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HISTORY Of
MONROE
1779 - -1885
Continued From
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to Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was the father of Mrs. S. W. Alden and Rev. Sumner
Mandeville, D. D.
Burr Ridgeway, one of the most eminent and interesting characters of the early
days of old Bradford, was the son of Daniel and Jane Burr Ridgeway. He was of
Quaker descendant, and was born in the town of Springfield, Burlington county,
N. J., April 17, 1780. When he was eleven years old his father removed to
Philadelphia, and was accidentally killed soon thereafter, leaving young Burr at
that tender age without a father's care to shape his future destiny in life's
untrodden path. In 1803 he came to Wysox to take charge of John Hollenback's
store and house of entertainment. In the following year ( 1804 ) he was
appointed postmaster for Wysox, which was then the only post-office between
Wyalusing and Sheshequin. In the same year ( Oct 10 ) he was united in marriage
with Alice Mozer, widow of the late Nathaniel Mozer, and daughter of Moses and
Hannah Shoemaker Coolbaugh, of Wysox. He purchased what is known as the "Piollet
farm," but sold it in 1808 and purchased on Wysox creek, where he, in company
with one of his brothers, built a saw and grist mill* in 1809 or ' 10. Not
meeting with the success which he had anticipated, and having had ill luck in
making his first shipment, he was compelled to abandon the enterprise, and
returned to Philadelphia for a year or two. Having earned a little capital he
again returned to the county, and in the fall of 1812 went to Towanda to clerk
for Wm. Means, of which he speaks thus : "When
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* This mill occupied the site of where Barns' mill, Rome, now is.
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the election came that brought Bradford county into existence, I had resided in
the district ( partly in Wysox and partly in Orwell, now Rome ), and that fall
Wm. Means, Esq., had brought in a large stock of goods, and agreed with me to
assist him until his eldest son, who was to ' tend the bar of the tavern and
assist me when hurried in the store, should become fully acquainted with the
business.
"We did a good fall business. Our new village had no particular name, and Esq.
Means was desirous that it should be called Meansville ; and as I wanted a lot
to build on, he gave me to understand that if I would assist him, and do all in
my power, he would give me one. Accordingly I chose a lot ( that on which
Patton's block now stands ), and he asked me to measure if off and stake it out.
He let me have a small building, formerly occupied as a blacksmith shop, for a
justice's office. In due time I fenced the lot, put up a house and stable, and
also a printing office, and lived upon it. In the meatime, all the letters I
wrote, and all the papers I could get the name of Meansville on, I was careful
to do so. Time passed on and there being no post-office in the place, a few
friends joined together and petitioned the Postmaster General for one. The
petition was heard, and Esq. Means appointed postmaster. Things went on
smoothly, yet there was no mail route or communication with the Wysox office.
Everyone had to bring and carry his own letters. At length Mr. Simpson came in
with a printing press, and we wanted a regular mail but could not effect our
purpose, and were in consequence greatly inconvenienced. This was the first
year.
"In 1813 I was elected County Commissioner by a
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majority of 108 votes. Again we represented to the Postmaster General our
situation, who gave me the job of carrying the mail to Wysox and back, weekly. I
would send my two boys with a pillow case, and get, perhaps, a peck or more of
letters and papers. There was not a mail route in the county, except up and down
the river, on the east side, once a week.
"After I had purchased the press, Esq. Means was very friendly to me and
assisted me in many years. I was still improving the lot and again asked him for
a deed. His reply was, that he had not yet got his patent and did not like to
give a deed. I was owing him and he offered to give him a judgment, which he was
willing to accept, but still refused the deed. Thus things continued until I
sold my press, rented my buildings and moved to Wysox, leaving the property in
the hands of Esq. Means. Soon after, Gov. Hiester was elected, my friends
petitioned him, asking that I be appointed Prothonotary. I received the
appointment and soon after entering upon the duties of my office, the State of
Pennsylvania commenced the publication of a new map of the State. It was known
that I had been many times through the county as Commissioner, and that part of
the map pertaining to Bradford county was cut out and sent to me to make any
corrections that might be necessary. I observed two or three errors in roads and
creeks, and corrected them. Our village on the map was called Towanda, which I
crossed off, and after substituting Meansville, returned the map. Soon after I
read another copy to see if they had made the proper corrections with Meansville
on the map in place of
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Towanda. I showed it to Esq. Means and now thought my title good, but he seeing
that he had gained his point, very bluntly told me that he would give me no
deed. Disappointed with his treatment, I erased the name Meansville and again
substituted Towanda. At the same time a sensible Legislature, on petition of the
citizens of the village, in erecting it into a borough gave it the name of
Towanda, and the map was altered to suit. Thus the name of Means passed into the
tomb of the Capulets, and I was wronged out of what was worth $500 to me."
Upon the establishment of the post-office at Meansville, Mr. Ridgeway was made
deputy postmaster by Mr. Means. On the 15th day of March 1813, he was appointed
a Justice of the Peace by Simon Snyder, for the district comprising the
townships of Towanda, Burlington and Wysox.* He was appointed by Chas. F.
Welles, deputy Prothonotary, and Register and Recorder, Feb 17, 1813. In the
general election of the same year he was elected County Commissioner. On account
of the difficulties attending the publication and distribution of his paper,
Thomas Simpson sold the Bradford Gazette and press to Mr. Ridgeway, who
commenced its publication with the second year ( 1814 ). At this time, it should
be remembered that there was not a mail route on the west side of the river in
the county, and but one on the east side, from Athens to Wilkes-Barre, once a
week and back again. When Mr. Ridgeway began publishing the Gazette there had
been no improvement in mail facilities, but the people were very obliging, and
one seemed to vie with
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* Chas. F. Welles administered the oath of office to him on the 15th of April.
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another in distributing the papers. Petitions were forwarded to the Postmaster
General to have a certain mail route established, whereupon he issued proposals
for two routes which were to pass through several of the townships of the county
for two years, and the mail to be carried on horseback. Mr. Ridgeway became the
contractor upon both lines. He continued the publication of the Gazette for over
three years, when a difficulty arose between C. F. Welles and Samuel McKean,
which ended in a lawsuit that was very injurious to the Gazette. He therefore
sold the press and material to Samuel Streeter and Edwin Benjamin, and turned
his attention to agriculture, moving to Wysox, where he had an interest in
lands. Upon the election of Joseph Hiester he was appointed Prothonotary and
Register and Recorder of the county. His commission was dated Feb 8, 1821. At
the close of Hiester's administration he again turned his attention to farming
and went to reside ( 1822 ) on an improved tract of land on the South Branch of
the Towanda creek. Of his purchase he says : "John D. Sanders, a coarse, rough,
hard working, hard drinking, hard swearing man from Maryland, settled without
title on a tract of land belonging to the Holland Land Company, on the South
Branch of Towanda creek, now included in the farms of Freeman Sweet and others.
He made a considerable of a clearing on the tract, and another on the place, now
owned my Mr. Blackman. On the latter place he built a saw-mill and stocked it
with logs, cut a good many boards, and was prospering finely. He felt so much
so, that he said he did not thank Jesus Christ for a living ; but alas! in the
spring,
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the rains descended, and the floods came" and swept away his mill entirely, and
most of his lumber. Being an energetic man, he gathered up what boards he could
and took them down the river, carrying with him a good supply of counterfeit
money. On his return he seemed to have plenty of money, but hearing that a
certain man from down the river wanted to see him, he became very uneasy, and
offered his farm for sale to many persons, among the number, myself. He wished
to sell farming utensils, cattle, &c. I concluded to purchase, both his real and
personal property, and having agreed upon terms, we chose W. Keeler, appraiser,
and I took the stock, hay, &c., at his appraisement. I paid him all but about
$200, and gave my note, with time for the balance." After having resided upon
the farm now known as the "Ridgeway place," long enough to get his children
started, he returned to Towanda, and continued to act as Justice of the Peace
for some years, and for a short time engaged in the mercantile business. After a
few years upon the farm again, in 1846 he went to reside in Franklin township.
In 1851 he was elected to the office of Town Clerk, and held the same office for
the next seventeen year succeeding. And again in 1854, was chosen Justice of the
Peace. It is thus seen that there has hardly been another man in the county, who
filled so many offices of honor and trust as he ; and that his capacity and
integrity were appreciated by his fellow citizens. In 1838 he united with the M.
E. church at Monroeton, while under the pastoral charge of Philo E. Brown, and
was one of the first trustees after the establishment of the church at the place
above named,
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and was clerk until the time of his removal to Franklin. He ardently espoused
and enjoyed the comforting influences and blessings of his religious faith ; and
up to the last he bore his privations and afflictions with Christian fortitude
and uncomplaining patience. In 1868 he was deprived of his eyesight, but
retained full control of his mental faculties till the very last, almost
reaching the age of a centenarian. He was a member ( one of the first in the
county ) of the Masonic order, and though his death was not generally known, his
funeral cortege was nearly a mile long. He was an esteemed citizen, and one of
the most popular and useful citizens the county ever had.
Mr. Ridgeway's death occurred Aug 19, 1876, and his remains are interred beside
those of his companion, at Franklindale.
The children of Burr and Alice Ridgeway were---
Hannah M., born July 22, 1805 ; married Geo. Tracy ; resides at Monroeton, and
is still a very bright and entertaining lady ;
David, born Nov 1, 1806 ; succeeded to the ancestral estate, which is now
occupied by his widow and sons ; died Sept 2, 1864 ;
James C., born Aug 28, 1808 ; resides upon a farm in Franklin ; died Sept 21,
1878 ;
Lydia A., born July 6, 1810 ; married Thomas T. Simley ; resides at Monroeton ;
Mary E., born July 26, 1814 ; married Joseph Johnson ; died Feb 15, 1857 ;
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Nancy J., born April 25, 1816 ; married Freeman Sweet, of Monroe ; died July 6,
1875.
Mrs. Ridgeway was born Feb 7, 1780 ; died June 8, 1858. For many years she was a
member of the church of Christ and adorned her Christian profession by a
suitable walk and conversation, and by her meekness and gentleness of
disposition secured the respect and esteem of many friends---while she was
exemplary in the midst of her family, an intelligent and provident wife, and a
wise and kind mother. The remembrance of her amiable character will long be
deeply cherished.
The Masons---The history of this family can be traced back to the time of
Cromwell, in whose army, one of the Masons served as a drummer, and was killed
in battle. He left three sons, John, Robert and Nathaniel, who emigrated to
America. John settled in Hartford, Conn., and is no other than the interesting.
"Captain John Mason" of Pequod renown.
Robert, the ancestor of the Masons of Bradford county, settled in Boston. A
grandson, Robert, settled as Ashford, Conn., where he purchased land at a penny
an acre. He was the great-grandfather of the three Masons, who settled in
Monroe.
Eliphalet Mason, the son of Deacon Ebenezer and Mary Hastings Mason, was born in
the town of Ashford, Windham county, Conn., June 23, 1780.
At the age of fourteen years he went to Springfield, Mass., to learn the trade
of a shoemaker with an uncle ; but it not proving congenial to his tastes, he
returned to his
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father's farm after a year. Here for the next two years succeeding his time was
spent diligently in tilling the soil, and assisting in his father's cooper-shop,
during stormy days.
Having been converted to God ( at seventeen years ) and joined the
Congregational church, on account of feeble health, he concluded to prepare for
his ministry. But his education was too limited, and he appealed to his father
for aid. With a large family to provide for, the father could give him no other
encouragement than to offer him his time, with the privilege of getting all the
knowledge he desired, but must pay for it himself. The offer was accepted, and
he began his studies under the Rev. Enoch Pond, doing chores nights and mornings
for his grandmother for his board. His instructor proved and excellent one and
he progressed finely. Among other things, he was required to write compositions,
and was much praised in making verse. In addition to his regular studies, he was
given lessons in voice culture, which, though he had natural musical talents ),
proved a great comfort and benefit to him in early life. Just when the aspiring,
ambitions student began to think that his fond hopes should soon be realized,
Fate turned against him.
His grandmother died, and soon after the wife of Rev. Mr. Pond, which left him
without a boarding place, and so affected his tutor that he did not recite for
weeks. Finally he abandoned the idea of a college education. While prosecuting
his studies under the Rev. Mr. Pond, Mr. Perley Coburn was also a student. A
strong attachment grew up between the two young men, and from 1799 to 1801, Mr.
Mason was a frequent visitor at the house of Mr. Coburn's
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father. In fact, the charming Zilpah had very much attracted his attentions, and
became his first love. At this juncture the young lady's father moved with the
family to Pennsylvania, whither the smitten Eliphalet had secretly resolved to
go also, as soon as he had earned sufficient means. For more than a year he
worked at coopering at Hartford, Simsburry and Wintonburry, in the meantime
giving attention to the composition of music, which resulted in the production
of a song-book, entitled The Complete Pocket Song-Book, which became quite
popular.
In May 1802, he started for Pennsylvania on horse-back to find the object of his
early affections. After a journey of six days he reached Nanticook, and leaving
his horse there, footed his way through the wilderness, a distance of ten miles,
to Mr. Coburn's settlement ( then Orwell ). On the 22d of June ( 1802 ) he and
Zilpah were married. During his stay in the West he erected an old-fashioned
spring pole foot lathe by using old chain links for gudgeons, and with a
sap-tree gouge and framing chisel for his tools, manufactured six kitchen chairs
and two spinning wheels, the first known in that part of the county. After two
weeks he returned to Connecticut. In October 1802, he bid farewell to the State
of his nativity, and again set out for Pennsylvania, reaching Orwell ( now
Warren ) in the early part of November. He says : "My all as regards property
was a horse, saddle and bridle, portmanteau and thirty-one cents in money. The
horse I soon afterwards sold for $60." During the first winter of his residence
in the county he taught a school of three months in Wysox, and instructed
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in music at Towanda, Wysox, and at the mouth of Sugar Creek. His patrons at
Wysox having been so well pleased with his teaching hired him to continued the
school for a year. In the midst of his prosperity Zilpah was attacked with
fever, and died in a few days ( June 15, 1803 ). He says : "Every place wore a
gloom to me ; I was among strangers, and all my youthful hopes were gone. I now
determined to to leave this wilderness land," and try my fortune in some older
country. Money was very scarce, and I had to take my pay for teaching in wheat.
Finally by reducing my bills half. I succeeded in getting a few dollars of the
more wealthy families. Steering for the "Sunny South," I crossed the ferry at
Towanda. I told Wm. Means, Esq., my plans, who finally discouraged me, and
induced me to remain and teach the school in his district for the winter. His
children had attended my school at Wysox, being required to cross the river on a
boat, and walk two miles. I taught my school of four months at Towanda, and also
during the winter a singing school, in an adjoining district at the forks of the
Towanda Creek ( Monroeton ). Spring came and I was still determined to continue
my journey. Reed Brockaway, Esq., prevailed upon my teaching a school in his
district during the summer ( 1804 ), which I finally consented to. I was pleased
with the people in this section, especially the younger class, and became
intimately acquainted with Miss Roxy, the daughter of Gordon Fowler, whom, in
the course of time, I concluded to marry. In anticipation of this event, I
purchased of Reed Brockaway, Esq., his property, consisting of twelve acres of
improved land, with a
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log-house thereon, located where the village of Monroeton now is. Here I
concluded to make my future home. * * *
In the latter part of the summer I attended court, as a witness at Wilkes-Barre,
then "the county seat of Luzerne, ( which included Bradford, not yet formed." On
the 22d of October, 1804, Mr. Mason and Roxy Fowler were married. During the
winter of 1804-5 he worked at coopering in Lancaster county, Pa., returning to
Monroe again in March. That spring, in company with Abner C. Rockwell, they made
up a raft of lumber and took it down the river. After returning from this trip
he went to Northumberland county, Pa., and engaged in teaching school until
September ; when he says : "After tarrying home for about two weeks, in company
with Rogers Fowler, Russell Fowler, Abner C. Rockwell, Daniel Miller and Warner
Ladd, we went to explore the county, through the wilderness in a direct line to
Northumberland. We went up the south branch of the Towanda Creek, leaving it at
the Old French saw-mill, which was the last trace of settlement on this side of
the mountain."
Upon reaching Northumberland all the party, save Mr. Mason, started back, he
remaining in the county during the winter teaching, singing and day school. In
the fall of 1806 Mr. Mason says : "In company with my father-in-law and
brother-in-law, Jonathan Fowler, we manufactured 250 barrels, and floated them
down the river to Wilkes-Barre, and sold them, but did not much more than
realize expenses." In the winter of 1806-7 he taught again at Monroeton, and in
the spring of 1807 at Towanda, continuing for six months. On the 24th day of
October, 1807, he was
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commissioned a Justice of the Peace by Gov. Thomas McKean, for the county of
Luzerne, and held that office continually till it was made elective by the State
Constitution. He now began giving some attention to farming, and in the spring
of 1808 sold his framed home at Fowlerton ( erected fall of 1806 ) to Russell
Fowler, and purchased a possession of 120 acres on the Towanda road, a mile from
Monroeton. Here he erected a house and moved in with his family in October.
During the summer of 1809 he was engaged in digging a mill-race for Wm. Means on
the Towanda Creek, at what is now known as the White place. In the fall of the
same year he entered into partnership with Lorenzo Harvy, for the purpose of
erecting a saw mill, on the creek, where Masontown now is. After having buillt a
house and made some progress upon the mill, Mr. Harvey sold out his interest to
Dr. Asa C. Whitney, the new firm, at once, proceding to the completion of the
mill. In 1810 Mr. Mason sold his share also, and Whitney became the sole owner.
In October ( 1810 ) he was one of the judges of the general election for Towanda
and carried the returns to Wilkes-Barre, thence to Bethlehem with the vote for
Congress. In the fall of 1811, Mr. Mason says: "I had concluded to commence the
mercantile business, there being no store kept on the Towanda side of the river.
Wm. Means, Esq., having suspended business, at least for a short time, left the
country without goods for the consumption of the settlers." He continued in this
business for two years, then being unable to collect his bills, and his
creditors taking advantage of his embarrassment, he was compelled to abandon the
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enterprise. In 1812 he erected the first steam distillery ever known in Bradford
county. Mr. Mason says : "In the winter of 1813-14 I taught a school in the
school-house standing where the village of Monroeton now is. During my teaching
Wm. Weston, with his brother, John, then a young man of about twenty years, came
to the place to instruct in the art of writing. They taught in my school and I
took lessons of them. In the spring of 1814 I entered into an agreement with the
young man, John, since Doctor Weston, to take a tour with him in the southern
part of the State to instruct in this art. On the first of September I returned
without having earned more than enough to pay expenses." In the fall of 1814 Mr.
Mason was commissioned Lieutenant of militia, and with others was drafted in the
war of 1812. A company of 110 men was raised and placed under his command and
sent to Danville, awaiting orders ; but returned home after a month's absence.
At the October election ( 1814 ) he was elected Auditor of Bradford county for
the term of three years, being the only Democrat elected on the ticket. From
April 1815, he acted as deputy Sheriff, under A. C. Rockwell, till the close of
his term, and transacted nearly all the business connected with the office. In
1816 Mr. Mason moved to Towanda with his family, being the twelfth within what
is now the borough limits. In the summer of that year, in company with Jonathan
Fowler he erected a saw-mill "on the falls of a small stream flowing into the
South Branch at the head of Fowler's mill-pond," on a plat of land belonging to
the Asylum Land Company, which he contracted for. Again in the fall of 1816 he
was
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honored with office, being elected County Commissioner over his brother-in-law,
A. C. Rockwell, the Federal candidate. Mr. Mason says : "In the spring of 1817
grain was very scarce. Corn had been ruined by the frosts of the fall before,
and every kind of food was scarce. It became evident that some one must
undertake to supply the village with meat, and as I could best afford the time
the task fell upon me. Indeed, so great was the dependence on me that the
villagers could not boil the pot without my providing."
In the summer of 1818, I burned a kiln of brick, which I mostly struck or
moulded with my own hands, having become somewhat acquainted with that kind of
business while living in Hartford." July 1, 1818, he was commissioned by Gov.
Findlay, Recorder of Deeds, &c. and in conjunction with the Prothonotary to
administer oaths to such persons as might be appointed by the Governor. In the
same month he was also directed by the Governor to administer the oath of office
to the Hon. Edward Herrick, who had been appointed President Judge of the 13th
Judicial District, composed of the counties of Bradford, Susquehanna and Tioga.
For something like a year he was then engaged in selling groceries at Towanda.
Having purchased of Gurdon Hewitt, the mill which he erected in 1809, he again
moved with his family to Monroe in April 1821. During that year he built a half
mile of the Susquehanna and Tioga turnpike, through the wilderness between
Towanda and Sugar Creek. In 1824, he was appointed a commissioner with Edward
Eldred and William Brindle to lay out a State Road from Muncy to Towanda. While
thus employed, he also
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received the appointment of Deputy Surveyor for Bradford county. Again in 1829,
he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, having a greater majority
than his opponent had votes. In 1830 he was appointed agent for the Asylum
Company's lands, and in 1834 was directed to take charge of large tracts of
lands belonging to Clement S. Miller, of Philadelphia, who sent out a Mr. Jones,
a practical geologist to search for minerals. About a month after Mr. Mason and
Jones, began their explorations, they discovered that the highlands of Mr.
Miller in Bradford county contained valuable beds of bituminous coal and by
sinking shafts in many places found that it extended over the most of his land
on the north side of the Schrader branch. In 1837, Mr. Mason and his son, Gordon
F., became the purchaser of several thousand acres of land, lying in Bradford
county, which the Asylum Company had been anxious to dispose of. The investment
was a good one, and the purchasers realized a handsome little fortune. Mr. Mason
continued in active and varied business till 1844, when he started his children
in the world, and threw off most of his cares to enjoy his closing days. He
found great comfort in making verse, reading his papers, and frequently
contributing an article to the press. His writings will be remembered by many
under the sobriquet of "Old South." In his younger days he had given
considerable attention to the sciences ; thus becoming a dilligent student of
nature, his poetry was sound and logical. Mr. Mason was a man of genius,
indomitable energy, and undaunted courage. His honesty and integrity were never
questioned, and of
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littleness he was never accused. His life was a successful one, and a noble
example. In the rearing of his family he took a great pride, and gave each of
his children a good start in life. In 1802 Mr. Mason joined the Masonic order
and remained a member, until old age compelled him to withdraw. For several
years prior to his death, his eyes gave him much pain, being at times a great
privation ; but he was blessed with a most remarkable degree of mental vigor,
till death silenced his tongue forever. His demise occurred March 11, 1853.
The children of Eliphalet and Roxy Mason were---
Zilpha, born Jan 26, 1806 ; married Isaac Rogers, of Monroe ;
Roxy, born Dec 10, 1807 ; married Charles Birch, of Monroe ;
Gordon F., born Jan 19, 1810 ; married Mary A. Mason ; resided in Towanda ;
dealt extensively in real estate, etc. ;
Rufus, born Jan 31, 1812 ; married Elizabeth Foster, of Towanda ;
E. Hastings, born April 28, 1815 ; married Phylindia Woodruff, of Monroe ;
studied medicine and practiced at Towanda ;
William A., born Sept 29, 1819 ; married Mary A. Cheeney, of Windham ; resides
at Laporte ; civil engineer, and ex-side Judge of Sullivan Co. ;
Lemuel A., born March 22, 1821 ; died when a young man ;
Sarah, born Feb 4, 1826 ; married Jacob Veiley, of Troy ;
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Roxy Fowler Mason, born July 16, 1786 ; died Feb 15, 1851.
Ebenezer Mason, born Oct 2, 1782, came to Monroe through the influence of his
brother, Eliphalet, in the fall of 1820. During Adams' administration, in
apprehension of war with France, upon the organization of the militia companies,
Mr. Mason enlisted but was never called out, concilitatory measures having been
adopted. In 1821, he returned to Connecticut and brought in his family, being
also accompanied by his brother Chester, who now also came to live in the West.
Ebenezer came in to work at his trades. He was a cooper, carpenter, wagon-maker,
and gunsmith. In fact it is said "that he could mend or make anything that was
possible." He put up a shop in connection with his brother's saw mill, and met
the people's wants in the mechanical line. After some years he purchased the
place now occupied by his son, Wm. J., and alternated his trades with farming.
He was an industrious, hard-working man. His demise occurred May 10, 1873.
His wife, Martha Harwood, bore him---
Mehitable, who married Moses Kellogg ;
Henrietta, born June 10, 1806 ; married John Needham and moved west ;
William J., born May 4, 1809 ; married Sarah Lantz, of Franklin, and resides
upon the homestead ;
Rufus, born Oct 1, 1810 ; went to Ohio, when a young man ; studied medicine and
is still a practitioner,
Mary A., born Feb 26, 1813 ; married G. F. Mason, of Towanda ;
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Martha, born April 29, 1815 ; married D. F. Miller ;
Margaret, born Feb 15, 1817 ; married Daniel F. Miller, of Albany;
Margaret, born Nov 16, 1819 ; married Charles Boyles ;
David, born May 2, 1822 ; married Mary Steel ;
Harriet, born Dec 24, 1824 ; married Anthony Mullen ;
Alonzo, born Aug 13, 1813 ; married Elizabeth Simpson.
Martha Harwood Mason was born Nov 28, 1780 ; died Feb 27, 1868.
Chester Mason, born June 10, 1793, as already stated, came to Monroe in 1821. He
was a cooper by trade but gave attention to lumbering and farming. He occupied
the Park's place, and died there. He was an honest, sober, industrious,
thorough-going Yankee. His death occurred Nov 25, 1843.
His wife, Clarissa Marcy bore him---
Amelia, who married Samuel R. Mason, of Philadelphia ; Laura who married Isaac
Foster, of Monroe ; John, who married Elizabeth Ingham, and resides in Canton ;
Alva, who went to the gold regions when a young man.
Jeremiah Blackman, born in Connecticut, June 6, 1804, emigrated to the State of
New York, when four years of age, with his father's family. In 1825 he joined
his brothers in Monroe and worked at his trade---that of blacksmithing, in
connection with farming. After a few years he moved three miles farther up the
creek to what is known as South Branch, and engaged in farming, blacksmithing,
lumbering and hotel keeping.
He was united in marriage with Jane Edsall, who bore
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him---Lucinda ( Mrs. Chester Carter ) ; William H., who moved to Iowa, and died
here ; Lamira ( Mrs. Christopher Platt ) ; Saphronia ( Mrs. Edward Wilcox ).
Mr. Blackman's death occurred upon the homestead Febuary 17, 1878 ; and that of
his wife, April 24, 1881, aged 74 years, 7 months and 4 days.
Elizer Sweet, a native of Rhode Island born July 9, 1778, found his way into
Pennsylvania not far from the year 1800. He had become enamored with Miss Amy
Wilcox, before her people migrated from the East ; hence it is obvious why he
was moved to settle in a new country. In the course of time, the Wilcoxes moved
into Albany, and Mr. Sweet and Amy became man and wife. It is quite certain that
he followed his wife's people into that township, and resided there for a short
time, also ; then moved to Spencer, N. Y., where he remained till 1819, when he
returned to Albany and worked upon the turnpike. In 1826 he moved into Monroe (
now Asylum ), and after two or three changes, upon a farm between Monroeton and
Liberty Corners. He was a man especially noted for his muscular powers, and is
said to have been quite a match for Freeman Wilcox, who was then considered the
most powerful man in Northern Pennsylvania. Mr. Sweet's usual weight was about
160 pounds. His death occurred April 1, 1866.
His children were---
Miama, who married Roswell Phillips, and died at Dushore, Pa. ;
Rosina, who married Dr. Daniel Cole, of Asylum, and died in Ohio ;
Continued