Sullivan County PA Archives History - Books .....History: Part II - Thomas J. Ingham's "History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania" 1899
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                History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania
                          by Thomas J. Ingham
  
                        Compendium of Biography
  
                      The Lewis Publishing Company
                              Chicago: 1899
  
  ===============================================================================

  

     FREE SCHOOLS.
  
      Soon after the passage of the free-school law an election was held at the
  house of John Bahr for the election of school directors, and on the 27th of
  September, 1834, the directors met at the school-house near Mr. Bahr's, and
  apportioned the length of their terms of office. The following are the names of
  the first directors: H. W. Cooper, F. Huffmaster, Peter Hunsinger, Samuel
  McNeal, Jacob Hoffa and William Colley. At a meeting of the school board, at the
  house of William Colley, March 29, 1836, it was resolved that Cherry township be
  divided into two school districts; the inhabitants living north of the little
  Loyalsock creek to have one school, and those living south of said creek to have
  two schools.
  
  ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
  
      Having outlined the earliest settlements in the county, we will recur to the
  township organizations. Shrewsbury township was originally erected by decree of
  court of Lycoming county in 1803. At that time it embraced the whole of what is
  now Sullivan county. The name is attributed to Theophilus Little, as the namer
  and as the Little and Bennett families came from Shrewsbury township, in
  Moumouth county, New Jersey, the name was appropriate.
  
      Elkland township was established in 1804, but the record is imperfect. Hon.
  C. D. Eldred, in his reminiscences published in Now and Then (Vol. II, p. 163)
  says: "William Benjamin, an old surveyor, was appointed by the court to run and
  mark the boundary lines of Shrewsbury. But this was unsatisfactory to the
  inhabitants of the new settlement on the Loyalsock, near where the new road ran,
  as it was found that a controlling portion of the voters would remain south of
  the Allegheny mountains. Accordingly, while Benjamin was engaged in running the
  boundary lines of Shrewsbury, the inhabitants north of the mountain engaged him
  to run and mark a line for the division of Shrewsbury and the erection of a new
  township out of the western portion. It was, however, agreed later between the
  settlers north and south of the Allegheny that a new township should be formed,
  and we find on record of the next term of court two petitions filed, differing
  in some respects as to boundary, but each asking for a division of Shrewsbury
  township. These two petitions are endorsed, 'granted per curium,' but as they
  differ in describing the boundary, which one, or can either be deemed official?"
  
      This difficulty was solved by an act of assembly. The records of the
  commissioner's office show that William Benjamin ran a line between the
  townships of Shrewsbury and Elkland in 1804. On the 28th of March, 1808, an act
  of assembly was passed, establishing the election district of Elkland. The place
  appointed for holding the election was the house of William Molyneux. This
  district embraced the settlements of Forks, Hillsgrove and Fox, as well as
  Elklands. The whole of our present county of Sullivan was thus embraced in these
  two townships of Shrewsbury and Elkland. The line run by William Benjamin in
  1804 was probably adopted in the act of assembly, as the line between Elkland
  and Shrewsbury.
  
      Cherry township was created at the May session of the court of Lycoming
  county in 1824. It was formed from Shrewsbury township, and comprised the
  northeast corner of the county. Davidson township was established by the court
  of quarter sessions of Lycoming county in 1833. It was named in honor of the
  Hon. Asher Davidson, one of the associate judges. This territory also was taken
  from Shrewsbury, and extended along the south side of the county from Muncy
  creek to the Susquehanna and Tioga turnpike. Forks township was established by
  the court of quarter sessions of Lycoming county in 1833. It took all the
  territory of Shrewsbury township which remained between Cherry and Elklands up
  to the northern line of the county, and a part of the eastern portion of
  Elkland. Fox township was established by the court of quarter sessions of
  Lycoming county in 1839. It was formed from Elkland, and took the northwestern
  corner of the county. It was named in honor of George Fox, the founder of the
  Society of Friends.
  
      Hillsgrove township was once part of Shrewsbury, was first named Plunkett's
  Creek. It was so called when the county of Sullivan was formed, and retained
  that name until 1856, when an act of the legislature was passed changing the
  name to Hillsgrove. The village and post office had been called Hillsgrove
  during the time the township was called Plunkettís Creek. When the county was
  formed, a large part of the old township of Plunkettís Creek had been left in
  Lycoming county, and thus a township with the same name was in each county. This
  caused the citizens to petition for a change of name, and the name of Hillsgrove
  was adopted as a fitting memorial of John Hill, who was a prominent early settler.
  
      The seven townships above enumerated comprised the whole of Sullivan county
  at the time it was organized, but the township of Colley was established by a
  decree of the court of quarter sessions of Sullivan county at the December term
  of 1849. It was all taken from Cherry township, and named in honor of Hon.
  William Colley. The first election was held at the house of Joel R. Potter,
  February 15, 1850. The officers elected were: Judge of election, Thomas
  Messersmith; inspectors, Jeremiah Hunsinger and William W. Burgess; supervisors,
  John Santee and Joel R. Potter; township auditors, Paul Q. Bates, William
  Vaughan and Henry Rough; justices of the peace, Albert Vaughan and Jonathan
  Colley; school directors, Henry Rough, Jonathan Daddow, John Bates, Thomas
  Messersmith, Dudley Vaughan and William W. Burgess; assessor, Daniel Hunsinger;
  constable, Adam Messersmith; overseers of the poor, Thomas Messersmith and John
  Hunsinger.
  
      Laporte township was erected by the court of quarter sessions of Sullivan
  county in 1850. It was formed from parts of Cherry, Davidson and Shrewsbury. The
  name for the county seat was suggested by Seku Meylert, in honor of his friend,
  John Laporte, who was surveyor-general of the state of Pennsylvania. The name of
  the township naturally followed the name of the county seat.
  
  HOW THE COUNTY WAS FORMED.
  
      The agitation for the erection of the new county was commenced in 1845.
  Among the active men engaged in the movement were Isaiah Bartly, David H.
  Goodwin, Dr. Josiah Jackson, William Colley, Daniel H. Fairchild, Seku Meylert.
  It was proposed at first to take a portion of Bradford county, reaching as far
  east as the Susquehanna river, and northerly as far as Wilcox hotel. This
  project was attempted in 1846, but the bill was defeated at that session of the
  legislature by the opposition in Bradford county.
  
      The long distance to Williamsport was the most prominent argument for the
  formation of the new county, but, as usual in such cases, the active men in the
  movement had other considerations. A county seat on the Susquehanna and Tioga
  turnpike was contemplated by the active men who resided in Cherry township, and
  different sites for the county seat were contemplated by others. About thirty
  thousand acres of timbered land had recently been purchased by Meylert and
  Clymer from the Norris and Fox heirs, and the purchasers favored a new county
  with the county seat upon their lands.
  
      At the session of the legislature in 1847 the petition for a new county was
  renewed, and the parties representing the bill at Harrisburg consented to leave
  off the portion of Bradford county first asked for, and the new county was
  formed wholly from the county of Lycoming. The name of Sullivan was adopted in
  honor of Charles C. Sullivan, then a senator from the Butler district, who took
  an active part in procuring the passage of the bill. The surveyors designated to
  run the exterior lines of the county were William A. Mason, then residing near
  Monroeton, in Bradford county; John Laird, of Lycoming county, and S. H.
  Goodwin, of Sullivan county. The return indicates that the lines were run by
  Mason and Laird. The survey was completed and return made to the secretary of
  the commonwealth June 12, 1847.
  
     LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT.
  
      The commissioners for locating the county seat were the Hon. Thomas H.
  Wilson, of Harrisburg; Hon. Reuben Wilbur, of Bradford county, and Thomas W.
  Lloyd, Esq., of Lycoming county. The location of the county seat now became the
  absorbing topic in every part of the county, and the points advocated were
  Cherry Hill (Fairchilds), Dushore, Shinersville, Ellises, Hiddleson's (near what
  is now Nordmont), the Center (now Laporte), Sonestown, Lewis' Lake, Forksville
  and Hillsgrove. Only six of these localities were strongly urged, namely: Cherry
  Hill, Dushore, the Center, Lewis' Lake, Forksville and Hillsgrove. In favor of
  Cherry Hill was the Fairchild's interest, represented strongly by Isaiah
  Bartley, Samuel F. Headly and many others in Cherry. In favor of Dushore were
  Dr. Josiah Jackson and George D. Jackson. In favor of the Center was the Meylert
  and Clymer interest, represented chiefly by Michael Meylert. Lewis' Lake was
  represented by the Hon. J. R. Jones. Forksville by Moses Rogers, the owner of
  the land, backed by the whole population of Forks and Elkland. Hillsgrove was
  represented by John J. Saddler, John A. Speaker and all the people of that
  locality. Attorneys employed were William Elwell, Esq., of Towanda, for the
  Meylert and Clymer interest. Hon. David Wilmot, of Towanda, for the Forksville
  interest; Hon. J. R. Jones for the Lewis' Lake interest. The commissioners met
  in July, 1847, at the Fairchild tavern, and then went to Shinersville and the
  tavern of Amos Ellis. It was strongly urged that as the turnpike was the main
  thoroughfare from Berwick to Towanda, and the outlet to market for most of the
  farmers of the county, that the county seat should be on the turnpike, and that
  the most central point on the turnpike was at Cherry Hill. The commissioners
  then went to Hiddleson's and Sonestown, and thence to Lewis' Lake. The beauties
  of the lake, and its accessibility from the west of the county, were urged upon
  the attention of the commissioners.
  
      The center location was in a dense wilderness. It could only be reached by
  the old glass-works road, never good, and at that time impassible for a
  carriage. The commissioners, however, on foot, or on horseback, made their way
  for six miles through the forest to the heavily timbered mountain plateau,
  called the geographical center of the county, and now Laporte. They returned to
  the lake, and thence down the rugged narrow road to Forksville. In the beautiful
  little valley at the forks of the big and little branches of the Loyalsock, they
  met a great number of people, and were shown that this was the most accessible
  point for the people of Forks, Elkland, Hillsgrove and Fox, and that the people
  of Shrewsbury and Davidson could reach Forksville more easily than Cherry Hill
  or Dushore.
  
      After hearing the arguments on all sides, the commissioners adjourned for
  consideration, and, having duly considered the case, on the 19th of August,
  1847, they met at the Center and drove the stake where the court-house now
  stands. The place was then named Laporte. The reasons given by the commissioners
  for the location was that in time the center would be found to be the most
  convenient location for all sections of the county. They were assured by those
  who represented the Meylert and Clymer interests that the land would be cleared
  and roads opened immediately, and suitable buildings erected for holding court
  and entertaining the public. The work of clearing land at Laporte and opening
  roads to it was commenced early in September. A log house was built to
  accommodate the workmen. It stood where the Baptist church now stands. In
  October the eastern part of the frame building now occupied by Mrs. M. C. Lauer,
  and known as the "Mountain House," was put up. Improvements were continued
  during the ensuing winter and spring.
  
     FIRST ELECTION.
  
      The first election was held on the second Tuesday of October, 1847. The
  Democrats and Whigs nominated tickets as follows:
  
                             DEMOCRATS.              WHIGS.
     Prothonotary.           Alfred Bennett          William E. King.
     Recorder.               William Mullan.         Amos C. Wilber.
     Treasurer.              James Taylor.           Daniel Little.
     Commiss'n'rs.           William Lawrence.       Edward Hughes.
                             Joseph Molyneux.        George Bird.
                             Jacob Hoffa.            John Edkins.
     Sheriff                 Evan H. Phillips.       William J. Eldred.
     Auditors                Richard Taylor.         Powell Bird.
                             J. S. Green.            Joseph Battin.
                             Thomas King.            George Edkins.
  
      The total vote polled was four hundred and sixty-three. The Democratic
  ticket was elected by an average majority of one hundred and eighty. The newly
  elected county commissioners were advised by their counsel that they could
  provide buildings for county uses in any part of the county, until the
  court-house should be erected. Accordingly they rented buildings on Cherry hill,
  and there opened the public offices. They obtained the use of the church
  building on the hill for the purpose of holding the first court. This action on
  the part of the county officers was sharply resented by those who favored the
  location of the county seat at Laporte, and they prepared for a battle royal in
  court.
  
     THE FIRST COURT.
  
      The court of quarter sessions and common pleas was convened in the
  Evangelical church on Cherry hill June 5, 1848. Judge Anthony, of Williamsport,
  presided. A. J. Dietrick was sworn as district attorney. The church was crowded
  with people, and a great array of attorneys was in attendance. As soon as the
  grand jury was called, William Elwell, Esq., of Towanda, acting as attorney for
  Lewis Zaner, a defendant under recognizance, moved the court to quash the array
  of grand jurors, and discharge the said Zaner, a defendant, - first, because the
  said defendant was called to appear at Cherrytown, whereas the seat of justice
  is at Laporte, nine or ten miles distant; second, because the grand jurors were
  drawn at Cherrytown, and not at Laporte, the county seat. Then followed an
  animated argument. The attorneys employed, and present, were Oliver Watson,
  Esq., James Gamble, Esq., and J. Hughes, Esq., of Williamsport; Joshua W. Comly,
  Esq., of Danville; Charles R. Buckalew, Esq., of Bloomsburg; J. M. B. Petriken,
  of Muncy; and William Elwell, Esq., and Ulysses Mercur, Esq., of Towanda. Joshua
  W. Comly led the opposition to the motion to quash the grand jury. After a full
  hearing, Judge Anthony sustained the motion to quash the array, and the court
  ended. The result was that the county offices were opened at Laporte in the
  building erected by Mr. Meylert.
  
      On December 25, 1848, court convened at Laporte, with Hon. J. B. Anthony,
  president judge, and Hon. William Colley and Hon. John A. Speaker, associate
  judges. The next day the court adjourned, not to meet again until the first
  Tuesday June 1849.
  
      Meanwhile petitions had been circulated and largely signed, and presented to
  the legislature early in the session of 1849, asking that commissioners be
  appointed to review the location of the county-seat.  Accordingly an act was
  passed March 26, 1849, appointing Jedediah Irish, of Schuylkill county; Hon.
  William Jessup, of Susquehanna county, and the Hon. John H. Broadhead, of Pike
  county, to review, and if in their opinion it would prove necessary, to
  re-locate the county-seat. These commissioners met at Laporte on the 20th of
  June, 1849, and went from there to Cherry, and thence to Forksville. At the
  latter place, they had a public hearing, and a large crowd attended, as all the
  former excitement in the county was revived and intensified. The following is
  copied from the notes of Mr. William Meylert, who attended the meeting:
  
      A mass meeting was held at the forks of the Loyalsock in November, 1849,
  when for nearly two days the evidence pro and con was presented, Hon. S. F.
  Headly and David Wilmot appearing in the interest of parties asking for removal,
  and Hon. J. R. Jones, William Elwell and Ulysses Mercur for Laporte. From papers
  preserved, it is believed that the names of fully six hundred petitioners were
  presented to the commissioners. Seven petitions favoring Laporte, containing two
  hundred and forty-six names, and as nearly as could be made out, one hundred of
  those names were from Cherry township. A large majority of the citizens of the
  western townships favored the location of either Millview or Forksville, but
  seemed to have united at the time on Forksville, as the location they desired.
  The local interests of that part of the country were favorably presented by the
  Hon. John A. Speaker. Much time was consumed in consideration of damages, which,
  in the event of removal, should be awarded to Clymer and Meylert and their
  assigns. Judge Wilmot was in the special employ of the county commissioners to
  defend the county interests. After his arguments had been attentively listened
  to, Mr. Mercur put forth his best efforts in reply. It is now believed that his
  address brought him in favor of many of the citizens who listened, and
  materially helped in the final settlement of the question. Judge Elwell gave
  some time in sifting evidence, but the events proved that he at the time had no
  hope that either evidence or argument would avail before a majority of the
  commissioners. "
  
      After a full hearing, the commissioners adjourned to meet at Wilkes-Barre.
  The Hon. William Jessup immediately left the county; Hon. John H. Broadhead and
  Jedediah Irish, Esq., went as far as the tavern of Mrs. Fairchild, where they
  stopped for the night. It was on Saturday evening, November 3, and they went out
  and drove a stake by moonlight for the site of a court-house, on a farm late the
  property of Freeman Fairchild, and made return that they had established the
  county-seat at that place. Their report was filed December 18, 1849. The county
  offices were removed back to Cherrytown soon after the December term of court
  held in Laporte that year.
  
      Immediately thereafter the power of the legislature was again invoked. There
  was a contest at Harrisburg. Charges of bribery and fraud were made. After much
  contention the act of April 9, 1850, was passed, which repealed the act of March
  26, 1849. The effect of this was to replace the county-seat at Laporte. The same
  act authorized the governor to appoint a new commission to review and if
  necessary re-locate the county-seat. The commissioners appointed by the governor
  were William Williamson, Frederick Watts and____.  Early in the summer they took
  a carriage at Harrisburg and drove thence by the way of Laporte to Cherry, where
  they had their first meeting. They then drove to Forksville, and thence to
  Laporte. At the latter place they had a public meeting, when the whole subject
  was again discussed by citizens and lawyers. At this meeting it was contended
  that by reason of the first location at Laporte, Messrs. Meylert and Clymer had
  been induced to expend a large amount in clearing land, making roads and putting
  up buildings. The act of assembly provided that if the county-seat should now be
  removed the county would be liable in damages to them for the full amount of
  their said expenditures. A statement was submitted that their expenditures up to
  June 16, 1849, had been $13,739. 61, and from that time to June, 1850, not less
  than sixteen dollars per day additional. There was a division among those who
  opposed Laporte. While the people in the western part of the county were
  unanimous for Forksville, they were quite as much opposed to Cherrytown as they
  were to Laporte, and a considerable feeling had arisen between the Cherrytown
  interest and Dushore. The latter point had been rapidly taking the business from
  Cherrytown, and a number of business men of Dushore expressed their opinion that
  a court-house and county offices on the hill (Cherrytown) would not be to their
  advantage. Influential men in Cherry township stated that they had rather go to
  Laporte than to Forksville to transact county business.
  
      The commissioners in their report held that there was no sufficient reason
  for the removal of the county-seat from Laporte. This ended all practical
  efforts to remove the county-seat, but a feeling that injustice had been done
  lingered long in Cherry and the western townships.
  
      The large building long known as the Laporte hotel was erected by Michael
  Meylert, in 1850, and a large room over the kitchen part was especially built
  for a court room. There was also a room for the commissioners' office, and
  another for the prothonotary and register and recorder. A strong plank house,
  one story high, was built for a jail.
  
      At the time the controversy about the county seat was ended, there were
  living at Laporte only six families, to-wit: William A. Mason, William Fancher,
  John C. Wilson, Joseph B. Little, Alfred Bennet and Michael Meylert. The square
  reserved for the court house and park was dotted with huge hemlock stumps and
  decorated with rocks. All around the little clearing in every direction were
  miles of dense, primeval forest. The roads north, west and south were of the
  roughest kind - barely passable. The nearest railroad was on the opposite side
  of the river from Muncy, about twenty-eight miles distant. There was one store
  in Laporte owned by James Phillips, and kept by his clerk, Walter Spencer; also
  a blacksmith shop, in which a German named Selzer did the work. At the
  presidential election of 1848 they were in the whole county three hundred and
  three votes cast for Lewis Cass electors; one hundred and forty-seven cast for
  Zachariah Taylor electors; and nineteen votes cast for Van Buren electors; total
  vote, four hundred and sixty-nine.
  
      President Judge Joseph B. Anthony died between the September session, 1850,
  and the February session of 1851, and James Pollock was appointed to take his
  place. Judge Pollock came upon the bench at the February term, 1851. An act of
  the assembly had been passed providing that in Sullivan county one person should
  hold the office of prothonotary, register and recorder, clerk of the orphans'
  court, clerk of the quarter session, and court of the oyer and terminer. Alfred
  Bennett's term as prothonotary had expired, and William Mullan was elected to
  hold the office of prothonotary and the other offices combined with it in the
  act of assembly. Mr. Mullan therefore took his seat as prothonotary. Henry
  Metcalf, of Dushore, was qualified as district attorney. Lewis Zaner, of Cherry
  came in as sheriff. The resident attorneys at that time were A. J. Dietrick,
  Henry Metcalf and J. R. Jones. An attorney named Thomas L. Boileau came to
  Laporte in January of that year. He was passed middle age and evidently poor;
  had practiced law in Norristown. He was well educated, well read in the law, and
  said to belong to a family of excellent standing. He was gentlemanly in his
  manners and entertaining in his conversation. During the few weeks before court
  he had been employed in several cases. On the first day of the May term, he was
  admitted to the bar of Sullivan county. That night, for the first time in
  Laporte, he took liquor, and was soon drunk. He got into a row in the bar-room
  and flourished a knife like a crazy man. His conduct was so notorious that when
  court assembled in the morning the members of the bar petitioned the court to
  expel him from the bar. He was not in the court at the time, but Judge Pollock
  ordered his name to be stricken from the roll of attorneys. An hour afterward
  Boileau came into court and rose to present a petition and make a motion. Judge
  Pollock informed him that he had been expelled from the bar. Without a word he
  dropped his head and went out of the court-room. Half an hour afterward, with
  his little bundle tied in a handkerchief, he passed over the hill, on foot,
  toward Muncy and was never seen in Laporte again.
  
     THE FIRST NEWSPAPER.
  
      The first newspaper published in the county was the Sullivan Eagle,
  commencing with issue dated March 22, 1850. It was issued from an office on the
  turnpike, nearly opposite to Mrs. Fairchild's. The paper does not name its
  publishers, but the printer was R. H. Foster, who did all of the work. It was
  Democratic in politics, and A. J. Dietrick and Isaiah Bartley were among those
  who managed it. The paper was discontinued about the time the county-seat was
  permanently fixed at Laporte.

     COUNTY OFFICERS-CENSUS OF 1850-NEW COURT-HOUSE.
  
  
      John Battin, of Fox, had been elected commissioner in 1849, and Griffith
  Phillips, of Davidson, had been elected in 1850; so that the board of
  commissioners consisted of Messrs. Hoffa, Battin and Phillips. A J. Dietrick,
  Esq., was appointed clerk and counsel. George Edkins, of Shrewsbury, had been
  elected county treasurer, and Hon. J. R. Jones acted as his deputy.
  
      The census of 1850 was taken in Sullivan county by William J. Eldred. The
  population was as follows:
  
     TOWNSHIPS.            MALES     FEMALES     TOTAL      NO. OF DWELLINGS
     Colley.                 97        87         184             38
     Cherry.                820       786        1606            188
     Davidson               267       270         537             90
     Elkland.               210       199         409             73
     Forks                  173       170         343             61
     Fox                    121       112         233             41
     Plunketts Creek )
     Hillsgrove.     )      105        94         199             35
     Shrewsbury              81       114         195             36
                          _____    ______      ______         ______
     Totals                1874      1832        3706            562
  
       At that time there was one store in Forksville, kept by William J. Eldred;
  two in Dushore, - one kept by J. Jackson & Sons, and the other by Cornelius
  Cronin; one store at Hillsgrove, kept by Augustus Lippincott; one at Millview,
  kept by _____ Birdsall; and one store at Laporte, kept by Walter Spencer. In
  1851 Michael Meylert took the job of building a brick court-house, forty-four
  feet square, and three stories high. Stephen V. Shipman made the plans and
  superintended the work. The bricks were made within the limits of Laporte, and
  put in the walls before the season ended. The building was ready for use in the
  spring of 1852. It combined a court-room, four county offices, four cells for
  prisoners, and three rooms for the sheriff's family.
  
     THE SECOND NEWSPAPER.
  
      In the spring of 1851 Michael Meylert purchased the material and good will
  of the Sullivan Eagle. The old Franklin press, a relic of the past, was stowed
  away in the Laporte Hotel barn, where it remained a number of years as a
  curiosity. With a new Washington press and new type, the first number of the
  Sullivan Democrat was issued May 3, 1851. Meylert and Foster were the publishers
  and editors. In their first editorial they say: "There is a mine of interesting
  incidents connected with our peculiar local situation which ought to be worked.
  Sullivan county is the 'back-woods,' of which people in the lower counties used
  to talk so much. It is part of the 'far west' left behind in Pennsylvania, when
  the rest of the family emigrated beyond the Mississippi. The wildest parts of
  forest life are household words about our hearths, and told with a pen would be
  shining tales. Why may we not find 'a chiel among us taking notes? If there
  should be, faith, we'll print 'em.'" The county statement for 1850 is published,
  in which George Edkin, treasurer, in his account with the county charges himself
  with $2,877.56, received, and credits himself with county expenditures,
  $2,370.07; commissions, $150.56; and shows a balance in his hands of $350.93.
  
     FIRST JUDICIAL ELECTION.
  
      By act of April 15, 1851, the counties of Bradford, Susquehanna and Sullivan
  were made to constitute the thirteenth judicial district, and at the general
  election of that year the opposing candidates for president judge were David
  Wilmot and William Elwell. Wilmot was elected. At the same election in the
  legislative district, composed of the counties of Susquehanna, Wyoming and
  Sullivan, Michael Meylert was elected a member of the assembly. John A. Speaker
  and William Colley were elected as associate judges; A. J. Dietrick was elected
  treasurer; William Reeser was elected commissioner.
  
     THE MAILS IN 1851.
  
      The manner of carrying the mails in Sullivan county in 1851 is thus
  described in the Sullivan Democrat of June 3d: "The man from Bloomsburg comes to
  us on Monday evening, and returns to Bloomsburg on Tuesday. The man from Fishing
  Creek comes in on Tuesday morning, passing on to Muncy, returns here on
  Wednesday, and goes over to Cherry, where he receives the Towanda mail of
  Saturday (that of Tuesday being left at Monroeton; the mail starting from
  Monroeton half an hour before the mail reaches that place from Towanda), and
  returns here on Thursday."
  
      Hon. David Wilmot, having been elected president judge of the thirteenth
  judicial district in the fall of 1851, first presided in the courts of Sullivan
  county at the February term in 1851. Judge Wilmot had previously served two or
  three terms in congress, and had attained a national reputation as the author of
  the Wilmot Proviso. He was afterward a United States senator. At the May term of
  court John B. Linn, Esq., of Lewisburg, was admitted to the bar. He located at
  Laporte and remained several years. Mr. Linn in later years was secretary of the
  commonwealth, and occupied other distinguished positions.
  
      At the general election in October, 1852, John Mullan, Democrat, had three
  hundred and twenty votes, and John G. Bartch, Whig, had two hundred and forty
  votes as candidates for county commissioner. At the presidential election in
  November, Franklin Pierce, Democrat, received four hundred and twenty-six votes;
  Winfield Scott, Whig, received one hundred and seventy-seven votes; Martin Van
  Buren, Free Soil, received fifty-nine votes.
  
      In 1852 the first steam whistle sounded in Sullivan county. In that year
  Michael Meylert erected a steam sawmill at Laporte. There were many sawmills in
  the county, but all, hitherto, had been run by water. In 1853 the Democrats
  nominated for representative, James Deegan, of Cherry; for sheriff, Jacob Hoffa,
  of Cherry, for prothonotary, Thomas J. Ingham, of Laporte; for treasurer,
  Richard Bedford, of Forks; for commissioner, Richard Taylor, of Davidson; for
  county surveyor, William A. Mason, of Laporte; for auditor, Cornelius Cronin, of
  Cherry. The Whigs nominated for sheriff, Amos C. Wilbur, of Davidson; for
  prothonotary, no nomination; for treasurer, no nomination; for commissioner,
  John Glidewell, of Davidson; for county surveyor, no nomination; for auditor,
  Jonathan Colley, of Colley. The strife was mostly on sheriff, and the Whig
  candidate was elected. Wilbur had three hundred and four votes and Hoffa two
  hundred and eighty-six, leaving a majority of eighteen for Wilbur. All the rest
  of the Democratic ticket was elected. The borough of Laporte was established by
  a decree of court, in quarter session at the September term, 1853, and the first
  election was held November 10, 1853.
  
  DUSHORE AGAIN.
  
      While the controversy about the county seat was raging, Cherry Hill and
  Dushore were both thriving places, and there was doubt which would take the
  lead. As soon as it was fully established that the county seat would not be
  established at Cherrytown, the advantages of Dushore as a natural center for
  business prevailed. Business on the hill diminished, and rapidly increased in
  the valley.
  
      Hon. S. F. Headley purchased from John Dieffenbach the mill privilege at the
  falls, and erected a new dam, and a gristmill and sawmill where John
  Dieffenbach's had been destroyed by the flood. Dr. Jackson erected a large
  storehouse on the opposite side of the street from the Samuel Jackson
  store-house, where a thriving business was conducted by J. Jackson & Sons for
  many years. The mercantile business established by Cornelius Cronin was
  continued and enlarged. Prior to 1851 Henry Huffman had a tannery and tanned
  upper leather. He was the father of Christian Huffman. E. D. Richard had a
  tailor shop and advertised that he would "give 'em fits." Morris Heisz had a
  liquor store. John W. Stiles had a store for a short time. Hon. S. F. Headly
  established a store near his mills, which was conducted by Arthur Robison and
  Joseph Gansel. In January, 1852, it was bought by James Deegan, who continued
  the business for some time, and was succeeded by a Mr. Shaffer, and afterward by
  John M. Heacock.
  
      The portion of Dushore above the mills became known as Headlyville. About
  the year 1852, George H. Welles and F. N. Wilcox moved their store from New
  Albany to Dushore and erected the building now occupied as the corner drug
  store. The business was carried on by them until 1856, when Nelson W. Ackley was
  admitted as a partner. A dwelling house was built in 1855. In 1858 Mr. Welles
  purchased the interest of F. N. Wilcox, and the business continued in the name
  of Welles, Ackley & Company, which was continued until the death of Ackley in
  1869, when his brother, Perrin R. Ackley, assumed his brother's interest. Mr.
  Welles moved to Dushore in 1859 and resided there until 1864, when he returned
  to Wyalusing. Mr. Welles continued his mercantile business at Dushore until
  quite recently.
  
      Dushore borough was incorporated by the court of quarter sessions of
  Sullivan county in 1859. The number of votes at the first general election was
  forty-six. The increase in population in Dushore has been continuous and rapid.
  The business changes have been frequent. It is not within the scope of this
  history to follow these changes, or make a record of all the mercantile,
  manufacturing or other business enterprises which have been so numerous in the
  last forty years. It is now a prosperous town of twelve hundred inhabitants.
  
  POLITICS.
  
      In 1854 the whole country was agitated by the Kansas-Nebraska act, and the
  question of extending slavery into these territories became the absorbing
  political topic. The people of Sullivan county shared in this excitement, and as
  usual differed in their opinions. The proceedings of a mass meeting held at
  Forksville, in August of that year, will serve to show the position taken by the
  Free Soil party. We copy from the report in the Sullivan County Democrat, as
  follows:
  
      "At a large and enthusiastic mass meeting held at Forks of Loyalsock on the
  16th inst., the following officers were chosen: Henry E. Shipman, president;
  Benjamin Huckell, Daniel Reynolds, Henry W. Dye, Joseph Woodhead, Reuben Battin,
  Edward Molyneux, David N. Travis and John P. Taggart, vice-presidents; A. J.
  Trout and Augustus Lippincott, secretaries. The object of the meeting having
  been stated, Hon. David Wilmot was called upon and addressed the assembly. His
  speech occupied three hours, and was listened to with the greatest attention. It
  was a clear, full and accurate statement of the policy of this government in
  reference to slavery from the period of its organization until the present time.
  He showed from history, and the debates in convention which framed the
  constitution, that the framers of our government never intended to recognize
  slavery as a national institution, and proceeded to point out the difference
  between their views and the views of those who claim to be peculiarly the
  expounders of the constitution and friends of the Union at the present day. He
  contrasted the opinions of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, and many other
  Democrats of the early days of the republic, with the present race of party
  Democrats, whose principles are to get office. He declared his willingness to
  adhere to every doctrine in relation to slavery laid down by Jefferson or
  Madison. He believed in the Democracy laid down in the Declaration of
  Independence, and taught by those who fought in the Revolution; but he claimed
  no affinity with the degenerate race of office-seeking politicians who call
  themselves Democrats. We have no intention of giving an abstract of his lengthy
  and statesman-like speech, as we should fall far short of doing it justice.
  After Mr. Wilmot had closed T. J. Ingham presented resolutions setting forth in
  substance the principles of the Republican party.
  
      "The question on the passage of the resolutions was taken by a rising vote,
  and the whole assembly voted for the resolutions and not one against them. An
  address and resolutions adopted by citizens of Colley township, fully endorsing
  the resolutions of the Independent Democratic meeting held in Elkland, July 4th,
  were then presented to the meeting and received with marks of approbation.
  
      "On motion it was resolved that the president appoint a standing committee,
  to be composed of one voter from each election district, who duties shall be the
  same as are usually performed by standing committees. The president appointed
  the following gentlemen to be the said committee, viz. : S. H. Daddow, J. T.
  Stalford, Daniel Little, Levi Rogers, P. E. Armstrong, T. J. Ingham, Isaac
  Keller, Wheeler Green, Joseph Woodhead, Reuben Battin, T. J. Ingham; chairman.
  
      "On motion it was resolved that three persons be appointed by the president
  to confer or correspond with Anti-Nebraska men in other counties of this
  congressional district, and after such conference and correspondence to
  recommend a suitable candidate to be supported by the people at the next
  election. The president appointed Thomas J. Ingham, Levi Rogers and J. P.
  Taggart said committee. The thanks of the assembly were tendered to Mr. Wilmot
  for his address, after which the meeting adjourned.
  
                                 "HENRY SHIPMAN, President.
      "A. J. TROUT,   ) 
      "A. LIPPINCOTT, )Secretaries."
  
      In the same issue of the Sullivan Democrat, which contained the foregoing
  proceedings, appeared the following notice:
  
  DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING.
  
      The Democratic citizens of Sullivan county are requested to meet at the
  Forks of Loyalsock on Wednesday, the 30th of August, at 10 o'clock A. M. The
  object of the meeting is to vindicate the Democratic party from the charge made
  against it by the Hon. David Wilmot of being the "Slavery propagandist
  Democracy", and of defining the true position of the party on the slavery
  question. The meeting is called more especially by the Democrats of the western
  townships, but all others are earnestly requested to attend.
  
      The writer has made diligent search for the copy of the Democrat containing
  the proceedings of the mass meeting held in pursuance of the call, but has been
  unable to find it. It is remembered however, that able speakers were present,
  and took the ground that Bigler did not favor the extension of slavery, but held
  to the Douglas plan of popular sovereignty.
  
      The majority for William Bigler in the county at the next election was
  eighty-eight.
  
      In the ensuing year the independent Democratic organization of Sullivan
  county, following the general movement of the Anti-slavery party in all of the
  northern states, adopted the name of Republicans, and the hitherto Whig party
  ceased to exist as a party. The Whigs, almost without exception, were merged
  into the Republican organization.
  
      At the general election of 1855 the Democratic ticket was: - for senator,
  Aaron J. Dietrick; for members of the assembly, Oliver Lathrop and John V.
  Smith; for treasurer, James Dunn; for commissioner, Samuel K. McBride; for
  auditor, George D. Jackson. The Republican ticket was: For senator, Andrew
  Gregg; for members of the assembly, Thomas J. Ingham and O. G. Hempstead; for
  treasurer, John S. Green; for commissioner, William Glidewell; for auditor, J.
  W. Hogeland. The contest was animated, and resulted as follows: majority for
  Dietrick, seventy-three; majority for Ingham, over Smith, one hundred and
  forty-nine; majority for Ingham over Lathrop, ninety-five, majority for Green,
  ninety-one; majority for McBride, one hundred and twenty-six; majority for
  Jackson, two hundred and eighty. In the senatorial district Andrew Gregg was
  elected. In the assembly district Thomas J. Ingham and John V. Smith were elected.
  
  THE FIRST MURDER.
  
      In 1855 the first murder was perpetrated in this county. The trial was held
  at the February court, 1856. John Michael Kamm and Anna Vietengruber were
  indicted for the murder of John George Vietengruber. Henry Metcalf was district
  attorney, and A. J. Dietrick was engaged for the defense. There was evidence
  that John George Vietengruber was living with his family at Elk Lake in 1855;
  that John Michael Kamm was living with them; that in the summer of that year
  Vietengruber was missing, and that it was reported that he had gone away. The
  neighbors were suspicious that there had been foul play, but there was no
  evidence that he had been murdered. In the fall Joseph McCarty, being in the
  woods near the lake, observed a place which looked as if a person had been
  buried, but he did not investigate closely, as it was near night. The next day
  he took some neighbors with him and went to examine the place. They were
  surprised to find that during the night the grave had been opened, and from all
  appearances a human body removed. They found hair, finger or toe nails, and some
  other indications that a decaying body had lain there. The circumstances were
  very strongly against Kamm and Mrs. Vietengruber, and they were arrested for
  murder and lodged in jail at Laporte. After diligent search the body of
  Vietengruber could not be found.
  
      When the trial commenced no certain evidence could be adduced that
  Vietengruber was dead. It seemed as though the defendant would certainly escape.
  The prosecution, however, made the most of their case. They introduced testimony
  showing the absence of Vietengruber, the finding of a grave in the vicinity,
  where a body had been buried, the removal of the body in the night, and then
  proved that all the clothes he had still remained in the house. A young son of
  Vietengruber was on the stand as a witness, and the clothes of Vietengruber were
  brought to be identified, for the inspection of the jury, when Mrs.
  Vietengruber, in hysterical excitement, suddenly arose and pointing her finger
  at Kamm, exclaimed: "He did it!"Instantly Kamm said in a hissing whisper, but so
  sharp it could be heard all over the room: "Hist, Anna, hist!" Then Mrs.
  Vietengruber began to rave in a frenzied manner, and the trial had to be
  suspended. This occurred at five o'clock Saturday afternoon, and the court
  adjourned until Monday. Mrs. Vietengruber remained in the same condition on
  Monday, and the court adjourned until Tuesday. On that day the jury found that
  she was incapable of making her defense, and as against her, the court suspended
  the trial, and proceeded with the trial of Kamm.
  
      Meanwhile Kamm had made a confession. He admitted he had killed
  Vietengruber, but said it was in self-defense; that Vietengruber came at him
  with a knife while he was chopping wood, and he struck Vietengruber with his
  axe, and that, being alarmed, he buried the body in the woods; that he was
  around when McCarty found the grave, that he went that night with a bed-tick,
  and took up the body, which he carried into the lake as far as he could, and
  sunk it with stones. His confession did not avail him, and the jury found him
  guilty of murder in the first degree.
  
      His counsel made a motion for a new trial, to be heard at the ensuing term.
  When spring opened, search was made and the body of Vietengruber was found in
  the lake, in accordance with Kamm's confession. The wound upon the head,
  however, did not agree with Kamm's statement. Experts who examined the skull
  testified that he must have been struck with the axe while lying down. He was
  probably murdered while asleep. On the 27th of May, 1856, Kamm was sentenced to
  be hanged. He was executed in the jail-yard erected for the purpose on the north
  side of the court-house. Mrs. Vietengruber was never tried. She was allowed to
  run away.
  
  POLITICS.
  
      In 1856 the presidential election occurred in which James Buchanan was the
  Democratic candidate for president, and John C. Fremont, the Republican
  candidate. The people of Sullivan county were as well stirred up as any other
  county in the state. Public meetings of both political parties were held in
  nearly every schoolhouse in the county.
  
      An act of the legislature had been passed April 22, 1856, forming a new
  judicial district, consisting of the counties of Columbia, Wyoming and Sullivan.
  Governor Pollock appointed the Hon. Warren J. Woodward, of Luzerne county, to be
  president judge. At the ensuing general election he was elected without much
  opposition. In later years he became a judge of the supreme court. The same year
  the Hon. William A. Mason and the Hon. William Smith were elected associate
  judges; Samuel Craft was elected sheriff; William Colley was elected
  prothonotary. The majority for Buchanan over Fremont was one hundred and eight-six.
  
      In 1857 the Democratic candidate for governor was the Hon. William F.
  Packer; the Republican candidate was the Hon. David Wilmot. Both candidates were
  from counties adjoining Sullivan, and both were well and favorably known to the
  people, but the election did not turn on the personal merits of the candidates.
  The free-soil issue was still prominent. The Democrats carried the whole ticket
  by an increased majority. Packer's majority over Wilmot was two hundred and
  twenty-seven. Walter Spencer, of Laporte, was elected county treasurer; John
  Dieffenbach, of Cherry, was elected county commissioner. The total vote on
  governor was seven hundred and fifty-nine. In the presidential election of 1860
  the people of Sullivan county shared alike with other sections of the country in
  the excitements of that campaign. The vote, as shown by the returns, stood as
  follows: For Abraham Lincoln, four hundred and twenty-nine; for Stephen A.
  Douglas, four hundred and ninety-seven.
  
     THE WAR.
  
      When the war of the Rebellion opened, the people of Sullivan county,
  generally speaking, without regard to party lines, declared in favor of the
  preservation of the Union. From the Sullivan County Democrat (the only newspaper
  published in the county) of the date of April 19, 1861, we quote the following
  editorial:
  
      "Never was a greater excitement produced than by the news of the assault
  upon Fort Sumter, and its subsequent surrender. Persons could not realize the
  fact that a fort so strong could be taken in so short a time without producing
  more mischief to those who were assailing it, and when it was announced that no
  one was injured by the firing, disbelief of the news was very generally expressed.
  
      "The intelligence is substantially confirmed by dispatches received
  yesterday, published in another column. We do not pretend to explain the
  apparent inconsistencies, which fuller advices may reconcile, but accept the
  main facts as true. Fort Sumter has pulled down the proud flag which has floated
  so long over its walls. War, offensive and unprovoked, has been inaugurated by
  the Confederate states against the government and people of the United States,
  and we must prepare for the realities.
  
      "We have ever advocated in this paper the cause of conciliation and peace.
  We hoped that the spirit of sectional strife and discord might be allayed
  without bloodshed; and that the states could continue to move forward together
  under the constitution handed down by our fathers. In this we have been
  disappointed - war has actually begun. Seven states are in arms and have openly
  proclaimed their intention to seize the capital of the United States.
  
      "Without regard to the causes which have led to this deplorable state of
  affairs, it becomes the duty of every patriot to stand by and uphold the flag of
  our Union. The star and stripes, which have floated over so many battlefields
  and been honored in every nation of the world, must not now be dishonored and
  trampled under foot upon our own soil.
  
      "It is idle to pursue the temporizing and procrastinating policy in hopes to
  preserve the Union by conciliation alone. It has been tried, and it has failed;
  for every concession has only been replied to by fresh insults and renewed
  preparations for still greater aggressions. During the whole period that the
  secessionists have been decrying coercion, they have been steadily preparing for
  war, and that now they have made their plans complete, they have thrown off the
  flimsy disguise of defensive preparation, and boldly proclaimed their purpose is
  offensive war against the national government.
  
      "In face of such facts as these it is criminal neglect of our duty any
  longer to delay being prepared to strike when the encounter does come, and to
  strike such a blow for our country as will make its enemies quail, and treason
  and rebellion forever hide their heads. The government should act vigorously,
  act promptly, and act for success. Thoroughly prepared for the worst emergency,
  we shall find success an easier task."
  
      The enthusiasm of the people was in full accord with the sentiments
  expressed by the editor of the Democrat. A news item in the same paper said:
  
      "Dushore, April 18, 1861. Three hundred guns were fired at this place this
  morning in honor of Major Anderson, with a full determination to stand by the
  Union, and support the Constitution of the United States. The flag of our
  country is floating in the breeze, and long may it wave."
  
      From the Democrat of May 10, 1861: "A union meeting was held in Colley
  township on Monday, April 29. William Bartly was chosen president; Daniel Mosier
  and Henry Dieffenbach, vice-presidents; and Asa Adams, secretary. Addresses were
  made by William Bartley, S. V. McVey, J. T. Hested, R. Jackson, Joseph Gansel,
  William R. Campbell and L. D. Oden. Judging from the report sent us the meeting
  was very enthusiastic and cheerful."
  
      From the Democrat of May 24: "The flag that was made by the good ladies of
  this borough last week was hoisted from a pole opposite the residence of C. C.
  Finch, on Muncy street, on Saturday morning last at about 4 o'clock. The
  cheering was long, and particularly by the ladies. A few appropriate and
  enthusiastic remarks were made by T. J. Ingham, Esq., after which three cheers
  were given for the speaker, three for the fair ladies who made the flag, and
  three for the Union."
  
      From the Democrat of May 31: "A beautiful flag was thrown to the breeze on a
  suitable staff, at the residence of John Simmons, in Davidson township, on the
  afternoon of the 25th, in the presence of a large number of people. A meeting
  was organized by the selection of O. P. Johnson, president; James Taylor and
  Robert Taylor, vice-presidents; addresses were delivered by John R. Neily, Peter
  Sones, and others. The 'Star Spangled Banner' was sung by the ladies, after
  which the meeting adjourned, amid three cheers for the Union and flag of our
  country."
  
      There were similar demonstrations of the people in all parts of the county,
  but full reports have not been preserved. The substantial fruits of this
  enthusiasm soon appeared in the enlistment of soldiers. The first prominent men
  who offered their services were Henry Metcalf, of Dushore, and the Hon. J. R.
  Jones, of Lewis' Lake. The location of Bradford county on the east, and Lycoming
  county at the west, drew a number of volunteers into organizations out of the
  county, and for which other counties have had credit.
  
      The first distinctive organization in Sullivan county was a company led by
  Henry Metcalf, who was elected captain. This company assembled at Laporte, on
  the 3d of September, 1861, and went thence to Philadelphia, where they were
  mustered into the Fifty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Hon. J. R.
  Jones took some volunteers with him to Philadelphia, where they joined the
  Fifty-eighth Regiment, of which he was made colonel. This regiment was ordered
  to Norfolk, Virginia, where it remained for some time. Subsequently it was
  ordered to Newbern, North Carolina, and in May, 1863, while acting as
  brigadier-general, he captured a large force of rebels at a place called Green
  Swamp. Shortly after returning to his camp near Newbern, his forces were
  attacked by the Confederates, and he was shot through the breast. His body was
  brought to Philadelphia, and after lying in state in Independence Hall it was
  taken to Roxborough, where he was buried with the honors of war, in the
  Leverington cemetery, where a monument has been erected to his memory.
  
      Captain Metcalf was promoted to be major on the 10th of June, 1863, and
  continued in active service until April 5, 1864, when he resigned, to attend to
  important business interests at home. He died suddenly, at Dushore, on the 23d
  of December, 1864.
  
      In the summer of 1862 enlistments were constant. Henry R. Dunham, of
  Laporte, and Henry S. Dieffenbach, of Dushore, were active in forming a company.
  The company assembled at Laporte, August 25th, and immediately went on to
  Harrisburg to be mustered into the United States service. Dunham became first
  lieutenant, and Dieffenbach second lieutenant, and the company was designated as
  Company K, One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
  Lieutenant Dieffenbach died in the service. Lieutenant Dunham afterward became
  captain in another regiment and served until the end of the war, but was so
  broken in health that he did not long survive. James Deegan, of Cherry, and his
  brother, Jeremiah Deegan, also were active in forming a company, and the former
  was made captain, the latter a lieutenant. Both survived the war, but their
  brother, Thomas Deegan, who went with them, was killed.
  
      It would not be just to the memory of the intelligent and patriotic young
  men - the very flower of the country - who entered the service as privates, not
  to record their services. They were largely composed of the best educated and
  most respectable young men of the county. Their numbers, however, and the
  impossibility of gathering all the facts is a bar to relating their
  achievements. It is not possible to give all their names, but we give as full a
  list as can be now obtained, as follows:
  
      Cherry township - George Baumgartner, Anthony Baumgartner, Adam M.
  Baumgartner, Lewis M. Zaner, E. M. Zaner, William Graul, Joseph Huffmaster, John
  Dunne, John Kinsley, John Hartzig, Charles Kinsley, Joseph Sick, Samuel Bahr,
  William Burke, John Huffmaster, Joseph T. Hested, William Scott, Jefferson
  Colley, Charles Arey, Hiram Kisner, Felix Timmons, Ira Bentley, John Henley,
  Green Henley, Daniel Prichard, John S. Dieffenbach, George W. Thrasher, Ellis
  Persun, John McCracken, John McCracken, Jr., Thomas McCracken, Francis Bennett,
  Miles McDonald, John Thrall, Charles Kneller, Samuel McNeal, Jeremiah Deegan,
  Alfred Cole, John J. Hoffa, Charles Murnna, J. Yarrington, James Deegan, William
  Deegan, Henry Stahl, Jeremiah Mooney, Henry Hileman, Nathan Persun, John Mooney,
  George Harlocher, Thomas Deegan, Lewis Oten, Henry Dieffenbach, H. H. Hartman;
  total number, fifty-three.
  
      Colley township - Daniel V. Prichard, Lewis D. Potter, Charles Schock, C. B.
  Potter, John G. Graub, Hector Prichard, Major Scouten, Lyman Brown, Taper
  Hunsinger, Peter Mosier, Nathan L. Brown, total number, eleven.
  
      Davidson township - G. W. Simmons, J. N. Simmons, Daniel Phillips, A.
  Biggers, Peter Sones, J. W. Speary, B. C. Speary, T. Edgar, T. Glidewell, E.
  Gower, J. Bennett, T. S. Simmons, S. Wilbur, C. W. Larish, F. N. Larish, D.
  Larish, W. F. Lansh, Simpson S. Simmons, D. S. Simmons, G. W. Pennington, James
  Speary, D. M. Speary, William Arms, G. A. Skinner, C. F. Skinner, D. Taylor, C.
  S. Taylor, P. Miller, T. A. Dent, William Lorah, G. T. Phillips, William Wilson,
  J. Gower, E. S. Howell, B. Horn, J. J. Miller, J. Lorah, G. W. Biggers, S.
  Swank, C. Martin, J. N. Hazzen, Asa Speary, C. Miller, E. Smith, Jacob Wilson,
  C. Glidewell, Jackson Phillips, J. Biggers, Washington Sheets, Nelson Johnson,
  total number, fifty.
  
      Elkland township - Jonas Bedford, William Bedford, Edmund Bedford, Henry
  Bedford, George F. Bedford, William E. Bedford, George Bedford, Joseph Bedford,
  Charles M. Boyles, Charles Webster, James H. Pardoe, Charles Grange, William
  Boyles, Joseph Black, Henry Grange, George W. Glidewell, John T. Caless, George
  N. Pardoe, William Norton, James Norton, Nicholas Snyder, Charles Merritt,
  Samuel Gilbert, George Webster, William Whitely, Vinson McCarty, Daniel
  Vargason, Albert Hess, Ferdinand Hess, Thomas Merritt, Charles King, Chester
  King, Henry Jefferson, Edward Boyles, William Huckell, Henry Molyneux, Ellis
  Molyneux, John C. Warburton, George W. Warburton, William Warren, John Merritt;
  total number, forty-one.
  
      Fox township - Alfred Warburton, C. M. Battin, W. M. White, M. Porter, C. N.
  Porter, John Porter, Peter Brown, H. Y. Porter, Aaron Brown, Samuel Brown, H. D.
  Dickerson, Nathan Porter, D. H. Richardson, U. Hoagland, Cornelius Rightmire, H.
  N. Hoagland, E. P. Fanning, W. P. Fanning, Sanford Fanning, Ezra Williams,
  Samuel Hosier, Peter Hosier, Sanford Williams, A. L. Shaddock, M. I. Shaddock,
  L. H. Shaddock, John Rundell, R. M. Wheeler, S. D. Wheeler, Usel Wheeler, George
  Wheeler, John D. Wheeler, Rollin Harrison, Isaac Harvey, Isaac Harvey, Jr.,
  James Harvey Jr., William Harvey, George Harvey, Alvin Heath, Daniel Porter, S.
  S. Connell, Philander Gilbert, John Brenchley, Chester Brenchley, Thomas Cooley,
  Alonzo Foster, John Backer, Benjamin Kilmer, J. M. Letts, Jethro Battin, Hiram
  Boughton, Hiram Woodhead, J. Warburton, Jerry Butler; total number, fifty-four.
  
      Forks township - William Rogers, Samuel Molyneux, Henry Hunsinger, Wm.
  Bedford, Henry Epler, Joel L. Molyneux, James Rinebold, George M. Pardoe, James
  Corcoran, N. W. Farrell, J. C. Warburton, Solomon Hottenstine, E. R. Warburton,
  H. Hottenstine, George Luke, F. Luke, William Luke, M. Little, Samuel Black,
  Thomas Rogers, S. S. Rogers, Isaac Smith, Theodore P. Wilkinson, John W. Rogers,
  Ezra Rogers, Henry F. Black, Henry W. Baldwin, William Campbell, H. Campbell,
  Speaker Osler, Amasa Baker, George W. Little, Edward Frank, John Hottenstine,
  David Vough, George W. Davidson, Charles Hunsinger, Charles Shaffer, George
  Wanck, J. Tayne, David Frear, Joseph Kester, E. Gongler, George Neely, Daniel M.
  Ginley, Richard Johnson, P. W. Johnson, Lons Rinebold; total number, forty-eight.
  
      Hillsgrove township - E. W. Snell, B. F. Snell, William Snell, Luther C.
  Snell, Charles Snell, David Bryan, Samuel Bryan, Losson Bryan, Jacob Sherman,
  Benjamin Bryan, William Lancaster, Herman Molyneux, Philip Finsel, Sylvester
  Green, George Green, Samuel Yaw, David R. Davis, Thomas Craven, John C. Craven,
  Lucian Bothwell, John C. Campbell, William Campbell, Henry Campbell, William J.
  Warner, Lewis Warner, Richard McBride, William McBride, Peter Hummel, Reuben
  Bostwick, James Northrop, William Cox, Jack Gilson, Eli Dickerson; total number,
  thirty-three.
  
      Laporte borough - Joseph C. Pennington, Charles W. Converse, Oliver G. King,
  Jacob S. Stevenson, Isaac L. Low, John J. Low, H. M. Stevenson, M. M. Fiester,
  Samuel H. Buck, Isaac Sones, C. Reed, M. H. Traugh, Franklin Horn, Freeman Horn,
  T. J. Pennington, Andrew Glidewell, Mahlon Whitbeck, George N. Stevenson, Ezra
  Zeliff; total number, nineteen.
  
      Shrewsbury township - George W. Craft, George W. Smith, Jr., Alfred Little,
  Theodore Taylor, A. J. Taylor, George Vietengruber, George Clark, David Bubb,
  Charles Prescott, John U. Fiester, Henry Edkin, Thomas Edkin, John Hoss, Henry
  Koons, William Winders, Stewart Winders, John R. Jones, John W. Bennett, Henry
  Brown, Josiah Emery, Richard Green; total number, twenty-one.
  
      The total number, as we have it here is three hundred and forty-two, which
  is almost one-third of the highest number of votes at that time polled in
  Sullivan county.
  
      There were no companies, or squads of men enlisted in Sullivan county after
  those already mentioned, but many persons went away, by ones, twos and threes,
  and enlisted in other counties. They were assigned to old regiments, where most
  needed, and it has been found impossible to get a complete list of them all.
  
      When those whose age, circumstances, temperament, and enthusiasm had
  inclined them to enlist, had entered the service, there was still a demand for
  more men, which necessarily compelled a draft. The first United States draft was
  made in September, 1863, Sullivan county having been exempt from the previous
  state draft, by having supplied her full quota of volunteers. From this
  government draft she was also justly entitled to exemption, having already
  furnished more than the number called for. The number of her volunteers in
  service was two hundred and seventy-seven, when the number charged against the
  county was only two hundred and forty-four, as shown by the report of the
  adjutant general, contained in the legislature record of 1863. An enrollment,
  however, was made. A number enlisted voluntarily before the draft, and some were
  drafted. The draft of March 10, 1864, reached a number of citizens in this
  county who promptly reported and generally made good soldiers. A few sent
  substitutes, which cost from six to seven hundred dollars each. In some
  instances substitutes made their escape after being mustered into service, and
  in rare cases drafted men failed to report. There is quite a list of deserters,
  but not more in proportion than in the other counties of the state.
  
      In the latter part of 1862, the criticism of the Lincoln administration in
  some of the city newspapers produced its effect in the country; and the citizens
  of Sullivan county fell into their party currents. The Democratic party of the
  county kept pace with the party in the state, and while asserting their loyalty
  to the Union, severely condemned the administration in the conduct of the war. A
  few took strong grounds in favor of peace at any price, and were so sympathetic
  with the south that they were called "Copperheads." There never was a time when
  this class had a majority of the Democrats in Sullivan county. The Democratic
  party, however, in 1863 took a determined stand against the administration of
  Governor Curtin, in this state, and of President Lincoln, in the nation; and the
  political warfare, which had been like a truce for nearly two years, became a
  hot battle at the polls in 1863.
  
      The candidates for governor were Andrew G. Curtin, Republican, and George W.
  Woodward, Democrat. The result in the county was seven hundred and thirteen
  votes for Woodward, and three hundred and fifty-nine for Curtin; majority for
  Woodward, three hundred and fifty-four. The Democratic county ticket was all
  elected, as follows: For assembly, George D. Jackson; for treasurer, Walter
  Spencer; for commissioner, John F. Keeler.
  
      The presidential election of 1864 was the most intensely embittered of any
  election hitherto held in the county. The position taken by the Sullivan County
  Democrat is indicated by the following editorial taken from its issue of
  November 4, 1864:
  
      "The policy of Mr. Lincoln is the emancipation and equality of the Negro, at
  the expense of all the rights and interests of the free white men and women of
  America. For the benefit of the Negro, he is now prolonging the war. For the
  Negro, he is adding millions daily to the national debt.  For the Negro, he is
  now increasing the burthensome taxation which is pressing down the people of the
  north.  For the Negro, he is now ordering quarterly conscriptions, and dragging
  away from their homes and families the white men of the nation. For the Negro,
  he is now sneering at the Union and trampling upon the constitution. Let white
  men think of these things. Let every Democrat in Sullivan county be at the polls
  on Tuesday next, and vote for McClellan and Pendleton!"
  
      No Republican newspaper being at that time published in the county, no
  authentic sample of their campaign publications can be cited, but it is
  recollected that public meetings were held by both parties in almost every
  school-house in the county, and the issues discussed before crowded audiences by
  the ablest speakers in the county on both sides. The result was for McClellan
  six hundred and seventy votes; for Lincoln three hundred and sixty-nine votes, -
  majority for McClellan three hundred and one. A few days after election an
  incident occurred which caused considerable excitement in the county and which
  is thus related in the Democrat of November 9, 1864: "On Saturday last our
  usually quiet town was visited for the first time, which caused no little
  amazement, by a troop of horsemen numbering about thirty, under command of
  Captain Lambert, and accompanied by Captain Silvers, a deputy provost marshal.
  Their mission was to arrest all drafted persons who had not reported, and convey
  them to headquarters, where their respective cases are to find adjustment. They
  rode good horses, were well armed, and orderly in their behavior while in this
  place. We understand that a rendezvous is to be appointed at Dushore, where two
  hundred men are to be stationed, and all conscripts who have not reported
  themselves are to be ferreted out and meet with their just dues." The men in
  hiding mostly escaped to the woods and no record is found of any arrests made.
  
  P. E. ARMSTRONG PETITION.
  
      In March, 1864, Hon. George D. Jackson representative from Sullivan county,
  presented the legislature the petition of P. E. Armstrong, representing God's
  people worshipping at Celesta, Sullivan county, asking the passage of a
  resolution that the people of Celesta, Sullivan county, while conforming to the
  faith they profess, be considered peaceable aliens, and religious wilderness
  exiles from the rest of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  
      As soon as the somewhat lengthy petition was read, Mr. Cochran, of
  Philadelphia, moved that the petition be referred to the committee on divorce.
  {Laughter}. Mr. Alleman: "I move to amend by providing that it be referred to
  the 'fancy committee,' - the committee on federal relations." Mr. Jackson: "I
  move that it be referred to the committee on the judiciary general. Whatever may
  be thought of the people who have requested me to present this petition,
  whatever opinion may be formed of that people from hearing that petition read, -
  I must say one thing: They are a sect that have come into the county of
  Sullivan, and have chosen a piece of land on the mountain tops. They are
  building a home for themselves. While I believe they are monomaniacs on this one
  point, they are good citizens of the county; they live sober and industrious
  lives and while I do not believe in their doctrines, I believe that they have
  the right equally with the citizens of this commonwealth, to send their
  petitions to this house, and I hope that this memorial will be treated with
  respect." The petition was referred to the committee on the judiciary general.
  
      Mr. Armstrong, who presented the petition alluded to, had some years
  previously laid out a village in Laporte township, between the county-seat and
  Lewis Lake, which he named Celesta. He was a believer in the second advent of
  Christ, and founded his belief on the prophesies in the Bible. He was a man of
  ability, and had studied the Scriptures with great attention. From his premises
  he could make a strong argument in favor of his religious belief. He made a
  large clearing in the wilderness, put up a number of buildings, purchased
  printing materials and published a newspaper at Celesta called the Day Star of
  Zion. He gathered around him quite a number of those who shared his belief. He
  held that it was his duty to prepare the way for the second coming, and to that
  end he dedicated all his landed property to the Lord. He made out, and had
  recorded in the recorder's office, a deed which has excited great attention. It
  was the conveyance of a square mile of land to "Almighty God and his heirs in
  Jesus Messiah."
  
      The deed, dated June 14, 1864, sets forth as its inducement that he "is
  taught by the inspired word of God and his Holy Spirit that his children should
  not claim or own any property, but should consecrate unto God all things they
  possess for the common good of the people who are waiting for his Son from
  heaven, and who are willing to live together in holy fellowship, relying upon
  his word and bounty, and to the end that his saints may be fully separate from
  the world and gathered together and enjoy the light and liberty which they did
  in the once faithful days of theocracy."
  
      Although the legislature took no further notice of his petition, Mr.
  Armstrong acted on the assumption that the land conveyed was sacred ground and
  not within the jurisdiction of state or national authorities. He, consequently,
  refused to pay taxes. The result was that the collector sold his sheep for
  personal property taxes and the county treasurer sold his land for unseated land
  taxes. Finding that his hope of founding an independent community could not be
  accomplished, he left the place and returned with his family to Philadelphia.
  
      The writer was intimately acquainted with Mr. Armstrong and respected him
  very much. He was a well educated, honest and trustworthy man and entirely
  sincere in his religious convictions. The land sold at treasurer's sale was
  purchased by his son, A. T. Armstrong, who holds it by treasurer's deed at this
  time.
  
      On Thursday, October 1, 1863, the Dushore Union, a new paper, was started at
  Dushore, by S. F. Lathrop. Mr. Lathrop had formerly been connected with the
  Sullivan County Democrat, and had acted as clerk to the commissioners. The
  Dushore Union was established as an independent paper, but was strongly
  committed to the prosecution of the war. The paper was published about a year.
  It was well printed and ably conducted. In 1864 the publication was suspended
  and Mr. Lathrop enlisted and went to the war.
  
     PEACE.
  
      When Richmond was taken and Lee's army was captured at Appomattox, there was
  no telegraph line which reached Sullivan county, but the news came quickly and
  caused great rejoicing. It was at once determined to have a jubilee in the
  court-house at Laporte. The court-house was crammed full of people - Democrats
  and Republicans, men and women, old and young, were in harmony, and
  congratulatory speeches and cheering abounded. Before the meeting closed a rumor
  came that President Lincoln had been shot. It was met by incredulity and could
  not be verified. The next morning, however, at daylight the flag on the liberty
  pole was at half mast and all the people mourning.
  
      The second paper published in Laporte was the Sullivan Free Press, which was
  established about October 1, 1865. The press and materials were purchased by T.
  J. Ingham; John T. Brewster, who was a practical printer, became the publisher.
  John T. Brewster and T. J. Ingham were the editors. It was Republican in
  politics. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Brewster purchased a press and printing
  materials, and continued the publication of the Free Press for awhile at
  Laporte, and then removed to Dushore and continued it there until 1872.
  
      June 28, 1872, a campaign newspaper was started at Laporte, called the Grant
  Standard. E. V. Ingham was publisher, T. J. Ingham and E. V. Ingham, editors.
  About the middle of October, in the same year, Mr. Ingham purchased the
  materials and good will of the Sullivan Free Press, then published at Dushore,
  from John T. Brewster, and, soon after the presidential election, the name of
  the Grant Standard was changed to the Press and Standard. With that name the
  publication was continued by E. V. Ingham until 1876, when Mr. Ingham, having
  engaged in the mercantile business, discontinued it. The press and materials
  used for the Press and Standard were leased to W. H. McCarty, who, in July,
  1882, started a new paper, Democratic in politics, called the Democratic
  Sentinel. Mr. McCarty published it one year, then sold the lease and good will
  of the paper to James A. Gallagher, who as editor and publisher continued the
  publication at Laporte until 1885, when he removed it to Dushore, and in company
  with Frank Boyd published it for a year, and then discontinued it.
  
      E. V. Ingham, having retained an interest in the press and materials,
  removed them back to Laporte, where they were leased to Dr. W. B. Hill, who
  published the Campaign Democrat for a few months.
  
      In February, 1878, Alfred B. Bowman opened a job-printing office at Dushore,
  and on the 28th of that month issued the Dushore Review, in the shape of a
  four-column quarto, and it continued in this form until August, 1878, when it
  was enlarged to a six-column quarto.  Its name was then changed to the Sullivan
  Review. January 5, 1881, Mr. Bowman sold his establishment to E. A. Strong and
  William S. Holmes. Mr. Holmes was a practical printer and had been foreman in
  the Press and Standard office. Mr. Strong was a business man and had been
  superintendent of common schools. They continued the partnership until June 16,
  1883, when it was dissolved by the death of Mr. Holmes. Mr. Strong was sole
  proprietor until September 1, 1887, when he sold it to Fred Newell, its present
  editor and publisher. Mr. Newell had been foreman in the office for some time
  before he purchased it.
  
      In the summer of 1882 J. W. Gould commenced a newspaper in Dushore, called
  the Dushore Record. It was published about three months and then removed to
  Towanda.
  
      It should be mentioned here that the publication of the Sullivan County
  Democrat was suspended soon after the death of Michael Meylert, in 1883. The
  press and materials were purchased by Samuel F. Colt, Jr., who established the
  Sullivan Republican at Laporte, about the middle of February, 1883. He sold it
  to William M. Cheney, in 1884, who continued its publication until March, 1896.
  He then discontinued the newspaper, and sold the materials and good will to
  Victor C. Hugo. Mr. Hugo revived the name of Sullivan Democrat, and published
  the first number April 3, 1896. It was published for one year, and then
  suspended. Soon after the Sullivan Republican was suspended, the Sullivan
  Publishing Company purchased a new press and materials, and established the
  Republican News Item at Laporte. The first number was issued in May, 1896.
  Charles L. Wing leased the plant and has continued as publisher and editor until
  the present time.
  
      The Sullivan Gazette was established by George Streby in Dushore; the first
  number was issued February 16, 1887. In politics it is Democratic. It has been
  successful from the start, and its publication still continues by the original
  proprietor.
  
  RAILROADS.
  
  
      During the fall of 1851, Michael Meylert engaged with prominent business men
  in Towanda with a view of locating the Towanda & Catawissa Railroad so as to
  reach the Sullivan coal fields, and make its southern terminus at Catawissa.
  >From Mr. Meylert's previous knowledge of the country, from surveys made by him
  and William A. Mason, he believed a feasible route could be found, and engaged
  Major E. McNeil to superintend the survey. The survey was made during the month
  of November, 1851, and during the following winter Mr. Meylert, who was at that
  time a member of the legislature, procured the passage of an act, supplementary
  to the original act, authorizing the building of the Towanda & Catawissa
  Railroad, by which a company could make such connections with other roads, and
  have as full authority over any part, as though they had completed the whole
  road. This subsequently became the basis for other legislation by which the
  Muncy Creek Railway and that of the Sullivan & State Line, obtained their
  charters and had surveys of the Sullivan coal field made by Prof. P. W. Shaffer.
  He with Mr. William A. Mason made careful examinations of the field, but finding
  nothing but the underlying small vein reported adversely as to the quantity that
  would warrant the building of a railroad.
  
      But little was done from 1855 until about 1859, when the upper vein was
  discovered at Bernice by Myron M. Wilcox while hunting for deer, and who,
  assisted by George D. Jackson, opened it. George D. Jackson in connection with
  his father, Dr. Josiah Jackson, made purchase of Mr. Meylert of part of the coal
  field, and the three united in developing it. Subsequently M. C. Mercur and C.
  F. Wells, Jr., were induced to join them. To the perseverance and financial aid
  given by Mr. Mercur, and the high standing of Mr. Welles among capitalists
  connected with railroads, we are greatly indebted for our public improvements.
  The Sullivan & State Line Railroad was commenced about 1867, and completed to
  Bernice in 1871.
  
      The Muncy Creek Railroad was chartered, with Michael Meylert, H. R.
  Mehrling, Robert Taylor, George Bodine and A. J. Dietrick, as body corporate for
  laying out and constructing the road. The object was to build the road from
  Muncy up Muncy Creek and to Laporte, thence to connect with some other road
  running east. The first officers were: President, Michael Meylert; treasurer,
  Joshua Bowman; secretary, B. Morris Ellis; and superintendent, H. Mehrling.
  
      Muncy offered little or no encouragement and the route was changed to Hall's
  as the western terminus and the work of construction began. The survey and
  beginning of work on the Muncy Creek road was made about 1866. Samuel Stevenson,
  assisted by B. L. Cheney, made the first survey, and their labor was followed up
  by William A. Mason, who acted as chief engineer. William A. Mason was well and
  favorably known by every farm-owner along the line of both roads, and became the
  man who, to a greater extent than any other, was referred to in all that
  pertains to the topography of the country. In 1867 the line had only reached
  three miles beyond Hughesville, or nine miles in all. The grade thus far had
  been very easy, and the expense very small compared to what was to come before
  Laporte could be reached. Hence construction work was entirely suspended.
  
      In 1872 a new organization was effected.  About that time the Catawissa
  extension of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, from Milton to Williamsport,
  was put through, giving the Muncy Creek railroad a western outlet. This,
  however, did not change matters much financially, and the road did not pay. In
  1881 it was sold, and the new corporation had the name changed to the
  Williamsport & North Branch railroad, and Mr. B. G. Welch became general
  manager. Work of construction was renewed and by 1886 the road was completed to
  Nordmont.
  
      While the eastern terminus of the Williamsport & North Branch railroad was
  at Nordmont, a change was made in the ownership of the stock. John Satterfield
  and Henry L. Taylor, wealthy capitalists of Buffalo, New York, became the
  controlling owners, and new officers were elected as follows: Hon. H. C.
  McCormick, president; John Satterfield, vice-president; J. Henry Cochran,
  treasurer; S. T. McCormick, secretary. The railroad was completed to Satterfield
  and put in operation in the fall of 1893.
  
      The Eaglesmere railroad is a narrow gauge road from Sonestown to Eaglesmere.
  It was constructed in 1892. The officers of the company at the time it was
  constructed were C. William Woddrop, president; John R. T. Ryan, vice-president;
  B. Harvey Welch, general manager; W. Clayton Mason, chief engineer. The length
  of the railroad is eight miles.
  
     LOPEZ.
  
      The Bowman's Creek branch of the Lehigh Valley railroad was completed from
  Bernice to Lopez in 1887, and extended to Wilkes-Barre in July, 1893. C. H.
  Jennings and B. W. Jennings, doing business in the firm name of Jennings
  Brothers, who had been engaged in lumbering near Thorndale, anticipating the
  completing of the railroad to Lopez, secured a choice location on the Loyalsock
  at that place, purchased a large quantity of timber land, and erected a large
  steam sawmill. In this mill they combined all the appliances which their own
  experience suggested and modern invention provided, for the rapid and economical
  manufacture of lumber. In this immense establishment and in the timber woods
  they employed from three to four hundred men.
  
      Trexler & Turrell also erected a large sawmill near by and employed a great
  number of men. A kindling-wood manufactury and other manufacturing
  establishments quickly followed, and the town of Lopez, with hotel, stores and
  churches, sprang up in the wilderness like magic and continues to flourish.
  
     TANNERIES.
  
      The large tanneries which have done so much to increase the business and
  population of Sullivan county, deserve mention.  The first important tannery in
  Sullivan county was established at Laporte, by Michael Meylert, in 1856. After
  two years it was sold to Clarkson, Nichols & Company, who continued the business
  for two years. In 1866 the plant was leased to A. Lathrop & Company, who
  continued the business for one year. The property, with a large body of timber
  land, was then sold to Thorne, McFarlane & Company, and by them largely improved
  and successfully conducted until it was purchased by the Union Tanning Company,
  about 1894. While Thorne, McFarland & Company were conducting the Laporte
  tannery, they also rented a large tannery at Thornedale, and built quite a
  village there, but it did not continue to be profitable and was abandoned. The
  busy village disappeared about 1894 or 1895.
  
      In the year 1867, L. R. Bump & Company purchased land from Robert Taylor,
  and erected the Muncy Valley tannery and conducted the business for several
  years. The property then passed into the hands of D. T. Stevens & Son, who made
  many improvements. The large business done there has been the means of building
  up the thriving village of Muncy Valley. The Stevens interest has recently been
  sold to the Union Tanning Company.
  
      The tannery at Hillsgrove was established by Andrew Hawver sometime previous
  to 1874. It was sold January 14, 1874, by John Hall, United States marshal, to
  B. G. Brandman & Company, who sold it to Thorne, McFarlane & Company, in 1876,
  who sold it to Hoyt Brothers, in 1878. Hoyt Brothers rebuilt and enlarged the
  tannery and conducted it successfully until about 1894, when they sold it to the
  Union Tanning Company. This thriving tannery has been of great advantage to the
  enterprising town of Hillsgrove.
  
      Thomas E. Proctor purchased from the Fishing Creek Lumber Company the site
  for a tannery, at Jamison City, in 1890; also purchased a body of timber land in
  that vicinity. He erected a first-class tannery and did a large business there,
  greatly aiding to build up the picturesque village of Jamison City - which has
  the honor of being situated in two counties. This tannery, like the others
  mentioned, is now owned by the Union Tanning Company.
  
     COUNTY OFFICERS.
  
      A list of officers who have been elected and served in Sullivan county since
  its organization is here annexed:
  
      President Judges - 1851, David Wilmot; 1856, Warren J. Woodward; 1862,
  William Elwell; 1872, William Elwell; 1874, Thomas J. Ingham; 1884, John A.
  Sittser; 1894, Edward M. Dunham.
  
      Associate Judges - 1851, William Colley, John A. Speaker; 1856, William
  Smith, William A. Mason; 1861, James Deegan, Richard Bedford; 1871, Cornelius
  Cronin, Joseph Gansel; 1876, M. A. Rogers, F. B. Pomeroy; 1881, Daniel
  Fairchild, John G. Wright; 1886, Robert Taylor, Jr., E. A. Strong; 1891, John
  Yonkin, 2d, M. J. Phillips; 1896, John S. Lines, Conrad Kraus.
  
      Congress - 1848, William A. Petriken; 1852, James Gamble; 1854, Allison
  White; 1856, Allison White; 1858, James T. Hale; 1860, James T. Hale; 1862,
  Henry W. Tracy; 1864, Ulysses Mercur; 1866, Ulysses Mercur; 1868, Ulysses
  Mercur; 1870, Ulysses Mercur; 1872, James D. Strawbridge; 1874, Henry W. Early;
  1876, John I. Mitchell; 1878, John I. Mitchell; 1880, Robert J. C. Walker; 1882,
  William Wallace Brown; 1884, William Wallace Brown; 1886, Henry C. McCormick;
  1888, J. Boyd Robinson; 1890, S. P. Wolverton; 1892, S. P. Wolverton; 1894,
  Monroe H. Kulp; 1896, Monroe H. Kulp; 1898, Rufus K. Polk.
  
      Members of the House of Representatives - 1847, William F. Packer and
  Timothy Ives; 1848, William F. Packer and Joseph Smith; 1849, William Brindle
  and William Dunn; 1851, Isaac Reckhow and Michael Meylert; 1852, Ezra B. Chase
  and John W. Dennison; 1853, Ezra B. Chase and James Deegan; 1854, William J.
  Turrell and Charles J. Lathrop; 1855, Thomas J. Ingham and John V. Smith; 1856,
  Simeon B. Chase and Alfred Hine; 1857, John V. Smith and Peter Ent; 1858, George
  D. Jackson and Samuel Oaks; 1859, George Jackson and Samuel Oaks; 1860, Hiram R.
  Kline and Thomas Osterhout; 1861, George S. Sutton and Levi L. Tate; 1862,
  George D. Jackson and John C. Ellis; 1863, George D. Jackson and John C. Ellis;
  1864, Joseph H. Marsh and Lorenzo Grinnell; 1865, Lorenzo Grinnell and G. Wayne
  Kinney; 1866, G. Wayne Kinney and James H. Webb; 1867, James H. Webb and John F.
  Chamberlain; 1868, James H. Webb and John F. Chamberlain; 1869, James H. Webb
  and John F. Chamberlain; 1870, James H. Webb and Perley H. Buck; 1871, Samuel
  Wilson and Amos C. Noyes; 1872, Amos C. Noyes and Henry W. Petrican; 1874,
  Richard Bedford; 1876, B. Rush Jackson; 1878, E. M. Dunham; 1880, P. R. Ackley;
  1882, Bryan Collins; 1884, Bryan Collins; 1886, M. A. Rogers; 1888, William
  Waddell; 1890, Russell Karns; 1892, Marshall J. Lull; 1894, B. W. Jennings;
  1896, B. W. Jennings; 1898, J. L. Christian.
  
      State Senators - 1849, William F. Packer; 1852, James W. Quiggle; 1855,
  Andrew Gregg; 1859, George Landon; 1862, William J. Turrill; 1866, George D.
  Jackson; 1868, C. R. Buckalew; 1872, Thomas Chalfant; 1875, Robert P. Allen;
  1878, George D. Jackson; 1880, Elias McHenry; 1882, William W. Hart; 1886, Verne
  H. Metzger; 1890, Grant Herring; 1894, J. Henry Cochran; 1898, J. Henry Cochran.
  
      Sheriffs - Elected, 1847, Evan H. Phillips; 1850, Lewis Zaner; 1853, Amos C.
  Wilber; 1856, Samuel Craft; 1859, Joseph Gansel; 1862, John Simmons; 1865, John
  Lawrence; 1868, John G. Wright; 1871, Jeremiah Mooney; 1874, William H. Yonkin;
  1877, John Utz; 1880, James Deegan; 1883, Edward Bergan; 1886, Henry Tripp;
  1889, John Utz; 1892, Thomas Mahaffy; 1895, Ellis Swank; 1898, H. W. Osler.
  
      County Commissioners - 1847, William Lawrence, Joseph Molyneux, Jacob Hoffa;
  1848, Jacob Hoffa; 1849, John Battin; 1850, Griffith Phillips; 1851, William
  Reeser; 1852, John Mullan; 1853, Richard Taylor; 1854, John Smith; 1855, Samuel
  K. McBride; 1856, Robert Taylor; 1857, John Dieffenbach; 1858, William Brown;
  1859, John Hiddleson; 1860, John Dieffenbach; 1861, Henry Williams; 1862, Daniel
  Vaughan; 1863, Joseph Gansell; 1864, Henry Williams; 1865, James McMahon; 1866,
  Robert Taylor; 1867, Wheeler Green; 1868, James Dunn; 1869 Abraham Morgan; 1870,
  John Brown; 1871, Christian Mosier; 1872, Thomas L. Magargle; 1873, John
  Corcoran; 1874, Jasper Clark; 1875, James McMahon, Griffith Phillips, J. C.
  Edgar; 1878, John Yonkin, 2d, Henry C. McBride, Geo. W. Glidewell; 1881, G. L.
  McHenry, J. C. Robbins, Ezra S. Little; 1884, George Albert, Thomas Streby, John
  J. Low; 1887, Jacob A. Myers, Charles Hugo, J. N. Campbell; 1890, S. K. McBride,
  D. W. Scanlan, William M. Cheney; 1893, John H. Farrell, Gabriel Litzelman, John
  J. Webster; 1896, H. G. Huffmaster, S. S. Rogers, Philip Secules.
  
      Prothonotary, Register, Recorder and Clerk of Courts - Elected 1847, Alfred
  Bennett; 1850, William Mullan; 1853, Thomas J. Ingham; 1856, William Colley;
  1859, Charles C. Finch; 1862, Charles C. Finch; 1865, Charles C. Finch; 1868,
  Charles C. Finch; 1871, Charles C. Finch; 1874, Charles C. Finch; 1877, Henry
  Van Etten; 1880, Henry T. Downs; 1883, Henry T. Downs; 1886, A. Walsh; 1889,
  Alphonso Walsh; 1892, Alphonso Walsh; 1895, W. J. Lawrence; 1898, William J.
  Lawrence.
  
      County Treasurers - 1847, James Taylor; 1849, George Edkins; 1857, Aaron J.
  Dietrick; 1853, Richard Bedford; 1855, John S. Green; 1857, John S. Green; 1859,
  Robert Kitchen; 1861, Walter Spencer; 1863, Walter Spencer; 1865, John G.
  Wright; 1867, Walter Spencer; 1869, Walter Spencer; 1871, John M. Heacock; 1873,
  John Sullivan; 1875, Walter Spencer; 1878, Edward Bergan; 1881, William A.
  Mason; 1884, Robert Stormont; 1887, Jacob Lorah; 1890, William Murry; 1893, A.
  L. Smith; 1886, Ransom Thrasher.
  
      County Auditors - 1847, Richard Taylor, J. G. Green, Thomas King; 1848,
  Thomas King; 1849, Cornelius Cronnin; 1850, George W. Phillips; 1851, James
  Coning; 1852, Arthur Robinson; 1853, Cornelius Cronin; 1854, George D. Jackson,
  John Brown; 1855, George D. Jackson, John F. Hazen; 1856, Samuel B. Birdsall;
  1857, Charles C. Finch, John M. Heacock; 1858, Thomas Farrell; 1859, John G.
  Wright, Samuel McBride; 1860, Nelson W. Ackley; 1861, John W. Martin; 1862,
  Lyman B. Speaker; 1863, Thomas Messersmith; 1864, Abraham Morgan; 1865, R. D.
  Lancaster; 1866, Christian Mosier; 1867, William Smith; 1868, R. D. Lancaster;
  1869, G. D. Cline; 1870, George W. Bennett; 1871, Lyman B. Speaker; 1872,
  Francis Lusch; 1873, T. J. Keeler; 1874, Benjamin H. Tripp; 1875, George W.
  Bennett, Adelbert Williams, A. B. Kilmer; 1878, John E. Finnan, Albert Hazen, J.
  R. Fleming; 1880, James Miller; 1881, Robert Stormont, R. D. Lancaster, S. F.
  Colt, Jr.; 1884, Thomas A. Jennings, Christian Caseman, John M. Gautsch; 1887,
  J. Harry Spencer, Edward Franke, Ulysses Bird; 1890, J. Harry Spencer, George S.
  Wright, Ulysses Bird; 1893, M. E. Wilcox, Morgan Gavitt, Irvin D. Heverly; 1894,
  J. B. Magargle; 1896, A. F. Hess, Christian Crossman, Delbert L. Brown.
  
      Jury Commissioners - 1867, Jas. Thompson, George W. Simmons; 1870, John K.
  Farrell, Daniel T. Huckell; 1873, Richard Biddle, Thomas Messersmith; 1876,
  Joseph C. Pennington, John Person; 1879, Levi B. Hunsinger, George C. Bird;
  1882, John Mullen, Henry Stahl; 1885, William Fulmer, Thomas Simmons; 1888,
  Charles Haas, Thomas Farrell; 1891, Christian Caseman, George W. Simmons; 1894,
  Zachary T. Kilmer, Henry Swank; 1897, William Bird, William D. Haverly.
  
      District Attorney - 1848, A. J. Dietrick; 1850, Henry Metcalf; 1856, Henry
  Metcalf; 1861, Thomas J. Ingham; 1864, A. L. Grim; 1867, A. L. Grim; 1870, E. M.
  Dunham; 1873, Rush J. Thompson; 1876, Frank F. Drake; 1879, Bryan S. Collins;
  1882, John H. Cronnin; 1885, Rush J. Thompson, 1888, Rush J. Thompson; 1891, A.
  L. Grim; 1894, Edward J. Mullen; 1897, A. Jackson Bradley.
  
      Coroners - 1847, J. D. Wilcox; 1848, John D. Wilcox; 1849, John Brown; 1852,
  Cornelius Harrington; 1854, Wm. Brown; 1856, Robert W. Henley; 1859, Lanny D.
  Porter; 1866, Frederick Fleschut; 1868, Samuel Craft; 1869, Frederick Fleschut;
  1870, Sanford E. Benjamin; 1873, R. W. Henley; 1875, Robert W. Henley; 1877, W.
  C. Mason; 1881, Francis Chafee; 1884, William W. Waddell; 1887, W. W. Waddell;
  1889, W. B. Hill; 1893, W. B. Hill; 1896, Edward Everett; 1898, Charles Wackenhuth.
  
      County Surveyors - 1850, William A. Mason; 1853, William A. Mason; 1856,
  John Persun; 1857, Benjamin L. Cheney; 1865, Job L. King; 1868, Job L. King;
  1875, Job L. King; 1881, Nathan Persun; 1882, Henry Swank.
  
      County Superintendent of Schools - Richard Bedford, from 1854 to 1857; C. J.
  Richardson, from 1857 to 1860; Hallock Armstrong, from 1860 to 1863; John
  Martin, from 1863 to 1875; E. A. Strong, from 1875 to 1878; J. P. Little, from
  1878 to 1887; M. R. Black, from 1887 to 1893; F. W. Meylert, from 1893 to 1899.
  
  
  End of History Section