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- [S2056] Early History of Coudersport: Early Families, (Name: PCHS; Date: July 1949;), Luke Green Maxson, first head-master of the Coudersport Acadamy; sister Mary.
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Early history of Coudersport : pioneer families of Coudersport.
Transcript
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THE PENNSYLVANIA
UNIVERSITY STATE LIBRARIES
Early History Of Coudersport
Pioneer Families Of Coudersport
SOURCES OF INFORMATION-
FAMILY RECORDS, BIBLE RECORDS
COURT HOUSE RECORDS
NEWSPAPER FILES
Published by Potter County Historical Society
Coudersport, Pa.
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July 1949
THE VERY BEGINNING OF COUDERSPORT,
On December 21, 1796, the Ceres Land Company, consisting -of John Keating and Richard Gernor of Philadelphia and John Sigsmund Roulet of New York, purchased from William Bing-hamof Philadelphia 297,428 acres of land lying in northern Pennsylvania for the sum of $80,000. A portion of this land lay within the future boundaries of Potter County which was created by an Act of the State Legislature, approved on March 26, 1804, from territory lying within the confines of Lycoming County.
The site selected by the Ceres Land Company for the seat of justice was on the Allegheny River at its junction with a fork, now known as Mill Creek. They gave the future town the name of Coudersport to honor Monsieur John Coudere, a member of one of the Amsterdam banking firms which had loaned funds for the purchase of the Ceres (Keating) lands. A survey was made of Coudersport by Francis King of Ceres Town, McKean County, Pa. His survey notes state:
"Left home to commence surveying and lodged at 14½ mile tree, 22nd of the 7th month, 1807. On the 23rd went to where our provisions were left and built a camp; it being rainy we proceeded no farther.
"On the 24th went down the Allegheny to the Forks and began to build a camp at Coudersport. (On west hill near a large spring). 25th, finished the camp; went for remainder of our provisions and marked the road to the camp. 27th, split a number of stakes for the corners of lots in the town and altered some of the lines of the town. On the 18th of- the 8th month the survey was completed, the Indians went home and the surveying tools were taken to Ceres Town by Sampson Crawford."
The eastern part of the site of Coudersport was covered with a heavy growth of pine trees. Several springs on west hill contributed their waters to the swamp, filled with tall laurel bushes, which lay between the foot of the hill and Main street.
Obediah Sartwell was the first settler in Coudersport.
He came from Langdon, N. H., in 1813 with his family of seven and built a log cabin on the west bank of the Allegheny River, a few rods south of East Second Street. He also built a blacksmith shop on the opposite side of the street, not far from the cornet
of East Street. After a year he removed with his family and located near the mouth of Sartwell Creek.
A mill erected in 1815 was the joint property of Obediah Sartwell, W. W. Whitney, Benj. Burt and David Burt. On Feb. 18, 1818, Governor Findlay commissioned Obediah Sartwell of Potter County a justice of the peace in the district which included the township of Roulet.
On Sept. 17, 1818, Obediah and Cynthia Sartwell of Roulet deeded 50 acres of land in Roulet Township to Major Isaac Lyman for $750. On the same date Sartwell accepted a mortgage on this property to secure "payment on October 1, 1820, for 100.000 feet of merchantable white pine boards" which he had sold to Major Lyman.
When Daniel Clark Sr., and family came by ox team from Coniideticutiln-181'6, they found temporary shelter in the deserted Sartwell cabin until their log house was built about two miles north of Coudersport. His blacksmith shop became a commissioners' office and in his log cabin weas taught the first school by a fugitive from justice, named Hurlburt. It is also recorded that Israel Merrick taught school in it in 1820. The children of Daniel Clark, of John Peet and of John Taggart, south of Coudersport, and children from Lymansville were the pupils.
In 1822 John Dingman and John Lyman contracted to clear the public square. In April, 1823, Isaac Lyman was granted $27 for clearing land at Coudersport and in June, $10 for clearing the town plot. Peter Knickerbocker continued the clearing in 1824.
In 1824 John L. Cartee purchased for $16 the square on which the jail is located.
He leased from the Commissioners +Irvo or f-r- -- ____ sowed them to wheat, and erected the frame for a house nearly on the site of the jail. On May 10, 1825, with his wife, two-year-old son, Lafayette, and step-daughter, Mary Ann Knight, aged 15, he returned and completed the house. This was the first tavern and was the stopping place of John Keating when on his annual visits. In 1825 he was accompanied by his daughter, Eulalia, and bv his daughter-in-law. All traveled on horseback. The wheat which Mr. Cartee harvested was ground in a grist mill called the Red Mill, built in 1815 by Henry Dingman at the mouth of Dingman Run.
in 182e Timothy Ives MARY ANN KNIGHT Jr., was elected county treasurer. In May 1826, he, with his wife and daughter, Mary, seven months old, came from his home in Bingham Township on horseback bv way of Andrews Settlement and boarded at the Cartee House while he erected a dwelling house on Second
Street on the site of the First National Bank. He also built a small frame store on the southwest corner of East and Second Streets which faced East Street. His store goods were brought bv wagon from New York City. Factory cloth was 50 cents per yard and other goods in proportion. Michael Hinckle, who had married Nancy, only daughter of the pioneer, William Ayers, was the next to settle in Coudersport. He purchased what is now the Court House square, erected a dwelling house on the southeast corner of it and a log blacksmith shop north of the house where he worked for several years. It is said that he made the nails used in the construction of the first Court House. On July 4, 1826, a was child born to this family, the first birth in the village, and the following January the mother's death was the first. The first cemeteries were on the east side of Main Street, north of the river and on the east side of North MIain Street, nearly opposite the Niles Hill Road. In 1827 Versel Dickinson built the Hickory Tavern on the northeast corner of East and Second Streets, opposite the present jail. It was a square structure with square roof. li later years when this hostelry was remodeled and improved the original part was removed to the rear and used for a kitchen and other conveniences.
In 1844 it was purchased by Asa W. Lathrop whose predecessor was Miles Thompson. By degrees Mr. Dickinson purchased the west part of this square, paying only $8 each for two of the lots. He buuilt a store building on the northwest corner of the square and another one on East Street, midway between Second and Third Streets. In 1827 Luther Strong came from Allegany County, New York, and purchased 117 acres of land extending from Seventlh Street northward. On a. site east of the Anchor Toy factory he. built a saw mill and a grist mill. He sold the property for $2500 to Julius Crittenden by deed on January 16, 1843. Mr. Crittenden sold 87 acres of the original tract, together with the mill property, to Dr. 0. T. Ellison for $725, having disposed of the remainder for village lots in 1873.
Henry Crittenden built a mill at the mouth of Dump Hollow which is often confused with the Julius Crittenden Mills.
Luther Strong was assisted in building his mills by Nathan Crary who made a clearing on the top of west hill and built a house. but abandoned it when he discovered that the land had been allocated by John Keating -for school purposes. The hill was called Crary Hill for many years.
In 1829 Dennis Hall built a laige dwelling house on the northeast corner of East and Third Streets. It was the first house to have plastered rooms. John Peet, who, in 1811 settled on the river road one halt mile below Coudersport, was the first to act in the capacity of a preacher. He officiated at funerals and frequently read sermons or preached extemporaneously. In 1825 Father Conant, a Methodist missionary, living et what now is Westfield, Pa., came by way of Pine Creek and held services in the homes of the settlers.
In 1832 the Rev. IsaIac C. Bliss organized a Presbyterian
Church in Coudersport,. Rev. Bliss was born in Warren, Mass.,
on August 28, 1804. Graduated from Amherst College in 1828
and prepared for the ministry at Auburn Theological Seminary.
On March 21, 1831, he married Elizabeth St. John of Groton,
N. Y., who soon died. In August, 1832, he was married to Emily
Curtis of Elbridge, N.. Y.- He left Coudersport in February, 1833,
and in 1834 held an appointment at Elba, N: Y. In 1836 he was
at Virgil, N. Y. Ho then served in the foreign mission field in
the Hawaiian Islands until 1846 when he returned to the States
and settled in Moline, Ill., where he died in 1851.
On Saturday, November 17, 1832, a few prospective Presbyter
ans gathered with Rev. Bliss in the common room of the
Cartee House. This room was about 20 feet wide and 22 feet
long, furnished with crude benches and candle lighted. The
following were examined as candidates for membership in the
Presbyterian Church: Alcander Bishop, Elizabeth Taggart,
Abigail Strong (wife of Luther Strong), Joel Ross, Eliza Ross,
Anner Hall (wife of Dennis Hall Sr.), Asenth Hinckle, and
J aura Clary. The following day these persons publicly pro-fessed
their faith in God and a belief in the doctrines of the
Bible and were organized into a church, receiving the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper, administered by the Rev. Isaac Bliss.
The names of Mrs. Lydia Bellows (daughter of Isaac Ly-man),
and Mrs. A. L (Prudence) McDougall were added on
January 6, 1833. On February 24, Andrew Jackson Lyman, son
of Mrs. Prudence McDougall was baptized. (He was the son of
Dr. Harry and Prudence Lyman.)
In 1845 the Rev. David B. Brown, a young Scotchman, who,
at the age of 20, had married a young Quakeress, Miss Alice
Hill Pussey, of Philadelphia, took charge of the Presbyterian
Church and continued its ministry until 1853 when he resigned
and entered the foundry business in Coudersport.
There are no accurate records of the Methodist Church
prior to 1840. It is said to have been organized in 1832 under
the leadership of the Rev. Samuel Babcock. In 1840 the Rev.
John Bowman came as resident pastor and remained two years.
He had five predecessors and six successors before the Rev. B.
Williams came in 1848.
On the original plan of Coudersport the public buildings
were to have been on the square, bounded by Fourth, West,
Third, and Hill Streets. Believing that East Street would
become the principal street, the Commissioners purchased from
Michael Hinckle, for $16, his square on which, in 1835, a small
stone Court House was erected. Timothy Ives Jr., and Almond
Woodcock were the contractors and Cornelius Cannon did much
of the stone work. The first court session was held in Septem-ber
of that year at which time Lewis B. Cole was admitted to
the bar.
In May, 1904, Samuel Haven wrote: "I came to Potter
County on the 20th of March, 1835, and began clerking in the
store of Versel Dickinson." (On East Street, between Second
and Third). "It was then the only store in operation in Potter
County, the nearest ones being at Smethport, Ceres, Whites-ville,
Spring Mills, and Jersey Shore.
The following persons were then living in Coudersport:
Michael Hinckle, wife and a hired man; Timothy Ives Jr., wife.
father, and one daughter; Ebenezer McDougall, wife, and wife's
son, Jackson Lyman; William Crosby, wife, two sons, and one
daughter; Lewis B. Cole, wife, one son, and one daughter; Phil-ander
Bishop mother, and two brothers; Dr. Daniel N. Hunt,
wife, and one daughter; Louisa Andrews (sister of Mrs. Versel
Dickinson and Mrs. Timothy- Ives Jr.); Samuel Haven.
"There were two public hotels, the Cartee House and the
onn nearly opposite, then called the Coudersport Hotel, and
kept by Isaac Strait. Two unoccupied store buildings were
owned by Timothy Ives and by Versel Dickinson. There wer-also
store rooms in the Coudersport Hotel, in Majo#', A. L. Mt-
Dougall's house, on the northwest corner of' Main and Third
Streets, and in the house built by Dennis Hall. Besides these
there wore ten other dwellings in the town, two of which were
vacant."
In 1837 Dennis Hall and Philander Bishop built a small
tannery on the north side of the junction of East and Fifth
Streets. In 1842 it was operated by Nathaniel L. Dike and
Appleton Butterworth. In 1844 Samuel Thompson became the
proprietor, having purchased it from Asa W. Lathrop.
The square, north of the Court House, was among the first
to be cleared. On October 4, 1813, John Keating and Company
fbr the sum of $37 deeded it to Louis Hector de Mons D'Orbigny
of Philadelphia. On May 22, 1838, D'Orbigy deed it to David
Wilmot for $500. On September 23, 1839, by an order of the
court of common pleas, Dennis Hall, Ansel Purple, and Samuel
Haven were appointed trustees of the property of Randall Wil-mot.
father of David Wilmot, under a proceeding, of thbr nature
of a domestic attachment, then pending in the court.
On September 28, 1840, the square, at public sale, was
purchased for $460 by James Hall and Robert T. Woodward
of New York City. On November 4, 1842, by their attorney,
Samuel P. Johnson of Warren, Pa., they deeded the square to
David Wilmot for $365. On December 16, 1843, he deeded the
northeast and the southeast corner lots to Timothy Ives Jr., for
$450. In that year Mr. Ives erected, on the -southeast lot a
house of outstanding beauty, now the property of D. E. Jacobs,
M. D.
In 1838 the merchants were Timothy Ives Jr., Wales C.
Butterworth, John Snow, and Nelson and Daniel Clark; the
latter firm was located on the west side of Main Street, on
the second lot south of Fifth Street.' In 1838 Lewis Southworth
began the tailoring business in the store of Ives and Snow. A-t
this time Mrs. Mary Ann Ross, nee Knight, entered into the
same business.
Dr. Amos French, who located in Coudersport in 1838, was the first permanent resident physician. Dr. J. C. Billings was another early physician; he served as principal of the academy during the spring term of 1842.
An academy was built on Hill Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, John Snow being the contractor. It opened in February 1841, with Luke Green Maxson from Alfred as principi\al.
In 1841 a district school was also opened on the north side of Fourth Street, a little more than half the distance from Main to West Street.
Miss Arminda Maxson, sister of Luke Green Maxson, was the first teacher.
In 1842' a firm named Allen and Bishop operated a wool
carding machine from June 1st to September 1st. The first
mil~inerv business was opened in 1842 by Mrs. Mary Kent, the
widow-.of :a Presbyterian minister. She -also, taught select school
and sometimes-tin the distrkt school. .
On June 28, 1842, John S. Mann and Miss Mary Williams
King, daughter of Hannah (Clendenon) and John King of
Ceres, Pa., were married and came to Coudersport to make it
their future abode. Both were of the Quaker faith and were
strongly opposed to human slavery. They fought against it by
every means within their power.
On behalf of the Central Committee of Potter County, John S. Mann called a meeting to be held in the Court House on July 4, 1843, at which time an anti-slavery or abolition political party was organized and candidates nominated for county offices. Thereafter nearly all the disunity among the citizens of Coudersport stemmed from the moral and political issues involved in the slavery question. These differences were not reconciled until April, 1861, when the opposing factions united in the common cause of the preservation of the United States of America.
The John S. Mann home has long been noted for being an underground railroad station. William W. Thompson, in his historical sketches (1825) wrote of having seen in the rear of the second floor of John S. Mann's store, a secret room for the concealment of fugitive slaves. It was entered by a camouflaged door in the outer wall from the roof of a one-story extension on the rear of the store. In a letter of March 22, 1859, Mrs. Mary Mann wrote: "We have had two fugitives here this winter, one only a week ago last Sunday. A collection of $9 was taken up in church for him.
Charles Judd, about to set out for a missionary field in India,
preached. When Rev. Rice introduced the slave, Mr. Judd said,
'Charity begins at home.' He and Rev. Rice put the first into
the collection basket." This indicates that the entertainment of
fugitive slaves was not always a matter of secrecy.
Among others who are known to have aided escaped slaves
were Nelson Clark who lived two miles north of Coudersport,
Joseph Mann at Millport and John King of Ceres. One slave
spent an entire winter in the King home. Sala Stevens was an-other-
who worked on the "railroad" as the following letters dis
covered by Judge Robert R. Lewis, will testify:
Sala Stevens, Coudersport, March 14, 1859
The bearer is a Gentleman from the South, now on his
first trip to the North who likes this climate so well
that he desires to send for his wife and children. And
having been obliged to work all his life for nothing, is
obliged to ask assistance from those who have been
more fortunate. I trust you will render him such as-sistance
as you can and send him on his way rejoicing.
Ever your friend, Jno. S. Mann"
In the summer of 1844 two Millerites visited Coudersporrt
and endeavored to indoctrinate the inhabitants with their creed,
viz., that the world would come to an end on a definite date revealed
only to them. The Rev. John B. Pradt, principal of the
academy and also an Episcopal missionary, refuted their argu-ments
so decisively that they soon departed.
in 1845 William. T. Jones built an ashery on the southwest.
corner of West and Second Streets near the foot of the hill. Eli.
Rees was the contractor and Benjamin Rennells assisted in the
construction. In this building water was drained through wood
ashes producing a lye that was boiled until it became "black
salts." These were then placed in hot ovens until they were
partly bleached after which they were dissolved in clear water
and again boiled down and bleached until the product was pure
white. It was packed in barrels and shipped to the city where
it was sold for 18 to 20 cents a pound and was used in the manufacture
of saleratus (soda) and soap. This ashery produced
from 15 to 20 barrels each season.
COUDERSPORT IN 1848
By Act of the State Legislature, approved on February 7, 1848, Coudersport was incorporated into a borough. Its limits extended north and south from Seventh Street to Allegheny Avenue and east and west from the Allegheny River to one square west of Hill Street. There were 40 dwellings and an approximate population of 200 persons.
At the first election, held on February 18, the following of.
fieprs were oleetd- birgess, Isaac Benson; Town
Councilmen, Lemuel F. Maynard, Nathaniel N.
Dike, Wales C. Butterworth
and William T.
Jones; Constable Leon-ard
M. Howard; Street
Commissioner, Appleton
H. Butterworth. The following
Board of Education
was appointed to serve until the next election
:Henry J. Olmsted, Tqsac^Berson, William W.
A"eDourall. Abel Aldrich,
JamebsW. Smith and John
S. Mann.
There were three taverns,
five stores, a small
tannery, a saw mill, a
grist mill, a new foundry,
P furniture and wagon
shop, a gun shop, two
printing offices, an acad-emy,
a district school.
two resident physicians,
two ministers of the gos-pel,
five lawyers, and a ISAAC BENSON
fpshionable tailor.
The Coudersport Hotel, built by William Caldwell in 1841,
occupied the southwest corner of Main and Second Strets.
Daniel Dewey had succeeded J. Dwight as proprietor. The Old
Hickory Tavern was under the management of W. W. McClell-and
who had rented it. Daniel Ellsworth kept a tavern in the
house built by Timothy Ives on the south side of Second Street.
le was -a justice of the peace with an office in a wing of the
hduse. - A-third tavern stood on the southwest .corner' of rMain
and Fifth Streets, built by Nelson Clark, but was vacant.
South of it was a store building also built by Nelson Clark.
William T. Jones and brother, Arch F. Jones, conducted a
general store on the northwest corner of Main and Second
Streets. The building was erected by William T. Jones in 1844.
In 1847 Frank L. Jones and his brother, Charles S. Jones, and
Aaron Storrs purchased from Versel Dickinson for $1500 two
lots and a store building on East Street, midway between Sec-ond
and Third Streets. They sold general merchandise.
- James W. Smith and Mica J. N. Haskins kept the store on
the southwest corner of East and Second Streets. Timothy Ives
and George Barclay were advertised as merchants but their location
was not designated. Goods purchased in Philadelphia
came by canals to Jersey Shore and were hauled over the Turn-pike
to Coudersport. Goods from New York were shipped on the
Erie Canal to Dansville, N. Y., and brought from there by
wagon.
In 1848, 270 tons of goods were hauled from the north.
The tannery was closed but the saw mill and the grist mill were in operation by Julius Crittenden. John E. Edwards - and Charles Sisson had "just established a foundry at the Crittenden Mills." John Reckhow and Edwin A. Jones, brother of Frank and Charles Jones, had a cabinet and wagon shop one door west of Dewey's Hotel. Albert Goodsell had a gun shop on the north side of Second Street, east of the bridge, where he manufactured and repaired fire arms.
The Potter County Journal office was in the front room on
the second floor of a store building, the second building north
of the corner of Main and Second Streets. The first floor was
used for the storage of saddles of venison.
Asa W. Smith was principal of the academy and his wife,
Caroline, was assistant. Dr. Amos French was practicing med-icine,
also Dr. Hiram S. Heath who recently had come from
Whitesville, N. Y. Rev. David B. Brown was pastor of the
Presbyterian Church and the Rev. B. Williams had charge of
the Methodist pastorate. The five lawyers were Peter Martin,
Wales Butterworth, Lemuel F. Maynard, John S. Mann, and
Isaac Benson. Lewis Southworth, a tailor, had been in the
business since 1838.
The small Court House, in the center of the public square,
faced Main Street. The second floor was used for a court room,
public meetings, and religious services. The latter usually be-gan
at 6:80, or "early candle lighting." A wooden addition on
the rear was for the use of the sheriff and his family.
On the south side of East Second Street, on the east bank
of the river, was a barn. On the north side of East Second
Street. midway between the river and East Street, was a low
wooden dwelling house. The store building of Versel Dickinson
stood on the southeast corner of East and Third Streets.
Above the Dennis Hall house, on the southeast corner of
East and Fourth Streets, was a dwelling built by Lemuel F.
Mavnard. It has since been moved farther down both streets
and is- still in use as a dwelling house. The tannery building,
at. the end Qf North East Street, was unoccupied. On the north-east
corner of Main and Third Streets w'as a low .buildinfg then
used as a dwelling. It faced Third Street and had a door open-ing
on the Main Street side.
On the northeast corner of Main and Fourth Streets was a
double house, built by Dr. Amos French, in which he resided.
North of it was another house, built by him, known as the Ga-lusha
house. On the southeast corner of Main and Fifth Streets
was a dwelling house in the process of construction. It was the
property of Jonas Brown of Dansville, N. Y. On the northeast
corner of Main and Sixth Streets was the home of Arch F.
Jones, built by his brother, William T. Jones, in 1841. On. the
northeast corner of Main and Seventh Streets was Mrs. Mary
Kent's residence which still occupies the site.
On the north side of the Niles Hill Road, near Main Street,
was the home of Rev. David B. Brown. West of this and nearly
opposite West Street, two or three hundred feet from the Niles
Hill Road, was the dwelling of William Crosby. On the west
sided of Main Street, a short distance below the Niles Hill
Road, the house of Eli Rees stood flush with the street. On the
southwest corner of Main and Sixth Streets was the dwelling
of Charles W. Cotter, editor of the Potter Pioneer.
On the southwest corner of Main and Fifth Streets was a
two-storv hotel and a store building, both having been built
by Nelson Clark to whom the two lots were deeded by Lewis B.
Cole in May, 1840, for $60. John S. Mann and family occupied
the house on the northwest corner of Main and Third Streets,
having purchased it in 1846 for $800 from some New York
parties who had come into possession of it by means of a sheriff
sale, authorized by the sheriff of McKean County.
The printing office of the Potter Pioneer and the post office
were in the store of John S. Mann on the southwest corner of
Main and Third Streets. The office of John Mann, J. P., father
of John S., was also in this store.
The dwelling of Samuel Haven was on the west side of
Main Street, midway between First and Second Streets; he had
removed it from the public square where it had been built by
Michael Hinckle. The office of F. B. Hamlin, attorney, built in
1836, was farther south on the second lot below First Street.
On the northwest corner of West and Water Streets was the
home of Jacob Reckhow, now standing on the south side of
Water Street, west of the railroad track.
On the second lot above the northwest corner of West and
First Streets were the foundation and frame of the Methodist
parsonage and on the adjoining lot on the north was the home
of C. Avlesworth. North of this, on the second lot above the
corner of West and Second Streets was the home of Benjamin
Rennells. Next to the hill, west of Rennells', was his black-smith
shop.
On the southwest corner of West and Third Streets was a
cottage house; farther north on West Street, on the southwest
corner of West and (unopened) Sixth Streets, was the house,
known as "The Cottage," built by N. L. Dike. On' the east side
of West Street, between Second and Third Streets, were two'
small, unpainted houses and on the south side of Fifth Street,
between Main and West Streets, were three small housds.
Lewis B. Cole lived on the southeast corner of West and Fourth
Streets.
- Edwin Haskell came to Coudersport in 1848 and was em-ployed
in the office of the Potter County Journal. In later
vears he was its editor and publisher. The above described lo-cations
are from his reminiscences of 1898.
The following is a list of resident taxpayers in Coudersport
in 1848: C. Aylesworth, wheelwright; A. Aldrich, mason; A. T.
Aldrich, blacksmith; S. E. Alvord, single freeman; Appleton H.
Butterworth, shoemaker; Walds C. Butterworth, attorney; Lu-cien
Bell Jr., wheelwright; George A.'Barclay, merchant; D. R.
Bennett. Isaac Benson, attorney; E. W. Bishop, Seclinda Cartee,
Charles B. Cotter, cditor; Julius Crittenden, miller.
Lewis B. Cole, attorney and first representative from Pot-ter
Countv; N. L. Dike, Daniel Dewey, landlord; Versel Dickin-son.
D. F. Ellsworth (assessed $50 for a gold watch), Amos
French, physician; W. C. Gray, blacksmith; Mica J. N. Haskins
and James W. Smith, merchants; John M. Hamilton, Bingham
Land Agent; Lvsander Herring, shoemaker; James Hawley,
Samuel Haven, prothonotary; William Haven, C. B. Haven,
Leonard M. Howard, Noble Howland, Edwin F. Jones, cabinet
maker: Frank L. and Charles S. Jones, merchants.
Cyrenus Jones, artist; Arch F. Jones and William T. Jones,
merchants; Timothy Ives, merchant, elected to State Senate in
1848: Horace Leet, John S. Mann, attorney and merchant; W.
G. McClelland, landlord; John Mann, William W. McDougall,
editor and printer; Lemuel F. Maynard, Henry J. Olmsted,
student: C. R. Pratt and Nelson Peck, carpenters and joiners;
David Ross, tanner; Jacob Reckhow, John B. Reckhow, carpen-ter:
Benjamin Rennells, blacksmith.
C. D. Rogers, harness maker; Abiathar Rounsville, carpen-ni
ter. joiner and wheelwright; Delos W. Spencer, grocer; Timothv
Ives Jr.. H. L. Simons, G. W. Strong, cabinet maker; Miles
White, sheriff; A. G. Olmsted, Sobieski Ross, surveyor and land
owner.
PIONEER FAMILIES OF COUDEIRSPORT
THE BENSON FAMILY
Isaac Benson, who had the honor of being the first to fill
the office of Burgess, was born in Waterford, Erie county, Pa.;
June 8, 1817. He was admitted to the Erie county bar in 1844.
On June 11, 1845, he located in Coudersport at which place he
continued to live. In 1856 he was elected to the state legisla-ture
and in 1859 to the state senate.
On Dec. 14, 1857, he married Eugenial Laura, the only
daughter of Pierre A. and Almira (Brundage) Stebbins of Cou-dersport.
She was born at Hammondsport, N. Y., Nov..17, 1832.
Their only child, James Benson, was born on May 30, 1863. He
was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and was
admitted to the bar in June 1884. On Dec. 3, 1884, he married
Miss Katherine J. Hodskin, daughter of Albert A. and Celina
(Johnson) Hodskin of Coudersport. To them were born three
daughters:
' 1. Eugenia Celina, b Feb. 3, 1886; m Jan. 5, 1909, to Lytle
Flower Perry, b May 18, 1888, and who died in an -automobile
accident on Nov. 30, 1927. He was a lawyer,Athe son of the Rev.
D'."E. S. and Maude (Townley) Perry, rector of Christ Episco-
pal Church, 1908-1909. 2. Frances A. Benson, b Oct. 2, 1888.
3. Eloise Benson, b May 9, 1891; married May 29, 1918, to J. L.
Cole of Batavia, N. Y.
The three children of Lytle and Eugenia (Benson) Perry
are: 1. Katherine Maud, married on June 25, 1988, to Herbert
Allen Dorfeld, hardware merchant of Coudersport. They, have
one child, William Gurney, born Nov. 10, 1941. 2. David Town-ley
Perry, born Sept. 26, 1912, married Katherine Daugherty,
daughter of Frank and Ina (Conable) Daugherty. Their chil-dren
are: Franklin Lytle, born Jan. 25, 1939; Patricia Ayleen,
born Jan. 30, 1941, and David Townley Jr., born Dec. 5, 1947.
3. Frances Eugenia Perry, born Sept. 30, 1924, married June
15, 1946, to James Harris Seymour. They have one child, Mary
Eugenia, born June 30, 1947.
James Benson died May 30, 1896, and on March 8, 1899, his
widow was married to Dr. Francis Gurney Reese, son of Dr.
Charles Albert and Alice (Stamp) Reese. He was born at Sin-nemahoning,
Pa., on April 4, 1870, and died at Coudersport on
Dec. 4, 1942. One child was born to this union on July 8, 1900,
Dr. Albert G. Reese, a practicing dentist, of Coudersport.
THE BUTTERWORTH FAMILY
Two brothers, Wales Cheney Butterworth, b Apr. 24. 1810.
and Appleton Howard Butterworth, b Aug. 24, 1812, came from
Springville, N. Y., and located in Coudersport in 1836. Their
parents were Otis Butterworth, b Oc. 15, 1777. d Aug. 29, 1828,
m March 25, 1798, Anna Cheney, b Apr. 21,1777, d June 4, 1831.
Otis Butterworth's great, great grandfather was Deacon John
Butterworth who lived in Rehoboth, Mass., in 1643. - He was
one of the founders of the First Baptist Churclyat Swansea. His
wife was Sarah.
Wales Cheney Butterworth was admitted to the Potter
county bar in 1842, having studied law with Crosby Ellis, a Pot-ter
county lawyer. In 1840 he m Jane Wilmot. In 1852 he
built a handsome residence on Main Street, the present site of
the High School building which Randall Wilmot occupied for
several years. He d at his farm home six miles east of Cou-dersport
on the Cherry Springs Road, Sept. 11, 1854.
Their children: 1. Ida Butlterworth, b Nov. 10, 1840, at
Coudersport, d Sept. 25, 1906, at Titusville, Pa.; m Sept. 28,
1859, at, Coudersport, by Rev. H. M. Rice, Thomas Sill Chase,
b Nov. 17. 1832, d June 22, 1865. Was editor of the Potter ~County Journal from May 28, 1857, to March 21, 1861. They
had one daughter, Jennie, b Feb. 14, 1864, m Nov. 17, 1895, An-drew
Krost, of Rochester, N. Y. Ida (Butterworth) Chase'm
2nd, Col. Edward Augustus Leonard Roberts of Titusville, Pa.,
on Apr. 8, 1867. He was b Apr. 13, 1829, at Moreau, Saratoga
county, N. Y., son of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatous and Deborah
(Brownell) Roberts. Their children: 1. Edward Roberts, b
Aug. 30, 1869. d Aug. 1, 1871; 2. Elizabeth Churchill Roberts,
b Apr. 3, 1871, m Apr. 23, 1902, John Herman Barnsley. Their
two sons: 1. John Herman Barnsley Jr., b Mar. 15, 1903, d in
Calicut, India. Oct. 26, 1925, employee of Standard Oil Co. of
N. IY.- 2. Edward Rgbert~s Barrnsley,- b Aug. -15, 1906.- Is one
of the most widely known historians of Bucks county, Pa. Was
elected president of Bucks County Historical Society, Oc., 1941.
m Dec. 31, 1943, to Ruth Elizabeth Cook Smith.
Col. E. A. L. Roberts d March 25, 1881, at, Titusville; his
widow m T. James Phillips Thomas, b June 27, 1841, d Mar. 26,
1924; Mrs. Thomas d Sept. 24, 1906, at Titusville.
2. Mary Louise Rohorts, daughter of Robert and Ida Rob-erts,
b Feb. 8, 1873; m Charles Ebert of Old Lyme. New London
county, Conn. They have a daughter, Eizabeth, b Mar. 10, 1904.
2. Imogene Butterworth, b May 4, 1843, m Mar. 3, 1862,
Isaac Canfield. 3. Louise Butterworth, b Sept. 9, 1844. m Dec.
24, 1866, Addison Randall of Chicago. 4. Josephine Butter-worth,
b Aug. 10, 1846, m June 28, 1870, Milton Powell at
Sparta, Wisc. 5. Jennie Butterwotrh, b Sept. 7, 1852, d of diph-theria
in Coudersport, Mar. 5, 1862.
Jane Butterworth, widow of Wales Butterworth, m 2nd,
Feb. 10, 1862, in Coudersport, Lucius Bancroft of Sparta, Wise.
He d in May, 1875; she m 3rd, Oat. 20, 1880, Ralph Leete of
Ironton, Ohio. She d in Titusville, Pa., Oct, 15, 1894.
Appleton Howard Butterworth married April 7, 1837, Mary
Wilmot, daughter of Randall and Mary (Grant) Wilmot. Ap-pleton
was a shoemaker and, in 1849, completed the house on
Main Street in Coudersport now standing directly north of the
North Penn Gas Office. Here they kept a tavern for several
years. Their children:
1. lone Butterworth. b Jan. 19, 1838, d Jan. 1, 1918; m Nov.
25, 1866, Major George Washington Merrick, b in Wellsboro,
Pa., March 27, 1838, a son of Israel and Julia Ann (Erway)
Merrick. He was a Civil War Veteran and practiced law in
Wellsboro for many years. He d at his home there Feb. 11,
1916. Their daughter, Louise Wilmot Merrick, b Jan. 3, 1869,
m Nov. 4, 1897, George Brown Dusinberre, b at Geneva, N. Y.,
Dec. 2, 1865, d July 25, 1943. Four sons were born to them:
1. George Merrick. b Jan. 30, 1899; 2. Robert Kennedy Young,
b June 20, 1900; 3. Henry Warner, b Jan. 1, 1902; 4. David
Wilmot, b Mar. 4, 1907.
2. Lois Ann Butterworth, b Nov. 27, 1839, d Apr. 19, 1926';
im Sept. 22, 1859, Hugh Young of Wellsboro, b in Killyleagh,
-Ireland, Dec. 14, 1832, d Oct. 20, 1912. Came to America in 1850.
Was a twin brother of Thomas Young, Governor of Ohio.
3. Rosalind Butterworth, b Feb. 28, 1841, d May 17, 1844.
4. George Howard Butterworth, b Aug. 30, 1845, d July 11,
1930, m Myra Elizabeth Wunder of Cincinnati, Ohio. Their
children: 1. Lillian Butterworth, b July 7, 1876, d Nov. 14,
1907; m Sept. 6, 1906, Hugh Carlyle Young (her cousin). 2.
Mary Butterworth, b April 1, 1878. Lives in Wellsboro. 3. Lois
lone Butiterworth, b Dec. 3, 1879, d Mar. 25, 1938; m iHugh
Carlyle Young of Wellsboro on Oct. 4, 1916. 4. Thomas Young
Butterworth, b Nov. 16, 1881. Lives in Scarsdale, N. Y. 5.
George Howard Butterworth Jr., b May 6, 1892. Lives in Lan-caster,
Ohio.
5. Kate Butterworth, b Dec. 16, 1849, do Sept. 1, 1850.
6. David Wilmot Butterworth, b Apr. 5, 1852, d Apr. 30,
1901; m Nov. 17, 1875, Elizabeth Hartrick of-Piclkerilg, On-tari6,
Canada. -Two children were born to thiem: 1. Kent'But-
terworth, b July 1879; in Aug. 1, 1900, Winnie Erilbeck, young-est
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles ErIbeck; m 2nd, Minfnie
Jackman, June 30, 1903, at home of bride's mother, Mrs. Wil-liam
Lyman of Sweden Valley, Pa. 2. Ione Louise Butterworth,
b Mar. 14, 1885, d May 14, 1935; m April 7, 1903, Boyd West
Fowler of Carbondale, Pa. They had 4 children: Dean Wilmot,
Hilton George, Imogene Louise, and Willis Darwin.
Mrs. D. W. Butterworth m 2nd, LaDrue Horton, b Oct. 18,
1853, d June 6, 1932. Mrs. Horton was b Jan. 24, 1857, and d
Jan. 1, 1945, at, Coudersport.
THE COLE FAMILY
Lewis Brigham Cole was the son of Royal Cole, a Revolu-tionary
soldier who once resided at the present site of Coles-burg,
Potter county, which took its name from the family.
' Lewis;-B: Cole was- b July 18, 1806, in Otsego county, N. Y.,
wiiee*'4is youth w~as spent. Having lost an arm when aboit
nine years old he was unable to perform manual labor. In -1832
he came. to Coudersport and on March 11, 1834, m Miss Mary
Bishop, b' Nov. 10. 1814, d Aug. 8, 1853, daughter of Morris and
Hannah Bishop. He was admitted to the bar in Sept., -835, at,
the first term of court held in Potter county. He was the first
county surveyor and surveyed the northern townships in 1838.
In 1839 he was chosen the first state representative from Pot-ter
county. He held the office of commissioners' clerk for 25
years and was justice of the peace from 1850 until his death on
Feb. 10, 1882. t
- Their children were: 1. Sarah Cole, b Feb. 25, 1835, d Jan.
24, 1879; m Aaron Robinson of Coudersport, son of Zalmon F.
Robinson of Harrison Valley, Pa. He d Sept. 6, 1913, age 72.
One son, Zalmon Robinson, was b to them.
*2 . Emily Cole, b Mar. 24, 1837, d July 28, 1839. 3. Edwin
Royal Cole, b Feb. 23, 1839, d Sept. 10, 1839. 4. Lewis Burnum
Cole, -b Oct. 6, 1843, d Sept. 3, 1907. 5. Julia Cole, b Jiune 16;
1853, d July 30, 1853.
-4. Lewis Burnum Cole, m June 17, 1867, Delilah Koon, b
Sept.. 27. 1847, d. March 28, 1925, daughter of Harrison and
Nancy (Shay) Koon. Their children:
1. Blanche Cole, b Sept. 19, 1868. 2. Fred Burnum Cole, b
Dec. 9, 1872, d Oct. 25, 1938. 3. William Burdette Cole, b May
17, 1874, d Jan. 25, 1933. 4. Charles Cole, b June 9, 1876.
3. William B. Cole m May 12, 1906, Mayme ErIbeck. Their
children: 1. Frederick Cole, b May 27, 1907. 2. John Cole, b
Oct. 7, 1909.
THE CROSBY FAMILY
William Crosby was b Nov. 1, 1801, in the town of Homer,
Courtland county, N. Y., d July 13, 1867; m June 1, 1823, Lydia
Hammond, b in Cazenovia. Madison county, N. Y.,' Mar. 30,
1802, d July 1, 1871. About 1828 William Crosby moved with
his family to Pennsylvania and settled on a farm on the Sinne-mahoning.
known as the William Smith farm, 'about a mile
above Bailey Run..
-;Fromi there they came toe Ayers H-ill- and- 1emoed to CTu-
dersport on Mar. 20. 1834, the day on which occurred the great
wind storm that did so much damage in Potter county. It is
recorded that water was blown from the mill pond at Lvmans-ville
and boards hurled for a distance of 30 miles He later re-moved
to what is now Homer township to which he gave thro
name of the town of his birth. He built, and operated a small
tannery on the Abel Crosby farm which joined on the north his
own farm of one hundred acres.
' Their children: 1. Abel U. Crosby, b July 23, 1825, d Sept.
27. 1878. 2. Samantha D. Crosby, b Aug. 5, 1830, d Feb. 18,
1880. Never married. 3. William Alonzo Crosby, b June 1,
1833, d May 28, 1904. 4. Orson Hammond Crosby, b Jan. 23,
1835, d Feb. 24, 1920. 5. Matthew Ostrander Crosby, b Aug. 25,
1838, d Jan. 10, 1862, of typhoid fever in Alexandria Hospital.
6. Benjamin Parker Crosby, b Feb. 1, 1842, d Apr. 22, 1915.
1. Abel Underhill Crosby m Dec. 25, 1849, Mary Evens, ih
Sept. 30, 1828, d Apr. 8, 1899. Their children were: 1. William
Herbert, b Dec. 4, 1850. 2. Austin Hamlin, b July 31, 1852. 3.
Orson Hammond, b July 31, 1852, (twins). 4. Jessie Angeline, b
'Dec. 18, 1856. 5. Lydia Chloe, b Apr. 14, 1861. 6. Elizabeth
Bernice, b July 20, 1865. 7. Fred Ostrander, b Oct. 25,' 1869, d
Jan. 12, 1945.
3. William Alonzo Crosby m June 1, 1870, Susan Taggart, b
Feb. 26, 1842, d Aug. 15, 1876. They had one daughter, Jennie,
b April 8, 1875; m Robert R. Moody, Tulsa, Okla. On June 28,
1877, W. A. Crosby m Eugenia Willard by whom he had: 1.
Myrtle, b Mar. 28, 1878, m Sept. 24, 1900, Charles G. Maynard.
2. Lyman Crosby, b Dec. 25, 1879, d Aug. 11, 1880. 3. Carl
Crosby, b Nov. 22, 1881, d Jan. 1, 1933; m Feb. 25, 1908, Clara
Scott. 4. Guy Crosby, b Feb. 2, 1883, m Nov. 22, 1911, Esther
Keith. 5. Grace Crosby, b July 8, 1885.
William A. Crosby was elected county surveyor in 1872 and
to the office of prothonotary in 1881. He built and occupied the
second house above the northwest corner of Main and Fourth
Streets.
7'' 4. Orson H. Crosby m Dec. 1, 1858,'Chloe Armstrong, b
Mari.11, 1840, d Mar. 27, 1890. Their daughter, Kate, b Aug.
21, 1859, d Apr. 8, 1928; m Dec. 2, 1877, James Lorraine
Haughenberry, b Feb. 25, 1854, d Apr. 3, 1902. Their children:
1. Edna, b Sept. 19, 1878, d Nov. 27; 1933; m Aug. 16, 1899,
Charles Wolverton and had two children, Lorraine and Kath-erine.
2. Chloe, b June 16, 1880, d Oct. 6, 1926. 3. Elizabeth,
b Jan. 24, 1884, d Feb. 9, 1944; m June 30, 1920, Walter Solder-holm.
Orson Crosby followed the occupation of carpentry. Was
elected to office of prothonotary in 1878 and three years later
became deputy prothonotary. In 1874 he built and occupied the
residence now standing on the southwest corner of Main and
Fifth Streets.
THE CUSHING FAMILY
The -Cushing family is of English descent and trace their
line back to 1327. Matthew Cushing was baptized in Harding-ham,
Eng., Mar. 2, 1589, and d Sept. 80, 1660. On Aug., 5, 1613i
he- -m' Nazareth Pitcher, who was baptized Oct. 30,' 1586, and d
Jan. 6, 1682. She was the daughter of Henry Pitcher. Matthew,
with wife and five children, arrived in Boston on the ship,
"Diligent," Aug. 10, 1638, and settled at what is now Hingham,
Mass. One branch of the family settled in New York State and
in 1835 removed to Ulysses township, Potter county. Lucas
Cushing was the son of Leavitt and Chloe (Wilson) Cushing.
The former was b in Rehoboth, Mass., Mar. 13, 1773; the latter
in Vermont, Apr. 30, 1772. Lucas Cushing was b in Worcester,
N. Y., May 19, 1802. d Sept. 27, 1876; m Sept. 4, 1823. Chloe
Wood, b Nov. 16, 1805, d Aug. 25, 1880. Both are buried in
Eulalia Cemtery.
In Jan., 1851, Lucas Cushing purchased at, sheriff sale the
property of Nelson Clark on the southwest corner of Main and
Fifth Streets in Coudersport and opened what they called "The
Temperance Hotel." By a deed dated Apr. 10, 1862, Mr. Cush-ing
transferred this property to Orson H. Crosby for $450.00,,
and by deed dated May 20, 1865, became the owner of the north-west
and southwest lots on the Wilmot Square, for the sum of
$800.00. In the house, built by Appleton Butterworth in 1849,
now standing, the couple spent the remainder of their lives. In
,this house, in April, 1869, was organized the First Baptist
Church of Coudersport.
Their children: 1. Ansel, b July 21, 1825, d July 28, 1825.
2. Evelena T., b at Ithaca, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1826, m at Ulysses,
Pa., May 14, 1846, Henry J. Olmsted, d Jan. 26, 1908. 3. Chaun-cey
G., b in Berkshire, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1828, d Sept. 12, 1877; m
at Ulysses, Mar. 10, 1850, Sarah E. Olmsted, b June 15, 1830,
d June 25, 1916. She was a daughter of Daniel and Lucy Ann
(Schofield) Olmsted. They had one child, Kate, b June 28,
1852, d Aug. 13, 1927; m Apr. 28, 1874, Carlos A. Lewis, b Mar.
22, 1850, d Feb. 6, 1937, son of Crayton and Caroline (Hinman)
Lewis. They had two sons, Irving C., b Jan. 12, 1876, d June
21, 1918, and Arch C., b Mar. 15, 1881, m Winifred Beckley, Apr.
26, 1913.
4. Lydia Cushing, b in Canisteo, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1835, m
Aug. 29, 1854, Daniel Edward Olmsted, b May 30, 1832, d Det.
29, 1900, son of Daniel and Lucy Ann (Schofield) Olmsted.
Their children: 1. Estelle, b Sept. 3, 1885, m Rev. Charles E.
Creager. 2. Marion T., b Nov. 13, 1853, 3. Laura Jeanette, b
Nov. 16, 1860, d Aug. 15, 1864.
THE DENT FAMILY
Henry Hatch Dent was b in Charles county, Md., Feb. 11,
1815. He was graduated from Yale College and studied law,
under Francis Scott Key. In Sept. 1841, he m Anna Maria Ad-lum,
daughter of John and Margaret Adlum, the latter was b in
Frederick, Md. John Adlum was b in York, Pa. His commission
as Major, signed by President John Quincy Adams, is still in the
possession of the family.
Major John Adlum was surveyor for William Bingham and re-ceived
payment in a large percentage of the lands which he sur-veyed.
From her father, Mrs. Dent, together with her sister,
Margaret (Adlum) Barber, inherited large tracts of land in
Potter and Tioga counties which at her death passed to her
husband and children: 1. Margaret Katherine, b Aug. 1842, d
Aug-., 1917. 2. William, b June, 1845, d May, .1900. 3. Adlminia,
b Mar. 10, 1847, d Feb. 19, 1925; m the Rev. McBride Sterrett.
4. Anna Maria Adlum, b Jan. 30, 1849, d Sept. 10, 1920; m
Thomas Hull, Dec. 12, 1876.
With his mother, Mrs. Catherine Dent, and his four chil-dren,
Mr. Dent located in Coudersport in 1853. His generosity
was manifested in many ways, one of which was the gift of the
town clock, Aug., 1854. His politics and southern attitude
toward slavery caused a great deal of friction between himself
and the anti-slavery element of the village.
On Apr. 24, 1860, his mother died at the age of 71. Her
remains were taken to Maryland for interment. In 1863 Mr.
Dent established a home at what is now Brookland which he
made beautiful by landscaping and other improvements. In Dec.,
1871, he went to Baltimore for medical treatment, where he died
Nov. 19, 1872. Mrs. Thomas Hull built All Saints' Church at
Brookland in memory of Henry Hatch Dent,, the corner stone
of which was laid on July 2, 1888.
THE HAMILTON FAMILY
John M. Hamilton was b in Philadelphia in 1814 and d in
Coudersport, Feb. 19, 1887. He was m to Elizabeth Flannagan
of Philadelphia, b July 3, 1817, d Mar. 20, 1904, age 87. She
was a daughter of Capt. Patrick Flannagan. Their children:
1. Ella Gertrude Hamilton, d Aug. 29, 1875. 2. Stephen
Hamilton, b Aug. 14, 1843, d May 30, 1932. 3. Clara Hamilton.
b July 31, 1847, d Apr. 30, 1915. 4. Lucy Hamilton, b June 3,
1849. 5. Walter Hamilton.
2. Stephen Hamilton m Oct. 25, 1866, Sarah Katherine Lem-
,mon, b Feb. 9, 1843, d June 17, 1932. They had two daughters,
Elizabeth Hamilton, b Sept. 24, 1880; m Francis Beach. 2. Helen
Hamilton, b Aug. 1876; m Herman Fere in the 90's; m 2nd, John
Albin Radcliff in Feb. 1925. Stephen Hamilton was employed
in the pension bureau at Washington, D. C., for many years.
He died from injuries caused by being struck by an automobile.
3. Clara Hamilton m Dec. 1, 1879, Martin Joerg, b at Belle-ville,
Ill., Nov. 10, 1852, d at his home in Coudersport, Jan. 16,
,1913. He was he son of Dr. Edward Joerg, who came to Potter
county in 1853 at the insistence of Ole Bull as attending physi-cian
to his Norwegian Colony. Martin Joerg, lived at Kettle
Creek until 1891 when the family came to Coudersport. Their
children: 1. Laura Joerg, b Sept. 6, 1880, m Dec. 26, 1903, in
Cuba to Ivins Harvey. They had one child, Marguerite Harvey,
b Sept. 26, 1904, in Havana, Cuba; m Apr. 20, 1926, Morrow A.
Blackburn. On Aug. 7, 1936, she m Julian L. Brannan of Balti-more.
She has three daughters. Mrs. Laura Harvey m 2nd,
May 24,1917, George B. Davis of Martinsburg, W. Va. 2. Wal-ter
Joerg, b Apr. 3, 1883, d Sept. 22, 1937; m Apr. 22, 1914, Edith
House. Was druggist in Olean. Had two children: Edith Marie,
b Aug. 7, 1918, and Walter Edward, b Sept. 10, 1925. 3. Rudolph
Joerg, b Oct. 24, i890, was accidentally drowned in Canada,
Aug. 8, 1911.
4. Lucy Hamilton, m Oct. 25, 1887, Dr. William P. Moon,
CiudlwW. ar surgeon. He died in a Veterans' Hospital in Phila-deilphia,
Oct. 1, 1913.
5. Walter Hamilton resided in Philadelphia and d there Mar.
27, 1891.
John Hamilton, who had received appointment as agent for
the Bingham Estate, came with his wife and three eldest chil-dren
in a schooner wagon from Philadelphia to Coudersport
where they arrived on Dec., 1847. They first occupied the "Cot-tage"
on West Hill, later moving into the hotel building on the
southwest corner of Main and Fifth Streets where Lucy was
born. They next occupied an old house which stood between the
present site of the P. 0. and the present home of W. F. DuBois,
moving from there to the little cottage, now a part of the house
on the northeast corner of Main and Seventh Streets.
In May, 1856, Mr. Hamilton contracted with William Her-rod
for the erection of an octagon brick dwelling house directly
north of the above mentioned house. The basement contained
a kitchen and dining room as well as several others for serv-ants'
use. The entiire house was most beautifully furnished in
the taste of cultured refinement. The family were ardent Bap-tists
and were largely responsible for the organization of the
First Baptist Church in Coudersport in 1869 and for the build-ing
of the Baptist, Chapel in 1874.
THE HASKELL FAMILY
Edwin Haskell was born at Richford, Tioga county, Pa., on
Feb. 3, 1829, the oldest son of Peter and Myra (Olney) Haskell.
In 1833 the Haskells, with their children, Cordelia, Edwin, and
Asa, came by ox team to what is now Brokland, Pa., where
they made a clearing and built a home. After three years they
returned to their former home.
In 1848 Edwin Haskell came to Coudersport and found em-ployment
in the office of the Potter County Journal. He also
attended the academy where his admiration for Miss Laura A.
Cannon, a student, led to their marriage on May 5, 1852' 'That
vear Mr. Haskell severed his connection with the Journal which
he had edited and published in association with John S. NManu
and removed to Waterford, Pa.
In 1859 he purchased and cleared a tract of land at Coles-burg.
In 1876, he rented the adjoining farm of Samuel Mills -and
conducted the Allegany Hotel which was located on the north-west
corner of the junction of the River Road and Andrews Set-tlement
Road. In 1882 he removed to Coudersport to fill the of-fice
of county treasurer; in January, 1883, he purchased a half
interest in the Potter County Journal with which he was associ-ated
until his death which occurred on Jan. 17, 1912. Mrs. Laura
Haskell died very suddenly at her home in Coudeisport on July
5, 1896, in her 68th year.
Their children were: Edith Haskell, born March 30, 1862;
married May 11, 1886, Mahlon J. Colcord, born July 4, 1853,
died Feb. 28, 1940, son of David Dickinson and Sarah (Peet)
Colcord. M. J. Colcord studied law and in 1894 became a part-ner
with his father-in-law in the publication of the Potter
County Journal; he continued association with the editorship
and publication until he sold it in 1936 to Nelson E. Barton.-
Their children: 1. David Harold Colcord, born May 4, 1889,
married July 28,-1914, Florence Stihchcomb of Marshall, Mi4.
They have two daughters, Florence and Mary. 2. Marion Gol-cord.
born Dee. 30, 1890, married July 6, 1929, Edward Allen
Brauer of Illinois. 3. Alice Belle Colcord, born Sept. 13, 1895,
married Sept. 1, 1923, Reginald Shenton of Falls Creek, Pa.
They have four children, Marion, Dorothy, David and Betty Lou.
4. Edwin Haskell Colcord, born Feb. 13, 1900, married first, Apr.
17, 1920, Carol Veley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Veley;
second, May 28, 1926, Beatrice Irwin; they have two daughters,
Constance and June.
2. Belle Haskell was born July 31, 1864, married Jan. 12, 1905,
Sanford Halsey Lewis, born July 16, 1844, died June 8, 1932. He
was born at Trumansburg, Tompkins county, N. Y., the young-est
son of Dr. Justus and Lucinda (Deake) Lewis. He was a 32
Mason and was largely responsible for the organization of the
Coudersport Consistory.
THE HAVEN FAMILY
Samuel Haven, who located in Coudersport in 1835, had a
long line of distinguished colonial ancestors, one of whom was
Thomas Dudley, Deputy Governor of Massachusetts in 1830.
The narcnts of Samuel Haven were: William Haven, born July
30, 1770, in Portsmouth, N. H., died July 25, 1856, and Sophia
Henderson, born in the same place, Dec. 18, 1875, died May 11,
1879. They were married in 1807 and had twelve children.
Samuel was the fifth child and was born in Portsmouth on
March 21, 1815, died Jan. 28, 1911; married Aug. 11, 1836, Ann
Churchill, born at Albany, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1819, died Oct. 10,
1884. They had four children: 1. Charlotte Ann Haven, born on
June 10, 1838, died at Wellsboro, Dec. 8, 1926; married Devillo
A. Stowell, born June 9, 1832, died Apr. 18, 1891. 2.-William
Roscoe Haven, born, March 9, 1840, died Sept. 5, 1905; married
July 3, 1861, Narissa Wood of Lymansville, Pa., born 1838, died
1904. They lived in Buffalo, had no children.
3. Augusta Isabclla Haven, born July 27, 1843, died April 38
1929; married first on -Oct. 21, 1864, Sobieski Ross, born June 1-6,
1828, died Oct. 24,- 1877. They had one sonl, Thomas: Haven
Ross,' orn Aug. 9, 1865, married Aug. 18,- 1886, Elizabeth Al-lan,
born July 19, 1868, in Scotland. They had two chlidren.
Mrs. Augusta Isabella Ross married the second time on Dec. 1,
1893. James B. Hunter of Cato, N. Y., born 1842, died Feb. 1914.
4. Sophia Louise Haven, born July 15, 1845, died Aug. 28,
1930; married Jan. 10, 1872, Daniel F. Glassmire, Jr., of Coud-ersport.
He was born in Pottsville, Pa., Sept. 22, 1847, died on
Dec. 5. 1893. He was proprietor of the Coudersport Hotel for
manv vrars. Their children: 1. Samuel Haven Glassmire, born
Aug. 22, 1873, married July 26, 1919, Zoe A. Doering, born Dec.
26, 1892. They have one child. 2. Harry Martin Glassmire, born
Dec. 8, 1875, married Nov. 27, 1901, Jeanette Jordan, born Jan.
4, 1878, at Emporia, Kansas. They have one child. 3. Daniel
Faygar Glassmire, III, born Sept. 17,' 1884, married on Oct. 9,
1911, Jeanette Charlotte Schumacher, born Nov. 19, 1892, at
Germania, Pa. Children: Jeanette Charlotte, born Apr. 16, 1912;
Daniel Faygar, IV, born Aug. 27, 1913; Eloise Mary, born Nov.
29,- 1914- Jobh Earl Glassmire, born May.25, 1916; Walter Na-thaiel-
t born Jan. -21l,-'1926. :..-' - ': ' '' '
THE KNOX FAMILY
1. William Knox, b 1709, d 1794. 2. Adam Knox, son of
William, b 1723; m Mollie Campbell, 1761 (2nd wife). 3. Wil-liam
Knox, son of Adam, b 1768; m Margaret Colton, 1790. 4.
James Knox, son of William, b Mar. 1800, d 1880; m Ann Faulk-ner,
b Sept. 26, 1798, in Otsego county, N. Y., d 1876. 5. Frank-lin
William Knox, son of James, b Mar. 8, 1824, d Nov. 16, 1891.
His grandfather was appointed commissioner by the state
of Connecticut to erect a series of block houses to hold disputed
territory between the Delaware River and the lakes of New
York. In the block house in Deerfield township, Tioga county,
Pa., F. W. Knox was born, his father, James Knox, having been
born in the same house 24 years before.
F. W. Knox attended select schools at Knoxville, Pa., the
Wellsboro Academy, and was graduated from Alfred University
in 1847. That year he was principal of the Coudersport Acad-emy.
He was also principal of the Whitesville school one year.
Studied law in the office of John C. Knox of Wellsboro and with
attorney James Lowrey was admitted to the Tioga bar, Sept.,
1850. In Feb. 1851, opened a law office in Coudersport located
over the store of William T. Jones, northwest corner of Main
and Second Streets. In 1874 assisted W. W. Thompson in es-tablishing
the Potter Enterprise. Was connected with the
building of the railroad from Buffalo to Emporium and in build-ing
the C. & P. A. Railroad.
In 1848, F. W. Knox m Janet Rathbone of Wellsville, N. Y.
She was b May 25, 1827, at, Burlington, Pa., d 1852. Two sons
were born to them: 1. Oscar Dewitt Knox, b at Knoxville, Pa.,
Oct. 23, 1849, d Mar. 11, 1885; m Mary Louise Wambold, daugh-ter
of David Wambold of Coudersport. Removed to Bolivar,
Mo., where he practiced law. Died there. His widow, with four
daughters, returned to Coudersport where F. W. Knox built for
them, a home on Allegheny Ave., now the property of Carl L.
Dewey. Mrs. Knox m Sept. 27, 1904, Judge James G. Simpson
of Bolivar, Mo. Died Aug. 26, 1919, while on a visit east. Her
sisters were Mrs. Hattie Maginley and Mrs. Addie Rounsville.
Children: 1. Jeanette Olive, b Oct. 15, 1872. 2. Josephine
Rhoda, b Jan. 17, 1875; m Apr. 8, 1914, L. E. Halsey of Hornell,
N. Y. 3. Nora Florence, b Nov. 12, 1876, m . , , Walter
F. Sanford of Jamestown, N. Y. 4. Nettie, b Oct. 25, 1878, m
Judge J. G. Simpson, her step-father, May 16, 1920.
2. James Lowrey Knox, b Sept. 26, 1851. Graduated from
Ursinus College. Admitted to bar in 1874. District Atty. in
1877; m Sept. 30, 1874, Fannie Abigail Hodskin, daughter of Al-bert
and Celina (Johnson) Hodskin of Coudersport. James L.
Knox d Oct. 31, 1929. Fannie Knox, b Feb. 6, 1853, d Oct. 25,
1944. One son, Rathbone Albert, Knox, was b Aug. 9, 1882, d
Sept. 24, 1939; m Feb. 7, 1905, Lucy Hay Butler. Their only sobi,
James Butler Knox, was b Aug. 20, 1908, d Jan 7, 1938.
F. W. Knox m 2nd in 1854, Katherine Johnsdn, daughter
of Capt. Cyrus and Abigail Johnson and a sister of Maria (Mrs.
Charles S. Jones) and of Celina (Mrs. Albert Hodskin), both
of Coudersport . , She was b Sept. 29? 1821, at Lisle, N. Y., and d
June 9, 1869. Their chiidren: 1. Nettle Knox, b Apr. 21, 1856;
m May 9, 1877, Conrad Hollenbeck, b. in Hebron township,, Pot-
ter county, in 1848, d Jan. 20, 1915. Made their home in Fre-mont,
Neb., where Mr. Hollenbeck practiced law and where Mrs.
Hollenbeck d Feb. 14, 1927.
In 1888 she came to Coudersport, and opened a millinery
business which she sold to Miss A. Blanche Cummings in 1894
and returned to Fremont. Their two children were: 1. Frank
Knox Hollenbeck, a lawyer in Fremont, b June 18, 1878, d Apr.
26, 1931, leaving a wife and six children. 2. Oscar Knox Lowery
Hollenbeck, b Sept. 13, 1884. Died in infancy.
2. Johnnie Knox, son of F. W. and Katherine Knox, b 1858,
d 1860.
F. W. Knox m 3rd, Mrs. Annie Wakeman Dimmick, Mar. 8,
1870, daughter of Gen. B. Wakeman of Laceyville, Pa. She was
b in 1827 and d May 3, 1875. No children.
On June 20, 1877, F. W.- Knox was m to Miss Sarah Eliz-abeth
Dickinson in the North Presbyterian Church in Buffalo,
N. Y., by the Rev. Wolcott Calkins. She was the daughter of
William Dickinson of Hornby, N. Y., and was b Nov. 9, 1840, d
June 9, 1887. Their two children were: 1. Katherine Knox, b
July 13, 1878. 2. Franklin Dickinson Knox, b July 12, 1880t
Katherine Knox m Sept. 6, 1905, James Garfield Covey, son of
John and Elsie (Ashley) Covey, b Dec. 12, 1879, d July 11, 1930,
in the Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D. C. He was a
veteran of the Spanish American War and for several years
preceding his death was secretary of the Coudersport Masonic
Consistory. Their children: 1. John Knox Covey, b Aug. 25,
1906. 2. Elizabeth Ashley Covey, b Jan. 30, 1908. 3. James
Franklin Covey, b Mar. 30, 1911. 4. Francis Dickinson Covey,
b Sept. 7, 1915.
Franklin Dickinson Knox m Mar. 7, 1905, Mildred Carolyn
Stevens, daughter of Irving and Anna Stevens of Coudersport.
Their children: 1. Phyllis Elizabeth Knox, b Dec. 10, 1905, 2.
Rachel Stevens Knox, b Mar. 27, 1908. 3. Gretchen Louise Knox,
b Oct. 6. 1915.
In 1889 F. W. Knox m 5th, Mrs. Carrie Binckley, b 1857j
d 1897.
THE MANN FAMILY
The children of John Mann and Lydia (Battin) Mann were:
1. Levi, b Sept. 7, 1782. 2. John Jr., b Aug. 21, 1784. 3. Lydia,
b July 18, 1786. 4. Mary, b Mar. 20, 1788. 5. Abigail, b July 9,
1790. 6. Margaret, b Sept. 24, 1792. 7. Issahar, b Dec. 25, 1794.
2. John Mann Jr., was married to Mary Smith, daughter of
James and Smith, April 13, 1808. Their children: 1. Jo-seph
Mann, b Oct. 8, 1810, d Feb. 18, 1884. 2. Lewis Mann, b
Oct. 1. 1813. 3. John S. Mann, b Feb. 29, 1816. 4 Parvin Mann,
b May 11, 1817. Mrs. Mary (Smith) Mann, wife of John Mann
Jr., d May 29, 1817. On Apr. 29, 1819, John Mann Jr., m Sarah
Lord, daughter of John and Rebecca Lord of West Fallowfield
county, Pa. The marriage ceremony was in accordance with tihe
Quaker custom. She d in Coudersport, Oct. 25, 1851, in her 59th
year.
In 1824 John Mann Jr., removed to Susquehanna couinty and
established a- boarding school in which -some- of his sons later
became teaehers. The place was: kn6*n as "Mannington." In
1844 he accepted the position of teacher of mathematics in the
Coudersport Academy of which the Rev. John B. Pradt was prin-ciral.
Mr. Mann was justice of the peace for several years and
d in Coudersport, Oct. 25, 1855, in his 72nd year.
Joseph Mann m Harriett Porter of Choconut Square, Su,
quehanna county, in 1833 In 1838 he came to Ceres, Pa, where
he became surveyor for McKean and Potter count~ies. On Apr.
1, 1841, he m Eloisa Adaline Dutton. She died in Coudersport
Mar. 11, 1881, age 64 yrs., 3 mos., and 10 days.
- In 1846 they removed to Coudersport and later that year
to Millport where Mr. Mann took charge of the Newbold Lum-bering
Co. Was elected Asso. Judge in 1851 and re-elected in
1856' They returned to Coudersport in 1866 and Mr. Mann en-
'gaged in mercantile business. June 25, 1868, he purchased from
Joh.a B. Smith the square bounded by Allegheny Ave., Cartee,
Oak, and Borie Streets on which Smith had erected a brick
dwelling in 1863.
-Their daughter, Mary Eloise Mann, was b Jan. 15, 1844, and
d Dec. .15, 1928. On Oct. 10, 1867, she m Pierre Augustus Steb-bins,
son of Pierre Alonzo and Almira (Brundage) Stebbins, b
Feb. 10, 1887, at Hammondsport, N. Y., d Sept. 15, 1909. Pierre
A Stebbins was a direct descendant of Rowland and Sarah
(Whitney) Stebbins, b in England, 1594, m 1618, d Dec. 14,
1674, at Northampton, Mass., the town which he and William
Pyncheon founded.
Pierre Alonzo Stebbins was elected sheriff of Potter county
on Oct. 11, 1853, and soon afterward removed from Ulysses to
Couderspoit. He served from Jan., 1854, to Jan. 1857. He en-tered
the mercant1 .le business in 1858, his first advertisement of
goods appearing on Sept. 16 of 'that year. He- was later asso-ciated
in business with his son, Pierre Augustus, who, with his
brother, Charles A. Stebbins, carried on the business many years
in the "Corner Store," northwest corner of Main and Second
Streets. Children of Pierre Augustus and Maiy Mann Stebbins:
1 Katherine Lucille Stebbins, b Aug. 2, 1816, d Aug. 14, 1897.
2. Eloise Mann Stebbins, b May 8, 1870, d Oct. 14, 1937; m Sept.
26, 1893, to John Walter Wells, son of Walter and Sarah (Ly-man)
Wells. Their children: 1. Lucille, (Mrs. Howard N.
Schut't), Katherine (Mrs. H. V. Hollingsworth Pett), and Wal-ter
Pierre Wells.
2. Lewis Mann m Mary Ellen Russell. In 1844 he was
elected state representative and again in 1858. He was the first
Republican postmaster in Coudersport, being appointed by Pres-ident
Lincoln in June, 1861. In August of that year he received
an appointment, to a position in the U. S. Treasury which he
held until his death.
3. John S. Mann was b at London Grove, Chester county,
Pa., of Quaker parentage. In 1835 he came to McKean county
and engaged in teaching and surveying. He returped to Sus
ouelianna county to study law with Judge Jessup of Mont-rose.
In the winter of 1840-41 he taught school in Olean and in March
of that year came to Coudersport and studied law in the office
of Crosby Ellis. He was admitted to practice law in 1842. On
June 28, 1842. he m at Ceres, Pa., MissgMary Williams King,
b Jan. 15, 1820, d Jan. 16, 1899, daughter of John and. Hannah
(Clendenon) King. John King was b at Bridgeport, Dover, Eng.,
Aug. 9, 1784, and d at Ceres. He was the eldest, son of Francis
King of Somersetshire, England, who d in Ceres, Pa.. Sept. 9,
1814. and Catherine Kenway of Dorsetshire, England, who d
Nov. 1801, in Ceres, Pa. They had nine children, the four eldest
born in England.
In 1795 the family came to Philadelphia and shortly after-ward
settled at Asylum, Bradford county, Pa. In 1796 Francis
King, who was a surveyor, was engaged by John Keating to
explore and make reports of some lands in northern Pennsyl-vania
in a contemplated purchase by the Ceres Land Company.
Influenced by the favorable report, the land was purchased Dec.
21, 1796. Francis King was engaged by John Keating to become
a resident agent for these lands and in the spring of 1798 hen
brought his family to what is now the village of Ceres, Pa., the
first family to settle at that place.
The parents of Hannah King were Robert Clendenon of
Christian Hundred, b Apr. 28, 1779, and Elizabeth Battin of
East Marlborough. Both were of the Quaker faith. Their chil-dren:
1. Phebe Clendenon. 2. Sarah Clendenon, b Nov. 27,
1785, d Aug. 7, 1879. 3. Hannah Clendenon, b Mar. 3, 1789, d
Nov., 1861, m John King. 4. Rachel, b in Delaware, 1794, d
1856, never married. 5. Abigail Clendenon, b Jan. 7, 1795, d
Oct. 18, 1844, m Asahel Wright. 6. Lydia Clendenon, b Feb. 20,
1798, d Feb. 3, 1878, m Henry Chevalier in 1835. He was b -in
Switzerland, Sept. 11, 1801, d June 15, 1892. 7. Isaac Clendenon.
In the early spring of 1812 Robert, Clendenon, wife and two
daughters, Hannah and Lydia, came from their home near Phil-adelphia
to take' charge of a Friend Mission on the Allegheny
River in western N. Y. John King and Hannah Clendenon were
married in East Marlborough township, Chester county, Pa., on
Apr. 4. 1817, according to the Quaker marriage custom.
John S. Mann brought his bride to Coudersport where they
established their home. Mr. Mann conducted a general store
and in 1850 became editor of the Potter County Journal. He
was state representative d
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