July 1885
1885 Wellsboro Agitator Abstracts*all articles, unless the township is stated, are for Wellsboro.
July 7, 1885
Local News and Events
--Mr. David Brace, of Sabinsville, has received nearly $1,000 in arrears
of pension.
--Mr. Al Wetmore, of this village, is laid up with a sprained wrist caused by a fall from a step ladder.
--We are glad to learn that Mrs. John R. Bowen, of this borough, is recovering from her recent illness.
--Mr. B. F. Roberts, of this borough, has his hand badly lacerated one day last week by getting it between the cogs of a mowing machine.
--Last week Sunday Dr. C. C. Winsor, of Blossburg, killed a large snake which was in the act of robbing a bird's nest in front of his residence.
--Over one hundred copies of General Grant's book have already been sold in this borough by the agent, Mr. Frank S. Rowland.
--Mrs. Lena Margraff, of this borough, has received nearly $2,000 arrears of pension on account of services rendered by her husband, the late Lewis Margraff.
--A few days ago as Leander Gregory, of Sylvania, was engaged in shoeing a horse for Elijah Hulslander, the horse kicked, striking Gregory in the face and head, bruising and mangling him very badly and breaking one leg.
--Edward Young, a young man in the employ of Daniel Watson, Esq., at Roseville, fell from a load of hay a few days ago and broke his arm. Owing to the absence of the surgeon the limb was not set until the next morning.
--Mr. Daniel Brodbend, alias, Irving, formerly of this borough, was arrested at Rochester one day last week in company of a young woman named Libbie Christy, who, it is alleged, stole jewelry from her father's store. Dan was accused also of robbing a man of $21.
--Last Sunday morning about three o'clock the laundry of Messrs. March & Bowen, near the railroad crossing on the Charleston road in this borough, was consumed by fire, together with its entire contents, consisting of a steam engine and boiler and a full complement of machinery for conducting the business. There was an insurance of $1,000 on the property. The loss is estimated at $1,800. The dwelling house of Mr. Thomas Tipple adjacent was also burned, but most of the furniture was saved. The building was occupied by Mr. Gerard Aldrich. There was an insurance of $800 on the dwelling. The origin of the fire is unknown. This laundry was closed on Saturday.
--Last week Monday Mr. George Wilkinson, of Charleston, went into his pasture and found one of his fine black horses lying dead. There was a large gash in the animal's belly, and the entrails protruded. An investigation showed that the horse was injured by being impaled upon a sharp stub while jumping over a log.
--CHARLESTON-Mr. William VanCise was logging upon a side hill near Caitlin Hollow a few days ago, and he had a large fire burning. As he was at work above the fire with his team, hauling a large log to a place where it could be added to the burning pile, the log's struck some obstacle. It swung around with great force and knocked both horses down the declivity into the midst of the fire, one horse falling directly on top of the other. Mr. VanCise succeeded in cutting the harness and rescuing one of the animals, although it was badly burned. The other horse was literally roasted to death, and the air for miles around was polluted by the stench of the burning horse flesh.
--CHARLESTON-Last Tuesday Mr. L. P. Potter found one of his horses running in the pasture with a broken leg. The injury probably resulted from the kick of another horse. A bullet ended the animal's suffering.
--CHARLESTON-Last Friday a horse owned by Josiah Reese, Jr., broke its fore leg while running in the door yard.
--CHARLESTON-Mr. Jason E. Smith lost a valuable colt.
--NELSON-Erastus Cady, formerly of Elkland, is suffering from a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism.
--MANSFIELD-Miss Rose Vincent, of Towanda, is visiting friends in town.
--MANSFIELD-Miss Lou Topping, of Elmira, is visiting Miss Ruth Adams, of this borough.
--MANSFIELD-Charley Parsons, who left here last spring for Birmingham, Alabama to engage as a pitcher for the baseball team, returned home on Thursday with a broken arm. The fracture was received while playing ball. He pitched a curve ball and is considered a very fine pitcher. Will Crossley, who accompanies him as catcher, remains with the nine.
--OSCEOLA-Mr. S. H. Hall fell with the scaffolding from a barn of Morgan Seely's last Friday morning, and was hurt very badly. Charles Moon was at work with him, but he escaped without injury.
--EAST POINT-Mr. Jacob Meyer's horse, which was hitched in front of Bickle's store yesterday, became frightened and ran away. The new buggy was smashed, but the horse was not seriously injured.
--EAST POINT-Mr. J. Harris was also unfortunate last week. His horse ran away and smashed up his new top buggy.
--FARMINGTON-G. W. Bowen had the misfortune to have a valuable jersey heifer slip and break her leg while coming into the stable the other evening. The fracture could not be reduced and the animal had to be shot.
Visiting/Moving
--Mr. A. M. Bennett, of Covington, was in town on Sunday.
--Mr. L. P. Williston, Jr., of Jersey Shore, was in town over Sunday.
--Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts, of Elkland, were in town over Sunday.
--Mr. and Mrs. John T. Purvis, of Niles Valley, are visiting in Maine.
--Mr. Charles Toles left this place on Friday for Grand Forks, Dakota, on a visit.
--Masters Harry and Benjamin Archer, of Philadelphia, are visiting at Mr. John Pearson's in Delmar.
--Mrs. Jefferson Harrison, of this village, has been visiting at Millersville, Lancaster County, and in Philadelphia.
--Mr. Robert Roland, of this village, returned home last Friday after an extended trip through the central part of the State.
--Rev. Dr. James B. Shaw and family, of Rochester, N. Y., arrived in town last Wednesday to spend the summer with his son, Rev. A. C. Shaw.
--Dr. J. H. Foote and wife of Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y., are visiting at Hon. H. M. Foote's in this borough. Dr. Foote studied medicine in the office of his brother, the late Dr. Ira A. Foote, in this place in 1840-50.
--Our venerable friend W. C. Ripley, Esq., of Lamb's Creek, was in town on the Fourth. He has probably attended more Fourth of July celebrations than any other person who was here last Saturday, this being the eighty-eighth Independence Day he had seen. May he live to see a round hundred.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Will S. Hogaboom, of Elmira, was in town last Thursday.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Will Loper has returned home from Corning, where he has been working for the past three months.
--MANSFIELD-Miss Frankie Schrader, who is attending the Academy of Our Lady of Angels, in Elmira, spent Sunday last with her parents in this borough.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Ed. H. Ross, of this borough, left last Monday morning on his star bicycle en route for Jamestown, N. Y., where he will spend the summer with an uncle.
--MANSFIELD-Eugene Doane will spend Saturday and Sunday in Elmira with his brother, George Doane.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Louis Goldmyer, of the S. G. & C. R. R., is home on a visit.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Ed Doane will enjoy a vacation next week, but the factory will run as usual.
--OSCEOLA-Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Bonham have gone to the sanitarium at Havana, N. Y.
--OSCEOLA-Mrs. H. Griswold, of Leavenworth, Kansas, is visiting at Dr. Bosworth's.
--FARMINGTON-Mrs. O. H. Blanchard and son are visiting relatives in Michigan.
--FARMINGTON-Mrs. Alex Leslie, who was called in the deathbed of her sister living at St. Paul, Minn., has returned, and her mother and daughter also.
--FARMINGTON-Miss Angie Close is visiting relatives in Osceola.
Land/Business/Farming/Housing Transactions
--Mr. William Sticklin is building a dwelling house at the head of
Central Avenue, to be occupied by his father, Mr. Jacob Sticklin.
--NELSON-Mr. James Losey's steam saw mill is now running nicely.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. L. H. Robbins is canvassing for the Mansfield Advertiser.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Walter Elliott is clerking for J. Westbrook in his grocery store and meat market.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. John Baluta has opened up his store with a fine stock of confectionary and fancy goods.
--MANSFIELD-D. H. Pitts, J. M. Clark, and W. S. Earnest are buying large quantities of wool.
--MANSFIELD-Ed Doane has laid a pipe from the water tank in the engine house of the factory to his house for the purposes of irrigating his garden.
--OSCEOLA-Mr. S. H. Swan has started his new shingle mill.
--OSCEOLA-Vine Crandall has his new house up ready for the roof.
--OSCEOLA-Frank Stevens has been absent from his post at C. H. Bosworth's for the past week.
--EAST POINT-Our merchant, Mr. J. M. Bickle, intends to leave this place soon.
--EAST POINT-Mr. J. A. Kniffen has commenced peeling bark on his large contract.
Death
--Last week Monday Mr. George Thomas, of Hoytville, was killed by a
falling tree while working in the bark woods at Landrus. His skull was
fractured and his jaw broken, but he lived about half and hour after the
accident. He leaves a widow and a large family of children.
--Mrs. William Bache, of this borough, died last Thursday evening, of heart disease, after an illness of about seven months. Mrs. Bache, whose maiden name was Lydia Mary Nichols, was born at Oxford, Chenango County, N. Y., June 23, 1816, being 69 years of age at the time of her death. She was married to Mr. Bache at Canton, Illinois, on the 5th of October, 1853, and has lived in this borough since that date. Her death, though not wholly unexpected, was very sudden. The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at Mr. Bache's residence, Rev. Mr. Ware and Rev. Mr. Mathews reading the service. [Buried Wellsboro Cemetery]
--NELSON-Mrs. Polly Weeks, the mother of Rev. Charles Weeks, died at her home in West Farmington recently, at the age of 91, after a lingering illness of six weeks. She was twice married and was the mother of seven children. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over sixty five years. [Buried Pleasant Valley Cemetery]
July 14, 1885
Local News
--[also see July 28th for follow-up story] Last Tuesday a five year
old son of Mr. George Putman, who lives near Stony Fork, went out to drive
the cows to pasture. On his return he stopped to pick some raspberries
along the path. The little fellow was barefooted and he felt a sharp sting
on his instep and ran home crying, telling his mother that he had scratched
his foot upon the briars. His mother examined the wound and pulled from
under the skin what she thought to be a spine from a briar bush, but what
afterward proved to be a rattlesnake's fang. The lad complained of great
pain, and his foot and leg swelled rapidly, so that the thought was suggested
that the wound might be a snake bite. One of the family went out and killed
the snake in the bushes and its carcass was cut open and applied to the
wound as was also the body of a chicken, and the child was given about
a pint of whiskey. The little fellow suffered terribly for several days,
but at last accounts it was thought he would finally recover. We sincerely
hope he may.
--Mr. Frank M. Hosie, of this village, was confined to the house by sickness last week.
--Mr. D. J. Kniffen, Foreman of the Mist Hose Company of Blossburg, was recently presented with a handsome gold badge valued at $25.
--Mr. E. H. Mosher, of Blossburg, has been drawn as a juror to serve at the United States District Court at Erie in the 20th instant.
--Mr. Ellery Callahan, of Delmar, yesterday brought us a small branch of an apple tree which contained a good sized apple and several well developed blossoms.
--Mr. Samuel Dickinson, of this borough, has so far recovered from his recent illness as to be able to be upon the streets again. He will reach his eightieth birthday on the 22nd instant.
--Messrs. James and Charles Austin, of Charleston, each had the misfortune to lose a horse recently. This makes a total of 9 horses that have met their death in Charleston within a few weeks by sickness and accident.
--An Arnot correspondent says that a brutal fight occurred at Arnot on the Fourth. The principals were Robert Wright and Sandy Edie. Edie pounded Wright's head almost to a jelly, and his death is said to be feared. Edie has left for parts unknown.
--Mr. Benjamin Seely, of this borough, was taken before the Recorder at Elmira last Saturday, charged with intoxication. His physical condition was pitiable, and from facts gathered by the officers it was thought that Mr. Seely had been drugged and robbed by some Elmira roughs. He was put on board the train for Binghamton the same day.
--Mr. J. Henry Gardner, of the firm of B. F. Milliken & Co., of this borough, was seriously injured yesterday afternoon by being thrown from a load of merchandise which he was hauling from the depot. He fell off the load backwards, striking at full length on the crosswalk leading from the brewery to the depot. It was feared that his spine was badly injured.
--Rattlesnakes are said to be very numerous on Pine Creek this season. Twenty two of the reptiles have been killed upon the farm of Mr. Thomas Ramsey, down the creek. Many young chicken chickens have been missed of late, and Mr. Ramsey noticed that a snake, which he killed a few days ago, had a very large stomach, so he cut it open and found two chickens therein.
--Mr. Elisha McCarter, of Delmar, was in his corn field on Middle Ridge, a few days ago, when he came across the carcasses of a large rattlesnake and a hawk, and their position told the whole story of their deadly encounter. The hawk had the snake tightly gripped about the middle and the tail in its mouth, while the snake had fastened its fangs in the hawk's gullet. If we may believe history, this isn't the first bird of prey that has “caught a tartar.” This is a true story and it is respectfully dedicated to those Bradford county editors who live where there are no venomous “critters” except politicians.
--LIBERTY-Mr. William Beck, merchant of our village, is slowly recovering from his sickness of several month's duration.
--OSCEOLA-Samuel E. Hall received some severe bruises the other day by a fall from a scaffold while doing some shingling work for Morgan Seely.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. George Spurr, of this borough, has been offered $1,200 for his colt “Napoleon Jim,” by a man from Waverly. The colt trotted a mile in 2:35 on the Tioga track on day last week.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Charles Parsons and George Baker, of this borough, played ball with the Westfield club against the Athens' team last Wednesday.
--EAST POINT-Mr. Peter Vanderbilt, of Picture Rocks, Lycoming County, performed a very successful surgical operation the other day on a horse belonging to Mr. Solomon Roupp, of this place. Mr. Vanderbilt is a graduate of the Philadelphia Veterinary College and thoroughly understands his profession.
Visiting/Moving
--Ex Sheriff Henry J. Landrus was in town last Friday.
--Mr. F. P. Hart, of this place, spent Sunday in Elmira.
--Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Spalding are visiting at Titusville, Pa.,
--Hon. M. F. Elliott is attending the Potter County court this week.
--Mr. O. B. Lowell, of Tioga, was in town last week.
--Mrs. George M. Spalding, of this village, is visiting in Hornellsville, N. Y.
--Mr. Peter Wortendyke, of Troy, Bradford County, was in town last Sunday.
--Messrs. C. S. and C. B. Mather, of Lawrenceville, were in town yesterday.
--Messrs. George M. and M. G. Spalding have been spending a week on Cayuga Lake.
--Miss E. W. Todd, of Brooklyn, N. Y., is visiting at Mr. C. G. Osgood's, in this borough.
--A. R. Niles, Esq., returned last Thursday from an extended trip through the West.
--Miss Fanny Spalding, of this place, is visiting at North Elmira, or more properly Horseheads.
--Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Chandler returned last Thursday from an extended trip through the West.
--Mr. James B. Giles, of this borough, left yesterday for a few days visit at his home in Jamestown, N. Y.
--Messrs. Robert K. Young and George D. Mitchell, of this borough, contemplate a trip to Europe in September.
--Mrs. Mary E. Wilbur and four daughters, of Savannah, Georgia, are stopping at Maj. Merrick's in this borough.
--Rev. James B. Shaw, of Rochester, N. Y., is expected to preach at the Presbyterian Church in this borough nest Sunday.
--Mr. J. B. Dimon, late of Niles Valley, has moved to Van Ettenville, Chemung County, N. Y., where he intends to engage in the mercantile business.
--Mr. Arthur Ensworth, of the editorial staff of the Elmira Gazette and Free Press, has been visiting his parents, in this borough during the past week.
--Prof. D. C. Thomas, of Mansfield, was in town last Saturday on his way to Germania, Potter County, where he expects to spend a few days fishing.
--Mr. A. I. Nichols, of Tuscarora, Steuben County, N. Y., is to move to this borough soon. He is to occupy the S. J. Wilson house now owned by H. O. Cox, on Water Street. Mrs. Nichols is a daughter of Mr. William Bache.
--OSCEOLA-C. L. Hoyt, Merrit Carr and James Gleason and their wives have been on a fishing excursion to Mud Lake for a few days this week.
--BROOKFIELD-Cyrus McPeck and wife, of Knoxville, have been visiting brothers and sisters in this township.
Land/Business/Farming/Housing Transactions
--Mr. Robert Anderson has started a candy factory in the Bannon block
at Blossburg.
--Mr. Hiram Middaugh is building a dwelling house on Cone Street in this borough.
--Dr. Robert Bodine, of Elmira, N. Y., intends to locate in this borough to practice his profession of dentistry.
--The fine brick dwelling house of F. E. Watrous, Esq., on Bacon Street in this borough, is now being roofed.
--The Advertiser says that Messrs. T. H. Bailey and W. V. Bailey, of Charleston, have purchased 200 acres of the Iron Company's tract, several miles west of Mansfield. The land is heavily timbered and contains valuable iron veins. Consideration, $6,500.
--LIBERTY-Mr. R. H. Hartsock has got the walls completed for his new grist mill, and the carpenters have the frame work ready to raise. The mill will be a first class establishment, 40 feet square and three stories high. It will be ready for business about the first of October next. The mill is located on the road leading to Blossburg and about one half mile north of our village.
--LIBERTY-Mr. Charles Maneval has a fine new dwelling house on Water Street well under way.
--LIBERTY-Mr. John Heylor has had the carpenters working on his new dwelling that he is erecting on Nauvoo Street in the western part of the village.
--OSCEOLA-Mr. Morgan Seely has just received and placed in his bank a new Hall's safe, with time-lock and all the modern improvements. It is said to be burglar proof and able to resist any strain to which it may be subjected. Certainly, after looking at the mechanism of the “critter,” it seems to me that a man would make more cutting cord-wood than by breaking into such a safe as this.
--OSCEOLA-O. S. Kimball, Justice of the Peace, is at present holding forth at the hardware store of A. C. Duley.
--BROOKFIELD-Moses H. Metcalf has decided in his mind that a new house is better than an old one, and now he is building a brand new one. It is over fifty years since his old house was built.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. T. V. Moore has purchased the meat market and grocery of Joel H. Clark.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. John Baluta has opened a fine grocery store on Main Street.
Death
--Capt. A. A. Amsbry, a well-known citizen of Westfield, died last
Friday night. He had been in feeble health for some time. He lately received
a large sum of arrears of pension. [Buried Krusen Cemetery, Westfield,
Tioga County]
--We regret to learn of the death of Mr. Robert H. Steele, formerly of this county, which occurred at Eldorado, Butler County, Kansas, on the 1st instant. Mr. Steele was 43 years of age. He was a son of Mr. James Steele, of Morris township. His death was caused by injuries received by being thrown from his wagon in a runaway accident.
--Mr. John Ransom, of Williamsport, died very suddenly last Thursday morning at the house of Mr. John Middaugh, at Tioga Junction. It is stated that Mr. Ransom drove from Williamsport on Wednesday, and had been tramping over the hills looking at timber. He complained of not feeling well when he retired, and he rapidly grew worse until death. Mr. Ransom was formerly a resident of Lawrence, and he was extensively engaged in lumbering in the valley of the Tioga. His remains were taken to Williamsport for interment.
--Mr. James H. Mather, of this borough, died last Saturday at the home of his son, J. W. Mather, Esq., after a lingering illness. Mr. Mather was born at Wayne, Steuben County, N. Y., June 17, 1818. He was married to Lydia Dean on the 15th of September, 1842. He was a carpenter by trade, and in 1850 he began the manufacture of fanning mills, which he followed at Monterey, Addison and Cuba, N. Y., at Bryan, Ohio, and at Lawrenceville, to which place he moved in November, 1860. He moved to this borough in April, 1880, and since that time he had built and sold a large number of mills in this place. Mr. Mather had been a devout member of the Baptist Church of this village. He was Justice of the Peace at Lawrenceville for three terms, and held the office of School Director for some years. His wife and two adult children survive him, two children having died early in life. The funeral was held yesterday afternoon, Rev. S. F. Mathews, officiating. [Buried Wellsboro Cemetery]
Marriage
--MANSFIELD-It is rumored that Mr. Walter Slingerland, of this borough,
and Miss Anna Ranger, of Tioga, were married at the bride's home last Thursday
afternoon.
July 21, 1885
Local News/Events
--Mr. John Bailey, Jr., of Mansfield, has received $1,260, arrears
of pension.
--Mr. William Hoyt, of Nelson, has received about $1,000 as arrears of pension.
--Mr. Samuel Trull, of Blossburg, had his hand badly pinched while coupling cars a few days ago.
--Mr. J. D. Calvert, of Canoe Camp, has mysteriously disappeared, and foul play is expected by his friends.
--Hon. J. C. Strang, formerly of this county, has been re-nominated as Judge of the Sixteenth District of Kansas.
--Mr. Lyman Beach, Sr., aged 78 years, of Mansfield, fell and broke his arm while out berrying, last week Monday.
--Last Saturday morning Mr. John Gillespie, of Blackwell's, went out in his door yard and killed three large rattlesnakes before breakfast.
--Mrs. Sarah P. Kelts, of Covington, celebrated her ninety first birthday last Sunday. She is in good health and retains her faculties to a remarkable degree.
--Mrs. S. R. Hart, Postmistress of this borough, was called a few days ago to the bedside of her sister, Mrs. Jennie Gibson, who is very sick at Sharon, Vermont.
--Mr. Peter Hulslander and his son Charles were seriously injured, a few days ago, by the falling of a bridge over which they were driving, in Sylvania Township.
--The teachers engaged for the Westfield graded school are as follows: Prof. A. Edwards, Principal; Mrs. Mary Edwards, Mrs. Mary King, and Miss Cora Close. The schools will open August 31st.
--Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Horton and Surgeon Daniel Bacon, of the Twelfth Regiment, are to leave this borough on Friday to join their comrades in the encampment at Cornwall, Lebanon County.
--Mr. Alfred Andersen, a Swede, was piling lumber on a trestle at Morris last week Monday, when he fell off striking his head and shoulders on the railroad track twenty feet below. Strange to say, he was not killed, and he is now about his work again as usual.
--Mr. Edward McInroy, of this borough, last week Monday fell from a bridge where he was at work, on the Syracuse, Corning and Geneva railway. One of his ribs was broken and he was otherwise seriously bruised by striking upon the rocks.
--Mr. James Adams, of Arnot, is to play a match of checkers at Wheeler's restaurant in this borough next Saturday evening against five of the crack players of this place. Mr. Adams is to be blindfolded while carrying on the five matches at the same time.
--At Marsh Creek, last Saturday, Mr. Delos Holiday's dog was bitten by a rattlesnake while under the back porch of his house. A plank was taken up from the porch floor, and the snake was found and killed. The dog ran off and crawled under a neighbor's barn and died in about and hour and a half.
--Rev. Harvey Lamkin, of Covington, who is in his seventy fourth year, traveled sixteen miles on a recent Sunday, preached two sermons, baptized nineteen persons-twelve of them by immersion, and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper in the evening. That would be a good day's work for a young man.
--Mr. Charles Brock Black, of this borough, had the misfortune to break his great toe a few days ago, by a fall from the loft of a barn in Jackson Township, where he had obtained lodgings on his way home from Elmira. “Charley” thought he was stepping into the elevator, but instead of that he went through a hole in the floor.
--Last Sunday night about dark, while Mr. E. Matson, Jr., was driving from Stokesdale to Marsh Creek, one of his horses was bitten on the fore foot by a rattlesnake. The snake was killed, and another one of the same kind was also found and dispatched a few rods ahead in the road. The horse was doctored with applications of mud to the wound, and it was alive yesterday morning, although the bitten leg was badly swollen.
--Prof. Francis M. Smith, of Keeneyville, has been appointed Principal of the Amenia Seminary, at Amenia, N. Y., and Prof. and Mrs. Smith left for their new home last week. Prof. Smith was for four years a teacher at the State Normal School at Mansfield, and he was Principal of the Blossburg graded schools for seven years. He is a man highly endowed with the qualities that go to make a successful teacher and a good citizen. We wish him abundant success in his new field of labor.
--Last Wednesday as the workmen were engaged in taking down a smokestack at the Stokesdale tannery, a wire attached to the stack cut off a guy rope if the gin pole, and the pole and stack fell to the ground with a great crash. About thirty men were at work about the place, and all escaped injury except Mr. John Donnelly, who was struck in the back and seriously bruised, and Mr. Thomas Smith, who sustained an injury to one of his knees. Both men were doing well at last accounts and will be able to work again as usual in a few days. It was a most fortunate escape.
--The Blossburg Register says: “Mr. John T. Jones, of this place, was seriously injured on Tuesday, while at work in the mines at Morris Run, by a rock of the roof, weighing at least a ton, falling upon him. He was upon his knees shoveling coal, and the only thing that saved his life was the fact that the bottom each side of him was a little higher that where he was. It was first reported that his back was broken; but we have since been informed that his injuries will not lay him up any great length of time, although his escape from instant death was almost miraculous.”
--The Westfield Free Press says that on the 5th of July a stranger with a horse and two wheeled gig drove into the field of George Ackley, about a mile from Sabinsville, unharnessed the horse and left it to feed on the grass. This man, who was of medium height, rather dark complexion and about 30 years old, went to Sabinsville afoot and purchased a revolver at the store. He next went to O. B. Roberts's store, where he bought a hat, collar, money purse, etc. He next went to the hotel and paid for a night's lodging. The horse and gig have not been called for, nor has the man been seen since.
--The Millerton paper says that C. L. Deming, son of Eugene Deming, who lives on the hill west of Mitchell's Mills, met with quite a serious accident on the Fourth of July. In company with two or three other young lads he had been firing a salute, and was walking along the road when a fire cracker, thrown by a companion, fell in his pocket and exploded a can containing about half a pound of powder. Young Deming was thrown quite a distance by the shock, his clothing being nearly all blown off and one leg quite badly burned from the hip to the knee joint. Though he is still disabled, the doctor thinks the accident will result in no permanent injury.
--Mr. Joshua Atherton, a prominent farmer of Charleston township, related to us a singular incident one day last week. Mr. Atherton has a number of yearlings which run in a wood-lot, and he salts them once a week. A few days ago he went out for that purpose and noticed that one of the animals was missing. After a search he found a yearling with its head fast in a hollow tree. By turning its head in the right position the animal was easily relieved from his disagreeable predicament. It was so hungry that it fell to eating the dry leaves, and it was so gaunt and weak it could hardly stand. It was evident that it had been fast and fasting for several days. Mr. Atherton says the hole had probably been cut by some hunter in the pursuit of game, and it was a mere chance that the curious creature could get its head into the aperture.
--Mr. George D. Kenney, of Keeneyville, killed-or rather supposed he killed-a rattlesnake last Sunday evening in the road along the dug way near Middlebury Center. He picked up the snake and threw it into his buggy to exhibit to his friends at home as a trophy, it being the first rattlesnake of the season in that locality. A young lady was riding with Mr. Keeney, and after reaching home and alighting he called one of his friends in to see his “bird”. As they looked into the buggy they found a very lively corpse, for his snakeship was just preparing to crawl out over the side for a stroll, and was making a great clatter with his caudal appendage. Mr. Keeney has had chills every time he has thought of the third occupant of that buggy, and it is safe to say that he will be sure that the spinal cord is severed, before he takes any more rattlesnakes aboard. The rattler now occupies a very comfortable quarters in a box, and is a very lively specimen of the yellow species. [additional follow-up in July 28th story regarding Putman boy snake bite, 2bd paragraph]
--Last Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, says a correspondent of the Advertise, as Mr. Charles Mix, son of J. H. Mix, of Canton, was going home from the depot, a man stepped out and demanded his money. Mr. Mix replied; “I guess not,” at the same time reaching for his revolver. The highwayman grappled with him and endeavored to wrench Mix's pocket book from him by force, at the same time also drawing a revolver. Both men fired almost simultaneously, and Mix threw up his hands with a cry of pain, while the robber took to his heels, leaving no trace of his identity. Mix fell against a fence, but did not lose consciousness and managed to get to the nearest house, that of J. H. Langstein, to obtain assistance. Mr. Langstein had already been aroused by the noise of the scuffle, on the sidewalk and the two pistol shots, and took young Mix in, sending immediately for a physician. Dr. Parsons responded, and found that the ball from the highwayman's revolver had entered Mix's left breast just above the heart and passed upward into the flesh of the shoulder, making a serious, though it was thought not a fatal wound. Mix thinks the man who shot him a stranger who had seen him in a store and saw him put some money in his pocket. Mix is about twenty years of age. The affair has created great excitement at Canton.
--MANSFIELD-Mrs. J. W. Wilhelm and her daughter Jennie, were taken suddenly sick last Saturday, immediately after eating dinner. Dr. Moody was called and said they were evidently poisoned by something they had eaten. After a few doses of medicine they slowly recovered.
Visiting/Moving
--Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herden, of Corning, were in town last week.
--Miss Mary Rogers, of this borough, is spending the week in Elmira.
--Ex-Judge Stephen F. Wilson returned to this borough last Friday evening.
--Mrs. J. C. Strong, of Larned, Kansas, is visiting her old home in Westfield.
--Miss Blanche Cole, of Coudersport, has been visiting friends in this borough.
--Miss Fanny Spalding returned from a visit at Horseheads last Saturday evening.
--Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Harrison, of this place, were at Niagara Falls last week.
--Mrs. Frank A. Deans, of this borough, is visiting at Susquehanna County.
--Mr. Gregg J. Stewart, of this borough, is spending a few days at Angelica, N. Y.
--Misses Jennie Farrer and Leila Hoagland, of Covington, visited Niagara Falls last week.
--Miss Addie Bently, of Horseheads, N. Y., is visiting at Mr. VanValkenburg's in this borough.
--Mr. Daniel Preaton, of Nebraska, is visiting his sister, Mrs. George C. Bowen, in this borough.
--Senator Mitchell and his sons, George D. and Robert, spent several days fishing at Blackwell's last week.
--Mr. B. H. Parkhurst and Miss Susie Parkhurst, of Elkland, are spending a few weeks in the Adirondacks.
--Mr. John Rieppel, proprietor of the Gaines foundry and machine shop, made us a pleasant call last Tuesday.
--Rev. P. J. Murphy, of Blossburg, sailed from New York City last Saturday for a three months' visit in Ireland.
--Hon. John W. Ryon and his family, of Pottsville, are sojourning at “Maple Farm” near Elkland, for the summer.
--Mrs. Elisha McCarter and Mrs. Lucius Sabins, of Stony Fork, started for Buffalo, N. Y., yesterday, for medical treatment.
--Misses Ray and Nina Giles and Mr. Samuel J. Giles, of Jamestown, N. Y., are visiting at Mr. A. M. Roy's, in this borough.
--Mrs. C. S. Baxter, of Nesquehoning, Pa, and Miss Nora Baxter, of Elmira, were visiting at Sheriff Baxter's last week.
--Mrs. Geo. C. Bowen and her daughter Mattie, of this borough, returned from a visit on the Chautauqua Lake last Saturday evening.
--Mr. John C. Mack, of the Surgeon General's office, Washington, D. C., was in town yesterday. He is spending his vacation among relatives at Tioga.
--Mr. Vine Crandall, of Osceola, owns a cottage on Keuka Lake, and Mr. Crandall and Albert Crandall, with their families are spending a few weeks at that delightful resort.
--Our venerable friend, David Gardner, of this borough, has been visiting at Athens, Waverly, and Elmira, and he also went up to Niagara Falls last week to assist in pronouncing the place free to the world.
--Messrs. Fred W. Graves, Aaron R. Niles, Fred VanValkenburg and C. A. Sweet, Mrs. Graves, Miss Hattie Willis and Miss Stowell are camping at Four mile run. They are ensconced in a picturesque spot, and numerous friends have been entertained at the camp.
Land/Business/Farming/Housing Transactions
--Mr. H. H. Nickerson, of East Charleston, has two thousand currant
bushes.
--Burt M. Potter, Esq., sold forty copies of Gen. Grant's book at Coudersport last week.
--Mr. Isaac Smith has started a meat market and restaurant at Morris, in the new Taylor building.
--Mr. George O. Derby is building a dwelling house at the head of Central Avenue in this borough.
--Mr. A. R. Merrick, of Blossburg, has secured a patent on an adjustable headrest for dentist's chairs.
--Mr. Augustus Mudrack, of Blossburg, has purchased a building lot of MR. A. G. Sturrock, on Sturrock Lane in this borough.
--“Patsy” Brew, of this borough, has been appointed night telegraph operator at Blackwell's. He deserves his promotion.
--Mr. Mark Hoyt, of New York City, was in this county last week looking after the tanning interests of Messrs. Hoyt Brothers.
--Dr. P. N. Barker, formerly of this borough, has fitted up an office at Troy, where he is pursuing his medical studies preparatory to taking a course of lectures.
--Mr. J. L. Barnes has completed the sawing of the stock at his mill in Delmar. The mill has cut fifteen hundred thousand feet of logs, sawing an average of about thirteen thousand feet a day.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. J. B. Clark is building a new barn on his Sullivan Street lot.
Deaths
--Mrs. Margaret Hall, of Catskill, N. Y., is in town, called hither
by the death of her mother, Mrs. J. F. Donaldson.
--The seven year old child of James Sears, of Elkland, was found dead in bed last week Sunday morning. It appeared to be as well as usual the night before.
--The sad intelligence was received her last week of the death of Miss Bessie Barker, at Johnstown, Dakota, on the 12th instant. The funeral was held last Tuesday. Miss Barker was about sixteen years of age. She had been attending school in this borough for some time, living with her grandfather, Mr. Charles Toles, and was a bright, sweet girl with a full promise of a happy and useful life and was loved by all who knew her. A few weeks ago she went with Mrs. Toles to the home of her father, John R. Barker, at Johnstown, where she was soon after taken with typhoid fever. Her case was considered critical for some days before she died. Her parents have the deepest sympathy of this community in this great affliction.
--Mrs. John F. Donaldson died very suddenly last Friday evening at the residence of Mr. Richard Henry, in Charleston, of apoplexy, at the age of 74 years. Mrs. Donaldson had been in her usual health and spirits on the morning of that day, and for only a few moments before her death did she complain of feeling ill. Her maiden name was Violette H. Niles, she being the daughter of Nathan and Ruth Niles and a sister of Col. A. E. Niles, of this borough. She was born in Charleston Township. After she became the wife of Mr. John F. Donaldson they resided upon the Nathan Austin farm near this place until Mr. Donaldson was elected Prothonotary of this county, when they moved to this borough and for many years resided in the dwelling house which stood on the site of the present Jacobsen Block on Main Street. Mr. Donaldson died about six years ago. A few months before his death the couple celebrated their golden wedding. Seven children were born to them, all of whom are still living. Mrs. Donaldson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from her girlhood. She was an estimable woman and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of acquaintances. The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon at 6 p.m., Rev. Mr. Ware, of St. Paul's Church, reading the burial service. [Buried Wellsboro Cemetery]
--MANSFIELD-A little son of Stephen Warters, about 7 years of old, was drowned in the Tioga river at Lamb's Creek, last Wednesday, while bathing.
July 28, 1885
Local News/Events
--Last Wednesday Signor Juan Salas Nieto, of Carthaginian, South America,
arrived in this borough from New York. He had seen an account in the New
York papers of the case of the Putman boy at Stony Fork [July 14th; son
of George Putman] being bitten by a rattlesnake, and he came here at once
with an interpreter, at considerable expense to himself, to try upon the
lad his specific for snake bites. Signor Nieto has been in this country
but a very short time, and he is unable to speak the English language,
but it is evident that he is a gentleman of considerable culture. He went
to Stony Fork immediately after his arrival to see the Putman boy and to
confer with Dr. Gentry in regard to the case. He produced several flattering
testimonials from dignitaries and scientific men in foreign countries who
had witnessed experiments to test the efficacy of his medicine in cases
of poison by the bites of venomous snakes.
In the case of the Putman boy it had been some time since the wound
had been inflicted, and Dr. Gentry had carried his patient through the
critical period when the danger from tetanus is greatest. But the wound
was sloughing off, and with the physician's consent the specific was used
to bind upon the spot, but it can hardly be considered a fair test of the
efficiency of the preparation, as it was thought the boy was evidently
to a fair way to recover.
On Thursday Signor Nieto called upon us and through the kindness of
Rev. E. D. Rawson, of Stony Fork, who is familiar with Spanish, we were
enabled to converse with him. It happened that we had a fine specimen of
the rattlesnake on hand, it being the one mentioned last week as having
been carried home in a buggy by Mr. George Kenney, of Keeneyville. Signor
Nieto purchased it at once, and he informed us that it was his purpose
to take it to New York and there experiment before a number of physicians
by allowing the serpent to strike a dog and then counteract the poison
by administering his specific to the animal. He seems to be well posted
on the habits and characteristics of all the poisonous reptiles and insects.
He says that in South America they have rattlesnakes and several other
serpents which are much more poisonous. He stated that a rattlesnake will
lose its venom if kept in long captivity without water, and the first thing
he did with his new piece of property was to give his snakeship a bath,
which appeared to be enjoyed.
--Mrs. Robert Casbeer, of Osceola, is dangerously ill.
--Mr. John Ingerick, of Rutland, has received $1,066 arrears of pension.
--Mr. L. P. Davis, of Osceola, has received arrears of pension amounting to $3,113.
--Mr. S. A. Gaskill, of Covington, has been engaged as Principal of the Antrim schools.
--Mr. O. G. Padgett, of this borough, lost a valuable horse one day last week by typhoid fever.
--Mr. John P. Stevenson, of Cowanesque Valley, has received nearly $1,000 as arrears of pension.
--Mr. Daniel Bellinger, of this borough, was kicked in the face by a horse last Friday, and his jaw was broken.
--Mr. Robert McKeehnie Jr., had his collar bone broken by a fall of coal in the Morris Run mines, last Wednesday.
--We regret to learn that Mrs. Charles Toles, of this borough, is sick with a fever at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Crandall, at Grand Forks, Dakota. Mr. Toles is there with her.
--Last Tuesday the team of Mr. Hiram Brooks ran away with a hay-rigging. The horses started for Mr. Cole's farm, near the County house, and brought up in this borough, on East Avenue. The damage was slight.
--Mr. L. C. Wood, of Elkland, was injured at Knoxville, last week Monday, as he was alighting from a train. The cars jerked suddenly, and he was thrown to the ground, sustaining a compound fracture to the knee.
--Master Samuel Childs, son of J. H. Childs, of the Wellsboro Hotel near the depot in this borough, was injured by the discharge of a revolver which he was cleaning last Friday. The bullet lodged in one of his fingers.
--Last Thursday evening there was a three mile roller-skating contest at the Blossburg Casino between Will Capell, of Mansfield and James Coyle, of Corning, for the championship of this county and a purse of $50. Coyle won the race easily. He is a brother of Mr. John Coyle, of this borough.
--Mr. Henry Wilson was seriously injured at Ansonia, a few days ago, by getting in front of the knives of a mowing machine. His right leg was caught just above ankle and badly lacerated. The wound was dressed by Dr. Ritter, and the man was sent to his home in Williamsport. It is thought that his leg will have to be amputated.
--Last Saturday evening the horse of Mr. William Lent, of Delmar, was standing in front of the Post office in this borough, when it took fright at a bicycle and dashed across and up Main Street, upsetting the buggy and breaking off the top. The horse became entangled in the harness. And fell at the corner of Central Avenue. There was no serious injury done to the horse or vehicle.
--Last Saturday evening the team of Mr. Otis Steele, of Delmar, was standing in front of Max Bernkopf & Bros. store, in this borough, with several ladies in the wagon. Suddenly, for some unknown cause, the horses started to run. One of the women with great presence of mind quickly seized the lines and reined the team across the street against the large bulletin board, where the animals were literally “brought up standing”. A broken whiffletree was the only damage.
--A few days ago, as the family of Dr. John Rushmore was returning from the huckleberry mountains to their home at Mixtown, the rear seat of the wagon was tipped backwards, and Mrs. Rushmore and her baby and Miss Dora Rushmore, were thrown violently to the ground. Mrs. Rushmore was considerably bruised, and the young woman's back was so injured that the lower part of her body was paralyzed; but at last accounts her condition was somewhat improved, and it was hoped that she would recover.
--Last Saturday evening Mr. James Adams, of Arnot, played seven games of checkers at Wheeler's restaurant in this borough against some of our best players, all the games being carried on at the same time. Mr. Adams sat in the corner of the room with his face to the wall, and the position of the several games was indicated to him by an assistant who called off the moves of his opponents by numbers. The games were all hotly contested, but Mr. Adams defeated Messrs. J. W. Bailey, J. W. Mather, Royal Wheeler, R. A. Wheeler, R. B. Webb and Thomas Adams. Uncle David Gardner succeeded in woreling him however. A large number of interested spectators were present. Mr. Adams possesses a wonderful faculty in this line. We understand that he expects to travel next winter and play exhibition games in some of the cities in the country.
--Last Wednesday afternoon Mr. Joseph H. Ferris, our candidate for Sheriff, drove from his home at Little Marsh to his farm, about a mile from that village to see about getting in his hay. As he drove up to the farm gate and was about to get out of his buggy, the young horse he was driving suddenly undertook to jump over the gate, causing a general smash-up of the gate and buggy. Mr. Ferris was thrown to the ground under the buggy and badly bruised about the head, shoulders and limbs. Fortunately help was at hand, and he was at once taken home, and Dr. B. J. Fulkerson, who was called, found that no bones were broken and no lasting injuries inflicted. We are glad to learn that Mr. Ferris was able to be out again on Saturday morning, although he still felt the effects of his bruises. Considering the circumstances, the next Sheriff has good reason to congratulate himself that his injuries were not much more serious.
--TIOGA-A few evenings ago a rattlesnake was seen on P. V. Hixson's sidewalk by G. E. Smith. A large party afterward searched for the snake, but failed to find it. On Thursday Mr. Hiram Mosher killed a rattlesnake in Mr. J. S. Bush's yard.
--MANSFIELD-Henry Wright had the misfortune to fall through a porch he was building and break several ribs.
Visiting/Moving
--Mr. Robert Herdie was in town yesterday.
--Mr. Richard Moore, of this borough, is visiting Michigan.
--Mrs. John B. Bowen, of this borough, has been visiting at Elmira.
--Mr. D. C. Campbell, of Buffalo, N. Y., is visiting at Mr. L. R. Dicker's, in this borough.
--Mrs. Phoebe Sofield and her daughter Alice, of Harrisburg, are visiting at Senator Mitchell's, on Pearl Street.
--S. F. Channell, Esq., of this borough, contemplates a trip to Niagara Falls, Chautauqua Lake and the oil regions this week.
Mr. S. S. Pratt, of the New York World, and Mrs. Pratt, who was Miss Ada Bryden, are spending a few days in town.
--Miss Mary Chandler returned to this village last week after a sojourn of several months to her old home in Baltimore, MD.
--Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Ingham, of Academy Corners, and Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Spencer, of Canoe Camp, spent Sunday at Mr. E. J. Purple's, in this village.
--Mr. and Mrs. George B. Peckham, of New York, were in town over Sunday. They were spending a few days at Mr. George W. Peckham's in Middlebury.
--MANSFIELD-Miss Lora Kohler is visiting her parents at Niles Valley.
Land/Business/Farming/Housing Transactions
--Mr. A. D. Taft is building a fine dwelling house at Academy Corners.
--Mr. John H. Benson, of Rutland, has built a creamery upon an improved plan for his own use.
--It is stated that Messrs. J. B. Mead & Co., of Binghamton, N. Y., have purchased 3,000 acres of timber land on Slate Run, running into Pine Creek, and have commenced to build a narrow gauge railroad from their tract of land to the Fall Brook road.
--It is stated that an apple tree in the orchard of Mr. Sidney Beach, at Little Marsh, is so heavily laden with fruit that many limbs have broken down under its weight. Fourteen apples were counted on a twig six inches long. The fruit crop will no doubt be large this year.
--Mr. A. J. Nash, for many years a prominent boot and shoe dealer at Blossburg, has sold his stock to Mr. G. D. Wilkinson, formerly of the firm Wilkinson & Clark, liquor dealers. Mr. Nash has purchased part of Dr. Ingraham's farm at Norfolk, Virginia, and he intends to move to that place next fall.
--WESTFIELD-Messrs. Tucker & Plank's brick block-83 by 85 feet on the ground-is up and the roof is nearly completed. The block is three stories high and had four stores on the ground floor. The second story contains a public hall, offices and store-rooms, while the third will be used as society halls and club rooms.
--WESTFIELD-The veneered brick building of Shirley & Thompson is roofed and the floors are down. This block is two stories high, with two stores on the ground floor and the second story cut up into small rooms.
--MANSFIELD-Dr. Moody's residence, when completed, will be one of the finest in the county.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. John Bailey has purchased a house and lot on Sullivan Street of C. A. Holden.
--MANSFIELD-Mr. Fred Ellis has sold his interest in Spurr & Co.'s livery stable to G. D. Spurr.
--TIOGA-Max Leutner ha finished his brick oven.
--MANSFIELD-Dr. Morris is repairing his residence, the “Wren's Nest” on the west side of the river.
Deaths
--Mr. Joseph Guile, of Somers Lane, died last Friday morning after
a protracted illness. Mr. Guile was an excellent citizen and was well known
to many citizens of the county. [Reference-1897 Tioga County, PA History,
chapter 63-bio sketch; Buried Lawrenceville Cemetery as “Guiles”]
--Mr. Laugher Bache, of this borough, received last week letters announcing the death of Miss Hannah Cobb, daughter of Mr. M. H. Cobb, of Philadelphia and formerly of this village. Miss Cobb suddenly died of heart disease, at West Fork, Conn., last week Sunday. She was about 21 years of age and was a very bright, lovely young lady. The numerous friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cobb in this borough deeply sympathize with them in their sore affliction.
-- [July 21st states it was the son of Stephen Warters. This article says the son of Henry Waters (two different last names, but the same incident. Can't find a burial for a child this age buried near Stephen Warters or Henry Waters (or Henry Warters.]The Mansfield Advertiser says that a few days ago a five year old son of Henry Waters, of Lamb's Creek, was drowned in the river above Fralic Bros. mill. It seems that four young boys were playing in a boat, when it suddenly overturned, precipitating the entire party into the water. Only the older Waters boy could swim. Mrs. Shelman, who witnessed the accident ran into the water and succeeded in rescuing her own children, not, however, till one of them had become insensible. It was fully twenty minutes before he was restored to consciousness. The older Waters boy made heroic efforts to rescue his brother, but failed.
--MANSFIELD-Mrs. W. H. Harris died in this borough last Wednesday afternoon at four o'clock, of convulsions caused by overwork during the warm days. She had only been married abut one year, and was about 21 years old. The funeral was held on Thursday at 4 o'clock, Rev. A. W. Hodder preaching the sermon. The husband and relatives have the sympathy of the community in the sad bereavement.
Dear Joyce – we don’t know each other, but, through your efforts, I have been able to find a great deal of information on my father’s (Lynn Raymond Warters) relatives from Lambs Creek, PA.
I noticed when reviewing your 1885 clippings page (http://www.joycetice.com/clippings/1885wa07.htm#), that the identity of the young man who drowned was unclear. Based on the death date (15 July 1885) of Leonard Warters, son of Henry S. Warters & Lydia M. Gould, I believe the mystery is solved. July 15, 1885 was a Wednesday, which agrees with the newspaper article.
Leonard’s father’s name was Henry Stephen Warters which may have led to the initial confusion. Henry is allegedly buried in Prospect Cemetery in Mansfield. Leonard’s older brother (and only sibling at the time) Alfred would have been only 7 at the time. Leonard was my grandfather’s (Mark Lee Warters) brother, although Mark was not born until 1898.
Best regards – Jim W.