| Notes |
- "Beebe's History of Potter County", p. 41: John Dingman and Nathan Turner, with their families, and Abram Dingman moved in on March 1, 1816. It was cold wintry weather. They became snowbound at nightfall on the Nine Mile and nearly perished. Three girls of the party mounted the three horses. Nathan Turner and his wife remained with the wagon, while the rest of the party set out to bring help. It became dark, and for fear of losing their way, they were obliged to remain out all night. One of the arty succeeded in starting a fire by firing a musket into the outer wood of a dead hemlock tree -- there were no matches in tose days -- and thus kept the party from freezing. News of these people reached Lymansville the next morning, and John Lyman and Jacob Vanatter took fresh teams and went to their rescue.
Both families settled for a short time in a cabin on the farm now belonging to Justus Mehring, but they removed a short time afterwards to the farm known as the Stephen Sherwood place just below Mina, where they lived together for many years. John Dingman's parents afterwards came, and the elder Dingman, who was a millwright, built a mill on the river bank at the mouth of Dingman Run. It was badly damaged soon afterwards by high water; he then built another mill farther up the run, the remains of this last mill dam being yet easily seen.
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"A History of Potter County, PA" by Almeron Nelson, 1875 (quoted by Patty Vella- cf. ref, May 2001)-
John Dingman and wife (Hannah Turner Dingman), Nathan Turner and wife, with their respective families, and Abram Dingman came to this county (Potter Co, PA) from Chenango Co, NY March 1, 1816. As they began to climb the Allegheny range from the Pine Creek side, they encountered such deep snows that the horses could not make the summit with their wagons. After a consultation, it was determined that Nathan Turner and his wife should remain with the wagons, and the rest of the party should take their three horses and endeavor to reach the settlement on the Allegheny river. Mrs. Dingman rode one of the horses, and the two nearly grown-up girls, boy fashion, started with the other horses. After great fatigue, labor and anxiety, darkness came upon them, and the mountain was still rising before them. For fear of losing their way, there was no alternative left them but to remain on that mountain-side, in deep snows, for the night. Fortunately, one of the party had an old Revolutionary musket, and after several attempts in firing powder into a dry tree, they were rejoiced by seeing a small spark of fire kindle. The men and boys gathered dry branches of fallen trees, made a large fire, and thereby saved the entire party from freezing. The next morning, news reached the young settlement at Lymansville of the deplorable condition of John Dingman's party, and John Lyman and Jacob Vanatter at once started out with fresh teams and sleighs to hunt up the snow-bound pioneers. They were found and all brought to Major Lyman's, where they were most kindly cared for. This was help in time of need, and it was cheerfully rendered. These newcomers built a small house, and resided on the farm now occupied by Justus Mehring. They remained there but a short time, and then went into possession of the farm now occupied by Stephen Sherwood in Roulet, where both families lived for many years. Soon after they were located, the father and mother of John Dingman came. Mr. Dingman, Sr. (Henry) was a millwright. He built a small grist mill on the river bank near where they resided, and afterwards another on Dingman Run, very near where the schoolhouse is now located. He subsequently built a small mill on Pine Creek, and later died there. The old lady (Peggy Shutter Dingman) died a few years since, at the great age of 101 years. She remembered up to her death many incidents of the Revolution, had seen in her day General Washington, and was in the vicinity when the memorable Burgoyne's Surrender took place, and witnessed part of the proceedings. John Dingman is now 87 years of age, and resides most of the time in Coudersport, PA.
Nathan Turner was accidently shot by George Taggart in the summer of 1834 on the old Salt Works road that led from the Allegheny river to the salt works. It was arranged that they were to go upon this road to make some needed repairs. Turner and another man started on ahead early in the morning with a team. Taggart followed after, with his gun in hand, as was the custom. When he neared the top of the ridge, he saw what he supposed to be a deer, fired, hastened to the spot, and, horror-stricken, saw the prostrate form of his neighbor and friend struggling in death. This sad occurrence caused great grief all over the county, both parties being well known. George Taggart mourned the occurrence to the day of his death.
Those early settlers, like most of the others, came with their own teams, and weeks were numbered in making the trip. They followed the Hudson down to Albany and thence came by the well-known Catskill Pike, through Courtland and Steuben counties, and finally landed in the wild woods of Potter.
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