20 T H E J O-U R N A L

INDEX OF VOLUMES ONE THROUGll TEN

Vol. & No. Title of Article Author Page

1, No. 4 July 4th, 1863, Gettysburg, 'He was there' George D. Wolfe 2

Michael Wargo 2 1, No. 7 Junk or Antiquities ( not mentioned) 1, No. 10 Little Family Susan Little 18 1. No. 6 Lumber Rafting On Big Pine Creek John S. Beck 1 1 1, No. 2 Memories Margaret P. Schultz 5 Memoriesof My BoyhoodDays on the 1, No. 2 Farm L. E. Wurster,M. D 2

Memories of Wildlife on Young Women's 1, No. 4 H. W. Shoemaker 8 Creek F g

Ocean Voyage of The Kress Family--The 3 1, No. 3 Diary George Kress 1, No. 2 Old TanneryWhistle, The Milton Landis 4 1, No. 7 Ol] Entering The Old G. A. R. Hall Robed:tS. Ulrich 5 1, No. 4 Pages Of Dire James P. Bressler 4 1, No. l Panthers Of The Loyalsock H. W. Shoemaker 10 1, No. l Recollectionsof a BoomRat James Myers 11 Dr. A. F. Hardt 8 1, No. 2 Reminiscencesof Dr. A. F. Hardt THE 1, No. 7 Reno Post 64, G. A. R., Williamsport, Pa. John L. Hunsinger 4

1, No. 2 Sketch of the Life of Gen. John Burrows John Burrows 9 From the Wmspt. 1, No. 3 Society and Personal Sat. Eve. Review 14 JOURNAL 1, No 3 Street Car Parties ( not mentioned) 2 OF THE 1, N'o. 8 Sand Hill Cemetery Clara Robbins 7 1, N'o. lO UnhonoredHero, An Clark B. Kahler 15 LYCOMING HISTORICALSOCIEI'Y 1, No. 7 What Do We Want? Rodman Wurster 11 1, No. 8 What Lumbering meant to (he U. S. A. Lewis E. Theism 8 1, No. 6 What the forest Meant to the Pioneers Lewis E. Theiss 15 1, No. 3 When LumberWas King in The East Harry A. Fischler 17 1, No. 3 Wildcat in Duboistown James Myers 18 VOLUME ll WINTER 2 1. No.10 Williamson Road, The Charles G. Webb NUMBER TWO 1960 the JOURNAL of the 3 LYCOMING HISTORICAL SO CIE TY THEMQRAVIANSINPENNSYLVANIA PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY IN WILLIANISPORT. PENNSYLVANIA By C. L. Youngman, MI. D. (Continuedfrom Summer, 1960Issue) N{R. FItANK W. BRUNNER, PI\ESn)ENT MISS MARGAl\ETE. HORN, SECIUrARY DR. JAhIES P. BItESSLER, IST. V'ICE PRESIDENT N'IISS BLANCIIE M. NEFF, TREASURER Colonel J. H. A. Phillip Frederick Antes purchased for 35 pounds, and if a deed MR. GEORGE R. \WALTERS, 2ND. VICE PI\ESIOENT X4lSSZELLA G. PEPPn3XIAN, ASST. TItEASURER married Anna Katharine Antes and came could be obtained from the proprietor the D13. JO]IN('. WINTER, 3R]). VICE PRESII)ENT from Freinshein in the Palatinate and payment was [o be 65 pounds. This agree- reached America apparently late in the 17th ment was signed September 29, 1773. The century. In 1701 a son, John Henry was place chosen by Andes f or his home was DIRECTORS 1959-1961 DlltECTOl\S 1960-1963 born who in 1726 married Catharine De MRS. JOAN (,OItYELL HAYS MR. WILLIARI R. SINGS oppositeto Pine Creek on a high bluff bIllS. ROBED\T COCHRANE Miss SUE Bisnop woes, the daughter of the owner of the first adjacent to a creek which drained Nip- X,DISSb4AI\GA13E'r B. COI\YELL first paper mill in the colonies.It was penoseValley, named for an Indian of Dn. DAviD L. l\lclNloi\nis [ocated at Crefe]d near Germantown. This the same name. The entire length of this John Henry stayed with his father-in-law stream, named Antes Creek. became his [or three years and then moved to EX OFFICIO rhe Wissaluckonwhere he ownedand property and he determined to build close W. CLYDE HAI\EI\ [o the mouthof it. This land lay in disputed operated a grist mill. On October 5, 1736, territory since the Indians had claimed that EDITORS was born John Henry the 2nd who is the LoyalsockCreek was the Tiadaghton,and subject of this paper.. He died May 13, NIR. MICHAEL M. WARGO Dn. Lets.,is E. TnEiss the whites clainaedPine Creek as being L820 almost 84 years old the Tiadaghton. The. Indians later admitted blR. L. RODbIANWURSTEI\ N'DISS MILDRED KELILY In the family Bible the father made the tile truth of the whitesclaim but were not following record: "Fifteen of Octolter, averse to selling land twice if they could Extra Copiesof The Journal Fifty Cents Each 1736, a son was born [o me this morning get away with it. at 3 o'clock. I natned him John Henry At any rate, on September 18, 1773, The Saviour preserve him [o eternal life. Ehe Governor inf ormed the Board of He was baptized by John Phillip Boehm. Councils that squatterswere in the territoW 1, myself, stood as sponsor at the baptism not included in the Treaty of Fort Stan- CONTENTS John Henry 2nd was one of eleven child. wix and that proclamation was issued to ren born of the union of his father with that effect ratified by John Penn September Catharine Dewees. He himself was twice 20, 1773. The squatters paid no atcencion Moravians in Pennsylvania, The -- by C. L. Youngman, M. D. 3 married, first to Maria Paulin by whom he [o the proclamation but set up a Fair Play had five children,and after her death in group to administer extra governmental Pilgrimage Summer 1960 5 March, 1767, to Sophia Snyder to which justice. Then: seat of justice was at Chat- union were born eight children. Then ham's Mill near the mouth of Chatham's What Salt Meant to Early Pioneers by Dr. Lewis E. Theism 6 youngest daughter, Catharine, married Run. The Antes grist mill was apparently Simon Snyder about 1796. He became built about this time. It quickly became a Story of the Blockhouse, The -- by Berton E. Beck 8 Governor of Pennsylvaniain 1808 and center of social activity as well as a center served as such till 1817. John Henry's first for governmentarid news. Arltes was the Lycoming Historical Program 14 marriagewas contractedwhile still under local magistrate and his brother Frederick in age shortly iLfter his father's death. The Philadelphia kept him informed of matters History of Otsronwakin Farm by Michael E. Eck wife of Antes was rhe daughterof a Ger- of governmentcheri man whose inn at Hanover was a center By 1775 the approaching battle for inde- of German parr onage. Here he stayed as New Members 16 pendence together with the inccnsing hos- Mine Host" to travelers going to and ti[ity of the ]ndians ]ed to a conference at from Germanrowrland Philadelphiatill the home of FrederickDear which was President's Letter 17 about 1772 or 1773. Apparentlyhe felt situated at what is now Lewisburg. James the need f or solitudeand a tess convivial Potter was elected Colonel, John Brady 17 Surgical Cases type of life for it was about this time Second Major with eleven Captains of Chat his brorhe'r William and he purchased companies.Henry Antes was Capeianof Letters of Appreciation 17 a place on the West Branch of the Sus- Company 8 consistingof fifty-eight men. quehanna opposite the Great Island. On This group was [o constitute the military Accessions to the Museum 18 mis there were [wo springs with eight defenseof this area of the frontier. When acres of land cleared and fenced by Nicholas the call came for soldiers [o leave the valley, 19 Borlner, a blacksmith. who had settled there Captain Antes was transferred to the Regi- Index of volumes I through X after the new purchase.This tract was ment of the Second Battalion of North- 4 T H E J O U R N A L 5 umberland Associations of which William to protect them. Colonel Hepburn had dif- Plunketc was Colonel. Antes was made head ficulty to get a messagethrough to Colonel PILGRIMAGE SUMMER, 1960 of the First Company. Colonel Plunketc Antes but finally Robert Covenhovenand June 15, 1960 at 1:30P. M. was intensely pro-English and soon dropped a young man in the employ of Andrew One hundred members. friends. and The house is furnished throughout with out after which Andes was appointed Lieu- Culbertson volunteered to carry the word. guests of the Lycoming Historical Society antiques.One of the particularitems of tenant Colonel with command of the forces They got through with the order: to eva- filet at the museumto begin their annual interest was the slant top desk, which on the extremefrontier. This was around cuate the valley within one week and imme- summer pilgrimage. It was a beautiful day once belonged [o Dr. Davidson, a Revo- May, 1777, and his headquarters were at diately an armada of rafts, boats and bateaux The first stop was made at che lovely lutionary War Surgeon. On the underside the stockade called Antes Fort. A four started down the river carrying women twelve room home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence of one of the drawers is the information pound cannon was placed there to protect ind children and what household goods Wagner along the Susquehanna River west that the desk was transportedto Jersey the grist hill and the settlers. Frederick were transportable.The men marched in of Williamsport Shore from Trenton, New Jersey, by boat Antes was electeda Colonel of the Phila- two columnsalong the bank of the river. This very interesting ivycovered brick In the 1790's delphia County Associators protecting They finally reachedFort Augustaat Sun- dwelling was build in 1800. It contains Another interestingpiece was a chair townships in the vicinity. Shortly after bury in safety. This migration was called a large collection of guns, including match- made by Jacob Schreiner with the original came the battles of Paoli, Brandywine, etc., the Big Runaway which occurred in July. locks, wheellocks,flintlocks, and pei:cussion Cable.Mr. Schreinerat one time manufac with disaster for the Americans. Washing- In August scoutingparties visited the area caps- Old glass, pottery, and Indian ani Cured Windsor chairs and settles in Jersey ton moved into Valley Forge. General and found the Antes Fort partly ruined facts are included in the collection Shore Howe placed a bouncy of 200 pounds on ind the grist mill destroyed. The aroma On the third floor are some 400 stems. The front door of the Cochranehome the head of Frederick Antes and the West of roasting wheat was still in the air. No which Mr. Wagner has been collecting has the original smallglass panes, the origin- Branch Valley awaited rhe coming storms. militia were again stationedthere and the for 30 years. This collection includes some al door knob and silver key hole.After Colonel William Antes was trying to con- fort fell into ruins. ColonelAntes rebuilt Dutch sreins dating back to 1600, plus leaving Jersey Shore we journeyed to the vert the estatesand wealth into funds for the grist mill soon after the return of many German and some Italian ones. home of Mr. and Mrs. Morris H. Housed use of the Commonwealth. William Dewees, peace, and he continued to live there until After leaving the delightful home of the near Larrysville uncle of Colonel Henry Antes, was enter- his death on May 13, 1820. In 1782 he Wagncrs we journeyedtoward Jersey Shore The Housedhome, which was completed taining Washington and his wife at Valley was chosen Sheriff of Nofthuinberland We stopped at Lockabar Lodge along Antes in 1801,was built by Joh]] Knox, a lined Forge and David Rittenhouse, second cousin County which post he held with honor. At Creek, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde descendant of John Knox, the. Reformer. of the Antes Brothers,was Treasurerof his death he was laid in an unmarked grave Cai:pinter John Knox came to this area from Mary- Pennsylvania. All their private f ortunes at the Antes Fort Burial Ground just below Here we viewed a monument commeln land. He brougt slaveswith him and they itnd farms were either ravaged by the Elle Fort. This cemeterybegan with the outing the sale of land along the Susque- made brick for the home out in the meadow British or placed at the disposal of Revo- burial of early settlers killed by the Indians hanna by the Indians to William Penn in oi] wham is now the Housed property. lutionai:y leaders. it) troubles lust prior to the Revolutionary 1700. The homesfurnished with antiques,in- By the summer of 1778, the whole War. A suitable stone has been erected on The large pillar which f oems the manu cludes a grandfathers clock which once frontier had a bad caseof jitters. Atnmuni- rhe highwaynear the Fort by the D.A.R ment and towersover 12 feet into the belonged to Robert Covenhoven, Indian tion was scarce; the Indians were attacking tnd several appropriate headstoneshave aif was moved to LoChabarLodge fi:om fighter and frontier guide in the Revolu- isolated areas and on June 10, 1778. a been placed in the burial ground marking the old state capital in Harrisburgand tionary period. (A man who came into this massacre occurred near Lycoming Creek. the gravesof his son,John Henry and erected in 1900 along the banks of Antes area to warn settlers that the Indians were Six people lost their lives at the corner other descendants Creek facing Lochabar Lodge about to attack prior to the Big Runaway-) of West Fourth and Cemetery Streets. Inscribed is the f oJlowing: "W. 1. Daa.gh The clock dated 1791 was purchasedin Another massacre occurred in September. King of SusquehannaIndians, whose wig- Lancasterand taken to Harrisburg from The peoplearound Muncy fled to Fort This brief sketch is intended to show wam was here, executeda treaty with Wil- which point it was rrarlsportedup the Brady, those up Lycoming Creek went to from what kind of people came the early liam Penn September 13, 1700, conveying Susquehanna by boat Wallis' place and those above Lycoming German settlersof the Colony of Pennsyl- )usquehanna River aitd lands adjoining in A Philadelphia Queen Anne Chair which and aroundPine Creek assembledat Antes vania. God-fearing but free thinkers, hard consideration of a "parcel of English once belonged to Elizabeth Haddon is and Harris Forts. When Colonel Hunter working and pari:ionic, they contributed goods" erected September 13, 1900 included in the array of antiques. at Fort Augusta heard the news, he sent greatly to building the foundations of this Lochabar Lodge was build in 1874 by Elizabeth Haddon was sent to this counrrv word [o Colonel Hepburn ordering the great Commonwealth. This paper is a small Col. George L. Sanderson. The original from England by her father to look after evacuation of the valley because there was tribute to them and one of their illustrious Guest Book which is still at the Lodge his interestsin New Jersey during che not a sufficient number of troops available sons, Colonel John Henry Antes. indicatesthat the grand openingof tile period from 1770-1780 house was July 4, 1874 .Our tour then continuedon to the Evan- Our tour then continued from Lochabar gelical United Brethren Church, where a (1) On the Frontier with Colonel Antes--By Edwin MacMinn S. Chew & Sons 1900 t2) Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania,Volume I Clarence M. Busch 1896 State Printers of Pa Lodge back to Jersey Shore to the home very delicious dinner was served. (3) A German Hero of Colonial Pennsylvania--Rev'. Edwin MlacMinn 1886 Moorestown. N. J of Mrs. RobertCochrane, one of the (4) Otzinachson--AHistory of the West Branch Valley, Volume I J. F. Meginness' Gazette Another highlight of the afternoonwas and Bulletin Printing House 1889 borough's oldest houses, a lovely pink brick rhe delightfultalk given by Mrs. Perrv (5) Cod'ad Weiner--Paul A. W. Wallace 1945 University of Pennsylvania Press ($) 1iistory of. Lycoming County--John F. Meginness Bro'tvn Runk and Co. . Chicago 1892 The house contains the original hardware, RusseJ] of .jersey Shore on "The Big Ron- (7) Encyclopedia Amen'ivana--Amen'ivana Corporation 1939 wrought iron cellar window grills and the an'ay. (8) Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1948--ThePortable Gibbon Edited by Dei'o A Saunders V. King Press original venetian blinds which are 120 We then returned to the museum. Every- years old. one reported a most enjoyable afternoon 6 T H E J O U R N A L 7 below, at the residence of Robert Thomp- less slaughter of game seems deplorable, son, we caught [wo barrels of fish among we should remember that it was not one Vghat Salt N4eant To The Early Pioneers which were some immense muskelonge; and whit worse than the even greater exter- By Dr. Lewis E. Theiss also killed five deer. We then moved down mination of the forest itself by che ignorant aboutfourteen miles, to White Oak Shoot, and unscrupulouspioneers. Noc only were What salt meant to the early pioneers Starting at a given point on the bank, where we shot two deer. che seiners rowed their boat out and around they lawless,but they were beyondrhe we can hardly comprehend. Perhaps we get Returning from our hunt, we again bounds of law. They took full advantage some idea of its value when we read a book in a half circle, letting the seine out as they went to fishing with our seine. The water of their situation like Philip Tome's ''Pioneer Life," which went, so that both ends were finally at the being veq ' cleat:, we could see an immense When the RevolutionaryWar upset the carries the subtitle of ''Thirty Years a shore. Then the fishermen tugged and usual course of life in the West Branch hauled tnightill' to gec the nec d;awn into numbed: of fish in rhe seine. We judged Hunter." Tome spent practicallyhis entire mere were not less than thirty barrels. The Valley, making it difficult to secure salt, working life killing game on the outer shallow water. How difficult this was may weighs of the fisll was so great as to break the inatcer became a subject of public con- Pennsylvania frontiers His family moved be judged from the fact that the seiners our seine. However, we secured about ten cern. Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley sets from Dauphin, near Harrisbui:g, the Penn- thought they sometimes held as many as barrels. The seine was so badly torn that it forth these facts regarding the matter: 10,000 fish in the net. This. of course. is sylvania capital, to Pine Creek, which enters occupied three of us nearly a day to repair Complaint being made to the district com- Ehe West Branch of the Susquehanna at n)erely an estimate, but whatever the actual It mittee chat Mr. Aaron Levy and Mr. John Jersey Shore. This was in 1791, when the count, the haul was past belief Deer and elk of coursecame to the salt Bullion had a quantity of salt on hand, region was absolute wilderness. Game ex- Throwing the roe shad back in rhe river, licks. Where there were no natural salt which they refused to sell for cash, it was isted in incredible numbers. The pioneers the farmerscleaned the buck shadand licks, Tome made artificial licks. He tells resolved that the aforesaid salt that is in had no farm animals pigs excepted that picked them away in barrels. Of course, how he did it. "The manner in which I the hands of rhe said Levy and Bullion (as they could spare for f ood. So they lived they needed lots of salt f of this purpose. made the lick was to bore several holes in they have refused the same for sale) be largely on "wild meat. for these fish would have to lash for months a black oak log with an auger,which I put in the hands of Mr. William Sayers, Tome first went into che deep forest They constituted a considerable part of the carried with me for that purpose. Into and by him sold at the rate of fifteen shil- with the men who made that notableearly year's food supply. On occasion, the mass choseholes I put about three pines of salt, lings per bushel,and not to sell any family survey in an effort to connect the streams of struggling fish in the seine broke the with a shall quantityof salt peter, and abovehalf a bushelfor the time that the of western. and eastern Pennsylvania, so as seine and many escaped inserted a plug in each hole. The wood said salt is selling,and char Ehesaid Sayers to divert western traffic to Philadelphia. Years ago, when I was a shall boy, my soon became saturatedwith salt. and the shall keep a particular accountof every He was lust a boy. But one of the survey father used to buy kits of salt mackerel. On deer would gnaw it. bushel that he sells,and when sold, he shall party fell ill at the Tome cabin and young Saturdays my mother would remove one or 'If I found a lick to which deer resorted returr] the money arising from said salt to Tome volunteeredto take his place. That [wo of these salt fish, soak them in one at the proper season,I proceededat once chia committee, first deducting one shilling made a woodsman of him for life. Subse- water after another to flush ouc the salt. to build a scaffold in order that the deer out of the pound for his troubleof selling quently, Tome killed thousands of deer and and give us mackerelf or our Sunday break- might become accustomed to the sight of said salt, and six shillings and four pence countless other animals. It of ten required fast. Why these meals were always reserved it before I made use of it. If a tree stood for porterage severaldays to get the meat from the woods for Sunday I never knew. I believe that one within three or four rods of the lick lbuilt On November 23. 1776. Robert Fruit to the settlements where it could be sold. can still buy similar kits of mackerelput my scaffold on that. In hunting at these in Philitdelphia wrote to the Northumber- Without salt, the meat would speedily have up in Gloucester,Mass., and similar deep licks, I mounted the scaffold by a ladder land Committee of Safety as follows: "I become uselessthrough putrefaction sea fishing centers which I drew up after me, and patiently have received from the Council of Safety, Fish were a tremendoushelp to the pio- As an exampleof Tome'ssuccess in awaitedthe approachof the deer. If none in this city, twenty-seven bushels of salt Annually certain kinds of fish reining fish this quotationfrom his book came during the day, J prepareda torch for the use of the inhabitantsof the County swarmed up the Susquehanna to spawn, and is most illuminating: "In October, 1823, of pitch pine, which I attachedto a pole of Northuinberland, which Ihave delivered the inhabitantscaught them lust as folks in company with John Campbell, Marshall reachingfrom the scaffoldto the ground [o Marcus Hulings to forward up. lc is have been catching salmorl in the Columbia Whitcoinb and a Mr. Whitmore. I set ouc As the deer came along, they would stop River for decades delivered to me on the express condition from Kenzua in a large canoe of above and stare at the light, forming an easy of being divided among those inhabitants The Susquehanna was dotted with ''Shad three tonsburthen, to hunt and fish down mark for me who did not get any part of the former fisheries." These had great value and were the Allegany.We took with us four dogs As it might be several days before Tome quantity . . Mr. Hulings has advanced all saleable. Evidently such a fishery was usually and a seine. At the Big Bend, three miles could get these slaughtered animals to mar- the n)oney for the salt, together with all located where an island narrowedthe below Kenzua, we took several barrels of ket, he had to salt them well. He did lush costs." The total cost for this salt and its stream, thus driving the fish closer together fish of various kinds, among which were char,first cutting the meat from the bones transportation from Philadelphia was some Some five miles or so below Muncy there salmon, muskelonge, and some remarkably Then wrapping the meat in the hide, he thing more than eighty-five pounds was such a fishery. It was at Lawson's fine specimensof pike as well as white placed it udder some heavy logs co prevent Today we can seep ingo any grocery store Island, a piece of land perhaps ten acres in and yellow bass. We proceeded down to bears or panthers from eating rhe meat, and buy practically any quantity of salt we extentwhich has now been washedaway Glade Run, two miles above Warren. where and moved on in his quest for more game. wish and it is difficult to realize that there entirely. Here, when the shad swarmedup we caughttwo barrelsof fish and killed From the Susquehannato the Allegheny was a day when salewits not only a feces rhe river, the ear]y sett]ers gathered in large a fawn and a buck deer. At the village we Tome hunted year after year. Probably he spry of life but that it was truly difficult numbers, with their great seine, baskets of caught another barrel of fish. At Dunn's was by no means the only professional hunter to come by. Truly the saying that a man is salt, anti many barrels in which [o pack the Eddy, nine miles below Warren, we killed of the district, but no other has left us such not worth his salt has more meaning Elian ish two deer, but took no fish. Three miles a vivid accountof his activities.If his end- we realize. 8 T H E J O.U R N A L 9 to Pennsylvania where he is reported to from the wilderness have had a hotel on Big Run, some miles It has not been ascertainedwho had the The Story Of The Block House west of Lock Haven. first store in the Block House, but in Col- By Berton E. Beck Here he used to entertain his guests onial days most every village had its tavern and of ten a store was connectedwith it. In In the very early eighteen hundreds, a leadbeen moved [o the next stationat Bloss- with storiesof his exploitsin Paris, and a biography of Ribert, son of Johnathan portion of Liberty Township in Tioga burg, this building was used as a supply many a timid traveler did not sleep much County and a portion of Jackson Township base. at night. His business fell off when it was Sebring, we Jeane that he began clerking reported a lone traveler was last seen stop- in his brother John's store in 1835, becom- in Lycoming County was known as .the To the German workmen, any building ping at his hotel. Anthonysonlooked for ing the owner five years later. There is Block House. The name was first applied made of logs was a ''Blockhaus,''and this a new location, and we next hear of him little doubt than the Sebringswere the to the hotel or .in.n; then the .village that apparently was the origin of che name.Some fls the proprietor of the hotel on the Wil- first proprietors of a store in the village, grew up around it was.called .the Block IL;e saba the building was a fOJ't for pro- liamson Road at the present site of Liberty. though tradition says Felix Coterson (Cos- House, and. the countryside.within a radius section from the Indians, but by this time Just as the leopard cannot change his spots, cerson?) was an early merchantin the of about five mi]es was .also ca]].ed Block the northern section of ' Pennsylvania and neither could Anthonyson change his ways. village. It is said that with the arrival of House.Soon known legally.as Liberty,.in the westenlpart of New Yoi:k had been Rumors about him soon spread but nothing Jonathan Sebring's small family and the che eighteen nineties, the village was in- sold to the whites, and the Indians had could be substantiated.It was said that departure of Anthonyson, the population corporated as the borough of Liberty. The moved farther west. peoplemoving to New York over the numbered eleven persons Finished in 1793, the Williamson Road Williamson Road and stopping overnight LeE us turn back the years to 1813, when FT.4F=;f'::'i:,i'::'S:J\msoon became a thorofare connecting central at his hotel might find one or two of their Jonathan Sebring came here from Berks House Creek. Pennsylvania with central New York. People cattle missing in the morning. A driver County and bought the hotel. This area with a herd could lose quite a number. of Pennsylvaniais knownas the Great «aH::;.{uT..$:: u!::,'HS =Ti"w.,=.;=:,'=h'u=ul Alwaysvery sympatheticwith any of his Allegheny Plateau, and here betweenLaurel still bears his name, from Williamsporr to from southernPennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- guestswho lost their cattle,he insistedon Hill on the south, and Blossberg Mountain Painted Post. ginza and New Jersey all' traveled 'north helping to search for the strays, always on the north is a depressionabout oventy- The reason for building the \Williamson over the Williamson Road. The present making sure that the searchersdid not get five miles long east and west, by about Roadis an interestingbit of earlyNew U. S. andPennsylvania Route 15 now cov- near the hiding place. [en miles wide north and south. known York and Pennsylvania history. For a de- ers or closely parallels it, except at Steam He is reportedas an affableand genial roddy as Liberty Valley tailed account, read "The Williamson Valley where the new road is ;l few miles host who spoke German fluently and set Like the rest of the AppalachianMoun- Road," by the Honorable Charles G. Webb, west of the Williamson Road. From Wi- i table whet:ethe food had the flavor of tain Range, the area was coveredwith nn the Muncy Historical Magazine, Rota liamsportto PaintedPost Route 15 is now real German cooking. Many a German im- virgin forestswick all speciesof frees in- a#d 7'#e#, for January, 1953. It is impor- designatedthe Wiliainson Trail, in memory cant to note that 1,100.000 acres of land of Charles \Williamson migrant was thrilled to find in this wild digenous to this altitude and climate. With wilderness someone he thought was from your mind's eye take a look at this dense known as the Genesee Country in New For the accommodationof travelersover his own Fatherland. Anrhonyson always forest that stretched f or miles in all direc- York, was purchased by the English Sir the new road, hotels had to be established. spoke of "meh Blockhaus," and this, tions. There had been scarcely a stroke of William Pultney and his associates.Charles At the present site of Liberty, the i:ound- coupledwith the fact that to Germansa an axe, except where workmen had cut Williamson was secured.as their agent to log building thad had been erected as log house was a "Blockhaus,"accounts for the trees in building the W'illiainson Road. the English name Blockhousehaving been There were white pine trees, four and five Hi=.;.£'::-.£.:j:.=:g:':.'== ::«U !££S;::jThi=€jl:i: given to rhe hotel, the village, the stream feet in diameterand toweringfrom a hun- he had to build a road.throughtrackless flickingstories are toldas to who was the and the countryside dred to one hundred fif ty feet in the air. forests, .over two mountains aid any num- first proprietor:. One is chat Benjamin and It was about ten years after rhe building Chestnut trees might be as large in diam- ber of lesser hills. Robert Paterson, two men in Williamson's of the Williamson Road bef ore any settlers eter or larger, but not so tall; hemlock Many of these emigrants came directly organization,. had remodeled the building came to Block House. There is a report and other speciesof trees would not range from Germany, and among them was quite and operated che hotel for a time. The that soon after 1800, James and Stephen quite so large. Here in the Block House a number of women and children. On Aug- other is .that Phillip Anthonyson took over Sullard settled in about the center ol the along with its dense forests the ground ust 22, 1792, the emigrants arrived at the.hotel as soon as it was ready and oper- present borough, and that soon after their was sprinkled with more than a generous Northumberland and were brought to the aced it for twenty.years, selling it in I'glS arrivala son was born. the first white number of stones and rocks mouth of Lycoming Creek, where a camp to Johnthan Sebring child born in Block House. Apparently the Through this del)se forest ranged a great had been prepared for them. The men in Historians generally agree that Anthony- Sullards did not slay here long, for we find variety of animal life. There were some the group were hired to help with the mad son was anything buc a reputable hotel no further mention of them panthers, of ten called ''painters" by the building, and at Trout Run another camp man. He was a native of Alsace Loraine Jonathan Sebring came from Barks countwmen. Wolves, bear. and deer was establishedfor the women and child- a soldier of fortune, who found himself in County in 1813, and purchasedthe hotel abounded along with Ehe smaller animals. ren. On November first, they were brought Paris at the time of the French Revolution from Anthonyson.He was an honest,up- Often the nights were made hideous by over Laurel Hill from Trout Run to the Here he espousedthe cause of the revolu- right man and kept a respectable establish- rhe screamsof the pantherand the howl present site of Liberty, where a round-log zionists with such fervor he soon became ment. A shoemaker,Sebring plied his trade of the wolf. The former were said to re- bui[(ting, 20 x 40 feet, had been bui]r to a marked man. Tosave his ownhead from along with keeping the hotel, reared a fam- semble the hysterical screams of a terrified house theta. After the women and children the guillotine, he fled to England and later ily of chirreen children, and cleared a farm woman, while the howl of the wolf was 10 T H E J O,UR N A L 11 not exactlya lullaby years later, George's daughter, Mary, came have a team of oxen and a wagon, or it the piles of Jogs had to be restackedand back to the Block House as the wife of The statepaid a bounty of eight dollars may only be a cart, with a pitifully small burnt again and again. Handling those for both panthers and wolves, and often Elias Bauer. number of household articles. They would charred and blackened logs was a very dirty this bounty money representedabout the Among otherswho came here at an early need a gun for protection from marauding lob, and soon a man would be as black only cash income a settler might have. date are: Felix Coterson, Jacob and Elias animalsand to securegame for the table. as the logs he was handling.What a sorry The land in Liberty Valley' is gently Benner,Peter Maneval.Carl F. Veile. Char There would be hand tools such as axes, looking field our pioneer had. It was full rolling, with steeper hillsides along the les Hensley, Jacob and Samuel Kehler, a saw, a cant hook, a matlock, a spade, of blackened stumps, large and small, and many streams; but on the hill tops are large Rudolph Brownmiller, John Weaver and and possibly a few carpenter'stools. the ground was very rough and uneven. A areas of level land, as fertile and productive James McrreJI. Any omission of names that Their first considerationwould be a newly cleared field might be called a "new as any hill land in the state. It is well water- shouldbe includedin this list is not in- shelterfor the family and that would be ground '' or ''fallow," pronounced by a ed, there being many strong-flowingsprings tentional. most quickly built of round logs. Logs about countryman as "follow of clear. cold water. The Pennsylval)iaAssembly in L887made eight or ten inches thick and cut to the To add to the woes of the pioneer, there Within a few years Sebring had about a grant of 10,000 acres in the Block House desired length, would have notches cut were a great many rocks and stoneslying I dozen neighbors settled on farms. Peter country to the Academy of the Protestant about one-fourth the way through at each about, so that he had to plant his first Sechrist had come to the Block House in Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and at end and on both the top and undersides crop as best he could.There was nothing 1811 and settled on a farm a mile below about this same time also made grants to When these logs were laid up to make the that he could do about the stumpsand the inn on Block House Creek at a natural Franklin College and che German Lutheran walls,the notchesfitted to hold the walls rocks at that time, but with hand tools waterfall. Here he eventually built a saw Congregational Society. These Institutions together. The cracks between the logs were he could work aroundthem mill and grist mill. were anxiousto sell land to settlersand filled with clay, a bark roof puc on, a door In about ten years the smaller stumps Johnathan Sheffer moved from 'Williams- gave very liberal terms to the buyers. For and a window or two. and the cabin was wou[d be rotted away, but the larger stumps port in 1814, and settled on land a little a small down payment they gave a bill finished. Later an inside fireplace would might take another [en years, depending on to the north and west of the hotel. He had of sale or article of agreement to purchase, be built and a floor of boardsput down. rhe kind of tree that had been cut. Then 150 acres there, most of it on top of a short valid for seven years. If at the end of that This small shelter of round logs was in- by alternateburning and digging, the stump steep hill thad has ever since been knob'n period the buyer had made certain improve- tended as a temporary building until a more might be so loosened that it could be pulled as Sheffer Hill. ments, by making another small payment permanent house could be built of hewed out of the groundwith a teamof oxen Andrew Beck with a family of six child- and signing a mortgage, he could have a logs. To build the latrei:,large trees were The large stonesand rocks were another ren. misc of them adults. moved from deed. cut, and from them beams were hewed problem since they could not be burned as Newberry in 1814, and settled on land in A purchaser of one hundred acres re- with axe and broad axe to a size of eight the tree and stumps were but were hauled what is now Jackson Township, several ceived a bonus of fifty acres, and if the inches by twelve inches. They were cut to co the edge of the field and used to build miles away from the hotel. He and three settler followed a trade he received a cash rhe proper length and notchedin such a a wall. Years ago it was not uncommon to sons, George, Darliel and Jacob, bought bonus of one hundred dollars. There is ex- way that when two logs made a corner see fields sunounded by stone walls four plots of land, making a square,with tant a tnorrgage signed by Jacob Beck on they fitted together in a dovetail joint It is interestingto notethat many of [wo plots on one side of the Williamson June 2, 1820 with the following endorse- These houses, if placed on a good foun- rhe people locatingin the Block House Road and two on the other side. Of his ment: "For having builda smith shop there dation, lasted for many years, and there up to about 1820 had settledon farms near three daughters,Christine married Henry is hereby credited the sum of $10000 ol] is today in Jacksot] Township such a house, the present Friedens Lutheran Church in Weaver, Maria married Fred Boxer and chas mortgage.' over one hundred years old and still used Jackson Township and on the adjacentland Margaret illarried I)adel Hartsock. The In Acts 11: 17, we read in part, "Your as a home. in Liberty Township. By 1820 there were three sisters with their families all lived young men shall see visions," and surely Clearing the land of Chosebig trees was enough small children in the community here in the Block House. those men and women, whether young or a Herculean job. AIJ the trees, large and thad the parents felt the need of having a George Miller and his femily moved old, must have had a vision trac someday small,had to be cut down; this was called school in the vicinity. This was fifteen years from York County [o Newberry, and in they would have comfortable homes, fertile a "slashing." The felled trees were left to before Pennsylvania set up its public school 1815,they too came to the Block House farms, schools to educate their children. a dry for aboutsix monthsand then burned. system. settlingon a farm adjoiningthe Beck fami- church where they could all worship, stores, AJI the neighbors came [o help burn Jacob Beck lived in about the center of lies. It is believedthat the Beck and Miller roads, and a happy, prosperous way of life the slashing. Fires would be started on all rhe communityand as he had small child- families were acquaintedwhile living at That they facedwhat we could call un- sides of the field at once to burn towards ren, he was greatly interestedin the estab- Newberry arid that romance was budding, conquerable circumstances today, never rhe center. Extra help of neighbors was lishing of a school. He donated land across for very soon after coming [o the Block enteredthen: minds. They set to work to needed in case the fire got out of control rhe road from the present home of Albert House Jacob Beck and his brother Daniel see their vision through to a successful and scarredburning in the adjoining woods Brien and helped build a log school house married Catharine and Elizabeth Miller. end. They started here with the barest of Weather conditionshad to be as near per This is what was called a subscription school Andrew Beck was quite an old man when necessities, but were able to "make do" and face as possible: there should not have been where the parents had to furnish the build- he came to the Block House, and his son take advantage of blew improvements as any rain for a short time, and the less wind ing, the supplies,and pay the teacher.Isaac George who was then twenty-nineyears they wcre developed rhe day of the burning the better. What a Fulkrod had the honor of teaching the first old was married and had small children As they went into the woods to make hoc and roaring fire it lnadel school in the Block House .q.ndrewand George did not stay very long a home, what beside their vision and per- After the fires had burned out. came the Two years later, in 1822, a log school but movedback to meir former homein severance and determination could a yotmg 'logging," piling the unburned logs and building was erected in rhe village of Block Norchftmpron County. Bur some twenty couple have taken with them? Tlley hight rush into greatpiles to be burned.Often House, and here again Isaac Fulkrod was 12 T H E J O U R N A L 13 rhe teacher. Those school buildings were history and look at some of the govern- divide the township by an east and west on the LycomingCreek at a point eight of very simpledesign: just the four walls, menta[ and po]itica] events concern)ingthis line to cut it in half. This was done and miles from the river and running west to I roof, a door and a couple of windows, section of our stare. In 1874, a treaty had the northern part was called Tioga Town- Pine Creek. This was acted on favorably with a fireplace and a floor. The desks were been signed at Fort Stanwix, New York ship. at the Septemberterm of the court, and made by placing a sloping shelw about between the whites and the Indians where- In 1803, an omnibus bill bef ore the the new township was named Jackson in eighteen inches wide approximately three by the Indians gave up their claims to the Asseilably created a number of new counties honor of the hero of the battle of New feet from the floor on two sides of the northern parc of Pennsylvania and the fr om Lycoming County, among them being Orleans room. In front of the shelf were backless western section of New York. This terri- Bradford, Tioga and Potter. Consequently, Thus surveyors' lines creatednew counties benches. Part of the shelf and benches tory compriseda vast domain in the two what had been made Tioga Township in and townships and cut the little Blockhouse could be made lower for the smaller child states, and a wave of migration and immi- L797, now in 1803 became Tioga County community in half, but even so che people Though many of the parentswere gration soon followed. Land-owning com- + This newly formed county was divided into continued to work together for further im- of German origin and at home spoke mostly panies were formed to buy up large tracts, a number of townships, Tioga Township oc- provenaents.Their petition for a post office German. the classes were conducted in and individualsvied with eachother to cupying the north centralparc of the county was granted in 1824, and the site chosen see who could control the most acres. English. It was not uncommon to have and Covington Township occupying the was in the village of Blockhouse, the name children start going to school unable to Government and political expansion was south central part. of rhe village being changed [o Liberty speak any English. The New Testament rapid. In 1772 Northumberland County had The southern line of Tioga County passed It was a common practice to give the post was a popular reading book in the early been organized,and its control along the office and the villageit was in the s;me schools. east and west Just south of the present West Branchextended to LycomingCreek Borough of Liberty, cutting right through name as the township. Humarl rlature being Some of these early settlers came directly But after the treaty of 1784, the vast area the middle of our Block House community. what it is, it was difficult for people to from Germany and otherswere of the first of Pennsylvaniafrom the Allegheny River Half of the peoplewere now living in gec accustomedto the new name.Nine generation born to German immigrants. on the west to the North Branch of the Tioga County while the other half were years later a letter postmarkedMay 14: They brought with them the languageand Susquehanna on the east, and north to the citizens of Lycoming County 1833, was addressed as follows many of the manners and customs of Ger- New York line was placed under the juris- The peopleliving in and around the Mr. Isaac Fulkrod many. Devoutly religious arid mostly adher- diction of Noi:thumberland County. In 1786 village of Block House in Tioga County Tioga County ents to the Lutheran faith, they deplored che land lying betweenLycoming Creek now felt very keenly the inconvenienceof Liberty Township the lack of a communitychurch, buc it and Pine Creek and extending north to the their being part of Covington Township Liberty P. O was not until 1827 that suficient interest New York line was set up as Lycoming with Blossburg Mountain separating them Block House, Pa was arousedto organizeand establisha Township, Northumberland County from the populousarea north of and be- In 1894 mis envelope was in the posses- church. Circuit-riding ministers sometimes Jn that same year, the Pennsylvania As- yond the mountain. The Tioga County court sion of Mr. John Fulkrod who wa; then came through the valley and held religious sembly received a petition asking that a was petitioned to erect a new township rhe postmasterat Liberty. services. We can imagine that Gustave new county be set up for the convenience mis was done in 1823, the new township Recently Mr. Quintillis Hartsock, an Schultz was one of these traveling ministers, of persons living along the West Branch, being named Liberty. elderly resident of Liberty, told me another for in a history of the Lutheran Church near Wiliamsport. It took nine long years In 1823 residents of the Block Hlouse story of how Liberty got its name. With a in Pennsylvania, the Rev. J. N. Speck re- of petitions ar)d counter petitions befoi'e living southof the countyline were citi- twinklein his eye, he said, "While they ports that Gustav Schultz was busy preach- favorable action was takers by the assembly. zens of Lycoming Township, with all the were building the Williamson Road through ing to the Lutheran people west and north Finally, on April 13, 1795, Governor township officers living along Ehe river, here, one of the workmen finished his jiib of Williatnsport in the eighteen twenties. Thomas Mifflin signed rhe bill creating the twenty five miles away. These Block House ind asked his f oreman what he should do In those days money f or the building of new county,and after a lot)g debatethe people felt the need of a justice of the peace His foreman replied, ' I have nothing for churches was scarce, so while trying to raise name Lycoining County was finally agreed to acknowledge deeds and [o perform the you lush now. You are at liberty money Schultz traveled to Washington and upon. other duties of such an officer In the very early days there were two saw Andrew Tackson. Set up in 1795 and containing approx- Accordingly Governor Schultzwas peti- rivals to the little village of Block House Don't you have churchesin Williains- imately 12,000 square miles, Lycoming tioned to appoint Jacob Beck lustic8 of Mr. C. F. Veils had built a tannerynorth port?" asked Jackson. County was bounded on the west by the + the peace. Peter Sechrist walked to Harris- of the village,and as soon as there were No. we don't." said Schultz. Allegheny River, on rhe norah by New burg to presentthis petition in person.The several houses the place was named Veile :Then preach to them in their barns,' York, on the east by the North Branch appointment was signed March 7, 1824, and Town said Jackson. near the New York border and farther \ Jacob Beck served out the appointedterm The other rival got startedon the level That's wham I have been doing,' south by Luzerne County. The southern and succeedingterms urlti11850, when he land lust eastof the villageon top of the Schultz replied. boundary of the new county corresponded moved from the township and resigned his hill. Two Jewish merchantshad their homes Speck also says Schultz organized the [o the present county line except thad it office and cheer scores there. Other people with Friedens Evangelical Lutheran and German extendedwest to che Allegheny River At the February term of the Lyconaing grades built homes, a hotel wa; established Reformed Church in the present Jackson When LycomingTownship was set up County Court in ]824, these same petition- Lind there was the beginning of a town. Township. Dedicated in 1828, the hewed it was in NorrhumberlandCounty; but by ers who had asked for a justice of the peace An old map of Tioga County showed it as log structure housed the congregation until the act of Assemblyin 1795, it was now now joined with others of the township Shenktown,and at one time there were rhe presentHvo story brick churchwas in Lycoming County. The township cov- living along the upper reachesof Lycoming more people in Shenktownthan in Block built abou( ] 870 ered suctl a bargearea that in ]797, the Creek. Their joint petition requestedthat House. But the coming of the post office Ler us agitin tufil back the pages of Lycos)ing County Court was petitioned to the township be divided by a line Scarring and omer places of business soon spelled 14 T H E J O U R N A L 15 the doom of the rivals, though the hill has which many of their contemporariesachie- ever since been known as Jew Hill ved in other parts of our land. Their vision The History of C)tstonwakin Farm Johnathan Sebring core down the old saw them throughthe perilousdays of Blockhaus,"and built a new building for pioneering,and they laid here the founda- By MlabelE. Eck his hotel. William Dieffenbacherbuilt a tion of a prosperous community About a mile east of the LoyalsockCreek, The Indians at Otstonwakin received grist mill in the village, buc it is not known Had there been no Williamson Road whetherhe or Peter Sechrist was the first with German emigrants on cheer way to betweenthe main highway and the Sus- them kindly and treated them to boiled to have such a mill. Painted Post--Had there been no man quehanna River, lies one of rhe most meat, which they placed before chemin a natned Anthonyson who gave his hotel a beautiful f arms of Pennsylvania. It was large kettle. Arte; refreshing themselves, Jacob Benner's fueling mill was later originally the property of the Otstonwakin they proceeded in the afternoon on their equipped with carding machines. The ful- German name, there might have been no Block House. q Tube of Indians whence its name " Otston- mourn;y northward ling mill was used to clean the wool clipped wakin Farm." Hard times and the rumors of war con from the sheepin the spring time, and the Despite the fact that the original "Block- carding machines prepared the wool for haus" succumbed to the ravages of age and I will begin with the "forest primeval" ri"ued on .the . West Branch. The. French, was replaced by a new hotel and given a and trace its history to the present owner. who occupied the western part. of the Prove home spinning into yarn. different name, despite the name of the ' - .- . , ince, were threatening an invasion and Lumbering was the heavy industry of Zinzendorf . and. his party .left friendly Indians were in a state of alarm. the community,and at the Block House village being changed to Liberty, despite or nearby were several sawmills. Soon one the politicianswith their surveyorslines cutting the community in half, the "Block !="i.:=#iHilF;'S.,i£ !.IS of the millsput in a planingmill to turr] House" lived on for many years in the Governor Morris that they desired to settle out finished lumber, and later turning heartsof the people.Now the only re- machines to make turned pieces for furni- usiasticallyof the beautyof the scenery Permissionwas given to them to settle ture and hand tools. minder of those days is Block House Creek, sometinaesracing at breakneckspeed as if and richness of the foliage. Conrad Weiser, ,t Otstonwakin. On the twelfth of June More families came into the community trying [o keep up with the cars tearing rhe Indian interpreter, according to the 1755. Weiser notified che Governor that every year. A Jisr of rhe settlers about 1830 along the ribbon of concreteknown as the Journal of the Count accompanied them. he ' 'had just returne(i from Otstonwakin, shows over a hundred family names, many Williamson Trail. At other times Block When they approached "Otstuagy" some- where he had been with ten men to fence of them familiar in the communitytoday. House Creek tarries languidly,and on cer- limes called "Otstonwakin,"-=-Weisei: .rode in a cornfield for the Indians, in accordance What these early settlers did here in trans- tain days if you listen closely,you may aheadto the villageto notify the inhabi- with his instructions.When) he arrivedat forming a wilderness into a prosperous hear it sing to itself, the story of the Block the place he found that the Indians who farming comtnunity is no more than that House. [:] =]li;'i:;.=:.'u'=:.'?:.'==':} provisions, and chiefly for having lost all :=:.:i,':l: , :J their corn by severefrosts betweenthe deft son of Madame.Andrew #.i=,In! invited,.the twenty-ninth dnd thirtieth of May last, which was the secondfrost that had ap ;?'::oo'.i:L:H#.=:= R#U: peaked in the valley since their corn was LYCOMING HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAM FOR 1960-1961 dischargedtheir. fire-arms,, by way of salute up, and it had beenentirely killed. He only and i:epeatedthis mode of welcomeon our f:ind [u,o Indians. with their families in arrival at the wigwains. Hei:e we dis- the town; they were very thankful for what OCTOBER 6 mounted and repaired to Madame Montour s had been done for them, but as they had The Block House Story Dr. Berton E. Beck no hopesof raisingany corn from what NOVEMBER 3 =:31=$h:Ulb=:1"u ::'l,::',qHtH E:W: £.='=: Afoses Van Campen Edwin M. Barton The next Moravian visitation was in June sack of flour, and on his way down the 1745, when Bishop Spangenberg,accom- river left one with the Indianshe found DECEMBER 8 poniedby Conrad Weiser, David Zeisberger at Munch. He informed the Indians whom Christmas Party Clyde W. Halter and several converted Indians passed they met of the threateningcondition of b through the valley on their way [o Onon- affairs with the French. and'that a declara- JANUARY5 daga. On the eighth of June they crossed tian of war was imminent Early American Silver lllusrrated by Dr. J. Donald Wentzler Muncy Creek and followedthe path [o This was che turning point in Indian Otstonwakin, which they reached at noon. affairs on the West Branch. The dusky FEBRUARY 2 After crossing Muncy Creek che Bishop re- inhabitants had been forced to leave on cords in his journal that they ''found half account of the continuanceof the famine. Murders in Lycoming County Judge Charles F. Greevy I deer," which .an Indian from Otstonwakin brought about by late frosts annually de- MARCH2 had shot, and being unable to carry all of stroying meir corn, and as their small stores it home, he lead flung the res! of it up in had'been entirely exhaustedthey could not The Possessionsof our PennsylvaniaPioneers ...... Mr. John H. Career,Sr. I tree, so that whoever needed it hight recover. Hence the abandonmentof the Aust. Snp}. of Schools in Nortbnltlbertand Colt &) rake ic--which we did. valley 16 T H E J O U R N A L 17

NEW MEMBERS Mrs. O. J. Plaster Mr. and Mrs. J. Neafie Mitchell P R ESID E N T'S MESSAGE 2037 Sheridan St., Williamsport 1525 Penn St., Williamsport Miss Helen E. Dittmar Miss Mary Riddell 431G Washington Ave., Williamsport Again it is a pleasureto greetour metnbersand friends by way of this.publication Mr. ChesterE. Mccall 1600 Market St., Williamsport 501 North Ai'ch St., Montoursville Mr. Charles E. Green M.r. and Mrs. Alfred A. DeCenso 26 N. Main St., Montgomery I would like to voice iny appreciation to the Journal Staff for their outstanding Sheridan St., Williamsport Miss Barbara Jane Knittle effons in this connection.Also, I wouldlike to thank all of the membersfor their Dr. and Mrs. John D. High 708 Highland Terrace, Williamsport 2514 W. Fourth St., Williamsport Paul W. Reeder,Esq assistancein bringingabout the very naarkedgrog'th of our Societyduring the past Mr. John B. Riddell. 1306 Cherry ' St.,' WilliamsPort year 1100 Mlarket St., Williamsport Miss Enda Breese Dr. G. D. Castlebury 108 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport 420 Hawthorne St., Williamsport Mrs. Anna H. Herz Mr. John Loedlein Some wonderful impmvements have been made in the Museum and more are being 1119 Woodmont Ave., Williamsport 706 Grace St., Williamsport M.r. and Mrs. Arnold Phipps Miss Emily Loedlein planned. Plans are also being made for definite improvements to the carriage house 1619 calvin Place, Wi.lliamsport 706 Grace St., Williamsport which will greatly increase its value and usefulness. Mr. Henry Moser Dr. and Mrs. John E. K.night 125 Ross St., Williamsport 2105 W. Fourth St., Williamsport Rlr. and Mrs. Eugene Earl Miller We'll be looking forward [o seeing you at future meetings 1120 W. Fourth St., Williamsport l\lrs. Guy Wheeland Dr. and Mrs. Harry W. Buzzerd 1206 Shiffei' Ave., Williamsport 760 Glenwood Ave., Williamsport Mr. and Mrs. Allen Page, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. John H. Bone 268 Woodland Ave., Williamsport Cordially 328So. Main St., Jersey Shore Mrs. Percy Bay Frank W. Brunner Rev. Frank P. Corcoran 301 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore 635 Hepburn St., Williamsport Mr. and Mrs. Howard O. IBay Mrs. Charles B. Losch Maynard 1128 Tllompson St., Jersey Shore President 1616 Elmira St., Williamsport Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Emery Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bidder 454 So. Broad St.. Montoursville 412So. MainSt., Jersey Shore Mr. and airs. W. A. Eck Miss Patricia Mcrae Philleps 820 Broad St., Montoursville 332 Lincoln Ave., Williamsport Dr. and Mrs. David T. Jennings Mr. John F. Raker First National Bank Bldg., Williamsport Liberty Mr. andMrs. Richard C. Allen THESURGICAL CASE LETTERS OF APPRECIATION Mars. Kathryn Stover 1151 Market St., Williamsport FROM CHILDREN OF THE Park Home, Williamsport l\llr. Frederick A. Heim 36 W. Fourth St., Williamsport WILLIAMSPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT Mrs.A. L. Taylor The surgical case (pictured in previous 700 Campbell St., Williamsport Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Durrwachter Dear Miss Hlarer. Mi's. H. P. Herman 246 Lincoln Ave., Williamsport issue) was originally owned by Di:. John 503 Hawthorne Ave., Williamsport I)r. and Mrs. RobertG. Little Nevins, who was born approximatelyin We would like [o chunk you for the Mr. and.Mrs. G. C. Lloyd R. D. 1, Cogan Station interesting trip through the museum. par- 1353Faxon Parkway, Williamsport Mr. and Mrs. Earl HI. Morris 1801, and practiced medicine at Titusville. Mrs. FlorenceTaylor 2729 Newberry St., Williamsport Dr. Nevins carried this kit in a saddle bag ticularly liked the dolls that you showed Trout Run Charles E. McHaffie us and the very nice old clothing Miss Florence Stover 967 W. Fourth St., Williamsport while making house calls on horse back Park Home Henry E. Moser Dr. Nevins owned a 42 acre farm on We hope to visit you again in the future. Williamsport 125 Ross St., Williamsport Thank you very much Mr. and Mrs. RobertFreezar Mlr. and Mrs. Harry S. Nolan which the Drake oil well was drilled.( This 324 Trout St., Jersey Shore 805 W. Mountain Ave., So. Williamsport was the first oil well in the world to be Sincerely yours, Mr. and Mrs. Abram l\lliller Snyder Mr. Herman A. Pautz Diane Myers Cogan Station, Williamsport, R. D. 2 135 Ross St., Williamsport drilled) in 1859, he sold the farm for Mr. and Mrs. George A. Geiger, It' Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Plankenhorn $75,000.00 and moved to Montoursville. He 5th grade 353 Woodland Ave., 'Williamsport 350 Harding Ave., Williamsport bought the brick house on the Notch-east #++ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Reder Nathan W. Stuart, Esq. 1500 Richey St., Williamsport 381 Lincoln Ave., Williamsport corner of Loyalsock Avenue and Broad Dear Ladies of the Museum Coininittee, Street and retired from active practice soon Tharlk you for lettingus visit your after. museum. We erljoyed every minute of it b In 1883,his son, I)r. John Nevins. Jr., We all liked your collectionof old time graduated from Belleview Medical College things. which later became Cornell Medical College. Sincerely yours, Dr. Nevins, Jr., began practice at Jersey David Victor The editor wishes to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of the ##+ Lycoming County Historical Society for the countless hours of work contributed by Shore in 1884-1910. He died on 3-1(b1910. several students of WilJiamsport High School for the preparation of copy, proof The surgical case was then turned over Dear Ladies of the Museum Committee. reading, typing, etc. in preparing the Journal for publication. If it were not for this to his son, George L Nevins who is a re- Thank you very much for showing us assistancegiven to the editor, the publication date of the Journal, extremely indefinite tired pharmacist (PH) living in Jersey around. We really appreciatedit becauseof the scarcityof contributions,would not hive been easily met. The Society Shore. Mr. Nevins practiced pharmacy for Your friend. wishes in this issue to particularly thank Edward Knights, Jan Robbins and Jill Dickie. 47 years having retired in 1956 Susan Larson 18 T H E J O U R N A L 19

Accessions to the N4useum INDEX OF VOLUMES ONE THROUGH TEN

1. Canal Captain's log book, containing 10. Gas Lighter: Used in the Old Centen. Vol.&N'o. Title of Article Author Page cargo reports. dal Building, Pine and Fifth Street. Gift of Dr. L. E. Wurstei:, Proctor Gift of Mr. E. B. Allen, Williams. Col.H.W '. 1, No. 7 Annie Oakley'sLast Shot Star Route. port, Pa. Shoemaker 13

11. Log Broom. 2. Unframed pictures of open street car. 1, N'o. 5 B oomingutterovBoilingin Early Days at Susan H. Little 11 ( No. 103) Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Luiden- Donor unknown. mutle ( 1959), Williamsport, Pa. 1, No. 9 Apple Butter Making Susan Little 18

3. Unframed pictures (15) of Williams 12. Indenture dated 6th day of September [, No. 9 Arrival of First Canal Boat in WilJiamsport (Not mentioned) 3 port, 1889 flood. 1797: to land in LycomingTownship, 1, No. 9 Col. Henry W. 8 signed by Administration of the will Black Marble Fireplaces Shoemaker 4. Unframed pictures of Noble Grist of William Wallace, deceased, Charles 1, N'o. 8 Dr. H. B. Mussina 1 1 Mill located at present P. P. & L. dam Stewart, Robert Hurst, and Rebecca The Care of Old Paintings foot of Hepburn Street; wrecked 1889 Hurst, witnessedby W. Bell, Samuel 1, No. 9 Christmas in Old Blooming Grove (Not mentioned) 20 Stewart. flood. 1, No. 1 Crime on the Ca.nal Lewis E. Theiss 5 Gift of Mrs. Fred Durrwachter, Gift of Mrs. Ralph B. Riddell, Buf- falo, N. Y. Williamsport, Pa. Compiled by 1, No. 6 Doctors on Horseback and in Gigs Katherine Bennett 3 13. Lycoming County Mutual Insurance 5. Lantern which lighted the front of last 1, No. 9 Dr. Mussina 4 canal boat which came into Williams Company, to John Swengel, Centre 'Don't Ruin That Painting ' Township, Union County, Sept. 22, I)udley Allen Martin, Central Penne.'s Henry W. port. 1850. [, No. 6 9 Gift of George R. Walters. First Archaelogisc Shoemaker Gift of W. W. Swengel, York 1, No. 5 Early Lumbering in Cogan House Township Milton Landis 2 6. LycomingCounty map. County, Pa. Gift of Greater Williamsporr Cham- 1. No. 2 Education in the Nineteenth Century John Eckert 19 14. First Lady's open-face watch (Swiss) ber of Commerce. in Williamsport. Belonged to Jane 1, N'o. 5 The Fairy Basket Clair Robbins 9 Burrows Coryell Gibson. 7. West Branch Bell Telephone Co. ( Part of a letter Presented by Florence Coryell Par- 1, No. 2 Fishing Experiences published in Pa. 18 directory, 1954. sons, Williamsport, Pa., granddaughter Angler ) Gift of Mrs. John C. Hayes. of Jane B. C. Gibson Securedby MargaretB. Coryell, Feb., 1, N'o. 4 Found -- A Lost School Della G. Dodson 5 8. Baby'sgarment made entirely by hand 1960 1, N'o. 8 Foundingand Early Life in Ralston Copy of a news story 13 (1849); Child's books published by 15. Clock; used on West Branch Canal. on W R A K AmericanSunday School Union of Presentedby the family of late Mr B. 1, N'o. 7 Fort Augusta Lewis E. Theirs 5 Philadelphia. and Mrs. John Levcgood of Jersey Gift of Elizabeth M. Metzger, Shore, Pa. 1, No. 9 Freedom Road Ralph L. Lester 22 Williamsporr, Pa. Gottlieb Heim, Grandfather at the Loyal- 16. Trunk: Ladies Case. 1, No. 9 sock Emma Larimore 13 9. Obituaryof AugustueArndt, date 1878: Gifs of Mrs. R. W. Jackson, Wil- 1, N'o. 8 In Memoriam L. R. Wurster 2 Resident of Willialnsport. (This article liamsport, Pa. is unusualas it is pictured on silk) 1, N'o. 8 Jake Rubicam's Flying Horses H. W. Shoemaker 3 17. Pamphlet; 50th anniversary of Maple Gift of Clarence A. Cordon, Farm- Springs EvangelicalUnirrd Brethren 1. No. 1 John Wesley Little 3 ington, Michigan. Church. Mrs. John Little 20 T H E J O,U R N A L \ INDEX OF VOLUMES ONE THROUGH TEN

Vol.& N'o. Title of Article Author Page

1, No. 4 July 4th, 1863, Gettysburg, 'He was there ' George D. 'Wolfe 2

Michael Wargo 2 1, No. 7 Junl< or Antiquities ( not mentioned) 1, No. 10 Little Family Susan Little 18 [. No. 6 Lumb:r Rafting On Big Pine Creek John S. Beck 1 1 1, N'o. 2 Nlemories Margaret P. Schultz 5

Memories of My Boyhood Days on the 1, No. 2 Farm L. E. Wurster, M. D 2 Memoriesof Wildlife on Young Women's 1, No. 4 Creek H. W '. Shoemaker 8

Ocean Voyage of The Kiess Family--The 3 1, No. 3 Diary George Kress 1, No. 2 Old TanneryWhistle, The Milton Landis 4 1, No. 7 On Entering The Old G. A. R. Hall Robert S. Ulrich 3 1, No. 4 Pages Of Dire James P. Bressler 4 1, No. l PanthersOf The Loyalsock H. W. Shoemaker 10 1, No. l Recollections of a Boom Rac James Myers 11 1, N'o. 2 Reminiscencesof Dr. A. F. Hardt Dr. A. F. Hardt 8 THE 1, No. 7 Reno Post 64, G. A. R., Williamsport, Pa. John L. Hunsinger 4 1, No. 2 Sketch of the Life of Gen. John Burrows John Burrows 9 From the Wmspt. 1, No. 3 Society and Personal Sat. Eve. Review 14 J OURNAL 1, No 3 Street Car Parties ( not mentioned) 2 OF THE 1, N'o. 8 Sand Hill Cemetery Clara Robbins 7 1, N'o. lO UnhonoredHero, An Clark B. Kahler 15 LYCOMING HISTORICALSOCIEI'Y 1, No. 7 What Do We Want? Rodman Wurster 11 1, No. 8 What Lumbering meant to the U. S. A. Lewis E. Theirs 8 1, No. 6 What the f brest Meant to the Pioneers Lewis E. Theiss 15 1, N'o. 3 Whet) LumberWas King in The Ease Harry A. Fischler 17 1, No. 3 Wildcat in Duboistown James Myers 18 VOLUMEll WINTER 2 1. No.10 Williamson Road, The Charles G. Webb NUMBER TW0 1960