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Missing Sections typed by Paul Newell from the South Creek Sesquicentenial Book
The People
EARLY HISTORY
The first settler made South Creek his home before 1804, but the date of his coming to the township is not known, and to fix any would be mere conjecture. Among the very earliest settlers were Jesse Moore, Hosea Baker, Gideon Andrus, Ezekiel Baker, Isaac Baker, John Morrison, Samuel Pettingill, Solomon Bovier, John Pitt, Joseph Chase, Benjamin Seeley, ---- Potter, Aaron Stiles, and James Van Kuren.
Others that came between 1830 and 1840, were Philo Fassett, Benjamin Inman, Linus Williams, Asa Gillett, William Thompson, John Dean, William Burk, John C. Patterson, Daniel Hildreth, John Dickerson, Andrew Niffin, Hiram Harkness, Luke N. Pitt, Clement Leonard, ---- McElroy, Jacob Quick, Alanson Owens, William Goldsmith, William Houts, ---- Walling, Benjamin Chase, ---- Benson, ---- Blodget, Eben Dunning, Alexander Johnson, and James Dewey. Those coming at a more recent date will be given farther along.
Jesse Moore located on the place where William Dean now resides, about one-half a mile south of Gilletts, on the farm now owned by Arnot and Webber, of Elmira, in 1804. He came from Orange County, N.Y., and cut his own “sled road” in from Southport. Locating, as above referred to, he at once began “tussling with the huge pines in the valley,” and prepared for life in the new country. Soon after coming to the township, he picked out a mill-site on the west branch of South Creek, built a dam, and erected a log grist mill with a run of one stone. This was only a few rods from where the residence of Mr. G.F. Vernier now is, and was the first mill in the township.
Mr. Moore died in 1844 upon the place he had settled and improved; Mrs. Moore died in 1855. Jesse Moore succeeded his father upon the place, and died there in 1872; his brother, Elisha Moore, lived on the Fassett place; his daughter, Hannah, married Elder Isaac Lake, and is now living near LeRoy. Asa Moore married Mercy Bentley, whose father was a resident contemporary with the Moores.
James Ingalls and Thomas Osgood came to the township in 1808, and lived near the State Line. Ingals remained for about a year and Osgood for three years. These families will again be mentioned in connections with Wells.
Within a few years after Mr. Moore came Hosea Baker came and settled at Gilletts. He erected the plank house in which J.F. Gillett now resides, and opened it as a public house, which he kept for a number of years. This property he sold to other parties, and a couple of years thereafter (1833,) it was purchased by Asa Gillett, who continued in the same business. Baker was quite a noted hunter, and took quite an active part in the pioneer development of this part of the country. “Hosea Ridge,” back of Gilletts, is so-called after him. Baker went to Michigan about fifty years ago where he died. He has a son, Ezekiel Baker, who was among the early settlers. He had his dwelling on the ground where Pitt’s store now is, at Gilletts, and kept hotel for a number of years. Isaac Baker located farther down the creek than did the other Bakers, who claim no relationship. He had a grist mill on South Creek.
Philo Fassett came to South Creek
in 1830. He emigrated from Vermont, and settled in Troy in the beginning
of the present century. He located upon the farm which he subsequently
sold to Judge Wilber where he subsequently died. Fassett purchased a possession
of a Mrs. Andrus, and settled thereon. About twenty acres had been cleared.
This is about half a mile south of where Fassett station now is on the
farm owned by T. Flood, of Elmira. In 1832 Mr. Fassett added a bar-room
to his house and opened it as a hotel, and continued in that business for
over thirty years. Says his son, Philo “…he made money by raising rye and
exchanging it for whiskey, which was then sold for three cents a glass,
and it was not considered a dishonorable business, as liquor was used on
almost every occasion, whether religious, social or otherwise.” Mr. Fassett
had a large farm, and made many improvements. His son, N.P. Fassett, says:
--- “We had no trouble about the Connecticut title --- that had been disposed
of before we came. The lands belonged to the Bingham estate. The Govett’s
lands reached to the ridges, dividing Bentley from South Creek. The settlers
first went and made possession, and then sold from one to another their
possessing rights or title. There was an 1100-acre tract, in which some
of the settlers had been located for thirty years or more, and were making
arrangements to purchase the Bingham title; but a Dr. Seeley ‘stole a march’
on them, bought the Bingham title, and demanded of the settlers what they
deemed an exorbitant price, which they refused to pay, Seeley served writs
or ejectment upon them, where-upon the settlers combined to resist his
title. Suit was commenced against my father (Philo Fassett,) and the case
was tried in the Bradford County Court. Elisha Moore, who was a former
owner of the possession, was a witness in the case. The settlers beat Seeley
on the ground of possession. This Mr. Moore was a brother of Jesse. Another
brother, Asa, lived just north of us, over the State Line.
Philo Fassett died in the township
in 1868, at the age of eighty-one years, and is buried at Elmira. His son,
Samuel, succeeded him on the farm, and held it until within a few years.
Philo Fassett had a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters.
The daughters are all dead. The sons are all living, and are – Newton,
attorney at Elmira; I.W., an extensive businessman at Wellsville, N.Y.;
Colonel Louis Fassett, in the oil business at Franklin, Pa.; Truman Fassett
at Canton, Pa.; Philo and J.Q.A. Fassett live in the township
BRADFORD REPORTER
TOWANDA, PA.
October 29, 1885
History of South Creek Township
Some of the Inhabitants
William Thompson, a Scotch-Irishman,
and native of Erin's green soil came to the township in 1833, and located
in what is known as "Thompson Hill" (so named from his settling there)
on the place of H. Lewis and subsequently on the place of his son S. L.
Thompson, where he spent the last forty years of his life. Mr. Thompson
had been living in Tompkins county, N.Y., and as Mrs. Thompson relates;
"Came in from the 'Johnson settlement' to Bentley Creek, where he remained
for a time, until Mr. Thompson had prepared a home in the wilderness. A
road was cut through to my cabin, and Jonathan Kent moved us in on a sleigh
in January. Our cabin had no door, save a blanket that was supplemented.
A hole had been left in the roof for the chimney, not yet built, the gables
not closed, and the room but partly floored with halved saplings, flat-side
up. We had to keep big fires to keep warm. These were built against the
side of our cabin, until a hole was burned through the logs, when we put
in our cobbed chimney. The wolves howled furiously around our abode in
the wilderness, our sentry being the dog, while we slept. The hoot-owl,
perched on some branches overhanging us, lent his coarse voice to the miseries
of our gloomy situation. The trials, at first, were severs indeed, and
I did everything I could to assist my husband in getting a start. Many
a time by moonlight, when the children were sleighing, we picked and burned
brush, and not unfrequently I assisted Mr. Thompson loging. During the
summer season he worked on the Elmira Flats, to earn bread for his family,
and backed in his grain. He set out the first orchard on the hill. Mr.
Thompson was a very industrious hard-working man. He died in 1876, at the
age of 86 years. His life-long companion survives him at four-score and
eight. She enjoys good health, gets about with remarkable agility, considering
her age, and is yet possessed of good memory. May our venerable mother
live to see the 20th century.
J.E. Van Kuren states: "My father, James
VanKuren moved his family to South Creek, in 1823 from Standing Stone township.
When he came but few openings had been made. He endured the hardships of
the other pioneers, and lived to be 87 years of age. He moved to this county
from Orange County, N.Y."
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Jesse Moore built the first grist mill
in the township; the next was put up by Doctor Seely, on the creek near
where Fassett's school house now stands. Near the same site Martin Seely
afterwards put up a saw mill. Up above the "Stone Line," the "Suffern
Mill" was put in more than half a century ago by on e Chittenden. It was
a saw mill and was in operation for a short time only. Chittenden
also kept some goods at the same time he run the mill, in the house in
which Mr. Suffern now resides. Up Dunham creek, besides the Dunham mill,
John Selover had two mills at quite an early day.
With regard to schools, Phil Fassett
says: "When father came in there was a school house in South Creek
near Gilletts, and a second one nearly completed at Fassetts. Father at
once made an effort to raise funds necessary to complete the building,
and a school was opened a year or two after his advent into the township.
The building stood where Kingsland's store now is. It was a log building.
Religious--Meetings were at first held
in the school house, irregularly. The Baptist Society was established at
Gilletts in 1842. Jas. H. Noble was the first regular minister. The only
church in the township is at Gilletts, and was erected in 1876.
The first post office was kept at Fassetts
by Philo Fasssett. After a time the office was moved to Gilletts, and kept
by Asa Gillett in his hotel.
A dreadful affair--In 1841, Sylvester
Barnes lived in the place, where C. Burke now resides. He built a board
house, and the very day it was completed it was destroyed by fire. In the
chamber there was no window the chimney had been built on the outside.
In the evening the family retired, two of Mr. Barnes' children, and one
of a neighbor's sleeping on the second floor. Along in the night Mr. Barnes
was awakened and the curtains about his bed were on fire. He and Mrs. Barnes
at once fled from the burning building with their lives. In their wild
excitement the babe was forgotten; but Mr. Barnes rushed through
the flames, and secured the little one alive. The three children sleeping
above unable to make their escape, were burned to death. This affair is
supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
Reporter Journal, Towanda, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1885
HISTORY OF SOUTH CREEK.
Some of the Inhabitants.
Henry Jones settled at Gillett’s about
1830-31, and kept a tavern on the place now owned by John Gillett; he came
from Hartford, Connecticut, died in South Creek, but was buried at Elmira.
Rev. Simeon Jones, his father, was one of the pioneer preachers of this
section.
Deacon Asa Gillett came to the township
in 1833 from Delaware County, N. Y., purchased lands quite extensively,
together with the “Moore Hotel,” and the saw mill at Gillett’s that had
been erected by Bundy & Cowell in 1831. He kept hotel, farmed and lumbered
somewhat extensively. The old mill, which he employed at Gillett’s, was
the first erected in that part of the town, and is yet in use by his son,
Hon. J. B. Gillett.
Deacon Gillett was a pious, hard-working,
industrious man. He was a man of ability, a deacon in the Baptist Church,
and was the leading member of that denomination. He took great pains in
the moral training of the neighborhood, and taught them both by example
and pretest. He was a Whig, but never aspired to any political honors.
He died in 1862 at the age of 74 years, universally respected by all who
knew him. Mrs. Gillett died in 1868, at the age of 79 years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gillett were born
four children. They all reached the years of maturity, married and had
families each. Three are living. John F., occupies the homestead. He was
a member of the State Legislature in 1877-78. H. Gillett is a prosperous
farmer at Wellsburg, N. Y. Asa Gillett was the first postmater at Gillett’s.
The stage-route from Williamsport to
Elmira passed down South Creek and Gillett’s was the “half-way place” between
Elmira and Troy. There nine public houses between the last two named points,
three of which were in South Creek, and kept respectively by Ezekiel Baker,
Harvey Jones and Mr. Gillett.
Eben Dunning came from Cayuga County,
N. Y., in 1837, and bought out a man by the name of Potter, who had made
a beginning where Dunning’s Station now is.
Mr. Dunning built a saw mill and carried
on lumbering extensively for over thirty years. He also built a grist mill
near the saw mill and both are yet in operation. Mr. Dunningdied in 1879,
his widow yet surviving him. His son, D. F., succeeds him in the milling
business.
Benjamin Inman came to the township
in 1832, from Cortland County, N. Y.
He contracted with Joseph Chase for
40 acres of land at one dollar per acre, which he subsequently paid for
in work. Says Mrs. Inman: - “ A spot large enough for our cabin was cleared,
then was raised and covered with basswood bark. Mr. Inman was required
to cut a road in from Bentley Creek, then father took his ox team and moved
us in on his ox-sled. Our furniture consisted of two old chairs, a table,
my great grandfather’s, and an old bedstead. With a small amount of clothing,
we were ready for beginning life in the wilderness. Mr. Inman had to work
out most of the time, and not unfrequently was I left alone from Monday
morning till Saturday evening, without even a cat or dog to keep me company.
One evening as I closed the door a bear stuck his nose in after me. We
got along the best we could; I helped Mr. Inman log many trees. I would
hold one end of the log while he rolled up the other. My husband would
back his grist five miles to Cooper’s mill on Bentley Creek or from the
Chemung Flats, near Elmira, where he worked a great deal. We did not hurt
for meat as Mr. Inman took great delight in hunting, and killed many deer.
We illuminated our cabin with candles made from deer’s fat or from deer’s
fat and tallow. When made the later way they would last much longer.” Mr.
Inman cleared up his place, and for a number of years followed the trade
of gunsmith. He was a Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, and held
various other offices of trust. Mr. Inman lived to celebrate his golden
wedding and died in February, 1883, aged 73 years, Mrs. Inman yet surviving
him. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are living. Four sons
enlisted in the late rebellion, and one died at Andersonville. L. E. Inman
occupies the homestead.
Linus Williams, a native of New Jersey,
came to the township in 1832 from Seneca County, N. Y., and located on
the place now occupied by D. Chase.
Mrs. Williams says; - “We moved in from
Pennyville with an ox team, and Mr. Williams was required to cut his own
road a part of the way. The first summer we lived in our log cabin without
a door, window, or fire place. When a fire was required it was built against
the side of the cabin where we designed the fire place to be. In time a
hole was burned through the logs, and a fire place and chimney put in for
the winter. We had a cow and a few household goods to start with in the
wild woods, on a farm that was covered with the hugest hemlocks and maples.
When our cabin was raised, only seven men could be got within a radius
of two miles. We got along pretty well by employing our time diligently
and being economical. In the spring we made maple sugar which Mr. Williams
would take to Ovid on his ox sled and exchange for bread-stuffs. In had
worked at tailoring in New York City, and took in sewing for the neighbors,
which they would pay in work on the place. Mr. Williams was not a large
man and I assisted him in every respect that I could, that we might get
along. The second year Mr. Williams sold his gun, and purchased a second
cow. Frequently he would take a pail of butter and go to Elmira, on foot,
a distance of sixteen miles, and exchange for articles of comfort and eatables.
I used to shoot at mark with Mr. Williams, and frequently beat him. Not
unfrequently deer and wild turkeys would come to our door. On one occasion,
when Mr. Williams was absent, a deer came up and I took the rifle to try
my luck. I could not hold the gun at arm’s length, so I placed a chair
in the door for a rest. When about ready the dog came up and chased my
game away. Mr. Williams often got discouraged, but I never felt lonely
for a single day, and would frequently have to cheer him up. Our early
neighbors were: McElroy, who came in two or three years after us, and located
on the DeWaters place. Clement Leonard located where the Widow Craig now
resides. Luke N. Pitt lived on what is now Mrs. DeWaters’ place (of Elmira).
John Dickerson located on the place of now Judson Lewis. Andrew Niffin
lived on the place of now Mortimer Harkness after Hiram Harkness, who began
improvements on the place of now W. C. Cornell; Jacob Quick began on the
Mason place, and Alanson Owens on the place of Widow Burnham. William Goldsmith
lived where H. Lewis now is, and William Houts on the place now occupied
by P. Furman. William Thompson on the place now occupied by his son. Benjamin
Chase on the place now by William Chase, and where John Dean now lives
a man named Benson began. John Pitt began on the place now owned by B.
G. Wilson and a Mr. Blodget on the Seafuse place.
Linus Williams died on his place in
1872 at the age of 67 years, his widow yet survives him at the age of 78
years. She enjoys excellent health and unimpaired faculties. She has acted
the part of the “good Samaritan,” and we hope she may enjoy the blessings
of many more years.
[CONTINUED]
BRADFORD REPORTER
TOWANDA, PA.
November 13, 1885
History of South Creek
Gilletts
is a quiet village of about two hundred persons,
and is situated near the central part of the town in a pleasant valley,
with high hills on either side on the line of the Northern Central Railroad.
The village has grown since the construction of the Northern Central. When
this road was put through a station was located on Mr. Gillett's farm,
and accordingly called "Gilletts," a name which extended to the village
that began building near by. For some time there was a considerable strife
between this place and Dunnings, (a mile south,) but Gilletts finally gained
the race and is now quite an important shipping point on the line of the
Northern Central. The following are the points of interest there:
Passmore & Parsons are general merchants,
and established themselves in business August 1, 1884. In their store may
be found a choice line of staple groceries, confectioneries, tobaccos and
cigars, boots and shoes of the latest styles and best make, a full line
of dry goods and notions, hardware, tin ware, and a great variety of articles
both useful and ornamental found at a country store. Produce is received
in exchange for merchandise, and the highest market price paid for hay
and grain.
The post office is kept in connection
with the store, H.S. Patterson being postmaster. Passmore & Patterson
are young men of fine business qualifications and the strictest integrity.
They are building up a fine trade.
W.S. Pitt is engaged in the general
merchandise business, and carries a line of goods of all descriptions,
adapted to a country trade. That he has been in continual business for
fourteen years is a sufficient quaranty of a reliable and prosperous business.
John Gordon is also a general merchant,
and has been in business for five years. He carries a line of goods designed
to meet the wants of a country people.
C.F. Moore runs a planing mill, and
does first-class work. In connection general wagon repairing is done.
J.L. Pitt runs the village hotel, and
keeps a livery.
Hiram Sample is the village blacksmith,
and has please the people of Gilletts with his skillful workmanship for
a quarter of a century.
John E. Turk is engaged in shoemaking.
C.F. Kiersted is the able and eminent
physician of the place, where he has resided for a space of twelve years.
He enjoys a very lucrative practice, and is a graduate of Geneva Medical
College.
H.H. Cole is also a practicing physician
here.
The place also affords a grist mill,
and saw mill, a graded school, church, (Baptist,) and two town halls. The
secret organizations are the I.O. of O.F., I.O. of G.T. and G.A.R.
Gilletts Corner Band, under the leadership
of A.G. Lauk, is a credit to the place, and is composed of excellent young
men.
M. Furman supplies the people with the
choicest meats of all kinds, and runs a wagon to Elmira.
PROMINENT CITIZENS
David King is a highly respected citizen,
and diligent and successful farmer. He occupies a part of the old Jesse
Moore place, and has a desirable location on South Creek. Especial attention
is given to the raising of sheep, the Cotswolds and Southdowns, and a large
flock is kept. Mr. King is a native of Delaware County, N.Y., and came
to the township thirty years since.
Mrs. King is of good parentage, and
has noted relatives. She is a near relative of O.S. Fowler, the celebrated
phrenologist, and a niece of Deacon Phineas Field, well known throughout
New England, Mrs. King is a lady of a good degree of culture, and takes
a full supply of literary journals.
William Dean is one of those big hearted
souls, that has a kind word, and a smile for everybody. He is a successful
husbandman, and has charge of the Arnout Webber place. A large dairy of
the Jersey and Durham line is carried, and due attention paid to the growing
of our native cereals. Mr. Dean has always taken a great interest in public
affairs, and has always been a very radical Republican. He is a son of
John Dean, a pioneer already mentioned.
C.A. Pitt is an accommodating gentleman,
and a worthy son of John Pitt, the pioneer. In September, 1864, Mr. Pitt
lent his services to the Union, joining the 188t New York Regiment, and
served faithfully until the close of the war. He was in a number of engagements,
and was by rank a corporal. A brother, J.L. Pitt, enlisted in the same
regiment at the same time, and served until the battle of Hatcher's Run,
where he was wounded, and did not again go into active service.
We found H. Sample an interesting gentleman,
and gleaned interesting facts from him. He is a son of Samuel Sample, who
moved from Steuben County, N.Y., to Ridgebury, in 1830. Mrs. Sample says,
"When we came through Elmira, there were but two stores and a hotel there,
the latter being kept by John Davis." Mr. Sample has been an inhabitant
of South Creek since 1843. He is a respected citizen, and fills offices
of trust. He lost a son in the service.
G. O. Turk is the efficient pedagogue
at Gilletts, and has followed the teachers' profession for several winters,
during the summer season engaging in family. He is a son of Henry Turk.
B. G. Wilson is a liberal-minded, open-hearted
gentleman, who has seen considerable of the world, and suffered many of
its hardships. However, the greater part of his life has been spent in
the township. At an early age he was left an orphan, and had to scrabble
for himself. After considerable jolting about he made an overland trip
to California, in 1849. This was in the time of "the gold excitement."
The wagon-train was on the road eight months, and the prospectors subjected
to great exposure, and the probabilities of having their hair pulled by
the Indians at any time. After seven years in the "country of fabled treasures,"
he returned to the place of his nativity and engaged in farming.
Mr. Wilson demonstrated his patriotism
by donning the blue in September, 1864. He was a member of the 188th N.Y.
Regiment, and participated with his regiment in the engagements fought
by it until the close of the war. Previous to his enlistment, Mr. Wilson
had been in the Construction Corps. From the exposure to which Mr. Wilson
has subjected himself, he is now an invalid and great sufferer. Mrs. Wilson
is a daughter of John Pitt, deceased.
A.G. Lauk is the accommodating station
agent and operator at Gilletts, a place which he has filled for six years.
Hon. J.F. Gillett is one of South Creek's
very best citizens, and is entitled to more credit than any other for the
up building of Gilletts. He is a kind-hearted man of noble principles,
and has always taken a great interest in school and religious matters.
His excellent wife is a worthy companion, and the hungry are never turned
from their door. Mr. Gillett is engaged largely in lumbering and dairying,
and has a fine farm and residence a mile north of Gilletts. A large dairy
of high grade Durhams is kept upon the place, and attention given to promiscuous
farming. as already stated Mr. Gillett succeeded his father, Asa Gillett,
in business, and was a member of the State Legislature.
Isaac Kiersted handles the saw and the
plane in a skillful manner, and has worked at his trade for nearly a score
of years. He is associated with G.R. Jenkins, a well skilled mechanic.
Mr. Kiersted wore the blue in his country's service for several months.
We found Dr. C. F. Kiersted and wife
most pleasant and hospitable people. The doctor has his pleasant home in
the village of Gilletts. With him reside Mrs. Kiersted's aged father and
mother, Mr. and Mrs. M.M. Carr, most estimable aged people who spent the
greater part of their lives in Wells. We are indebted to them for valuable
information, and will again speak of them in connection with the history
of Wells.
We were pleasantly and hospitably entertained
by Mr. E. C. Parsons and family at their home at Gilletts. Mr. Parsons
is engaged in farming. He is a son of our venerable fried, A.S. Parsons,
of Columbia XRoads, and is a grandson of William Harkness, one of
the early settlers of Springfield. He showed us a chair earned by his mother,
Eliza Harkness, when a girl. It is an old-fashion rocking chair, and required
six weeks of diligent effort to pay for it at fifty cents per week. At
the same time she earned her chair, she spun the required number of knots
for a day's work, and walked a mile and a half to school. Mr. Parsons married
a daughter of Asa Bullock, of Columbia, thus on all sides is a scion of
pioneers. He has a son at Ann Arbor University in the department of Law.
BRADFORD REPORTER
TOWANDA, PA.
November 19, 1885
History of South Creek
Mr. M. Harkness has a pleasant place,
and fruitful farm near the Springfield line, and is a good tiller of the
soil. He carries a good dairy, and gives attention to general farming.
A good team is kept and oats and buckwheat are made the leading grains.
Mr. M. Harkness is a son of Hiram Harkness, an early settler in that locality.
Hiram, with two cousins, William and Stephen Harkness came in from Springfield
and cut a large fallow on the place of M. M. Harkness. Hiram remained upon
the place, which he subsequently sold to Andrew Kniffin, and moved to the
place of Mr. W.C. Cornell, where he made some improvements. Mr. H. finally
bought back his place of Mr. Kniffin, and upon it spent the remainder of
his days. His widow survives him at the age of 77 years and is in perfect
mind and health, save having nearly lost her hearing. In September 1864,
M.M. Harkness enlisted in the 141st veteran cavalry, and did service chiefly
in Western Virginia. In the Connoy Valley he did station and guard duty.
Daniel Chase is a gentleman whose time
is diligently spent in self-culture in important subjects, and the gleaning
of current events. The subject in which he is most interested is agriculture,
and he acquaints himself with the advances made in this department and
determines their practicability by actual demonstration. Mr. Chase occupies
the estate of the late Lewis Williams. The place is a fruitful one and
is nicely located. It is conducted in a skillful manner, especial attention
being given to the fine dairy of good Jerseys, and general farming. With
Mr. Chase lives Mrs. Lewis Williams, from whom we have received many interesting
facts. She is an excellent old lay, possessed of a good physique, and clear
memory. She will undoubtedly live many years yet; we at least hope so.
When the rebel cry of disunion cast a pall of gloom over the nation, one
of the first to don the blue was Samuel Chase. In May '61, he enlisted
in the 23rd, N.Y. veterans. With this regiment he served for two years
and participated in the battles of 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam,
and minor engagements. In 1863 he again enlisted in the 1st N.Y. veteran
cavalry. He did service in Shenandoah Valley, and West Virginia until the
close of the war. He was in a number of engagements during his second enlistment,
and was severely wounded in the right arm and side, near Upperville, in
the London Valley. He came home with the ball in his body. After he was
wounded he rod a distance of ten miles, but was at last required to give
up. He stopped at a house and was treated five weeks, when he was able
to move out in search of his regiment. The family whose care and hospitality
he enjoyed was that of a rebel--
"Well, to suffer is divine; Pass the
watchword down the line,
Pass the countersign: 'endure.' Not
to him who nobly dares,
But to him, who nobly bears, Is the
victor's garland sure."
J. M. and E.L. Moon are energetic farmers
and have charge of the large and fruitful farm of Mrs. DeWaters, of Elmira.
It is one of the finest farms in the township and is handsomely located.
The place contains a spacious dwelling, and is supplied with all of the
modern improvements, machinery of all kinds, and a silo, the only one in
the locality. A large dairy is kept upon the place and attention given
to Jersey stock. The grains are grown in large quantities, especially buckwheat,
oats and barley. Mr. Moon keeps good teams, and has had charge of the farm
for five years. He seems the right man in the right place, and Mrs. DeWaters
cannot do better than to retain him.
Capt. E. Robbins is an open-hearted,
entertaining gentleman, and is pleasantly located upon a fruitful farm,
one of the best in the township. He has formerly given considerable attention
to dairying but has quit it, and now carries young stock, giving especial
attention to the growing of hay and grain. Mr. Robbins occupies the Alanson
Lewis place, having moved there seventeen years since from Steuben county,
N.Y. With him resides his aged mother, who was born at "Painted Post",
N.Y. in 1799. The origin of the name of her birth place is so called from
the fact that many years ago the Indians murdered some of the white people
there, and painted posts with the gore. It was accordingly called "Painted
Post," and has since borne that name. To remember this event of savage
cruelty, and to mark the place, a post has ever since been kept painted
red. Mrs. Robbins is an active lady considering her age. She keeps her
own room, and does her own cooking, etc. She is yet possessed of a good
memory, and recites many interesting facts of early times and events of
the war of 1812. In Sept. 1862, Mr. Robbins joined the 16th Pa. cavalry
as a private soldier and by bravery and meritorious won for himself the
rank of Captain before the close of the great American conflict.
He was wounded at Travillian station, but as soon his wound would permit
he was again back with his company, and served faithfully until the close
of the war.
"Crowns are not alone of gold,
Diadems are bought and sold;
But the crowns that good men own,
Come from noble deeds alone."
Philander Furman has one of the most
desirable and productive farms in South Creek, and is an open-hearted gentleman,
who conducts his business in a careful manner. Scarcely a rod of untillable
land can be found upon his finely watered farm. Mr. F. makes dairying a
specialty, though general farming is conducted skillfully. He has the improved
appliances for conducting is dairy. Some attention is given to young stock.
Mr. Furman occupies the place upon which one Hoots began. He is a son of
Peter Furman, an early settler at Columbia X Roads, Columbia township.
James Burnham is a sort of local Mark
Twain for his young companions, and if timidity on "tender subjects," be
a criterion for a great hero, he is a second Phil. Sheridan. However, "Jimmie"
is a wide-awake young farmer, and has a fruitful and handsome farm. He
occupies the place which was first improved by Valentine Lewis. A fine
dairy of blooded stock is kept and attention given to young stock and sheep.
Oats and buckwheat are made the leading crops. James Burnham is a son of
James Burnham, a native of England, who was an inhabitant of the township
for a quarter of a century. He died in 1881.
G.V. Ward is located in this same pleasant
locality, and has a good little farm. He carries a small dairy and gives
some attention to young stock. He is a son of Harris Ward, a native of
New York, who settled and died in the township.
Heman Lewis is one of the most thriving,
and enterprising farmers of the township, and has one of the very best
farms in South Creek. It is supplied with all of the most modern appliances
for carrying on this industry, and is well stocked. He is domiciled as
happily as a prince in a neat and spacious mansion, and is surrounded by
all of the luxuries that contribute to man's earthly enjoyment. The farm
is handsomely located, and is properly furnished with neat and spacious
outbuildings. A good dairy is kept, and young stock carried in large numbers.
Especial attention is given to horses, and Mr. Lewis deals in them largely.
All the cereals are grown successfully and abundantly. Mr. Lewis occupies
the Goddard place and a part of the Thompson property. He is a son of Valentine
Lewis, a native of New York State, who died in the township at the age
of 85 years.
G.H. Thompson has charge of the fine
and fruitful place of his brother, S.L. Thompson, upon which their father,
Wm. Thompson, began. The farm is well improved and is properly supplied
with outbuildings. Mr. Thompson is a careful and enterprising farmer. The
fine Jersey dairy upon the place, is the finest of the kind in the township.
The native grains are grown successfully, and good horses are kept upon
the place.
A visit was pleasantly spent with Wm.
Fletcher, and much interesting knowledge gathered. He is an open-hearted
gentleman, and most excellent citizen. Mr. Fletcher came to the township
in 1838 from Candor, N.Y., when the township was yet a wilderness, and
he with pride points to many notable changes. He says, "The people had
to frequently pay as high as $2 per bushel for corn, and go to Williamsport
after it. The early settlers were required to labor in the hayfield, near
Elmira, to provide provisions when they were starting, etc. Mr. F. is now
a gentleman of 70 years, is in good physical condition, and is blessed
with unimpaired memory. He has followed farming the greater part of his
life, but for some years has given attention to the spiritual wants of
man. He has voted but twice in 25 years, and these votes were cast for
his townsman John E. Gillett, and Peter J. Dean. He is naturally a Republican,
but despises politics.
David Chase occupies the ancestral estate
of his father, Joseph Chase, and though he has met with misfortune, "he
holds his head up like a man, and remembers the poet's prayer:
If I must afflicted be,
To suit some wise design;
Then man my soul with firm resolves,
To bear and not repine!"
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