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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania with Biographical SketchesBy H. C. Bradsby, 1891 |
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CHAPTER XLL
RIDGEBURY TOWNSHIP.
Page 482 - 483
THIS township, which lies on the north line of the county, was orgranized in 1818, and was taken from Athens and Wills. A large number of the inhabitants were foreign born. Isaac Fuller and Joel Campbell were the first settlers, in 1805, on Bentley creek near the State line. It is said that Adam Ridenbar was living here when the two above mentioned families came. Samuel Bennett came in 1807, and gave the name to the township. He was a prominent man, the first tailor in the township ; the place where he settled is known as Durkee Hill. Vine Baldwin came in 180S with his family.
Griswold Owen came in 1809, and settled on the upper part of the creek near the town. His father-in-law, Rowsold Goff, came in 1812 and settled the John Thompson farm. Capt. Calvin West came in 1813 and settled about one-half mile below Centrevi Ile.
Jonathan Kent came in 1813 and settled at a place known as Bentley Creek, sometimes called 11 Pennyville," because there was once a small grocery there.
James Covell came in 1812 and bought out Silas Campbell, where his posterity are still living. Maj. Alpheus Gillett, a Revolutionary soldier, came in 1826, and settled about one mile and a half f rom Pen ny ville, and with him came h is sonin-law, Aaron Marcellus. The latter made the improvement afterward owned by Vincent Owen. Henry Wells built a house for a tavern.
John Buck came in 1826, and his land includes the D. H. Burnham place. He was many years postmaster. Sturgis Squires came in 1827; his brother Peter had been here twelve or thirteen years.
Among other early settlers was Joseph Batterson, on the hill where is the Lawrence Amy farm. A man named Pierce improved the Widow Griswold farm.
John L. Webb was an early and prominent settler, was elected sheriff of the county. Job Stiles, a Revolutionary soldier, settled the William Dickison farm. Green Bentley was the first settler on the creek that bears his name. Samuel Green settled on the hill east of Centreville. He was nicknamed 11 Durkee," and from that the hill took its name. Peter Evans came in 1842. The Irish settlement is in Rid gebury, extending over into Athens and Smithfield. This settlement was commenced by Cornelius O'Driscoll, who came in 1840, followed by Richard O'Connor and his two sons; then James White came in 1841 and bought out John Downs, one mile south of the Catholic church. George O'Leary was the fourth settler with his large family of sons, in 1842. To these families were added those of Daniel Desmond,' with his sons John and Timothy, and Richard Hurley, John Mahoney, Patrick Butler, Daniel Chambers, George Chambers, Thomas Chambers, Daniel Kane and James Crowley.
Vine Baldwin built the first frame house. Abial Fuller built the first sawmill, in 1826, on the W. J. Fuller farm. Calvin T. Covel built a sawmill at McAfee's, which was burned, and be replaced it with a gristmill. David Buck cut the first road through to Smithfield. The old Berwick turnpike road was built through the township in 1820-21, and was the first good road the people ever had.
Centreville is a postoffice and village on Bentley creek; postoffice name is Ridgebury; the place has two stores and a Methodist church.
Bentley Creek, a postoffice and village above Centreville on the same creek, has a store, a Baptist church, a school-house and a hotel.
Middletown, a hamlet still further up the creek, has a grist and sawmill and a store.
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