CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
Topographical and Geological Features.
Surface Transformation- Mountain Ranges- Anticlinals and Synelinals- The Blossburg Mountain Basin- Dip of the Rocks- Wellsboro Anticlinal- Crooked Creek Basin- Valley of the Cowanesque- Streams of the County- The Tioga River- Crooked Creek – Lycoming Creek – Pine Creek – Marsh Creek- The Cowanesque River – Minor Streams – Concluding Observations, 17-29
CHAPTER II.
The Land of Tioga.
First Occupants- Rugged and Romantic Scenery- Game, Fish and Wild Animals – An Ideal Hunting Ground- Indian Paths – Indian Villages- French Explorers and Missionaries – Boundary Line of the Purchase of 1768 – The Old Treaties – The Walker Tragedy – Indian Characteristics and Peculiarities 29-38
CHAPTER III.
Beginning of Tioga County.
Purchase of 1784 – Fair Play System – Lycoming Township Formed – Its Boundaries and Area – Old Tioga Township Erected – A Valuable Document Discovered – Boundaries Defined – Other Record Evidence – Tioga Township Taxables of 1800 – -Additional Extracts From Early Records – Panther and Wolf Scalp Bounties, 38-44
CHAPTER IV.
Tioga County Organized.
The Landed Interests – Their Influence on Legislation – Tioga County Created – Form and Area – Derivation of Name – The Term Tioga – Boundary’ Line Dispute – Origin of the Trouble – Various Efforts to Establish Lines – A Tangle of Perplexing questions – The Latest Commission, 44-55
CHAPTER V.
The Pioneers.
First White Men – Samuel Baker Locates at Lawrenceville – Other Early Settlers There First Settlers Along the Cowanesque River – Pioneers of the Tioga Valley Early Settlers in Other Parts of the County – Hardships and Privations Endured – The Pine Creek Land Company – Morris’ Great Trust – Trouble in the Land Company – Norris and Babb – Horrors of the Wilderness – Taxables of 1812, 56-71
CHAPTER VI.
County Organization Completed.
Location of County Seat- Trustees Appointed- Proposals for a Site Advertised for The Offer of Benjamin Wistar Morris Accepted- Location Made- Why Named Wellsborough – A Town Laid Out – Activity of Morris – Delmar Township Formed First Commissioners – Early Financial Statements – Other Statistical Information – Growth of Population by Decades, 71-79
CHAPTER VII.
Early Courts and Cases.
Arrests and Trials Under the Intrusion Law – The Case of Ezra Spaulding – History of the Defendant – Other Tioga Settlers Indicted – First Courts of Tioga County – Docket Entries – A Horse Thief Convicted – Six Magisterial Districts Established – The Great Slave Hunt – Important County Records Stolen – An Obdurate Judge, 80-93
CHAPTER VIII.
Internal Improvements.
First Traveled Ways – The State Line Survey – A Rude Road Brushed Out – The Williamson Road – Why and How It Was Built – A Princely Entertainment in the Wilderness – The Patterson Brothers – Morris State Road – More Roads Laid Out – East and West State Road – Era of Plank Roads – Early Navigation Schemes – The Corning and Blossburg Railroad – Morris Run and Arnot Branches – The Fall Brook Railroad – The Cowanesque Branch – The Pine Creek Branch – Elmira and State Line Railroad – The Addison and Pennsylvania Railroad – Other Railroads, 93-108
CHAPTER IX.
Industrial Development.
Primitive Saw-Mills and Grist-Mills – The Morris Mills – First Mills at Wellsboro – Babb’s Mill – In the Tioga Valley – Early Lumbering Operations – A Rafting Reminiscence – Along the Cowanesque River – Pioneer Mills on Pine Creek – An Era of Rapid Development – Risks and Charms of the Business – -The Tanning Industry – Iron Foundries and Smelting Works – The Manufacture of Glass – Progress of Agriculture – Agricultural Societies, 109-119
CHAPTER X.
Coal Mines and Mining.
The Blossburg and Gaines Coal Basins – Theories Concerning Their Formation – ¦ Their Extent and Character – The Discovery of Coal at Blossburg – Pioneer Mines and Mining – Early Attempts at Development – The Tioga Navigation Company – First Geological Survey – The Arbon Coal Company – Sir Charles Lyell’s Visit – Coal Seams Described – Character and Uses of Blossburg Coal – The Manufacture of Coke – Labor Strikes and Troubles – Recent Statistics – Past and Present, ..119-132
CHAPTER XI.
Public Buildings and Officials.
First Meeting Place of the Commissioners- Temporary Quarters Secured – First Public Buildings Erected – An Odd Contract – High Price of Nails – Description of Buildings – The New Court House and Jail – The Present Jail – The Only Criminal Execution – New Record Building – County House and Farm – Roster of Public Officials, 132-144
CHAPTER XII.
The Bench and Bar.
Personal Sketches of President Judges – Many Able and Distinguished Jurists Among Them – The Bar of Tioga County – A Brilliant Array of Legal Talent – The Tioga County Bar Association – John F. Donaldson, Prothonotary and Politician – A Sketch of His Career, 145-188
CHAPTER XIII.
The Medical Profession.
Introductory – Pioneer Physicians – Their Courageous Devotion to Duty – Brief Sketches of Prominent Physicians – The First Drug Store – Sketch of Dr. Robert Roy, Its Proprietor – “Brick” Pomeroy’s Reminiscences – The Tioga County Medical Association, 189-206
CHAPTER XIV.
Early Military History.
Introduction- Early Settlers Who Were Revolutionary Soldiers- They Led the Way Into the Wilderness- Peter Shumway’s Discharge- A Priceless Relic- The War of 1812- Settlers of Tioga Who Served in That Struggle- Old-Time Militia System – The Mexican War, 206-216
CHAPTER XV.
War of the Rebellion.
The Firing on Fort Sumter- Reception of the News in Wellsboro- Meeting of the Borough Council- Resolutions Adopted- Mrs. Mary H. Clymer’s Patriotic Act and Letter The First Volunteers – Gen. Robert C. Cox’s Interesting Narrative – Rosters of Companies Raised in Tioga County – Miscellaneous Commands – In New York Regiments- In Other States- The Fourteenth United States Infantry -Soldiers’ Monument- Losses in the War, 216-249
CHAPTER XVI.
Literature of Tioga.
Josiah Emery’s English Grammar- Lydia Jane Pierson, the Forest Minstrel- Mary Emily Jackson, a Native Poetess-M. H. Cobb, Printer and Poet- “Nessmuk,” the Lover and Poet of Nature- His Rambles, Travels, and Writings, 249-258
CHAPTER XVII.
Wellsboro.
Descriptive – The Original Town Plot – Additional Lots Surveyed – Prominent Pioneers – Josiah Emery’s Reminiscences – Post office and Postmasters – John Shefler, the Young Mail Carrier – His Route Through the Wilderness – Post office Statistics – Old-Time Taverns and Landlords – Modern Hotels, 258-274
CHAPTER XVIII.
Wellsbobo (Continued).
Village Schools- The Old Academy- Its Incorporation- Its Early and Later History — The Building Now Used as a Church – Common School System Adopted – First Public School Building- Later Buildings and Teachers – Willow Hall School, 275-295.
CHAPTER XIX.
Wellsboro (Continued).
The Old Quaker Meeting-House- St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church- Rev. Charles Breck, the Pioneer Pastor- The Work He Accomplished- The Presbyterian Church- Rev. J. F. Calkins’ Long Pastorate- His Semi-Centennial Address -First Methodist Episcopal Church- Rev. Caleb Boyer- The First Class Church Organized – First Baptist Church – Its Organization and Later History -St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church- The Free Will Baptist Church- Cemeteries – Societies – Wellsborough’s Military Band, 295-316
CHAPTER XX.
Wellsboro (Continued).
The Tioga Pioneer – Its Editors and Publishers – Removal to Tioga – Early Advertisements – The Phoenix Appears – The Tioga Herald – George Hildreth, the Old-Time Printer – The Wellsboro Advertiser – The Wellsboro Agitator – The Daily Record – The Tioga Eagle and Its Successors – The Wellsboro Gazette – The Tioga Banner – The Hermaic Journal – The Tioga County Leader – The Republican Advocate – A Noted Correspondent, 317-327
CHAPTER XXI.
Wellsboro (Continued).
Incorporated as a Borough – First Election – Early Ordinances – Burgesses, Clerks, Treasurers and Justices – Borough Boundaries – Fire Department – Water Works System – The Wellsborough Electric Company, 327-334
CHAPTER XXII.
Wellsboro (Continued).
The First National Bank – The Old and New Bank Buildings – The Wellsborough National Bank – The Great Bank Robbery – The Property Taken – Two of the Robbers Captured – Tried, Convicted and Sent to Prison – Cosgrove Reforms – His Visit to Judge Williams – Manufacturing and Other Enterprises – The Wellsboro of To-Day, 335-349
CHAPTEK XXIII.
Delmar Township.
Creation – Original Dividing Line – Origin of Name – Reductions of Area – Present Boundaries – Character of Surface – Streams – The “Big Marsh” – Altitude – Population – Pioneer Settlers – Manufacturing Enterprises – Schools – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages and Post offices, 350-360
CHAPTER XXIV.
Charleston Township.
Organization – Reductions of Area – Boundaries – Drainage – Physical Characteristics – Population – The Pioneers – Mills and Other Enterprises – Schools – Justices of the Peace – Churches – Cemeteries – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 360-360
CHAPTER XXV.
Middlebury Township.
Organization – Reduction of Area – Physical Features – Streams – Population- Early Settlers – Early and Later Enterprises – Schools and Justices – Churches – Cemeteries – Societies – Villages, 369-378
CHAPTER XXVI.
Farmington Township.
Organization – Area and Boundaries – Physical Characteristics – Streams and Drainage – Population – Early Settlers – Manufacturing Enterprises – Schools and Justices – Churches – Cemeteries – Post offices and Postmasters 379-383
CHAPTER XXVII.
Elkland Borough.
The Old Township of Elkland – Its Organization and Boundaries – Reductions of Area – Organized as a Borough – Enlargement of Borough Limits – Pioneer Settlers – Village Growth – Later Enterprises – Schools – Hotels – Borough Organization and Officials- Postmasters- Physicians and Lawyers- Newspapers- Churches – Cemeteries – Societies 384-394
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Osceola Borough.
Borough Organization – Unusual Area – The Village of Osceola – Physical Features – Streams – The Word “Cowanesque” – Its Derivation and Definition – “Pindarville” – Origin of Name – Population – Lands and Settlement – Early and Later Industries – Inns and Hotels – Schools – Borough Organization and Officials – Physicians – Churches – Cemeteries – Secret Societies, 395-404
CHAPTER XXIX.
Nelson Borough.
Organization – Area and Boundaries – Streams – Physical Features – Early Settlers – Manufacturing and Business Enterprises – Borough Organization and Officials – Physicians – Schools – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies, 404-411
CHAPTER XXX.
Deerfield Township.
Organization – Changes of Area – Streams, Soil and Forest Growth – Population – Early Settlers – The Strawbridge Lands- Business and Manufacturing Enterprises – Schools – Early Physicians and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages, 412-420
CHAPTER XXXI.
Knoxville Borough.
Organization – Origin of Name – Area and Elevation – Billings Park – Population – Early Settlers – Manufacturing Enterprises – Mercantile Enterprises – Inns and Hotels – Schools – Borough Organization and Officials – Postmasters – Physicians and Lawyers – Newspapers – Churches – Cemeteries – Societies, 421-430
CHAPTER XXXII.
Westfield Township.
Organization – Physical Characteristics – Population – Early Settlers – Early Enterprises – Schools and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages, 430-437
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Westfield Borough.
Location and Surroundings – Population and Taxable Property – Early Settlers – Borough Organization and Officials – Postmasters- Physicians and Lawyers – Business and Manufacturing Enterprises – Incorporated Companies – Hotels – Newspapers – Railroads – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies, 438-449
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Brookfield Township.
Organization – Location and Area – Physical Features – Streams – Forest Growth – Population – Justices of the Peace – Early Settlers – Mills and Factories – Schools – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages, 449-456
CHAPTER XXXV.
Chatham Township.
Organization- Education of Area- Physical Characteristics- Streams- Timber Growth – Early Settlers – Pioneer Industries – Schools and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 457-463
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Clymer Township.
Organization – Origin of Name – William B. Clymer – His Generous Treatment of Settlers – Physical Features of Township – Forest Growth – Streams – Area – Early Settlers – Early Industries – Schools and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 463-469
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Shippen Township.
Organization – Present Boundaries and Area – Streams – Physical Features – Population-Early Settlers – King and Manning’s Explorations – Big Meadows – The Furmans – Assessment of 1824 – Division of Township – Settlers on Marsh Creek – Early Mills – Schools and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages 469-474
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Gaines Township.
Organization – Reduction of Area – Derivation of Name – Physical Characteristics – Streams – Timber and Game – Population – Early Settlers – Past and Present Enterprises – The Gaines Coal and Coke Company – Early Schools – Physicians and Justices – Churches – Cemeteries – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 475-482
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Elk Township.
Organization – Boundaries and Area – Mountains and Streams – Timber – Population – Early Settlers – Industrial Enterprises – Schools and Churches – Justices of the Peace – Villages 483-485
CHAPTER XL.
Morris Township.
Organization – Reductions of Area – Physical Characteristics – Timber and Coal – Streams – Railroads – Population – Pioneer Settlement – Mills and Other Enterprises – Schools – Physicians and Justices – Churches – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 486-493
CHAPTER XLI.
Duncan Township.
Derivation of Name – Organization – Area – Boundaries – Altitude – Population – Justices – The Fall Brook Coal Company – The Village of Antrim – Hotels – Postmasters – Schools – Physicians – Societies – Churches – Villages, 493-497
CHAPTER XLII.
Tioga Township.
Organization – Reductions of Area – Physical Features – Streams – Population – Pioneer Settlers – Early Enterprises – Schools and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Villages and Post offices 498-504
CHAPTER XLIII.
Tioga Borough.
Description- Physical Characteristics- Early Settlers- Population- Village Industries and Enterprises- Early Physicians and Lawyers- Early and Later Hotels- Borough Organization and Officials – Village and Borough Newspapers – Schools -Churches- Secret Societies- Later Business and Manufacturing Enterprises- Tioga Water Works Hose Companies- Fire and Flood, 505-520
CHAPTER XLIV.
Lawrence Township and Lawrenceville.
Township Organization – Selection of Name – Boundaries and Area – Physical Features – Early Land Troubles – Conflicting Claims of Pennsylvania and Connecticut – Final Settlement of the Dispute – The State Line Survey – Hon. Samuel Baker, the First White Settler – Other Early Settlers – The Borough of Lawrenceville – Manufacturing and Business Enterprises – Physicians and Lawyers – Newspapers – Schools – Churches, Sabbath-Schools and Cemeteries – Justices and Burgesses – Societies – Horacetown, 520-542
CHAPTER XLV.
Jackson Township.
Organization – Origin of Name – Original Area – Present Boundaries – Physical Features – Strearns – Altitude – Population – Pioneer Settlement – Early Milling Enterprises – Schools – Physicians, Lawyers and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies – Villages and Post offices, 543-550
CHAPTER XLVI.
Rutland Township.
Organization – Boundaries – Physical Features – Streams: – Iron Ore – Population – Early Settlers – Mills and Other Enterprises – Schools – Physicians and Justices – Churches and Cemeteries – Roseville Borough, 551-556
CHAPTER XLVII.
Sullivan Township.
Organization – Original Area and Present Boundaries – Soil and Products – Streams – Derivation of Name – Population – Early Settlers – Business Enterprises – Schools – Physicians and Justices – Churches – Cemeteries – Secret Societies – Borough of Mainesburg – Villages and Post offices, 557-566
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Richmond Township.
Organization – Physical Characteristics – Streams – Mineral Deposits – Pioneer Settlers – Pioneer Enterprises – Schools and Justices – Churches – Cemeteries – Villages 567-574
CHAPTER XLIX
Mansfield Borough.
Location and Surroundings – Early Settlers and Enterprises – Borough Organization and Officials – Fire Department – Postmasters, Physicians and Lawyers – Hotels – Public Schools – Mansfield Classical Seminary – The Mansfield State Normal School – The Soldiers’ Orphan Home – Business Colleges – Later Industries and Enterprises – Newspapers – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies, 575-592″
CHAPTER L.
Covington Township.
Organization- Original and Present Area- Drainage and Physical Features- Population Early Settlers – Early and Later Enterprises – Schools – Postmasters and Justices – Churches, Cemeteries and Societies, 593
CHAPTER LI.
Covington Borough.
Location and Surroundings- Population- Early Settlers- Manufacturing Enterprises – Early Hotel Keepers and Merchants – Borough Organization and Officials – Postmasters and Physicians- Newspapers – Schools – Churches and Secret Societies, 597-604
CHAPTER LII.
Bloss Township.
Organization- Physical Features- Streams – Forest Growth- Mineral Deposits – Limited Agriculture – Justices of the Peace – Changes in Area and Population – The Blossburg Coal Company – Arnot – Churches – Societies – Landrus, 604-610
CHAPTER LIII.
Blossburg Borough.
The Williamson Road – Peter’s Camp – Borough Site and Surroundings – Pioneer Settlers – Early Industries an Enterprises – Discovery of Coal – Judge Knapp’s Enterprises – The Arbon Coal Company – A Real Estate Boom – The Corning and Blossburg Railroad – The Seymour House – Sir Charles Lyell’s Visit – Window Glass Manufactory – The Morris Run Railroad – The Arnot Branch – Borough Organization and Officials – Fire Department – The Fire of 1873 – Physicians and Lawyers – Schools – Churches and Cemeteries – Societies – Later Business Corporations – The Cottage State Hospital, 611-625
CHAPTER LIV.
Hamilton Township.
Organization – Physical Characteristics – Mineral Wealth – Streams – Railroads – Population – Justices of the Peace – Morris Run Mines and Railroad – Coal Mining Companies – The Village of Morris Run – Schools and Churches – Societies, … .625-630
CHAPTER LV.
Ward Township.
Organization – Reducation of Area – Drainage – Population – Justices of the Peace – Early Settlers – Manufacturing Enterprises – Schools – Churches, Cemeteries and Societies, 630-632
CHAPTER LVI.
Pall Brook Borough.
Location and Surroundings- The Pall Brook Coal Company- Its Organization and History – Borough Organization and Officials – Schools- Churches – Societies, . . 633-638
CHAPTER LVII.
Liberty Township.
Organization – Physical Characteristics- Soil and Products- Coal and Iron – Timber -Streams- Population – Pioneer Settlement – First White Men – The District Line – Williamson Road – The Block House – Anthony, the First Landlord – Other Early Settlers – Mills and Other Enterprises – Physicians and Justices – Schools- Churches and Cemeteries – Societies – Liberty Borough – Villages and Post offices, 639-649
CHAPTER LVIII.
Union Township.
Organization – Physical Features – Streams – Population – Pioneer Settlers – Early and Later Enterprises- Schools – Physicians and Justices – Churches, Cemeteries and Societies – Villages, 649-654
CHAPTER LIX.
Biographical Sketches.
Wellsboro – Delmar and Charleston Townships, 655-780
CHAPTER LX.
Biographical Sketches.
Middlebury and Farmington Townships – Nelson, Elkland and Osceola Boroughs,. .780-867
CHAPTER LXI.
Biographical Sketches.
Deerfield Township and Knoxville Borough- Westfield Township and Borough- Brookfield Township, 867-947
CHAPTER LXII.
Biographical Sketches.
Chatham, Clymer, Gaines, Elk and Shippen Townships, 947-986
CHAPTER LXIII.
Biographical Sketches.
Tioga Township and Borough – Lawrence Township Jackson Township and Lawrenceville Borough – 987-1049
CHAPTER LXIV.
Biographical Sketches.
Richmond Township and Mansfield Borough – Sullivan Township and Mainesburg – Rutland Township, 1050-1107
CHAPTER LXV.
Biographical Sketches.
Covington Township and Borough – The Blossburg Coal Region – Liberty and Union Townships – Morris Township, 1107-1160
Index, 1161-1186
Map of Tioga County, 16
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