, Elizabeth
Archi(Waite) Dickson, and ten children:

at the

where, in the sketch of his son, Clark Long
Dickson Archibald, born March 19, 1867,
member of the Baldwin-Ziegler polar expedition of 1904, is now located in Portland.
Oreeon, where he conducts a shorthand
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
school, teaching a system invented by himself.
Rev. James Dickson served as pastor in
various charges from 1853 until 1890. From
the last date till 1892 he did missionary work
and then retired to live in Berwick, and at any
time prior to his death, which occurred July
16, 1913, could be found at home in his study,

deeply engrossed in Greek and
ature and research.

Hebrew

liter-

581

Department, taking charge of highway conin
Sullivan, Luzerne, Columbia,
Montour, Northumberland, Union and Snyder
and
has
since been reappointed in the
counties,
same capacity under successive administrastruction

tions.

Air.

Clay

an enthusiast on the subject of

highway improvement and has few superiors
in knowledge of the methods and materials
that go towards the making of good roads.

ARTHUR STEVENSON CLAY, Division He takes a personal interest in all road matEngineer of the Pennsylvania State Highway ters and is prepared to supply information and
Department, with headquarters at Blooms- assistance to all who are endeavoring to imburg, was born Aug. 20, 1881, at Philadelphia, prove the disgraceful highways of the State.
Pa., son of Richard F. Clay, a sawmill owner
On Nov. 3, 1909. i\Ir. Clay married Laura
of Boston, Philadelphia and Williamsport. S., daughter of John L. Moyer, of BloomsHenry T. Clay, the grandfather, was born in burg, and they have one child, Arthur S., Jr.,
Gardiner, Maine, of Puritan ancestors, and born Nov. 12, 1913. Mr. Clay is a Republican,
owned there a sawmill and planing mill, and is interested in the success of his party.
which was finally burned, entailing a severe He is a trustee of the Presbyterian Church,
loss.
He also ran a line of tug and freight and is very prominent in ]\Iasonic circles, beboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. His ing a member of Washington Lodge, No. 265,
family consisted of three daughters and two F. & A. M., of Bloomsburg.
sons.

CLARK

Richard F. Clay, father of Arthur S. Clay,
was born in 1849 in Boston, Itlass., and educated in the public schools of that city. He
followed lumbering, like his father, and owned
mills in Boston, Philadelphia and WilliamsHe was a Republican, a member of the
port.

F. HARDER, formerly a prominent contractor and builder of Catawissa, was
born in Columbia county Sept. 28, 1841, son
of Thomas and Catherine (Fister) Harder,

Episcopal Church, and a Master ]\Iason. He
married Edith, daughter of George W. Ketler,
and they had children as follows
Walter B.,

wissa,

who is buried in Philadelphia;
Helen, deceased,
S., mentioned below
buried in Philadelphia, and Edna H.,

deceased,

Arthur

who

living in Philadelphia.
Arthur S. Clay graduated

from the excel-

lent public schools of Philadelphia, attended

Manual Training School and took up
engineering with Harold Vanduzen, a civil
He did consultation
engineer of that city.

the

work
in the

for one year and was engaged one year
maintenance of way department of the

Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Renovo,
and then took a four years' course in civil
engineering at Lehigh University, being employed on various engineering projects during
summer vacation periods. In 1905 he graduated, and immediately entered the service of
the State Highway Department, being appointed by Commissioner Joseph W. Hunter.
He started in at the bottom, as chief of a corps
in
Franklin county, with headquarters at
Chambersburg, going from there to Harrisburg, then to Chester and Montgomery counties on survey work.
In May, 1906, he came
Pa.,

Bloomsburg as Division Engineer of the

also natives of Pennsylvania.
His grandparents were among the first settlers of Cata-

coming

to this section previous to the

massacre.
His maternal
grandparents were from Germany and those
on his father's side from Switzerland. Grandterrible

Wyoming

father Harder was a blacksmith, and Grandfather Fister for a number of years kept a
tavern where the present Catawissa House
stands. They both took an active part in the
politics of their times, the former as a Democrat and the latter as a Whig.
Thomas Harder, the father of Clark F.,

was born in Catawissa township, where he
learned the trade of blacksmith, following the
work for a number of years and also carrying
on farming operations. He was a Republican
in politics and a member of the German Reformed Church. On Nov. 23, 1824, he married Catherine Fister, and they had children
as follows
Anna M., William, Fister, Err,
Clinton and Clark F.
Clark F. Harder was only fourteen years
of age when his father died, and he remained
:

with his mother until her death in 1872. At
the age of sixteen he began mastering the
trades of carpenter and cabinetmaker, ancl had
just completed his apprenticeship when the
war broke out. In August, 1862, he enlisted
in Company H, i^2d Pennsylvania Volunteers,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

582

for nine months' service.
He served eight
months, and after participating in the battle of
Antietam was detailed to care for the
wounded, but was taken ill and removed to
the convalescent camp in Virginia, where he
was later discharged for disability. He then
went to ^^'ashington and endeavored to rejoin
his regiment, but

was refused.

to America and settled at JerseyHe died June 5, 185 1.
Araminta D. (Park) Alexander was
born March 21, 1819, and died Oct. 21, 1889.
She and her husband had the following children: Mary was the wife of Joseph Jones,
of Danville, Pa., and both are deceased MarArriving home tha and Letitia were twins, the former marry-

one month before the return of the regiment.
he again tried to reenlist, but his disability prevented his acceptance. Mr. Harder then resumed his trade, which he followed until his
In the summer of 1885
1.
seventeen houses, and he was contractor for the greatest number of houses in
Catawissa ever erected by one man. His large
planing mill, built in 1876, was one of the chief
industries of the town.
Mr. Harder was a
Republican in politics, a member of the Lutheran Church, and the Grand Army of the
Republic, and had passed all the chairs in the
Odd Fellows lodge at Catawissa.
Mrs. Sarah B. Harder, widow of Clark F.
Harder, still lives in Catawissa and is happy
in the affection of her children and grandchildren.
Her children are
Err, who married
Hattie Shadle, resides at Wilkes-Barre. and
has two children. Earl and Robert Edwin P.
married Cordelia Cousins, resides in Buffalo,
N. Y., and has five children, Elizabeth, Leland,
William, Louise and Ruth Elizabeth B., who
death, July 17, 191

built

;

K. Sharpless. lives at Buffalo, N.
Y.
Jane H. married William G. Lentz, a
traveling salesman, lives at Catawissa, and has
two children, ^Villiam G., Jr., and Sarah E.
Robert is a newspaper man at Berwick,

married

;

SAMUEL
12,

ALEXANDER,

deceased,

Northumberland county. Pa., May
1807, son of William and Letitia (Van
in

His maternal grandfather,
Gabriel Van Sandt, was a native of Jerseytown, Pa., and a farmer by occupation. During the Revolutionary war he was a soldier on
the patriot side, and came to Northumberland
county at an early day, spending the remainder
of his life within its confines.
Samuel D. Alexander was a wagonmaker
Sandt) Alexander.

by trade, and
ing.

Airs.

;

ing Charles Lotier, of Danville, Pa., now deceased, and the latter having been the wife of
the late William C. Davis, formerly a confectioner and baker of Danville, Pa., the son of
William S. Davis, a native of Wales; William
P. is deceased; Silas is deceased; Harriet J.
resides at Berwick, Pa.
Jane is deceased

in his later life

died Nov. 9, 1865.

engaged in farmHe married Ara-

minta D. Park, whose father, Dr. Russell
Park, was a native of Ireland, born Dec. 3,
1776. Studying medicine in his native land, he
became a physician. He married Ruth Hopkins, a daughter of Rev. Caleb and Ruth
Hopkins. Dr. Park served this country as a
surgeon during the war of 1812, having come

;

Elizabeth is deceased Sarah is deceased Benjamin died in infancy. Mr. Alexander was a
consistent member of the Methodist Church
and a man well and favorably known. He
was an honorable citizen and a true Christian
character, and he is remembered with the
utmost respect by those who knew him.
;

;

SAMUEL SECHLER,

Liberty town-

9, 1855,
ship, Montour county, was born
in the old "Moser Hotel." in Valley township,

May

Thomas and
He is a member

Christine
of one of
the oldest families of Danville. He attended
school at Lewisburg, Pa., and then came to
this section, working on a farm until his marriage, when he bought the property he and his
Mr. Sechler married
family now cultivate.
Mary C. Davis, who was born Oct. 10, 1852,
that county, son of

(Henry) Sechler.

West Chillisquaque township, Northumberland Co., Pa., and to their union have been
five children
Grace, born Nov. 9, 1882,
is the wife of Frank Cromis; John, bom Oct.
9, 1885, is living at home; Hannah M., bom
July I, 1889, and Carrie Anna, born Aug. 12,
1897, are at home; Ralph, born July 20, 1893,
Mr. Sechler and his family atis a farmer.
tend the Methodist Church at Mexico, in Lib-

born

Pennsylvania.

was born

from Ireland

town, Pa.

erty township.

great-grandfather of Mrs.
was one of the oldHe married
est settlers in Montour county,
Susan Martin. His son Azariah, Mrs. Sechler's grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of Limestone township, Montour county.
He married Hannali Parker, and they had one

John

Mary

Davis,

C. (Davis) Sechler,

William Henry.
William Henry Davis, son of Azariah, was
born in Liberty township in 1826, and died in
and he
1889. By calling he was a millwright,
followed the trade in West Chillisquaque
child,

township,
1855.

Northumberland

when he moved

Co., Pa., until
to Iowa, farming there

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

583

married Hannah McWil- helping raise a log barn on the farm now ocJohn and Maria (Cruser) cupied by W^illiam Lazarus. When they came
McWilHams, natives of Bucks county, Pa., and home and made the discovery they declared
of the four children born to them but two are vengeance.
The next morning Hays started
alive: Mrs. Sechler and Anna Jane, the latter after the Indians and Roger buried the dead.
the wife of Levan Bennett, of Danville.
was
Hays
gone about three weeks, and when
The McWilliams family is well represented he came back all he would say was, "The
in Liberty township.
Robert Mc\^'illiams, his Montours won't trouble anybody else." That
three sons. Hugh, John and Robert, and his was the last seen of any of the Montour tribe
daughter, Jane, wife of Robert Curry, settled except Madame Montour, who was with the
in the township in 1771, near Mooresburg. Mahonings' camp, where Danville now stands.
They came from Ireland and were of the
The older girl was exchanged about a year
Scotch-Irish race which has contributed so after her
capture and came back, and married
citizens
to
this
From
this
many good
countrj'.
John Davis, a resident of what is now Limealmost
all
of
the
name
of
McWilliams
family
stone township, Montour county. Little Ann
in this part of the State are descended.
John was left in the care of a Canadian family for
McWilliams and his wife, maternal grand- about eight years, when with a lot of others
parents of Mrs. Sechler, were settled in Lime- she was brought to Fort Duquesne, near Pittsstone township for a time, in 1826 buying a
burg, from where word was sent out that all
until his death.

liams, daughter of

Lime Ridge, in West Chillisquaque
township, Northumberland county, where he
died in 1848. They had nine children.
The wife of Mrs. Sechler's great-grandfather, John Davis, was a Martin and daughter of one of the first settlers of what is now
Montour county, in the neighborhood of Montour Ridge. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John
Martin, were murdered by a band of eight
Indians (including Roland Montour and his
place near

sons)

their

home on

the

Chillisquaque

persons having friends with the Indians should
come and identify them. Roger Martin went
after Ann and bought her freedom, though he
was at first unable to identify her on account
of the great change. On questioning her, she
said all she could remember about home was
she had uncles Roger and Hays. She became
a spinner and weaver by trade and made her
home wherever she chose to stay. She had
one child, a daughter Sarah, who married a
Layard and was the mother of Samuel,
Thomas and Ann Layard, of Layardsville.
After the death of Layard she married Benjamin McWilliams, of Limestone township,

two miles east of Pottsgrove in Liberty
township, Montour county, Oct. 14, 1781. She
was killed outright, and he was scalped and
left for dead he had almost reached the spring
Montour county, and they made their home in
when the sons returned home, but had lost too Liberty township, Montour coimty.
Her
much blood to recover. Their daughter, Susan mother Ann McNeal called it her home,
Ann
AIcNeal.
Martin, and granddaughter,
though she was seldom there. Ann McNeal
then eight years old, were taken prisoners. died about the
1867 or 1868, at the home
creek,

;

The older girl carried the younger. After the
murder of the old people the Indians took
their captives and started for the camp of
Montour's relatives, which was about five

miles west of the Martin farm, at the place
where the Loyalsock creek empties into the
The
river, four miles east of Williamsport.
old Roland
Indians had seemed friendly
Montour was at the Martins' to dinner a few
days before the murder.
When they camped the first night one of the
Indians made Susan, who was barefooted, a
pair of moccasins, and cut the lower part of
her dress off and made a sling, which she
placed around her neck, for little Ann to sit
in when she carried her.
;

John Martin had two sons, Roger and
Hays. The boys were away from home at the
time of the murder, one having gone to mill
at the mouth of the creek, and the other was

year

of her daughter, Mrs. McWilliams, aged about
eighty-nine years.

HENRY

REV. RICHARD

GILBERT,

D. D., was bom in Dowlais, South Wales,
April 8, 185=;, and is the son of John (Davy)
His
Gilbert and Elfreda (Truscott) Gilbert.
early education was secured in the finely endowed public school of Dowlais; and, later he
attended the schools of Breage and Germoe,
Cornwall, England. Coming to America with

mother and sisters his father having come
a couple of years earlier) in July, 1868, he
attended the public school at Ebervale, Pa.
This was supplemented by wide reading, and
after entering the ministry of the Central
Pennsylvania Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, March, 1880, he took a course in
a Theological Correspondence School. He re-

his

(

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

584

ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., June, 1905.
Mr. Gilbert married, in Hazleton, Pa., Aug.
8, 187s, Sarah Rosalie Spohn, who died Sept.
His second marriage occurred in
19, 1882.
Dillsburg, Pa., Dec. 11, 1883, to Julia Ann Lau.
She died Aug. 12, 1905, and on Nov. 6, 1907,

Council of the National Economic
Leagfue; member of the American Sociological
Society of Knapp Lodge, No. 462, F. & A.
M., and Berwick Council, No. 1761, of the

tional

;

Royal Arcanum.
Dr. Gilbert has been honored in his church,

having been a delegate to the 1901 session of
the Methodist Ecumenical Conference, London, England to the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1900, in Chi-

he was married at Huntingdon, Pa., to Mrs.
Margaret Jackson Crispin, of Berwick, Pa.
Of his first marriage two children survive:
Frederick J., born June 10, 1877, and Cleo C,
born Nov. 24, 1879. Of his second marriage
one son survives, Richard H., Jr., born March

;

cago, and 1908,

in Baltimore, and was elected
a reserve delegate to the session of 1904. He
has been for several years a member of the
board of managers of the Board of Home
Missions and Church Extension, and has twice
been vice president of that board. He is also
a member of the Mutual Beneficial Association
of his Conference.
Among his extensive writings may be mentioned: "Travel Notes of a Southern Trip,"
"The Adventures of a Runaway," "Fred.
Thompson's Mistake," and several essays on
moral and religious topics. He has made several trips abroad, and the results of these visits

26, 1885.

After a clerkship in the company store at
Ebervale, and sundry minor tasks, followed
by more than a year's travel in Nova Scotia,
and Porto Rico, W. I., he clerked in Hazleton, Pa., 1874-76; conducted a photograph
gallery, 1876-77 was local editor of the Hazleton Sentinel, 1877-78, and has been a Methodist preacher since September, 1878.
He has
served the following appointments in the Cen;

tral

Pennsylvania Conference: Bloomingdale
1878-79; Fort Littleton circuit, 1879-

have been given in sundry newspaper articles,
and his lectures, "The Beauties of Britain"
and "Glimpses of Life Abroad." Among the
few recreations possible in such a busy life has
been, and chiefest, the production of pastel
and oil paintings, some of which contribute to
wick, 1900-06; presiding elder (now desig- the adornment of his present home in Berwick,

circuit,

81; Dillsburg circuit, 1881-83; Emporium,
1883-86; Grace Church, Williamsport, 188689; First Church, Chambersburg, 1889-91;
First Church, Tyrone, 1891-96; First Church,
Huntingdon, 1896-1900; First Church, Ber-

nated superintendent) of the Danville district,
1906-12 secretary of the Annuity Fund, 1912
field secretary for Goucher College Fund of
Central Pennsylvania Conference, 1913, and is
at present conference secretary of the Church
;

;

Temperance

Society.

Dr. Gilbert has been active by voice and pen
outside the pale of his own church. He is a
frequent contributor to the secular and religious press has lectured at St. John's College

Pennsylvania.
In politics he was a RepubHcan and so
continued until he formulated the brief creed,
that the politics that suit the liquor business
could not suit him; since which time, 1884, he
He was
has been a stanch Prohibitionist.
chairman of the State convention of that party
in Altoona about 1898; and was placed on the
ticket for Assembly, by the Prohibitionists of

Columbia county, in 1904. His pronounced
temperance views secure for him frequent invitations to serve the Anti-Saloon League of
Pennsylvania, and also the Woman's Christian
Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Pa. the Temperance Union.
Williams' Grove Sunday School Assembly,
the Belleview ChauALEXANDER B. HERRING, for several
Williams' Grove, Pa.
tauqua Assembly, W. Va. and has been fre- years burgess of Orangeville and a prominent
quently in demand by literary societies and citizen of that part of Columbia county, was
church conventions in and out of the State. born there Nov. 20, 1841, son of John HerHe edited the Young People's department of ring and a descendant of a German family,
the "Church Forum" and was president of which was founded in this country by Christothe Pennsylvania Auxiliary of the American pher Herring.
;

(University

Md.

Extension

Course),

Annapolis,

Mountain Lake Park, Md., Chautauqua
Assembly Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
;

;

Society for Religious Education secretary of
the Pennsylvania Brotherhood of St. Paul;
member of the American Bible Society
Athenian Society, of the College of Liberal
Arts of Grant University member of the Na;

;

Christopher Herring, the emigrant ancestor,
to America with his wife and eight children before the Revolutionary war.
They

came

were "redemptioners.'' having

to serve for a

time after arrival as servants of the persons

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
who

Two of these chilpassage.
the battle of Brandywine
and another, Ludwick, grandfather of Alexander B., settled at Orangeville in 1800. It is
said he died in 1838 and is buried in the
He was a teamster,
Orangeville cemetery.
hauling produce from Orangeville and Pottsville to Reading before the
development of
the railroads. John Herring, son of Ludwick,
paid

dren were

th(,-ir

l<illed at

585

school board five years, and treasurer for one
was elected burgess of Orangeville in
1905, for one term, and again in 1910, and is
still serving.
He is a member of the Reformed Church, of which he has been deacon
and trustee for many years.

year)

;

CHARLES EMERSON RANDALL,

edi-

and proprietor of the Catawissa Neii'S
was born in Orangeville, Pa., in 1808, and Item, was born Nov. 4, 1856, at Providence,
there resided until 1889, when he removed to Luzerne Co., Pa., and is a son of David RichBloomsburg, and spent his days in retirement ardson and Elizabeth S. (Emerson) Randall,
until his death in 1893.
For many years he members of old New Hampshire and New
was a carpenter foreman on the Pennsylvania York families. The Emerson family was an
canal between Nanticoke and Sunbury, and he old one in England, branches of the line at
was a justice of the peace at Orangeville for present living in many parts of that countr}^
a number of years. He cast his first vote for and America. The Randall family were resiAndrew Jackson and until his death was a dents of Scituate, on the New England coast,
member of the Democratic party. He married in 1645.
Rebecca Snyder, a sister of the late Sheriff
David Richardson Randall, father of
John Snyder, and she died in 1882. She was a Charles E., was born Aug. 21, 1818, in Chemember of the Lutheran denomination and he shire county, N. H., and died Aug. 31, 1875.
of the German Reformed Church. They had His father, Joseph Randall, a farmer, moved
eight children Clinton D. George A. Alex- to McDonough, Chenango Co., N. Y., when
ander B.; Calvin and Elijah R., twins; Re- David was about six years of age. He edubecca, wife of Jackson Knorr; Priscilla, wife cated himself as a teacher, entering Oxford
of John S. Neihart
and one that died un- Academy, Oxford, N. Y. For a time he was
named.
superintendent of the schools of Chenango
Alexander B. Herring obtained his educa- county, and then taking up the study of law
tion in the public schools and Orangeville was admitted to the bar of Luzerne coimty
Academy and chose the vocation of carpenter. Nov. 4, 1847. He opened an office at ProviHe took contracts for the Bloomsburg & Sulli- dence, that coimty, later removing to Wilkesvan Railroad Company, built most of the Barre, where he practiced law until his death
houses in the town of Jamison City, and some in 1875, attaining a leading position at the
in Berwick and Bloomsburg.
In the fall of Luzerne coimty bar.
Mr. Randall was twice married first in 1849
1911 he retired and is now living in his fine
home at Orangeville, where he is one of the to Mary Childs, who bore him four children,
oldest residents.
By his first marriage, to none of whom are living. In 1855, he marAlice Sterner, daughter of John and Eliza- ried Elizabeth S., daughter of Moses Sargent
beth (John) Sterner and sister of Prof. L. P. and Elizabeth (Lawton) Emerson, who bore
Sterner, of Bloomsburg, two children were him seven children, of whom four survive:
born Cora, widow of Charles Sweppenheiser, Charles E., Jennie M. (wife of J. Richards
now living in Orangeville and John, a car- Boyle, D. D., of Sinking Springs, Pa.), Nettie
The mother Elizabeth (Mrs. Eugene A. Rhoads, of Ashpenter, living in Wilkes-Barre.
died in March, 1868, and Mr. Herring mar- land, Pa.), and David V. (superintendent of
ried (second) Lavina, daughter of John and Lytle Colliery, Minersville, Pa.).
Sarah (Evans) Neyhard. They have the folCharles E. Randall was educated in the pubAnna, who died at the age lic schools of Wilkes-Barre and entered the
lowing children
of thirty-two, was the wife of Frank Foster; office of the Luzerne Union, where he learned
Alberta married Oliver McHenry and is liv- the printer's trade. In the fall of 1881 he came
Clinton, an attorney of to Catawissa to take charge of the office of the
ing in Berwick
Ncivs Item, which he purchased three years
Bloomsburg, is living at Orangeville.
Mr. Herring is a member of Oriental Lodge, later, in partnership with John C. Yocum.
No. 460, F. & A. M., of which he is a past The partnership continued for a few years
master, and has served many years as treasurer and then Mr. Randall purchased all of the
of the lodge.
He is a Democrat in politics interests of his partner. Since taking sole conhas served as county commissioner one term; trol of the paper he has made it the most
school director six years (secretary of the prominent weekly in the county and produces
tor

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

586

a paper which is a model after which many
country weeklies could take pattern with advantage. As a writer Mr. Randall is famous,
both for truth and fearlessness, and he is a
factor in the development and prosperity of
the section of the State in which he resides.
The paper is Democratic in politics, but Mr.
Randall does not allow partisanship to blind
him to the virtues of his political opponents or
the defects of his partisans.

In September, 1880, Mr. Randall was married to Elizabeth J. .Search, of W'ilkes-Barre,

and they have two children
Eugene Y., a
mining engineer in the employ of the Susquehanna Coal Company at Nanticoke, Pa., and
:

Ruth Esser, wife of Sterling E. Young, a
hardware merchant, of Catawissa. She has
one

child, Elizabeth

what is now Montour county for a time,
afterwards moving to Buffalo valley. Union
county, where he owned about five hundred
acres of land (his family is still in that section)
John is mentioned below; Peter obtained part of his father's homestead in Columbia county, but later settled in Black Hole
valley, in Lycoming county, Pa., where he followed farming until his death; one daughter,
Mrs. Keiser, was married in Berks county and
died there; Mrs. Rodenberger also married in
Berks county and died there.
John Mensch, son of Johannes Christian,
was born Nov. 5, 1789, in Berks county, and
came to this section with his father. Inheriting part of the old homestead, he acquired the
in

;

by purchase, and there passed his life.
a prosperous farmer and made many
improvements upon the place, including the
rest

He was

Emerson.

The family are members of the Lutheran
Church and Mr. Randall is a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of
the Golden Eagle, Patriotic Order Sons of
America, Royal Arcanum, Grand Fraternity
and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is also a
vice president of the Columbia County Historical Society.

erection of a fine large barn. He died in June,
187s. aged eighty-five years, six months,
twenty-five days, and is buried at Catawissa.
His wife, Catherine Heinibach, born Oct. 16,
1796, died June 20, 1872, aged seventy-five

They had
years, eight months, four days.
children
Sarah married Joseph Reitz, and
(second) Isaac Berger; Michael is mentioned
below Eliza married Charles Bitting Jesse
:

;

JOHN
farm

MENSCH, who

has a valuable

Montour township, Columbia county,
about two and a half miles west of Bloomsburg, is one of the well known citizens of his
section, in whose advancement and improvement he has taken an active part. He was born
May 19, 1837, in Franklin township, Columin

Mensch.
an old one

bia county, son of Michael

The Mensch family
Johannes
grandfather of John
county,

Christian
S.,

this

great-

having founded

He was

here over a century ago.

Alensch,

a native of

Germany, born Jan. 31, 1745, and his wife,
Sabina, was born in that country Feb. 8, 1753.
They came to this country accompanied by his
brothers Adam (born June 2, 174
and
)
Abraham (born Feb. 25, 1750). and for a

—

in Berks county, Pa.
Subsequently
they brought their family to Columbia county,
in
what
is
now
Franklin
settling
township,
where they had a tract of 400 acres. Here
Johannes Christian Mensch lived and died, his
death occurring Oct. 26, 1826, when he was

time lived

married Catherine Shultz

;

Christian married

Margaret Cromeley Maria married WashParr; William married Catherine
ington
;

Leiby; Abby married Lafayette Reitz; Catherine married John Sidler and (second) Jonathan Loarman.
Michael Mensch, born April 11, 1816, on the
old homestead in Franklin township, became
the owner of part of that place and followed
farming. Later he purchased a small tract in
the same township to which he removed, remaining on that property until his death, which
occurred Dec. 15, 1884. He was active in the
affairs of the township, serving as school di-

His wife, a daughter
rector and supervisor.
of John Shuman, was born May 9, 1816, and
died Feb. 26, 1902. They are buried in Catawissa cemetery.
They were the parents of
four children: John S. Thomas M., deceased;
Catherine, Mrs. Owen Clayton and Matilda,
;

;

Mrs. William Benninger.

John S. Mensch was reared upon the farm
and attended public school in the locality. He
aged eighty-one years, eight months, twenty- remained at home until twenty-one years old,
six days; he is buried at Catawissa.
His when he went West to Illinois, engaging in
wife died June 10, 1829, aged seventy-six farming there. After a short stay he returned
years, four months, two days.
They had home and found employment driving a team in
the following children
Adam became a Bloomsburg, for Boyd McKelvy. Then for
farmer and miller of Roaringcreek township
tw^o years he worked at home for his father,
Abraham, born Jan. 24, 1774, was a farmer receiving fifty cents a day and his board, and
:

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
end of
George Zarr,

at the

began farming for

this period

his wife's uncle, at Catawissa,

being located there for five years. The next
twelve years he farmed for Samuel Kastenbader, and about 1 880-81 bought the property
in Montour township where he has since lived
and worked. This was formerly the old Good
homestead, and consists of 150 acres of good
land lying along the Danville road about two
and a half miles west of Bloomsburg. Mr.
Mensch's buildings and equipment are up-todate and in the best of condition, and he is engaged in general farming. He has not confined his activities to looking after his own
interests, but has also helped to promote the

He has given
public welfare in his vicinity.
fellow citizens many years' service as
school director and supervisor, still holding the
latter office; he was formerly foreman of the
State road in this district. He is a life memhis

ber of the Agricultural Society, which he has
served one year as member of the executive
committee, and two years as president; and is
a prominent member of the Patrons of Husbandry, having been one of the charter members of Catawissa Grange, No. 22, for the
good of which body he has labored faithfully.
Politically he is a Democrat, in religious connection an Episcopalian, his wife also belonging to that church.
On Dec. 27, 1859, Mr. Mensch married
Matilda Zarr, who was born Jan. 13, 1840,
daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Cleaver)
Zarr, and they have had a family of thirteen

namely: Flora, born Oct. 17, 1861,
home; George, born Aug. 13, 1863, lives

children,
is

Shore, Pa. William, bom Jan. 6,
1865, resides at Bloomsburg; Clara, bom Sept.
20, 1866, married Winthrop Bryfogle; Daniel
Z., born Aug.
19, 1868, is cashier in the

at Jersey

;

National Bank; John
Shickshinny
(Pa.)
Harry, born July 8, 1870, conducts the hotel
Columbia county; Margaret, born
Feb. 17, 1872, married Clark Clever; Morris
C. S., born Sept. 16, 1873, is now in Camden,
N. J.; Charles, born April 16, 1875, lives at
Rupert, and is in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading company Adah, born Jan. 5,
1877, married Emerson Fisher and lives at
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Frank, born July 28, 1879,
lives in Montour township Guy, born Feb. 21,
1882. and Mayberry Hughes, born March 2,
1886, are at home.

at Rupert,

;

•

EDWARD EVERETT,

D., has

been

located at Millville, Columbia county, for the
last fifteen years, and the confidence of a large
circle of patrons in the town and vicinity who

587

depend upon him for professional services is
sufficient evidence that his skill and conscientiousness have been well proved.
Dr. Everett is a son of Samuel Everett, who
came from New England and followed surveying and teaching for a number of years,
later keeping a hotel at Orangeville. He married Mary Ann Corson, whose father, Benjamin Corson, was an old settler in Lycoming
county. Pa., and they had two sons, Edward
and Thomas the latter was a farmer and
merchant, and died at the age of fifty-eight
;

The parents are deceased.
Edward Everett was born Feb.

years.

12, 1847, at
Orangeville, and obtained his early education
in the public schools of Columbia county.
He
took his medical course at Jefferson Medical
in
and
1868,
College, Philadelphia, graduating
has been in practice continuously since. Fifteen years ago he settled at Millville, where
he has since followed his profession with the
success which has been characteristic of his
career. He is a busy man, but never too busy to
give each patient the attention necessary to
assure the best results, for which reason he is
trusted and esteemed by all who have had need
of his services.
Moreover, he is a publicspirited citizen, giving due attention to the
general welfare, his professional duties affording him many opportunities for judging the
He is a memreal needs of the community.
ber of the Grange, and of the Odd Fellows
Methodist
and
attends
the
Episfraternity,

copal Church.
Dr. Everett's first wife, Amanda McMichael, whom he married in 1869, died in
She was survived by two children,
1876.
Bruce and Jennie. The son, born in 1871, is
farming in Lycoming county. Pa. he is married and has three children, two sons and one
daughter. Jennie is the wife of Thomas Robbins, a lumberman of Lycoming county, and
they have three children, two sons and one
In 1878
daughter. Hazel, Everett and Roy.
Dr. Everett married (second) Emma R. McMichael, by whom he also had two children:
Howard, now of Detroit, Mich., and Cleo, at
;

home.

FRANK GORDON

BLEE, of Limestone
township, is a representative of one of the
most respected names in Montour county,
where his father, the late Frank G. Blee, was
honored three times with election to the office
of associate judge.
The family is of Irish origin, and John Blee,
the grandfather of Frank G. Blee, was born
in 1783 and came to this country from Ireland

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

588

when but twelve years old. At Philadelphia he learned brickmaking, which trade
he subsequently followed at Morristown.
Having accumulated a little money he bought
land in Anthony township, Montour county,
near the farm of Robert AIcKee, but he later
sold this property and bought another in
Derry township, that county. In time, as he
prospered, he bought two other farms, and
afterwards another, the one occupied by his
son Frank, at one time owning four fanns.
He died in i860, at the age of seventy-seven
He was twice married, his first wife
years.
being Sarah McCord, who was the mother of
ten children: Joseph, William, James, Robert,
John, Joseph (2), Sarah, Mary, Margaret and
Elizabeth the three last named were living in
Illinois in 1887, the others at that time all
deceased.
By his second marriage, to Hannah Gingles (whose motlier was one of those
who escaped at the Wyoming massacre), J\Ir.
Blee had five children
Sarah A., wife of Edward Morris, of Washingtonville Stisan H.,
wife of John Butler, of Danville Savilla and
Maria P., twins, who died in childhood; and
Frank G.
Frank G. Blee was born Aug. 5, 1839, and
was reared in Pennsylvania. When a youth
of seventeen he went out to Illinois, where he
remained until the spring of i860. In 1861
he joined an army wagon train in the quartermaster's department, with which he continued
On Aug. 9, 1862, he
until the fall of 1862.
enlisted, for nine months, in Company A, I32d
in 1795,

;

Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and saw
considerable hard sen-ice, taking part in the
important battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
After he was mustered out, at Harrisburg,
May 24, 1863, he returned to the farm, but he
followed lumbering in North Carolina to some
extent during the next few years, and while so
engaged rented his place. In 1872 he settled
upon the farm, which is located at Washingtonville, and there made his home the rest of
He was one of
his life, dying Feb. 16, 191 1.
the influential citizens of the county for many
years, and the positions of responsibility with

which he was honored showed how popular
he was with his fellow citizens. In 1878 he
was elected county commissioner, which office
he held for three successive terms, being reelected in 1881 and again in 1884, each time
running ahead of his ticket, the Democratic.
During the nineties he became associate judge,
which office he continued to fill thereafter
until his death, at which time he was serving
his third temi.

Sept. 24, 1863, Mr. Blee married Louisa
Butler, daughter of Daniel and Eliza
(Spencer) Butler, of Derry township, and
Robert E.,
they had a family of six children

Winifred (deceased), Frank Gordon, Harry
\\'.

(who

died in iSfiS). Sallie

M. (who

died

Dec. 20, 1885) and Lizzie (who died July 26,
1877). The mother died in January, 1878.
Frank Gordon Blee was born May i, 1874,
in Derry township, Montour county, where his
boyhood days were spent. He had common
school advantages, attending until he was thirteen years old, when he accompanied his
father to Western Pennsylvania, engaging in
the lumber business there for the ne.xt seven
years.
Returning home, he remained there
until he reached his majority, and then went
to Middletown, Conn., where he found a position as attendant in the Connecticut State HosHe was there three years, .going next
pital.
to Boston, Mass., where for the three years
following he was employed as a motorman.
Subsequently he was engaged as an electrical
worker for nine years. Coming back to the
home farm at the time of his father's death,

he continued there until January, 1913, when
he moved to his present farm in Limestone
township, following general agriculture and
stock dealing. He has always devoted himself
to his work, never taking any active part in
public aft'airs, and he has never desired official
honors. Politically he is a Democrat.
On June 24. 1903. Mr. Blee married Edith
M. Lytle, a native of Pennsylvania, born Nov.
1876, daughter of Jacob and Caroline
(Fultz) Lytle, farming people of Blair counMr. and
ty, Pa., who live at Williamsburg.
Mrs. Blee have two children Frank Gordon,
15,

born Sept.

1904; and Maxine Lytle. born

Sept. II. 1909.

Mr. Blee holds membership
terian

Church,

his

wife

in the

the

Presby-

Lutheran

Church.

HARMON

M. BREISCH, a prominent
farmer, cattleman and lumber dealer of Catawissa township, Columbia county, was born
in that township July 29, 1859, and is a son
of Joseph Breisch, a well known and respected
farmer of German descent, who was an old
resident in this section of the State.
Joseph Breisch was bom in Catawissa
Columbia county, Aug. 15, 1822,
and was a son of George and Rebecca (Wall)
Breisch, who were natives of this State and
His grandfather, Jacob
of German descent.
Breisch, was born in the old countrv and came
to America in early vouth. Grandfather \\'all
township,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
was

sold

his

pay
passage
bondage
America, working for some years after his arrival to repay the money.
George P.reisch
was born in Montgomery county, Pa., and
came to Columbia county in 1802, when he
established the old Breisch homestead which
has been in the family ever since. He died in
1S70. Joseph Breisch was reared on the farm,
ill

leaving to take charge of a place of his own
in 1852.
In 1853 he married Harriet IMiller,
and they had five children John E., living at
Charles VV.
Catawissa;
J., wife of
Newhauser, living in Washington, D. C. Rebecca, unmarried; Harmon M., living at Catawissa; and Regina, wife of Britton Hughes.
Joseph Breisch and his wife were both memHe died in
bers of the Lutheran Church.
igoi, and they are buried in the cemetery at
Catawissa.
Harmon M. Breisch attended the public
schools near his home and later was a student
in Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa.
:

Emma

;

Returning home he purchased his father's
farm in 1S92, adding land adjoining until he
now has over four hundred acres, and in addition to general farming he has a dairy, serving
the people of Catawissa with milk and dealing
in cattle as a side line.
He also carries on a
One of his speprofitable lumber business.
cialties is the cultivation of plums, of which
he has a fine orchard, the yearly product from
the trees being about 150 bushels.
Mr. Breisch married Maude Cotner, daugh-

Frank Cotner, of Limestoneville, Montour county, and they have the following famFlorence, Pearl, Ralph, Warren, Eugene,
ily
Mildred and Louise.
Mr. Breisch is a Democrat and has served
as school director of his township. He is the
largest taxpayer in the township and a business man as well as a successful farmer. He
is a member of the Lutheran Church, and of
ter of

Catawissa Lodge,

THOMAS

O. O. F.

HARDER,

proprietor of one
of the most important enterprises at Cataas
the
Mammoth
Furniture
wissa, operated
Store, and president of the Catawissa Knitting Mills Company, an industrial plant of
much value to the borough, was born Dec. 15,
1843, son of Washington Harder and grandson of John Harder. John Harder had the
Thomas, Samuel, Washfollowing children

589

when he

Bloomsburg, Pa.,
died; George, a
veteran of the Civil war, who resided at Catawissa, where he was a policeman until his
death
Thomas E.
Sarah, who married
Frederick Alerceran and Mary, Mrs. Thorp,
living in Ohio.
Thomas E. Harder married Clara A. Hamlin, and they have had children as follows
Charles M., who is assisting his father; Guy
W. and Pearl, who is the wife of Charles M.
Evans, of Bloomsburg, the leading shoe merchant of that city.
Mr. Harder not only handles a full line of
furniture of all kinds at the Mammoth Store,
but is also in the undertaking business, and
has a full equipment for carrying out the
wishes of his patrons regarding funeral ar;

;

He belongs to Catawissa Lodge,
No. 349, F. & A. M., and to Catawissa Chapter, R. A. M.
Politically a Republican, he has
served as burgess of the borough and member
rangements.

of the council, as well as in other capacities.
Mr. Harder and his two brothers served in
the Civil war for the Union cause. Dr. Charles
in the Iron Guards, as a private for some two
years, and George in the I32d P'ennsylvania
X'olunteer Infantry; he reenlisted, in the 3d

Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and again in
i88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
serving in all about three years. Thomas E.
Harder enlisted for nine months in 1862 in
Company H, I32d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in the spring of
the

1863.
Reenlisting in the 30th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, he served on the Colonel's
staff as sergeant major during this term, which
was an honor seldom conferred upon a youth
of his age. Again in 1864 he reenlisted, with

the 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, serving
until the close of the war.
He was located at
Fortress Monroe, Va., the last several months
of his service. After activities ended he was
a clerk in the pay department at Fortress

he was mustered out. He parSouth Mountain,
Antietam (where his regiment stood in front
of the ''bloody lane"), Fredericksburg and

Monroe

until

ticipated

the battles of

Chancellorsville, but much of his time was
spent on special duty, such as scouting, etc.
He was at Petersburg and the taking of Richmond, in fact was in the thick of the fray
most of the time. At Fredericksbtirg he was
stung by a flying missile. When he recovered
enough to get in action he was surrounded by
the dead and wounded, he being the only one
on his feet of those left on the field.

Dr. Charles, who was in active practice as a
physician and surgeon at Rohrsburg and

The Catawissa Knitting Mills Company was organized in November, 1909, with

Nancy, Susan and Sarah A.
Washington Harder, son of John Harder,
became the father of the following children

ington,

Mary

A.,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

590

a capitalstock of $12,000, by local business
men, under the name of the Montour Knitting
Mills.
In March, 1910, business was discontinued, and F. R. Dent was made receiver and
All matters of the concern having
trustee.
been settled up the present stockholders organized, in March, 191 1, as the Catawissa
Knitting Alills Company, with a capital stock
The plant is located in a threeof $8,000.
story building, equipped with all modern machinery for manufacturing ladies' hosiery, and
the volume of business shows a steady and
healthy increase. This is one of the leading
industrial plants of Catawissa, and as it has
Thomas E. Harder as president, W. H. Lau-

bach as secretary and manager, and C. P.
Pfahler as treasurer, its prosperity is assured.

IVEY.

father until the latter's death, when he succeeded to the homestead of 100 acres of very
valuable land, well cultivated and fertile. Believing in the dignity of agricultural labor,

and

having proved in his life that it can be made
to pay, he devotes all his attention to his farm,
carrying on general farming. For some years,
until 1908, he operated a milk route, but after
having been engaged in that line for twentyone years abandoned it, much to the regret of
his many customers at Bloomsburg, who had
grown to depend upon him for their milk
supply. Modern in all his methods, Mr. Ivey's
premises are in excellent shape, and he takes
a pride in them and his equipment. His buildings are well fitted for their several purposes,
and he is one of the best types of the advanced agriculturist that Columbia county

The Ivey family comes of English possesses.
and has long been an important one in
Edward W. Ivey married Elmira Gelespie,
Columbia county, where its representatives a daughter of William Gelespie, of Buckhorn,
have made their influence felt, chiefly along Pa. Children as follows have been born to
this marriage
Charles F. is a merchant of
agricultural lines.
William Ivey, the founder of the name in Nescopeck, Pa. Hattie, who married Daniel
the United States, was born in England in Morton, is living in Bloomsburg, Pa. Wash1 81 8, and died on his farm in Hemlock townington, who is a machinist by trade, is living
ship, Columbia county, Feb. 8, 1883, aged sixty- at Fernville, Hemlock township; Bruce, who
origin,

;

four years,
married

five

months, twenty-three days.
Williams, who was born in
England in 1824, and passed away February
12, 1897, aged seventy-three years, one month,

Ann

Both were buried in Rosemont
eight days.
cemetery, at Bloomsburg, Pa. In 1852 William Ivey brought his family to this country,
locating at Buckhorn, in Hemlock township,
Columbia Co., Pa., where he found employment for a time at ore mining. As soon as
his means warranted he purchased the old
Barton farm in Hemlock township, which he
continued to operate until death claimed him,
in 1883.
A man of courage and strong convictions, he lived up to what he believed was

and brought his children up to honor
Richand respect him. His children were
ard; Eliza Ann, who married William Gulliver; Mary Jane, who married John Walter;
who married George Wilson
Elizabeth,
Sarah, who married William Pooley William,
who is deceased and Edward W.
Edward W. Ivey, son of William Ivey, a
farmer of Hemlock township, was bom in
England Feb. 27, 1846, and was only five years
old when brought to this country by his parhis duty,

;

ents, so that

he has been practically reared in

Coh:mbia county, where

mature years have
been so profitably spent. From the time he
was old enough to give any material assistance Mr. Ivey was kept busy working for his
his

is a carpet weaver, lives at Fernville; Elizabeth, who married O. W. Crawford, is living
at Bloomsburg. Pa.
Lettie lives at home.
Politically Mr. Ivey is a Republican and has
given his school district the benefit of his zeal
and experience as a director of its board.
RiCH.'vRD Ivey, son of William Ivey and
brother of Edward W. Ivey, is a farmer of
;

Hemlock township.

He was

born at Miners-

Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was brought to
Columbia county when a child. His educational advantages were obtained in the excellent schools of Hemlock township, and by the
time he was old enough to be of much assistance to his father the latter had bought a
farm upon which he reared his children amid
healthful surroundings, early teaching them
lessons of industry and thrift.
Richard Ivey
also worked hauling ore from the mines in
Hemlock township, and grew up to useful
manhood. Later on he began farming in Catville,

awissa township, Columbia count)', remaining
there four years, when he returned to Hemlock township, and continued his agricultural
For the
operations for several years more.
next two years he was at Bloomsburg, Pa.,
in 1907 bought his present farm in Hemlock township, adjoining the old homestead of
his father, now owned by his brother, Edward
W. Ivey. This farm contains 20232 acres of
valuable land, upon which Mr. Ivey has made

and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
including the
erection of all the outbuildings. His premises
show the hand of a careful and efficient manager, and his stock and implements have been
selected with intelligent comprehension of his
needs. In February, 1914, he had the misfortune to lose his home, a disastrous fire destroying the dwelling and all its contents.

many important improvements,

Richard Ivey married

Mary Jane

Cooper,

who

591

church was commenced in 1848, on land purchased for that purpose, the cornerstone was
laid that year by
Bishop Alonzo Potter, and
the completed building dedicated
by the
Bishop, assisted by Rev. Milton Lightner and
others. Prominent among the contributors to
the work were the estate of
Ellis,

Stephen

William

Ellis, Stephen Ellis (son of Stephen
deceased), Catharine Ellis, Jane, William, Isabella, Ellen and John C. Ellis, Milton Lightner and Amos Heacock.
The first
officers of the church were:
William Ellis,

Ellis,

died July 12, 1905, and is laid to rest in
Mr.
Rosemont cemetery, Bloomsburg, Pa.
and Mrs. Ivey had the following children:
George A., a farmer of Montour township, Stephen Ellis, John C. Ellis and Amos HeaColumbia county
Sarah A., who married cock, vestrymen; William Ellis and Amos
Charles Freese and lives in Bloomsburg town
Heacock, wardens. In 1887 the officers were
;

;

Richard,

who

Jr.,

John C, who

living

Buffalo;

Bloomsburg; R. W.,
of Light Street, Pa.
Reuben, who is living
at Pittsburgh, Pa. Lloyd W., who is living at
Buft'alo; Mary Jane, who married Ross Edwards Clara, at home Jessie, who married
Charles Broat and lives at Tamaqua, Pa.
Maude E., who is at home and Rachel, also
is

living in
;

;

home

—

;

The

living.
following are deceased:
Eliza Ann, born in 1873, died in
1874; William, born in 1876, died the same
year; Blanche, born in 1889, died in 1890;
Grace, born in 1892, died in 1894.
Mr. Ivey is a member of the Reformed
Church, is interested in its growth and devel-

all

opment and an important man

in the congreparty holds his membership and receives his support, although he
has never cared to go into public life, believing
that he can better do his duty as a citizen in
a private capacity.

gation.

The Republican

FRANKLIN

ELLIS, of ExJAMES
change, Alontour county, has been cashier of
the Farmers' National Bank at that place ever
since it was established, and has also been well
and favorably known in other connections.
The Ellises are among the oldest and most

Charles Reeder, William

Ellis, John Caldwell,
Ellis, Robert Caldwell, Stephen C.
EUis, vestrymen; Charles Reeder, senior warden; Stephen C. Ellis, junior warden.
Stephen Ellis, the pioneer of the family in
Montour county, was born in Ireland, and
came from Londonderry, that country, to

John D.

America in or about 1770. His father, who
was a sea captain, when he retired from the
water took up land near Baltimore, Md., but
finally went back to Donegal, Ireland, where
he died.

Stephen

Ellis assisted his cousin at

Juniata, Pa., before

coming

to this section,

and

then settled permanently near Exchange, in
Anthony township. Here he and his wife
spent the remainder of their long lives in the
vicinity in which they first located, he farming
until his death, which occurred in 1845, when

he was eighty-two years old.
Eleanor (or Mary) Cunningham,

married

himself
a native of Ireland, who survived him a few
years, and they were buried in the Episcopal
graveyard at Exchange. They were the parents of twelve children.
William Ellis, second son of this large famlike

was born in Anthony township May 8,
and died in i860. In 1833 he married
Sarah Murray, of Lewis township, Northumsubstantial families at Exchange, and James berland county, daughter of John and Mary
F. Ellis is living up to the best traditions of a (Watts) Murray.
They then bought and
worthy name. He was born June 22, 1858, in cleared up a tract of land in the woods of
Montour
son
of
in
now
Madison township, CoHill,
county,
Murray
Anthony township,
Andrew and Jane A. (Ellis) Ellis, and a de- lumbia county. Upon this they lived and carscendant of Stephen

Ellis, the first

of the

name

one of the early residents of Anthony township.
Rev. Milton
Lightner, the first regular pastor of St. James'
at
made
his first
Church
Episcopal
Exchange,
visit to the place to preach at the funeral of
Stephen Ellis. When the latter died he left
a verbal will giving $200 towards the erection
of an Episcopal Church, "should there ever
be a disposition to erect such a building." The
to settle in this region,

ily,

i8cHD.

ried

on the pursuit of agriculture,

finally be-

coming possessed of several other tracts of
land in adjoining counties.
Mr. Ellis was a
member of the Episcopal Church at Exchange,
at which place he is buried.
His wife survived him until Jan. 21, 1892.
They were
the parents of three children
Andrew, John
D. and Stephen M., John D. being the only
:

survivor.

Andrew

Ellis,

father

James Franklin

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

592

Ellis, was born July S, 1834, in what was then
Columbia (now Montour) county, and became
one of the prominent men of his region in his

He engaged in merchandising, and later
followed farming, being one of the most respected citizens of his township, and was
elected to the office of justice of the peace,
which he held for five years. He was still
serving at the time of his death, which occurred May 4, 1879, when he was but fortyday.

five years old.
He married Jane A. Ellis, a
native of Bucks county, who outlived him

many

years, dying
February, 1912. They
had two children, James F. and W. S. Ellis.

James Franklin

Ellis received his education

He was reared to farmand continued to follow that occupation
for eight or ten years during his earlier man-

in the public schools.

ing,

hood.

served his fellow citizens in

An-

thony township for a number of years in official positions, two terms as tax collector and
two terms as assessor, and was storekeeper
and ganger in the United States Internal Revenue service, at Hazleton, Burnes and Coles
Creek, all in Pennsylvania. At one time for
about seven years he was mercantile appraiser
for Montour county. In 1906 he was one of
the organizers of the Farmers' National Bank,
of Exchange, and has ever since served as
cashier of the institution, of which he is also
officials

substantial citizens who are
directors of this bank are the best

The

a director.

and

guaranty of its stability, and it has always
been considered a high class concern, well deserving the substantial support it has received

community. Mr. Ellis by his efficient
has done his share toward establishand
maintaining this reputation. His prining
in the

eft'orts

cipal interests are centered in the bank, but
he also owns seventy acres of land.
In January, 1886, Mr. Ellis married Julia

A. Watson, of Anthony township, daughter of
John and Louisa Catherine (Steiner) Watson,
"farming people.
director.

Mr.

Mr. Watson was

Ellis is a

formed Church, and
Presbyterian Church

his

member

a school
of the Re-

wife belongs to the

at Washingtonville.

FRANK EMERSON De LONG,

whose

Berks county. Pa., and his wife, Magdalena
Berger, was a native of Union county, this
State. His ancestors came from France, while
hers were of German origin.
\Maen but a
in

youth Henry De Long came to Columbia
county and settled at Washington\ille, the
territory being then included within that county.

followed the trade of weaver, and
His wife

lived to be sixty-six years of age.
died at the age of ninety.

De Long, son

of Henry, was born
1827, at Washingtonville, where
eighteenth birthday, attending the country schools in the intervals
of labor at the loom. He then went to Philadelphia, where he obtained the better part of
his education, returning after a time to Montour county to take the position of bookkeeper
at the old Rough and Ready mill in Danville.
He was afterwards superintendent of the company store for ten or twelve years. In 1872
he built a plant of his own in East Danville,
which was known as the Danville Iron Foun-

Daniel

March

27,

he lived until his

dry. It was 56 by 84 feet in dimensions, solidly constructed, having a slate roof, an unusual feature at that time. It had a cupola,
capable of melting seven tons of iron at one
heat, core oven, crane, blacksmith shop, pat-

tern shop, etc., and was completely equipped
for the production of stoves, and plows and
various other agricultural implements.
The
first left-handed plow in this part of the country was manufactured here by Mr. De Long.
All kinds of machine work were done at his
foundry, which he carried on successfully for
fifteen years, after which he retired and moved
to Philadelphia. Mr. De Long also conducted
a large coal yard in Danville in connection
with his foundry.
He was director of the
First National Bank of Danville
served as
member of the school board and for twenty
;

;

years was warden of the Episcopal Church.
He was a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Lodge No. 100 of Philadelphia and
was a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member
of Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., Danville,
IMount Moriah Council, No. 10, R. & S. M.,
Catawissa Chapter, No. 178, R. A. M., and
Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T.
;

success as a manufacturer has made for his
name a permanent place in the history of industrial development in the LTnited States, is
a native of Danville, Montour Co., Pa. His'
home is located at Washingtonville, where

many years ago, and
there he has established a country estate that
is scarce equaled in this part of the State.
Henry De Long, his grandfather, was born

Mr. and Mrs. De Long only two survive,
Frank E. and Sarah E., the latter the wife of
George McConnell, formerly of Toronto, Canada, and now manager of the De Long estate

his grandparents settled

Mr. De Long was married

Jane Emer-

son, who was born Sept. 10, 1831, in .Sunderland, England, and came to America in 1854.
She now resides at the De Long homestead

Washingtonville.

the children born to

^C^^^^yr^

-~\

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
His sketch is given elseDaniel De Long died Jan. 13, 1889,
and is buried at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Frank Emerson De Long was born at Danville, where he attended the public schools and
completed his education at the Kelso Academy.
While a young man he entered the employ
at W'ashingtonville.

where.

of a mining and engineering

York

company

New

where he remained for five years.
He then removed to Philadelphia, where he
engaged in the business of fire insurance. In
1889 he began to devote his entire time to invention, working on various articles and devices, the most successful of which were a
folding paper box and an electric stenograph.
He perfected the hook and eye known as the
De Long in 1890, the sales of which have
been phenomenal and world-wide.
The ingenious phrase, "See That Hump," served to
City,

call the attention

and

of the public to

its

merits,

proved one of the most successful advertising hits of the trade; and as the article
itself was found to be beyond what was
it

claimed for it the demand rapidly increased.
The business which IVIr. De Long built up,
with the production of this one article as a

now

includes the manufacturing of
numerous articles for women's use, each of
which maintains the high standard of the
hook and eye, and their sale extends over the
civilized world.
Mr. De Long is vice president of the De
nucleus,

various outbuildings, making one of the finest
country homes in this part of Pennsylvania.
The grounds surrounding have been laid out
by landscape artists and present unusual beauties.
He has also planted a large grove of
pines, which adds much to the beauty of the
The home overlooks an extensive valplace.
ley, bounded on all sides by a high range of
hills, making as picturesque a scene as may be
found in many of the most famous European
localities.

William Henry De Long, son of Daniel and
De Long, was born Dec. 14,
1859, at Danville, and died Dec. 14, 1902, at

Jane (Emerson)

Washingtonville.

Vevay,

Switzerland;
Charles Foley.

Jonathan De Long,

family

Dorothy

May;

and

brother to Daniel

Long, was born at Washingtonville and
tended the public schools at that place.

learned the trade of

at-

mason while a young

calling which he followed throughout
his active years.
In 1857 he was married to

Jane Cotner, of Derry township, and two children were born to them John Clinton, who
became a weaver, and Sarah Jane, who was
married to Frank Coursen, postmaster at
W^ashingtonville. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Coursen have
two children Jennie Bernice, who is married
to Rev. Charles G. Hefl:"ner, a Lutheran min:

of Reading, Pa., and Dorothy Johanna,
residing at home.

ister,

GEORGE McCONNELL,

of Derry townMontour county, general manager of the

League, Racquet, Philadelphia Country and

ship,

Philadelphia Cricket Clubs. He is also a member of the L^nion League Club of New York,
and the Country Club of Williamsport. He
is a member of Christ's Memorial Church of
Danville and one of its most liberal supportIn politics he is a Republican.
ers.
Mr. De Long owns the old homestead near

De Long

tlie

man, a

Washingtonville and has gradually added to
until he has over three hundred acres,
where he carries on general scientific farmHe has erected a beautiful residence and
ing.

buried in

borne, of Philadelphia, who was a member
of a steamship transportation company. Three
children were born to this marriage
Blanche
S., now Mrs. Paul Alexander, of Chatoulenco,

factory is in Philadelphia he is also a director of the Canadian company, a branch of
the parent company. Besides his interests in
manufacturing, he is one of the largest real
estate operators in Philadelphia, making a
specialty of plots in the central and business
His offices are located
portions of the city.
in the De Long building, at the southeast
corner of Thirteenth and Chestnut streets,
Philadelphia, which is said to be the busiest
corner in the entire city.
Mr. De Long is one of the well known clubmen of Philadelphia, belonging to the Union

South Laurie Hill, Philadelphia.
Charles Foley De Long, son of Daniel and
Jane (Emerson) De Long, was born Dec. 4,
1861, at Danville, and died Oct. 21, 1899. He
was a member of the firm of Richardson &
De Long Brothers, pioneer manufacturers of
the De Long hook and eye. He was married
to Ida Sherborne, a daughter of William Sherlot at

Long Hook & Eye Company, whose home
;

593

estate at Washingtonville, is a native
of Toronto, Canada, born ]\Iarch 3, 1877. His
M. IMcConnell, also a native of
father,
Toronto (born March 23, 1851), passed all his
life in that city, where he was for years engaged in the wholesale cigar and tobacco business, building his trade up to large proporIn 1902 he sold out, thereafter living
tions.
retired until his death, which occurred in No-

vember, 1906, when he was fifty-five years old.
His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Dal-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

594

ton, was born in August, 1852, daughter of
John and Mary Dalton, natives of Ireland,
who came to Toronto in an early day and there
passed the remainder of their lives, Mr. Dalton
Adrs.
retiring some time before his death.
McConnell is still living in Toronto. She and
her husband had six children, all of whom
survive: Dr. John Francis McConnell, of
Colorado Springs, Colo.; George; Miss Marie
Louise, who lives in Canada; Florence, wife
of B. K. Sweeney, of Denver, Colo. Harry
C, of Toronto, Canada; and Gladys, of Colorado Springs, Colo., wife of George Anderson
Fowler. This family was reared in the faith
;

of the

Roman

Catholic Church.
McConnell, grandfather of George
McConnell, was a native of Ireland. He was
engaged as a clerk in the Canadian civil service, holding government positions practically
all
his
life.
His
wife
was
Elizabeth
Hennessy.
George McConnell obtained an e.xcellent

John

education in Toronto, and after leaving school
became employed with his father, with whom
he was associated nine years. He then spent
some time in New York and Philadelphia, engaged in mercantile pursuits. He is now general manager of the 300-acre estate of Frank
E. De Long, at Washingtonville, Montour
county (where he has been engaged since
1908), one of the most beautiful country
places in this region, which under his care is
undergoing a process of modern development
calculated to expand its possibilities to an extent which could only be attempted with
modern resources. Mr. McConnell has not
allied himself to any political party.
He is
devoted to business, and has been very successful in his present position.
On July 9, 1908, Mr. McConnell married
Sara E. De Long, sister of Frank E. De Long.
They have no children.

PETER

H. VOUGHT, a farmer of Franktownship, Columbia county, was born in
Montour county, Aug. 8, 1832, son of John

of Franklin township, and they had two children, Simon and Peter H.
Throughout his
useful life John Vought was a farmer, operHe served as a
ating in Montour county.
school director and also as poor supervisor,

and personally was a most excellent man.
Peter H. Vought remained at home until he
was twenty years of age, at which time he
bought fifty acres of land in Franklin township, Columbia county. With this small beginning he commenced fanning, steadily adding
to his holdings until he now owns 1,200 acres,
all in Franklin township, which he devotes to
general farming and fruit raising. He is one
of the heaviest landowners in the township.
Peter H. Vought married Esther Knittle,
Mrs.
but no children were born to them.
Vought died about 1900 and is buried in the
Sharp Ridge Lutheran Church yard. Mr.
Vought was a school director at one time and
also served as poor supervisor, elected to both
His sucoffices upon the Democratic ticket.

cess in life has been fairly earned by hard
work and unceasing economy, and he is naturally held in high respect by

all

who know

him.

LUTHER EYER,

vice president of the
of Catawissa, was born
March 12, 1846, son of Rev. William J. Eyer,
pastor of the Lutheran congregation at Catawissa from 1838 to 1874, when death cut
First National

Bank

short a career of religious and physical activmen. His
ity in the interests of his fellow
wife followed him to the grave in 1876, and
they rest side by side in the cemetery at Cat-

awissa.
J. Eyer was born Jan. 4, 1803,
Lebanon county, Pa., came to Columbia
the
age of thirty-four, and settled
county at
His education was
in Catawissa in 1838.
obtained in the city of New York, where he
was long under the instruction of Rev. Mr.
Geisenhammer, and before coming to this sec-

Rev. William

lin

tion to take charge of the congregations at

Vought, Jr.
John Vought,

Catawissa, Bloomsburg and Roaringcreek had
served a congregation at Rhinebeck, N. Y.,
where his eldest two children were born. By
his marriage to Charlotte Havemeyer, May 7,
the following children were bom: Fred-

grandfather, was born
and coming to Pennsylvania
bought a farm on Big Roaring creek. He married Hannah Metz, and their children were:
Daniel Howell James John, Jr. Anna, who
married Peter Bodine; Elizabeth, who married John HoiTman; and Mary, who married
J. Vastine.
John Vought's remains were laid
to rest in the Lutheran Church cemetery at
Sharp Ridge.
John Vought, Jr., married Esther Knittle,
in

New

;

Sr., the

Jersey,

;

1829,
erick

C, Sept. 15, 1830; Susannah C, Aug.
1834; Catherine, Jan. 23, 1838; William,
Dec. 7, 1843; Mary, Nov. 8, 1840 Luther,
18,

;

these, Susannah, widow
of Rev. D. M. Henkel, resides in Catawissa;
is
Frederick Christian
living retired in Blooms-

March

12, 1846.

burg; Mary was the wife of George Stevens,
both now deceased; William resides in Florida, where he has an orange grove.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Luther Eyer attended public school at Catawissa and a select school at Wyoming, Pa.,
going thence to the Millersville State Normal
School near Lancaster, Pa. He then went to
New York City and entered the employ of

Havemeyer &

Elder, sugar refiners, for a year,
returning to Catawissa in 1869 to enter upon
In 1873 he purchased a farm
railroad work.
in Montour township, Columbia county, remaining on it for almost forty years, and at
the end of that period returning to Catawissa,
where he has since lived. In 1873 Mr. Eyer
married Jane, daughter of David Clark, who
was a son of Andrew Clark, one of the pioneers of Columbia county. Mr. and Mrs. Eyer
have had five children William, living on the
:

home farm; David and Luther, deceased;
Kate, wife of Dr. J. F. Fulton, of Berwick,
Pa. and George, living at home.
Mr. Eyer is one of the foremost men of his
section and has been a leader in school matters for years, taking an active part in establishing tiie public schools of Catawissa and
He was councilman of
serving as director.
the borough and was one of the organizers
and directors of the First National Bank of
Catawissa, of which he is now vice president.
He is also a stockholder and director in the
Catawissa Knitting Mills. In religious affiliation Mr. Eyer is a Lutheran, as is his entire
;

family.

FREDERICK

SMITH, proprietor of
the Catawissa Marble and Granite Works, is
a native of Germany, having been bom in the
province of Saxony, Prussia, Nov. 7, 1839.
His parents, Frederick and Etta (Steinach)
His
Smith, were natives of that country.
father, who was a carpenter, died while in
Fredtwo
the prime of life, leaving
children,
erick B. and Charles G., both of whom now
The mother came to
reside in Catawissa.
America, with her second husband, Mr. Dell,
in 1S60, and located in Montour township,
Columbia county, where they both resided
until their deaths.

ward

They had one

child,

Ed-

Dell.

Frederick B. Smith was but a child at the
death of his father, and was placed in a
national school until the age of fourteen, reHe was
ceiving a good German education.
then apprenticed to the trade of stonecutter,
working at it for five years, and like all of his
countrymen was compelled to serve in the
army for three years, being assigned to the
On his return home
31st Prussian Infantry.
he served three and a half years as journeyman at his trade, and then started business
for himself, having his apprentices and jour-

neymen as was the custom then.
was called to the colors in the

595
In 1864 he

war between

Prussia and Denmark, and continued in serv-

from January to September of that year.
Again he took up civil life, but in 1866 he
was once more called to the colors, in the
war with Austria. He served a few months,
and was under corporal. In 1869 he left the
Fatherland for the new world, sailing on a
Red Star steamer for America from Bremen,
and had the trials of a twenty-one days' voyice

age ere he arrived in New York. Upon his
arrival in America, Frederick B. Smith went
to Columbia county to visit his mother and
stepfather, who persuaded him to remain. Going to work at Scranton, he found employment with Michael May, who kept a marble
yard, at $3.50 a day, and remained with him
three years.
He sent for his family, and in
1872 they located in Catawissa, where he
entered into business for himself. His establishment was the first of its kind in the town,
and it is first in importance, and for thirtyone years he has held the most of the trade
of the borough.
His two sons are of great
assistance to him in the works, where they
are noted for their skill, acquired from the
father, who had thorough training under the
old German apprentice system.
Mr. Smith designed and erected the soldiers'

and sailors' monument at Catawissa, having
been the winner in competition with twentyfive others.
The cost of the monument was
$1,000, and it is a work of art, which has received the commendation of visitors from all
It was unveiled by Govparts of the State.
ernor Hoyt in 1878. In addition to this tribute to the dead there are hundreds of tombstones and markers in this and other cemeteries of this section, all evidences of the
care and pride he takes in his handiwork. In
1882 Mr. Smith became the proprietor of the
"Danville Hotel," which he operated for two
years, being the last proprietor of that hos-

The site of this hotel is now occupied
by the Thomas Beaver Free Library of Dan-

telry.
ville.

is a stanch Democrat and is a
the Lutheran Church, taking a
great interest in religious matters and standing for the right in every movement in behalf
of his fellow men.
In the year 1863 Mr. Smith was married,
in the Fatherland, to Christina Neuschildt,
who remained there when her husband came
to America, he sending for her in 1872, after
he had provided a home in the New World.
She died in 1879, and was buried in the cem-

Mr. Smith

member

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

596

etery at Catawissa, where a handsome monument marks her grave. Two children blessed
their union, Charles E. and Freda, who married Macius Mines and resides near Camden,

New

his second wife Jes-

Rhawn, daughter of Casper Rhawn and
sister of William H. Rhawn, one of the leading attorneys of Columbia county.
By this
marriage he had five children: Albert; Carrie, wife of A. H. Sharpless, of Bloomsburg:
Hattie, wife of Mark Dillon, a florist of
Bloomsburg; Ettie, wife of Charles Gallagher,
of Pittsburgh; and Louisa, who resides in
Pittsburgh.

Charles

E. Smith, eldest son of Frederick
Smith, was born in Tennstadt, Saxony,

Prussia, Sept. lo, 1863. and came to America
at the age of eight with his mother and sisThe foundations of his education were
ter.
laid in the German schools and the public
schools of Catawissa. and later he studied in
the State Normal School at Bloomsburg. He
then entered the marble works of his father,

with

whom

went

he remained until 1901, when he
Allegheny City to take the foremanship of granite works there.
Returning to
Catawissa he was in business with his father
until 1909, when he was appointed clerk in
the county commissioners' office, which position he now holds.
He is a supporter of the
policies of the Democratic party, and a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and
of the Odd Fellows, of which latter he is a
past grand. He is also a director in the Catawissa Bank. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, July 8, 1902, to Christina, daughter of
Judge J. T. Fox, of Catawissa, and they have
one child.
Albert Smith, second son of Frederick B.
Smith, was born in Catawissa in April, 1881,
and obtained an education in the public schools
there.
From boyhood he took an interest in

the stonecutting trade, and after learning the
business thoroughly became a partner with his

He makes his home in Bloomsburg,
one of the rising young men of the borough, having the respect of all who know him.
He married Flora Metheral, and they have
one child, Jessie Elizabeth.
father.

and

EDWARD RODMAN DRINKER,

late of

Bloomsburg, Columbia county, for a number
of years manager of the Bloomsburg Iron
Company, and afterwards a member of the
firm

known

first

white

man

Jr.,

that section of

was the

PennsylPike and

now comprised in Wayne,
Luzerne counties, in 1791 buying the large

vania

long known as "Drinker's Beech," a
name suggested by the large number of beech
trees thereon
The Drinker family has been

tract

Jersey.

Mr. Smith married for
sie

His grandfather, Henry Drinker,

as the

Hess Manufacturing Com-

pany, was a resident of that place for almost
half a century, from 1846 until his death.

America from early Colonial days, and
R. Drinker was of the ninth generation
from the immigrant ancestor, Philip
in

Edward

Drinker.
Philip Drinker, born in 1596,

(I)

New

England

came

1635 from Exeter, England,

in the ship "Abigail," Robert Hackwell, master, bringing his wife and two children. Their
ages at the time of embarking were recorded:

Philip Drinker, thirty-nine
wife, Elizabeth,
thirty-two; sons Edward, thirteen, and John,
eight years.
They settled at Charlestown,
;

Mass. His death occurred June 23, 1647. Mr.
Drinker became a man of some note, engaging
in the pottery business,
ferrj'

over the

and

also kept the first

Alysti'c river in 1640.

Edward

(who died 1700) and John appear to have
been the only children.
(II) John Drinker, younger son of Philip,
bom in 1627, married Elizabeth
and they had children
John, Elizabeth, Mary,
:

Sarah and

Philip.

(III) John Drinker, son of John, born
March 31, 1653, at Beverly, Mass., was a ship
builder or carpenter. He married Ruth Balch,
and their children were Joseph, Edward and
:

John.
(I\') Joseph Drinker, son of John and
Ruth, married Alary Janney, by whom he
had the following family
Henrj', Joseph,
:

John and Tabitha.
(\') Henry Drinker, son of Joseph, born
in 1709, married in 1731 Mary Cottier, and
died in 1746.
Their children were: John,
Henry, Daniel, Joseph and Elizabeth.
(\T) John Drinker, son of Henry, was born
in 1733. and died July 27, 1800.
He was a
man of literary tastes, and also did some newspaper work. On Feb. 27, 1756, he married
Rachel Reymear, who was born Oct. 18, 1730,
and died May 21. 1822. They had a family of
six children
Henry, Joseph (born 1758,
died 1759), Hannah, Ann, Joseph D. and
:

Mary.
(VII) Henry Drinker, Jr., son of John
and Rachel, was born Jan. 22, 1757, in Philhis life, dying
adel]:)hia, where he resided all
there Oct. 19, 1822. For a number of years
America
Bank
of
North
of
the
he was cashier
of that city, having been elected to that position in January, 1800, and serving through-

COLUMBIA AXD MONTOUR COUNTIES
out his active career.

April

1782, he

married Alary Howe!!, daughter of Abram
and Rebecca (W'ahij Howell, and they had
children
John, Henry Wain, Rebecca W.,
Richard and William Wain.
In 1787 he came to the region in Pennsylvania now included in Wayne, Pike and Luzerne counties, being the first white man there.
During the year 1791 he bought from the
State 25,000 acres of "unseated" land there,
:

Lackawanna
wigwams turned

in the
in

"As the dweller
valley.
his footsteps towards the

other hunting grounds
setting sun, in search of
where the deer and moose and buffalo had
not been driven out by the white conqueror,
no region was left behind him more fitted for
the chase, the war dances or hostile campfires

than that section lying between Stroudsburg
and the Lackawanna, first known as "Drink"
Mr. Drinker's family became
er's Beech.'
sons Richard
prominent in that section, his
and Henry Wain coming out to take charge of
it.
They received the charter for the railroad
from Great Bend to the Delaware river, now
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road,
and also built fifty miles of turnpike in Luzerne county, still known as the Drinker turn-

pike.

(Vni) Richard
Drinker,

Drinker,

was born Jan.

Jr.,

son

28,

Henry

1796,

He studied law and was adPhiladelphia.
In 1846
mitted to the bar at Philadelphia.
he moved to Bloomsburg, Columbia county,
that year buying the farm just adjoining the
as the Troup farm),
village (later known
whereon he made his home for several years,
in 1854 settling at Scranton, Pa., where he
real estate
engaged in conveyancing and the
business and passed the remainder of his life.
He died there Nov. 21, 1861. For over twenty
of the peace, and
years he served as a justice
he was known for his good judgment and

He had a gift of
attainments.
and published
writing poetry, and composed
He married Lydia E.
a number of poems.
a native
Wragg, daughter of John Wragg,
who came to America about the
of
intellectual

England

time of the French Revolution. The ship in
which he crossed the Atlantic was captured
with all on board, and he was held prisoner
a long time.
Upon his release he came to
Luzerne county. Pa., but later he moved West,
about ninety years
dying at Beloit, Wis., when
old.

bom

Air.

and Mrs. Richard Drinker were
Richard Wain,
as follows:

597

(IX) Edward Rodman Drinker was born
Xov.

5, 1830, near Clifton post office, in Covington township, Luzerne (now Lackawanna)
Co., Pa.
Moving to Bloomsburg with his
father in 1846, he began his connection with
the iron business that year
finding employment
as an office boy with the
Bloomsburg Iron
and
at
the age of seventeen became
Company,
He
held
that
bookkeeper.
position with increasing responsibilities for the next twentyseven years, and in 1880 became
manager of
the company,
remaining with the concern until
it discontinued business
(1887). He then became a member of the Hess Alanufacturing

Company (founders), continuing in that association until his decease.
In Mr. Drinker's
death, which occurred at Bloomsburg Aug.
24, 1893, that place lost one of its most val-

He was

ued

citizens.
ful in business;

prominent and successhad served his fellow men in

various public capacities, for five years as
member of the borough council; and was a
leading member and liberal supporter of St.
Paul's Episcopal Church, serving as vestryman for over thirty years, and acting as one
of the building committee when the present
edifice was constructed.
Fraternally he belonged to the Blue Lodge, F. & A. AI.
In 1S62 Air. Drinker enlisted in the Union
service as an emergency man, and soon afterwards went with his regiment to the front,
arriving at Antietam during the battle, after
which the regiment returned home and was

disbanded.

On Jan. 18, 1859, ^Ir. Drinker was
married to Alartha Alendenhall, who was born
Alay II, 1834, at Derry, Pa., daughter of
Joshua and Susan (Dietrick) Alendenhall,
and died at Bloomsburg, Xov. 5, 1907. Air.
and Airs. Drinker are buried in Rosemont
cemetery at Bloomsburg. Four children were
Edward
born to Air. and Airs. Drinker:
Wain is associated with the Lehigh Coal &
Xavigation Company and is located at PhilaRichard Carlton is in the steel
delphia, Pa.
;

manufacturing business, associated with the
Heppenstall Forge and Knife Co., at PittsAliss Lydia Wragg resides in
burg, Pa.
Bloomsburg, Pa. Susan died in infancy.
;

;

GEORGE

REAGAN,

AI. D., deceased,
for years a physician and surgeon of Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa., was born Feb. 9,
1834, in Berks county. Pa., son of George and

Alan,' (Long) Reagan.
Francis
George Reagan, father of Dr. Reagan, was
Charies
Rebecca
Howell,
ironmaster of Berks county, and subsean
Perot, Alfred Cope.
quently moved to Sunbury, Pa., where he
Morgan and Mary Ann.

Eliza

children

Morgan,

Edward Rodman,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

598

became the owner of a gristmill. In the latter years of his life he moved to \'irginia,
where his death occurred. He and his wife
were the parents of eight children.

emigrated

Deciding upon a medical
Schuylkill county.
career, he disposed of his business interests,
Medical College at
the
Vermont
and entered

the following children:

George L. Reagan received a common
school education, and as a young man engaged
in the lumber business with a brother, in

Vt., from which he was gradDuring the following eighteen years
he practiced his profession at Shenandoah,
Schuylkill county, and in 1878 came to Columbia county and settled at Berwick, where
he was engaged in practice for more than
thirty-two years. He had been the first physician at Shenandoah, and continued to hold
many of his patients even after coming to
Berwick, where he built up a large country

Burlington,

uated.

In connection with his practice he
practice.
conducted drug stores at Shenandoah and
Berwick. In his death, which occurred April
lost one of its emi7, 191 1, Columbia county
nent medical men, and a citizen who always

held the interests of his community at heart.
He was an active member of the county and
State medical societies of Knapp Lodge, No.
;

No.
462, F. & A. M., and of Berwick Lodge,
246, Odd Fellows and with his wife attended
the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Politiand he
cally the Doctor was a Republican,
had been a member of the council for three
to the
chosen
terms, having the honor of being
;

first

council of the borough.

was married

On .Aug. 7, 1866, Dr. Reagan
to Tillie E. Dietrick, who was born July 7,
of Jacob and
1839, at Berwick, Pa., daughter
Eliza (Snyder) Dietrick, natives of Little
York, Pa.,' of German descent. They came
Berwick at a very early date, Mr. Dietrick establishing himself in business here as
stand in Berwick
proprietor of the only shoe
for a number of years. Both he and his wife
died here, the parents of three children:
Charles, a resident of Ocean Grove, N. J.
L. Freas, living at
Marv, the widow of

;

John
There were several
E.
Mr. Dietrick
step-brothers and step-sisters,
having been married three times.
Berwick; and

Tillie

GEORGE MICHAEL BOWER,

the old-

est living citizen of Briarcreek township, Columbia county, was born at Evansville, that
township. Dec. 20, 1822, son of George
Michael and Margaret (Zener) Bower.
of George
John Bower, the grandfather
Michael Bower, was born in Germany and

America in young manhood,
on a farm in Briarcreek townwhere
he
ship,
passed the remainder of his
life.
He and his wife, who was a Hill, were
members of the German Lutheran Church,
and are buried in Briarcreek township, at the
old Brick Church. They were the
parents of
to

finally settling

Jacob, who married
Solomon, who marMary Evans; Abraham, who married
Nellie Remley; Daniel; Esther, who married
Bastian Kinter;
who married
Philipena,
David Whitmire; and George Michael.
George ^lichael Bower, son of John
Bower, and father of George ^lichael Bower
(2), was born on what is now the John Fester
farm, in Briarcreek township, Columbia Co.,

Zimmerman

Catherine

;

ried

Pa.

received a public school education,
the trade of
weaver, but subsequently turned his attention to farming, owning a tract of
fifty-three
acres which he devoted to general agriculture.
There he raised his own flax, from which
he wove carpets and linens. He spent his entire life at Evansville, and was
actively engaged in work up to within seven years of his
which
occurred
when
he
was eightydeath,
one years old. During the early days, when
Montour and Columbia counties were known
as Columbia county, he was a frequent passenger on the old packet boat which plied to
Danville.
He was a Democrat in politics,
and served on various occasions as juryman
at Danville.
Up to the age of sixty years
he was a member of the German Lutheran
Church, at that time changing to the LInited
Evangelical Church, in the faith of which he
died. He and his wife were buried at Evansville, where they had been so long and so
Mrs. Bower bore the
favorably known.
maiden name of Margaret Zener, and was a
of
daughter
George and Annie (Zimmerman)
Zener. She and her husband had the followchildren
Sarah, who married William
ing

and

young manhood learned

who married Elizabeth
Reuben, who married Sarah
Dietterick
Sarah
Samuel, who married
Wright; Daniel, who married Margaret Remley and (second) Mary Remley; Hannah, who
married Henry Martz George Michael Catherine, who married Charles Whitmire; Enos,
who died at the age of sixteen years; and
Isaiah, who married Hannah Hagenbuch.
George Michael Bower, son of George
^Michael Bower, received his education in the
old pay schools of Briarcreek
township, and
with the exception of one year worked with
Whitmire
Hagenbuch

Isaac,

;

his father until the latter's death.

;

During

that

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
year he was employed in a brickyard,
ing to his home after a severe attack
He has spent practically
ious fever.
tire career in agricultural pursuits,

now

the

returnof bilhis en-

and

owner of 190 acres of good

land,

man
renting out on shares.
of remarkable vitality, he carried on active
Aloperations until 191 2, when he retired.
though the oldest living citizen of Briarcreek
township he is still active and alert, with a
which he

keen

mind and unimpaired

faculties.

he is a Democrat, and at
various times has been honored by his fellow citizens with election to office, serving as
school director, supervisor and judge of elecHe has long been regarded as an intions.
fluential man in the ranks of his party in BriarFor some years he was a
creek township.
member of the Grange there, but no longer
political questions

599

ber of years prior to his death.
in

Democratic

politics,

He was

and was a

active
faithful

member

of the Presbyterian Church. He and
his wife are buried in Greenwood
township.
They were the parents of the following children: Peter, who married

Margaret Smith;
Asa, who is married and resides in the West;
James, also married and in the West; Mary
Catherine, who died shortly after her marriage; Mahala, who died unmarried; and
Jacob.

Jacob Girton, son of William Girton, and
father of Mrs. Bower, was born in Green-

wood township, where he was educated

in the

worked with his father
until his marriage, at which time he moved to
Bloomsburg, Pa., but after a few years came
to Briarcreek township, and located on what
public schools.

holds membership therein, feeling that it is
the duty of younger men to take up the reHe has
that organization.
sponsibilities of
held many offices in the United Evangelical
Church at Evansville, and for a long time

is now the Alvin Davis
farm, which he conducted ten years for Andrew ]'>eas. Subsehe
moved to Evansville, where he
quently
spent the closing years of his life, and both
he and his wife were buried at the old Brick
Church of the Presbyterian faith, of which

served as class leader.
At the age of twenty-seven years Mr.
Bower was married to Matilda Mosteller,

his political proclivities, and
in the ranks of his
party.

daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Grove)
Mosteller, and" to this union were born children as follows
Mary Jane, who married
Adam Michael Celesta M., now the widow
of James Stoudt; Pierce, who died at the
marage of twenty-four years Norman, who
ried Deborah Wenner, of Berwick; Oscar,
who married i\Iary Crassly; and a son deMrs. Bower was buried
ceased in infancy.
at the United Evangelical Church at Evansfor his second wife
married
Mr. Bower
ville.
Mrs. Mary N. (Girton) Mosteller, who was
born March 5, 1835, in Greenwood township,
Columbia Co., Pa., was educated in the pubBriarcreek township, and
schools of
lic
worked out until her first marriage, to Charles
Mosteller, by whom she had three children,
all deceased, Etta, Jennie and one that died
Mr. and Mrs. Bower have had
in infancy.
Mattie C, who married
three children:
Warren Paxton, who
Chauncey Witmire
married Bertha Sitler; and Gertrude Ellen,
who married Isaac Jones, and resides at
:

;

Scranton, Pennsylvania.
William Girton, the grandfather of Mrs.
Bower, was born in England about 1775,
and emigrated to America with five brothers,
first

New Jersey, where he was
Later he came to Greenwood townColumbia county, where he carried on

settling in

they were members.

He was

Democrat

an active worker

During his resiColumbia county he formed a wide
acquaintance, and was held in the highest
esteem by all who knew him.
Mr. Girton
married Mrs. Rachel (Hess) Nicholas, widow
of George Nicholas, by whom she had three
children, Sarah, Catherine and George, all deceased. Her father, John Hess, came to Columbia county from Northampton county, Pa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Girton were born eight childence

John, who died in childWilliam, who married Rebecca Hosboth deceased
Mary N., who married

dren, as follows

hood
ier,

;

George M. Bower; Margaret, who was the
wife of Henry Bower, a resident of Berwick
Maria, deceased, who was the wife of Webster
Dawson Samuel, deceased James, who died
at the age of three years
and Henry, who
after the death of his first wife, Emma Troch,
formed another union (he lives in Kansas).
Mr. Bower has had a phenomenally long,
active and honorable career, and upon his life
record there is not the slightest stain or blemSurrounded by a wide circle of friends,
ish.
with his children and grandchildren around
him, a comfortable home and a generous competency, he may well feel content in looking
back over the years that have made up his
useful and well spent life.
;

;

married.
ship,

his retirement a
general farming until

F. PFAHLER, a physician and
of Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa., was

JAMES

num- surgeon

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

600

born at Catawissa, same county, Oct. 20, 1877,
son of Charles P. and Alice (Hartzel)

Pf abler.
James

Pfahler,

grandfather

Dr.

Pfahler, was born at Heidelberg, Germany,
and came to the United States at an early
day, settling in Columbia county. Pa., near
There he became a tanner, and
Catawissa.
carried on that line of business throughout
the remainder of his life.
Charles P. Pfahler was born in Columbia
county, Pa., and like his father became a
tanner, conducting an extensive business of
that kind at Catawissa until his retirement.
He is now residing at Catawissa. His wife
was a daughter of Joseph Hartzel, who be^
longed to a pioneer family of tin's county, and

founded the family in
America, coming from his native Germany,
and locating near Easton, Pa., where he became a farmer and rounded out a useful

great-grandfather

life.

Frederick Hess, the grandfather, was born
Easton, Pa., and while grow-

in the vicinity of

ing up on the farm and learning agricultural
duties was also taught the trade of a mason,

following

until 1812.

In that year he left

home and came to Columbia county,
near Lime Ridge, in Centre township,

his early

settling
in the vicinity of the canal lock.
tract of fifty acres of timberland,

Buymg

he began
farm from the wilderness, passall
the
incidents
and
ing through
privations of
developing a

pioneer

life

this

section.

Upon

his

land

was a farmer all his life. Mr. and Mrs.
Pfahler have had two children
Nellie, who
is living at home, and James F.
James F. Pfahler attended the common and
high schools of Catawissa, graduating from

he erected a house and necessary outbuildings,
and while operating his land followed his
trade and conducted the Stonypoint ferry, so
that his time was fully occupied.
Probably
he overexerted himself, for he lived only eight

the

latter, following which he entered the
University of Pennsylvania, and after a five
years' course was graduated from the department of medicine of that institution in 1901.
He then entered the West Pennsylvania Hospital at Pittsburg, where he remained a year,
gaining a very valuable experience. In 1903
he came to Berwick and entered upon general

years after coming to Columbia county, dying
in 1820, and was buried in the Brick Church
cemetery in Briarcreek township.
Frederick Hess married Catherine Henry
and (second) Elizabeth Henry, who died in
Centre township in 1847, and was buried in
the Hidlay Church cemetery.
She bore her
husband four children
Henry Susan, who

practice, and he is now the busiest physician
in his locality, having a steadily increasing

married Samuel Hagenbaugh; Rebecca, who
married David Coleman; and Elizabeth, who
married Charles Hagenbaugh.
Henry Hess, son of Frederick Hess, was
born near Easton, Pa., Dec. 12, 1808, so was
in his fourth year at the time of the
family
migration to Columbia county, and therefore

patronage.

Dr. Pfahler

member

of the

Columbia County Medical Society and tlie
Pennsylvania State Medical Association, and
fraternally belongs to the Masons at Berwick
and the Odd Fellows at the same place.
On Sept. 18, 1907, Dr. Pfahler was mar-

;

was practically reared within its confines.
Growing up in the wilderness, he developed
sturdiness of body and character, and learned
early to work to some purpose.
Losing his
wissa her father is a farmer. Mrs. Pfahler father when only twelve years old, his educational opportunities were limited, especially as
is one of four children born to her parents
William, who is a resident of Columbia he was the only son in the family, and his
county David, who is deceased Mrs. Pfah- widowed mother naturally had to depend upon
ried to Catherine Eyer, a native of Catawissa,
Pa., daughter of Luther and Jane (Clark)
Eyer, both of whom are residing at Cata;

;

and George, who is living at Catawissa.
Dr. and Mrs. Pfahler have no children. They
are consistent members of the Lutheran
Church.
ler;

WILLIAM

H. HESS, a retired farmer, of
Centre township, Columbia Co., Pa., and a
veteran of the Civil war, was born in the
same township in which he still resides, Jan.
14.

1844-

are of German extraction, as
are so many of the old and prominent famthe
The paternal
of
ilies
Keystone State.

The Hesses

him, although he lived with his father's cousin,
John Hess, of Wapwallopen, Luzerne Co.,
Pa. For the seven years following his father's
death Henry Hess remained with this cousin,
assisting him in the work of the farm, and
at the expiration of that period returned to

Centre township. Columbia county, where he
learned the trade of wheelwright and also
wagonmaking with Michael Hagenbaugh, one
of the leading wagonmakers of his day and
locality.

Completing his apprenticeship, Mr.
Lime Ridge, in Centre town-

Hess

settled at

ship,

where he worked

his

allied

trades.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and also had charge of the canal lock at that
Later on in life he replace for ten years.
turned to his first line of work, and began
farming in Centre township, following agri-

Henry Lee and Col. L.
regiment was organized
16, 1864, and was sent

601
B. Kauft'man.
at

This

Harrisburg Sept.
the

was a consistent member of the Reformed
Church, which he served faithfully and well
as deacon and elder, and was a man of high

front, being
assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 7th
Corps, Army of the Potomac. Mr. Hess remained with his company until the close of
the war, and participated in every engagement
of his regiment, including the fall of Petersburg, April 5, 1865.
At the time of his discharge Mr. Hess returned home to resume his peaceful occupation of farming, obtaining employment on the
Levi Hutchinson farm, which he operated on
shares. This was a tract of 105 acres, and he
conducted it for four years, when he left to
go on the Elias Creasy farm, which contained
ninety-four acres. This he also operated on
shares, for eight and a half years, until 1879,

standing in that body.

when he was

cultural pursuits the rest of his active life.
Becoming the owner of eighty-five acres of
land, he took a good deal of pride in improving his property, erected substantial buildings, and kept everything in good order about
his premises. After his retirement he resided

death on a one-acre lot which his
William Henry Hess, then bought. There
Henry Hess died Aug. ii, 1887, ^"d was
buried in the cemetery of Hidlay's Church,
where his mother had been laid to rest. He
until his

son,

A stanch Democrat,
he gave his services cheerfully in various
local positions, and was a conscientious, effi-

able to

buy the Gilbert Fowler

property of seventy-five acres in Centre townHe inaugurated and carried out many
ship.
cient public official.
valuable improvements during the two years
On March 25, 1832, Henry Hess married he lived upon it. Seeing better opportunities
Maria Hayman, who was born in Berks in a change, he went to Briarcreek township,
county. Pa., a daughter of Peter and Savilla Columbia county, settling on the Eli Whitney
Hayman, both of whom died in Columbia farm. Mr. Whitney was the nephew of the
county in 1827. Mrs. Hess passed away celebrated Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton
March 19, 1891, having survived her hus- gin. The Whitney farm was a small propband several years, and she was buried in erty. After remaining on it for two years Mr.
the same cemetery. Her religious affiliations Hess moved back to Centre township, and
were with the Lutheran Church. Henry Hess located on his father's eighty-five-acre farm,
and his wife had children as follows: Savilla, on which he began making improvements.
who married in September, 1853, Daniel Mou- This place continued to be his home for a
ery, of Scott township, Columbia county, died quarter of a century, and he carried on general
Oct. 21, 1886; Levina married \\'esley Hess, farming and stock raising with considerable
of Centre township, and both are deceased
Feeling that he had accomplished
profit.
Joseph A., who married Levina Coleman, died enough Mr. tless then turned the property
William Henry is men- over to his son, C. H. Hess, and settled with
in Centre township
Isaiah Jacob, who married his wife on the one-acre lot where his father
tioned below
Alice Hess, resides in Berwick, Pa. Emma spent his last years. They made an addition
Jane married Lloyd I. Conner, resided at to the house, which is now larger than the
For over a year Mr. Hess has
Hazleton, Pa., and died eight years ago; farmhouse.
James Harvey resides at Berwick, Pennsyl- been in poor health.
On Sept. 28, 1867, Mr. Hess was married
vania.
William Henry Hess, son of Henry Hess, to Savilla Hayman, a native of Orange townattended the local schools and grew up on the ship, Columbia Co., Pa., daughter of Benfarm, learning all the details of agricultural jamin and Franey Hayman. The former, born
His first employment in Berks county. Pa., died in Orange township,
life from boyhood.
away from home was with Isaac Hess, a dis- Columbia county, and the latter died in Centre
Mr. Hayman
tant relative, who paid him twelve dollars township. Columbia county.
of Columbia county. Mrs.
per month, and he was thus engaged when was the first sheriff
Hess is a woman of marked intelligence, and
he began his career as a soldier.
From the outbreak of the Civil war he had her interest in the Centre township Grange
been greatly interested, but his youth for- has been as deep as her husband's, both being
bade his enlistment during the earlier years active members of that organization. While
of the great struggle.
However, on Sept. 2, alive to the trend of public events, she is deto her home and family and is a noted
1864, he enrolled with Company F, 209th voted
not connected with any
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. housewife. Though
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

602

religious denomination she has a broad outlook upon life, and is liberal in her tolerance
of other people's views. Mr. and Mrs. Hess
have had four children Clark H., who is now
operating the homestead, married Anna Stahl,
a daughter of William Stahl, a veteran of the
Civil war, and they have eight children, Ethel
:

Albertha, Elliott Stahl, Evelyn Mildred, William Hayman, Myron Clark, Grace Margery,

Corene Anna and Blanche Fay

;

Ario Lockard

died at the age of seven years a daughter died
in infancy unnamed Guy Lester is at home.
The principles of Democracy have always
appealed to Mr. Hess, and he has given them
man of action, he has
intelligent support.
naturally been called upon to serve in Icfcal
offices and was roadmaster for six years, a
school director for three terms (during which
treasurer of
period he acted as secretary and
the board), and for three terms an efficient
member of the board of supervisors, repreFor years Mr. Hess
senting his township.
has been a member of the G. A. R. Post at
much enjoyed
Orangeville, Pa., and has very
The
meeting his old comrades at the reunions.
Reformed Church has had in him one of its
In
most effective members and workers.
every
relation of life Mr. Hess has proved himself
inhe
and
confidence
of
the
respect
worthy
As a soldier he was brave and obespires.
dient to organized authority, while as a private
citizen he has labored to bring about a betterment of existing conditions and to raise the
moral standard ^f his neighborhood. In his
work as an agriculturist he rendered his callhis sons
ing valuable assistance, and has reared
to follow him in this line.
;

;

able for the manufacture of this
special kind
of paper being installed.
There are about
forty-three acres of land connected with the
plant, making the property very valuable.
The history of the mill is interesting, as it

was

and operated by Thomas Trench as
It was three stories in
height.
A Mr. Phillips succeeded Mr. Trench
as
owner, and he operated a small button factory
in conjunction.
Mr. Trench regained the
property in 1840, and converted the gristmill
into a paper mill. Later it came into the hands
of Mr. Shew.
Mr. Ruhl married Lydia Shew, a daughter
of James M. Shew, late of
Bloomsburg, and
they have two children, as follows: Gladys,
who married A. J. Robbins and Jessie, who
married William McKelvy Reber. Mr. Ruhl
is an elder of the
Presbyterian Church of
Bloomsburg and takes a deep interest in that
built

a gristmill.

;

body. In addition to his other interests, he is
a director of the Bloomsburg National
Bank,
having held that office since 1909, and without
doubt he is one of the best known business
men of his city.

REV. JOSEPH
tor of St. Mary's

Roman

PETROVITS,

pasCatholic Church of

Columbia

Berwick,
Co., Pa., was born at
Kovecses, Nyitra Co., Hungary, in 1886, a
son of Jacob and Mary (Peter) Petrovits.
The ancestors of his father, Jacob Petrovits,

came from Germany.
was born in Austria.

His father, however,
While in the military

service he stayed three years in Komarom,
Hungary, where, after the expiration of his

military years, he married his present wife,
who is a Hungarian by birth. In 1885 he

ROBERT J. RUHL, manager of the brought his family to Vedrod, Pressburg
Bloomsburg Paper Company, was born in county, in order to assume charge of the garBaltimore county, Md., in April, 1856, and dens of the estate of Count Joseph Zychy.
York Both parents are still living there. They had
spent his boyhood at New Freedom,
At an eight children
Co., Pa., where he attended school.
Julia, Valeria, Joseph J. C,
be
self-supporting, com- Mary, Josephine, William, Theodore and
early age he began to
so
and
iron
ore
Elizabeth.
as
an
work
miner,
mencing
For two years Rev. Father Petrovits atcontinued for some twenty-three years, bethe
of
depart- tended school at Budapest, and then continued
mining
coming superintendent
ment of the Princess Iron Company in Vir- his studies at Pressburg, where he stayed for
In March, 1903. Air. Ruhl came to two years, leaving for Nagyszombat, one of
ginia.
Bloomsburg, Pa., to take charge of the old the oldest institutions of learning in Hunestablished paper mill which was owned by gary. There he graduated, finishing his preIn 1902
his father-in-law, James M. Shew, now de- paratory studies for the university.
:

The

he entered the seminary at Esztergom, that
country, where he carried on his studies for a
In IQ03 he came to the United .States
Ten
year.
fire on Nov.
and entered the St. Charles Borromeo Semplant was entirely destroyed by
the six months inary of Philadelphia, where he completed a
24, 1905, but rebuilt within
suit- four vears' course, and was ordained to the
following, the latest improved machinery
plant turns out waterproof paper
sold throughout the anthracite region.
men are given steady employment. This

ceased.

which

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
priesthood by Archbishop Pendergast of the
diocese of Philadelphia. For his future field

he selected the diocese of Harrisburg.

to St. Patrick's cathedral at Harrisburg as an assistant, and remained there
for thirteen months, when he was appointed
assistant to Father Galligan at Locust Gap,
where he spent three months. Following that

was assigned

he was made pastor pro tem of St. Michael's
Lithuanian parish at Shamokin, Pa. After a
year of faithful service there he was appointed
pastor pro tem of St. Mary's Croatian parish
at Steelton, Pa., and four months later was

assigned to his present parish at St. Mary's
Church of Berwick, Pennsylvania. The parish
consists of various nationalities, and being
able to converse in eight languages he is well
fitted to administer the spiritual needs of all
the Catholics that are assigned to his care.

VASTINE. Abraham Van de Woestyne,
with his wife and three children, viz., John,
Catherine and Hannah, left Holland in the
seventeenth century and crossed the ocean in
a sailing vessel, landing in New York. They
soon crossed over into New Jersey. About
the time William Penn founded Philadelphia
they came into Pennsylvania. In 1696 we find
them

in Germantown, Philadelphia.
In 1698 John Van de Woestyne purchased
several tracts of land from one Jeremiah

Langhorn. in Hilltown township, Bucks Co.,
and there erected a granite dwelling along

Pa.,

the pike leading from Philadelphia to Bethlehem. It stood, as was the custom in that day,
with its gable to the road, fronting south, at a
point two miles north of Line Lexington and
four miles southwest of Sellersville, Bucks
The name John Van de Woestyne
Co., Pa.
appears on a number of official papers and
documents on record in Bucks county; it is

found on many papers pertaining to roads
and improvements in Hilltown township. John
Van de Woestyne died Feb. 9, 1738, his wife,
Abigail, surviving some time. They were the
parents

five

children,

Abraham, born May
ber,

1772, in

follows:

(i)

Octomarried Sarah

24, 1698, died in

Hilltown.

Ruckman, and they were the parents of

five

Abigail, married to Andrew Armdaughters
strong; Ruth, married to James Armstrong;
Mary, married to Robert Jameson Rachel,
married to Hugh Mears and Sarah, married
Thus far we have been
to Samuel Wilson.
unable to learn anything about their descenddied
ants.
(2) Jeremiah, born Dec. 24, 1701,
He and his wife, Deborah,
in Hilltown, 1769.
were the parents of one son and two daugh:

;

ters

603

New

Jeremiah died in
Britain, Bucks
Co., Pa., in April, 1778 (his wife's name was
:

Elizabeth);

Martha married John Louder;

Hannah married Samuel Greshom.

(3) Benjamin, born July 9, 1703, died in August
(17th?), 1749. (4) John died Feb. 9, 1765, in
Hilltown, Pa., unmarried.
(5) Mary, born
March i, 1699, married a Mr. Wilson and
removed to South Carolina.
Benjamin Vastine, son of John and Abigail,
was the progenitor of the family in Northumberland county. Pa.
He became a member
of the Friends fleeting and at one of the
meetings held in Philadelphia requested permission to hold meetings in his house.
He

married Mary Griffith, and their union was
blessed by the birth of seven children, as follows
Hannah married Emerson Kelly; lohn
married Rachel Morgan; Abraham married
Elizabeth Williams; Benjamin married Catherine Eaton (he died in September,
1775)
Jonathan married Elizabeth Lewis Isaac married Sarah Matthews; Amos married Martha
:

;

Thomas.

The name Van de Woestyne has changed
first to Voshne, then to Vashtine
and lastly to Vastine. The name in Dutch
meant forest, hence the early settlers often
called John Van de Woestyne "Wilderness."
John Vastine, son of Benjamin and Mary
(Griffith) Vastine, married Rachel Morgan,
and they became the parents of two sons and
two daughters: Benjamin, who married Mary
Van Zant Simon, who had a son named John
Nancy, and Margaret.
Abraham \'astine, second son of Benjamin
and Mary (Griffith) Vastine, married Elizabeth Williams. Their family, four sons and
two daughters, were as follows
John, William, Abraham, Nancy, Mary and Jeremiah.
gradually,

;

This family

first settled in

York

county, Pa.,

and later removed to Kentucky.
Benjamin Vastine, third son of Benjamin
and ]\Iary (Griffith) Vastine, married Catherine Eaton, and they were the parents of two
sons and two daughters
Mary married JoPeter married Hannah, daughter
siah Lunn
of Jonathan Vastine Benjamin married Dor:

;

othy, daughter of

Amos

Vastine; Elizabeth

married Alem Morris.

Jonathan \'astine, fourth son of Benjamin
and Mary (Griffith) Vastine, with his nephew
Peter, who was also his son-in-law, came to
Northumberland county. Pa., where they purchased two large farms, the former about 600
acres (later owned by Valentine Epler), and
the latter 300 acres near that of his uncle.
Jonathan, like his father, was a member of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

604

the Society of Friends.
He was a farmer,
and built a house on his farm. He died about
1830 and is buried in the old Quaker burying
ground at Catawissa, Pa. He married Elizabeth Lewis, and to them were born five sons
and three daughters: Benjamin married
Ann married Thomas
Elizabeth \'an Zant
Robbins Hannah married Peter, son of Ben-

Benjamin Vastine, son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth (Lewis) Vastine, married Elizabeth Van Zant, by whom he had one son and
three daughters:
Lewis married Martha

jamin Vastine Mary married William Marsh
John married Catherine Osmun; Jeremiah
married E. Reeder; Thomas died unmarried;
Jonathan married Xancy Ann Hughes.
Amos Vastine, sixth son of Benjamin and
Mary (Griffith) Vastine, married Martha

beth

;

Thomas, and they were the parents of two
Dorothy married Benjamin, son
daughters:
of Benjamin Vastine; Martha married Robert
C. Shannon.

Benjamin Vastine, son of John and Rachel
(Morgan) Vastine, married Mary Van Zant,
and they were the parents of three sons Ben:

Thomas and

John.
Benjamin Vastine, son of Benjamin and
Mary (\'an Zant) Vastine, married Elizabeth
Hauck, and they were the parents of the
following:
Margaret, who married William
Harriet, who married
Savidge; Armand
Alem Hughes; Algernon, and Thomas.
Thomas Vastine, son of Benjamin and Mary
jamin,

;

(\'an Zant) Vastine, married Sarah Ellis, and
they became the parents of four sons and
seven daughters: Ann (married George Pen-

Lucinda (married John Adams), Mary,
Samantha, Benneville, Grace Ella, John, RuMatilda.
Thomas
fus,
J., Jane and Sarah
John Vastine, son of Benjamin and Mary
(Van Zant) A'astine, married Sarah Scott,
and their children were: Hannah, who married Mahlon Huff; Ellen; Sarah Jane; Benjamin Catherine, and Isabella.
Peter Vastine, son of Benjamin and Catherine
(Eaton) Vastine, married Hannah,
daughter of Jonathan A'astine, and their union
was blessed by the birth of nine children:
Elizabeth, who marCatherine, unmarried
ried John Colket; Benjamin, who married
May Yoder Mary, who married Henry Johnson Ann, who married Henry Boone Lydia,
married to Charles Housel late in life;
Thomas Jefferson, who married Harriet PaxPeter E., who married 'Slary Miller;
ton
and Jeremiah, unmarried.
Benjamin Vastine, son of Benjamin and
Catherine (Eaton) A'astine, married DoroVastine.
They were
thy, daughter of Amos
the parents of two daughters: Alartha, wife
of Benwife
of Joel Miller; and Catherine,
syl),

;

jamin Miller.

Boone

Mary married Samuel Boone

;

married

Isaac

Wolverton;

Rachel

;

Ann

married

John M. Housel.
Lewis Vastine, son of Benjamin and Eliza-

(Van Zant) Vastine, married Alartha
Boone, and they were the parents of the following children: Hannah (married Dudley
Adams), Alargaret (married Jacob B. Gearhart), Rachel Jane, Elizabeth (married John
H. Morrall), ilatilda (married Abraham
Gulick), Sarah, Martha, William B., Lewis
B. and George.
John Vastine, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Lewis) Vastine, inherited a part of his
father's farm and in 1833 built what to his
descendants is known as the "Stone House"
now owned by Gessie P. Savidge where

—

married Catherine Osmun. To
them were born four sons and three daughhe

lived.

ters:

Elizabeth

(died at the age of seven-

Amos, Margaret, Sarah Ann,
Thomas Prine and John (who graduated from

teen), William,

Jefferson Medical College, and died shortly
afterward, in his twenty-second year).
William Vastine, son of John and Catherine
Vastine, on Jan. 24, 1833, married
daughter of John and Salome
(Reed) Hursh. When he was twenty -one
years old they settled on a farm, then owned

(Osmun)

Elizabeth,

by his father-in-law, later descending to his
wife. In 1843, in line with the custom of his
It is
forefathers, he built himself a house.
now the property of his granddaughters,
Katherine M. and Ellen E., daughters of Si-

mon and Elizabeth (Faux) Vastine. He was
a large landowner, cultivating between 450
and 500 acres. In religious faith he was a
member of the Lutheran Church. Politically
he was a Whig. He died in 1859. To Mr.
and Mrs. Vastine were born six sons and
two daughters: Amos, Jacob Hursh, Hugh
Hursh, Simon, Ezra, Elizabeth Ann, Daniel
and Ellen, the two last named dying before
Each received
reaching the age of twelve.
an education beyond the common schools.
William and
of
son
eldest
Amos Vastine,
Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, is mentioned below with the account of his son William.
^

WilJacob Hursh Vastine, second son of
liam and Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, graduated from Jefferson ]\Iedical College in 1858.
In 1861 he married Sarah, daughter of George

Hughes.

Co., Pa., later

practiced in Numidia, Columbia
removing to Danville, Montour

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Pa., and finally
Columbia county. Pa.
Co.,

settling

He was

Catawissa,
president of

Bank of Catawissa until his
His widow still resides at
death, in 1904.
Catawissa.
Henrietta
They had children
(married Asa Spencer), Elizabeth (deceased),
George Hughes, M. D. (deceased, married
the First National

Nellie Pfahler), William ]\Iayberry (married
Elizabeth L. Kostenbauder), Jacob Marion,

M. D. (married Catherine Sharpless), Harriet B.
(married Horace C. Booz), Sarah

605

Carmel Savings Bank, of which he was president from its organization until his death was
also one of the organizers of the Shamokin
Township Fire Insurance Company and was
treasurer of the same at the time of his death.
Politically he was a Republican, and he filled
the office of county commissioner from 1871
to 1874.
Mrs. \'astine was the daughter of
;

Felix Lerch, one of the pioneer settlers of
Mount Carmel. Mr. and Airs. Vastine were
the parents of the following
Felix, who died
:

who

Kate Bird;
Thomas, who married Lizzie Haas (children
Amos and Hattie) Catherine, who married
E. S. Persing (children, Anna, Sadie, Amos
and Susan) and Hattie, who had two chilfarming throughout his life, operating three dren (Amos and William) by her first husfarms in Rush and Gearhart townships, North- band, Oliver Reed, and married for her secumberland Co., Pa. Their children were W'il- ond husband William Metz.
son M., Elizabeth B. and Hugh Spencer (marMargaret, second daughter of John and

(married Ralph Roy Griffith), and Alder
(married Mabel Thomas).
Hugh H. Vastine, third son of William and
Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, married Susan,
He followed
daughter of Wilson Mettler.

ried

Sarah Metier).

stead property previously mentioned.
He
married Elizabeth, daughter of William Faux,
their children being Katherine M. and Ellen E.
Ezra Vastine, fifth son of William and
Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, was born in the
year 1843. He married Sarah C, daughter
of Robert and Bertha (Banghart) Davidson.

To them were bom two daughters, Bethia
and Sara Mary. Upon reaching his majority
he joined his brother Amos in buying a farm,

disposing of his interest the following year
later

buying another which he also

sold.

In 1876 he bought the farm now known as
the Ezra \^astine estate and in 1877 built on
In the spring of 1895 he
it the brick house.

removed to Danville, Pa., residing on West
Market street. He died Feb. 24, 1896, and
was buried in a lot beside his parents in the
Lutheran cemetery in Mayberry township,
]\Iontour county. He was a successful farmer
and at the time of his death was a director
of the Danville National Bank.
Elizabeth Ann, daughter of William and
Elizabeth (Hursh) \'astine, married James

Oglesby,

Amos

M. D.

second son of John and
Catherine (Osmun) Vastine, was born in
1813, married Susan Lerch. and died Nov. 15,
His principal business was farming,
1889.
but at one time he was engaged in the merHe owned some
cantile business at Paxinos.
100 acres of land, which he tilled, and also had
large real estate interests at Mount Carmel.
He was one of the promoters of the Mount
Vastine,

John,

married

;

Catherine

Simon Vastine, fourth son of William and
Elizabeth (Hursh) Vastine, owned two large
farms in Rush township, including the home-

and

young;

(Osmun)

married Charles

\'astine,

Heftley, and they were the parents of three
children, Elizabeth (married Harvey Robbins

had children, Margaret, Charles and
Joseph), Harriet and George W. (married
Emma Persing and had children, Harriet and
and

Han'ey).
Sarah Ann, third daughter of John and
Catherine (Osmun) Vastine, married Robert
C. Campbell, and they were the parents of
Abram (died unmarried), John L. (lives in
Danville, Pa.), James C. (married Margaret Mettler), and ]\Iargaret C, Hannah J.,
Isabella A. and Sarah Alice, all four of whom
died umnarried.

John and CathLanah
John WelX'ought, and they had children

Thomas Prine,
(Osmun)

erine

third son of

married

^'astine,

Emma

lington, who married
ine and ]\Iatilda, both

Fisher; Cather-

unmarried; Rosanna,

who married George W.

Miller.

Thomas

Prine Vastine was a farmer and spent the
greater part of his life in Mayberry township,

Montour county.

Jeremiah Vastine, third son of Jonathan
and Elizabeth (Lewis) \'astine, married E.
Reeder, and they had a family of one son
and three daughters, as follows: Mary married C. Fisher Alargaret married D. Robbins
Lourissa married William Leighou; Thomas
married Eliza Reeder and they were the
;

;

parents of Catherine.
Jonathan Vastine, fifth son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth (Lewis) \'astine. married Nancy
Ann Hughes, and their children were the fol-

Hugh Hughes; Lewis, who married
Sarah Potts and had one daughter, Anna,

lowing:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

606

who married Alfred Hablerstadt and Benja- born in Rush
who died unmarried.
county, Nov. 25,
;

min,

Hugh Hughes

\'astine, son of Jonathan and

Nancy Ann (Hughes) ^^astine, married
Catherine Zimmerman and they were the
Martha
parents of the following children
Ann died unmarried William L. married
Alice Cardell, and had children, Blanche,
Jane, Mary and Cora Oscar married Ada Gillaspy; Mary married John K. Erdman, and
had children, Hattie, Sarah, Nora, Allen, Bert,
John, Calvin, Kimber and Frank Jonathan
married
Cora Hess, and had children,
Charles, Katie and
Jacob married
M. Smith and had children, Ethel, Hattie and
Grethel
Lewis married Mary Minamaker
Sarah C. married E. Campbell Harriet married William Arnold and had children, Bessie and Ann
Ida married Charles Hoffman
:

;

and had children, Vergie, Edwin, John, Mary,
Wesley, William Wellington and Frank.

WILLIAM ^'ASTINE,
residing on

West Market

retired

farmer,

street, Danville, Pa.,

through whose efforts and assistance much of
the early history of the Vastine family here
given was obtained, was born in the "Old
Stone House," in Rush township, Northumberland county, Oct. 29, 1859. After a course
of studies in the country schools he entered
the Danville Academy, on leaving which he
took up the occupation of agriculture and has
followed it ever since. At present he is cultivating a tract of almost 400 acres in Point
township, Northumberland county, originally
known as the Nixon farm.
On Feb. 26, 1884, !Mr. A'astine was married to Elizabeth Boone Gearhart, daughter
of Mayberry Gearhart, and to their union have
come two children Katherine Gearhart, born
Dec. 31, 1884; and Elizabeth Boone, born Aug.
Mr. Vastine is a member of the
15, 1888.
:

party, and a member of the Mahoning Presbyterian Church, to which his

Washington

family also belong. He is a man of dignified
presence and of upright character, and has
gained the respect and confidence of the entire community.
His pride of family is unbounded and he takes a warm interest in the
preservation of the history and relics of the
past and the pioneers of this section. He possesses a number of valuable antiques, which

have been preserved

in his family for many
generations, among them being a copy of a
sixteenth century Bible, printed in beautiful
German text, and of great rarity and

value.

Amos

Vastine, the father of William,

was

local schools

tion

their

Northumberland
where he attended the

township,
1833,

and obtained the limited educa-

facilities

afforded.

the small

fund of knowledge gained in this way he later
added by close observation and attention to
small details, and his native shrewdness and
mental ability enabled him to acquire a great
and comprehensive grasp of the important
things of everyday life. During his childhood
he resided on the home farm, later removing
to Danville, where he resided until his death.
He was a Republican in politics, although
he did not take a prominent part in the party,
and was an honored member of Danville
Lodge, No. 224, F. & A. M. He was possessed of an indomitable will, and when once
convinced that he was in the right he pursued
his decision to the end without deviation.
He
devoted his means to the education of his children, believing that learning was one of the
means to future happiness and prosperity.

On May

23, 1855, Amos Vastine married
Shults, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Maustellar) Shults, and they had these
children:
(i) Elizabeth, born in 1857, died
in 1879.
(2) W'illiam was born Oct. 29,

Mahala

1859.
(3) Mary Laura, born in 1861, became
the wife of Dr. John R. Kimmer. a native of
Shreve, Ohio, and a graduate of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore.
He
died in 1900, while she preceded him April
Their children were John \". and
29, 1898.
Jessie M.. the latter married to Elmer D.
Harshbarger, sanitary engineer of the Pitt

Construction Company, Pittsburgh they have
one child, Laura Eugenie.
(4) Dr. John
Hurst, a graduate of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Baltimore, and now practicing in Shamokin, married Helen Benscoter,
and they have four sons, Richard B., Robert,
Frederick and William H., and one daughter,
deceased, Josephine Louise.
(5) Ellen Kate,
wife of Henry ^Maines, has one son, Charles
Amos
Beeber
married
Louise Frances
y. (6)
iMcClure, and has one child, Mary Frances.
He is a graduate of the LTniversity of Pennsylvania, with the degree of D. D. S., and is a
resident of Danville.
Jacob Shults, father of Mrs. Amos \'astine,
and grandfather of William \'astine, was bom
The ancestors of
in Columbia County, Pa.
the family emigrated from Germany at an
settled
in
Berks
date
and
county. Pa.,
early
;

later coming to Columbia county, and locating
in the section adjoining Jerseytown, where
Jacob was reared to manhood upon a

farm.

There

was

married

and

then

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
removed
berland

Rush

Northumtownship,
where
he
became
a

county,

warm

prominent citizen and took a
in the affairs of the county.

interest

He was

mem-

ber of the Presbyterian Church and one of the
active promoters of the ]\Iahoning Church at
Danville, which he assisted in building.
For
years he served as one of the elders of the
the
latter
of
his
congregation. During
years

he made his

home in Danville, where he
1862, his wife having preceded him
in 1854.
Both are interred in the Fairview
life

died in

cemetery.

When quite young Mr. Shults married
Elizabeth Alaustellar, and their home was
blessed with eleven children:
Matilda, wife
of Abraham Hendrickson Jacob, who married Elizabeth Shultz
Philip, who married
Kate Dewald
Katherine, wife of Jesse
Mensch
Elizabeth
James, who married
Shires; Mary, wife of James \\'oodside Ma;

;

who married Caroline Heim Daniel,
who married Margaret Ephlin Mahala, wife

berry,

;

Amos

who

\'astine

;

and Peter and William,

died in early youth.

agent of

the Adams Express Company and proprietor
of the Catawissa Five and Ten Cent Store,
is a native of Catawissa, born in the town Oct.
15, 1858, and is a member of a well known
family of pioneers of this State.
his

father,

was a

native of Pennsylvania, having been born in
what is now Shamokin Jan. 27, 1827. His
father, Conrad Rinard, was of German descent and a farmer by occupation.
In 1830,
with his wife and six children, he crossed the
in
one of the old "prairie schoonAlleghenies
ers" and settled in Armstrong county, Pa.
later Jacob Dyer, who had married
Rinard, a sister of Conrad, brought
the little boy back to Catawissa to join his
older sister, Mary D. Rinard, who had already
lived with them.
Jacob Dyer at that time
was a merchant on the corner now occupied
by H. R. Baldy's store. Later he purchased
the "Catawissa House," and here Solomon

Three years

Mary M.

Dyer Rinard grew to manhood, receiving only
the meager education of the public schools
of that day

ufacturing and selling tinware, stoves, etc.,
selling the product of a number of meii
In 1872 he
throughout Columbia county.
sold the business to A. B. Cleaver, remodeled
the building and opened a general store which
he conducted until a few years before his
death, when age and poor health compelled
him to relinquish active work. Mr. Rinard
was a director of the Catawissa Deposit Bank,
Catawissa's first banking house, and one of
the organizers of the First National Bank
in 1 89 1, being its vice president until, on the
death of J. H. Vastine, he became president,
an office he filled until his death.
Mr. Rinard was a Republican from the
He held the postmasterbirth of the party.

ship of Catawissa, Pa., under Lincoln, Johnson and Grant, and, always progressive, he
was the first to get the daily papers through
from Philadelphia on the day they were is-

—

JOSEPH HAMMETT RINARD,

Solomon Dyer Rinard,

607

pied by the Baldy homestead, near the corner
of Main and Third streets. In 1861 he bought
the corner and built the store and workshop
(now occupied by his son) into which he
moved his rapidly increasing business of man-

but being of a studious, observing
disposition, he became widely known for his
general knowledge of the details of everyday
life, and his advice, so often asked, was al;

Solomon Dyer Rinard
ways freely given.
learned the trade of tinsmith with Isaac Linville, and later bought out his employer, carrying on the business in the place now occu-

sued, the papers arriving at 3.30 p. M. ^an
event in those days. He was a charter member of St. Matthew's E. L. Church, an elder

and

trustee,

superintendent of the

Sunday

years, and for thirty-one
Fraternally he was
years church treasurer.
a member of the local Masonic bodies, blue

school

for

many

lodge and chapter.

Mr. Rinard was married
Frederick,

one

child,

first to

Elizabeth

who died in 1854, and by her had
Mary Elizabeth, now the widow of

Carl M. von Dorster she has one child, Herbert Rinard von Dorster, who married Florence Faus Beishline, and they are the parents
of one child, Herbert Rinard von Dorster 2d.
;

For

his second wife

Mr. Rinard married An-

who
gelina Hartenstine. of Chester county,
died in 1884. By her he had three children,
Joseph Hammett, Abraham Lincoln and Sarah
died in young womanhood.
Solomon Dyer Rinard was a self-made man

Emma, who

in the fullest sense, a

man

of great probity, a

and had a very high sense of the
Nov. 7, 1910,
responsibilities of life. He died
good

citizen,

age of nearly eighty-four years.
Joseph Hammett Rinard attended the public schools and entered his father's store as
at the ripe

busiclerk, also assisting him in the express
continued to clerk for his father
ness.
until the latter retired, and then assumed the

entire charge of the store, conducting
til

1909,
store on

un-

when he opened a 5 and 10 cent
Main street, the third of its kind in

COLUMBIA AND MOXTOUR COUNTIES

608

American, a weekly newspaper. Mr. Angle
has been associated with the growth of Danville in many ways, and has done much for
the advancement of its interests.
He is a
native of the place, born Feb. 25, 1854, son of
William and Henrietta (Purselj Angle. His
paternal grandfather was a leading agriculturist
of
Greenwood township, Columbia
county, where he lived a long and useful life.
William Angle, the father of Frank C.
Angle, was born in Greenwood township, Columbia county. He removed to Danville when
He married Nov. 3, 1881, Lucille a young man, establishing a general mercanvania.
Florence Wardell, who was born in Moscow, tile business in a store opposite the Danville
of
and Margaret public library. The building in which he was
Pa.,
daughter
John
(Besecker) Wardell, and granddaughter of located has since been torn down. He was
Conrad Besecker, who was killed in action engaged in that business for over twenty
in the Civil war.
The Wardell family is of years, at the expiration of which period he
English descent and the Beseckers are of had accumulated enough wealth to enable him
German origin. Mrs. Rinard aids her hus- to retire and spend his declining days in ease
band in the conduct of the store and has and comfort. He owned many valuable pieces
proved a successful business woman. She is of property in Danville and built a block of
He served
a member of the W. C. T. U. and prominent dwelling houses on Church street.
in the cause of temperance.
in the town council for several terms, and was
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rinard are the parents also a commissioner of waterworks. In
of five children
Ralph Wardell, transfer political matters he faithfully supported the
To him
clerk for the Adams Express Company at principles of the Republican party.
Sunbury, Pa., married Clara Gersey; Edwin and his wife, Henrietta (Pursel), a daughter
Laurence, stone cutter, at Catawissa, married of William Pursel, of Jersey Shore, Pa., were
Clara Shuy; Mabury Hight is engaged as a born the following children Frank C. Lizzie
telegrapher at Bedford, Pa. John Byson, a H., the wife of J. E. Buley, of Syracuse, N.
student, is at home Margaret Wardell is also Y. and William P., a well known dentist and
]Mr. Angle
at home.
business man of Jersey Shore.

Catawissa. Upon the death of his father in
1
910 he moved the store to its present locaHe was appointed express agent in
tion.
1903, which position he still fills. Mr. Rinard
is a successful business man of progressive
ideas, and keeps a well stocked store which is
liberally patronized by the people of his town.
Like his father he is a Republican, and a
member of the Lutheran Church, of which
he is steward and trustee. He is a past grand
of Concordia Lodge, I. O. O. F., and member
of the grand lodge of that order in Pennsyl-

;

Abr.^ham Lincoln Rin.ard, teller of the died at the age of sixty-three years.
First National Bank of Catawissa, is the
Frank C. Angle, after completing the reyoungest son of the late Solomon Dyer Rinard. quired course at the common schools, attended
He was born in Catawissa April 6, 1864, at- the civil engineering department of Lehigh
tended the public schools of the town, and
after graduation entered his father's store,
where he clerked and acted as assistant express agent. In 1900 he was appointed teller
of the First National Bank, which position of
responsibility he has held with great credit
ever since.

man

of quiet tastes and

temperate habits, and is popular with all who
have the pleasure of coming in contact with
him. In political affiliation he has followed
the example of his father, who was a Republican.
He is also a member of the Lutheran
Church, a past grand of the I. O. O. F., and a
member of the B. P. O. Elks, of Bloomsburg

Lodge, No. 436.

FRANK

ANGLE

is one of the promiMontour county, best
the
to the public as
proprietor and publisher of the Morning A^czvs. a daily, aboundin
items
local
and the Montour
of
interest,
ing

nent business

known

men

South Bethlehem, Pa., from
which he was graduated with the class of
He then took up the study of law with
1876.
Thomas Galbreth, a learned lawyer of Danville, and was admitted to the Montour county
bar in 1879, after which he formed a partnership with 'James Scarlet and began practice.

University, at

Subsequently this association was dissolved,
and Mr. Angle has since been occupied with

the conduct of various business enterprises.
He is a man of high principles, shrewd and
He has been closely connected with
energetic.
public undertakings, especially

many

where the

welfare of the borough of Danville has been
He was for several years a memconcerned.
ber of the board of commissioners of waterworks, Danville; he was manager of the Danville Opera House for twenty-seven years;
and was proprietor of the Danville Atlas Manin

ufacturing Company, which was established
He erected
in 1902.
1875. and discontinued

^^W^M^ x^. -^Jy^^U^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

609

the building in which that concern was located, manufacturing all kinds of wooden
household novelties, and the company for
many years did an enormous business, also
conducting a branch house at Williamsport.

the Psi Upsilon fraternity.
He belongs to
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church.
On Oct. 12, 1908, Mr. Angle married
Martha Adella Harpel, daughter of Dr.
Francis Eugene and Euphemia (Brader) Har-

In 1895 Mr. Angle purchased the Montour
American, which was founded Dec. 11, 1855,
by D. H. B. Brower, who was succeeded by
Mr.
Joel S. Bailey and Charles Cork in 1864.
Brower again became the owner in 1871 and
disposed of it to W. H. Bradley and Lewis
Gordon. They conducted the paper for a
few years, and were succeeded bv Edward
C. Baldy, William B. Baldy, and ^finally by
Bennett & Frick, from whom Mr. Angle purchased the establishment. Under his successful guidance the plant has been improved and
modernized and has prospered accordingly. In
September, 1897, he established the Morning
News, which has had an exceedingly rapid
growth. Mr. Angle is a man of medium
stature, of fine personal appearance, and by
the pleasant and courteous manner which he
manifests toward everyone has become very
popular and has made many friends through-

pel,

out his section of the country.
Mr. Angle married Sue Robison, daughter
of Theodore Robison, of Easton, Pa., and they
are the parents of two sons, namely Theodore R. Angle, of Danville, and Frank Pursel Angle, of Milton.
In his religious views
:

Mr. Angle is an Episcopalian, a
Christ (Memorial) Church.

member

and they have one

son, Jr., born

JOHN
engaged

31,

12,

child,

Theodore Robi-

1910.

MACDONALD, who

has been

Berwick for a number
was born in Allegheny City, Pa.,
and
is
a
direct descendant of
1869,

in business in

of years,

May

the celebrated Clan Donald. His family coat
of arms is as follows: Quarterly, first, argent,
a lion rampant, gules armed and langued
azure second, argent, a de.xter hand couped
fessways holding a cross crosslet fitchee in
pale, gules third, or, a lymphad, sails furled,
flags flying and oars in action, sable; fourth,
over all, on a
vert, a salmon naiant proper
fess sable an eagle's head, couped argent,
beaked, gules, between two sprigs of three
leaves of maple, or.
Crest, a dexter arm in
armour grasping a dagger proper. Motto,
"Perseverantia."
The branch of the family from which John
L. Macdonald is descended was early repre;

;

sented,

by John Macdonald,

who with

his

wife, Emily (Cameron), and two sons, settled
in the State of New York in 1785.
They purchased a tract of land in Saranac county, near
the Adirondack moimtains. Their family consisted of the following children:
Jarnes,

Charles, John, Colin, Duncan, Catherine
married Charles McEwan, and died

(who

near
Gananoque, Canada), Margaret (who married
son of Frank C. Angle, and now associated David Auchinvole), Emily (who married John
with him in the newspaper business, was McMillan), Charlotte (who married Joshua
born at Danville June 20, 1885. He received Legge), Christine and Jane.
Charles Macdonald, in 181 1, removed to
his preparatory education there, graduating
from the high school in 1900, after which he Gananoque, Canada, where shortly after his
arrival
he married the only child of Col. Joel
went to Cheltenham Military Academy,
Ogontz, Pa., for a year's study, graduating in Stone, the founder of the village. In 181 7 he
He then took a course in electrical en- was joined by his brother John, and with him
1901.
formed the firm of C. & J. Macdonald. In
gineering at his father's alma mater, Lehigh
1826 the firm built a flour mill, which was one
University, at South Bethlehem. Pa., which he
He has since been of the most complete in Canada, shipping their
attended for three years.
associated with his father in the publication of products direct to England. They were later
the Danville Morning Nczi's, of which he is joined by Colin Macdonald, who became a
managing editor. His connection with the member of the firm in 1828, and so continued
paper has given new impetus to a business al- until his death in Cuba, in 1842. John Macways conducted along vigorous lines and with donald was active in politics and served as a
the policy of not only keeping abreast of the member of the Legislative Council of upper
times, but leading the thought of the com- Canada. He died in i860 and was buried at
Mr. Gananoque. Charles Macdonald died in 1826,
munity on subjects of vital interest.
Angle is a member of the Friendship Fire and was buried near Gananoque, in WillowCompany, and sustains his interest in college bank cemetery. His son, William S. Macmatters by his membership in Eta chapter of donald, became a member of the firm above

THEODORE ROBISON ANGLE,

eldest

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

610

in 1833, and continued his connection until the firm was dissolved in 1847.

mentioned

Another son of Charles Macdonald was
John L., who was born at Gananoque. He
was educated in the common schools of that
place and became one of its active business
men and most esteemed citizens. He was engaged as a general merchant and miller, manufactured nails, and plowshares and other
farming implements, and owned a large tract
of land at Gananoque. With his brother, William Stone Macdonald, he owned large tracts
of oil land, and he prospected for oil in the
Gaspe peninsula. He is buried at Gananoque.
To John L. Macdonald and his wife Agnes
Maud Auchinvole were born four children
David Stone married May D'Olear; Charles
William married Olive Dray Mary married
Robert Montgomery John died without issue.
Charles William Macdonald, born in 1840,
in Gananoque, Canada, was educated in the
public schools of his native place and Brock:

;

He learned mechanical enville, Ontario.
gineering, and in time became a resident of the
United States, becoming interested in nail factories at Pittsburgh, Pa., and
He was also engaged in

Va.

struction work.
Niles, Ohio,

and

Wheeling,

railroad con-

married Olive Dray, of

their three children are

John

Elsie,
L., married to Isabelle Sophia Jones
wife of Frederick L. Backus and Agnes
Maud, Mrs. Marcus M. Drake. Mr. Macdonald is deceased.
After being graduated from the common
;

;

schools of his native city, in 1881, John L.
Macdonald began working for the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad Company, but that same year
continued his studies at Wheeling, W. Va.

The

spring he accompanied his
father, who was a railroad contractor, to
Canada, and they worked on a railroad between Port Arthur and other points both east
and west, along Lake Superior, the father
holding contracts for some of the work. In
1886 John L. Macdonald returned to the
United States and was engaged in construction work on the Eastern railroad of MinneThe folsota, with headquarters at Duluth.
lowing year he located at Buffalo, N. Y., being in the employ of the New York Central
Railroad Company as clerk in the superintendent's office, but returned in 1888 to Minnesota to become first brakeman and later conductor between Superior, St. Cloud and MinIn 1890 Mr. Macdonald was emneapolis.
ployed in the car accountant's office at St.
Louis, Mo., and in 1891 was transferred to
the New York Central's office at Buffalo, N. Y.

following

In 1894 he went with the Delaware, Lacka-

wanna & Western Railroad Company, and remained with that company until the outbreak
of the Spanish-American war, in 1898, when
he enlisted from Buffalo, in the 65th New
York National Guard, under Col. Samuel M.
\Velch.

He was

sent to

Hempstead

Plains,

N. Y., and thence to Camp Alger, \'a., where
the regiment was held.
Mr. Macdonald was
in the service for seven months.
When he
was mustered out at Buff'alo, in November,
he
was
of
1898,
sergeant
Company K. Returning to the employ of the D., L. & W. Railroad
as
accountant, he remained with the
Company,
same until Feb. 12, 1901, when he was sent
to Berwick as agent for the road, and
representative of the United States Express Company, which he continues to represent he now
gives all his time to the duties of express
;

agent.

Macdonald married Isabelle Sophia
a daughter of John and Mary E.
( Walkenshaw) Jones, from Bryngwyn, Wales,
England. Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald have two
children:
John L., born Oct. i, 1905, and
Mary Eliza, born June 12, 1907. He is a
Progressive Republican and very actively interested in the proper growth of his party.
Mr.

Jones,

An Episcopalian, he is a vestryman of his
church, and belongs to Parish Lodge, No. 292,
F. & A. M., of Buffalo Caldwell
Consistory,
of Bloomsburg; and Irem Temple, A. A. O.
N. Mystic Shrine, at Wilkes-Barre. He is also
a member of the Royal Arcanum.
;

The Stone family, Mr. Macdonald's ancestors through his great-grandmother, trace
back to William Stone, the founder of an old
and prominent family of Connecticut and other
He was one of a
parts of New England.
number of emigrants who sailed from London,
England,

May

20,

1639,

landing

New

Haven, Conn., about July ist of that year.
His brother John Stone also came, and they
were probably sons of Rev. Samuel Stone, of
Hertford, England. They were from the town
of Guilford, England, and founded the town
of Guilford, Conn., settling there the year
of their arrival in America.
Stephen Stone, a descendant of William,
removed with his family to Litchfield, Conn.,
April 23, 1751, at which time Joel was in his
eleventh year, having been born Aug. 7, 1740,
at Guilford.
Here he remained with his
father until he became of age, and then with
his father's consent engaged in mercantile
pursuits in company with Jabez Bacon, a descendant of one of the original emigrants.
They
were quite successful, accumulating a con-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
siderable property. In 1775 Mr. Stone's relations with his neighbors became seriously comto
plicated by reason of his outspoken loyalty

British Crown, and eventually he was
obliged to forsake all and take refuge within
the British lines in New York, where he was
cordially received, and took up arms to serve
the King, under the command of His Excel-

the

He remained in
Sir William Howe.
York until the evacuation by the English
During Mr. Stone's sojourn in New
troops.
York he was married to Leah Moore of that
lency

New
city,

March

23, 1780, the officiating

clergyman

being Rev. Charles Inglis, rector of Trinity
Church, afterwards of London, England, and
eventually the first Bishop of the Church of
in British North America, being apthe
pointed to the See of Nova Scotia about
for Engyear 1787. In 1783 Joel Stone sailed
land for the purpose of recovering a legacy to
which his wife was entitled from her uncle,
Commodore John IMoore, formerly of Bomand to secure
bay, East India, who died at sea,
suitable recognition from the British Government for the losses he had sustained by reason
of his loyalty to the Crown during the Revolu-

England

He appears to have experienced some of
tion.
the proverbial delays involved in a chancery
suit in those days, for he was not enabled to

announce his departure from England until
Aug. 2, 1786, when he sailed for Quebec, arriving Oct. 6, 1786, having succeeded in recovering his wife's legacy and a military pension
due the rank of captain. During his sojourn
in England he had a miniature painted and
sent to his wife; a replica of this in oil, executed by George Butler, of New York, hangs
in Blinkbonny. He at first thought of settling
at Cornwall, but finding all the desirable lands
already located in that vicinity he made further

explorations westward, and in 1791 came upon
a tributary of the St. Lawrence which attracted his attention from the wild beauty of
a cascade which emphasized its junction with
the great river. The Indians called the place
"Rocks in Deep Water'' or Cadanoghue, a

word which has been transformed in our EngThe possibility of
lish tongue to Gananoque.
at once
utilizing this natural source of power
and
application was
appealed to Mr. Stone,
made to the British government for the grant
of land to which he was entitled as a United
Empire Loyalist. In course of time this grant
was made, of land on the west side of the
Gananoque river, and Mr. Stone settled there
A similar grant was made to Sir
in 1792.
John Johnson of lands on the east side of the
which lands were subsequently pur-

river;

611

chased from Sir John by Charles and John
Macdonald. From this time forth Mr. Stone
devoted himself to the founding and development of what has since become the thriving
town of Gananoque. He was the first white
man who ever resided there, having been
landed from a French-Canadian batteau and
left to his

own

resources.

His wife died in 1793 and was buried in
Cornwall. Three children were born to him
by his wife Leah, one of whom died in infancy, a son and a daughter attaining maturity.
He became engaged in the preparation of
timber and lumber to be forwarded by raft
to Quebec, and in return brought merchandise
for exchange.
His business interests grew
rapidly, and comfortable surroundings took
the place of the rude shelter of earlier years.
In 1799 he married Mrs. Abegail Daton.
Their home became the rendezvous of all
comers and was known far and near for its
boundless hospitality. He was the first collector of the port, and on the 2d of January,
1809, was appointed colonel of the 2d Regiment, Leeds Militia.
Owing to declining
years he was soon obliged to resign his milicommand.
Colonel
Stone died in his
tary

home

Gananoque Nov.

20,

1833,

and

his

remains rest in Willow Bank cemetery, west
of the town.
His early struggles for existence in what
was then scarcely more than a wilderness may
easily be imagined, but we find no record of it
in the correspondence which remains to us
;

and what

is particularly noticeable is that not
a discordant note is sounded in any of the
Colonel's letters to relatives and friends from

whom

he had been obliged to part

MARKS GRAHAM,

now

in 1775.

resident

Bloomsburg, is one of the large owners of
farm property in this section and also has
independent business interests, in the management of which he has been very successful.
A native of Ireland, Mr. Graham was born in
Queen's county in 1844, son of John Graham.
John Graham was engaged in fruit growing
in Ireland.

When some

of his older children

came

to America he followed them with his
wife and three younger children, landing in
New York City after a voyage of seven weeks
and three days made in a sailing vessel. They
proceeded to what is now Madison township,
Columbia Co., Pa., and died there, though they
had lived in Danville for about si.xteen years.
He led a retired life from the time he settled

He and his wife, whose
in this country.
maiden name was Catherine Moore, are buried

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

612

They were devout members of
The following children

His professional work and other invicinity.
terests have brought him in contact with an

were born to this couple: Patrick, who died
in Madison township; James, who died in
Colorado leaving a large estate (he had a
Ehza
cattle ranch of fifteen thousand acres)

unusually large proportion of his fellow citizens, and he is highly esteemed by all who
know him. Dr. Altmiller is of German extraction, his father and grandfather having been
natives of Germany, from which country the

at Danville.

the Catholic Church.

;

deceased;

William,

Wamego, Kansas

who
who lives

John,

lives

;

in ColoPhilip,
rado; Martin, living in Colorado; Edward, of
Bloomsburg, who resides with his brother
Marks Marks and Frank, living in Anthony
township, Montour county.
Marks Graham was only a boy when he
came with his parents to America. He found
;

;

employment in the iron mill at Danville, and was engaged in such work for fifteen years at that place, after which he joined
his father in Madison township, taking charge
his first

of the latter's farm. After his father's death
he acquired the ownership of the homestead,
which he still owns, a tract of two hundred
acres of valuable land. He lived there until he
removed to Bloomsburg, and made the reputation of being one of the most progressive business farmers in his locality, his energy coupled

with commendable enterprise bringing him unusually good results in his agricultural operations.
He also owns two fine farms in Montour county, each containing two hundred

one in Anthony township (the old
Jonas Smith place) and one in Derry township (the old Edward Dieffenbauch place).
Mr. Graham has not limited his interests to
He was one of the organizers of
farming.
the Farmers' National Bank, Exchange, Montour county, and became a member of its board
of directors, and he is a stockholder in the
Bloomsburg Brick Company. In 1907 Mr.
Graham moved to Bloomsburg, where he has
since resided, his home being on East Third
street, near East street. He is a member of the
Catholic Church, and in his political preferences is a Democrat.
Mr. Graham was married to Mary Garvey,
who was born in Ireland, and died in May,
She is buried at Bloomsburg. Two
1908.
children were born to them: John, a grad-

acres,

uate of the Bloomsburg State Normal school
and of Villanova College, Villanova, Pa., class
and Patrick, who attended high
of 1912
school at Bloomsburg, and since 1912 has
been a student at Villanova College.
;

John C. Altmiller, brought his family
America in 1857. He settled at Hazleton,
Luzerne Co., Pa., where he died April 2, 1886.
He was a music teacher by profession.
Charles Altmiller, the Doctor's father, was
thirteen years old when he came to this country
latter,

with the rest of the family.
continued
his studies in the public schools of Hazleton,
and for a number of years after beginning life
his own account was engaged in the mercantile business.
He served three years durFor over
ing the Civil war, being a bugler.

twenty years he has been prominent

in the ad-

ministration of public
In 1891 he became the

Hazleton.

treasurer of
that place, filling the office for a term of three
years, and from 1896 to the present time he
has been a member of the city board of assessors.
On
Politically he is a Democrat.
Aug. 12, 1866, he married Christine Baitter,
also a native of Germany, born Sept. 12, 1850,
daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Schweitzer)
Baitter.
They are the parents of eight chil-

dren: John C., Justus E., Katherine, Emma,
Charles F., Adele G., Magdalene and Hilda.
Charles F. Altmiller was born at Hazleton
July 4, 1877, and received the foundation of
his literary education at public school there.
He then entered Temple College, at Philadelphia, and after graduating from that institution matriculated at the
Medico-Chirurgical

College, in the same city, from which he was
graduated in 1901 with the degree of M. D.
For the next two years he was associated in
practice with Dr. Longshore, at Hazleton,
after which he became examining physician at

the Medico-Chirurgical College, remaining
there for a year in that capacity.
Then he
spent six months in 1904 studying abroad, at
Berlin and London, specializing in diseases
of the stomach and intestines.
In 1904 he

came

ALTMILLER,
D., has
been engaged in the practice of medicine at
Bloomsburg since 1904, and meantime has
become associated with a number of important
business

enterprises

that

town and the

Bloomsburg, where he has since prac-

ticed, and he has attained high prestige among
his fellow practitioners, as well as
popularity
with a wide circle of patients.
is a promi-

nent

CHARLES

affairs
first city

member

of the Columbia County j\Iedical
Society, of which he was president in 191 1,
and also belongs to the Pennsylvania State
Medical Society. Dr. Altmiller is president
and general manager of the wholesale and retail drug house of
Moyer Brothers, at Blooms-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

613

burg, is interested in the Richard Manufacturing Company (manufacturers of special machinery) and proprietor of the Daily Sentinel
and Semi-Weekly Democratic Sentinel.
Fraternally the Doctor is a Mason, holding

mon

in Washington Lodge, No. 256,
A. M., and Caldwell Consistory (thirtysecond degree), both of Bloomsburg, and in
Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at WilkesBarre. He also belongs to the B. P. O. Elks,
I. O. O. F. and Knights of the Golden Eagle.
Politically he is a Democrat.
On April 28, 1903, Dr. Altmiller married
Martha Moyer, daughter of William S. and

ambition. After recovery he entered the store
of Abraham Muller, the largest in the county,
being connected with the establishment as clerk
for ten years. In 1864 he associated himself
with Isaiah Bower and M. E. Jackson, under
the firm name of Jackson, Bower & Co., and
they conducted a store until 1870, when Mr.
Jackson retired. In 1880 Mr. Bower obtained
the entire control of the business, reorganized
it and
successfully carried it on until 1890,
when he retired. He had been interested in
the real estate business and during that time
built the fine residence he now occupies.
Mr. Bower was married Oct. 29, 1857, to
Rebecca, daughter of John and Lydia Martz,
who had a family of five children. To Mr.
and Mrs. Bower have been born five children

membership
F.

Martha (Menajh) Moyer, of Bloomsburg.
They attend the Presbyterian Church.

HIRAM

BOWER, now

living retired at

Berwick, was born in Centre township, Columbia county, Oct. 30, 1831, son of Abraham and
Ellen (Remley) Bower, and a grandson of
George Michael Bower.
George Michael Bower came from Saxony
to America at the age of thirteen and settled
After his marriage to a
in Berks county. Pa.
Miss Hill he removed to Columbia county, near
Evansville, and bought a farm of 120 acres
from a man named Desser. He was a successful farmer and became one of the prominent
of his part of the county. He was the
father of the following children: Jacob,
Michael, Solomon, Daniel, Philena, Catherine

men

and Abraham.
Abraham Bower, father of Hiram R., was
born in Kutztown, Berks county, and was a
stonemason by trade. In early manhood he
moved to Centre township, Columbia county,
bought a farm of fifty acres, and immediately
erected new buildings and began to renovate
it to a high state of cultivamarried Ellen Remley, whose
parents, Michael and Susan Remley, were both

the land, bringing

tion.

German

ancestry and pioneer settlers in

Mr. and Mrs. Bower had

Berks county.
thirteen children,

all

whom

are dead except

Samuel Phoebe, wife
Rachel, wife of John Sloan
Elizabeth, wife of Caleb Fowler; William;
Abraham; Susanna; Lavinia, wife of George
Johnson Catherine, wife of Thomas Evans
Ellen Aaron, a Methodist minister, of Metamora, 111. Hiram R. and Matilda, who married George Johnson and (second) Daniel
Behr. Mr. Bower died at the age of seventyeight and his wife at the age of sixty-four.
He was a Democrat, and served as supervisor
and school director.
Hiram R. Bower was educated in the comHiram.

They were

of Daniel Miller

;

schools and remained at home until he
was twenty-three years of age, meantime preHowever,
paring himself for the ministry.
Providence had decreed otherwise for him,
and ill health compelled him to relinquish his

Minnie, Elizabeth, and
Frank,
dying when three years
Mr. Bower is a member of Berwick
old.
Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F., and is a past
grand of the same. He and his family are all
members of the Methodist Church. Since
1890 Mr. Bower has been field man of the
Columbia County Sunday School Association,
was for four years president and is now vice
In October, 1912, he attended the
president.
meeting of the State Association of Sunday
Schools held at Philadelphia and was there
F., Aaron B.,
the last named

Layman

awarded a medal in recognition of the fact
that he had been actively engaged in the work
for sixty-two years.
He has attended all of
the

and

Sunday school conventions,
international. Air. Bower

State, National
is much inter-

ested in the weather department of the signal
service and has a fine set of instruments for
recording the changes of temperature and
pressure.

Layman F. Bower, son of Hiram R., is vice
president of the Allis-Chalmers ManufacturHe and
ing Company, at Milwaukee, Wis.
his wife, Gertrude (Henninger), have four
children, of whom Florence is married to Rev.
Charles Davidson both were formerly mis;

sionaries in Japan, and Mr. Davidson is now
principal of schools at Tokio. Russell Forrest
married Margaret Kirkpatrick, of Scranton,

and they have two children, Russell and
Harold was married in Chicago
Margaret.
and is now living in Milwaukee. Layman, Jr.,
Pa.,

completes the family.

Aaron B. Bower, son of Hiram
lawyer of Scranton, Pa.

R.,

married Harriet

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

614

Carney and "they have three children, Helen,
Harriet and Wallace.
Minnie Bower married William Smith, of
Tarrytown, N. Y., and they have one child,
Leonora B.
Elizabeth Bower married Luther Wesley
Mendenhall, of Pittsburgh, and they have two
children, Elizabeth and Luther W., Jr.

his

Creasy,

FRANCIS PIERCE CREASY, now

living

was for over twentyyears engaged in farming in Catawissa
township, Columbia county, moving thence to
his present home in 1908. He was born May
5, 1857, in Catawissa township, son of Nathan
Creasy and grandson of William Creasy. His
first ancestors in America came from Germany
and settled in New Jersey, coming from there
to Columbia county. Pa., about one hundred
retired in Bloomsburg,
five

Some of the
twenty-five years ago.
family settled about Mifflin township and engaged in farming.
William Creasy, grandfather of Francis P.,
was one of the earlier settlers in the Catawissa
and

valley, in Schuylkill county. Pa., and engaged
in farming throughout his active life, in his
he
latter years living retired, in Catawissa
;

He
a tract of land in that township.
died in January, 1886, in his seventy-ninth
year, and is buried at Catawissa. He and his
owned

Mary (Gearhart) had one son, Nathan.
Nathan Creasy, son of William, was born
in Schuylkill county. Pa., and came with his
parents to Catawissa township, Columbia
county,

a child.

followed farming,

his marriage buying the tract which
son Henry now occupies, and there he
continued to live until his death, which occurred in August, 1 88 1. He was a member
of the Lutheran Church, and was one of the
well-known and highly respected residents of

after
his

his district.

His wife, whose maiden name

was Krickbaum

surSusanna or Catherine
vived him, dying in 1883, and they are buried
at Catawissa.
Mrs. Creasy was born on the
farm now owned by her son Henry, and was a
daughter of Henry Krickbaum, who was of
)

(

German

extraction.

To Mr. and Mrs. Nathan

Creasy

were born

eight

who

children,

namely

William T., a
deceased
prominent resident of Columbia county
Francis Pierce Elmira, Mrs. Hess, of Almedia, this county; Henry L., of Catawissa
township Nathan C, a merchant of Catawissa Dora S., wife of Noah Helwig, a prominent farmer of Catawissa township and a
daughter that died in infancy.
Francis Pierce Creasy attended public school
Alice,

;

was trained

now

cultivates the farm, for him.

Mr. Creasy has always been looked upon as
one of the intelligent and public-spirited citizens of his locality, and he has been prominent
in the Grange movement, with which he is still
connected. Since 1900 he has been a member
of the Agricultural Society of Columbia
comity. While living in Catawissa township
he served one term as school director and nine
years as auditor, and in every relation of life
has proved himself a highly desirable member
of the community. He has been treasurer of
the
Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company
since it was started, in 1906. In politics he is
a Democrat, in religious connection a member
of the Lutheran Church.
On Nov. 24, 1 88 1, Mr. Creasy was united in
marriage with Catherine Reeder, daughter of
Joseph and Elizabeth Reeder, and she died
May 14, 1909; she is buried at Catawissa. Mr.

and Mrs. Creasy had no children.

WILLIAM

wife

when

native township, and

farming from his earliest years. He began
that occupation on his own account in the
year 1881, in Catawissa township, where he
owns a fine farm of iii acres upon which he
was engaged in general agricultural pursuits
until 1908, at which time he retired and removed to Bloomsburg. His nephew, Charles

SNYDER,

deceased, forschools and

mer county superintendent of

prothonotary of Columbia county. Pa., was
born in Orange township, that county, Nov.
24, 1840, son of John and Catharine (Wolf)
Snyder, of Berks county.

John Snyder was of German descent and
as a boy to Columbia county from his
native county, Berks. He was a stonemason
and plasterer by occupation, and served as constable of Orange township for seventeen years.
He was commissioned sheriff of Columbia
county in 1852, and again in 1858, serving in

came

married Catharine, daughter
German school teacher, and
they had eleven children, of whom William
H. became the most prominent.
William H. Snyder attended the Orangeville
Academy and Greenwood Seminary, and as
soon as he had completed his course began to
all

six years.

Henry Wolf,

teach school, at the age of eighteen. He followed teaching for more than thirteen years,
reading law during all of his spare time. In
1872 he was elected to the position of county
superintendent of schools, served for nine
years, and then refused a further term in order
He then studied
to complete his law course.
in the office of E. R. Ikeler, and was admitted

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
'

Mr. Snyder served for a
to the bar in 1882.
time as supervising principal of the Bloomsburg public schools, and in 1884 was elected
prothonotary, filling the office for two consecutive terms, six years. At the end of his
term he opened an office in the M. E.
building, now the Farmers' National Bank
building, and practiced law until his death. At
that time he was a notary public, and attorney
for the Bloomsburg poor district. As a lawyer
Mr. Snyder was known for his thorough and
last

Ent

exact knowledge of difficult points of law,
and as a man he was greatly admired for his
happy disposition and frankness. Possessed
of keen judgment, he always expressed himself
clearly and positively upon any matters of
He died
which he had correct knowledge.
Nov. II, 1898, at the age of fifty-seven years,
eleven months, eighteen days, and is laid at
rest in Laurel Hill cemetery, at Orangeville.
was a member of the Reformed Church,
having been confirmed in Orangeville by the

Rev. Alfred Hautz.
On Dec. 26, 1868, Mr. Snyder was married,
by Rev. E. B. Wilson, at the Stillwater (Pa.)

parsonage, to Sarah M. Fleckenstine, and in
the course of time six children came to bless
Bruce J. died
their home for a little while.
Nov. 14, 1879, at the age of four years, six
months, as the result of whooping cough. William R. died Feb. 9, 1881, aged five months.
In 1884 the saddest loss came to the parents.
Three of their children passed away in the
short space of three weeks of the terrible
scourge of childhood diphtheria. Charles J.
died Oct. 6, 1884, aged thirteen years and two
months; George R. died Oct. 24, 1884, aged
one year and ten months and Jennie C. died

—

;

1884, aged sixteen years, eighteen
Paul H., the last of the children, was
days.
born Oct. 23, 1885, attended public school
and was president of the senior class of the
high school and of the Franklin Literary Society when he died, Dec. i, 1902, of typhoid
Memorial services were held at the
fever.
high school building. Miss Laura Prosser reading his biography and the class singing his
Resolufavorite hymn, "Abide With Me."'

Oct. 28,

tions, written by Edna Briggs, Mary
and Silas Riddle, were also read.

Welliver

In 1885 Mr. Snyder bought a home at the
corner of Fourth and Catherine streets, and
She was born
there his widow still lives.
May 24, 1844, in Orangeville, second daughter
of Nathan Fleckenstine and Catherine Poe,
and attended country school until she was
nineteen.
Every day she faithfully walked
a mile and a half to the school, where she sat

615

on wooden benches and wrote standing up
against the wall at the crude desks of the
time.
In those days punishments were more

severe than at present.
Besides whipping,
a split stick was sometimes clamped over the
fleshy part of the ear, where the piercing for
earrings was done, thus causing much pain.

Snyder was confirmed under Rev. William Goodrich, of the Reformed Church at
Orangeville, when she was fifteen years old,
and lived at home until her marriage. Since
her husband's death she has taken great interest in the cause of temperance, and is president of the Charity Union. She attended the
International Sunday School convention at
San Francisco, Cal., in 1911, and was a delegate to the World's Sunday School convention
at Zurich, Switzerland, in 1913.
Joseph Poe, grandfather of Mrs. Snyder,
was a first cousin of Edgar Allan Poe. He
Airs.

was born

Albany township, Berks

Co., Pa.,

Sept. 19, 1790. His parents were of French
and English descent.
His father came to
America with a colony of Germans who settled in Berks county during the days of Indian occupation, and served as a captain in
the Revolutionary war. His mother was a relative of the Booth family which furnished so
many illustrious members to the dramatic
stage. George Poe and his wife Ephie (uncle
and aunt of Joseph Poe), and Sarah (Booth)
Poe, mother of Joseph Poe, are all buried
within an inclosure in the Mifflinville cemetery,
their resting places being marked by monuments erected by Joseph.
Ferdinand Booth, with his wife and baby,
Sarah, seven weeks old, was living in a log
house southwest of Mifllinville in 1777. During the absence of the father and the hired
girl Indians captured the mother and child
and carried them to the Wyoming valley, and
thence to Ohio. In the latter State Mrs. Booth
was forced to marry an Indian chief, but was

treated well, although always watched. After
eleven years had passed she was assisted to
escape with the child by a fur trader, who
brought her back to her home. There she
found the husband had married again, thinking
her dead. She refused to interfere with him,
so he built her a house some distance from
the one he lived in, and there she reared Sarah
There the father of Joseph
to womanhood.
Poe married Sarah Booth, the stolen child,
and Joseph was born after their removal to

Albany township.
Joseph Poe was but sixteen years old when
he was apprenticed to Larry Ruck, of Bloomsburg, to learn the trade of shoemaker.

After

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

616

was out he went to Mifflinville, borrowed ten dollars and bought a set of tools

his time

with which he started working around the
country, from house to house, making and

His ten dollars had grown
patching shoes.
at the time of his death to seven farms and
more than thirty thousand dollars. He mar-

Mary Wolf, daughter of John Wolf, in
1814, and they had six children, Catherine
(Mrs. Nathan Fleckenstine), George, Maria,

ried

The first wife
Sarah, Stephen and Joseph.
died in 1835, ^'^d ]Mr. Poe married for his
second wife Leah Beam Miller, by whom he
had two children, Polly and Phoebe. Polly
married John Wolf, of ]\Iifflin township, and
Phoebe married Samuel Turnbach, of Blackcreek.
George Poe died unmarried at the
age of fifty-five, and is buried in ^Mifflinville.
Stephen Poe is living, in feeble health, with
his son Charles, in Catawissa.

very industrious and thrifty man, Joseph

Poe was

also strictly just in

all

his dealings.

In 1838 he bought two farms above Orangeone of 160 acres and the other of 140
acres.
The township line divided them, one
being in Fishingcreek township and the other
in Orange township.
To Catherine he gave
the 160-acre farm and to j\Iaria the 140 acres.
ville,

He and

were devout members
of the German Lutheran Church. His death
his second wife

occurred

in 1880.

Joseph Poe had two

sisters

Benjamin Levan and died

INIary

married

Freeport,

111.

old lady, Catharine Slaugh, a native of Bingenon-the-Rhine, who lived with them until her
death.
Nathan Fleckenstine was a great hunter and
fisherman and his larder was always filled with
the finest game. He had perfect health until
a short time before his death, when his eyesight failed him and he could not take his
usual exercise.
He was greatly beloved by
the villagers and children and was a great
worker in the church. His wife, Catherine,
died July 13, 1901, and he passed away Nov.
She lived to be eighty-four years,
13, 1905.
seven months, six days old, and he just lacked
ten days of being ninety years of age. Both
are buried in the Laurel Hill cemetery at

Orangeville.

1859

Fleckenstine

i\Iargaret

married

Samuel Hidlay, a prosperous farmer of Centre
township, and to them were born children as
follows:
(i) Joseph, a deputy sherifl:', of
Bloomsburg, married Sadie Girard, and has
three children, Ruth, Ray and Margaret. (2)
William H., twin to Joseph, now cashier of
the Bloomsburg National Bank, married Ada
Conner and has three children, Eugene, Clair
and Harold.
(3) Andrew Curtin married
Mary Creacy and they have two children
clerk
in
a
Wilkes-Barre, and Lillian, a
Bruce,
trained nurse, in Philadelphia.
(4) Minnie
married Clarence Drum, a prominent farmer
and stock raiser of Briarcreek township, and
they have eight children, Franklin, the oldest,
:

The other sister married A. Maurey and died now attending the Bloomsburg State Normal
in Conyngham, Pa., at the age of ninety-five school.
(5) Charles lives in Big Horn, Wyo.
years; she left one son, David.
(6) Margaret, married to Edward Richard,
Catherine Poe was but seventeen when her lives in Newberry, Pa. they have two chil;

mother died, and she took charge of her
brothers and sisters and kept house for her
After her father's second marriage
father.
she married Nathan Fleckenstine, Dec. 27,
1837, the ceremony being performed by Rev.
D. S. Tobias, of the Reformed Church. They
first resided with Nathan's father, Jacob, at
Summer Hill, but later moved to the farm
given them by Joseph Poe. There they lived
for thirty-five years and raised a family of
four boys and four girls: Joseph, Jacob W_.,

George S., Sarah M., Margaret,
and Clara Agnes. In addition to
these children Mr. and Mrs. Fleckenstine
Jacob Geisinger,
brought up four orphans
Samuel Trump, Andrew Lunger and Betsey
Steiner (who married Elijah Everett and was
left a widow with two sons).
After their
children had grown Mr. and Mrs. Fleckenstine
moved to Orangeville, where they resided until they died.
They also made a home for an

William,

Mary

dren,

who

Donald and Miriam.
is

(7)

a trained nurse, lives in

Elizabeth,

New York

(8) Delia married John Caine, of Beach
She died
son, Hidlay.
April 4, 191 1, at the age of forty-four. (9)
Mamie married Hubert Harman, of Milton,
Pa., and they have three children: Harry, in
the United States navy and Collins and Bruce,
State.

Haven, and had one

;

home.
Joseph Fleckenstine enlisted in the i6th
Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1862, and served for
three years lacking nine days. He had many
narrow escapes from death but passed through
many engagements unscathed, finally being
mustered out after the surrender, and returned
to the home of his parents, where he still

lives.

Jacob
bins, of

W. Fleckenstine married Sarah StebNew York, and they have six children
:

Laura married Elmer Thompson and has two
children, Paul and Elmer, Jr. the parents are
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
both nurses, and they reside in Philadelphia.
Jennie married Walter Ivins, a member of
the Ivins Cracker Company of Philadelphia,

and they have two children, Margaretta and
Mary Sh. Ivins also owns the !Model Chicken
Farm at Lansdale, Pa. Jessie married Rev.
William Gerhard, a Reformed minister, of
Jrangeville, and they have one child, Ruth.
Pearl married Arthur Williams, a printer, of
Xew York Mr. Williams's father was the
first American singer to appear in the Crystal Palace, London.
Joseph Poe Fleckenstine
was a trained nurse in Bellevue hospital. New
York, where he nursed Loft, the candy manu;

(

;

facturer of that city, so successfully as to be
taken into the factory and made manager
however, the work was too confining and he
resigned to take charge of the poultry farm
of his brother-in-law, Walter Ivins; he mar;

Phoebe Dickson, of Salem, N. J., a trained
nurse, in June, 1914, and on July 15th following returned to the employ of Mr. Loft as manager of his confectionery store in Newark,
N. J. Nathan C. Fleckenstine is in the conried

fectionery business at Jamaica, Long Island;
he married Nellie Kellogg, and they have one
son, William. Jacob W. and Sarah (Stebbins)

Fleckenstine, the parents of this -family, are
on the model farm of

living at Lansdale, Pa.,
W'alter Ivins.

Mary

Fleckenstine

Appleman, of Benton,

Pa.,

married

and died

William
in Feb-

ruary, 1880, leaving a little daughter, Bessie,
then but four years old. Bessie married Bruce
Keller, ticket agent at Orangeville, and they
have had three children, two living, Elizabeth

and John,
Keller, was

Jr.
"the

Bruce Keller's father, John

sexton at Orangeville for more
than thirty years, working at the shoemaker's
bench except when so engaged. He and his
wife were much beloved, and were always
ready to nurse the sick and help the unfortunate.

617

George S. Fleckenstine married Elizabeth
Fisher, daughter of a prosperous farmer of
Briarcreek township, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Alfred Hautz, who was pastor
of the Reformed Church of Orangeville for
forty-five years, and is still actively engaged
religious matters, being president of the
Wyoming Classis. To j\Ir. and Mrs. Fleckenstine were born three children, Conner Fisher,
in

Carl and Jessie R. Carl married Dora Leidy,
they had two children, Sarah (deceased) and Nathan; Carl is conducting his
father's store, while the father is holding the
office of county commissioner. Jessie R. married Clinton Herring, an attorney of Orange;

and

ville.

George S. Fleckenstine entered the mercantile business in 1880 and has made a great
success in Orangeville. In 1905 he bought the
old homestead. Meadow Brook farm, which
he has brought to a high state of cultivation.
In 1896 he was elected treasurer of Columbia
county, and held the office for one term. In
191 1 he was elected county commissioner, and
is still

serving in that position.

Catharine (Hahn) \\'olf, daughter of Dewald Hahn, was born in Bethlehem, Northampton Co., Pa., June 6, 1776, and died Sept.
28, 1836, in Centerville, Mich., where she was
buried. She was on a visit to her son Joseph
He bought a tombstone at
at the time.
Newark, Ohio, and hauled it the two hundred
and fifty miles to Centerville to place over her
grave. John Wolf, her husband, was born in
1769, the son of Christian \\'olf, who came
a widower with one child from W'itten-

when

Germany, to America.
Dewald Hahn, father of Catharine (Hahn)
Wolf, was born Feb. 8, 1752, and died March

berg,

Franie, his wife, born Oct. 5, 1752,
died Jan. 14, 1834. They had four daughters:
Catharine, wife of John Wolf; Susan (Mrs.
Achenbach) Mary, wife of Abraham Hess;
Sarah, wife of Charles Miller.
Catharine (Hahn) W'olf had four sons,
3, 1833.

;

Clara Agnes Fleckenstine, born May 16,
1861, married George W. Bertsch, a merchant
tailor, of ]\Iauch Chunk, Pa.
They have had
no children. Mr. Bertsch's father was a prosperous tailor and left a fine estate to his four
children.

married
Harriet
Fleckenstine
William
and to them were born two children
of
at
the
died
Dec.
age
twenty23, 1906,
Harry
four, and is buried in the Laurel Hill cememarried
Howard
Carrie
tery, Orangeville
Hartung, of Honesdale, Pa., and they have one
William Fleckenstine is at
child, Harriet.
present employed in the S. S. Fleckenstine dry
goods store, in Orangeville.
Belles,

;

Joseph, Jonas, Abraham and Christian. The
Hahn family were the possessors of all the
land lying south of Mifflinville, so the sons had
a farm to begin with. Abraham moved above
Mifflinville and Christian to the south end of
the town, on the same farm from which Joseph
Poe's mother was stolen by the Indians. The
Hahns bought the farms from Adam Booth.

Jonas Wolf was born in Mifflinville. Pa.,
Nov. 12, 1812, and died in Constantine, ^lich.,
March 8, 1896. He was a prosperous merchant in Watsontown, Pa., in former days,
afterwards moving to Constantine, where he

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

618

lived retired until his death.

garet

Gerhard, near Danville,

married Marin

1835.

and

Mary Catharine, Frances
Annie, John \\'ellington. Joseph McDonald,
Herman Gerhard and Ellen Reese. In 1850
he married for his second wife Mrs. Nancy
Vincent Leman, by whom he had children
their children

were

Carrie

and

\'incent

Sallie

Keefer.

Carrie

married Stephen Davis, a prosperous farmer in
Constantine, Mich., where they reside

at the

present time.

Joseph Wolf, son of John and Catharine
(Hahn) Wolf, was born in ^lifflinville Jan. 30,
1810, and died at Mount \'ernon, Ohio, in
1863. His wife, Harriet Doane, was born in
Berwick, Pa., in 1808, and died in Urbana,
111., in 1890.
Joseph was a minister of the
Gospel for thirty years.
the Methodist Church,
pastors received
at

little

He was
but

prominent in
those days
had to work

salary, so he

shoemaking
support his family properly.
With the help of his daughters he bought and
cleared land, continuing operations until he

had gained a fine estate. Joseph and Harriet
Wolf had eight daughters, as follows
Lucy,
wife of A. Bart, a veteran of the Mexican and
Civil wars; Hannah, wife of O. Gill; Caroline
(Mrs. Martin); Josephine, who died young;
Sarah A.; Harriet; Mary; and Clara A., men:

tioned below.
Clara A. Wolf married a Mr. Agnew, of
Mount \ernon, Ohio. She was one of the
first members of the W. C. T. U. in Ohio and
one of the first crusaders at Mount Vernon,
and took a warm interest in the cause of tem-

perance. She is still living in Mount \'ernon,
and has become noted as a writer and com-

Of her

four children, Wilbur, George,
Carrie and Pansy, Wilbur Agnew was employed in the government printing office, and
later died suddenly in Chicago, of malarial
poser.

fever.

George Agnew lives in Oakland. Cal.
Carrie, Airs. Bahnharst, lives in Springfield,
she has two sons, who are composers and
writers of music. Pansy, Mrs. Crippen, lives
111.

;

with her mother at Mount \'ernon, Ohio.
John Wolf, son of Abraham and Catharine
His
(Hill) Wolf, was born Nov. 27, 1834.
sister Annie married George P. Miller.
His
brother Daniel married Phoebe, daughter of
John Lazarus, a prominent farmer of Fishingcreek township, went West to buy horses just
before his only child was born, and while riding through the timber was killed, a tree falling on him. His child, Annie, married P. Freymire. John Wolf married Polly Pohe (Poe).
who was born June 9, 1837, daughter of Joseph
and Leah Pohe, and died Jan. 7, 1891. She

and her husband were faithful members of
the Lutheran Church.
They had these children
Dora, wife of Hudson Kase, of Danville; Minerva, wife of Harry Hubbard, of
Wildwood, N. J.; Lillie, wife of Harry Eshelman, of Bloomsburg and twins, a boy and a
Mr. and Mrs.
girl, who died in infancy.
Eshelman have two daughters
Marguerite,
wife of Ervine Sweeten, of Camden, N. J.,
and Emeline, who lives at home and is assistant
librarian at the Bloomsburg public library.
:

;

REV. DA\TD M. HENKEL,

D„

for

twenty-three years a resident of the borough
of Catawissa, was born at Point Pleasant,
Mason Co., W. Va., April 12, 1819, and died
in Catawissa at the advanced age of eighty-six
in the year 1905.
He was a son of Rev.
Charles and Alary Siegrist) Henkle, both also
natives of West Mrginia.
Gearhart Henkel, the first ancestor of this
(

family in America, was an army chaplain,
and came from Frankfort, Germany, in 1735,
locating in Germantown, a suburb of PhiladelThere he resided, serving a Lutheran
phia.
congregation imtil his death, which is supto
have been occasioned by a fall from
posed
his horse while traveling along one of the roads

Of the six generations including
city.
Gearhart, Justice, Jacob, Paul, Charles and
David M., it is interesting to note that the
majority were Lutheran pastors.
Paul Henkel, the grandfather of Dr. David
M. Henkel, was the father of six sons, five
of whom were Lutheran ministers and one a
physician. He died in New Alarket, Shenanof the

doah

Co., Va., in 1825.

Rev. Charles Henkel was the first Lutheran
minister in Columbus, Ohio, from which city
he removed to Somerset, in the same State,
where he died in 1840.

David M. Henkel was quite a child when
parents moved to Columbus, and there
he attended the public schools, continuing his
his

studies at the Capitol University, where his
He
theological education was also acquired.
graduated in 1849, was ordained, and was
given charge of the Lutheran Church at
Goshen, Ind., when that State was in the
throes of first settlement.
Here privations
caused his health to fail and he returned to
his home State to recuperate, in New Market,
Va. He then entered upon a career of church
upbuilding, taking a charge at Stewartsville,
N. J. In 1859 he was called to Danville. Montour Co.. Pa., and there built the church of
Trinity Lutheran congregation, serving as its
pastor for eight years. Having attached him-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
General Council, he was next called
Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Pa., where he
organized and built St. John's Church, remainHe was next
ing its pastor for four years.
sent to Richmond, \'a., to build up an English Church, but his health failing he went to
Mount Pleasant, N. C, and then to Xokomis,
In 1882
111., where he remained six years.
he was obliged to retire, and coming to Catawissa resided here until his death, taking no
regular charge but occasionally tilling a pulpit.
He was an able speaker, an energetic worker
self to the

for the Lord,

and a member of the Masonic

fraternity.

some months old. He
David in time added

619

built a sawmill, to

which

a carding machine, and
subsequently a clover hulling machine the latter's son Joseph finally converted the hulling
mill into a chopping mill.
James Masters
;

married Margaret Salkel, and they had five
children, three sons and two daughters
Isaac,
All lived
Sarah, Alartha, David and John.
to be grown and raised families.
Sarah married Samuel Kester
they rode to Berks
:

—

county on horseback to be married by the
Friends' ceremony Martha married Andrew
Eves, son of John Eves, the pioneer; Isaac
married Paul Kester's daughter, and subse;

Rev. Mr. Henkel married Heleah Anna quently moved to Ohio John was a rambler,
Maria Henkel, daughter of Solomon Henkel, and never made a permanent settlement David
M. D.. of New Market, \'a., and they had six married Mary Eves, a granddaughter of the
children
pioneer. The last mentioned couple were the
Mary, wife of Rev. C. W. Sitiferd
Leah, wife of Rev. A. L. Yount; Charles, grandparents of Francis P. Masters.
David Masters was born in 1783, near Kenmarried to a Miss Lease, of Nokomis, 111.
Solon; William; and Luther S. After the nett Square, in Chester county. Pa., and setdeath of their mother he was united, in No- tled in Madison township, on Spruce run, advember, 1875, to Susan C, eldest daughter of joining lands owned by the pioneer Eves, and
(This place was afterwards
Rev. William J. Eyer, of Catawissa. By this the Demotts.
owned by Conrad Kreamer.)
David was
union there were no children.
Rev. William J. Eyer, father of Airs. eight years old when he came with his father
Henkel, was born in 1803 and came to Cata- to the home place there he grew to manhood.
wissa in 1838. Here he served as pastor of He married Mary Eves, daughter of Joseph,
the Lutheran Church until his death in 1874. who was a son of John Eves, the pioneer.
He was a noted man, an able speaker, and his To David and Mary Masters were born
death was regretted by all who had come into George, James (mentioned below), Sarah,
contact with him.
His wife Charlotte, Mrs. Joseph, Margaret, Parvin, Mary and Elizabeth,
Henkel's mother, was a daughter of Frederick all living to maturity. George, born Nov. 2,
C. Havemeyer, the head of the great refinery 1810, in Madison township, married Margaret
corporation of New York and Philadelphia. Mather, settled in Millville, and had four chilMrs. Susan C. Henkel still survives, and lives dren, Sarah, David, Mary M. and William
at the old homestead in Catawissa, in the house Sarah married Daniel Rote, and located near
her father erected when he first came to this Millville Joseph married Sarah Edwards, and
town.
She has a large number of stanch subsequently moved to Muncy, Pa. Margaret
friends in the borough and is an interesting married Benjamin Warner, and located in
Parvin resided in Philadelconversationalist. She bears her age with dig- Muncy Valley
phia, was thrice married, having children by
nity, and for one of her years is quite active
each wife; Mary married George D. Keller,
and energetic.
who settled first in Light Street, Columbia
FRANCIS PARVIN MASTERS, late of county, and ran a blacksmith business, afterPine township, Columbia county, was a native wards bought a farm near Watsontown,
of Millville, that county, and belonged to an Northumberland county, and later lived at
old established family of that section, still nu- Muncy borough Elizabeth married B. Morris
Cox EUis, one
merously represented in the vicinity. James Ellis, a descendant of William
Masters, his father, was in business at Mill- of the early settlers of Muncy Valley.
ville for many years, as a merchant.
James Masters, born Sept. 28, 1812, was
Mr. Masters is a great-grandson of James married Jan. i, 1835, to Abigail Rote, who was
of
German descent, born March 3, 1812,
Masters, who in 1791 settled on the place in
Madison township later occupied by his son daughter of Francis and Mary Rote, the latter
David. There were then no improvements on of whom was a daughter of Daniel Welliver,
the property. James Masters made a perma- one of the early pioneers of Madison townnent home there, remaining on the place until ship. After James Masters was married he
and operated
his death in
when
years and moved to below Eyer's Grove,
;

;

1832,

eighty-four

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

620

the old Dreiblebiss mill,

Paxton

& McKelvy

when he moved

owned then by

Frick,

he ran until 1837,
to IMillville and took charge
;

this

of the grist and saw mill owned by his father.
This mill he conducted until about 1841, when
on account of failing health he rented it, and
for four years clerked for his brother George
his partner, Mather. Then, on account of
the mill losing trade by his absence, in 1845
he again took charge, and gave it his personal
attention until the spring of 1849.
At that
time the mill burned down and he quit the
milling business, moving to Sereno in December, 1S49, and embarking in the mercantile
business, which he carried on until 1837, when
he discontinued the store and engaged in farmIn 1850 he purchased the farm of 107
ing.
acres in Greenwood township, and in 1858
purchased the farm of 228 acres in Pine township where he resided and was afterwards engaged in agricultural pursuits, increasing the
original tract to about 240 acres. He was successful in his business. He had six daughters

and

and one son: iMary, Elizabeth, Francis P.,
Catharine, Sarah E., Margaret A. and Susan.

Mary married Dr. J. B. Patton Elizabeth
married R. L. Rich Francis P. is mentioned
below Catharine and Margaret never married
Susan married John Eves, the wagon
manufacturer.
Only two daughters of this
;

;

family

now

survive.

met an accidental death when twelve years
old, from a gunshot wound received while
hunting; Marian W., born ;\Iarch 13, 1884,
has been a teacher in the Westtown Boarding
School, and is at present a student in Columbia University Francis P., Jr., died Feb. 28,
1893, in infancy.
Mrs. Masters is a member of an old family
;

of Friends which has been prominent in local
history from the time Columbia county began
to be settled. Full mention of the Eves family
will

be found elsewhere

in this

work.

GEORGE E. CREASY, D. D. S., who is
engaged in the practice of dentistry at Berwick, Columbia county, was born there May
27, 1S60, son of Stephen and Barbara (Frantz)
Creasy.

David Creasy, the grandfather of Dr.
George E. Creasy, belonged to a family of
English origin, whose progenitor in the United
States

was

who owned

Sir Edward Creasy, a nobleman,
a large estate in England.
David

Creasy was one of the early settlers of Columbia Co., Pa., where he was the owner of a
large farm in the Catawissa valley, and later
moved to Mifflin township, where he spent his

He died in 1872, at the age of
seventy-two years.
Stephen Creasy, son of David Creasy, and
father of Dr. George E. Creasy, learned the
trade of cabinet-maker as a young man, and
continued to follow that occupation throughout
his life. For a short time he was a resident of
Berwick, but the greater part of his life was
spent in Mifflinville, where he passed away
last years.

David Rote was born Sept. 13, 1832, in
Madison township, eldest son of Daniel and
Sarah (Masters) Rote. He resided here until March, 1886, when he
purchased the place
known as the John Bruner farm. He married
of
Mary, daughter
George Welliver. whose March 4, 1900. His wife, Barbara (Frantz)
wife Elsie was a daughter of Simon and iMary Creasy, was born in A\'ittenberg. Germany,
(Robbins) Kinney. The Kinneys were from whence she came to America with her mother
New Jersey, and among the early settlers in and the eleven other children of the family,
Pine township. Mr. and Mrs. Rote had two her father having died in the Fatherland. -Mrs.
children, Sarah E. and Anna E.
Creasy died about 1878, the mother of six
Francis P. Masters was born Jan. 28, 1839, children:
Anna, who is the wife of John
and spent his early boyhood at Millville, until Bastuscheck, of Mifflinville, Pa. Emmanuel,
ten years old. He obtained a thorough educa- who is deceased George E. M. Clymer, who
is proprietor of
the "Exchange Hotel"' at
tion, receiving his preparatory training in the
home neighborhood, and later attending the Mifflinville H. Lewis, who lives at that place,
Westtown (Pa.) Boarding School, an old in- and Eli, who died in infancy.
stitution established by the Friends in 1799.
George E. Creasy secured his earlv educaDuring the greater part of his active years tion in the public schools of ^Mifflinville. and
Mr. Masters was engaged in farming in Pine was subsequently granted the privileges of attownship, where he died June 11, 1910. He tendance at the State Normal school. Followsupported the Republican party on political ing a two years' course there he entered the
issues.
employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad ComOn June 8, 1880, ^Ir. Masters was married pany, and for sixteen years was foreman of a
to Orpha L. Eves, daughter of Wilson M. and division on construction work at Wapwallopen,
Amelia (Robbins) Eves, and three children Luzerne Co., Pa. He took up the study of
were born to this union Alfred E., the eldest. dentistry in 1897, and subsequently entered
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery,
graduating therefrom in 1900. Since that time
he has been located in the practice of his profession at Berwick. His skill has attracted a

and representative practice, and he is
recognized as one of the leading members of
He makes his
his profession in this section.
large

home

at Mifflinville, but continues to maintain
at Berwick, where in a wide acquaintance he numbers many warm friends.
his

office

is a Mason, belonging to Knapp Lodge,
No. 462, F. & A. M., Berwick Caldwell Consistory, three hundred and twenty, A. A. S. R.,
of Bloomsburg, and Irem Temple, A. A. O.
N. M. S., of Wilkes-Barre.
On Jan. 24, 1888, Dr. Creasy was married
to Harriet D. Bowers, daughter of Adam and
Margaret (Mowery) Bowers, the latter now
deceased, and the former a resident of Catawissa and an employee of the Philadelphia &
Reading Railroad Company. Dr. and Mrs.
Creasy have no children.
;

PERCY BREWINGTON

has been con-

nected since 1900 with the Benton Argus, of
sole proprietor for the last
It has continued to improve
eight years.

which he has been

steadily under his efficient management, the
influence of his personality and public-spirited
attitude on questions of local interest having
made the paper a power in the community.
Mr. Brewington is a native of Maryland,
born April 28, 1878, in the city of Baltimore,
and he grew up at Salisbury, that State, being
educated in the public schools. His experience as a printer began in 1881, when he was
but thirteen years old. He started to learn
the trade under the guidance of his uncles, who
were doing a general printing business under
the name of Brewington Brothers. With them
he remained until he enlisted for service during
As a
the Spanish-American war, in 1898.

member

of Company F, ist Maryland Volunfrom eastern Maryland, he was under
Captain Adams, at Fortress Monroe, later for
several months at Camp Meade, Pa., and then
at Camp McKenzie, Augusta, Ga., where he
was mustered out Feb. 28, 1899. Returning to

teers,

Salisbury, Md., he followed his trade there
for a short time, but was soon in Philadelphia,
where he worked at printing for Bradley & Co.

1900 he removed to

county, to
lishment.

work as foreman
The paper was

Benton,

Columbia

Argus estableading Demo-

in the

the

organ in the northern part of the county,
and was owned by Mr. Smith. When he
died, in August, 1900, ]\Ir. Brewington remained to conduct the paper for the widow.
cratic

621

In December of the same year, in
with A. H. Edgar, Mr. Brewington
it,

this

association

lasting

until

company
purchased

May,

1906,

when Mr. Brewington acquired the sole ownership, and the entire management has remained
in his hands since.
From June, 1906, until
August, 1908, he also owned and ran two other
Columbia county papers, the Democratic
Daily Sentinel and the Seuii-U'eckly Sentinel,
both of which were published at Bloomsburg.

They were, like the Argus, representative
Democratic papers, doing recognized work for
the party in this section.
The subscription
list of the
Argus has increased greatly during

Mr. Brewington's ownership. His activity in
the Democratic party has kept him in close
touch with its proceedings, enabling him to
present its affairs to his readers most reliably.
He is now county chairman for the party, and
State committeeman, and for the last twelve
years has been a member of the Columbia
county committee. He has been delegate to
several State conventions at Harrisburg. Mr.
Brewington's interest in business has made him
an active member of the Board of Trade at
Benton; he belongs to the Benton Cemetery
Association.
Socially he has numerous connections, being a member of Benton Lodge,
No. 746, I. O. O. F., and the Benton Encampment of Odd Fellows, No. 207 of Camp No.
123, P. O. S. of A., Benton; the Knights of
the Maccabees, also at Benton and the B. P.
O. Elks at Bloomsburg. His religious association is with the Christian Church.
Mr. Brewington married Elizabeth G.
Kline, of Stillwater, Columbia county, and they
have had six children: Robert K., born Nov.
;

;

1902; Marion
Oct. I, 1905;

1904; Harvard
19, 1909;
23 1912 John, May 4, 1914.
Kline, Mrs. Brewington's greatgrandfather, was one of the four brothers who
came to Pennsylvania from New Jersey and
settled in the vicinity of Stillwater and Orange.
17,

S.,

Woodrow
Abram

P.,

ilarch

Madge

G., Oct.

E., April
;

He farmed at Stillwater the rest of his life.
He was born in 1767, and died in 1838. His
wife's maiden name was Whiteman, and they
had children as follows George married Anna
Roberts ; Abram married a Roberts John
married a Kissner Isaac A. is mentioned
below Samuel married a Davis Jacob married a Fritz Matthias married a Herr Anna
:

;

married John Laubau; Mary married Peter
Coleman.
Isaac A. Kline, son of Abram, was born Feb.
2, 1802, and died in 1887 at the old homestead

at Stillwater, in Fishingcreek township.
was a blacksmith and farmer, owning eight

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

622

acres, partly cleared and part in timber, and county. After obtaining a common school edhe followed general farming practically all his ucation he engaged in agricultural pursuits,
In religion he was a member of the clearing land and following general farming.
days.
Methodist Church. Mr. Kline was married He was a member of the Christian Church.
to IMaria McHenry, whose death occurred in He was married to Beulah Albertson, daughSeptember, 1853. She was the mother of the ter of John and Jane (Kitchen) Albertson,
Elizabeth married Uriah who were from New Jersey, and to them were
following children
Van Horn !Mary married Samuel McHenry born a large family: Richard married Alice
Cordelia married Jeremiah Stiles Sarah Ann FoUmer Boyd married Arvilla Keppler John
Thomas entered the married Ella Follmer; Hiram married Anna
married Jacob Hess
Elizabeth married George Cole
Union service in the Civil war, in 1861, was Keppler
mortally wounded at Petersburg, and died Martha married Thomas Tromp Emma married
N.
Y.
Cathat
David's
Island,
George Klechner Elmira married John
July 4, 1864,
erine died young John L. C. is mentioned L. C. Kline.
below Almira Eveline married F. M. Lutz
EUGENE D. TEWKSBURY, merchant
R. William Everett married a Belles Harriet
Ida married a Sitler Lola Elnora married and ex-burgess of Catawissa borough, Columbia county, was born in Susquehanna county,
William Jacoby.
John L. C. Kline was born at Stillwater, Pa., June 6, 1861, son of Hon. Edward M.
Columbia county, Nov. 13, 1844, and grew up Tewksbury, member of the Legislature from
there, receiving a common school education. Columbia county from 1891 to 1894.
The Tewksbury family is of pure English
In his youth he had a thorough training to the
trade of blacksmith, which he followed at Ben- descent, dating back to earliest times. An anton from the close of the Civil war. In 1864 cestor of the race was John Tewksbury, a
he enlisted, entering Company E, looth Penn- merchant of London, who became noted as a
sylvania \'olunteers, under Capt. Daniel P. Biblical student, possessing a manuscript copy
Buck and Col. Norman J. ]\Iaxwell. He took of the Scriptures, which he frequently expart in the actions' at Petersburg and Fort pounded in the meetinghouses of the time.
Stedman, was one of the first over the breast- One of his descendants was Reuben Tewksworks at Petersburg, and was also on the bury, grandfather of Eugene D. Tewksbury,
South Side Road. After muster out at Har- who came from his birthplace in \'ermont to
risburg he resumed blacksmithing at Benton. Susquehanna county. Pa., in 1803, and died
By his marriage to Elmira Stiles Mr. Kline on his farm there in 1861.
Edward M. Tewksbury, father of Eugene
has had three children
Cora, wife of Andrew
D., was born in Brooklyn, Susquehanna Co.,
J. ^IcHenry; Jennie, wife of Riter Hedden
and Elizabeth G., Mrs. Percy Brewington, of Pa., Sept. 10, 1837, son of Reuben and Mary
Benton. Mr. Kline is a member of the P. O. (Cory) Tewksbury, the latter a native of
Rhode Island. He was a farmer and school
S. of A. and of the Christian Church.
Mrs. Elmira (Stiles) Kline is descended teacher, coming in 1869 to Catawissa township,
from Jeremiah Stiles, a native of New Jersey, where he bought the farm of 160 acres upon
who settled in Pennsylvania. He followed which the latter part of his life was spent.
He was a temperance advocate and a pioneer
farming all his life.
John Stiles, son of Jeremiah, born about in advancing the no-fence law, his fences being
His
1795, died in 1855 in Columbia county, at his the first to be removed in the township.
home about two miles from Benton. Besides death occurred Jan. 12, 1901, at the age of
he
all
his
which
follow-ed
he
His
wife
in
life,
farming,
sixty-three.
passed away
1902.
kept hotel at Rohrsburg. His wife, Martha Both are laid at rest in the Mclntire cemewas
a
of
Daniel
and
in
this
had
two
chil(McHenry),
daughter
tery,
township.
They
(Stevens) McHenry.
They had a dren: Martha D.. wife of Rev. John S. Souser,
IVIary
family of eight children: Mary married Elijah pastor of the Methodist Church at HuntingKline Josiah is mentioned below Susanna don, Pa., and Eugene D.
Martha married
married Peter Appleman
Eugene D. Tewksbury came to this county
Robert Colley Sarah married Elijah Albert- with his parents at the age of seven, and enmarried
Russell
Stoher
Richard
tered
the public schools, working during vacason; Nancy
married Amanda Cunningham Hannah mar- tions upon the home farm, which he left in
:

;

ried

Hiram

Everett.

Josiah Stiles, born in 181 5, died in 1864,
about two miles from Benton, Columbia

1903 to engage in the mercantile business in
Catawissa. Until 1908 he carried on business
as a dealer in farming implements

and

fer-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
and in that year established his present
well stocked hardware store, also handling
He has the
vehicles and building materials.
largest business of the kind in the county,
housed in a three-story building, and with a
warehouse attached, 27 by 45 feet, well stocked

tilizers,

with goods and implements.

Mr. Tewksbury

In 1909 he
also operates the old homestead.
was elected burgess of Catawissa, a position
which he filled with credit and satisfaction to
In politics he is a Democrat.
22, 1884, Mr. Tewksbury mar-

his constituents.

On March

ried Hannah E. Erwin, daughter of William
and Ruthanna (Yocum) Erwin. They have
had no children. Mrs. Tewksbury is a member of the Methodist Church.
Capt. John Yocum, maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Tewksbury, came from Germany while a youth and settled in Berks Co.,
Pa., later being one of the pioneer settlers in
Roaringcreek township, Columbia county.
Here he took up a large tract of land and
married a Miss Mclntire, by whom he had

nine

children

Caleb, Jacob,
William, Eliza, Sarah, Hannah
William Yocum, son of Capt.
Eliza Titsworth, and they had
:

corner of First and South streets, on what
later became the
property of W. W. Perry.
Isaiah Willits married Rachel
Hughes, and
they became the parents of the following children
George H., Charles, John, Matilda,
Elizabeth, Clinton and Townsend.
George H. Willits, the Doctor's father, was
born at Catawissa. Upon the death of his
father he took charge of the
tannery, which
he conducted until he was obliged to give
up
the business on account of
It
failing health.
:

necessary for him to obtain openwork, he took a contract to build a half
mile of the Pennsylvania canal along the
rocks of that vicinity.
One year later he

being
air

in coal mining in
Schuylkill county,
shipping the product of his mine to the city
of Philadelphia. Selling out his interest in the
boats, he purchased some three hundred acres
of good land opposite Catawissa from his
father's estate, where he followed agricultural
pursuits until 1867. He then disposed of his

engaged

and Mary.

property and settled in Catawissa, where he
spent the remainder of his life in retirement,
dying March 22, 1881, at the age of seventy-

John, married

eight years.

John,

Jessie,

Frankissue
Ruthanna, married to William Erwin
Huldah, married to Samuel Cherrington
Isaac, living in Northumberland county Britton, residing in Roaringcreek township; and
Elnora, who married John Hawk.
William Erwin and his wife had issue:
Hannah E., wife of Eugene D. Tewksbury;
John W. Curtis L., and Harry A.
lin

623

;

ISAIAH W. WILLITS, M.

D., of Bloomsburg, one of the oldest practicing physicians
of Columbia county, is a past president of the
County Medical Society and now serving as
one of the censors of that body. He was born

He was an active member of the
Republican party, in 185 1 was elected for a
five years' term as associate judge (up to
that time the only Republican ever elected to
the office from his district), and later served
as postmaster and in various minor positions.
He was united in marriage with Jane Clark,
a daughter of John Clark, one of Catawissa's
She died
early and prominent merchants.
Mr.
Jan. II, 1883, aged seventy-three years.
and Mrs. Willits are interred in the Friends'
at
Catawissa.
had
chilburying ground
They
dren as follows
Twin daughters, who died
in infancy
Isaiah W. Jane Cordelia, born
in 1850, who died in 1888; and Charles Clark,
:

;

who came from Eng-

for many years a physician and druggist of
Catawissa, and later the proprietor of one of
the leading dry goods stores of Sunbury,
Northumberland county.
Isaiah W. Willits went to public school until
twelve years old, after which he took a course
of two years' study in the select school of

land prior to 1650, being its first member to
locate in America. His son Thomas was born

Eaton and W'ells, at Bloomsburg, and spent
one year in the Greenwood Seminary, at Mill-

country in 1650, and his son, Thomas
(2), born in 1682. located in Pennsylvania in
He
had a large family, one of whom
1738.
was Isaiah, the grandfather of Dr. Willits.
Isaiah Willits was born in 1732, and early
in life learned the trade of tanner, which
he followed in Catawissa, being one of the
He erected
first business men of that vicinity.
a large tannery there, and resided on the

Pa. Then after a year's study in Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, he became a clerk
in the store of W. Bittenbender & Co., of
which firm his father was a silent partner.
He remained there one year, and then for
two years was engaged in a similar capacity

1843, at Catawissa, Columbia Co.,
Pa., son of George H. Willits, and belongs
to a family which has been settled in this
county from Colonial times.
The Willits family is of English extrac-

May

22,

tion,

Richard Willits,

in this

ville,

Driesbach, at Beach Haven, Pa.
1862, he enlisted in Company H,
I32d Regiment, Pa. Vol. Inf., of which he

for D.

On Aug.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

624

was made orderly sergeant when the company
was organized. He was but nineteen years
of age when he was promoted to the rank of
first

Heutenant, Dec.

9, 1862.

Among

Socially he is a Knight Templar
a member of the G. A. R.

the en-

gagements in which he took part were those
of Antietam and Fredericksburg, and at the
latter he was struck in the knee
by a piece of
shell, from the effects of which he has never

He was sent to the hospital
Georgetown for treatment. From there he
was transferred to Judiciary Square hospital,
Washington, D. C. The latter part of January,
fully recovered.

Mason and

MORRISON ELIJAH JACKSON
m Berwick, Pa., Feb. 10, 1817.

born

was
His

father, Joel Jackson, was a native of Goshen,
N. Y., and his mother of Chester
county.
Pa., and of the Quaker faith. His father came
to Berwick in the
early part of the last

century

and resided there until his death, in
1850.
Mr. Jackson obtained such education as was
1862, he rejoined his regiment at camp near possible, mainly by his own efforts, and comFalmouth, Va., and was with his command at menced the study of the law in his twentieth
the battle of Chancellorsville, Va,, May i to year with Judge Cooper, at Danville. He was
admitted to practice at the Columbia
5, 1863, after which he was discharged with
county
bar on motion of George A. Frick,
his regiment at
Esq., now
Harrisburg, Pa., May 24, 1863,
on account of expiration of term of service. deceased, on the i6th of November, 1840, and
After spending a couple of weeks at home he at the Luzerne county bar on the 5th of JanuHe opened an office in Berwick,
recruited another company. Company E, of ary, 1841.
the 30th P. V. I., became its captain June 20, where he remained in continuous practice, apas occasion required, before the sevIt pearing,
1863, and as such reentered the service.
was assigned to the Department of the Sus- eral courts in Columbia, Luzerne, Montour,
quehanna under Gen. D. N. Couch. During Sullivan, Wyoming, Carbon and Schuylkill
counties also before the District and
its term of si.x months this command was enSupreme
courts of the United States for the Western
gaged principally in guarding the Cumberland
and the Supreme court of the State.
Valley railroad and on other duty in Pennsyl- district,
He was at the time of his death the senior
vania. On leaving the army the
young officer member of the
bar of Columbia county, and
began the study of medicine with Dr. John
K. Robins, of Catawissa, and in 1864 entered president of the bar association. He was a
successful practitioner, and held
deservedly
Jefferson Medical College, attending until
1866.
That year he began practice in Cen- high place among his associates.
In politics Mr. Jackson
to
the Demtralia, where he remained until his removal
belonged
ocratic party, which sent him to the
to Catawissa in 1867. In
1874 he returned to
LegislaJefferson Medical College and completed the ture in 1852, and was an active member of
;

course in 1875. Settling again at Catawissa,
he continued to practice there until he went to
Roanoke, Va., in August, 1883. On March 17,
1885, he took up his residence at Bloomsburg,
where his success was immediate. He has

remained there since, in command of a large
patronage, and many of the most intelligent
residents are

numbered among

his patients.

has specialized in the treatment of hernia

for

upwards of twenty years.
Dr. Willits has also dealt extensively in
real estate, owning a number of farms in
Pennsylvania and in West Virginia, where he
has also bought and built a few houses. He is
a public-spirited man and takes an active interest in the

town of Bloomsburg.

On March

Dr. Willits married
Marcilia R. Reifsnyder, of Catawissa.
She
passed away Nov. 2, 1877, and on April 9,
1879, he married Mrs. Kate P. (Scott) Reifsnyder, daughter of George and IMary Scott.
Politically the Doctor is a Republican, and
he has served one term as councilman.
29,

1866,

the organization in the county,
assisting in the
yearly canvass with the force and effect that a

positive man always exerts. His influence was
also strong in its bearing on the
borough government, and as a member of the council he
served a number of terms to the
advantage
alike of the corporation and the
taxpayers.

In a business way he was a man
possessed
more than ordinary good judgment, and
amassed a large property. From its inception he was a director of the First National
Bank, being a considerable stockholder therein
and the attorney thereof. He was a trustee on
behalf of the State of the Normal School at
Bloomsburg. He stood well up in the Maof

sonic fraternity, as a member of the Berwick
lodge. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty-seven years, and was
a class leader therein a number of years.

Mr. Jackson, in 1843, married Anne S. Gilmore, and their children were as follows:
Charles Buckalew, who married Emma Campbell
Anne Gilmore, wife of Andrew K. Os;

c^^

<S-

M^c/^c^^^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
wald; and Elmira, George and Robert, who
died young.
Mr. Jackson had not known good health for

number

of years, being a sufferer from diabetes, and though it was thought possible the
death summons might come it was by no
means looked for at the time. Until near the
time of dissolution it was supposed that Mr.
Jackson was simply suffering from one of his
occasional attacks, the severity of which would
wear off, and his' normal condition be resumed in a few days.

meeting of the bar association of Columwas convened at the courthouse, in

bia county

Bloomsburg, on the 25th day of July, 1879,
p. M., John G. Freeze, vice president of the association, in the chair. Judge
Elvvell, being called upon by the chair to state

at 7 o'clock

the object of the meeting, did so as follows
"Gentlemen In pursuance of a melancholy
:

we have assembled here this evening to
express our regret at the loss of the worthy
president of this association, who has fallen
meet not simply beby the hand of death.
cause it is the custom, but because we desire
to commemorate the virtue and worth of our
deceased brother, and to place upon record our
high regard of his character as a man, and his
Morrison
ability and example as a lawyer.
E. Jackson was the senior member of the bar
of Columbia county. He was admitted to the
bar on the i6th day of November, 1840, and
from that time down to within a few days of
his death he was engaged in active practice.
It may be said with truth that he died with
the professional harness on.
During all that
time no man can say of him that he was other
than an honorable opponent. His course was
usage,

required no
His w^ord was
his bond. His loss to the younger members of
the profession is great, and will be deeply felt,
for his example was conspicuous for good, and
will be much missed by those who will succeed the older members of the bar. Prominent in that example was his industry in the
preparation of his cases, and his prudence in
managing his own affairs as well as those intrusted to him by others. As a legislator, as
a member of the bar, and in all the walks of
life, you who knew him so well will attest
that he acted well his part. He tried to enjoy
the confidence and esteem of all whose praise
and confidence were worth having. Though
dead, his example yet speaketh."
The following resolutions were then presented by Judge Ehvell for the consideration
of the meeting, which on motion of Charles
plain, transparent and clear.
writing to back what he said.

625

Brockway, Esq., seconded by E. H.
were unanimously adopted

Esq.,

Little,

Where.xs.
have learned with deep regret of
the death of Morrison E. Jackson, president of the
bar association of Colum1)ia county, and desire to
express appropriately the opinion and feeling of the
members of the bar in relation to the deceased, as
also our deep sense of the loss which we have sustained in common with the community therefore.
Resolved, That the members of the bar feel with
deep sensibility the loss which they have sustained
by the death of Morrison E. Jackson, who for nearly
thirty-nine years has been actively engaged in professional life in our midst.
Resolved, That by indefatigable industry, and unremitting devotion to the study and practice of law,
united with a strict regard for the courtesy of the
profession, and by the purity and uprightness of
his life, and the estimable qualities which belonged
to him as a man, our deceased brother has left behind him a reputation which will long live in the
recollection of the bar and the community.
Resolved, That we tender to the family of our departed friend the assurance of our profound sympathy in their great bereavement, and that a committee of three be appointed to communicate a copy
of these proceedings to the family of the deceased,
and that they be entered among the records of the
association, and published in the papers of the county.
Resolved, That the inembers of the bar as a body
will attend the funeral of our brother.
;

The chair appointed Hon. C. R. Buckalew,
C. B. Brockway and R. R. Little, Esqs., the
committee to communicate the proceedings to
the family of the deceased.

The following named lawyers were students
M. E. Jackson: Hon.
C. R. Buckalew, Hon. Aaron J. Dietrick, Silas
in the office of the late

Buzzard, Alfred Hall, Hon. A. H. Dill, W.
A. Peck, L. T. Thompson, M. F. Stiles and
C. B. Jackson, most of whom have become distinguished in their profession.
All places of business in Berwick were
The
closed on Saturday, July 26, 1879.
streets were full of people, and appearances
indicated that something unusual was about
It was the time appointed for
to take place.
the burial of Morrison E. Jackson, one of
Berwick's prominent and most highly respected
The services began at the late resicitizens.
dence of the deceased, at i 30 o'clock in the
afternoon, with prayer, and the procession then
formed and went directly to the graveyard.
The bar association of Columbia county and
inembers of the bar from other counties led the
procession, headed by Judge Elwell and Joshua
Coiuly, Esq., of Montour county. The Masons
came next, representing the following lodges
Knapp Lodge, Washington Lodge, Catawissa,
The pall
Danville and Shickshinny Lodges.
bearers were Hon. C. R. Buckalew, Hon. J. G.
C.
G.
R.
S.
Ikeler,
Knorr,
Barkley,
Freeze, E.
:

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

626

A. C. Smith, C. W. ]\Iiller and J. B. Robison,
Esqs. After the burial the procession returned
to the M. E. Church, where appropriate services were held, Revs. Smyser, Dickson and W.
T. D. Clemm taking part, the latter preaching
the sermon.
Mr. Clemm belonged to Baltimore Conference, and was an old friend of the
deceased.

Among
tendance

the large

number of people in atshow their respect

at the funeral to

memory of Mr. Jackson were Maj.
Robert Klotz, of !Mauch Chunk, member of
Congress from the district, Hon. Steuben Jenkins, Alexander Farnham and M. E. Walker,
Esqs., of the Luzeme bar, and besides the
members of the bar were David Lowenberg,
M. C. Sloan, W. H. Jacoby, Sheriff Hoffman,
C. F. Knapp, and many others from Bloomsburg. Morrison E. Jackson had many friends,
and he w-ill be missed elsewhere as well as at
home (Luzerne Legal Register, 1879).
Mr. Jackson was one of the foremost men
of his town and county, and was deeply interested in its social, political, financial and industrial development.
His influence was great in
all these activities, and his personality left an
on
the
impress
community which is felt even at
this time.
No one was more highly esteemed
and respected, and no one left a better example of right living, justice and fairness.
Mr. Jackson died July 23, 1879, and is survived by his widow, who still resides at the
to the

old homestead.

William Hunter Oswald, born in 1787, marSarah Stamper Hall, born in 1792, and
they had these children
( i ) Richard Willing,
born Nov. 10, 1819, married Alargaret George.
William
born
Nov. 9, 1820, marHunter,
(2)
ried Annie Kaufl:'man in 1850, and had these
children: Andrew Kauffman, born in 1851
Richard Willing, 1853; Sarah Catharine, 1855.
(3) Eleazer was born Oct. 17, 1821.
(4)
Mr.
Joseph was born in September, 1823.
Oswald was an Episcopalian and a member of
the St. George Society, of Philadelphia.
Andrew Kauft'man Oswald was born in
1851 in Washington, Lancaster Co., Pa., and
was educated in Professor Egg's College,
He studied law with
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Thomas Jackson at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and
was admitted to the bar of Blair county and
later at Scranton, in 1879, ^"d to the Columbia and Luzerne county bars the same year.
He married .Anne Gilmore Jackson in Berwick,
June 15, 1880, and they have one son, Morrison Jackson Oswald.
Richard Willing Oswald was born in 1853
and for years he was sales agent of the Jackson & Woodin Company. He next went to
Lockard Brothers, of Bloomsburg, and leaving them started a pipe foundry in Waverly,
N. Y. He is now with the Westinghouse people.
Politically he is a Republican, and in
He married Elizareligion an Episcopalian.
beth Woodin Hanly in 1886, and they have
these children Richard Willing, born in 1887
Eudora Hanly, born in 1888, who married
John Colt and has one child, Elizabeth Oswald
Hanly Woodin, born in 1893; and William
Hunter, born in 1895.
]\Iorrison Jackson Oswald was born in Berwick in 1882, and educated in the public schools
and Swarthniore Preparatory College.
He
took a course in law at Princeton University,
and then returned to Berwick to enter the
First National Bank.
He spent one year at
ried

;

Eleazer Oswald was born in England about
and died Sept. 30, 1795, in New York.

1755,

He came to America in 1770 and through sympathy sided with the patriots. He was both a
soldier and a journalist.
In 1775 he was secretary to Benedict Arnold, served as captain
at Ticonderoga, and in Quebec, when Arnold
was wounded, he took command and served
with great efficiency. In 1777 he rose to the
rank of lieutenant colonel. After the close of
the Revolution he engaged in the business of
printing and publishing in Philadelphia and
New York, and was politically in violent opposition to Hamilton and the Federalists.
He
also entered the French army and in the battle
of Jemappes commanded an artillery regiment.
The French government sent him on a mission
to Italy, after performing which he returned
to America.
He married a Miss Holt, and
their children were: Anne, who died in Philadelphia at the age of ninety-three; and William Hunter, who married Sarah Stamper Hall
in 1819.

the University of Pennsylvania. He next entered the sales department of the American
Car & Foundry Company, remaining about
one year, and is now with the J. G. Brill ComIn 191 1 he married
pany, of Philadelphia.
Elizabeth Beatty, of Philadelphia, and they
have one child, Alorrison Jackson Oswald, 2d,

born Sept.

15, 1912.

The Doan family
origin, the founders

Norman-French

having settled in England
about the time of the Conquest. The name
was originally D'Oane, and was changed in
time to Doane, Doan, Donne, Done and Don.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The Dones

of Cheshire were the most promi-

627

and died near Toronto, Canada, in 1818.
Jonathan Doan, Sr., son of Ebenezer, born
The name ap- in Bucks county in 1756, died in New York
pears in the Domesday Book, where a number City in 1818. He was first married to Mary
of them are mentioned as knights. Some of Beans,
daughter of Timothy Beans, of Tinithe coats of arms indicate that they were in cum, Bucks
county.
They had five children
the Crusades with Richard Coeur de Lion, and Jonathan,
Jr., Aaron, David, Rebecca and Cynthe name appears on the rolls of the battles of thia.
By his second marriage, to Mary HigFlodden Field, Agincourt and Blackheath.
gins, of New York City, he had one child,
In the year i
ipg Richard Done resided at the George W., mentioned below. His last wife
old hall of Utkinton, one mile north of Tar- died in
Burlington, N. J., at the age of eightyCheshire,
poley,
during the reign of King four.
John. In the reign of Henry III, Henry Done
George W. Doane, bishop of New Jersey,
married Jane, fourth daughter of Richard de was born in Trenton May 27, 1799, and died in
In the forty-fourth year of the Burlington, N. J., April 17, 1859. He marKyngslie.
same king Richard Donne married Elizabeth, ried in Boston, in 1829, Elizabeth Green (Calof
Sir John Venables. In the eighth lahan Perkins, widow of James Perkins, and
daughter
year of the same king's reign Richard Donne their children v^-ere George Hobart and Wilmarried Joan, daughter of Sir Peter Gerard. liam Croswell, mentioned below.
In the forty-fourth year of the reign of
George Hobart Doane was born Sept. 5,
Edward III, Richard Doane married Anne, 1830. He was appointed vicar general of the
daughter of William de Clotten. In the fif- diocese of Newark, N. J., in 1873, by Bishop
teenth year of the reign of Henry \'l John Corrigan, became administrator of the diocese,
Donne married Annie, daughter of Richard de and was finally transferred to New York City,
Heaton. In the thirty-eighth year of the same as coadjutor of Cardinal McCloskey.
William Croswell Doane was born in Bosreign Sir John Done married Cicily, daughter
of Sir John Troutbeck.
ton March 2, 1832. He graduated from BurlIn the twentieth year of the reign of Henry ington College in 1850, and on Nov. 24, 1853,
In the
Sir John Done married Elizabeth, daugh- he married Sarah Catherine Condit.
ter of Thomas de Wever.
In the fourth year same year he was ordained deacon by his
of the reign of Elizabeth, Sir John Done, father on March 6th, in St. Mary's Church,
aged fifteen years, was buried at Tarpoley Burlington, and in 1856 was elevated to the
He was rector of St. Peter's
(1561) and his estate was settled on Ralph priesthood.
Done, of Flacyards. In the reign of James I. Church from 1865 to 1869, was chosen first
Sir John Done, knight, was buried at Tar- bishop of Albany, N. Y., in December, 1868,
He had been knighted at Utkin- and consecrated Feb. 2, 1869, by Bishops Hopoley ( 1629)
ton, Cheshire, in 1617, and married Dorothy, ratio Potter, Neely Robertson and Littlejohn.
1733,

nent, being spoken of as a race of warriors

from the time of King John.

)

Thomas Wilbraham, of Woodley.
motto, attached to the portrait of
Sir John Done, in Tarpoley church, reads as
follows
"Omnia-Mei-Dona-Dei."
The first of the family to come to America

of IBucks county, Pa., state that
691 Francis Done received a grant of land
near Newtown from William Penn.
Israel Doan was a son of Joseph Doan,
whose son Elijah was the father of Benjamin

was John Doane, who landed

Doan, who was born Nov.

daughter of

The Done
:

Eastham,

Old records

12, 1770, in

Bucks

In 1798 Benjamin Doan was
Mass., then in the jurisdiction of Plymouth, county. Pa.
in 1630, with the Leyden Company of Colonmarried to Hannah Iddings, a member of the
He was assistant to the governor, and Society of Friends. Their children were as
ists.
William, who
through his connection with Plymouth Church follows: Joseph; Ehzabeth
was called "Deacon" John. He was one of married Margaret Fitzgerald; Amelia, who
the Seven Founders of Eastham, Cape Cod. died young; Elijah, who married Wilhelmina
He was born in 1590 and died Feb. 21, 1685. Moyer; Jane, who married Stephen M. GilDr. Daniel Doan, son of Deacon John, born more; Benjamin Groves, who married Lucy
Daniel Moyer Hannah, who married George Brown
in 1636, died in 1712, at Eastham.
Doan, Jr., son of Daniel Doan, Sr., was born Sarah Ann, who married John T. Davis and
at Eastham, and died at Newton, Bucks Co., Harriet, who married Joseph Wolfe.
Elizabeth (Doan) Jackson was born in
Pa., in 1743. Joseph Doan, son of Daniel, was
born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1697, and died at 1796, and was married to Joel Jackson, a resiCane Creek, N. C. Ebenezer Doan, son of dent of the State of New York. Their chilMordecai ^^'illiam;
as follows:
Joseph, was born at Wrightstown, Pa., in dren were
;

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

628

Morrison E., who married Anne S. Gilmore;
Emily, wife of Hudson Owen; Harriet, wife
of Jacob Diettrick ]\Iartha, wif^ of Clinton
D. McHenry; Elizabeth, wife of Hudson
;

Owen and
;

Alary.

JOHX HERVEY AIKMAN,

Centre

township, Columbia county, where he owns
and operates the Cabin Run farm, is one of
the well known residents of that section, being
identified with public affairs and business as
well as agricultural interests.
He is serving
as justice of the peace, is treasurer and one
of the directors of the \Vhite Milling Company, of Bloomsburg, and associated with the
Briar Creek Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance

Company.
Centre

The family has been

township

for

settled

over

considerably

century.

The Aikman family

of Scotch-Irish ex-

and its founder in America, Alexander Aikman, a native of Ireland, came to
this country from the North of Ireland.
For
some time he lived in Morris county, N. J.,
whence he emigrated to Columbia county, Pa.,
during the progress of the Revolutionary war,
about 1777-78, bringing with him his wife and
In New Jersey he had married
children.
Mary Lewis. He located on a tract of land
which he purchased, the land upon which his
grandson Levi Aikman afterwards resided
being part of this purchase, but about half a
mile west of where the pioneer made his home.
When Alexander Aikman arrived there were
traction,

few settlers in the vicinity, and his land in
Briarcreek valley was covered with a heavy
growth of timber. He had to cut down the
trees to obtain the logs of which his cabin was

work of clearing.
Mr. Aikman had come on ahead with three

constructed, and began the

sons to look after the preliminary work necessary for the establishment of the home, his
wife and the younger children remaining be-

in Continental money."
The family returned to Morris county, N. J., but came west
again after the Indian troubles subsided, and
here Alexander Aikman and his wife passed
the remainder of their lives.
He died first,
towards the close of the eighteenth century,
Mrs. Aikman surviving him for some time
they are buried near Light Street, in Scott
township, but not in a regular cemetery, as
there was none in the county at the time of
their death. They had a family of seven chil-

pay

;

Aikman was a Presbyterian in reWhen he came to this region
and wolves were still here in large
numbers, and his son Levi was often heard to

dren.

Jilr.

ligious faith.

the bears

say that

when

the family arrived here deer

were more plentiful than sheep in his later
days. Alexander Aikman became quite a skillful deer hunter, and also killed a number of
bears.

Levi Aikman,

Sr.,

son of Alexander and
the second of their

Mary (Lewis) Aikman,

family, was born in 1766 in New Jersey, and
was but a boy when he came with his father
and three brothers to this section. He had
received some education in his native State,
but after the family settled here he had only
a month or so of schooling, the facilities at
that time being very meager, and his help at
home necessary. He spent his boyhood and
young manhood assisting his father, with

whom

he remained until his marriage.

Before

that event he bought the land on which his
son Levi later resided, and on which he had

previously put some work, he and his wife
settling there when they began housekeeping.
He owned about 330 acres in Centre township,
partly covered with timber, and followed
farming there until about fifteen years before
his death, passing the remainder of his days
When about thirty years old
in retirement.

Aikman married Margaret Hutchison,
who was born in Northampton county. Pa.,
Mr.

her father was a
Her parents died when she was a
she
and
child,
subsequently came to Columbia
Her ancestors were of Scotch-Irish
county.
three sons to bring out the rest of the family. extraction. Mr. Aikman died in 1846, six or
Before their preparations for the trip were eight years after the death of his wife. They
completed the Indian troubles broke out, mak- are buried in the cemetery of the Hidlay Union
In politics he was a Whig, in reing the new home in what was then considered Church.
the extreme west unsafe, and accordingly Mr. ligious connection a Presbyterian. Eight chilAikman was glad to take advantage of an dren were born to Levi Aikman and his wife
Sarah, wife of George
opportunity to sell six hundred acres of his Margaret, namely:

hind at Sunbury, Northumberland county.
After getting his nine hundred acres located,
his cabin built, and three acres of turnips
planted, he went back to Sunbury with his

purchase. "He afterwards often related how
the compensation he got for this large tract
was realized from the sale of thirty yards of
tow cloth, he having been obliged to take his

where she was reared

;

farmer.

Esther, wife of Abraham Willett
Elizabeth, who died when three or four years
old; Mary, wife of James Dewitt John Wil-

Hidlay

;

son: Margaret: Levi, and Tames Emmett.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Levi Aikman,

Jr.,

the youngest but one of

was born March 4, 1816,
what is now Centre township

his parents' family,

on the farm in
where he resided

until his death,

which oc-

curred Sept. 10, 1888. He was reared on that
place and passed all his life there, removing
only once, from an old house to a new one.
He had such advantages as the subscription
schools of his day afforded, and when a young
man taught school for three terms, but he had
been trained to farming and preferred that
work. He owned 150 acres, all of the im-

provements upon which were his own work,
and he erected the dwelling, barn and other
The farm now occupied by his
buildings.
son-in-law, A. C. Creasy, in Centre township
was owned by him and his brother James E.
He and this brother farmed together
also.
for twenty years, the latter making his home
with Levi Aikman. Mr. Aikman was one of
the organizers of the Briar Creek Farmers'
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and was regarded as one of the intelligent men of his
community, and one whose upright life and
character commended him to universal esteem.
Originally a Whig in politics, he cast his first
vote for Henry Clay, and afterwards joined
the ranks of the Republican party.
On April 24, 1849, ^^r. Aikman married, in
Hemlock township, this county, Elizabeth Ohl,
who was born in that township, daughter of
John and Lena (Girton) Ohl, the former of
"German ancestry, the latter of English extraction.
John Ohl came to this county with

parents in boyhood, from ]\Iontgomery
His father, Henry Ohl, who
county. Pa.
served as a captain in the Revolutionary war,
died when eighty-six years old, and he and
his wife were buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Bloomsburg, this county, but their
bodies have been removed to Rosemont cemetery. John Ohl died in 1855, aged sixty-three
years, eleven months; his wife in 1869, aged
seventy. They are buried in Rosemont ceme-

his

629

born Aug. 29, 1853, died July 17, 1913, married Arthur C. Creasy, of Centre township;
Clara Elizabeth, born Jan. 3, 1856, married
H. V. White, an attorney and business man of
Bloomsburg and Mary Alvernon, born May
31, i860, resides with her brother John.
John Hervey Aikman was born June 5,
1850, on the paternal homestead in Centre
township, obtained his early education in the
;

public schools of the home locality, and later
attended the State Normal school at Blooms-

He
burg, from which he was graduated.
taught public school in Centre, AJifflin and
Scott townships, this county, and subsequently
remained at home assisting his father until
January, 1888, when he took a position as
bookkeeper with the School Furniture Company of Bloomsburg, with which concern he
was associated until 1900. During most of
the time he was secretary of the company and
also acted as manager.
Returning to the
homestead he resumed farming, and has continued in that line ever since, carrying on
general agricultural pursuits and stock raisHe owns a tract of 105 acres in Centre
ing.
township, ninety acres of which he has under
cultivation. He has been very successful, and
has demonstrated his business ability in other
enterprises as well, being treasurer and one

of the directors of the White Milling Company of Bloomsburg, and director and member of the executive committee of the Briar
Creek Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which his father helped to organize.
Politically he is a strong Republican, and he
has served three years as assessor of Centre
township. He was elected justice of the peace
three times, filling the office in all some thir-

teen years.

J.\MEs

Emmett Aikman,

brother of Levi

was born April

28, 1819, in what
township, Columbia county,
and remained on the home farm until his parents died, following farming. He worked for

Aikman,
is

Jr.,

now Centre

Bloomsburg. Mrs. John Ohl was born in his father until he reached his majority, after
Hemlock township, this county her parents which they operated the place on shares, and
after the father's death he and his brother
came hither from New Jersey.
Mrs. Aikman died on the home farm Feb. Levi purchased the homestead, James buying

tery,

;

I, 1908, almost twenty years after the death
of her husband. They are buried in the cemetery of the Hidlay Church. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr.

particularly active in church
work, serving as elder, teacher in the Sunday
school and superintendent of the latter for a
Four children
period of twenty-five years.

Aikman was

were born

Hervey

Mr. and Mrs. Aikman: John
mentioned below Lena Margaret,
to

;

about one hundred acres. A good part of this
he kept under first-class cultivation, the balHe and his brother
ance being timber.
partnership for twenty years. Mr.
a strong Union sympathizer, and
during the Civil war contributed liberally of
He was a
his means in support of the cause.

farmed

Aikman was

Republican in politics, belonged to the Patrons of Husbandry, and in religious connecHe was brought
tion was a Presbyterian.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

630

life he was a faithful member of the
Lutheran Church, towards whose work he

in the typical manner of his time, receiving his education in the subscription schools

his

then common in country districts, which he attended for about three months of the year,
the rest of the time helping with the farm
work. He died Feb. 4, 1897.

was a liberal contributor.
While residing in Cambra, Pa., Colonel
Hughes was united in marriage with Harriet
Buckalew, who is a daughter of James and
Catherine (Jones) Buckalew. Nine children
have been born to this union, of which four
still survive, namely
James, who is now a
resident of Berwick
Jennie, wife of J. S.
Hicks, superintendent of the Berwick Water
Company, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere John, an engineer in the employ of the
Reading Railroad Company, who is residing
at Tamaqua, Pa. and z^lbert, a skilled electrician, residing at Shamokin.
James Buckalew, the father of Mrs.
Hughes, was for long years an agriculturist
in the vicinity of Cambra, Pa., where he also
was the proprietor of a hotel and success-

CHESTER

HUGHES

(deceased),

who

was for many years a resident of Columbia
county, was born at Catawissa, that county,
July 4, 1832, son of Charles and Mary (Roth)
Hughes.
Charles Hughes, the father, was born in the
city of Philadelphia, Pa., and removed with
his parents to Columbia county, where the
remainder of his life was spent.

Chester K. Hughes, son of Charles Hughes,
was taken by his parents to Bloomsburg when
still a lad, and there secured his educational

Succeeding
training in the public schools.
he learned the trade of saddler, and when
he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the
business went to Cambra, Pa., where he established himself as the proprietor of a store.
He was a resident of that place at the time of
the outbreak of the Civil war, and in 1862
was successful in raising a company, of which
this

he was made captain, his command becoming
Company I, of the 143d Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteer Infantry. Later he was advanced to the rank of major, then to lieutenant
colonel, and finally was promoted to colonel
of his regiment, in which capacity he was
mustered out at Hart Island, twenty miles
from
York, receiving his honorable dis-

New

His service was a long and
and was characterized by
one,
and
faithful
adherence to duty.
bravery
Returning to Cambra, Pa., he resided there
until 1866, at which time the family moved
to Wilkes-Barre, and there Mr. Hughes becharge in 1865.
faithful

came proprietor of what was known

as the
"Mitchell House," continuing to be the host
of this popular hostelry for three years, when
he again went to Cambra for a short period.

Following this he removed to Shamokin,
where he was coal inspector for the Reading
Company, in which position he had charge
He continued to disof thirty collieries.
charge

its

duties

Sept. 12, 1889.

Grove cemetery.

efficiently

He was

until

his

death,

buried in the Pine

While residing

Berwick

Colonel Hughes belonged to Captain Jackson
Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic, of
which he was commander for some time, and

upon

his

removal to Shamokin became a

mem-

ber of Lincoln Post, of which he was commander at the time of his death. Throughout

;

He
fully engaged in the mercantile business.
married Catherine Jones, and both died at
Cambra. Of their nine children, Harriet is
the only survivor.

Mrs. Harriet (Buckalew) Hughes, daughJames Buckalew, and widow of Col.
Chester K. Hughes, was born April 15, 1835,
ter of

Cambra, Pa., and there grew to womanhood and received her education, remaining
at

home with her parents until her marriage.
Like her husband she took a keen interest in
Grand Army work, and while residing here
at Berwick was long connected with the
Womans Relief Corps. On her removal with
Colonel Hughes to Shamokin she found no
branch of that order, and immediately set
about to organize one, her intelligent and
at

energetic

efforts

ment of the Corps

resulting in the establishat that place.
At the time

of her husband's death, in 1889, she returned
to Berwick, where she has since made her
home. Her beautiful modern residence is situated at No. 305 East Fourth street, and there
her many friends and acquaintances are always sure of a warm welcome.

LE\MS C. MENSCH, of Catawissa, Columbia county, attorney at law and borough
solicitor, was born in Franklin township, same
county, Aug. 9, 1877, son of the late Thomas
M. M'ensch.
The Alensch family

is an old one in the
county, founded here by Johannes Christian
of
a
native
Mensch,
Germany. He was bom
Jan. 30, 1745, and his wife Sabina, Feb. 8,

1753.

They came

America

company

with Adam and Abraham Mensch, and for a
time lived in Berks county. Pa. Subsequently

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
they came to Columbia county and settled in
Franklin township, where they occupied a
tract of 400 acres, 160 of which is still in the
Here Mr.
possession of their descendants.
Mensch lived and died, passing away Oct. 26,
1826, at the age of eighty-one, and was
buried at Catawissa. His wife died in 1829,
at the age of seventy-six. Their children were:
Adam, a farmer and miller of Roaringcreek
township Abraham, for a time a farmer of
;

who

moved

Buf-

Montour township,
falo valley, Union county, where he owned
later

500 acres of land; John, mentioned below;
Peter, who inherited part of his father's farm,
but later moved to the Black Hole valley, Ly-

coming county, where he died; Airs. Keiser,
who died in Berks county; and Mrs. Rodenuntil
berger, also a resident of Berks county
her death.
John Mensch, son of Johannes Christian,

was born Nov. 5, 1789, in Berks county, and
came to this county with his father. Inherit-

ing a part of the homestead, he purchased the
rest, and upon this extensive farm passed the
He erected on it a
remainder of his life.
large barn and made numerous improvements.
He died in June, 1875, aged eighty-five years,
and was buried at Catawissa. His wife, Catherine Heimbach, born Oct. 16, 1796, died
20, 1872, at the age of seventy-five years.
Their children were:
Sarah, who married
Joseph Reitz and (second) Isaac Berger;
Eliza, wife of
Michael, mentioned below
Charles Bitting; Jesse, who married Catherine
Shultz; Christian, who married Alargaret
Cromeley; Maria, wife of Washington Parr;
William, who married Catharine Leiby Abby,
wife of Lafayette Reitz; and Catherine, who
married John Sidler and (second) Jonathan

June

;

Loarman.
Michael Mensch, grandfather of Lewis C.
Mensch, was born April 11, 18 16, on the old
homestead in Franklin township, and became

owner

of part of the

farm upon

his father's

Later he bought a small tract in the
same township, to which he removed, cultivating it until his death, Dec. 15, 1884. He was
school director and supervisor of the towndeath.

ship,

and prominent

public

His

afl^airs.

(or Margaret), daughter of
John Shuman, was born May 9, 1816, and died
Feb. 26. igo2. Both are buried in the Catawissa cemetery. They had four children John
a farmer residing near Bloomsburg;
S.,
Thomas M., mentioned below; Catherine, wife
of Owen Clayton and Matilda, wife of Wilwife, Catherine

;

liam Benninger.

Thomas M. Mensch,

father of Lewis

631

was born

in Franklin
township and followed
farming for a time. He purchased a tract of
109 acres, which was taken up April 2, 1773,
by George Muller, who obtained his title from
Thomas and John Penn. Later in life Mr.
Mensch moved to Catawissa, where he engaged in the milling business until his death,
Aug. 20, 1907. He married Sarah B. Lawrence, and they had children as follows Jennie and John G., deceased; CHnton C. and Edward C, living in Catawissa; Louis C. Harvey T., of Philadelphia; Anna M. and Edna
S., wife of K. S. Werner, residing at Spokane, Washington.
Lewis C. Mensch attended the public schools
and the Bloomsburg State Normal school, and
later entered the Northern
Indiana Law
School, at \'alparaiso, Ind., from which he
was graduated May 13, 1900. He was admitted to practice at the Columbia county bar
June 4, 1900, and also practices before the
State Supreme court and the United States
courts. He has a rapidly growing practice and
is one of the
At
rising men of the county.
present he is borough solicitor. He was one
of the organizers of the All Wear Shoe Company, of Catawissa, and is now a director and
treasurer of that concern. Mr. Mensch married Edna C. Getty, daughter of George and
Alvaretta (Hower) Getty, and they have one
son, George Thomas, and one daughter, Kathryne A. Mr. Alensch is a republican, and socially is a member of Catawissa Lodge, No.
349, F. & A. M. (of which he is past master),
and of Caldwell Consistory. He attends St.
Mathew's Lutheran Church, of which he is
treasurer and deacon. He owns and operates
:

;

his father's old farm.

JOHN EDWIN MOORE, of Danville, head

J. E. Moore Lumber Company, has been
devoting his attention principally to that business for the last ten years, and it has been

of the

up to its present proportions through
His son is associated
untiring efforts.
with him and they have interests at Mountain Grove, Va., as well as in this vicinity.
Mr. Moore was born in Danville July 14,
1853, son of Robert and Phebe Ellen (Girton)
Moore, the former of whom was a prominent
citizen of Montour county in his day.
He
was born in the county (then Columbia), in
built

his

West Hemlock township, and

in 1847 came
In his early life he had done
a
but
he
conducted
farm work,
general store
after coming to Danville, and he was interested in the manufacturing of nails, both at
Duncansville, Blair Co., Pa., and as a mem-

to Danville.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

632

ber of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company at Danville. He became one of the most
esteemed citizens of his adopted place, where
he was honored with election to the office of
burgess, and he ser\ed at one time as associate
judge of Montour count}'. He married Phebe
Ellen Girton, like himself a native of West
Hemlock township, and she lived to the age of
eighty-one years, dying in December,
His death occurred in October, 1898,

meantime

1900,

his

own

also acquiring

Virginia and Virginia.

lumber

president of the

Moore Timber Company of Moore City, Fla.,
and head of the J. E. Moore Lumber Company of Danville, composed of himself and
his son Edwin.
In 1 881 Mr. Moore married Matilda E.
Murphey, of Parkesburg, Chester county. Pa.,
daughter of Dr. Andrews and Elizabeth
(Thompson) Murphey. They have had five
children, three of

survivors are

whom

Edwin and

died in infancy. The
Elsie, the latter liv-

ing at home. She was born in March, 1888,
received her early education in the public
schools at Danville, and in 1907 entered Bryn

Mawr, graduating in 191 1. The son, bom at
Danville in October, 1886, received his preparatory education in the public schools at
Danville and took his college course at Princegraduating in 1909. He is now in business with his father. Mr. Moore belongs to
the Mahoning Presbyterian Church, which he
is serving as elder and member of the session.
His family on both sides for years has
been associated with that denomination.
ton,

RALPH

JOHN,

a leading attorney of

Bloomsburg, was bom Dec. 20, 1870, in Main
township, Columbia Co., Pa., and is a son of
Jonas Wesley and Sarah C. (Brown) John,
the family being one of the oldest and most

numerous

The

in the State of

earliest

Pennsylvania.
of this family

known member

who was born

Pem-

cipally

Pennsylvania, West

John,

1903.

serving three years, from 1870, with Voris,
Haigh & Gregg, after which he followed the
trade for six years in Danville, Philadelphia
and Jersey Shore, Pa. In 1879 he entered the
lumber business in West Virginia as superintendent for Shoop & Clark, remaining there
until 1885.
Returning to Danville he bought
out the hardware business of Dennis Bright,
in the Opera House block, and carried it on
interests of

Griffith

when

he was eighty years old.
John Edwin Moore received his education
at the public schools and at Danville Academy
under Prof. Benjamin J- Pratt. He then began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade,

until

was

brokeshire, South Wales, in 1683. With many
others of his locality he emigrated to Pennsylvania, taking passage in a slow-going sailing
vessel, and after several months on the Atlantic landed at Philadelphia, Feb. 11, 1709.
He proceeded to one of the Welsh townships,
which was a part of a district then known as
the "Welsh Barony," a section settled prin-

by Welshmen, who were called "Ye
Ancient Britons." On July 23, 1714, he was
married to Anna, daughter of Robert WilAbout
liams, called the "King of Goshen."
1715, under the auspices of David Lloyd,
keeper of the Great Seal, the township of
Uwchlan, Chester county, was settled, and
among the first purchasers of farms were
Grifiith John, Noble Butler, Robert Benson,
Cadwallader Evans, and some others whose

names are not recorded. Griffith John had six
sons and six daughters, all but one of whom
grew to maturity. His son Griffith John was
the progenitor of the family in Northumberland county, while the other sons settled in
and western counties of the State. One

central

these, John John, settled in Armstrong
county.
Isaac John, the first of the family to settle
in Columbia county, arrived in 1778.
He
bought a large tract of land, cleared a part
of it of the trees and brush, built a house of
logs and cultivated the ground until his death.
He married Margaret Brong, and they reared
these children Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, David,
George, and five daughters whose names are
not known. Abraham John, the son, was also
a farmer, and spent his life on the family
homestead, completing the clearing of the
land begun by his father. By his wife Mary
Flick) he had seven children
Stacy, George,
:

(

Hiram, Lovina,
Sarah J.

Mary

Angeline,

and

Stacy John, grandfather of Ralph R. John,
was born in 1813 on the old homestead, reared
to farming and followed that calling all of his
life.
He died in 1879, leaving a large estate,
which had been held successively by three
generations, each of whom added to and im-

proved

it.

married Mary Yocum, daugh-

John Yocum, a prominent farmer of
Roaringcreek township, and their children
were
William, who died in childhood Jonas
Wesley, father of Ralph R. Sarah Frease
Britton
and Miner\-a, who married Aaron
ter of

;

Goover.

Jonas Wesley John, was born on the old
homestead Sept. 12, 1840, and during his
youth assisted his father on the farm and at-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
tended
ment.

in the intervals of employreaching his majority he bought
the rest of

school

Upon

a farm in

Main township, devoting

He also bought
He
Bloomsburg.
married Sarah C. Brown, daughter of Jacob
Brown, a resident of Main township, and they
had eight children Bessie, Ida, David, Ralph
Mr. and
R., Jacob, Daisy, Wilson and Sally.
Mrs. John were members of the Alethodist
Church, and he was a strong Prohibitionist.
Ralph R. John was educated in the public
schools and at the age of seventeen entered
Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, Pa., from
which he graduated Jan. 19, 1890. He then
taught school in Elysburg Academy, Northumberland county, until 1893, after which he
went to Bloomsbtirg and entered the office of
Lloyd S. Wintersteen, to begin the study of
He was admitted to the bar of Columlaw.
bia county, Sept. 30, 1895 to the Superior
court, Jan. 13, 1902, and to the Supreme court,
in April, 1904. Mr. John has built up a large
practice and has been very successful in the
many cases he has handled.
On Nov. 10, 1896, Mr. John married Sallie
his

life

to its

considerable

cultivation.

property

;

C. Schweppenheiser, bom Aug.
ond datighter of Eleazer and

1871, sec-

Dorothy A.
They have one

(Watters) Schweppenheiser.
Dorothy Catherine, born Sept. 10, 1905.
Mr. John is a Republican in politics, but had

child,

He
held no offices of a political character.
and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

dated Feb. 7, 1748, he wrote his name Andoni
Adam. In 1761 he sold 140 acres of his land
in Albany
township to John Reinhard. He
was administrator of the estate of Albrecht
Stimmel, of Albany township, in 1766, being
the chief creditor.
His account was audited

and approved

of his death

not known.

nent and progressive citizen of Berwick, Pa.,
engaged in the wholesale lumber business,
was born in Briarcreek township Jan. 26, 1863.
He is a son of Enos L. Adams and comes of
an ancient and historical family, the progenitors of which were from Germany.
Anthony Adam, a potter, was born in Germany in the year 171 6, and emigrated to
America in 1741. He sailed from Rotterdam
on the snow "Molly," commanded by Captain
John Cranch, arriving at Philadelphia, Oct.
26, 1741. Adam's age was entered on the passenger list as twenty-five. On Feb. 7, 1748, he
received from the Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania a warrant for a tract of
136 acres, 146 perches of land in Albany township, then a part of Philadelphia county. This
land was sur\-eyed to him in June, 1752. The
farm is now in the possession of Nathan Weisner, of Round Top, Albany township, Berks
county. In a warrant for a tract of 135 acres
and 47 perches, located "above Maxatawny,"

December, 1768.

The

date

(2), son of Anthony, of
Albany township, was born about the year
and
was
a
resident
of the adjoining
1736,
township of Windsor in 1758. He married
Rosina Dunkel, widow of Vincent Lesher, of
Richmond township, and from this union he
had four children
Peter, of Windsor town:

ship, born Oct. i, 1765, died July i, 1849,
married Catharina Hausknecht Anthony (3),
of Briarcreek township, Columbia county;
Jacob, of Richmond township, Berks county,
married Susan Kline Abraham, of Briarcreek,
born Oct. 7, 1779, died July 6, 1855, married
Sarah Miller.
Anthony Adam (2) served
;

;

during the Revolutionary war as a private in
Capt. Jacob Ladich's company. Col. Samuel
Ely's battalion of Berks county militia, being
in service Oct. i to 17, 1781.
In 1799 he received from the State a patent for 307 acres
of land called "Alanheim," on Briar creek, in

Northumberland (now Columbia) county, and
1806 received another patent for a tract
of 426 acres, called "Quincy," on the same
These lands he conveyed to his four
creek.
sons.
He died some time after April 27,
in

1809.

a promi-

Anthony Adam

Adam

(3) established the Adam's
Briarcreek township, Columbia
He was born Dec. 25, 1767. He
county.
served as a private in Capt. Christian Madery's

Anthony

CHARLES ELLIOTT ADAMS,

633

homestead

of Berks county militia which was
ordered to the front in 1787. They arrived at
Fort Allen, Nov. 21st, at Wyoming Nov. 26th,

company

and were discharged Jan.

1788.

settled

Briarcreek as early as 1792, for in October
of that year a warrant was granted to him
for 278 acres of land, for which he received
a patent in 181 1. He purchased a parcel of
in

seventy-five acres in Fishingcreek township
the "Manheim" tract of 307 acres was deeded
to him by his father in 1806, and in 181 1 he
received a deed from his brothers for his
fourth interest (106 acres) in the tract called
"Quincy." He married Catherine Glass, who
was bom Dec. 30, 1766, and died Aug. 12,
1845. His death occurred April 29, 1822, and
together with his wife he lies at rest in the
Briar Creek Reformed Church yard, five miles
west of Berwick, Pa. The children of this
couple were: Hannah, born May 10, 1790, died
;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

634

Sept. 3, 1870, married Daniel Zaner, of BriarWilliam, born Dec. 15, 1791, died April
26, i860, married Susanna Hess (he served
during the War of 181 2 as a private in Capt.
George Hidler's company, 112th Regiment,
Columbia county militia, under Col. Andrew
Keller; Samuel, born in 1793, died Nov. 29,
1846, married Esther Hill Anthony (4) married Elsie Engel and removed to Rock Island,

creek

;

III; Rachel, born Nov. 29, 1797, died April
8, 1852, married W'illiahm Traugh, of Berwick, in 1817; Abraham married a Miss Goble
and removed to Rock Island, 111. (he served
in the same company as his brother William)
Elizabeth married John Hutton and removed
to Illinois; Catherine, born May 12, 1803, died
Sept. 26, 1840, unmarried; Mary Magdalene,
bom in 1806, died June 17, 1879, married Enos
Leidy, of Berwick, and removed to Manayunk,
Philadelphia; Sarah, born May 29, 1808, died
March 17, 1872, married Jacob Moyer, of
Berwick.
;

Samuel Adams resided

all

of his

life in

the

township of Briarcreek. He married, June
2.^, 1819, Esther, daughter of Capt. Frederick
Hill, proprietor of the old "Fort Jenkins Inn,"
and his wife Catherine (Conner). They had
the following children Anthony, born Feb. 26,
1821, died in infancy; Mary Ann, born Jan.
31, 1822, died March i, 1877, married Louis
Traugh, of Berwick, who died Nov. 5, 1850,
and
and (second), Warren \''anderhoven
Enos L. is mentioned below.
Enos L. Adams was born July 28, 1824. He
:

;

married,

March

13,

^largaret Kisner,

1847,

born April 21, 1827, and died ^lay 19, 1872.
She was the daughter of John Kisner and
Lydia Kinney, the latter born Nov. 10, 1805.
daughter of John Kinney and granddaughter
of Maj. John Kinney, a Revolutionary officer

New Jersey. They had ten children Alice
Lydia, born Feb. 11, 1848, married James
Knox Polk Freas, of Berwick, who died Oct.
16, 1898; John Kisner, born April 8, 1850,
died March 15, 1880, unmarried; Samuel
Warren, born Feb. 2, 1853, was of Berwick
of

;

bom July 8, 1855, f^'^d Nov. 30,
1889, married Clara Miles Anna Mary, born
Nov. 4, 1857, married Joseph H. Turnbach, a
hardware merchant, of Philadelphia, Pa., and
died Dec. 13, 1903: William L., born May 27,
i860, married Lizzie A. Davis, of Colon,
Mich., and has four children (they are now
Enos Kinney,

;

living in

Hoquiam, Wash.)

;

Charles Elliott

mentioned below; Margaret Ida, bom Oct. 11,
1866, married Leoni H. Cryder, of Berwick;
Frances L., born Oct. 14, 1869, married James

Evans, of Berwick

March

12,

1872, died

;

Edwin Orison, born

Aug.

6, 1872.
obtained a good education in the public schools of the township of
his birth and at the completion of the selected
course of study took up the occupation of
famier.
Remaining on the farm until 1904,
then removed to Berwick and built the beauti-

Charles Elliott

ful

home

Adams

which he now

resides.

retains

the old homestead, which

is in a fine state of
but he is now occupied almost
He
entirely with his extensive lumber trade.
is a director of the Berwick
Savings & Trust
Company and is a member of the borough
council of Berwick.
He and his wife are
members of the First Presbyterian Church of
and
Berwick,
socially he belongs to Knapp
Lodge No. 462, F. & A. M.
In 1897 Mr. Adams married Mary E.,
daughter of Garrett and Louise Alice Jayne)
Albertson, the father formerly of Monroe
county, F'a., the mother of Wyoming county,
this State.
They are now residents of White
Haven, Luzerne county, Mr. Albertson being

cultivation,

(

and lumber business. Mrs.
sister, Sarah J., a graduate of
Wilkes-Barre Institute, now living at home.
To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born four
children: Louise K., Elliott H., Garrett E.,
and one who died in infancy.
engaged

Adams

in the coal

has a

ROBERT

L.
who is engaged in
clothing and men's furnishing trade at
is
a
native
of
Danville,
Russia, born Nov. 22,
1877.

MARKS,

the

Morris Marks, his father, was born in Rusand resided in his native land until 1905,
when he emigrated to the United States with
all his family, but the sons who had already
come to this country. In his native land Mr.
]\Iarks was an agriculturist, but here he is
living retired, having a comfortable home at
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He is now seventy-eight
years of age. He married Ida Chesler, daughter of Benjamin Chesler, of Kovno, Russia,
and they had the following children: Louis,
who is a merchant at Towanda, Pa. Sol
Henry; Joseph; Sarah, who is the wife of L.
Stein; Ida, the wife of Joseph Maltz Flora,
the wife of D. Warner, of Wilkes-Barre; and
Robert L.
Robert L. Marks, son of Morris Marks, was
thirteen years of age when he emigrated to
the United States, and for two and a half
years thereafter he was engaged in peddling
through the country, subsequently spending
sia

;

a like period as clerk in his brother's store at
Thus he familiarized himself with

Towanda.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
every angle of the trade, and when eighteen
years of age embarked in business on his
own account at Dushore, in Sullivan county,
Pa. In 1896 he came to Danville, where he
laying in a modest line of
clothing, men's furnishings and shoes, and by
industry, perseverance and good management has built up what is now one of the largest businesses of its kind in northern Pennsylvania.
Mr. Marks is courteous and obliging,
endeavoring at all times to please his customers and to give them value for their money.

opened a

store,

63£

a prominent Democrat, and in
1875 was elected
to the office of county commissioner,
being reelected in 1877, at the close of his first term.

But he died shortly afterwards, and Philip
Hile was appointed his successor. During Mr.
Henrie's term was built the county prison at
Sunbury, at that time considered one of the
best structures of its kind in the
country. He
was a member of the Methodist Church.

century ago.

In 1856, Mr. Henrie married Mary J. Bird,
daughter of Ziba Bird, and to them were born
the following children: Margaret, wife of
Clarence F. Huth, of Shamokin, an attorney
practicing at the Northumberland county bar
Edward, who died young; William H., of
Bloomsburg, Pa. George, structural worker of
Trenton, N. J.; Emma, wife of William
Mutchler, of Philadelphia; Samuel, who died
in
infancy: John Wesley, of Shamokin;
Edna, who died in infancy; and Jennie, wife
of Dr. William Harpel, of Los Angeles, Cali-

Mr. and

fornia.

It has been this policy which has won him
success, along with his inherent business ability and his persistence.
In 1897 Mr. Marks was married to Estella

R. Loewus,

Wyoming

who was born

Tun4<hannock,

Co., Pa., daughter of

Nathan and

Hannah (Loewy) Loewus, natives of Austria,
who came to the United States about half a
Five children have been born to
Marks: Royal L., born April
21, 1899; Victor J., Dec. 3, 1900; Henrietta,
Dec. 22, 1902; Herbert, July 21, igoy; and
Airs.

Harriet, May 22, 191 1. Mr. Marks is a member of Mahoning Lodge, No. 516, F. & A. M.,
Danville Montour Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O.
F., and Danville Lodge of Elks, No. 754.
;

WILLIAM

HENRIE,

of Bloomsburg,

former prothonotary of Columbia county and
recently engaged in business as sales

until

agent for the Irish Brothers, coal operators,
is a pros])crous citizen of that section, now
conducting a coal business at Eighth and Catherine streets.

Northumberland

a native of

Shamokin,

Co., Pa., born July 12, 1861,

at the old family home. No. 120 North Shamokin street. His father, Harrison Henrie, was
a well known contractor and builder of the city
in his day, and his grandfather came to Northimiberland county many years ago.
George Henrie. the grandfather, was born in
one of the lower counties of Pennsylvania, and

on coming to Northumberland county settled
near Elysburg. He cTied at the comparatively
He and his
early age of thirty-five years.
wife, Kate, had six children: Samuel, Harriet
(married Jacob Swank), Margaret (married
a Mr. Kelly and a Mr. Startzel), Harrison,
William and George.
Harrison Henrie, son of George, came to
Shamokin when a young men and there spent
the remainder of his days. He began his business career by following his trade, that of
bricklayer and plasterer, and in time became a
contractor, building many of the substantial
residences and churches in that place. He was

;

Mrs. Mary J. (Bird) Henrie, mother of
William H. Henrie, was the first white child
born in Shamokin, her birth occurring Oct.
14, 1835, in a log cabin at what is now the
corner of Commerce and Shamokin streets.
She died at the family home. No. 120 North

Shamokin street, Sept. 11, 1912, in her seventy-seventh year, and was buried in the
Shamokin cemetery.
The funeral services
were conducted by Rev. H. A. Straub, pastor
of the Lincoln Street M. E. Church.
Mrs.
Henrie had joined the Methodist Church at
in
and
childhood,
Sharp Ridge
fifty-five years
before her death transferred her membership
to the Lincoln Street M. E. Church of Shamokin, attending services as long as her
health would permit.
The Bird family has been quite numerous
and well known in Northumberland county
and that section since Mrs. Henrie's grandfather, James Bird, came hither from New
Jersey.
James Bird was born in Warren
county, N. J., and was married in his native
State, moving to Northumberland county with
his family and settling in Rush township in
He purchased a large and
its pioneer days.
uncultivated tract of land on Little Roaring
in
Rush township, on the
and
died
creek,
His children
farm where he first settled.
were: John, Joseph, James, William, Sylvanus
(born in 1796), Ziba, Susan (married William
Kimball). Sarah (Mrs. Scott), Rachel (married Jacob Shipman) and Nancy.
Ziba Bird, son of James, was born in Warren county, N. J., and came with his parents
to

Northumberland county.

assisted his

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

636
father

the

development of the farm

Rush township, and

also learned the carpen-

After following farming for a
trade.
time on Little Roaring creek, he later went
to Shamokin to take charge of mining operater's

tions there for

John C. Boyd, a prominent

Danville, and he became quite
prominent in the early days of the town. He
was one of the first settlers there, and erected
the first two buildings in what is now Shamokin.
He also did considerable building
later, two double houses on the south side of
citizen

Commercial street, between Franklin and
Pearl, and probably others, being of his construction.
For several years he continued to
be interested in coal operations, but retired

from that line when the town and business began to settle down to a level after the first
wave of prosperity, and he then returned to
Rush township, where he established himself
as a farmer.
Subsequently he moved to Red
Point, on the Susquehanna river, just on the
Montour and Northumberland county line,
below Danville, purchasing the home there
in
which he passed the remainder of
his

life.

died

there

the

age

His activities and usefulness
sixty-five.
in promoting Shamokin's interests in the early
days of the town entitle him to be classed
the real founders of the place.
Mr. Bird married three times, and had in

among
all

nineteen children.

His

first

wife,

Hannah

run being between that place,
West Milton.
After nine
months in that position he entered the passenger service, his run being between Catawissa,
\\'illiamsport and Pottsville, by way of Shamokin; later he was one of the Catawissa

Shamokin,

his

Tamaqua and

He was

division.

in this service for thirteen

meantime settling at Catawissa,
where he became very well known. It was
during this time that he was honored with

years in

all,

election on the Democratic ticket as prothono-

tary of Columbia county, in November, 1896.
the close of his first term he was reelected,

in 1899, serving six years in succession,

with

satisfaction to all who had occasion to know
his work and his high sense of its responsibilities.
He had as deputy Mr. R. R. Zarr,
now cashier of the Manitoba (Pa.) National
Bank.
Mr. Henrie for a time had mining
interests at Shamokin, being a member of

what was then known as the Buck Ridge Coal
Company, which sold out in the year 191 1.
He was also a stockholder in the Carrolltown
Coal Company, of Carrolltown, Cambria Co.,
Pa.
For a time he represented the Irish
Brothers, coal operators, as sales agent, on
Sept. I, 1914, organizing the
Bloomsburg
Supply Company, which handles coal and
builders' supplies.
Mr. Henrie's ability and
trustworthiness have gained him respect and
confidence in every position he has held, and
his sterling qualities are recognized by all who

Metz (Mentz or Metze), was the mother of

knew him.

Annie; Joseph, born in 1814;
Catherine; Sarah; Elizabeth, bom in 1818,
who married William Burkenbine, and made
her home in the borough of Northumberland,
dying about 1910, in her ninety-third year;
and James, who died in infancy. By his second wife, Elizabeth Farley, Mr. Bird had the

Dec. 4, 1884, Mr. Henrie was married
Shamokin to Emma Lewis, daughter of
John W. and Mary Lewis, of Shamokin her
father was formerly a coal operator at Gilber-

six children:

John, Hannah, Ziba, Jr.,
following children
who died in infancy) and Susanna
Kellop
(who died in infancy). His third marriage
was to Margaret Alutchler, by whom he had
eight children: !Mary J. (widow of Harrison
Henrie, of Shamokin), William, Nelson,
:

(

Emma

(of

Eliza

Riverside, Pa.),
Northumberland, Pa.), Samuel

Montgomery,

(of

and Margaret.
William H. Henrie obtained his education
In his boyin the Shamokin public schools.
hood he picked slate at the breakers during
man
he learned
the summers. When a young
the trade of carpenter at Philipsburg, Center
Co., Pa., with George M. Ruhl, following
same for about six years. He then entered the
employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
Company as express messenger, locating at

;

Seven children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henrie: H. Clair,
Ethel L., William H., Jr., J. Gilbert, Jane
Bird, John L. and Robert R. The family reside in the fine home at the corner of East and
Third streets, Bloomsburg. which Mr. Henrie
built in 1899.
He removed to the borough in
March, 1897, shortly after assuming his duties
ton, Schuylkill Co., Pa.

as prothonotary.

Mr. Henrie is a prominent member of
Bloomsburg Lodge, No. 436, B. P. O. Elks,
his being the second name on its list of
bers.
He is a past exalted ruler.

JOSEPH

HICKS,

mem-

superintendent of

the Berwick Water Company, at Berwick,
Columbia county, was born at lona, Luzerne
Co., Pa., March 29, 1S60, son of Samuel and
Elmira (Seybert) Hicks.
William Hicks, the paternal grandfather of
Joseph S. Hicks, was born in Scotland, and

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
a young man when he came to the
United States, settHng in Pennsylvania, where
Hicks Ferry, Luzerne county, was named in
He became one of the substantial
his honor.
men of his day and locality and took an active

was

part in affairs of local

importance.

Samuel Hicks, son of William Hicks, was
born at Hicks Ferry, Pa., where he grew to
manhood and became a merchant, being the
proprietor of a grocery on the Pennsylvania
In 1876 he
canal for a number of years.
went to the West, where he was engaged in
Mr.
he
met
his
death.
and
there
surveying,
Hicks married Elmira Seybert, daughter of
Thomas and Deborah (Fowler) Seybert,
farming people of Salem, Luzerne Co., Pa.
She was born at lona, and died there in 1862,
of pneumonia, aged thirty-two years. There
were four children in the family: William,

who is the proprietor of a general store at
Jerico Springs, Cedar Co., Mo. Rosalie, who
is the wife of Charles H. Zehnder, president
of the Allegany Iron Ore and Steel Company, and a resident of New York (he was
at one time president of the Jackson &
;

Pa., and a veteran of the Civil war, died at
Shamokin and is buried in Berwick the
mother still survives and is making her home
;

at the

;

advancement of

his community
He has been one of the most
and
friends
supporters of the Young

assist in the
in

many ways.

loyal

dent of the Dickson Locomotive Works, at
Scranton, Pa.) and Joseph S.
Joseph S. Hicks, son of Samuel Hicks, received his early educational training in the
public schools of Berwick, Pa., and this was
supplemented by attendance at the Williamsport business college, from which institution
he was graduated in 1881, when twenty-one
Succeeding this he went to
years of age.
Philadelphia and entered upon his own business career, as the proprietor of a store for the
sale of smokers' articles, which he conducted
two years. Returning to Berwick he entered
the employ of the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, with which concern he

two

remained until 1902. That year he accepted
the superintendency of what is now known
as the Berwick Water Company, which also
includes the West Berwick Water Supply Co.,
the Briar Creek Water Supply Company, the
Salem Water Supply Company, and the Nescopeck Water Supply Company, over all of
which Mr. Hicks exercises a general superin-

born

tendency.
On April 7, 1886, Mr. Hicks was married to
Jennie V. Hughes, who was born in Cambra,
Luzerne Co., Pa., the daughter of Chester and
The father,
Harriet (Buckalew) Hughes.
who was for a long period the veterinary surat
Shamokin,
geon for the Reading Company,

age of seventy-eight years.

Berwick,
To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have been born two
sons and two daughters, namely Mabel, who
is the wife of James Taylor, chief inspector
for the New York Central Railroad Company,
a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and has one
child, James, Jr. Harriet, who married Harry
M. Daggett, an employee of the American Car
& Foundry Company, at Berwick; Joseph, Jr.,
who is employed at Cleveland, Ohio and
Charles Z., a student in the public schools, who
lives with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are consistent members
of the Methodist Church, in which he has
served as steward and is now a member of the
For many years he has
board of trustees.
also been active in Sunday school work, and
Alat the present time has a class of ladies.
though a very busy man, with large interests
to demand his attention, he has found time to

Woodin Manufacturing Company, at Berwick, now a branch of the American Car &
Foundry Company there, and later was presi;

637

Men's Christian Association, assisted

handsome building

its

Berwick,

to erect

served

president, and at this
time is a member of the board of directors.
He is prominent in Masonry, being a member
as

years

its

Knapp Lodge, No. 462, F. & A. M., of
Berwick; Caldwell Consistory (thirty-second
and
degree), A. A. S. R., at Bloomsburg;
Irene Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Wilkesof

He is a charter member of WashI'.arre, Pa.
Berington Camp, No. 105, P. O. S. of A., of
wick, with which he has been connected for
thirty-five years.

MILTON

been engaged

STACKHOUSE, who

in successful business

has
ventures

Bloomsburg for a number of years, was
in Greenwood township, Columbia Co.,
Susan
Pa., Tilly 26, 1862, son of Benjamin and
in

(Ager) Stackhouse.

Thomas
of Milton
Jersey,

early

Stackhouse, the great-grandfather
Stackhouse, was born in New

E.'

and came
day,

to the Keystone State at an
in the central part of

locating

Pennsylvania.
George Stackhouse, son of Thomas, and
grandfather of Milton E. Stackhouse, was
born Feb. 8, 181 1, and died at Unityville,

Columbia Co., Pa., after a long life spent in
He marsuccessful farming and lumbering.
ried Rebecca Yorks, who was born Sept. 22,
1812, daughter of Benjamin Yorks, and they

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

638

had children as follows
Thomas, born Dec.
19,
1834; Benjamin, born June 9, 1835;
Samuel, born June 25, 1838; Dorothy, born
May II, 1839; Abaline, born Nov. 15, 1841
Elizabeth, born Sept. 13, 1843; James, born
Oct. 10, 1845; Enoch, born March 13, 1849;
and Armenta, born May 5, 185 1.
Benjamin Stackhouse, son of George Stackhouse, and father of Milton E. Stackhouse,
was born in Pine township, Columbia Co.,
Pa., and for years was engaged in farming
and lumbering. At the present time he is liv:

;

He
ing retired with his son at Bloomsburg.
Susan Ager, daughter of William
Ager, and they had two children
Josepha,
who died in 1876 and Milton E.
Milton E. .Stackhouse, son of Benjamin
Stackhouse, was educated in the common
schools, and at the age of sixteen years became a public school teacher, being engaged
married

;

one term

Pine township, seven terms in
in Jackson township. During his first term he worked
night and morning, as well as Saturdays, thus
paying his board, and received twenty-two
dollars per month.
In Greenwood he taught
the same school six years.
Meantime, when
his duties permitted, he furthered his own
education at the Bloomsburg State Normal
in

Greenwood township and one term

On giving up the vocation of teacher
he took up the lumbering business, which has
received his attention during the greater part
of the time ever since.
He has been in the
wholesale trade and also manufacturing. He
became manager and secretary of the Pier
Lumber Company, and also became interested
in a general store at Kyttle, Luzerne county,
connected with the lumber firm of Creasy,
Wells & Stackhouse.
post office was established at that point, and Mr. Stackhouse
eventually became owner of the store, but sold
school.

out to go to Rohrsburg, Columbia county,
where with I. D. Lewis he opened a general
store under the firm style of Stackhouse &
Lewis.
On coming to Bloomsburg he disposed of his interests there, although he still
carries on lumbering and
estate transactions.
He
First National Bank of

widely and favorably

is
is

interested in real
a director of the

Bloomsburg, and

known

in the business

circles of the city.

Mr. Stackhouse is a Democrat in his political
and although not active in politics

proclivities,
at this time

has always manifested an interest
With his family

in the success of his party.

he attends the Baptist Church, which he has
served as trustee and superintendent of the

Sunday

school.

member

Wash-

ington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., and has
reached the thirty-second degree in Masonry,
belonging to Caldwell Consistory of Bloomsburg. He has for some years been an active
member of the State Grange. Mr. Stackhouse
owns a comfortable residence on East Main
street.

On April 21, 1887, Mr. Stackhouse was
married to Estella Lewis, daughter of Clinton
and Effie (Derr) Lewis, and granddaughter of
Judge Irani Derr, who was associate judge of
Columbia county, and served as one of the
county's early sheriffs prior to the division of

what

now Columbia and Montour.

Two

have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Stackhouse
Leroy B., who died at the age of

children

ten years
and
seven years.
;

Helen

P.,

a bright child of

MICHAEL GRIER GEARHART,

now'

living retired at Danville, Montour county, has
been a lifelong resident of that borough, where
he was born Dec. 25, 1849. He belongs to an

honored family of Northumberland county,
Pa., being a descendant of Capt. Jacob Gearhart, who with his brother William established
the Gearharts in this coimtry.

Jacob Gearhart was born in 1733 in Strasburg, then a city of France, now belonging to
Germany, and came to the New World when
a young man, landing at New York in 1754.
He soon crossed over into Hunterdon county,
N. J., where he made his home for many years.
When the Revolution broke out he was among
the first to oft'er his services to his adopted
country, enlisting in 1775, in the Hunterdon
county volunteers, with which he served as a
man of brave and fearless spirit,
private.
he was soon promoted to ensign and later to
of
the
2d New Jersey Regiment, and
captain
stood so high in the confidence of his superior
officers that he was one of the two New
Jersey men chosen by Washington to take
charge of the crossing of the Delaware on the
eventful night of Dec. 25, 1776, when the
Hessian camp at Trenton was attacked. The
other was Captain Van Tenyck.
After the
crossing had been effected the boats were
in
their
with
orders
to
placed
charge,
destroy
them should the expedition prove a failure.
Captain Gearhart also took part in the battle
of the Brandywine and spent the hard winter
of 1777-78 with Washington at \'alley Forge.
.At the close of the war he returned to his old
home in Hunterdon county, N. J., but a few
years later he joined the tide of emigration

which took many westward from New Jersey
Pennsylvania and from the eastern coun-

into

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
of Pennsylvania farther out.
Between
1785 and 1795 many families from that region
settled in what are now Rush and Gearhart
ties

townships, Northumberland county, among
them those of Capt. Jacob Gearhart and his
brother William.
In 1781 the former came
West on a prospecting tour and brought his
In 1790 (another account
family out later.
says 1782) the Captain and his family left
Hunterdon county by wagon train. Late one
afternoon they came to a deserted Indian hut
close by a fine spring, on the farm now owned
by Mrs. I. H. Torrence, a great-granddaughter
of the Captain, and decided to camp for the
When the land was examined in the
night.
morning it was found to be fertile, and the
water was so abundant and of such good
quality

found

that
his

the old warrior
that site.

home on

determined to
He purchased

land along the Susquehanna from Kipp's run
to Boyd's run, one mile back from the river,
all of it at that time a dense forest.
With the
aid of his sons he began to clear and till the
land, and after clearing a portion on a small
bluff overlooking the beautiful Susquehanna
river he erected a small frame house which
is still standing, though more than a hundred
years old, and is one of the old landmarks of
the vicinity. It is still owned by his descendants it was occupied by William F. Gearhart,
who died in 1905. Captain Gearhart set out
;

an orchard which was completely destroyed by
a hailstorm in 1846. He acquired 1,500 acres,
200 of which he cleared. In 1813, after an
life of
seventy-eight years. Captain
Gearhart died, and his wife, Catharine Kline,
survived him a few years. They had a family
of eleven children, namely
Jacob, born in
1763, who died in 1841 Herman, born in 1765,
who died in 1835 George, mentioned below
William, born in 1776, who died in 1854;
Charles, born in 1783, who died in 1863; John,
born in 1788, who died in 1858; Isaac; Benjamin Elizabeth Mary and Catharine.

active

;

George Gearhart, son of Capt. Jacob and
Catharine (Kline) Gearhart, was born in what
is now Hunterdon county, N.
J., and he became a prosperous farmer and landowner.
He had a beautiful farm one mile from Riverside, along the bank of the Susquehanna river
one mile south of the bridge, now forming part
of South Danville. It was a present to him
from his father at his majority, and there he
lived all his life.
He erected many buildings

and as he prospered purchased more
land, at his death owning between three hundred and four hundred acres along the Susquehanna. He was twice married, his first wife
there,

639

being Acsah Runyan, who died when a young
woman, the mother of four children Bonham
R., Benjamin (who moved out West), Eliza
and Rebecca (married Wilson Mettler). His
second wife was Phoebe Lott, by whom he had
three children
Achie, George and Herman.
Bonham R. Gearhart, M. D., son of George
Gearhart, was born March 11, 181 1, on his
:

father's homestead in Rush township, and
there received his early education, later attending academy at Danville. He read medicine with Dr. H. Gearhart, of Bloomsburg,
and took a course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated. For two years Dr. Gearhart practiced
in

Sunbury, and he was subsequently

Wash-

ingtonville and Turbotville (1839-1844) before
settling at Danville, where he was in successful practice to the close of his life.
He was

one of the most popular physicians of his day,
and his death, which occurred May 9, 1855,
when he was in his early forties, was widely
mourned. He died of pneumonia. Dr. Gearhart married Elizabeth Steel Boyd, daughter
of William and Eliza (Steel) Boyd, of Danville, and granddaughter of William Boyd,
the founder of the family in America.
He
was a colonel in the Revolution, and was later
in
Mrs.
Eliza
to
the
militia.
promoted
general
(Steel) Boyd was the niece of General Steel,
of the Revolution.
Mrs. Gearhart survived
the Doctor many years, dying Jan. 21, 1904,
at the advanced age of eighty-seven years,
eight months, twenty-nine days.
They were
Wilthe parents of a large family, viz.
liam Boyd, born Oct. 8, 1839, who lives
at No. 9 East Market street, Danville, mar:

ried Elizabeth,

daughter of Thomas Butler,

and they have had children, Elizabeth Boyd
and Mary Atta, the former the wife of R.
Scott Ammerman and the mother of four
children, Robert Boyd, William Edgar, Elizabeth Catharine and Dorothy Atta
Acsah,
born March 18. 1841, died April 3, 1841
on his
born
March
M.
was
18,
1841,
George
father's birthday, in the same room where his
father was born Bonham R. was born May
20, 1843; James B., born Oct. 26, 1844,
;

;

died
May i, 1846; Jasper Boyd, born
Oct. 26, 1845, who lives at the corner of Bloom
and Walnut streets, Danville, married first)
Florence Yorks and after her death Mrs.
Margaret (Thompson) Gearhart, and has one
daughter. Emma Grier, Mrs. Charles Fisher;
Alexander Montgomery, born in Danville July
26, 1846, died April 24, 1901, for many years
station agent at Danville for the Delaware,
(

Lackawanna & Western Railway Company,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

640

married Martha McCoy, daughter of Robert
and Eleanor (\'oris) McCoy, and they had
two children, Nell Bonham and Jasper (the
daughter married William L. McClure and
had three children, Harold Russel, Donald C.
and Montgomery) M. Grier completed the
;

family.

M. Grier Gearhart had only average school
When seventeen years old he
advantages.
took a contract at Danville to load rails for
the
Beaver & Wells Steel Comfor
shipping
pany, with which concern he was associated
for twenty-six years.
He then resigned and
for five years was in the public service, acting
as market master and street commissioner of

13, 1843, he is the son of Dr. John B. and
Caroline Elizabeth (Maize) Newbaker.
Martin Newbaker, great-great-grandfather
of Dr. Philip C. Newbaker, emigrated to

America from Germany prior to the Revolution, in the year 1740, and settled at the mouth
of Powell's creek, on the Susquehanna river,

The fameighteen miles above Harrisburg.
ily name was then
spelled Neubecker (see
Vol.
2d
XVlI,
Series,
Pennsylvania Archives,
page 288).

Philip Newbaker, son of Martin and greatgrandfather of Philip C. Newbaker, was a
lieutenant in the 6th Company, 4th Battalion,
of the Continental army, in 1777 (PennsylDanville.
After that he was engaged at the vania Archives, 2d Series, \'ol. XIII, page
steel plant of the North Branch Steel Com- 357), and after the end of the war settled on
His son,
in
Danville
until its failure, in 1902. the farm founded by his father.
pany
His sight has failed him in recent years and also named Philip, the grandfather of Dr.
he is now leading a retired life. He took a Newbaker, continued to own and reside upon
good citizen's interest in public affairs during the old homestead, where he died in 1865.
his active career, particularly the question of Inglenook Station on the Pennsylvania railpublic education, serving twel'-e years as a road, and Inglenook Clubhouse, a resort for
member of the school board. He was elected business men and residents of Harrisburg, are
located on the home farm of the Newbaker
to that office on the Republican ticket.
Mr. Gearhart married Mary Ellen Bowyer, family.
who was bom Feb. 21, 1848, in what was then
John B. Newbaker, M. D., father of Dr.

—

Columbia county, on Twin Hill old Bloom Philip C. Newbaker, was bom on the homeMr. and Mrs. Gearhart stead and attended the country schools. He
street, near Danville.
are members of the Presbyterian Church at then entered Jeft'erson Medical College, PhilaDanville, which her grandfather long ago delphia, graduating in the class of 1852 with
served as elder. They ha\e had children as the degree of M. D., afterwards continuing the
follows:
Ruth is the wife of Albert C. practice of medicine in Northumberland counHe died at Trevorton, that county, on
Savidge, formerly of Sunbury, Pa., now living ty.
He was
in Indianapolis, and has one child, Mary Eliza- July II, igoo, aged eighty years.
beth; Mary Elizabeth is married to Dr. Frank an assistant surgeon of the 56th Regiment,
Glenn, of Erie, Pa. Ava is the wife of Dr.
Reid Nebinger, who for eight years was connected with the State Hospital at Danville,
now taking a post-graduate course in the Poly;

clinic

Hospital, Philadelphia, and they have
is attending the

Edna
child. Amy Reid
New York Public Library
one

;

School in

New

Pennsylvania ^'olunteer Infantry, during the
Civil war. and also represented the Northumberland-AIontour district in the Legislature.
He married Caroline Elizabeth Maize, and
they had these children: Philip C, Louisa E.,
George A., John J. and Mildred M.
Philip C.

Newbaker received

his preliminary

McAtee, who lives in Erie, education in the common schools. West Branch
Misis a graduate of the Williamson school in
high school, Jersey Shore, Pa., and the
Delaware county, Pennsylvania.
sionary Institute, at Selinsgrove, Pa. On April
John and Julia (Deen) Bowyer, ]\Irs. Gear- 23, 1 861, he enlisted in Company F, nth
hart's parents, were also residents of Dan- Pennsylvania \'olunteer Infantry, for three
ville.
They had a family of ten children, two months' service, in response to President Linsons and eight daughters, of whom five sur- coln's first call for fifty thousand volunteers,
vive: Miss Anna E., Mrs. Gearhart, Martha and was discharged July 31, 1861, by reason
(wife of Frank C. Derr), William (who lives of the expiration of his term, after having
next door to the library), and James D.
been in one of the first engagements of the
war. at Falling \\'aters, or Hoke's Run, in
PHILIP C. NEWBAKER, M. D., of Dan- northern Virginia. On Aug. 12, 1862, he
ville, is one of the oldest and most prominent
again enlisted, at Philadelphia, in Company
Born near K, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, to serve three
physicians of Montour county.
He was
the village of Halifax, Dauphin Co., Pa., Aug. years, or till the end of the war.

York

City

;

Elliot

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
5, 1865, by reason of the close
His regiment was assigned
under General Rosecrans in Tennessee
and saw much hard service with the Army of
the Cumberland. On his return home he continued the study of medicine in his father's
office, and in due time entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated
March 12, 1869, soon afterwards locating in
Washingtonville, Montour county, where he
After a residbuilt up an extensive practice.
ence of sixteen years in that village he removed to Danville, where he has resided con-

discharged July
of the conflict.
to duty

tinuously since.
Dr. Newbaker represented Montour county in the State Legislature in the sessions of
1879 and 1881. He was again elected to the
office in 1910 and 1912 and sat in the sessions
He also served as treasof 191 1 and 1913.
urer of Montour county for three years, from
1898, and was a member and president of the
He is a member of
Danville school board.
the American Medical Association and of the
also of
State and county medical societies
Goodrich Post, No. 22, G. A. R. Encampment No. 32, Union \"eteran Legion, of
Bloomsburg; Danville Lodge, No. 516, F. &
A. M., of which he is a past master and he
has been secretary of the board of United
States examining surgeons at Danville since
;

;

1886.
In 1867 Dr.

Newbaker married Amelia A.

Koons, daughter of Benjamin Koons, of
Weissport. Carbon Co., Pa., and they have
these children
Winifred M., a graduate of
the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Music, who
afterwards completed her musical education
:

in Berlin, Germany, now married to J. Malcolm Laurie and residing at Winburne, Clearfield Co., Pa.
Charles A., a graduate of Lehigh University (electrical engineer), and
;

at the present time electrical inspector for the
Panama Canal Commission at Schenectady,
N. Y. Edward J., a mining engineer, and at
;

present general superintendent of the Wyoming division of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre
Coal Company, at Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Bertha
A., a graduate of the Danville high school, residing at home and Francis W., paymaster
of the Dodson Coal Company, residing at
;

;

Beaver Brook, Pennsylvania.

Each of four generations of the Newbaker
family since its advent in America has had a
Philip Newrepresentative in the army, viz.
baker, lieutenant in the 6th Company, 4th Battalion, of the Continental army, 1777; J. B.
Newbaker, assistant surgeon, 56th Pennsylvania Infantry, in the Civil war Dr. P. C.
:

;

641

Newbaker, who served two

full

enlistments

(over three years) in the Civil war; and his
son, E. J. Newbaker, who was a member of
the 2d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in
the Spanish-American war.

WILLIAM OLR'ER DeWITT,

con-

tracting and consulting engineer, former manager of the Catawissa municipal electric light
plant, recently removed to Riverside, North-

umberland Co., Pa., was born at Snydertown,
Northumberland county, March 18, 1863, son
of Dr. A. T. DeWitt.
This branch of the DeWitt family was
founded in the New World early in the seventeenth century by two brothers, one of whom
settled in New York, while the other went
to

New

Jersey.

Paul DeWitt, who belonged to the New Jersey branch of the family, left his native State
1807, and came to Pennsylvania, locating
Augusta township, Northumberland county.
His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret
AbraPersing, and they had three children
ham, who li\ed at Philadelphia William and
Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Reppard.
William DeWitt, son of Paul DeWitt, married Elizabeth Tressler, and their children
were: Jacob married Mary Clark and had
three chddren Isaac married Elizabeth Cressiger and had two sons and five daughters;
Paul married Abigal Shipman and had three
sons and two daughters
William married
Mary Latsha and had two sons and six daughters; Matthew married Elizabeth Shipman and
had one son and one daughter Moses married
Lavina Strausser and has one son and three
in

;

Abraham

the father of
daughters
William O. DeWitt.
Dr. Abraham T. DeWitt was brought up
upon the homestead of his father, remaining
at home until he was sixteen years old.
For
the following two years he was with his
brother William, working in the latter's mill,
and having earned sufficient money, attended
the academy at Boalsburg, in Center county,
Pa. Having fitted himself he began teaching
school, but after one term, realizing the need
of further instruction, entered Freeburg
Academy, in Snyder county. The next winter
he resumed teaching, being assigned to the
;

rural regions in Schuylkill county. The summer following he continued his studies, this
time at the Missionary Institute, now Susque-

hanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa. By this
time he had decided upon embracing a medical
career, and began studying with that end in
view under Dr. Caslow, of Halifax, Dauphin

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

642

entering the University of
After taking his course in that institution he was graduated therefrom. June
9, 1862, and settling at Snydertown, Northumberland Co., Pa., entered upon private practice with the promise of a very valuable and
useful career. But Dr. DeW'itt felt that duty
called him elsewhere, and in June, 1863, he
took the examination for entrance into the
amiy, for service during the Civil war. He
Co., Pa., in 1861

Vermont.

was appointed

assistant surgeon of the 54th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Emergency Men,
for one hundred days' service, and was one

of those who participated in the capture of
the famous Gen. John ]\Iorgan, then making
the historic raid into Ohio.
Upon his discharge Dr. DeWitt reentered the service, and
was made surgeon of the 2d Pennsylvania
Heavy Artillery, being stationed within the
Washington fortifications at the northeast.
After valuable service there he was transferred to the southwest \\'ashington defenses,
in 1864.
In June of the same year the regi-

ment was sent to join the troops under General Grant's command, participating in the
engagement at Cold Harbor, later going to
White House Landing, and thence to City
Point. This regiment was the first to advance
upon Petersburg, continuing there until
August, when it was sent to Bennuda Hundred, where it was stationed until the evacuation of Richmond.
The regiment was then
sent to Petersburg, and remained in charge of
that city until Jan. i, 1866, when it was discharged. While defending Washington, Dr.
DeWitt was on the staff of General Fariero,
with headquarters at Arlington. During the
summer of 1865 Dr. DeWitt was chief medical
officer of the Roanoke district, having his
headquarters at Burkeville Junction, Va., and
in this

connection alone rendered services that

were invaluable. His term of ser\'ice ended
with his muster out at Philadelphia in 1866,
in

accordance with general orders.

Returning to Snydertown, Pa., Dr. DeWitt,
his experience enriched by his long and varied
service in the army, resumed his private pracIn 1878 he moved to Riverside, which
has since continued to be his home. During
the many years of his practice Dr. DeWitt has
not only proved his skill as a physician and
surgeon, but endeared people to him because
of his many amiable qualities, and rendered
tice.

of the House.
Dr. DeWitt married Sarah
A son who
Renn, and they had four children
died in childhood; William Oliver; Heber
Loran, who married Anna Morrell, and has
children, George and Sarah and Cora Irene,
who married William Mettler, and has one
:

;

child,

Evelyn.

William Ohver DeWitt attended the local
at Snydertown, and also Danville
Academy, where he was under the instruction
of Professor Kelso.
When only se\enteen
years of age he began teaching school, being
to
assigned
Valley township, Alontour county,
for two terms. From childhood Mr. DeWitt
displayed a decided inclination towards telegraphy, stringing a wire between his house and
that of a neighbor.
Over it he and a playmate managed to transmit messages, and their
success so fired the ready imagination of the
lad that he resolved to leam telegraphy properly as soon as circumstances would permit.
This boyish ambition was realized when he
became a student under the late A. M. Gearhart, agent and telegrapher with the Delaware,
schools

Lackawanna

Western Railroad Company

Later Mr. DeWitt was made
Danville, Pa.
assistant agent under his friend and instructor,
and after six months was appointed assistant
agent and telegrapher at the Shickshinny station of the D., L. & W. railroad, in 1S81.
Within three months he had advanced sufficiently to be offered the position of night
telegrapher for the Pennsylvania Railroad

Company at Danville, which he accepted, and
held for eighteen months. His next advancement was to the post of extra agent and telegrapher for the Sunbury division of the same
road, where he was stationed for three years'.
At the expiration of that time he was appointed ticket agent and telegrapher at Nanticoke, Luzerne county, and held that for three
years, also. From there he was sent to Creasy,
Columbia Co., Pa., at which point he filled a
similar position for two and a half years, still
with the same company. For the next four
years he was agent and telegrapher at Mocanaqua, Luzerne county, thus rounding out a
service with the Pennsylvania Company covering thirteen years.
for the

come agent

He left this employ to beAdams Express Company,

community as a public
as well. In 1873 he was sent to the State
Legislature to represent his district, and made
so enviable a record that he was returned in

which capacity he was stationed at different
In 1894 he took the superintendency
of the electric light plant at Shickshinny, Pa.,
and continued as such for two years, superintending the construction and installation of
the plant and its operation. In i8g6 he came
to Catawissa to become superintendent of con-

1875 was made transcribing clerk

struction at the Catawissa municipal electric

efficient service to his

man

1874,

and

points.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
light plant, and superintended its operation
for four years.
Having been brought into
contact with another branch of learning Mr.
DeWitt, always ambitious, began studying

course in the
Scranton Correspondence School, from which
he received a certificate of competency in 1S98.
In 1900 he superintended the construction of
the Lykens Valley & Northern \'alley Electric
railroad for a distance of twelve miles, spending about two years on this work. Mr. De\\'itt
electrical engineering, taking a

then accepted the position of expert construction engineer with the Harrisburg Foundry

Machine

he
which
represented
throughout the New England, Southern and
Middle States, installing steam and electric engines and superintending construction work for
the company, with which he continued for three
years. During that time he installed the electric engine in the Charlestown (Mass.) navy
yard for the United States government; the

Works,

electric light plant at the State penitentiary at

Nashville, Tenn. and a 3,000-horsepower engine at the plant of the Great Northern Paper
Company, of Maine. Returning to Columbia
county, he constructed the Columbia & Montour Electric railroad plant for the Harrisburg
Company. He then took charge of the Catawissa municipal electric light plant and operated it for a year, after which he began the
construction of the plant of the Columbia
Power & Light Company at Irondale, converting the old Irondale furnace property into a
modern water-driven electric light and power
This
plant, one of the best in this section.
took nearly three years, during which period
he established himself thoroughly at Blooms;

burg as a contracting and consulting engineer,
which line he has maintained high standing
ever since.
From 1908 to 1914 he had his
headquarters at Catawissa, where during that
period he operated the municipal electric light

plant, in addition to giving attention to his
private business, doing special work in engineering. In 1914 he settled at Riverside.
Air. DeWitt owns a fine three-year-old

cherry orchard at Riverside in Northumberland county, containing 150 trees, and he takes
relaxation in caring for them during the summer months. He and his family now have
their home at this point, where in 1914 he
erected a

handsome

residence.

brother Heber L. DeWitt

own

and

his

the DeWitt
Park at Riverside, South Danville, a tract of
acres
laid
out and
artistically
twenty-six
equipped with a pavilion 50 by 1 10 feet in
dimensions a dining hall 65 by 36 feet, and
large baseball grounds, with a grand stand.
;

643

The park

is supplied with
flowing water, and
upwards of $12,000 has been expended in its
It
was
development.
originated by Dr. A. T.
DeWitt, and his sons carry on his good work,
which provides amusement and relaxation for

who enjoy the many advantages of
summer pleasure grounds.
Mr. DeWitt is a member of Catawissa
No.
Lodge,
349, F. & A. M. Politically he is

thousands

these delightful

a Democrat, and a strong supporter of the
His life is ordered
principles of his party.
according to the golden rule, and he takes
pleasure in giving to others from his means.
In addition to all his other interests, Mr. DeWitt finds time to act as special correspondent
for various scientific journals, in which his
articles relative to the subjects he knows so
well are highly appreciated and correctly
valued.
On Jan. 5, 1886, Mr. DeWitt was united in
marriage with Luella Gruver of Nanticoke,
Luzerne county, a daughter of Aaron and
Harriet (Wolf) Gruver. Mr. and Airs. De\\'itt are the parents of four children: Helen
graduated from the Bloomsburg State Normal
school and taught school at Stillwater, Columbia Co., Pa., for two terms, until her marriage

Reber

J. Terwillger
they have two daughAladge Luella and Alarion Luanna, twins,
and the family reside at Bloomsburg. Florence was graduated from the Bloomsburg high
school. John Gruver is a high school student.
William Oliver, Jr., is also attending school.

;

ters,

JESSE

SHAMBACH,

supervising prin-

cipal of the public schools of Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa., was born in York, Pa., Alay 25,
1885. He is a son of Rev. Joshua Shambach

and Sarah (Yetter) Shambach.
He was graduated from the Bloomsburg
After teachState Normal School in 1905.
ing several years he entered the University
of Alichigan, from which institution he was

graduated

1913.

He was

elected to his

present position in April, 1913, for a term of
three years.

On June 19, 1913, Mr. Shambach was married to Alary B. Lowry, a daughter of Joseph
and

Rebecca

(Nye)

Lowry,

Dewart,

Pennsylvania.

GUY

JACOBY, attorney at law of Bloomsburg, Pa., was born in that borough May 27,
1859, son of Williamson Harrison and Hannah E. A. (Prentiss) Jacoby.
Tames Jacoby. grandfather of Guy Jacoby,
was born near Bethlehem, Northampton Co.,
and came to what is now Briarcreek

Pa.,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

644

township, Columbia county, about 1840, locating a few miles from Berwick. There he
purchased a farm, and also followed his trade
of blacksmith, and while residing there was
In his latter
elected justice of the peace.
years he retired and removed to the city of
Berwick, having a home on the present site
of the Young Men's Christian Association
building. He took an active part in the work
of the Methodist Church, in the faith of which
he passed away at the age of seventy-eight
Mr. Jacoby married a Miss Kurtz,
years.
and both are buried at Berwick. They were
the parents of the following children
Anna,
who married Townsend Boone, and died at
:

Pa.;

Hazleton,

\\'illiamson

George

D.,

who was

a blacksmith at Berwick, and died
and Reat the age of seventy-two years
;

becca,

who married Roscoe

(second)

Schuyler

and

George Derr, and now resides

Turbotville,

Pennsylvania.

Williamson Harrison Jacoby, son of James
and father of Guy Jacoby, was born Sept.
29, 1832, in Bethlehem, Northampton Co.,
Pa., and was a small lad when he accompanied his parents to Columbia county. As a
youth he began to learn the printer's trade,
completing his training in this vocation in
Philadelphia, in an office which was located
at the present site of the Philadelphia Press
building.
Subsequently he went to Williamsport, where for some time he was employed
on the Lycoming Standard, and following this
came to Bloomsburg and secured employment in the office of the Star of the North,
owned by George W. Weaver. Prior to the
Civil war Mr. Jacoby purchased this paper,
but during that struggle he laid aside personal interests to enlist in

Company

F, 178th

Regiment, Pa. Vol. Inf., with which he served
as quartermaster during his absence the paper was conducted by a Mr. Shuman, of Catawissa.
On his return from the front he
;

resumed
nal, and

his duties as proprietor of this jour1868 was elected to the House of

Representatives from Columbia and Montour
On the expiration of his term of
office he once more assumed the duties of his

curred at Erie, Pa., March 2, 1891, and he
was buried at Rosemont cemetery, Blooms-

burg. He was a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, and of the Masonic lodge
at Catawissa, Pa.
One of the foremost men
of his locality, he ever took a prominent part
in all that atTected his community, and in his
death the district lost a citizen whom it was
hard to replace.
He served as a delegate
to State and national conventions, and was
widely known as an earnest party worker.
Mr. Jacoby married Miss Hannah E. A. Prentiss, daughter of Noah S. Prentiss, and they
had children as follows Guy May A., who
married Harry Shuler (both are deceased)
and Bessie H., who married Henry M. Rupert,
mail agent on the Bloomsburg & Sullivan
:

;

railroad.

Guy Jacoby, son of Williamson H. Jacoby,
received his early education in the graded
schools taught by Professor Wynkoop, following which he entered the Normal school,
and after leaving that institution became a
student in the Episcopal Institute at Reading,
Pa. He entered upon the study of law in the
offices of E. H. and R. R. Little, at Bloomsburg, and when but twenty-one years old was
admitted to the bar of Columbia county. Entering at once upon the practice of his
profession, he has become known as one of
the ablest representatives of his
calling in
Columbia county. In February, 1885, he was
elected to the office of justice of the peace,
and in six subsequent elections has been returned to that position, which he is still holdHe is a Democrat in his political views.
ing.
Mr. Jacoby is a member of the Episcopal
Church.
He is a past noble grand of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also
holds membership in the Knights of the Golden
Eagle and the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
During his long residence in Bloomsburg he has made a wide acquaintance, in
which he numbers many sincere friends.
Mr. Jacoby was married to Ida E. Drake, of
Monroe county. Pa.
They have had no

counties.

children.

He was elected in the early
seventies to the office of county recorder,
to which he was reelected, filling that office for
four successive terms.
He again took up
newspaper work with the Milton Argus. Later
went
to
Mr. Jacoby
Scranton, where he became associated with the Tribune, and on
severing his connection with that paper went
to take charge of the Nanticoke A'eivs, where
he remained for some vears. His death oc-

W. BIDDLE, D. D. S.. has been
following his profession at Millville ever since
he commenced practice, fifteen years ago, and

newspaper work.

JOHN

dependable services have drawn a large
number of patrons who appreciate his conhis

scientious-attention

and advice.

His parents,

Charles and Barbara Ann (Hileman) Biddle,
are residents of Dushore, Sullivan Co., Pa.,
and Mrs. Biddle is a native of that county,
where the Hilemans have been farming peo-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
pie for

many

years, having taken up
it in the
early days.

new

land

and developed

Charles Biddle was born in Germany, and
came to America when fourteen years old.
He has been engaged in farming and lumberSeven children have been born to him
ing.
and his wife: Philip G., M. D., now located
in practice at Dushore, married Bessie Bryson Samuel, a dentist of W'illiamsport, Pa.,
married Mrs. Millie Gimmell Lizzie is the
wife of Andrew Spence, a mine engineer, living at Meyersdale, Pa., and has one child, a
daughter Barbara John W. is next in the
family; Anna is the wife of Fred E. Hoffa,
a merchant of Dushore, and they have two
;

;

Emma is marDushore, a
manufacturer
Harry W., a druggist,
cigar
of Benton, Columbia county, married Myrtle
Terry, of New Albany, Pennsylvania.
John W. Biddle was born June i, 1872, at
He was given excellent litBradford, Pa.
erary training, supplementing his common
children, Barbara and John
ried to George W. Jackson, of
;

;

school course with study at the Lock Haven
normal school and the preparatory school at
He pursued his professional
Towanda.
studies in the Pennsylvania Dental College,

from which institution he was graduated in
1899, the same year settling at Millville, where
Dr.
he has practiced to the present time.
Biddle has been an acquisition to the town in
more ways than one. He has done notable

work

promotion of good government,
having been an active member of the town
council nine years, still belonging to that body,
and whether officially or as a private citizen
has always given his support to the best movements set on foot in the community. Several
local fraternal bodies count him among their
in the

members.
He belongs to Lodge
O. O. F., of Millville, and to the
and
is
a
Woodmen,
thirty-second degree
Mason, in that connection holding membership
in Bloomsburg Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M.
He belongs to the Lutheran Church.
influential

No. 809,

In Jvme,

1902,

Dr.

Biddle was united in

marriage with Edna Eves, of Millville, a
daughter of Chandlee Eves, and they had two
children, Charles C, born July 25, 1904, and
John E., born April 8, 1908. Mrs. Biddle
died at the birth of her son John. In June,
1910, Dr. Biddle married Edith Y. Eves, of
Millville, Pennsylvania.

JOSEPH BALDY KNITTLE (deceased)
was a prominent and useful citizen of Columbia county whose impress upon the pages
of the history of this portion of the State

645

never be effaced.
He was born April
Catawissa (now Franklin) townand
his
life
held many positions
ship,
during
will

12, 1830, in

of honor in the gift of the people.
The history of the Knittle family dates back
to early Colonial times.
It is recorded in the
Archives of Pennsylvania that one Joseph
Knittle came to America in the sailing vessel

"Patience" and landed at Philadelphia Sept.
His son Michael was a resident of
17- 1753-

Richmond township, Berks

county, where he
His children were recorded
died in 1789.
as
Frederick, Daniel, John Adam, Michael,
Rosina and Catherine. In his will Michael
and Daniel were named as his executors.
Daniel Knittle, father of Joseph B. Knittle,
:

came

to Columbia county in 1795 and settled
near Mendenhall's mill, where he bought a
farm.
His brother Frederick had preceded
him about a year. Here he built a home,
cleared the land and raised his family, dying
His
on the old homestead at a ripe age.

children were
Joseph B. Jacob, who married Angelina Doerr; Aaron S., who married
Sarah Campbell Reuben, who died unmarried Esther, wife of John Vought, of Elysburg, one of the first settlers in that section;
iMargaret, wife of Jacob Kostenbauder, a
prominent farmer of Franklin township and
Sophia, who died unmarried.
Joseph B. Knittle attended the public
:

;

schools,

Academy and Bloomsburg
(now merged with the State
For a number of years he
During the Civil war he was

Millville

Literary Institute
Normal School).

taught school.

engaged in the hardware business
and later in Centralia, while in the

Ashland

latter place

holding the office of justice of the peace.
After 1863 he removed to the old homestead
in Franklin township, where he spent several

He then removed to Catayears farming.
wissa and entered the mercantile business.
He had studied surveying, which knowledge
was of great assistance to him, as he was
well acquainted with the lines of property
in the southern portion of Columbia county.
Mr. Knittle served as county auditor in
the year 1859; was a representative in the
postmaster
Legislature "from 1879 to 1882
;

Catawissa from 1885 to 1889; and justice
of the peace in Catawissa from 1891 until
In
his death, which occurred Feb. 2, 1899.
1864 he married Rebecca Berninger, daughA.
Berninter of Aaron and Phoebe
(Yost)
ger, of Main township, and to them were
born five children Emma, Clara, Ella, Charles
at

died in childhood), and John Freeze,
the last named now (1914) pastor of the Zion

(who

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

646

Lutheran Church, better known as "The
Church of the Red Rose," at Manheim, Pa.
Mr. Knittle was a member of the Lutheran
Church and fraternally was connected with
the Odd Fellows and Masons, being an organizer in the latter and one of the best

known Masons

the

eastern

section

Pennsylvania.

PHILIP SPONENBERG, who

engaged
in farming in Briarcreek township, was born
in Centre township, Columbia Co., Pa., June
22, 1838, and is a son of George and Elizabeth
(Hass) Sponenberg.
The grandfather of Mr. Sponenberg was
born in Germany, whence he emigrated to the
United States, settling in Dauphin county.
Pa., where he spent the rest of his life en-

farming. Eleven children have been born
Mr. and Mrs. Sponenberg, namely: James
E., a farmer of Ijriarcreek township, born
June 19, 1862, who married Sarah A. Boston;
Daniel H., born Nov. 3, 1864, a jeweler at
Picture Rocks, Lycoming Co., Pa., who married Carrie Heath, and has two children;
George W., born Nov. 12, 1866, now emin

ployed in a furniture factory at Picture Rocks,
married Anna Naugle, and they have had
seven children, one deceased; Mary E., born
Feb. 27, 1869, married Albert Widger, of
Briarcreek township, a farmer and lumberman, and has five children William F., born
;

April 3, 187 1, employed at Scranton, Pa., by
the Pennsylvania Coal Company, served with
the 2d United States Cavalry for three years,
the greater part of which time was spent in

gaged in farming.
George Sponenberg, father of Philip Sponenberg, was born in Dauphin county. Pa., and
as a young man moved to Briarcreek, Columbia county. By occupation he was a contractor, and he was a successful business man
and substantial citizen. He passed away in
His
1847, when still in the prime of life.
wife, like himself, was a Pennsylvania German, and that language was spoken in their
home. Mr. Sponenberg was twice married,
Elizabeth Hass being his second wife, and
they were the parents of the following children
Samuel, James, Jane, Peter, Philip,
Sally Ann, Martha and Daniel, all now de-

Ella, born March 10, 1873, married
Daniel Markle, of Berwick, who is connected
with the American Car Company, and has five
children; Martha A., born Feb. 21, 1875, who
married Harry H. Case, of Millersburg, Pa.,
and has had two children, of whom one is
deceased; Harry E., a butcher of Briarcreek
township, born Jan. 7, 1877, married Bertha
Ashton, and has six children Lewis R., born
Jan. 7, 1881, connected with the American
Car Company, married Rebecca Smith, of
Briarcreek township, and has two children;
Edward H., born May 12, 1882, farming in
Briarcreek township, married Minnie Curtis,
and has six children and Lela May, born Feb.

ceased except Philip.
Philip Sponenberg, son of George Sponenberg, received an ordinary public school edu-

1890, married John Warner, who is farming on his father-in-law's farm in Briarcreek
township, and has three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Sponenberg are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church and have
reared their children in the same faith. He is
a Republican in his political views, and has
served as a member of the board of county

and when a young man adopted the
vocation of farming. He was so engaged until
his enlistment, for three years, Oct. 27, 1862,
in Company H, 178th P. V. I., for service in
the Civil war.
Not long thereafter he lost
his hearing from the effects of the heavy
cannonading, and was transferred to the ambulance corps, with which he served until
receiving his honorable discharge, at Camp
cation,

He was known
Curtin, Pa., July 27, 1863.
as a brave and faithful soldier, at all times
capably performing the duties intrusted to
him. On his return to the pursuits of peace,
he again took up agricultural work, in which
he has been engaged to the present time with

much

Sept. 4, i860, Mr. Sponenberg was
married to Miss Sarah Eckroth, who was
born Oct. 12, 1844, ^nd died June 14, 1914.
She was one of the seven children of Charles
and Eliza (Rhinard) Eckroth, of Mifflin

Eckroth was engaged

;

commissioners.

ADAMS. The Adams family is one of
long residence in Columbia county, where its
representatives have made the name synonymous with fair dealing and honest principles.
Anthony Adams, the great-grandfather of
John Kinney and Charles Adams, of Briarcreek township, was the immigrant ancestor
of the family, coming from Germany to America at

success.

township, where Mr.

Cuba

an early day.

Abraham Adams, son

of Anthony Adams,

and grandfather of John Kinney and Charles
Adams, came to Columbia county, Pa., from
the eastern part of the State, and located on
a farm of 300 acres in Briarcreek township,
Columbia county, now in the possession of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Charles Adams. He married a Miss Miller
and their children were; Abraham, Joseph,

James, William, Thomas, Levina and Anna.
Until his death Abraham Adams cultivated
his property, carrying on general farming.
Following his demise his widow was taken
by her son William to Michigan, where she

To this Mr. Adams has
ship.
acres, forty acres of which is
vation.

Thomas Adams, son of Abraham Adams,
and father of John Kinney and Charles
Adams, was born in Briarcreek township on
the farm owned by his father. He grew up
on this property, and himself became a farmer
and miller. He received a common school
education, and assisted his father until he
began learning the trade of

Purchas-

miller.

ing a farm of eighty-five acres later on in
life, he had the assistance of his children in
operating it. About sixty acres of this tract
are now cleared, the remainder being left
for other purposes.
Thomas Adams married Regina Wenner, a
daughter of Daniel Wenner, whose wife's
maiden name was Gidding. Children as follows were born of this marriage: Frank died
in childhood
Sarah Jane married Reuben
Thomas
Witmire, and both are deceased
Milton, who married Alice Shaffer, lives at
;

;

Fowlerville, in Centre township. Columbia
county; James married Alice Dietterick, of
Nescopeck, Pa.
Mary Ellen, who married
;

Fives

Democrat, Thomas

California

Charles married Jennie M. Sitler
ney married Ellen D. Sitler.

and a member of the fifth generation
from the American founder of the Sitler famMr. and Mrs. Adams have had the followily.
ing children Ray Franklin, who was born Oct.
16, 1890; Maud May, born May 12, 1892;
Floyd Thomas, born July 14, 1896; Vida Maand Hazel Ann, born
rie, born July 6, 1903
Aug. 6, 1904. Mrs. Adams was born May 25,
1871, and was educated, like her husband, in the
schools of Briarcreek township. Mr. Adams
is a general farmer, and has been successful
in-his work. The German Reformed Church
of Briarcreek township holds his membership,
and he has served the congregation as deacon.
A Democrat, he has been overseer of the poor
and gives conscientious service to his fellow
Sitler,

tion his hearty support.

Hippenstiel.

added sixty
under culti-

Charles Adams married Jennie M. Sitler, a
daughter of Nathan and ^liranda (Varner)

died and was buried.
Politically the father
was a Democrat. In religious faith he belonged to the German Reformed Church, in
Briarcreek township, and gave that denomina-

Webster

647

stead of eighty-five acres, whidh is a portion
of the original 300 acres bought by Abraham
Adams when he located in Briarcreek town-

;

John Kin-

Adams was

called

his party to serve in various

town-

;

citizens.

John Kinney Adams,
Adams, was born

son of Thomas
Briarcreek township, Co-

lumbia Co., Pa., April 5, 1872, and is now one
of the prosperous farmers of that township.
During his boyhood days he attended the
schools of his district, and worked for his
father on the homestead until he was twenty

years old.
Following this he was employed
by his brother James in a flour mill for five
years, and then began farming on his own
account and for outside parties. After three
years he bought a farm of eighty acres, five
acres of which are in woodland.
On this

ship offices, including those of overseer of
the poor and member of the election board,
and gave his constituents fair and honorable
service.
For many years he was an earnest
member of the German Reformed Church of
Briarcreek township, which he served as a
deacon for a considerable period. His death

property he carries on general farming, speon dairying, milking twelve cows of
mixed breeds. For thirteen years he sold his
product to customers at Berwick. While he
is a Democrat he does not feel himself bound
by party lines, but votes and acts independently
when he believes such a course will be to the
best interest of all concerned. Like the other
members of his family he belongs to the Ger-

occurred when he was seventy-seven years

man Reformed Church, and having been

upon by

old; his wife passed away at the age of sixtythree years, and both are buried in the cemetery of Briarcreek.
Charles Ad.\m.s, son of Thomas Adams,

cializing

brought up
all

in its teachings

has held to them

his life.

In 1901 John Kinney

marriage with Ellen D.

Adams was united in
Sitler, who was born

was born March 28, 1866, in Briarcreek town- June 26, 1877, in Briarcreek township. GrowHere he received his educational train- ing up in her native township, she attended
ship.
Until the
ing, attending the district schools.
death of his father Charles Adams worked
for him, and then purchased the interests of
the other heirs, so that he now owns the home-

the public schools of the neighborhood and
developed into a fine housekeeper and homemaker.
She, too, is a church member, belonging to the German Lutheran denomination.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

648

Mr. and Mrs. Adams have had children as

fol-

lows: Frances Alarie, who died in infancy;
Flo Miranda, who was born March 21, 1902:
Ray Leonard, born Oct. 16, 1903 Harry
Nathan, born Feb. 18, 1905 Nathaniel Paul,
born May 16, 1908: Bessie May, born June 6,
;

;

1909; and

The
ney

Mary Rhoda, born

Sitler family, of

Adams and Mrs.

bers,

Charles

also prominent in

The founder

Sept.

1910.

which Mrs. John Kin-

Adams

are

mem-

Columbia county.

America was named either
Sitler, and he settled on

Michael or Simeon

the present site of the city of Baltimore, there
leasing for one hundred years land now comprising fully one-half of the city.
Simeon Sitler, son of the above, lived in

Centre township, Columbia Co., Pennsylvania.
Samuel Sitler, son of Simeon, was born in
Centre township, Columbia county, in 1799,
and died in 1863, aged sixty-four years. After
receiving his educational training in the schools
of his day and locality, he moved to Briarcreek township, settling on the upper road
at the foot of Knob mountain. There he pur-

chased si.xty-four acres, which he placed under cultivation, and upon it he built a log
house and barn. Later he added sixty-four

more
farm lying

acres

Sitler

to his original purchase, all of his
in Briarcreek township.
Samuel

married Elizabeth Shaffer, a daughter

his

home with

daughter, Mrs.

his

Adams.
Nathan

Sitler

born June

12,

married

Charles

Miranda

\'arner,
1841, daughter of Joseph and
and
\'arner,
(Harmon)
they had the
following children: One died in infancy; William died in childhood Frank C, who married

Caroline

Sadie Roberts she is deceased), lives at North
Berwick Caroline died at the age of seventeen
years Dora C. married Joseph Davis Jennie
M. married Charles Adams, of Briarcreek
township Joseph H. married Elizabeth Knorr
Samuel E. married Clara Myers Frances A.
married Leonard B. Thomas Ella married
John Kinney Adams Dilhmond A. married
Hannah Bower Nathaniel married first to
Florence Mosteller (deceased) and (second)
Lottie Evans, of Berwick, and has one child.
(

;

For many years prominent in politics in
Nathan Sitler was
township,
elected on the Democratic ticket to the offices
of school director and supervisor, holding the
latter for four terms.
The Lutheran Church
of Briarcreek township is his religious home,
and he was Deacon for many years, also serving many years as superintendent of the Sunday school held in the Knorr schoolhouse.
Briarcreek

MARY EMMA
come

so well

\\^\LTER, who has

known

be-

to the hesidents of Cata-

of Henry Shaffer, and they had children as
follows
Samuel S., who is deceased, married Sarah Rheinard Levi, deceased, married
Hannah Bower Mary Ann, deceased, married George Miller Fannie, deceased, married
Edwin Vought William, deceased, married
Margaret W'itmire; Nathan married Miranda
Varner; David died in childhood.
Samuel Sitler continued farming until his

wissa, Columbia county, by her devotion to
the upkeep of the old Friends' meetinghouse
there, belongs to a famous family of Friends,
her grandfather. Dr. Gilbert Edward Hicks,
having been a cousin of Elias Hicks, founder
of the Hicksite branch of that denomination.
Dr. Gilbert E. Hicks was born 3d mo. 11,
1773, in Bucks county, Pa., and came to Cata-

death, always carrying on general agriculture.
In politics he was a Democrat. The Lutheran
Church held his membership, and he died firm
in its faith.
He and his wife are buried in
the graveyard connected with that church in

when peace had been

;

Briarcreek township.
Nathan Sitler, son of Samuel Sitler and
father of Mrs. John Kinney

Adams and Mrs.

Charles Adams, was born March 16, 1834,
and was educated in the schools of Briarcreek

He worked for his father until
township.
a short time before he attained his majority,
at which time he left home to engage with
farmers,
neighboring
among them being
Messrs. Jackson & Woodin, Mr. Sitler operattheir
for
some
time.
Later he
ing
properties
purchased twenty-eight acres and conducted
this farm for forty years, until he retired, and
for the last eight years he has been making

wissa,

Columbia

Co.,

Pa., at an early day,
restored in this section.

In 1794 he bought property here. He followed
his profession with great success, being a minister of repute in the Society of Friends.
He
died in 1836 and is buried in the cemetery of
the Friends' meetinghouse at Catawissa. Dr.
Hicks was twice married, his first union,
which took place in 1798, being broken by the
death of his wife and child. In 1801 he and
Catherine Hibbs, daughter of Joseph and
Sarah (Blaker) Hibbs, were united in marriage in Roaringcreek meetinghouse, and the
parchment certificate, signed by a number of
witnesses, is in existence yet. They had two
children; Eliza ^'ioletta, born 12th mo. 28,
1802, and William T., born in 1807, who was
drowned in the Susquehanna river when seventeen years old. 7th mo. 25, 1825.
Eliza \'ioletta Hicks was first married, in

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
John, by whom she had one son,
John, the well known historian of
Her second marriage, 5th
Shamokin, Pa.
1828, to

Dr.

J. J.

mo. 25, 1839, was to John Walter, who was
born in 1796 in Chester county. Pa., and died
"th mo. 20, 1865, in Locust township, Columbia county; he is buried at the Catawissa
Friends' meetinghouse. He was a miller and
followed his trade in his earlier life, later

taking up farming and also conducting a sawmill.
Three children were born to John and
Eliza V. (Hicks) Walter: WiUiam" Edward,
who died 3d mo. 11, 1880, and is buried at
the Catawissa meetinghouse
Mary Emma
;

;

and Anna Maria, who married George Ormsby, of Philadelphia, and died in 1910.
John
Walter had married for his first wife Abigail
Kille, and they had children
Sarah, Abner,
Ann Eliza, Henry, Susan, David and Rebecca.
Emma
Walter
was born 9th mo. 4,
Mary
1841, and received a common school educa:

tion,

with one quarter's tuition at Elysburg
in i860.
She remained with her

Academy,

Her
parents as long as they were living.
mother died 2d mo. 15, 1889, in Locust township, Columbia county, after which the home
was sold and Miss Walter came to Catawissa
to'reside, in 1892, and quietly went to meeting,
whether anyone else came or not. While attending Philadelphia yearly meeting she overheard someone who had learned her name
and place of residence say that the meetings
composing Roaringcreek monthly meeting
were laid down. Upon investigation she found
that the meetinghouses at Berwick and Catawissa had been closed, the latter for twenty
years the property of the former had been
;

sold.
LIpon her return home she continued
her inquiries into the matter and concluded

was a work for her. The grounds were
overgrown with brush, and the place was surrounded by distracting influences. Grass as
high as a man's head grew all around the
structure. A football team played in the yard,
a gunshop occupied part of the same, a goat
found pasture there, and the graveyard was
overgrown with poison vine. It was not an
there

woman, but although at
she was alone in the spirit of the work
as well as in its actual performance. Miss
Walter set bravely about her self-appointed
task.
Securing the key to the meetinghouse,
she had the roof mended and the place put
in order, and from that beginning has given
all her time to the building and grounds, until
she is now recognized as the custodian.
Though the work of getting everything in
order was not easy or brought about without
inviting place to a
first

649

indefatigable labor, that was not as difficult
as it was to dislodge the "squatters" who had
taken advantage of the long abandonment of
the property. Though naturally retiring, and
of gentle disposition. Miss Walter did not
hesitate when she found it necessary to obtain
certain rights in her line of duty in a more
or less public manner, and when she found
she could not oust the intruders alone she
went to the town council to state her grievances.
She was given courteous hearing and

proper

aid,

and through her perseverance and

untiring efforts the grounds were finally
cleared of objectionable features.
So well
did she sustain her point in the contentions
over these matters that one lawyer said, "I
would not want to meet her argument as
Much of the work reopposing counsel."
quired to bring the place to its present condition of beautiful order has been done by
her hands, and in spite of her advancing
years she continues to do most of it unaided.
Even on hot summer days she may be found
busily engaged in the graveyard or elsewhere
about the property, and in spite of the warning of physicians against overwork, because
of a weak heart, she enjoys her labors and
asserts that she is better physically for them.
To quote her own words, "I cannot sit down
idly, and I feel this is just as much my mission
as the spoken word is the minister's, although
my ministry is a silent one."
Miss Walter is usually the only worshiper
on Firstday. On Sabbath morning she goes
When the
to the house and stays all day.
weather requires she kindles fires in the old
sheet iron stoves. At first a few others came
or went as they pleased, but gradually they
stayed away and she is left to hold weekly

Yet many visitors come on
Sunday afternoons, particularly in the sum-

meeting alone.

"I talk with
Miss Walter says
hundreds as they come around asking of the
and
if they begin
and
the
the
truth
life,
way,
on points of difference we get on points of
unity before long and find the gospel is the
same, no matter how we divide in sentiment."
Fifteen Episcopalian ministers have taken the
opportunity of an interview, while other ministers of every sect and people from almost
every State in the Union have come to see her,
for her adherence to the faith and her preservation of the meetinghouse property arouses
sentiment in the minds and hearts of all, and

mertime.

they desire to

know more of a sect
To quote from

that can

the Philadelphia North American of Sunday, Oct. 17,
that
the
the
"Of
all
religious
figures
1909:

produce such as she.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

650
life

of America has produced none

inspirational than this venerable Quakeress."
"For the morning hour of worship she sits
alone (outwardly) and communes with the
spirit according to the practice of the So-

With no thought of being
conspicuous or of doing anything unusual
anything more than her simple duty as she sees
it
she has for the past eighteen years, with
some few exceptions when absent from the
ciety of Friends.

—

place,

sat

meeting

thus

Firstday

morning."

Very occasionally passing Friends stop and
hold an "appointed meeting."
Some years
ago Joseph S. Elkinton, of Philadelphia, and
Joseph Thomasson were there, and a good
company gathered in the old house, including
a class of girls brought from one of the
churches by their teacher. Once a year, in
6th month, a session of Roaringcreek monthly
meeting is held in the house, as the members
are on their way to attend Fishingcreek halfyear meeting, at Millville, Pa., and this is the
only executive meeting held there, the other
business sessions being held at Bear Gap, the
Roaringcreek house being used but once a
year, in 8th month, when a reunion is held.
For a few summers a non-sectarian men's
organization, called the "Brotherhood," has
held weekly meetings on Firstday afternoons
in the yard, when the benches are carried out
of the house and used. This organization formerly met in one of the churches of the place,
but was requested to vacate when liberal discussion of religious matters became a part
of
the
The meetinghouse
proceedings.
grounds were freely granted for their use
when Miss Walter was asked, and the attendance grew from seventy-eight to two hundred,
about three hundred names being now on
the roll.
Alany railroad men are among the
members, and these erected a footbridge and
railing at the entrance to the yard as a small

token of gratitude for the privilege of holding
the meetings on the ground.
These weekly
meetings are attended by prominent men of
Catawissa and other points. \\'illiam J. Creasy,
of the State Legislature, whose home is two
miles out of town, being often seen there.

come occasionally and frearound during the week following
to learn more. From 12 o'clock to 4, on Sunday afternoons, when the Brotherhood meet-

Many

quently

strangers
call

ing convenes, it is not unusual for twenty-five
or thirty people to call, and there have been
as many as fifty.
Miss Walter has the admiration and respect
of all the residents of Catawissa and vicinity,

in fact of all who have heard of her simple,
unfailing devotion. To quote again from the
paper previously mentioned, "In a town of
2,200 people, with five churches of average
attendance, it is fair to say none receives
more consideration for works done than does
this one woman who herself composed the
entire congregation, week after week."
The Catawissa meetinghouse is built of
logs and retains its early architecture of 1774
unashamed. The board shutters and the window frames fit as closely as do those of more
recent times, and the narrow doors in front
open one on either side of the necessary partition of the early days, when men and women
Friends occupied opposite sides of the house.
So exact was the building that a small window
in the back of the house must needs be placed
so in the middle that a half of it is on either
side of the division.
The old lock, which
came from England just before the Revolustill
is
but
not
used.
Within are
here,
tion,
the benches moved from the earlier meetinghouse, perhaps as far back as 1740 the exact
date cannot be learned.
Built, as it was, in
the midst of a pine forest, the upper cuts of
the trees felled for the purpose were doubtless used for the outer walls, while the larger
butt cuts were hand-sawed for lining boards.
Pitch pine surely shows its lasting qualities,
for while the knots stand out in relief no sign
of decay is evident in the partition, lining
boards or benches, hand-carved slightly by
the penknives of boys of many a bygone generation.
The stoves, one on either side, are
of the sheet iron variety, and stand on brick
mortar
and
foundations.
Elias Hicks has preached in this house, as
have John Comly, Hugh Judge and other noted
ministers of that early day, as well as John
Allen and Sarah
Cornell, of Baltimore
J.
Flitcraft, of Chester, and others of more recent date.
;

;

Although cement has been recently used to
calk the interstices between the logs, there
yet remains some of the clay and stone filling
of the earlier day.
As the house now stands, its back is to the
street, but when it was built it fronted the
old Reading road, which wound its way
through the woods, but is there no more. The
ground has so filled up around the door that
only the top stone of the old-time horse block
remains above ground, a memento of the time
when women as well as men rode many miles
to meeting on horseback.
Now the notices of "trespassing forbidden"
adorn the massive oaks within the inclosure.
.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
The men of the town nailed a penalty notice
on the fence one winter not long ago, during
Miss Walter's absence. Within, however, is
a unique notice for which a man is not rereads
"Games of all kinds are
forbidden on these premises, and birds are not
to be disturbed under any circumstances."
Miss Walter takes much interest in the "light
housekeeping" of the birds, and loves to have
them around her there.
sponsible.

The graveyard adjoining is nearly full, and
holds within its precincts not only members,
but many descendants of Friends, who claim
Here
right of burial through their ancestry.
the dates run from the early days of the twenties and thirties on, while very many brownstone slabs, doubtless far antedating these,
bear neither name nor date, or at most the initials of the name only.
Here we find the
names of those early adherents, Sharpless,
Hughes, John, Clayton, Hartman, Walter,
Hayhurst and others. Some who desired monuments something more than the low stones
prescribed by Friends secured a tract of land
wherein they can erect such as pleases them

—

This tract adjoins the

without restrictions.

on the southwest.
an Indian name, meaning "pure
water," the Shawanese Indians having established a wigwam here in 1697. All the white
settlers at first were Friends, but others came
later.
The first house was built by Moses
Roberts, a Friend, and is still standing, unUnlike the
recognizable, however, as such.
meetinghouse it preceded by one year, it has
taken on another coat, giving it the appearance
of a stone house, while the "Quaker Church,"
original graveyard

Catawissa

as it is called, retains its original appearance,
as has the sect its original faith.
The first school was also built by Friends,
in 1797, ten years after Mr. Hughes had laid
out streets and called the place Hughesburg,
but finally returned to the Indian name it yet
retains.

Twenty years
inghouse the

after the building of the meet-

first

church communion was held

in a private house, the first church not being
erected until 1804. The first Methodist service

was not held

until 1834, yet that

denomina-

now the largest congregation in the
The old stone mill, built in 1801, is

tion has
place.

yet standing, a part of
ing.

The paper

being used for grindbuilt in 181 1, has re-

mill,

cently been abandoned.

the

day,

651

stopping at hospitable homes over

night.

HARVEY

thalmologist,

KLINETOB, Oph.

D., ophBerwick, Pa., was born at
Fairmount, this State, June 5, 1861, and is a
son of Daniel and Mary (Shaffer) Klinetob.
Stouft'er Klinetob, Dr. Klinetob's grandfather, was an early settler in Salem township,
Luzerne county, where he engaged in farming.

Daniel Klinetob,

father

Dr.

Klinetob,

was born in Salem township, Luzerne county,
and followed farming there in Fairmount and
Salem townships for twenty-two years. His
death occurred in 1897, in his ninety-second
He married Mary Shaffer, who was
year.
born in Briarcreek township, Columbia Co.,
Pa., daughter of David Shaffer, who owned
and operated a farm near Evansville, in Briarcreek township. The mother of Dr. Klinetob
died in 1901. There were eleven children born
to Daniel Klinetob and wife, as follows; Bowman, who is a farmer in Luzerne county William, now deceased; Fannie, widow of H.
Holmes, who was a teacher of music; Dennis,
who is a resident of Beach Haven Minerva,
who is the wife of William Young, of Beach
Haven Goodwin, who is a resident of Loyalville, Luzerne county; Nathaniel, who is a
resident of Berwick; Lafayette, a resident of
Beach Haven, R. D. Harvey L. Guin, who
is a dentist at Berwick; and Phamie, who is
the wife of Fred Callender, a merchant at
Beach Haven.
Harvey L. Klinetob attended school during
his boyhood at Ross, Pa., afterwards in Briarcreek township, Columbia county, subsequently the high school at Huntington Mills,
Pa., and still later was graduated from the
;

;

Kingston (Pa.) Seminary. He followed farming for a few years, but in the meanwhile
continued his reading and study, particularly
along the line of optics, in which he found
This resulted in
himself greatly interested.
his taking a course of study in the Philadelphia Optical College, from which institution
in December, 1908. He then

he was graduated

located at Berwick and engaged in practice,
but in a short time entered the McCormick

Medical College,

Chicago, making a spe-

cialty of ophthalmology and graduating in
this branch of medical science on Oct. 21,
Since then Dr. Klinetob has been es1909.

Dickson building, Berwick.
formed a partnership with his
son Dalbys under the name of Drs. H. L.

until

passenger train ran through Catawissa
Sunday, July 15, 1854, and previous to
that Friends attending yearly meeting in Phil-

tablished in
In 1912 he

adelphia had to drive by long stages during

Klinetob

the

Son.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

652

Nov. 20. 1895, Dr. Klinetob was married
to Sallie Bender, who was born July 10, 1871,
at Stillwater, Columbia Co., Pa., daughter of
Elias and Rebecca (Markle) Bender.
Her
father was a farmer during the earlier part
of his life and later engaged in merchandisHe is a veteran of the Civil war and
ing.
during his service was employed for a time
in making shoes for the soldiers. He now lives
retired and makes his home with his children.
His wife Rebecca (Markle) died in
1909.

Brick Church graveyard in Briarcreek townPolitically he was a Democrat, but held

ship.

The German Lutheran Church

offices.

held his membership.

Prior to leaving Mifflin

township John Creasy married Margaret Dietterick, and they had the following children
Elias married Elizabeth Hower. and both are
deceased Jacob married Fannie Freas, and
both are deceased; Caleb is deceased; John,
deceased, married Mary Runyeon, and lived
at Fishing Creek Philip married Rachel Hagenbuch Stephen, who married a Western
woman, lives in Iowa Lafayette is mentioned
below Effie, who is deceased, married Daniel
Hess, of Mifflinville; Hettie married Isaac
Snyder, and both are deceased Hannah married A. Folmer, and both are deceased William died at the age of twenty-one years.
Lafayette Creasy, son of John Creasy and
father of Joseph A. Creasy, was born in
Mifflin township, Columbia Co., Pa., Jan. 2,
1 82 1,
and worked on his father's homestead
until he was eighteen years old.
At that
time he began learning the blacksmith's trade,
with
a
Mr.
working
Wright, remaining for
:

;

Dr. and Mrs. Klinetob have had five children
Dalbys B., Sept. 30, 1896; Reka, July
Darwin, Aug.
5, 1898; Renna, May 8, 1900
Dr. Kline15, 1904; Modeska June 14, 1907.
tob and his family belong to the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Berwick.
He is
greatly interested in Sunday school work, having taught a class for eighteen years, and has
been assistant superintendent of the school.
He is very active in church work and is serving on the board of stewards and as assistant
class leader.
Fraternally he belongs to the
Knights of Malta and to the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics. Professionally
he is connected with the National Society of
Ophthalmology, and is acquainted with the
:

;

leading men of science in the country who devote their time and efforts to the perfecting of
important branch of medicine.
Dr. D.^lbys B. Klinetob, son of Dr. HarL.
and Sallie (Bender) Klinetob. was born
vey
at Berwick, Pa., Sept. 30, 1896.
He attended
public school in the borough and while passing
through the Berwick high school entered the

this

McCormick

Medical

College,

Chicago,

where he was graduated in ophthalmology,
Aug. 15, 191 2. Since that year he has been
associated in practice with his father.

JOSEPH A. CREASY, a farmer of Centre
township, Columbia county, was born Jan. 24,
1859, in that township, son of Lafayette
Creasy.

John Creasy, grandfather of Joseph A.
Creasy, was a farmer. He located in MifHin
township, Columbia Co., Pa., on a farm of
200 acres, but as this land was of very poor
quality he sold it, and moved to the tract of
400 acres in Centre township on which he
spent the remainder of his life. While working in a wheat field he drank some cold spring
water, and the reaction developed a chill
which caused pneumonia, from which he died
when only about forty-eight years of age. His
remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at
Miliflinville, but his wife was buried at the

;

When John
years at Lime Ridge.
Creasy died his son Philip bought half of his
homestead, and the remaining half was divided equally between Elias and Lafayette.

three

The

latter later

his property

bought 125 acres additional.
he carried on general farming

until nineteen years prior to his death, when
he retired and moved to Bloomsburg, spend-

ing the remainder of his life in that city, in
a residence which he purchased.
He was
stricken with paralysis during a visit to his

daughter at Wilkes-Barre. Pa., and died from
the effects of the stroke when about eighty
His widow survives, now about
years old.
eighty-five years old, and makes her home at
Wilkes-Barre. After the death of Lafayette

Creasy his property was divided, Joseph taking one fourth of the original farm of his
grandfather, Caroline the 125-acre farm which
she later sold, and Martha the Bloomsburg
Lafayette Creasy was a Democrat
For a number of years he
was a valued member of the Methodist
Church at Fowlerville, but later transferred to
property.

in political faith.

that at Bloomsburg.

Lafayette Creasy married Catherine Kirkdaughter of Joseph and Nancy Reynolds) Kirkendall, and they had the followMartha, who married Charles
ing children
Conner (deceased), resides at Wilkes-Barre,
Pa. Caroline, who married George M. Mcendall, a

;

Larney, also lives at Wilkes-Barre
A. was the only son.

;

Joseph

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Joseph A. Creasy attended public schools
Centre township, and worked for his father
upon the homestead until he was thirty years
He then rented a farm of 125 acres
old.
which he bought later on, and lived upon this

the following children: Mary married D. K.
Sloan
Frances L. married Jesse Hoffman

;

For the last
property for eighteen years.
years he has resided upon his present
farm, which he inherited, and he also owns a
farm of eighty-two acres near Columbia Park
formerly known as the Hell farm, and 118
acres in Briarcreek township, known as the
Conner farm (which is operated by William
Evans), his holdings aggregating 400 acres,
devoted to general farming.
Mr. Creasy is
a Democrat, and has served as tax collector
of his township.
Fraternally he belongs to
Washington Lodge No. 265, F. & A. M., of
Bloomsburg; Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218,
R. A. M. Mount Moriah Council, No. 10,
R. & A. M. Crusade Commandery No. 12,
K. T. Caldwell Consistory, thirty-second degree, A. A. S. R., and Irem Temple, A. A.
O. N. M. S. For many years he has been a
member of the Lime Ridge Methodist Church,
which he has served in all the offices, and he
Mr. Creasy
is a teacher in the Sunday school.
has been superintendent of the latter body,
;

;

now

serving as assistant superintendent.
Dec. 31, 1890, Joseph A. Creasy married Mary I. Millard, a daughter of Mordecai
is

Alordecai married Sarah J. Hoffman Reese
married Jane Fowler.
Mordecai Millard, son of Reese Millard and
father of Mrs. Creasy, was born in Centre
township April 7, 183 1, and attended school
there until he was twelve years old, after
which he studied by himself, being a great
;

five

and

653

and Sarah

Millard.
J. (Hoffman)
Joseph ]\Iillard, the immigrant ancestor of
the family, came from England in company
with his brother and located in Columbia
county. Pa., taking up land that lay between
Briar creek and the farm of Joseph A. Creasy.

reader and very ambitious.
He became the
owner of 175 acres of land, but later sold
half of this property to a Mr. Harlman. Mr.
Millard was greatly interested in politics, and
in 1867 was elected sheritf of Columbia
county,

which necessitated

his

residence at Blooms-

served as sheriff for three years,
to 1872 was doorkeeper of
the House of Representatives at
Harrisburg.
In 1875 he moved back to his farm in Centre
In
township, where he died Feb. 20, 1897.
November, 1890, he was elected associate judge
burg.

and from 1871

on the Democratic ticket, and reelected in 1895
for a term of five years, dying in office. Formerly a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, in later life he gave those
relations but

little

disposition, he

man of genial
thought.
retained friends, and

made and

was widely and favorably known throughout
Columbia and adjoining counties. He and his
wife are interred at the Brick Church in Briarcreek township.
While residing at Bloomsburg he was one of the stewards of the State
Normal in that city for the period of one year.
In December, 1852, Mordecai Millard marSarah J. Hoffman, who was born Oct. 17,
1833, a daughter of William and Anna (Dietterick) Hoffman, and died in February, 1905.
Their children were: William Horton, born
ried

married Phoebe John.
Reese Millard, son of Joseph Millard, was
born in Centre township, Columbia Co., Pa., Jan. 10, 1855 Anna Elizabeth, born Dec. 17,
April I, 1789, and was educated in the schools 1856; Mary Imogene, born March 4, 1859,
of his native place. For many years he car- who married Joseph A. Creasy Reese E., born
ried on general agriculture on a farm of 175 March 16, 1861, who died April 3, 1861 John
acres in Centre township.
In political faith Lewis, born April 30, 1862, who died Dec. 3,
he was a Democrat. A member of the Society 1869; Frances Hoffman, born Oct. 22, 1864,
of Friends, he attended meeting at Millville who died Dec. 4, 1869; Ernest Elias, born
and Berwick, and is buried in the cemetery at Nov. 28, 1866, who married Edna Moore on
the latter place. Reese jMillard married (first)
Aug. 30, 1894 Charles Brickway, born Nov.
Catherine Rittenhouse, who was born in 1788, 30, 1869, who died March 14, 1871 and Har'and died in April, 1823. They had the follow- riet L., born July 9, 1873, who died Oct. 11,
1881.
Phoebe, who died in childhood
ing children
]\Irs.
William, who married a Miss Moore Joseph,
Mary Imogene (Millard) Creasy,
who married a Miss Hutchinson Phoebe (2)
daughter of ^lordecai Millard and wife of
Anne, wife of William Bowman Rebecca, Joseph A. Creasy, was born in Centre townwife of James Tubbs and Catherine, wife of ship March 4, 1859, and died Aug. 3, 1910.
The mother of these was She is buried at the Brick Church in BriarCharles Conner.
Mrs. Creasy received her
Reese Millard subse- creek township.
buried at Berwick.
quently married (second) Elizabeth Horton, educational training in the schools of her
who was born July 24, 1790, and they had native township and at the Bloomsburg State
'•

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

654

Normal

A woman of admirable Chris-

School.

tian character, her untimely death occasioned
much sorrow, not only to her immediate
family, but to all those who had the pleasure

John
Samuel Thomas William Henry Nathan
Edward, born Aug. 9, 1813, who died June 15,
1889: Elizabeth Betsy), who married Samuel
;

;

(

Gettis

EDWARDS,

;

who married Abraham Culp
and Margaret, who married Jacob Shafter.

of her acquaintance.

JAMES

Culp, and they had children as follows

;

Katie,

;

of Bloomsburg,
of recognized standing, was

Henry Edwards, son of William, and father
of James S. Edwards, was born three miles

born at Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa., June 30,
1859, son of Henry and Ellen (Stewart) Edwards.
Some time before the Revolutionary war
three brothers, Mario, Edward and James
Edwards, sailed from England, and coming
to America settled on a farm where the city
of New York is now located.
Mario, who
was a bachelor, purchased several large tracts
of land, one of which consisted of thirty-five
acres now included in one of the finest sections

in Columbia county. Pa., and
learned the carpenter's trade,
which he followed in conjunction with farmHe sulifered from a paralytic stroke in
ing.

a business

man

of the metropolis, another, of fifty-five acres,
is principally located in Jersey City.
Mario
Edwards bequeathed his property to his brothers Edward and James, and all died within the
space of a few years.
Being in comfortable
circumstances their families did not care for
the farms, scattering east and west, and the
government took charge of the property in the
name of the Edwards estate, selling portions
of it with the reservation that the title still
belong to the family should the descendants
ever claim it. The matter dragged along in
the courts of the Empire State until the
supreme court decided that those heirs who
could be located should appear at New York
July 27, 1896. Of these three brothers, Edward Edwards was the great-great-greatgrandfather of James S. Edwards. He married Susan Boone.
John Edwards, second son of Edward Edwards, settled in Virginia about 1772.
William Edwards, son of John Edwards, and

great-grandfather of James S. Edwards, was
born in 1774 near Fairfax, Va., a family
record says in "Sonder" county.
Not long
thereafter he accompanied his parents to Jersey, where they reared their family, and then
came to Pennsylvania, but in later life went
West, where his death occurred. William Edwards had the following children
David
William John Catherine, who died unmar:

;

ried

;

and Elizabeth, who married Thomas

Webb.
William Edwards, son of William, and
grandfather of James S. Edwards, spent his
life in agricultural pursuits
in Briarcreek
township, Columbia county, where his death
occurred.
He was buried at Berwick. He
married Margaret Culp, daughter of Jonathan

from Berwick,

early

life

life, and for thirty years was an invalid,
dying at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
George M. Lockard, at Bloomsburg, in 1898,
when seventy-nine years of age. He was a
Methodist in his religious belief, and was
buried near the old homestead in Briarcreek
township. Mr. Edwards married Mrs. Ellen

middle

(Stewart) Thompson, daughter of James
Stewart and widow of Joseph Thompson, and
William T.,
they had the following children
who is deceased Salinda, who married John
Lockard George Z., who is engaged in min:

;

Lake City, Utah Elizabeth, who married Thomas Geddis and lives
at Bloomsburg and James S.
Mrs. Edwards
ing ventures at Salt

;

had two children by her former marriage
Alexander H. Thompson, who served in the
Union army during the Civil war, subsequently
became a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and
died at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
and Esther J.,
widow of George M. Lockard, who died Dec.
Mrs. Edwards's first husband,
1900.
13,
Joseph Thompson, was born at Espy, Columbia Co., Pa., and was a potter by trade. When
a young man he went to Michigan, and there
died in 1841, being buried at White Pigeon,
:

;

that State.

Following his demise the widow

and her two children returned to Columbia
county, where she met and married Mr.
Edwards.
James S. Edwards, son of Henry Edwards,
was educated in the public schools of Bloomsburg, and in his youth learned the trade of
blacksmith, which he followed for about sixteen years at Nanticoke and three years at
Wilkes-Barre. At the end of that time he
went out to Utah, locating about fifty miles
south of Salt Lake City, and became superintendent of the Chloride Point silver mine, continuing to be interested in the mining business
for about seven years.
At the end of that
period he returned to Pennsylvania and purchased a farm at Orangeville, Columbia
county, but three years later came to Bloomsburg and bought out the coal business of J.
G. Quick, the largest in the city. Since 1907

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
Mr. Edwards has continued to conduct this
business, which is located at the Reading station, and which has enjoyed a healthy and
continuous growth, his trade being now one of

the largest in that line in the city. He is known
as one of the substantial men of Bloomsburg,
and among his associates bears a reputation
for strict integrity.
Mr. Edwards married Mary Jennings, a
daughter of John Jennings, of Nanticoke, Pa.,
and they have had the following children:
George Z., a traveling salesman, who makes
his home at Eureka, Utah; Anna, the wife
of Julius C. Hardie, a practicing physician at
Garfield, Utah Mary S., who died when six
months old and Thomas, who is still attending
;

;

Four children were born
thirty years old.
to Mr. and Mrs. Litchard: Alfred H., of ExAlontour county; Clara, deceased;
The
deceased; and James Harvey.
father remarried, his second wife being Catherine Shumaker, of Lycoming county, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Opp) Shumaker. There was one child by this union,
Minnie, now the wife of Isaac Michael, of

change,
Alice,

Lycoming county. Mrs. Litchard, now (1914)
seventy-seven years old,

still

living

on the

old homestead.
J. Harvey Litchard passed his early life in
his native county, receiving his education in
the public schools.
After his marriage he
moved to the farm he ik)w occupies, in An-

Mr. Edwards was made a thony township, Montour county (and which
Rocky Mountain Lodge, No. ii, he inherited after his father's death), and to
& A. M., at Mercur, Utah, and on return- its cultivation and maintenance he has since

school.

Mason
F.

655

Socially

ing to his native county transferred his membership to Oriental Lodge, No. 460, at OrangeWith his family he attends the
ville, Pa.
Presbyterian Church. Essentially a business
man, he has never cared for the struggles of
public life, but has not been indiliferent to the
duties of citizenship, and has supported all
measures making for the progress of his community and the betterment of its people. His
wide circle of friends testifies eloquently to
his universal popularity.

JAMES HARVEY LITCHARD

has one

of the finest farms in Anthony township, Montour county, and besides looking after his agricultural interests has been associated with
other business in the vicinity and active in
public life. He is at present serving as supervisor of his township. Mr. Litchard is a native
of Lycoming county, Pa., born on the old
homestead Feb. 5, 1863, and he is a greatgrandson of Joseph Litchard. The latter came

country from England with his parents,
when eight years old, and the family first
located in Berks county, Pa., eventually settling
in Lycoming county. Pa., where they secured
land and built the old home which is still
to this

standing.

James Litchard, son of Joseph, was born
home place mentioned, and died

the old

at
in

He married Anna
1876, aged ninety years.
Strauss, and they had a family of ten children, all now deceased.

devoted the greater part of his time, with reshow how skillful a farmer he is.
He raises general crops and stock, and has
made a thorough success of his work, being
considered one of the most progressive agriculturists in his end of the county.
His fine
place, highly improved and intelligently cared
sults that

model

estate, and stamps the owner
of enterprise and practical ideas.
About six years after his marriage he bought
a farm of sixty acres, and he also owns the
Bitler farm of fifty-three acres, adjoining, as
well as a timber tract of thirty acres.
Mr.
Litchard is one of the directors of the
Farmers' National Bank of Exchange, Montour county, is a stockholder and director in
the Strawberry Ridge Creamery Company, a
member of Exchange Grange, No. 65, P. O.
H., and has been quite influential in the administration of public affairs in his township.
He served two terms as township auditor, and
for, is a

as a

man

present supervisor, to which office he
reelected in 1913, for four years.
In
politics he is a Democrat, in religious connection a member of Trinity Reformed Church,
is

was

Strawberry Ridge.

On Dec. 24, 1895, Mr. Litchard married
Laura Alice McVicker, who was born Jan.
5, 1869, on the old McVicker homestead near
old Derry Church, only child of Wilson C.
McVicker. Mr. and Mrs. Litchard have no
children.

Mrs. Litchard's parents, Wilson C. and Ada
M. (Pickard) Mc\'icker, are now (1913) living retired in Anthony township. The father
and was born May 8, 1846, the mother Tan. 23,

Jacob Litchard, son of James and Anna
(Strauss) Litcjiard, was born in 183 1 on the

home place, farmed there all his life,
died Oct. 28, 1906.
He married Margaret
Trick, who was born in Lycoming county in
1S37, daughter of John Trick, and died when

old

1847.

William McVicker, the founder of the Mcfamily in America, was a native of

\'icker

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

656
Ireland, born April
this

country

first

1733, and on coming to
located in Northampton

county, Pa. Thence he came to what is now
Anthony township, Montour county, settling
near Derry Church, where he first bought 120
acres of land. On this place he resided until
his death.
Only two acres of it were cleared
when he came, and he not only succeeded in
improving it greatly, but added to it until his
holdings were extensive, for he was one of
the prosperous men of his day. By trade he
was a shoemaker, and some of his tools are
He
still in the possession of his descendants.
died in 1808. He was prominent among the
organizers of the historic old Derry Presbyterian Church, in

what

now Anthony

(for-

merly part of Derry) township, and his posterity have taken an equally zealous interest
in its welfare, his great-grandson, Wilson C.
McVicker, father of Mrs. J. Harvey Litchard,
having served as elder and Sabbath school
William McVicker married
superintendent.
Eleanor Nelson, who preceded him to the
grave, and they were buried in the cemetery
of old Derry Church.
James McVicker, son of William, was born
in 1790 (an old account says he was born in
Northampton county, and was a child when he
came with his parents to Anthony township).
He married Sarah Miller in Montour county,
and they were the parents of twelve children
si.x sons and six daughters, Rebecca, wife of
J. K. Shultz, of Derry township, and Wil-

—

liam being the last two survivors. The father
died in March, 1869, the mother in February,
1862.

William McVicker, son of James, was born
April 21, 1814, in what is now Derry town-

and was married in this county March
84 1, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and
Jane (Miller) Craig, natives of Pennsylvania
ship,

mile of where he

now

and has always
township. He bought
his present farm of seventy- four acres in the
He also has a wood lot in
spring of 1868.
Columbia county, of fourteen and a half acres.
He was married in Montour county Feb. 4,
1868, to Ada M. Pickard, born in Bradford
county, Pa., and only child of James and Margaret (Clark) Pickard, both of Bradford
The former is buried in Bradford
county.
cemetery, and the latter made her home with
her daughter, Mrs. McVicker, until her death,

made

his

home

resides,

in this

Mrs. Margaret (Clark)
October, 1891.
Pickard was a daughter of Robert and Jane
(Wilson) Clark, the former of whom came
to this country from Ireland with his parents
when four years old.
Mr. and Mrs. McVicker are members of
Derry Presbyterian Church. He is a member
of Exchange Grange, No. 65, P. O. H.
in

WILLIAM MORRIS HAGER,

secretary

of the American Car and Foundry Company,
was born in New Milford, Pa., a son of SalS. and Emma (Scott) Hager.
His antecedents settled in Schoharie county, N. Y.
From there his grandfather. Nelson W. Hager,
removed in 1850 with his family to New MilHis son Salmon S. Hager (father
ford, Pa.
of William Morris) enlisted in the 141st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered in as sergeant, in July, 1862; he was
wounded in the battle of Gettysburg, and was
promoted to first lieutenant in July, 1864;
taken prisoner at Deep Bottom, Va., on Aug.
16, 1864, and confined for eight months in
Libby, Salisbury and Danville prisons, and
mustered out with his regiment at the close
of the war.
In 1872 Salmon S. Hager accepted a position as agent of the Lackawanna Railroad
Company and moved to Gouldsboro, Pa.,
where he also carried on a coal and lumber

mon

and early settlers in Montour county, whence
they removed in 1820 to Clark county, Ohio,
where Mrs. McVicker was born. Both her business. He was an unwavering Republican,
parents died there and are buried in the Muddy taking a deep interest in local politics, and
Run cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker were especially in school matters. In 1886 and
Samuel Craig, again in 1888 he was elected a member of
the parents of six children
Sarah E., the Pennsylvania Legislature, although the disof Watsontown, Pa. Wilson C.
widow of James Schooley, of White Deer trict was Democratic.
Emma Scott, mother of William Morris
John R., of An\'alley, Lycoming Co., Pa.
of the
thony township, who died July 18, 1907; and Hager, is a descendant of Henry Scott,
Emma Jane and Mary Luella, both deceased. County of Suffolk, England, whose son
Mr. and Mrs. McVicker were both members Thomas came to this country and settled in
Mr. McY^icker Connecticut in 1634.
of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hager received his education in the
owned sixty-five acres of land in Anthony
and the
township, where he resided until his death, public schools of Gouldsboro, Pa.,
which occurred in November, 18
Wyoming Business College at Kingston,
Wilson C. McVicker was born within a half Pa'. He learned telegraphy when a boy, and
:

;

—

PIji,^.„ ^.^.,....

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
after leaving school held the positions of operator at Gouldsboro, Pa., and bookkeeper in
Scranton. Pa., and New York City. In 1890
he resigned to accept a position with The

657

was chairman of the

finance committee during
the construction of the new high school buildIn
he
is
an ardent Republican.
ing.
politics

JOHN G. AIcHENRY, who at the time of
Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company
In 1892 he was elected as- his death was sen-ing his third term as Conat Berwick, Pa.
sistant treasurer of the company, and after- gressman for the Sixteenth district, Pennsylwards treasurer. This position he held until vania, was a native of Benton township,
and a
1899. He was also secretary, treasurer and a Columbia county, bom April 26, 1868,
director of the Berwick Water Company was representative of one of the oldest families of
a member of the board of trustees of the First this region.
Daniel McHenrj', great-grandfather of John
Presbyterian Church for a number of years,
:

secretary of the board, and member of the
building committee during the construction of
the new church. In 1899. when the American

McHenry, was bom

in the

North of

Ire-

land, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to
this country before the Revolution, in which
he fought with the Colonial forces. He was a
pioneer settler in Columbia county. Pa., leav-

Car and Foundry Company was formed, he
went to New York, was elected assistant treasurer and assistant secretary and afterwards ing his former home with an ax and six
secretary of the company, and has since occu- months' provisions, and taking up a claim of
six hundred acres in Fishingcreek township
pied that position.
Mr. Hager is a director of the American (where the borough of Stillwater is now loCar and Foundry Company, the American cated), later owned by his grandson Daniel
built a log
Forged Nut Company, and a director and sec- McHenry. He felled trees and
the first building erected in the county
retary of the American Car and Foundry Ex- cabin,
with
the
nearest
north
of
Orangeville,
neighbor
port Company. He is a member of the Pennat that town, six miles distant, and the nearest
sylvania Society in New York, the Railroad
Club of New York, the Wayne County (Pa.) market at Northumberland, thirty-four miles
there.
Society of New York, and the New York away. His family was soon established
Railroad Club, the Scott Family Association
and the Old Time Telegraphers' Association.
He is fond of automobiling. fishing and hunthas
ing is an enthusiast on agriculture and
a farm near his old home at Gouldsboro, Pa.,
herd
of
a
is
where he
thoroughestablishing
bred Ayrshire cattle, and raising fruit and
other farm products.
Mr. Hager married Anna Edkin Rhodes
Nov. 28. 1888, at Gouldsboro, Pa., a daughter
of Sydenham H. Rhodes (who at that time
was a large lumber manufacturer in Pennsylvania) and Hannah M. (Foulke) Rhodes, a
descendant of Rhirid Flaidd, Lord of Penllyn,
"who dwelt in Rhewaedog Wales in the
Twelfth Century." Edward Foulke. County
:

of Merionethshire, Wales, came to this counPa. His
try in 1698, and settled at Gwynedd,
of
grandson. Richard Foulke, was a member

married Mary Stevens, sister of Col. William Stevens, a disting^iished officer of the
war of 181 2, and a well known horseman of
Mr. and Mrs. McSteuben county, N. Y.

Henrj' had the following children: Benjamin,
who owned a part of the old homestead, followed farming and lumbering, and died of
yellow fever while going down the S.-squehanna river with a raft Daniel was the grandfather of James B. McHenr\% ex-sheriff of
;

Columbia county John is mentioned below
Uriah was a farmer, and by trade a shoemaker; Moses, born in 1791, died in 1855;
Elias, a farmer and lumberman, was occupied
all his life in the place where he was bom
(he was a colonel in the State militia and a
very active man in every way) Martha was
The
Mrs. Colley Susan was Mrs. Edgar.
father is buried at St. Gabriel's Church in
mother
in
the
cemethe
Sugarloaf township,
;

;

Assembly in 1761-68.
Mr. and Mrs. Hager have their home at ter>' at Stillwater.
John McHenry, son of Daniel, above, was a
Roselle, N. J.
They have two sons, Russell
farmer, owning a large tract of land in Benton
and Horace, born in Berwick, Pennsylvania.
^Ir. Hager is a member of the Cranford township where all his children settled but
Mrs. Thomas Young) and Matthew,
Golf Club and the Roselle Casino. He served Sally
several vears as trustee of the First Presby- who lived in Jackson township. It was he who
terian Church of Roselle. and has shown a started, in a small way, the distillery which his
keen interest in educational affairs he was grandson John G. McHenry developed into
He was known
called to the board of school trustees after such a large establishment.
the burning of the Roselle school building and as "the old hunter," and it is said that he never
the Colonial

(

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

658

when he went after a deer, the records risburg, who survives him, as do four brothers
showing that he killed about two thousand. Jacob, of Liverpool, Pa. and Burt, Elmer
By his marriage to Helena Cutter he had ten and Isaac, all of Harrisburg. David E. Murchildren
Jennie, who married Joseph Lem- ray early manifested a studious disposition
mons and (second) Amos Ellis; Elizabeth, and ambition for education which forecast
his busy and useful career.
\Mien a boy he
wife of Lorenzo Mendenhall; Samuel C.
Matthew, of Jackson went to work, following the towpath on the
Ephraim
Stephen
township: John; Rohr; Maria, who married canal, and studied as he walked along, so that
Thomas Hess and Sally, who married Thomas he had prepared himself for teaching by the
time he reached young manhood. In 1887 he
Young.
Of the above family, Rohr McHenry, now taught school in Perry county. He attended
the
normal schools at Millersville and Lock
deceased, was the father of John G. McHenry.
John G. McHenry was one of the remarka- Haven, graduating from the latter June 25,
ble figures of his generation in Columbia 1890, and meantime, in 1888, had obtained the
His education was acquired in the degree of A. B. In 1893 he was elected princounty.
local country schools and at Orangeville Acad- cipal of the Catawissa schools, which position
emy. In his youth he drove a lumber team, he held for two years (being first teacher in
and had ambitions to enter the legal profes- the high school during that time), and after
sion, but he decided to enter business first, leaving taught three years in the schools at
and the magnificent scale upon which his Reedsville, Clearfield county, where he studied
Alexoperations were conducted speaks well for the for the ministry. His first charge was at
in the Central Pennsylvania Methodist
ability which justified his hopes of a successful andria,
He became a farmer, manufacturer conference, and from there he went to Irocareer.
and banker, becoming president of the Colum- quois, of the South Dakota conference. He
bia County National Bank, State superin- held two other appointments in that confertendent of the Grange banks in Pennsylvania, ence, at Miller and Leeds. Sufl:'ering from an
head of the great distilling company which aft'ection of the throat, he retired from the
bore the McHenry name, and founder of the ministry and returned to Liverpool about 1906,
Pioneer Farms, one of the most ambitious taking up the studies to fit him for a position
in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculagricultural projects ever launched in this viture, division of zoology, which he held at the
cinity. A fuller account of his business operations will be found in the chapter on Benton time of his death, being regarded as one of the
In -1902
division.
township. Mr. McHenry was elected to rep- most efficient men of that
resent the Sixteenth district in Congress three he received the degree of Ph. D. from the
successive times, and was serving his third University of Chicago. During his service in
term at the time of his death, Dec. 27, 1912. the ministry in South Dakota he did a great
He held a position on the Appropriations com- deal of evangelistic work and was recognized
mittee. He was interred in the Benton ceme- as one of the leading evangelists of the Northfailed

;

west.

tery.

Mr. McHenry married Mary Wolf, daughter of Edward Wolf, of Pottsgrove, and they
had two children, John G. and DeArmond.

EMMET MURRAY,

late
of
DAVID
Catawissa, though he died in his prime, had
made a reputation in two fields of high endeavor. As a horticulturist and orchardist he
was a master juggling with nature, and his
attainments as an entomologist well supplemented his knowledge of vegetable life, fitting
him for the work of consulting specialist, in
which he achieved wide fame. He was also a
minister of the ]\Iethodist Church and during
the years of his active work as such a leading

evangelist, retiring from that profession because of an affection of the throat.

Born Aug. 29, 1869, at Liverpool, Perry Co.,
was a son of John W. Murray, of Har-

Pa., he

In 1910 IMr. Murray built one of the handsomest homes in the borough of Catawissa, on
Fisher avenue, into which he moved in December of that year. The spacious grounds
surrounding it he turned into a miniature horticultural experiment station, and at the time
of his death he was also engaged in orchard
demonstration work in Somerset county. It

was not only in the region of his own home
Mr. Murray became known as an expert
in his chosen profession, but his fame spread
all over this country and even to Europe.

that

Famous

little
specialists journeyed to this
Pennsylvania town to consult and watch him
From
his
hands.
of
in the wonderful work
France, England and Holland they came to
learn from this wizard of the orchard. It was
a treat to visit beautiful "Roselawn," and a

number of magazine

writers

came

hither to

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

659

obtain material for articles which have been
widely read and enjoyed by thousands. Only

America in 1852, landing at New York City,
and soon afterwards settled in Danville, Mon-

the rarest and best stock was selected, and the
results were worthy of the attempt.
Mr. ]\Iurray was a member of the Horticultural Society of Pennsylvania, had served
as president of various horticultural and agricultural societies, and was president of two at
the time of his death, as well as chairman of
the Columbia County Pomological Society
and member of the Catawissa Grange. Some
time ago he published a brochure on technical
horticulture and agriculture which is considered an authority by the different State governments. Socially Mr. Murray was a thirty-

tour Co., Pa.

second-degree Mason and Shriner, and associated with the important organizations, social
and commercial, of Catawissa, his great
energy carrying him into every progressive
movement. Public school work and religious

he was graduated in 1878. He was admitted
to the bar in Xew York, and the same year
in Alontour county. Pa.
Subsequently he
commenced the practice of law at Danville,
in 1879, and entered into a partnership with
James Scarlet which continued for two years.
Mr. Vincent then conceived the idea of establishing the Danville Stove Manufactory, organized a stock company, and was elected its

enterprises interested

him

specially.

A mem-

ber of the Methodist Church from childhood,
he continued to labor zealously in the cause
after giving up the ministry as a profession,
his training combining with his love for the
work to make his cooperation valuable. For
some time he was jjresident and leader of the
Brotherhood of St. Matthew, the men's organization for the study of the Bible that for
a time made Catawissa noted in the men's

forward movement.
Though he had not been in good health for
a year Mr. Murray's death, on Sept. 29, 1914,
was sudden and a severe shock to the commuOn Sunday he had taken some of the
nity.
Methodist choir members out to the Mclntyre
Church in his car, and though not well on
Monday morning seemed as usual in the afternoon.
The end came quickly and without

warning early Tuesday morning.
buried in the Hillside cemetery.

He was

Mr. Murray married
Phoebe Fisher Osmun, daughter of William J.
him
with their adopted
survives
who
Fisher,
The latter was born Sept.
son, Edward D.
Oct.

20,

igo6,

WALTER J. VINCENT,

farmer and stock

raiser of Valley township, Montour county, is
a member of the third generation of his fam-

the county, where he was born June 9,
1879, on the old Mncent homestead in Liberty
township. He is a son of Henry Mncent, and
grandson of Job Vincent.
Vincent was born in England, as was
ily in

Job
his wife, Lydia (Roberts), and they
were married in that country.
By trade
he was a mason. He brought his family to

also

consisted of seven

Henry \'incent, eldest in the family of Job
\'incent, was born in England,
Dec. 25, 1844. and came to America with his
He had but limited educational opparents.
portunities in his youth, as at the age of ten
he commenced work in the rolling mills, being thus employed until he was thirty-two
He worked on contract for
years of age.
several years and during that time also found
for
opportunity
studying law, taking a course
and Lydia

Columbia College,

New York

City,

where

The success of this business
president.
largely due to the energy and determination of Mr. Vincent.
It is now known as
the Danville Stove & Manufacturing Comfirst

was

In 1863 he married Sarah Taylor,
daughter of William Taylor. She was also
a native of England, born near the birthplace of her husband, and came to America
the same year as Mr. Vincent, both locat-

pany.

ing the same year at Danville, where they
met for the first time and were afterwards
married.
Eight children were born to their
union, namely: Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. P.
Thaddeus
Gregory, of Danville
Henry
Thomas G. Victor; Robert; Walter J., and
William.
Mrs. Vincent is a member of the
;

;

Methodist Church.
Mr. Vincent ser\'ed as a member of the
In 1862 he enlisted in
council of Danville.
Company A, I32d Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry,
battles,

II, 1906.

The family

children.

and participated

several

great

among which were Antietam, South

^Mountain, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, as well as many minor engagements and
skirmishes, having several narrow escapes.
Five balls entered his clothing, and at the
battle of Antietam his coat sleeve was completely shot off.
Walter J. Vincent had common school advantages, and learned farming at home until
He took a six months'
twenty years old.
course at the State Agricultural College, and
then returned to the old homestead, where he
has been fanning ever since. He is a success-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

660

ful young man, and his progressive methods
have placed him among the most enterprising
citizens of his section.
Mr. \ incent is a

member

of the Eagles, belonging to Lodge
No. 838, of Danville.
In 1899 Mr. Vincent married Stella Fry,
who was born May 16, 1879, in Valley township,
Mary
daughter of Jonathan and

(Hiedcr) Fry,

;

have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Vincent: Robert T., now (1913)
thirteen years old; William L., eleven; Emerson, nine; Thaddeus, seven. Mr. \'incent was
brought up a Methodist, and Mrs. \'incent is
a member of the Lutheran Church at Mausdale.

township, that county, March 26, 1874, he is
a son of George Kreisher and grandson of
John Kreisher.
John Kreisher lived in Berks county. Pa.,
until he located in what is now Cleveland
township, Columbia county, where he worked
at clearing and developing the farm he purHis
chased, dying there after a useful life.
remains were interred at Xumidia. The children of John Kreisher were: George; John;
Daniel Solomon Leonard Mary, who mar;

in 1897.
For six years he
taught school, and at the same time read law
with W. H. Rhawn, of Catawissa, being admitted to the bar of Columbia county in
September, 1900. He has since been admitted to practice in both the Superior and
Supreme courts of Pennsylvania, and the

States Circuit and District courts. His
are conveniently located in the First
National Bank building at Catawissa, and he

offices

carries

dence

on a general law practice. The confiwhich Mr. Kreisher is held is shown

by some of the public interests intrusted to
He is solicitor for Locust, Roaringcreek, Cleveland, Franklin and Catawissa
him.

the
Roaringcreek Valley and
Farmers' Union Telephone Company, and the
First National Bank of Catawissa since 1909
he has been a director of the latter institution,
and he is also a director of the All Wear Shoe
Company, of which he is secretary, having

townships,

KREISHER,

of Catawissa. attorney at law, is one of the leading
members of this profession in the southern
end of Columbia county. Born in Cleveland

ried

he was graduated

who came from Berks county,
they now live at Maus- United

Pa., many years ago
dale.
Four children

CLARENCE

land township, and later took a course at the
Bloomsburg State Normal School, from which

;

John Fisher; and Sarah, who married

Jacob Kelchner.
George Kreisher, son of John, was born in
Columbia county and grew to manhood's estate upon the farm, learning agricultural work
Shortly after his marriage, in
thoroughly.
1859, he bought a property of his own in the
Furnace, in Cleveland
vicinity of Esther
township, 108 acres of land upon which he resided until his death, in 1897.
He is buried
at the
Esther Furnace Church.
George
Kreisher married Mary Bahme, daughter of
and
of
Berks
Bahme,
Benjamin
Mary
county.
Pa., and children as follows were born to this
union Sarah, who married Emanuel Rhoads,
died in 1910; Ellen died unmarried in 1892;
Benjamin resides at Mainville, Pa.; Kate
married Edward Yeager Mary married Lewis
Horn, of Ashland, Schuylkill county;
J.
Lucinda died in 1876; Clarence E. is mentioned below
Laura, who is unmarried, resides at Catawissa Elizabeth married Charles
Keifer, of Catawissa.
Clarence E. Kreisher, son of George, attended the old Furnace schoolhouse in Cleve:

;

attained considerable prominence in the business world as well as in his profession.
popular Republican, in 1908 he was the candidate of his party for the State Assembly,
but was defeated by 565 votes, an exceedingly
small majority in view of the fact that this is
a very strong Democratic district.
The successful
candidate was Hon. William T.
Creasy. Mr. Kreisher has served three years
as president of the town council. Fraternally
he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the
K. G. E. He is a consistent member of the
Lutheran Church, to which he is giving valuable service as one of the church council
and president of the finance committee.
Mr. Kreisher married Minnie Irene Stewart,
daughter of Charles and Catherine
(Earnest) Stewart, of Cleveland township,
Columbia Co., Pa. They have had the following children
Margaret, Kathryn and

Clarence William.

DANIEL BENJAMIN BECK,

contractor

ornamental cement worker, of West
Berwick, Columbia county, was bom Aug.

and

7,
1857, in Mahoning township. Carbon
Co., Pa., son of Daniel and Anna (Garber)

Beck.

Jonas Beck, the grandfather of Daniel Benjamin Beck, was born in Germany, from which
country he emigrated to America with a
younger brother, but on reaching the United
States they became separated and never again
saw one another.
Jonas Beck settled in
Northumberland county, Pa., but subsequently

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Emmeline, who became the wife of Frank
Acker, of Lehighton, Pa. Louise, deceased,
who was the wife of Charles Fretz, of Lehighton Amanda and Matilda, who both live
at that place
Eli, who is married and lives

removed to Carbon county, where he took up
200 acres of land, and this he cleared and put
under a high state of cultivation. He continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits
bethroughout the remainder of his life, and
came one of his community's prosperous and
influential

;

he was eighty-eight years of age, at the old
homestead place. Mr. Beck was a Democrat
in

his

political

proclivities,

part

work of

the

German

Lutheran Church, of which he was a conHe held nearly all of the
sistent member.
church offices, at one time or another, and
donated the lumber and land for St. John's
Lutheran Church, known at this time as
Beck's Church. He and his good wife were

;

of Carbon county.
Daniel Beck, son of Jonas Beck, and father
of Daniel Benjamin Beck, was born on his
father's farm in Mahoning township. Carbon
Co., Pa., Dec. 27, 1820, and died in the same
community Nov. 27, 1904. He received his
education in the public schools of Carbon
county, and worked on the home farm with

ler,

tive business as

he finished clearing before he died. Like his
father he was a Democrat, and so active that
he was elected to all of the public offices in
Mahoning township within the gift of his
active in the

John's (Beck's) German Lutheran
which he held many offices, and in
Church,
the graveyard of that church he and his
good wife were buried. Mr. Beck well merited
the high esteem in which he Was held by
St.

whom

he came into contact, for
with honorable dealing and
kindly deeds and no stain or blemish mars
his record. He married Anna Garber, daughter of August Steigewald Garber, and they
became the parents of the following children
those with
his life

was

a contractor.

;

has also

the pioneer in that line in his section.
has built all the cement block houses

petent and energetic farmer and stockraiser,
owning a good property of ninety acres, which

was

county

branched out into other lines, having for the
last eight years been manufacturing cement
blocks with a high degree of success, and was

his father, learning thoroughly the numerous
He made farmdetails of agricultural work.
coming his life work, and was an industrious,

also

Carbon

engaged in contracting at Scranton, his residence in that city covering a period of fifteen
The poor health of his wife at that
years.
time necessitated a change, and accordingly
Mr. Beck moved his family to Catawissa,
where for eight years he followed farming and
carpentering, and then disposed of his interHere he
ests and came to West Berwick.
found a ripe field for his activities, and has
been steadily building up a large and lucra-

;

learned the carpenter's trade, for ten years
thereafter following that vocation at Scranton,
Pa.
Succeeding this, for five years, he was

;

fellow citizens.

homestead

youth he went to Hazleton, Pa., where he

buried in the graveyard of that church. They
were the parents of the following children:
Thomas, who married a Miss Wannamaker,
both now deceased
Daniel, who married
Anna Garber Jonas, who settled in Ohio, and
died there (he was married) Christina, who
married M. Brettney, both deceased; Mary,
who married a Mr. Dilger, both now deceased
and Hannah, who is the widow of John Mil-

work of

old

;

and was promi-

nent in the ranks of his party in his section,
of the
being honored by election to nearly all
township offices. He also took an active and
helpful

the

Charles, who is married and lives at Hazleton,
Pa. and Daniel Benjamin.
Daniel Benjamin Beck, son of Daniel Beck,
had his educational advantages in the district
schools of Mahoning township. Carbon county.
Like other farmers' sons of his day and locality he secured his schooling during the winter
terms, and the rest of the year applied himself
to the innumerable tasks that fall to the lot of
country lads. It was not his desire, however,
to become an agriculturist, and when still a

His death occurred when

men.

661

filled

now

(1914) in Berwick and West Berwick. Mr.
Beck has business abilities far beyond the average, is energetic, enterprising and industrious,
and has won success and recognition solely

through the medium of his own efforts. In
politics he has followed in the footsteps of his
father and grandfather, and is known as one
of the active Democrats of his part of the
While a resident of Catawissa he
county.
served two terms in the capacity of auditor,
and since coming to West Berwick has been
several times a member of the election board.
He is president of Lodge No. 18, Order of
Beavers, of Berwick. He is a deacon in Grace
Lutheran Church, has been a member of the
board of trustees for two terms, or about six
years, has also served as president of the
church council for six years, is a member of
the Christian Endeavor Society, and has been
secretary of the Sunday school for two terms,
previous to which he was teacher of a class.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

662

All manner of religious work receives his
able cooperation, and his charities are many.
progressive, alert and public-spirited citizen,
he has ever been ready to assist others in
promoting measures for the public welfare,
and his activities in this direction have earned
him a place among the men who are developing

and advancing this section.
Mr. Beck was united in marriage with Clara
M. Beminger, who was born Oct. i, 1856, at
Slabtown, in Locust township, Columbia Co.,
Pa., daughter of Jonas and Savilla (Deily)
Five children have been born to
Berninger.
Gertrude Irene, born
this union, as follows
April II, 1885, who became the wife of Charles
F. Kreigh and is now living at Montgomery,
Pa.; Andrew Merrill, born Feb. 24, 1887, who
married Anna Ertwine, and is a resident of
West Berwick, Pa. Raymond George, born
March 11, 1893, living with his parents, and
now clerk in a store at West Berwick Ruth
Elizabeth, born Sept. 2, 1895, and Robert
Edward, born March 8, 1900, both at home.
JoN.\s Berninger, father of Mrs. Beck, was
born at Slabtown, in Locust township, Columbia county, Pa., and was there educated in the
:

;

At various times during

public schools".
life

followed

wheelwright,

some

the

trades

his

and
farming

carpenter

and also engaged

died at Catawissa, Pa.,
at the age of eighty years, in the faith of the
German Lutheran Church. In political matters he was a Democrat, but his modesty precluded any idea of his holding any position of
to

extent.

public preferment.

His unfailing good nature

made him popular with all who knew him. He
married Savilla Deily, who was born at Alleni, 1833, and died in the fall of
She was a faithful member of the
German Lutheran Church, and in her younger
years had been active in church affairs.

town, Pa., Alay
1909.

when the country was a wilderness, and there
cleared a farm. He married Elizabeth White
and had six children
Philip, James, Isaac,
Samuel, John and Sarah. Daniel Shultz died
April 30, 1S52, at the age of eighty-three, and
his wife passed away March 24, 1853, at the
age of eighty-eight.
Philip Shultz, grandfather of Philip G., was
a native of Greenwood township, whence he
:

moved

a partner in
the Benton Store Company, the largest department store in the town of Benton, was
born there, March 4, 1871, son of Peter B.
Shultz, grandson of Philip Shultz and greatgrandson of Daniel Shultz, one of the old
pioneers of Columbia county.
Philip Shultz, the first of the family to come
to America, was for a time a resident of New
Jersey, later removing to Rohrsburg, Green-

wood township, Columbia

Co., Pa., where he
farmed, married and died, passing away April
His
5, 1816, at the age of seventy-five years.
wife followed him to the grave September,
1828, at the age of eighty-four. Daniel Shultz,
his son, settled near Rohrsburg about 1800,

Benton township and bought a farm.

lived until his death, at the age of
eighty-seven, his remains being interred beside those of his wife in the Hamlin church-

To Mr.

Shultz and his wife Sallie
were born nine children: Elias,
Daniel, Russell, Jane, Wheeler, Henry, Peter
B., Hannah and Elvira.
Peter B. Shultz, father of Philip G., was
born Sept. 29, 1831, in Benton township, and
was a farmer all of his active life. He is

yard.

(Kitchen)

now

living retired with his son, Rohr M.
Shultz, in Benton township. He was a member of Company A, 179th Regiment, Pennsyl-

vania \'olunteers, and served in

all

the actions

which that regiment participated during the
He married Sabra Gearhart, who
died in November, 1911, and they had three
children
Wilbur L., a farmer of Benton
Rohr M., also a farmer in that
township
township and Philip G. Peter B. Shultz is a
member of the Hamlin Methodist Church to
which his wife also belonged. She lies at rest
in the little burying ground beside the church.
F'hilip G. Shultz passed through the country
schools and a summer school at Benton and attended one term at Kingston Seminary. For
eight terms he taught school in Benton township, and then clerked in the general store of
Alfred McHenry, in Benton, for three years.
For three years more he was with the SmithWaters Company, and then when the Benton

Civil war.

;

Store

PHILIP GIDEON SHULTZ,

There he

Company was organized in 1905 became
The other officers

secretary and manager.
then were: R. T. Smith,

its

president; T. C.
Smith, treasurer; and W. A. Butt. The firm
continued in business with these officers until
February, 191 2, when Mr. Shultz and Mr.
Butt purchased the interests of the other members, and in March of that year incorporated
the present firm, W. A. Butts being president
and P. G. Shultz, secretary and treasurer. The
firm has enjoyed a fair share of prosperity

The

store building

44 by 72

feet in

dimen-

containing two stories and basement,
and a large stock of merchandise is carried.
Four clerks are employed all the year round.
In 1896 Mr. Shultz married Lellie Grossley,
daughter of B. W. and Margaret (Hirleman)
sions,

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
home farm, growing up

Vera,
Grossley, and they have four children
Mr. Shultz is a
Ruth, Hobart and Kermit.
Democrat, and has served for ten years on the
:

KESTER,

deceased,

to respect his parents

and honor the laws of his country. When old
enough he began farming for himself in
Mount Pleasant township, and later bought a
farm in Madison township, which he con-

school board, of which he is now secretary.
He is a member of Benton Lodge, No. 667,
F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of
the Christian Church.

BENJAMIN

663

was

ducted for many years. When he felt that it
was time for him to retire he sold his farm
to his son Willits. and moved to Bloomsburg.
where he lived for two years before his death.

one of the most respected residents of Bloomsburg, coming of an old and honored Quaker
family of Columbia county. He was born Oct.
22, 1833, son of Joseph Kester, of Madison

He passed away May 20, 191 3, and was interred in the Friends' burying ground at Mill-

township.
Paul Kester, grandfather of Benjamin F.
Kester, lived in Bucks county. Pa., where he
died. But little is known of him.
Joseph Kester, son of Paul Kester, was
born Nov. 18, 1790, in Bucks county. Pa., and
located in Columbia county, owning the farm
of 120 acres in Madison township upon which
he died. He was laid to rest in the burial

Mary Ann

at Millville, passing away July 14,
1852, in his sixty-second year. Joseph Kester
married Elizabeth Ogden, a daughter of Isaac

ground

and Rachel Ogden, born Aug. 10, 1791, who
died April 19, 1874, aged eighty-two years,
Both belonged to
eight months, nine days.
the Society of Friends at Millville and were
earnest,

good people who carried out

everyday

The

life the principles

in their

of their faith.

Kester and wife

children of Joseph

Nov. 28, 1813,
died at Millville, Pa. Charles, born Sept. 13,
1815, died at Millville; George, born Nov.

were as follows

Isaac, born
;

1817, died in Greenwood township. Pa.;
Enoch, born Oct. i. 1819, died at Roaring
Creek, Pa.; Rachel, born Nov. 26, 1821, died
in Madison township when a child; Arnold,
born Sept. i, 1823, died in Greenwood town-

ship; Jane, born March 18, 1827, married
Joseph Kester, a second cousin, on Nov. 11,
Anna, born Sept. 22, 1828, married
1851
Parker Kester, a second cousin Hiram, born
Aug. 4. 1831, died in Greenwood township;
Benjamin F. completed the family.
Isaac Ogden, the maternal grandfather of
Benjamin F. Kester, was born Dec. 13, 1767.
His wife, Rachel, was born Feb. 29, 1768.
They had children born as follows: Eliza;

;

John, Sept. 24, 1793
1791
1797; Hannah, Oct. 16, 1799;
Mary, Jan. 30, 1802; Charity, May 21, 1804;
Benjamin, March 11, 1813 Thomas, March
17, 1814: Abigail, Sept. 11, 1815; Jane, Oct.

beth,

Jacob,

Aug.

May

10,

;

ville.

On August

8, 1856, Mr. Kester married
Millard, a daughter of William
and Lydia (Houch) Millard, of Roaringcreek township. She died May i, 1893, aged

and

is buried at Millville,
( I )
following children
Wilham Millard, born Sept. 22, 1858, is a
traveling salesman with headquarters at Wil(2) Lydia A., born April 4,
mington, Del.
1862, married Esebias Dieffenbach.
(3) Willits B., born Oct. 8, 1865. was reared an agri-

fifty-eight

Pa.

years,

They had

the

and was engaged in farming at Dutch
Madison township, until 191 1, when he
to Bloomsburg. now operating a farm

culturist
Hill,

came

near town.
He married Ida M. Kline, a
daughter of William and Phoebe E. (Reichard) Kline, and they have two children, Veda
E. and Phoebe Zoe, both attending the Blooms-

burg high school.
Benjamin F. Kester resided with his son
Willits and family, and was very fond of his
grandchildren, who are bright, attractive girls.
All of his life Air. Kester was a member of
the Society of Friends at Millville, and enjoyed meeting with his old friends at stated
times in the historic meetinghouse there. The
last of the family of his parents, he was one
of the finest examples of the sturdy stock from
which he sprang. All his life he upheld the
belief of his people, and used the plain speech
of the Friends. Like others of his faith his
word was held equally binding with his written
promise, and was so accepted by those with
whom he did business. A quiet, unassuming

man, he won respect and inspired confidence,
and the community was better for his presence in it, for the influence he exerted was
good.

;

21, 1817.

Benjamin F. Kester attended the local
countrv schools, and assisted his father on the

NORMAN

HENDERSHOTT,

late

Bloomsburg. was a well-known druggist of

He was a native
that place for many years.
of the town, born in February, 1846, son of
Joseph W. and Melvina (Jacoby) HenderLavilla (wife of
shott, whose children were;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

664

Dr. A. B. Jamison), Norman J., Albert and
Annie (Mrs. H. W. Sloan).
Norman J. Hendershott obtained a public
school education. He became the first agent
of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company at Bloomsburg, where he remained until his enlistment in the Union army,
for service in the Civil war, in 1861. He acted
as commissary, and was with his regiment
in all its activities until the close of his term.
Subsequently he went to Washington, D. C,

and became a clerk
from which he was

in the war department,
later transferred to the

treasury department. In 1867 he returned to
Bloomsburg and engaged in the drug business,
carrying it on for the next twenty-one years,
during which period he became one of the successful merchants of the town. After giving
up his Bloomsburg store he again went to
Washington, D. C, where he was employed
as a drug clerk for several years, in 1894 comAfter farming
ing back to his home town.
one year he retired from active pursuits because of failing health, and his death occurred Aug. 21, 1896. He was a member of

life

and followed

tember,

it with Isaac Green until
Sep1830, at the head of Market street.

That year Mr. Green went West and Mr.
Grotz succeeded to the ownership of the establishment. He then purchased the lot where he
afterwards had his permanent home, erecting
a shop there and later a residence.
He continued to follow harness-making until 1866,
when he retired therefrom to devote his attention to a tannery which he built in 1851
on a lot on Hemlock street, which he had purin 1850.
He continued to operate his
tannery with almost phenomenal success until
when
on
account of his declining
1870,
years he decided to retire, and he died at

chased

Bloomsburg June 20. 1908, in his ninety-eighth
Mr. Grotz was a widely known citizen
of Columbia county, and held in affectionate

year.

esteem by a large circle of acquaintances. He
was a self-made man, in the best sense, having
nothing but his

own

terprise to aid
ness.
was

him when he

eft'orts,

industry and enstarted in busi-

was born

enterprising and always had
the interests of his native town and county at
heart. Associated with many other local business ventures besides those mentioned, he was
one of the original stockholders and a director
of the National Bank of Danville; was one of
the original organizers and stockholders of
the First National Bank of Bloomsburg, but
sold his interest in 1870 and became a director of the Banking Company of Bloomsburg; was a director of the B. & S. Railroad
Company, and a stockholder in the D. L. &
W. R. R. Company. He was a Democrat in
politics and served many times as treasurer
of the board of poor directors for the district of Bloomsburg. which office he held for

over twenty years.

the Episcopal Church.
On May 20, 1886, Mr. Hendershott married Mary M. Grotz, daughter of John K.
She now resides on Main street,
Grotz.

Bloomsburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Hendershott
were born two children, Harry and Norman,

whom

died in infancy. Norman
& Sullivan railhe was a
road when eighteen years old
student at State College.
Abraham Grotz, grandfather of Mrs. HenHe
dershott, came to Bloomsburg in 1806.

the former of

was

killed

on the Bloomsburg

;

in Easton, Pa., and in 1806 removed
Bloomsburg, where he built the first frame
house in the town and was engaged in the
manufacture of silk and fur hats, made by
liand, until 1832, in which year he moved to
Ohio.
Locating near Uniontown, Stark
county, he purchased a farm and became a

prosperous farmer, remaining there until his
death, which occurred when he was seventyHe married Mary Kuhn,
five years old.
daughter of John Kuhn, who also attained an

advanced age, and they became the parents
of the following children
Eliza, Julia Ann,
David, Rachel, John K., Maria, Rebecca,
Susan and Abraham.
John K. Grotz was born at Bloomsburg
Oct. 22, 1810, in a frame house on the corner
of Iron and Second streets, one of the two
frame houses he could remember as the only
ones in the town in his early boyhood. He
learned the trade of harnessmaker early in his
:

He also filled many minor
He was always regarded as a valuable counselor, and much respected for his
excellence of character, gentleness and kindness of disposition, and politeness of manner. Because of his excellent memory he was
often referred to in regard to some event

positions.

which transpired during

his earlier life.

was wonderfully preserved for one

He
his

years.

Mr. Grotz married Elizabeth

Fister,

daugh-

Thomas Fister, of Catawissa, Pa., and
they became the parents of six children Mary
M., widow of Norman J. Hendershott Harvey H.. formerly cashier of the Bloomsburg
ter of

;

Banking Company Henry C, who lives in
a house in Hemlock township, where the tan;

nery formerly stood; one that died

infancy;

Susan C, and Thomas F.
In religious belief Mr. Grotz was a

faith-

j6^/i/^}^

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
ful

member

the Lutheran Church.
member of the

he was at one time a
Fellows lodge.

cially

DANIEL

KNITTLE,

Three years later he bought out his
partner and enlarged the business, adding
lumber, grain and coal, and building a grain
elevator. Next he purchased the old McKelvy
mill, which has a history of almost one hundred
years, and has remodeled and greatly improved it. With the mill property he acquired
seventeen acres of land, which he farms. He
has a large trade in the county, his mill being
Rhoads.

So-

Odd

miller at Knittle's

Mills, Catawissa, Columbia county,
in Franklin township, that county,

was born

in 1850,
son of Aaron S. Knittle and grandson of
Daniel Knittle, one of the first settlers in the
The history of the Knittle family
county.
It is redates back to early Colonial times.
corded in the "Archives of Pennsylvania" that
Knittle came to America on the ship

famed for its products.
Mr. Knittle married Fannie E. Marks,
daughter of Adam and Margaret (Kostenbauder) Marks, and they have had the follow-

Joseph
"Patience" and landed at Philadelphia Sept.
17,

665

Eugene, who died at the age of
ing children
eleven
Bertha, who also died when eleven
years old Ralph, a minister Henry, in charge
of the lumber, coal and grain branch of his
and John, at school, at
father's business
:

1753.

;

Michael Knittle, son of Joseph, was a resident of Richmond township, Berks Co., Pa.,
where he died in 1789. His children were:

;

Daniel,
Frederick, John Adam, Michael,
Rosina and Catherine.
Daniel Knittle, grandfather of Daniel F.,
came to Columbia county in 1795 and settled
in Franklin township, near Mendenhall's mill.
His brother, Frederick, came about a year
Both were farmers, their farms
previously.
Daniel's children were:
side by side.

Wyoming

Seminary.

Mr. Knittle is a Democrat. He was auditor
of Ralpho township, Northumberland county,
and justice of the peace of Catawissa borough
for five years. He is a member of the United
Brethren Church of Fisherdale, Cleveland
township, and has served as an officer of that
church. He has been a member of the I. O.
lying
at CataO. F. since he was twenty-one and is connected
Joseph Baldy, formerly postmaster
wissa and a legislator for one term Jacob, who now with Good Will Lodge of Mindora, havAaron Shultz
married Angelina Derr
ing attended all of the meetings but two for
Reuben, who died unmarried Esther, wife of a period of five years, making the trip at
of
wife
John Vought, of Elysburg; Margaret,
night in all kinds of weather, over a distance
Jacob Kostenbauder and Sophia, who died of ten miles, on poor roads. Mr. Knittle is one
;

;

unmarried.
Aaron Shultz Knittle, father of Daniel F.,
followed agricultural pursuits for the whole of
He resided at first on a tract
his busy life.
of 104 acres in Franklin township, and later
moved to Mount Carmel, where he died, being
buried at Sharp Ridge, Montour county. He
married Sarah Campbell, a daughter of Obadiah Campbell, in Elysburg, and the children
of that marriage were:
Joseph C. John;
Dallas Daniel F. Mary, who married Frank-

of the progressive business men of Catawissa
and commands the respect of the community in
general.
Obadiah Campbell, son of Obadiah, a
pioneer of this State who settled in Northumberland county, was a man of note in that

He was born in New Jersey in 1776,
and came to the county in 1779, where he was
reared on the home farm, now the south end
of the town of Elysburg. He ran a large sawHe
mill and was very thrifty in his habits.
lin P. Maurer; Emma, Mrs. Blakely
Jane, died in
1865, and his wife, who was Elizabeth
married John Frederichs and Laura, married
are
buried
near
Both
in
1866.
died
Shipman,
to Silas Everitt.
the Sharp Ridge Methodist Church. Ten chilDaniel F. Knittle was educated in the public dren were born to their union
Nicholas
schools of Catawissa and Orangeville AcadMary, wife of William Thompson; Hannah,
in
school
after
and
taught
graduation
emy,
wife of James Hile Jane, wife of Elijah
Columbia county for eight years. He selected Yocum Obadiah S., who married Eliza Teats
the mercantile business, taking a clerkship for Elizabeth
Joanna, wife of John McMurtrie
a time, and then going to Girardville, SchuylJohn, married Mary A. Fuller; Sarah, wife
kill county, where he remained some years.
of Aaron Shultz' Knittle, and mother of Daniel
Locating in Locust township, Columbia county, F. Knittle and
Jackson, who settled on one
he started a store, and resided there for three
his father's 300thereafter he farmed at of the two farms into which
time
a
For
years.
and then came to Catawissa, where acre tract was divided, Elijah Yocum, his
county.

;

Elysburg.
he entered into partnership

1897 with Clark

brother-in-law acquiring the other.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

666

ROBERT ALLEN CARSE, of Berwick,
mechanical engineer, has been engaged in a
responsible capacity by the

American Car

Foundry Company throughout the period of
Since Decemhis residence in the borough.
ber, 1912, he has been assistant chief draftsman. With the broadening of his experience,

supplementing a thorough training, his work
is gaining steadily in value, and he has the
prospect of a favored career in his chosen
profession.

Mr. Carse is of Scotch extraction, his grandfather, Alexander Carse, coming from HadHe setdington, near Edinburgh, Scotland.
tled at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where he
He was a stonemason by occupation,
died.
and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
His six children were: John, Robert, Peter,
Alexander Elder, Janet and Margaret (Mrs.
Watt).
Alexander Elder Carse was born Oct. 9,
1843. ''1 Edinburgh, Scotland, and grew to
manhood in Canada. He was educated at
Hamilton, Ontario, and starting business life
early as a clerk in Toronto, by the time he

was twenty-one years old owning a store of
his own. Later he came to the United States,
first to New York and afterwards to Detroit,
where he clerked in the freight station of the
Michigan Central Railroad Company. When
thrown out of employment by the fire which
destroyed that station he went to Kalamazoo,
Mich., where he acted as yardmaster for the
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company
and also as telegraph operator. After a time
he became interested in the lumber business in
northern Michigan, being associated in his
operations there with William Mitchell and in
He was
the West with Holbrook Brothers.
also engaged as civil engineer by the Grand
Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, and was
employed by Chicago firms on numerous occasions to estimate timber in British, ColumHe traveled extensively all over the
bia.

Mutual Life Insurance Company in Chicago,
Mr. and Mrs.
111.; he died Dec. 26, 1910.
Carse had two children, Robert Allen and
the
Blanche;
Sophia
daughter, born April 20,
1874, married Matt Hacker, and is living in
Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Robert Allen Carse was born May 10, 1885,
at Big Rapids, Mich.
He attended common
school at Kalamazoo, took a course in the
Caldwell high school at Richmond, Ky., and
then entered the Kentucky State University at
Lexington, studying mechanical engineering
under Prof. F. Paul Anderson, dean of the
department. He was graduated in 1907 with
the degree of B. M. E., and the same year
came to Berwick to enter the employ of the

American Car & Foundry Company, being
placed in the mechanical department under H.
P. Field. At present he has charge of sample
castings, approval of weights, etc., and in
December, 19 12, was made assistant chief
draftsman.
Mr. Carse married Rozella B. Williams,
daughter of Richard H. and Hannah (Thornton
Williams, at one time of Haverstraw,
N. Y., later of Danville, Pa. Mr. Carse attends the Presbyterian Church at Berwick.
He is independent of political associations.
Mrs. Carse's grandfather, John T. Williams,
her first ancestor in America, came to this
)

country from England, where he was bom
and reared, and was engaged in the iron business.
His wife's maiden name was Maybury,
and their children were William Maybury,
Maria Elizabeth, John Thomas, Sarah Ann
(married George Kinn), Mary Eliza, Joseph
Henry, James Knox Polk, Richard H. and
:

Emma

Jane.

Richard H. Williams was born April

11,

He came to
1847, at Haverstraw, N. Y.
Danville, Pa., when the family settled there,
and spent his early years at that place. Upon
reaching manhood he worked in the rolling
mills there and at Harrisburg, and in 1873

West.

Mr. Carse finally went to Kentucky,
at Richmond, where he continued
the lumber business. He died Aug. 26, 1910.
Mr. Carse was a Presbyterian in his religious
belief, and he belonged to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in a blue lodge
in Michigan.
On political questions he was

came

locating

start the rolling mills.

independent.

William Edwin Walter, who
ing children
died voung and is buried in Harrisburg

Eva M. (Allen)

Carse, wife of Alexander Elder Carse, was born April 5, 1853,
daughter of John B. Allen, of Kalamazoo,
Mich., and died March 24, 1887, at Kalamazoo.
She had one sister, Ida, who married
Calvin S. Smith, general agent for the Penn
I\Irs.

Berwick, where he helped to build and
Returning to Danville
for a time, he came back to Berwick in 1877,
to

and was engaged

the

same capacity there

until his death, Oct. 7, 1891.
By his marriage
to Hannah Thornton, born in 1845, ^^'ho survived until Nov. 14, 1913, he had the follow:

;

W. Bush;

Gertrude, Mrs. C.
Mary,'Mrs\
C. Paden and Rozella B., Mrs. Robert Allen
The father was a memCarse. of Berwick.
ber of the Episcopal Church, the mother a
Presbyterian in religious connection. He beF.

;

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

667

issues.

the buildings upon it. He rounded out his
upon that place, dying there, after having
gained universal confidence and respect in his
comnumity. He is buried in the cemetery at

Michael Thornton, the maternal grandfather
of Mrs. Carse, had the following children:

Sallie Zeisloft,

longed to the Knights of Malta and the
Knights of the Golden Eagle, and was associated with the Democratic party on political

Edward, Benjamin,

Xancy, Tamar,

Isaiah,

Hannah and Peggy. Of these, Isaiah, born in
1814, was a business man at Danville, engaged
shoe trade, and died in i860. His wife,
Barbara (Ernest), born in 1816, died in 1885,
aged sixty-nine years. They had children as
follows Leah Ann married George E. Hunt
Mar>' Margaret married Will H. Smith
Hannah married Richard H. Williams Michael Grier married Elizabeth Taylor and
(second) Clara Taylor; Lewis married Caroline Kindt; Eva died young; John married
Nellie Ellen E. Leahy Rozella married Deoin the

;

zra Taylor.

MAURICE

GIRTON,

principal of the

Hemlock high school, at Buck Horn, Columbia county, was born at his present home in
Hemlock township, Dec. 16, 1889, son of
Stewart M. Girton.
The family is of English extraction, but
the original immigrant is not known. Jacob
Girton, the founder of the family in Columbia county. Pa., settled one mile above Buck
Horn, where he became the owner of a large
tract of land.

married

(first)

Ann Appel-

man, and they had the following children

Matthias. William, Philip, Baltas, Esau, Lena,
Hannah, Sarah A. and Elizabeth. For his
second wife Jacob Girton married Catherine

Both
Lilly, by whom he had no children.
belonged to Heller's Church, in Madison town-

Columbia county, where they are buried.
Matthias Girton, son of Jacob Girton, was
born Feb. 3, 1796, and died Nov. 8, 1852, aged
fifty-six years, nine months, five days, upon
his homestead in Hemlock township, where he
was an extensive landowner. His wife was
born in 1795 and died April 5. 1846, aged
Both are buried in the New
fifty-one years.
Their children were:
Columbia cemetery.
Matthias A., who died in Hemlock township;
Eliza, who married John
Caleb Hudson
Everett; Ellen, who married Robert Moore;
ship,

;

Sarah,
in

who

died unmarried

Madison township

;

Jacob,

who

died

and Samuel, who died

in childhood.

Caleb Hudson Girton, son of Matthias Girwas born Aug. 8, 1836, and died July 19,
1877. He owned the property upon which his
son Stewart M. Girton is now residing, and
developed this farm of 104 acres, putting up

ton,

all

life

New

Caleb H. Girton married
and they had children as folwho
is unmarried
Stewart
Harriet,
M.; Ella, who married J. Frank Emmitt and
Nora, who married Hervey McHenry, a son
of Samuel McHenry.
Stewart M. Girton, son of Caleb H. Girton,
was born on his present property, Nov. 30,
His educational training was gained
1865.
in the public schools of his neighborhood, and
he assisted his father in operating the homestead until the latter's death, after which he
lows

Columbia, Pa.

;

helped his widowed mother. When eighteen
years old he assumed charge of the property,
and eventually came into possession of it, and
he carries on general farming very profitably,
having made a success of his life work. He
married Ermina M. Hartzel, a daughter of

Jacob Hartzel, and they have had the following children Laura. Maurice J., Lois, Robert
and Earle. Mr. Girton is a Democrat in his
:

political views, and while a member of the
school board of Hemlock township has served
as president, secretary and treasurer of that
For many years he has been a conbody.
sistent member of the Methodist Church, and
one of the leading men of his congregation.

Prof. Maurice J. Girton has carefully prepared himself for his profession. After taking a common and high school course in Hemlock township, being graduated from the latter in 1909, he entered the Bloomsburg State
Normal School, from which he was graduated
in the class of 191 1.
Following this he was

appointed to the Emmitt school in Hemlock
township, and made such a success of his
work during 1911-12 that he was placed at
the head of the Hemlock high school at Buck
Horn, which position he still ably fills. An
enthusiast in his work. Professor Girton enters into it with all his heart.
He is proud
of the fact that he belongs to the same profession as does the head of the nation, and
strives in every way to be worthy of his
calling. A thorough student, he keeps himself
abreast of the trend of events, and aims to
enlarge his outlook on life with further study
and travel. Not only is he an able instructor,
but possessing a broad mind and sympathetic
nature he is able to get the correct viewpoint
of the pupils placed in his care, and is honored
and loved by them, as he is esteemed by their
his worth.
Professor
parents, who appreciate

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

668
Girton

unmarried and resides with

his par-

ents.

PERRY

DeLONG, a leading harnessmaker
of Orangeville, was bom Jan. i6, 1843. ^"d is
a son of William, grandson of Samuel, great
grandson of John, and a descendant of one
of the oldest Huguenot families in America.
The first settler of the DeLong family on
this side of the Atlantic was Peter, a French
Huguenot, who came to America in 1732,
following the example of many other Protestants who had to leave their country after the
In Rev.

revocation of the edict of Nantes.

Mr. Stapleton's "Memorials of the Huguenots
in America" he has the following: "The progenitor of the DeLong family was Peter DeLong, originally spelled de Lang, who came
to Maxatawny township, Berks Co., Pa., at
an early day, from the State of New York,
where the family had originally located. The
family will ever be distinguished by the heroic
achievements of Lieut. George W. DeLong, of
the American navy, and leader of the ill-fated
'Jeanette' polar expedition, in which he perPeter DeLong died at an advanced
ished.
age in 1760, leaving seven children: John,
Henry, Jacob, Michael, Abraham, Frederick
and Barbara. His will is on record at the
courthouse in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania."

Peter

and

DeLong married

Elizabeth Webber
N. Y. His son

lived in Ulster county,

John, great-grandfather of Perry DeLong, resided in Northampton county. Pa., and had a

son Samuel.

Samuel DeLong, the grandfather,

March 3, 1813, when it was but
a small village. After a Hmited schooling he
took up the trade of shoemaker, at which he
labored for fifty-five years, dying in 1890.
He was a poor boy, but by patient industry

at Orangeville,

and perseverance he acquired a competence in
He married in Februar)', 1842,
later life.
Rebecca, daughter of Lewis Labenberg, of
Catawissa, and they had five children Perry
Mary E., wife of Wesley Hutton; Catherine,
who died unmarried Jerome B., of Orangeville
and Clement V., deceased.
Perry DeLong was educated in the public
schools and the Orangeville Academy, and
:

;

at the

up a fine patronage drawn from
the entire surrounding country as well as the
town. In 1864 he enlisted in the Independent
since, building

Battery A, Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and
served for ten months of the Civil war. He
married Rebecca, adopted daughter of Daniel
Keller, and they have had children as follows: Laura \^, wife of John Unger; and
William C, unmarried, who is teaching at
West Berwick and resides at home. Mr.
DeLong is commander of Peeler Post, No.
435, G. A. R., has been connected with Mountain Lodge, No. 264, I. O. O. F. since 1864,
and is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Jerome B. DeLoxg was born at Orangeville, Pa., Oct. 23, 1858, and attended the public schools and Orangeville
Academy. After
teaching four terms in Orangeville, Mount
Pleasant and Benton township he engaged in
the stove, tinware and hardware business at
Orangeville, where he now has an extensive
establishment.
He married Flora A. Colder,
daughter of Abraham Colder, of Stillwater,
Columbia county, and they have had five children Pearl, wife of W. E. Pitts; Jean, wife
of George G. Jones; Lulu, wife of W. A.
Lemon; Zella, wife of W. E. Zeigler; and
Leon, at home. Mr. DeLong is a Democrat,
has sened as councilman, borough auditor,
school director, and twice as mercantile ap:

praiser of Columbia county.

also

member

of Mountain Lodge, No. 264, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

lived at

Sunbury, Northumberland county, but later
went West, where he died. He was a horse
trader. He married Elizabeth Plank, and they
had the following children Henry, Edward,
Jesse. William, Catherine and Polly.
William DeLong, father of Pern,', was bom

began teaching

taught eleven winters, meantime assisting his
father in the summer. In 1870 he engaged in
harnessmaking and has followed the trade ever

age of eighteen.

MacINTYRE—

M.\cDONALD. The tradihistory of the Maclntyre clan states
that they are a sept of the MacDonalds of
Sleat, and they are entitled to use the Mac-

tional

Donald badge, which is "the heather," and
wear the MacDonald plaid, although the
Maclntyres have one of their own. The MacDonalds first became powerful in the year
1
Somerled (a Norseman), or
135, when
Samuel, married Efifrica, daughter of Olave
the Swarthy, king of Man and the Isles.
This hero, for such he undoubtedly was, Samuel, did more to free his countrymen from the
rule of the Danes and Norwegians than any
other, and in consequence, attained to a power
greater than has fallen to the lot of any subHis origin seemsject of present Scotland.
to

to be clearly "Pictish," of an ancient people
of North Britain, inhabiting the eastern coast
of Scotland, and first mentioned in A. D*
296. Architectural remains of a singular char-

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
acter still exist in parts of Scotland which are
traced to the Picts, and we learn that they
were of uncommon bodily strength.

Somerled's

was

—or

Gillbrede,

Samuel's

— father's

name

which was a Pictish name, and

signified a follower of St. Bride. He, Samuel,
was killed at Renfrew, when invading Scotland, in 1 164, and left four sons first, Dougal,
descended the Lords of Lorn secfrom
:

whom

;

Olave; and fourth, Reg-

ond, Angus; third,
From these came all the families of
inald.
the surname of MacDonald.
There is every reason to believe that the
Columbia county (Pa.) branch of the family are descendants of the second son, Angus,
who sheltered Bruce in Dunavertie, in 1306.
Donald, Lord of the Isles, was a son of Angus,
and he entered into a treaty with Richard
II., on the footing of a sovereign prince, and
after marrying the Countess of Ross was
His
killed in the battle of Harlaw. in 141 1.
fighting force comprised seven hundred men.
In the year 1625 one of his descendants and
namesake, Donald MacDonald, was created a
baron by Charles I. and married "fair Janet
MacKenzie,'' of Kintail. Their son was Sir
James MacDonald, of Sleat, who joined Montrose in 1644 and fought at Worcester in 1651.
During Montrose's invasion of Argyll, in

1644 and 1645, they marched through Glen O,
near Bunawe, in the district of Lorn, which
was the country of the ]\laclntyres. One brigade was commanded by a MacDonald. and
supposing himself to be still among the Campbells, who were the hereditary enemies of

MacDonalds, whom for ages they had
tried to ruin and supplant, he ordered all
the houses in Glen O to be burned. The inhabitants fled, and the dwelling of the chief,
which was roofed with heather, was the first
to be given to the flames. A burning coal was
brought from the hearth and thrust into the
deep thatch. But before the fire had made
much headway the commander was told that
this was the house of the "Chief of the Mac"Then forbear," he cried, "and
Intyres."
e.xtinguish the flames, for it is the house of
our ow^n blood !" The coal was extracted from
the roof, and as a relic, to prove the respect
paid by a Scotchman to ties of kindred, this
house was carefully preserved by the MacIntyres until they came to America.
the

give but a partial history of the

—

Mac-

Donalds enough to show that they were a
powerful clan, and of noble blood. Robertson, the historian, says that this clan "by every
rule of antiquity, power and numbers are fully
entitled to be spoken of before any other."

669

The surname Maclntyre

Mac-

in Gaelic

which means "the carpenter's son,"
and this is the story of its origin On one occasion the Chief MacDonald's galley sprang
a leak. The hole was discovered by one of the
an-t-saoir,

clansmen,

who

cut

and

off

thumb

forced his
left

into

it,

there, so that he

assist in sailing the galley.

then

might

so doing he

saved the crew from drowning. He was ever
afterwards caller "Saoir-na-hordaag," meaning the
this

"thumb carpenter." Sometime later
who was known as "Mac-an-tmeaning the "carpenter's son," left

man's son,

saoir,"
Sleat in his galley resolved to seek his for-

He took with him a white
tune elsewhere.
cow, vowing that wherever the cow would lie
down to rest after landing, there he would
He kept this cow, and settled at Glen
settle.
O, Loch Etive side, a place still known as
Larach-na-Ba-Baine, which means "the site
of the white cow."
known

a well

It is

fact that the

Maclntyres

occupied these lands for a period of
six hundred years prior to 1806, which takes
us back to 1206. There was a strong colony
of Maclntyres residing for many generaof Glen

tions

the

village

Cladich,

where they carried on an

Loch-awe,
weaving

e.xtensive

industry a specialty with them was the production of very finely woven hose and garters,
which were made in the various clan tartans.
;

No Highland

costume, however costly, was at

that time considered complete without a pair
Each clan in
of Cladich hose and garters.

Scotland has

its

wear dresses of

tartan or plaid.
it
the men,
;

The women
kilts,

sashes,

and caps.
The name Maclntyre occurs in the Eglinton
memorials, under date of 1490, when Gillechrist Maclntyre witnessed a letter of reversion by the rector of the Church of St. Mary,
at Rothsay, and Christino Maclntyre witnessed an instrument of Sasine in the same
rector's favor. John Maclntyre composed the
salute, "Failte Phriousa," on the landing of
King James, in 171 5.
Duncan Ban Maclntyre, one of the best
modern Gaelic poets, was born in Druinlaighart, in Glenarchy, in 1724, and fought at
Falkirk under Colonel Campbell of Carwhin.
He became a member of the Highland Fencibles, with which regiment he served until it
stockings, garters

disbanded

in 1799.

of verse, his
tions,

and

all

excelled in

all

kinds

poems going through three edigood judges of Celtic poetry

agreed that nothing
Gaelic,

and the

peared

the

purity

of his

style of his poetr}', has ap-

the Highlands since the days of

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

670

Ossian, a Scottish hero and poet who lived in
the second and third centuries, composing in
the Celtic language.
Duncan died in Edinburgh in 1812, and was buried in the "Grey
friars."
In 1859 a stately monument was
erected to his memory at Delmally, near the
head of Loch-awe.
The Alaclntyres of Glen
were the chiefs.
married
(i) Duncan Maclntyre of Glen
of
Patrick
.Mary, daughter
Campbell, of BarHe died in 1695.
caldine, Para, Beag.
(2) His son, Donald, was his successor.
He was twice married (first) to Janet, daughter of Archibald MacDonald, of Keppoch, and

they had one daughter; and his second wife
was Catherine, daughter of MacDonald of
Dalness.
They had three children. James,
Catherine and Mary.
(3) James was his father's successor, and
was born in 1727. He studied law, but gave
it up totake
charge of Glen O, on his father's
death.
He was a fine scholar, and a poet of
some note. He was married to Ann, daughter
of Duncan Campbell, of Barcaldine, and sister
of "Cailien Ghlinn lubhair." They had three
sons and six daughters: Donald, Martin and
Duncan, and Catherine, Ann, Isabel, Mary,
Lucy and Jean. Duncan, the third son, was
the poet mentioned above.
He was captain
of the Highland Fencibles, and died in 181 2.
(4)

Donald, the eldest son of James, suc-

ceeded his father as chief of the clan.

doctor, and went to New York in 1783.
His wife was Esther Hames, and they had
four sons, James, Donald, Thomas and Martin.
His death occurred in 1792.
(5) James, the eldest son of Dr. Donald

was a

Maclntyre, succeeded his father as clan chiefHe was born in Newburgh, Orange Co.,
N. Y., in 1785. In 1806 he went to Scotland,
and in 181 7 married Ann, daughter of Peter

tain.

He reCampbell, of Carries, Glenarchy.
turned to the United States in 1822, and settled on a farm in Fulton county, N. Y. They
had six sons Donald, Peter, James, Ewan,
Archibald and Martin. He died in 1863.
(6) Donald, his eldest son, was then chief.
He settled on a farm near Fonda. His wife
was Phoebe Shepherd. They had one son,
James, and four daughters. He died in Oc:

tober, 1887.

James, his only son, born in January,

(7)
1864, succeeded him, and if living is the present chief of the Maclntyres.
There is somewhere in the Maclntyre family a ring, having engraved on it the crest and
motto. It was originally in the possession of
Mr. Duncan Maclntyre of Leith, son of Rev.

John Maclntyre, LL. D., of Kilmonivaig.
This ring was examined by Duncan Ban Maclntyre, the famous poet of Glenarchy. and he
composed some Gaelic verses descriptive of
the ring, and of the armorial bearings of the
clan.

The Maclntyres fought under the banner
of the Stewarts of Appin in 1745, and held
the very distinguished position of hereditary
foresters of the Stewarts, Lords of Lorn, and
were connected by marriage with an heiress
of the Stewart family in 1435.
About this
time the family spelled the name "M Yntyr."
Their slogan, their war cry, is "Crua Chan"
(a mountain near Loch-awe). Their badge is
the same as the AlacDonalds, the heather.
Their clan pipe music is, "We will take the
Their motto is "Per Ardua,"
highway."

means "Through

which

Difficulties."

The

Scottish families entitled to use their plaid
or tartan are the MacTears, the Tyres and the

The name is properly spelled MacThe foundation of their tartan is
of medium shade, with wide bars of

Wrights.
lntyre.

green,

darker green, crossed with narrow bars of
white and red.
The small blocks formed
where they cross each other are dark blue.
[Copied from a record.]
The following is from a newspaper account

All roads led to Mclntyre church yesterday
for the members of the Mclntyre clan, who
held their tenth annual reunion there, on the
historic grounds given by their ancestors

years ago.
Those present were the descendants of Joseph Maclntyre, who, when he came from
He
Scotland, 'settled in Columbia county.
married Alice Yarnell, a Quaker girl, who was
conspicuous for her. bravery and aid in dressing the wounds of soldiers who escaped the
massacre of Wyoming in 1778. Their daughter Mary married John YoCum, thereby connecting two of the prominent families of the
county of those days.
Members of this clan came from Williamsport, Altoona. Herndon, Lewistown. Hazleton,
Bloomsburg, Scranton, and .Seattle, Washington.

The

occasion this year was celebrated by a
dinner in the grove, after which a business
The reunion program
meeting was held.
opened with a prayer by Rev. Whitney, of
Bloomsburg, followed by inspiring singing by
Amos Hile, of Catawissa. Airs. O. S. Sherwood, of Hazleton, the historian of the clan,
gave the result of her research into the
genealogical records of the family, tracing
fine

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
them back

Maclntyres

to the year

1300,

when
O,

this sept possessed the country of Glen
near Bunawe, in the district of Lorn, in

Scotland, going still farther back to the origin
of the MacDonalds from whom the Maclntyres descended, the founder being Somerled,
or Samuel, who first became powerful in the

The MacDonalds were nobles,
1335.
and they are by every rule of antiquity, power
and numbers, fully entitled to be ranked with
the highest in their country.
An address on
"The Benefit and Pleasure of Family Reunions" was delivered by Rev. E. H. Yocum, of
Lewistown, followed by a splendid talk by
George C. Yocum, of Scranton, his subject
being, "If you cannot do what you like, like
what you do." The other speakers were Rev.
Faus, Dr. Kline and J. C. Erwin, of Seattle,
Wash., who also delighted the assemblage with
two select recitations.
year

671

The following

are the officers of the associaPresident, Dr. Fox, of Catawissa; vice
president, J. P. Hoagland, of Williamsport
treasurer, E. D. Tewksbury, of Catawissa
secretary, Bessie Long, of Catawissa assistant secretary, Owen Kostenbauder, of Catation:

;

committee on program, Archie Hoagland, of Williamsport. Mrs. O. S. Sherwood,
of Hazleton, Mrs. Hulda Chcrrington, of Mill
Grove.
Following of the clan were present from a
distance
Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Erwin and son
Lincoln, of Seattle, Wash.; Rev. Dr. E. H.
wissa

;

Yocum, of Lewistown George C. Yocum, of
Altoona; J. P. Hoagland and daughter. Miss
Dorothy, of Williamsport D. W. Yocum, of
Herndon Mr. and Mrs. Orville Sherwood, of
Hazleton; !Mrs. J. L. Wolverton, of Blooms-'
;

;

burg.