Reminiscences of Plymouth
Luzerne County, Penna.
A Pen Picture of the Old Landmarks of the
Town; the Names of Old Residents; the
Manners, Customs and Descriptive Scenes,
and Incidents of Its Early History.
By
SAMUEL LIVINGSTON FRENCH
1914-
Copyrighted, 1915, by
SAMUEL LIVINGSTON FRENCH
Plymouth, Penna.
PREFACE
SOME time ago an elderly gentleman of near my
own age and a stranger in the town, called upon
me in search of information regarding some of the old
landmarks of Plymouth which he remembered, but had
not seen since his young boyhood. I have also heard
of other old people, who, in response to that inherent
longing, or natural instinct which impels a return to the
paternal nest, having visited the town to view the scenes
of their youth, and revive the precious memories of their
happy childhood.
There are doubtless many others who are imbued
with the same natural human desire; and in a measure
to gratify such, it was suggested to me, that perhaps I,
as one of the few remaining relics of a past age was
properly qualified and therefore in duty bound, so far
as possible, to rescue from oblivion and perpetuate the
old memories, by placing on record enduring evidence
of bygone scenes and incidents. In the contemplation of
that task, in the efforts in tracing up obliterated, or fast
disappearing landmarks, I have been somewhat sur-
prised to discover but comparatively few persons re-
maining here whose knowledge regarding the past was
in that respect much, if any better or more reliable than
my own.
That circumstance, while strangely enough arousing
a suspicion in my mind that I too must be getting old
and fossilized, also tended to add force to the sugges-
tion that perhaps a duty was devolving upon me to under-
take a task which in the course of nature, "if it were
done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done
quickly."
The describing and recounting of old scenes and
incidents as they have been recalled by my researches
has been to me a labor of love, and I submit the results
of my efforts in endeavoring to comply with the injunc-
tion, "rejoice and do good," in the hope that by reviving
memories of long forgotten scenes may assist perhaps
some despondent natives to live again in memory the
happy days of their youth.
S. L. French.
Plymouth^ Pa.,
December 15th, 1914.
CONTENTS
Chapter I.
Early History — Connecticut Charter — Shawnee Indians — Town
Name — Erection of the Borough — Petitioners for — First
Officials — Boundaries of — Elections — Cliques and Fights. I
Chapter II.
Lower End of Town — The Old Hodge House — The Wright
Homestead — Silk Industry — Mrs. Ellen Wright — Landscape
Scenery — Samuel Ransom — John Kreidler — Thos. Mast —
Isaac Kreidler — Home Sweet Home — Query for Naturalists
— Old Scenes — Hodge Cemetery. 5
Chapter III.
Col. Ransom's Homestead — His Capture by Indians — Ira Ran-
som — The "Swing Gate" — School Boy's Pranks — Old Sucker
Hole — Round Stakes — Thos. Davenport's House — Ira
■ Davenport — His Store — Post Office — Mails and Stage Coach
— John and Elijah Davenport — Cider Press — John B. Smith's
House — Jessop's Hotel — Chas. Water's Shoe Shop — Samuel
Davenport's Store — Chauncey Reynolds' House — Albert Ga-
briel — C. E. Young — Turner's Tannery — "Aunt" Fanny
Turner — Turner's Store — Wadham's Store — The M. E.
Church — Old Kingston Church. I4
Chapter IV.
Old M. E. Parsonage — Donation parties — H. Gaylord's Home-
stead — Old Store — James Macfarlane — First National Bank
— Conrad Shafer — Draper Smith's Store — F. E. Spry — Par-
dee and Winters — C. L. Farnum — Jos. Preston — C. A.
Kuschke — Gaylord's Store — Capt. Asher Gaylord — Gaylord's
Railroad and Wharf — Dietrick's Hotel — Samuel Turner —
James McAlarney — Eli Bitteubender — Querin Krothe —
Noah Wadham's Homestead — Andrew Shupp — Geo. P.
Richard's — "Squire" Brown — Nesbitt Homstead — Old Scenes
— Elm Hill and Tree — John J. Shonk — Olewine — Culver —
"Sammy" Gould. 24
Chapter V.
Coal Street — Oliver Davenport — Edwin Davenport — Christopher
Garrahan — Patrick Cullen — Phoebe Pringle — Carpenter
Rinus — French's Grist Mill — John Smith — "Aunt" Charry
Clark — The French Tunnel — Francis J. Smith — Calathum-
pian Serenades — The Horse Fiddle — The "Big Coal Bed" —
William Dennis — Richard Egbertson — Robt. Davenport —
Samuel Vanloon — Benj. and Fuller Reynolds — Calvin and
Samuel Wadhams — Manny fVharram — Benj. Pringle — SamH
Lewis — Sam'l Harrison. 32
Chapter VI.
Early Religious Services — The Old Academy — Lorenzo Dow —
Great Religious Revival — Revs. Miles and Snowden — Pres-
byterians — A Personal Episode and Erection of a Church —
First Church Edifice — Christian Church — Early Ministers of
— Early Schools and Teachers — The Bachelor's Club — Their
Rules and Proceedings — Benj. Parke — Other Teachers —
Corporal Punishment — The Old Lecture Room School House
— The Spelling School. 39
Chapter VII.
Farming Methods — Threshing and Marketing Grain — Flax In-
dustry — The Old Spinning Wheels — Dipping Candles — Grist
Mills — Coal Industry — Building of Arks and Boats — Shaw-
nee Against the World — Origin of Slogan — Methods of Pre-
paring and Shipping Coal — Old Records — Coal Markets —
Cost of Mining and Selling — Prices for Coal — Hard Times
— Deplorable Conditions — Wages and Cost of Commodities.
48
Chapter VIII.
Early Coal Operators and Mines — Choke Island — Broderick and
Conyngham's Troubles — Exit of Individual Operators and the
Entrance of Corporations — Capture of Fugitive Slaves — Bru-
talities of the Fugitive Slave Laiu — Uncle Tom's Cabin. 56
Chapter IX.
Reverie — Wild Pigeons — Swimming — Rafting — A Disappointing
Experience — Traveling Inconveniencies — Flood of 1852 and
the Resulting Hardships — Flood of 1865 — Incidents of the
Flood — Early Military Organizations — The Shawnee Rang-
ers — General Training — Martial Music — Black Jack — Later
Military Companies — Top Heaviness of the Military Estab-
lishments. 62
Chapter X.
Early Methods of Traveling — Weaver's Stage Line — Steamboats
— The Little Jim — Transferring Canal Boats — Shoivs and
Circuses — Burial Grounds and Cemeteries — Early Medical
Methods — Doctors — Bogus Diplomas. 70
Chapter XI.
Early Methods of Weighing — System of Barter — Reason for
Peculiarity of Prices of Commodities — Currency Conditions
— Spanish Coins — Fips and Shillings — Counterfeit Notes —
Era of Shinplasters — Customs of Early Merchants — Means
of Travel — Wholesale Merchants — Arrival of Goods —
Pedlars and Their Wares. 'j'j
Chapter XII.
The Past and the Present, Comparisons — The "Appy Og" —
Mythical Superior Traits of Honesty — Early Habits and
Characteristics of People — Social Customs — Sociability
Among Neighbors — Quilting Parties — Visiting — Apple Cuts
and Candy Pulls — Deferences to Old People — Incidents —
The 400 Society — Town Newspapers — Names of Business
Men and Firms. 81
Chapter XIII.
The War of the Rebellion — Captain Gay lord — Copperheads —
Fishing Creek Confederacy — Skulkers — Funeral of First Vic-
tim — Rev. Thomas P. Hunt — An Incident — Bounty Bonds
— Railroad Riots of 1877 — Acts of Lawlessness — Arrival of
Troops — The Molly Maguires — Killing of Dunleavy. 87
Chapter XIV.
The Avondale Disaster — Typhoid Fever Epidemic — The Changes
in Population — A Filial Tribute — Conclusion. 91
ILLUSTRATIONS
Facing
Page.
View from Wright Homestead Frontispiece
The Wright Homestead 6
The French Homestead I2
The Big Coal Bed 36
The Old Academy 39
Academy Street from Shawnee Avenue T2
Chapter I.
Early History — Connecticut Charter — Shawnee Indians — Town
Name — Erection of the Borough — Petitioners for — First
Officials — Boundaries of — Elections — Cliques and Fights
T N the Historical Sketches of Plymouth by the
Honorable Hendrick B. Wright, to whose history
I acknowledge indebtedness for much of the historical
data relating to the earlier history of the town which I
shall have occasion to refer to in the following pages,
that author gives the date of "birth of Plymouth," as
December 28th, 1768.
It was one of the noted seventeen townships em-
braced within the territory vested In the "Susquehanna
Company," by charter granted by King Charles II. of
England, In 1662, and known as the "Connecticut
Charter," which covered a tract of land extending be-
tween two parallel lines of latitude some fifty miles north
and south, and from east to west, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Oceans. As King Charles^ In his generosity
nineteen years later, to-wit: March 4, 1681, granted
precisely the same tract or parcel of land to William
Penn and his associates, known as the "Proprietary
Government of Pennsylvania," this slight lapse of
memory, or lack of knowledge of geography on the part
of George, was subsequently the cause of some very
serious misunderstandings, and differences of opinion In
the minds of the early settlers, to say nothing about the
rights and claims of the Shawnee Tribe of Indians, who
were the original landlords and proprietors of the real
estate In dispute. But, as these reminiscences concern
only the scenes and occurrences transpiring within the
last hundred years. It Is not my purpose to mix into that
quarrel, nor discuss the subject, pro and con, of the exer-
cise therein, of the right of eminent domain, which in
2 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
plain vernacular, means the acquisition, under color of
law, of valuable possessions by brute force; further than
to intimate that the above-mentioned clerical or geo-
graphical error created a very unpleasant muss which
lasted many years, but is now barred out from con-
troversy by the statute of limitations.
The town of Plymouth is often in derision, disdain-
fully called "Black Shawnee," when referred to by some
well-to-do people, whose non-aristocratic ancestors in all
probability may have accumulated the wealth which they
enjoy by selling rum over the counter at three cents a
drink, or perhaps, whose barefooted grandmothers drove
cows to pasture on the mountain sides or on Shawnee
Flats.
The name "Shawnee" ought to have been retained,
as being more original and appropriate, and much more
preferable to the Puritan one of "Plymouth," and, in
commemoration of the original aborigines, whose belli-
gerent characteristics were doubtless inherited by their
later successors, and in a measure, is being perpetuated
in the well-known slogan of "Shawnee against the
World!"
The present Borough of Plymouth was erected by
decree of Honorable John N. Conyngham, President
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne
County, on the 23rd day of April, A. D., 1866, upon
the recommendation of the Grand Jury, upon petition
therefor of the following named residents, to-wit:
John B, Smith H. Gaylord
Peter Shupp Draper Smith
JosiAH M. Eno Daniel Gardiner
A. R. Matthews William Jenkins
Geo. p. Richards S. M. Davenport
Edward Griffith Lewis Boughton
A. F. Shupp John J. Shonk
James McAlarney J. P. Davenport
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Eli Bittenbender
David McDonald
c. a. kuschke
Andrew F. Levi
QuERiN Krothe
David Madden
John Dodson
Darius Gardiner
John Cobley
W. L. Lance, Jr.
J. E. Smith
R. N. Smith
John Dennis
David Levi
W. W. Lance
Wm. W. Dietrick
James Hutchinson
George Brown
Oliver Davenport
Samuel French
A. Gabriel
Theodore Renshaw
Edward G. Jones
J. L. Nesbitt
J. W. Weston
J. H. Waters
John E. Halleck
E. R. Wolfe
F. E, Spry
C. F. Derby
Anthony Duffy
D. Brown
A. G. RiCKARD
T. P. Macfarlane
W. L. Lance
Lewis Gorham
John Jessop
A. S. Davenport
A. Hutchinson
Brice S. Blair
John S. Geddis
C. H. Wilson, M.D.
The first borough election under that decree was
held in the "Old Academy," under the auspices of Oliver
Davenport as judge, and John J. Shonk and Ira Daven-
port as inspectors, on the second Tuesday of the follow-
ing May, when Elijah C. Wadhams was elected Burgess.
The boundaries of the borough embraced approxi-
mately the territory extending from the 1-ine of No. 1 1
Coal Breaker property of the L. & W. B. Coal Com-
pany on the east, to the old Mud Tunnel Road — prob-
ably a mile and a half distant — on the west; and from
the river on the south up to a little beyond a line parallel
with Back Street, now known as Shawnee Avenue, or
from near the river, excluding farm lands, to near the
foot of the mountain. The borough was divided into
two wards, the East and the West, the dividing line
being Academy Street, and the borough elections were
held in the Old Academy where the township elections
had previously been held.
4 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
These township or general elections in the days of
my boyhood were always looked upon as gala days. On
those occasions the pent up enthusiasm of the patriots
would make itself manifest, and in consequence there
would be more or less excitement the entire day. During
the preliminary campaigns the ardor of the voters would
be frequently aroused and kept at proper temperature
by means of "flag-pole raisings," on which occasions
speeches by prominent orators were the dominant fea-
tures. Hickory poles, in reference to "Old Hickory" —
General Jackson — would symbolize the loco-foco or
Democratic party, and pine, that of the whigs or Repub-
lican, and which were also called "liberty poles." On
the tops of these poles there would usually be retained
the natural branches and foliage that there might be no
mistake made as to their political identity.
The voters on election days would assemble from the
Kingston line on the east, to West Nanticoke on the
west, and almost invariably, when the Nanticoke contin-
gent had arrived upon the ground in the afternoon, there
would start a fight, and torn clothes and bloody heads
would be conspicuously in evidence. These patriotic
ebullitions, however, must not be wholly credited to the
Nanticoke boys, for since the earliest times there seems
to have been a jealous clique existing between the "up-
town" and "downtown" sections of the community; the
dividing line between the factions being the old Acad-
emy; and, like their aboriginal predecessors, when the
two factions happened to meet in numbers, there was
likely to be a scrimmage. At one of these general elec-
tions I recall, a new element from the neighborhood of
Welsh Hill, or Poke Hollow, was injected, which united
the factions, and there resulted a general battle in which
clubs and stones were very much in evidence. The in-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 5
vaders, however, were ignominiously driven from the
field without any serious damage resulting. Another in-
stance about the time of the outbreak, of the rebellion,
when a clash occurred between a copper-head preacher
named Headly and one of the prominent citizens for a
time threatened more serious results.
Chapter II.
Lower End of Town — The Old Hodge House — The Wright
Homestead — Silk Industry — Mrs. Ellen Wright — Landscape
Scenery — Samuel Ransom — John Kreidler — Thos. Mast —
Isaac Kreidler — Home Sweet Home — Query for Naturalists
— Old Scenes — Hodge Cemetery.
T N recounting my recollections and impressions
of the scenes, old landmarks and old residents of
Plymouth, I will commence at the lower, or west end of
the borough; that locality being the place of my birth
and where the larger part of my boyhood days were
spent; and thence, following the main or principal thor-
oughfare eastward, will endeavor to picture the scenes in
regular order as I recall them upwards of sixty years
ago:
Beginning at a point on the lower side of the road
nearby the bridge which crosses the excavation made
for the old Jersey plane, there stood an old black house
two stories high which, I think, was known as the "Old
Hodge House," and where lived in early days, if I am
not mistaken, a man named Skadden, who was a cabinet-
maker. I have in my possession an old writing desk and
bookcase more than a hundred years old which belonged
to my grandfather; it is made of cherry wood, which
grew on Shawnee Flats, and which, I believe, was made
by Mr. Skadden, and still attests the superiority of his
6 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
workmanship. This house was later occupied by a
family named Bangs, and later still by Carpenter Rinus,
an old citizen, and at the time of the building of the
L. & B. R.R., Anthony Duffy, a section boss, lived there.
Mr. Duffy, who was quite an original, afterwards be-
came one of Plymouth's foremost and enterprising citi-
zens. He built Duffy's Hall, now occupied as a saloon
and public hall by F. L. Donn. He used to tell of an
opportunity he once had of buying a town site in Ireland
for a pair of boots, and the only reason the purchase
was not made was because he didn't have the boots.
A little further down and on the opposite side of the
road, in a little one and a half story building there lived
an old colored man with a white wife, who was known
as Black Anthony. This house was later occupied bv
Thomas Worman. Coming up the road, on the upper
side, near the Mud Tunnel Road, stood the large Andrus
barn, so named for a former occupant of a red house a
few rods further up. Directly in front of this house and
on the lower side of the road, stood a large walnut tree,
and near it was a road leading down to my step grand-
father's barn, behind which there usually stood several
large stacks of hay and grain. Almost precisely on this
spot now stands the fan house and Wright slope of the
Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company.
Coming up on the upper side of the main road was
the dwelling house of my step-grandfather, Joseph
Wright, the father of Hendrick B., Caleb E. and Har-
rison Wright. This house is yet standing, though in a
dilapidated condition. On the westerly side of this house
there used to be a stream of clear water and by the side
of the road stood a public watering trough. Here was
also a beautiful grove of mulberry trees covering prob-
ably two or three acres of ground, and there, when a boy,
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 7
I used to spread salt in long troughs for the benefit of a
flock of sheep, and at certain seasons of the year my task
was to gather mulberry leaves to feed my grandmother's
silk worms, which she raised in the front room of her
house, where they were spread out on long tables built
for the purpose. They grew to be large green, repulsive
looking things, about the size of a man's finger, and
when fully engaged in devouring the leaves, their masti-
cation exertions were quite noisy. I don't just remem-
ber the process, but after a short period these nasty
looking varments would roll, or transform themselves
into the most beautiful golden cocoons, which my grand-
mother would somehow or other manipulate into silk
thread, which was later transformed into stockings or
other articles of wearing apparel. She also had a
weaver's loom in another building in the rear of the
house, where, like others of her neighbors, she wove
wool and flaxen cloths. In the yard beside the garden
fence there stood a tall hop pole — a familiar sight at
nearly all the dwellings — where a profusion of hops were
grown for use in making yeast to raise bread and for the
manufacture of hop poultices, but these articles are now
numbered among the lost arts and about the only useful
purpose this, valuable vegetable promoter of health and
comfort now serves in this enlightened age is in the
manufacture of beer, with which to raise — well, domestic
infelicity.
My grandmother, who died in the ninety-seventh
year of her age, was in very many respects a most re-
markable woman. She was a great reader, well versed
in all the current events of the day, and I have reason
to believe, she thoroughly understood the almanac and
knew the Bible almost by heart, from Genesis to Reva-
lations, including the Apochrypha. I lived with her when
8 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
quite a young man, and upon returning from church on
Sundays, where I sometimes went, if I could manage to
remember but three or four words of the text, she could
most always locate, if not repeat it. One night I was out
pretty late — I was old enough to attend "apple cuts" —
and I came into the house on tip-toe, and as I imagined,
had made a safe retreat. The next morning she said to
me, "Livingston, what time did you come;, in last night?"
"Oh," I replied, "I guess it must have been about lO
o'clock." "Well!" she said, "the moon didn't rise last
night until after i o'clock, and it was some time after
that before you came in."
There was no immediate occasion for any further
argument, and I had urgent business out in the yard.
In front of this house was a beautiful view of broad
and fertile fields and meadows, where many a day I have
worked at hoeing corn or making hay, but this is now
all obscured and obliterated; the greater portion of the
landscape being covered over with huge piles of culm
and debris from the old Washington coal breaker and
the Wright slope, and its former beauty exists only in
memory.
A few rods on further up the road was the residence
of Samuel Ransom — yet standing. This house was
originally built for use as a hotel, but was not so used
within my remembrance. On the lower side of the road
and in front of the house stood his barn, and just above
the house was the dairy house which was supplied with
water from a small stream coming from a spring a little
way above. Just below this and near the road was the
hennery, and on the upper side of the road was a public
watering trough. These last named premises later gave
place to the residence and surroundings of William L.
Lance.
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 9
Samuel Ransom had several children, only three of
whom I recall as living with him. They were Court-
right and Jamison, both near my own age, and a younger
daughter, Margretta. There was also a daughter,
Hannah, who died. They subsequently removed to the
neighborhood of Muncy, on the west branch of the
Susquehanna.
Coming a little farther up and on the same side of
the road, I have a faint recollection of there having
stood a blacksmith's shop conducted by a colored man
known as "Black John," and next above, there stands
yet, a one and a half story red house where lived in my
earliest recollection, Elias Petty, who drove team for my
father. Mrs. Katy Gabriel also at one time lived there.
Later, this building was converted into and used as a
store by my father. It is now used as a tenement house.
On the opposite side of the road was the wheelwright
shop and residence of John Kreidler, and the black-
smith shop and residence of Thomas Mast.
Almost in front of Kreidler's shop, and quite in the
roadway, there stood a very large walnut tree. This
wheelwright shop and residence was afterwards occu-
pied by Isaac Kreidler, who used to make for us boys
hand sleds with oak runners, for which he charged, first
a shilling (i2>^ cents), then 15 cents each, which was a
fabulous sum of money; later he declared he could not
afford to make any more for less than 25 cents, which
was an utterly prohibitory price, and that industry
ceased. In emergent cases, he would also occasionally
make coffins. These were made with double folding lids
and were invariably stained red.
The residence of Mr. Mast, which is yet standing,
was afterwards occupied by the family of Robert Hun-
ter, who drove the Chauncey tunnel, the coal mine now
10 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
operated by the George F. Lee Coal Company. Mr.
Hunter had a large family; two of his sons, Robert and
James, served in the army during the war of the re-
bellion, and a daughter, Ellen, married Philip Keller,
and was the mother of Joseph H. Schwartz's first wife.
Mr. Mast removed to the West Branch of the Susque-
hanna.
John Kreidler had two children, George and Sabina.
The family removed to Illinois, and George died from
the effects of wounds received in the battle of Pittsburgh
Landing.
Next in order comes the most interesting place to me
of all, the old paternal homestead. On the upper side
of the road there stands today the main part of the old
stone house which was probably built by a man named
Coleman, who was of the early large property owners in
Plymouth, or possibly, by James Hodge, who had for-
merly lived in it; and, although it is probably more than
a hundred years old, is apparently in as good condition
now as ever. There, on the 28th day of September,
1839, I first saw the light of day, and there, barring the
time I spent away at school or in the army, I spent the
most of, and the happiest days of my early life. How
often I recall, and realize the truth of the words of
my revered old maiden aunt, who, when I would be
fretting and worrying over some boyish troubles, would
say: "Poor child, he is living the happiest days of his
life and don't know it."
The front and side of the house was almost entirely
covered over with climbing ivy, and the spacious yard
was filled with large black cherry and other trees and
shrubbery, affording abundant and delightful shade in
hot weather, and likewise, a safe retreat for innumer-
able birds of varied kinds and plumage, in which to hold
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 1 1
their daily concerts. But these beautiful feathered
musicians of nature, like the original aborigines, have en-
tirely disappeared before the onward sweep of civiliza-
tion; most of their species, if not now become extinct,
are but reminiscences of natural history, and the sweet
melody of birds has given place to yelping mongrel dogs
— and such is civilization.
This diversion in the interests of the feathered tribe
recalls an incident which perhaps will be of interest to
naturalists. One day as I was approaching the house
through the front yard, my attention was attracted to
the peculiar antics of a small bird, flitting to and fro
among the vines with drooping wings and apparently in
distress. I walked towards it and came very near put-
ting my hand on a big black snake which was coiled
around the trunk of the vine some four or five feet above
the ground. I stepped back and for a few moments
watched the bird, which, with plaintive cry would every
time come closer and closer, apparently fearing to ap-
proach, yet powerless to resist. I shot the snake and
threw it out on the grass, and for several hours after
that bird would hop around and near it, acting precisely
as it did in the vines, all the time making the same dole-
ful cry. Was not that bird charmed by the snake? But
to resume again the thread of my story; there, at the side
of the house near the kitchen door and under the shade
of a huge walnut tree, stood the old wooden pump with
its long iron handle — "How dear to my heart are the
scenes of my childhood." On that iron handle I once
on a banter, "stuck" my tongue on a frosty morning; it
stuck all right to my great sorrow.
On the easterly side and a few yards distant ran
the Ransom Creek, which in my earliest recollections
was a stream of clear water. There I used to play with
12 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
sail boats and water wheels, and there in early spring my
father's sheep were brought to be washed and sheared.
Among that flock of sheep I have reason to remember,
was the "old ram," so well known to many men and
boys whose great delight was to tease him in the pasture
lot above the barn, and who thus became so ferocious
that my father hung on his horns, covering his face and
giving him a very grotesque appearance, a large piece of
sole leather with small eyeholes cut in it, as a means of
protective warning to strangers who might happen to
come within his range.
On the north side of the house were the barns and
sheds, to the right of which there was formerly an apple
orchard, and a little farther up where tenement houses
now stand was a beautiful grove of oak trees, where
Sunday School picnics were sometimes held.
From the barnyard, a narrow lane, lined with mul-
berry trees led up the hill into an apple orchard, near the
east side of which, later, ran the old Washington plane;
and in the lower corner of this orchard, under the shade
of a large wild cherry tree, was located a small private
burying ground of the Hodge family, for James Hodge
had formerly lived in the homestead. This burial place
filled with briar bushes and weeds, was surrounded by a
rather dilapidated stone wall, and within it was a large
tomb or vault, which in turn was surrounded with a
wooden fence, the corner posts of which were sur-
mounted with large wooden urns. This particular
tomb always impressed me, when a boy, with a feeling
of awe, and close beside it was another grave, on the
head-stone of which I recall the horrifying inscription :
"Remember, friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I."
This graveyard is now entirely obliterated, not a
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 13
vestige of it remains; the dead, like the old, are in the
way, and must make room for progress; and thus, like
"Imperial Caeser, dead and turned to clay,
May stop a hole to keep the wind away."
Returning again to the homestead, on the westerly
side and but a few feet distant, was a frame building
built originally for a carriage house. This my father
fitted up as a private school room for us children, under
the tutelage of my elder sister. There being ample
room, and no detriment to proper instruction thereby, a
few of the neighbors' children were admitted as pupils.
Of these, I recall the names of Mary and Ellen Garra-
han, Esther and Isabel Bulkley, Sam McNulty, Wilson
Wright and Hannah Miller, who worked for my grand-
mother. This school was successfully continued for
several years, and after its abandonment the building was
converted into an office and private club room, where,
under the leadership of W. Z. Hatcher, a near neighbor,
Will and De Haven Lance, my brother and myself used
to meet most every evening and practice as a string
band. We had a flute, two or three violins, and a violin-
cello, and made pretty good music. Those, indeed, were
happy days.
On the opposite side of the road from the house was
a one-story schoolhouse, but this I will describe in an-
other chapter.
In the preceding descriptions, as in those to follow,
I have endeavored to picture the old town as I remem-
ber it many years ago. The intervening spaces between
the buildings mentioned, have, in many instances, since
been solidly built up.
Chapter III.
Col. Ransom's Homestead — His Capture by Indians — Ira Ran-
som — The "Swing Gate" — School Boy's Pranks — Old Sucker
Hole — Round Stakes — Thos. Davenport's House — Ira
Davenport — His Store — Post Office — Mails and Stage Coach
— John and Elijah Davenport — Cider Press — John B. Smith's
House — Jessop's Hotel — Chas. Water's Shoe Shop — Samuel
Davenport's Store — Chauncey Reynolds* House — Albert Ga-
briel — C. E. Young — Turner's Tannery — "Aunt" Fanny
Turner — Turner's Store — Wadham's Store — The M. E.
Church — Old Kingston Church.
Z*^ ROSSING Ransom's Creek to the eastward, and
^^ near its grass covered bank, under the shade of
sturdy old oaks, stood the large red dwelling house of
that old revolutionary veteran, "Col." George P. Ran-
som, and of which only the depression in the ground to
mark the place which was once the cellar is now in evi-
dence. This house faced broadside to the roadway with
a wide doorway in the center, in the entrance of which
hung one or two rifles with their necessary accoutrements
of powder horns and leather pouches, together with some
relics of the hunter's skill in the form of buck's horns.
To the rear, and a little to one side under a large oak,
was a small stone dairy or milk house supplied with a
running stream of clear cold water which served the pur-
pose of a refrigerator. Further up the creek was a long,
one and a half story double dwelling house, occupied at
one time by Edward (Neddy) Crowell, and a black-
smith named Fletcher. It was also, I think, known as
the "Black John House." In front, at one side of the
Ransom house, and near the roadside, there was an open
wagonshed where the old Colonel's pony coach was kept.
On the opposite side of the road stood the barn with a
long open cow shed, at the side.
My earliest recollection of Colonel Ransom was
when he walked with two canes, the possession of which
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 15
I have been told, I would cry for. He would drive out
with a pair of ponies hitched to an open-top conveyance
of the buckboard style, but in his later years he was con-
fined during the day to a roller chair under the charge
of Charles (Mutt) Barber, who would attend to his
wants in preparing his tobacco — of which he was an in-
veterate user — in the form of convenient sized quids,
and seeing that the whiskey bottle was kept filled. I
remember that one evening, when I was a small boy, my
aunt took me over to call on him for the purpose of
hearing him relate his adventures with the Indians; of
how he, and some of his comrades, while visiting some
girl friends were captured in a house which stood on the
upper side of the road near the spot where Whitman's
shoe store now stands; of their journey to Canada, their
subsequent escape therefrom, and the difficulties and pri-
vations they underwent while travelling through the
forests in making their way homeward. These tales
were of thrilling interest to me, and were only marred
by his extreme reticence in the telling, and his very vigor-
ous expectoration efforts as he sat in his arm-chair in
front of the huge open fire-place. He died in 1850, aged
about 90 years. I was present at his burial, which took
place with military honors in the old Shupp burying
ground. His son, Ira, a brave veteran of the late war
of the rebellion, and now upwards of 92 years of age, is
still living in good health on his farm in Jackson town-
ship; a remarkable and probably unparalleled instance in
the county, if not in the State, of a living, real "son of
the Revolution."
Coming on further up the street on the same side, on
a knoll at the intersection of Coal and Main Streets, and
on the spot now occupied by the store building of the
late Edwin Davenport, stood the little one-story frame
1 6 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
schoolhouse which was afterwards removed further
down the street. Directly In front of the schoolhouse
was the "swinggate," which closed the flat road during
the growing and harvest season from the depredations
of vagrant cattle and swine. This road led straight
down to "Garrison Hill," where was always a thrifty
growth of willows, and to which place the boys of the
school would be sent by the teacher to get his supply of
chastisement rods. Sometimes these would be so in-
geniously twisted, or perforated before delivery, as to
make their stinging qualities less painful. Continuing
straight down to the river was the old "sucker hole,"
where, in early spring, was always to be found a dozen
or more enthusiastic fishermen with poles and lines fish-
ing for suckers.
There being considerable space In the roadway be-
tween the schoolhouse and the swing gate that was a
favorite spot on which men and boys would meet to play
"round stakes," which was the original baseball game.
In these contests, Eb. and Dow Rinus, both wiry ath-
letes, were always the star players, and with one of them
at the bat and the other as pitcher, there was always
some lively action. Dow, by the way, was a very expert
fiddler; he played entirely by air, and his services were
always in great demand at the country dances. On the
lefthand side of the entrance to the flat road was the
barn and sheds of Oliver Davenport, with the usual com-
plement of grain and hay stacks surrounding.
On the hill past the schoolhouse next came the old
house with Its high stone steps in front, the former resi-
dence, I believe, of Thomas Davenport. My first recol-
lection of this building was when, as a small boy, I at-
tended the funeral there of some young man, which was
conducted under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. The
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 17
new and splendid brick silk factory of the Atwood's now
occupies the site of this building. A little further on, Is
the brick dwelling house of the late Ira Davenport. I
believe this, and the one occupied by the late R. N. Smith
a little farther up, were the first brick dwellings to be
erected in Plymouth, unless possibly the one where Sam-
uel Davenport lived. The next one, I think, was the
hotel built by John Nesbitt on Elm Hill, and now occu-
pied by George B. Shonk, and the first brick store to be
erected in town was that of E. C. Wadhams. Directly
in front of Ira Davenport's house was the old Daven-
port barn and sheds, and on the same side and farther
east, still stands his store established In 1845. The space
between this and the Flat road and extending down that
road some distance, is now almost solidly built up with
frame houses, conspicuous by the generous number of
beer saloons therein.
Davenport's store In my boyhood days was one of
the prominent places "downtown." It was Democratic
headquarters, and there in the evening would assemble
the patriots of the neighborhood who would line up on
the counters, spit tobacco juice, swap stories and discuss
politics and town scandal generally. It was, I think,
during the administration of President Pierce that the
post office was removed here from the store of Draper
Smith in the upper end of town. Postage on letters in
those days was five cents prepaid, or ten cents on de-
livery. Letters were so folded as to form their own en-
velope and were sealed with wax or a wafer, and when
forwarded by the postmaster, they were wrapped up in
paper in bundles according to destination, and so labelled.
Ira's method of registering a letter, which was a rare
occurrence, was simply to mark on It "Registered," and
the act was performed. The mall was transported by
1 8 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
stage coach. At each post office It was sorted and
changed, that is, the mail sack was emptied and all mail
for that particular office was taken out and replaced by
that which was to be forwarded.
The stage coach from down river points usually came
up in the early evening at intervals of two or three days,
and on summer evenings, occasionally one of our diver-
sions would be to hang on the "boot" behind and ride
up, sometimes as far as Elm Hill, which was a tremend-
ous distance. The distance from the bridge over Ran-
som's Creek to the one over Brown's Creek was con-
sidered exactly one mile.
Ira Davenport was one of the most prominent and
influential men of the town; strictly honest and open
hearted; he enjoyed a good joke and was not averse to
making a little fun. He took a very active interest in all
public affairs and for many years held several positions
of public trust — and no profit. He was careful, conser-
vative, and conscientious in all his acts, and not being
crooked himself, he would not permit crookedness in
others if he could prevent it. He was a safe man In
office for the people, and it would be a God-send, if to-
day his example In that respect would be followed by
many others.
Continuing our travels, the next house in order of
procession was the residence of John Davenport, the
father of Ira and Elijah. It was a two-story frame
building with a wide porch in the rear, and in the yard
on the west side was a water trough supplied with run-
ning water from a spring which also supplied another
public trough at the roadside, and in the rear on one side
was a small building equipped with a weaving loom, and
on the other side and near the porch was the wash-
house. On the east side was the barn, and beyond that,
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 19
and nearby the house of John B. Smith was the old cider
press which was made use of every fall by many of the
residents.
The old Davenport homestead was subsequently re-
placed by a more modern one and occupied by Elijah
Davenport during his lifetime. It is now occupied by
the family of Joseph Worthington, his son-in-law. The
next house is the Smith house, before mentioned, and a
little beyond, about where Blair Street is located, stood
an old frame house broadside to the road, with a stoop
or porch extending the whole length of the building, and
which I believe was the former homestead of Daniel
Davenport. My most distinct recollection of this build-
ing was when it was occupied by Mr. Renshaw, the
father of Theodore.
Almost directly in front of this building on the lower
side of the road was an open and shallow well, and close
by, but further up, was a large barn, and on the site of
this, or perhaps a little above, was later built the hotel
which for a number of years was kept by John Jessop
and his wife. The Jessops moved here from down the
river, from about opposite Retreat, where for a long
time they had kept a hotel, and which, like that of "Aunt"
Lizzie Tuttle's at West Nanticoke, were noted hostelries
for travellers passing up and down the river. On the
same side, and a little further up, there used to stand a
small one-story building used as a shoemaker's shop and
conducted by Charles Waters. Near this site was later
built the wagonmaker's shop of J. B. Blakeslee, and just
above was a blacksmith's shop.
Nearly all this space, where frogs and burdocks used
to thrive, down to Ira Davenport's store, is now about
solidly built up with frame buildings, in which beer
saloons are much in evidence, and it is very difficult to
locate the place of old. landmarks.
20 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
On the upper corner of Davenport and Main Streets
there was formerly a frame store building with a wide
doorway built on the corner of the building, and was
occupied by Samuel Davenport, the father of Abijah,
and was established in 1834. This building burned down
when I was quite a small boy, and another similar one
was erected on the opposite corner, which was kept, first,
by Samuel Davenport and John B. Smith, then by John
B. Smith, and later, by Abijah Davenport.
Coming on further up was the stately looking man-
sion of Chauncey Reynolds, with a row of big trees in
front, which at certain seasons of the year emitted a
peculiar and rather sickly odor. This house was located
just below the wooden bridge which crossed, what Colo-
nel Wright in his history calls the Whittlesey Creek, but
is now known as the Wadham's Creek. Diagonally op-
posite, and above the bridge was the blacksmith shop of
Albert Gabriel, one of the prominent men of Plymouth.
He was the son of Henry Gabriel who, as a boy in Sep-
tember, 1 81 8, in company of my father, then fifteen
years of age, came here from Milford, Connecticut, with
the family of John Flanigan. The party travelled with
a two-horse covered wagon, the men walking, and were
eleven days on the road.
A little farther down, on the corner of a road leading
to the river, was the house of Charles E. Young. This
house is yet standing, but changed in appearance; his
son, L. A. Young, is one of the prominent merchants of
Plymouth.
Further up the street, and about opposite where John
B. Smith's Opera House now stands, was the frame store
building of Chauncey Reynold's, which I don't think
was conducted as a store very long. Mr. Reynolds was
a very eccentric man, and as a storekeeper was in a class
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 21
all by himself. He was not very particular as to the
manner in which his dry-goods were placed on his
shelves, one end sometimes being on the counter and
the other on the shelf. It was said of him that a cus-
tomer who had purchased a pair of boots and wanted
some molasses, but had nothing to carry it in, he solved
the difficulty by putting the molasses in the boots. This
may be an exaggeration. He had one son, Lazarus, who
died in his young manhood.
Further up, and on the same side of the road was
the Turner "tan house," with the tannery and vats in the
rear. I have seen hides from these vats hanging to dry
on the fences along the main road and extending down
to the river. A little further up we come to the old
Atherton barn, and next, the frame dwelling house of
"Aunt" Fanny Turner, which is still standing. She was
a good and clever old maiden lady who was known to
most all, and who had lived there from my earliest recol-
lection. Directly opposite this was the store of John
Turner, first established in 1828, afterwards conducted
by his sons, Franklin and James, under the firm name of
Turner Brothers. This store was one of the earliest
and most prominent stores of the town, and was con-
ducted by the Turners for many years. The building is
yet standing. Just above the store is the Turner home-
stead building, and below it, west, on the corner of the
road leading to Turner's Ferry, is the one-story building
with basement which was occupied when I was a boy by a
family, I think, named Henry. John Madden also lived
there at one time, and he kept a tailor's shop in a little
building just below this, in which, at a later date, lived
Thomas Wright. This tailor shop was afterwards for a
number of years used as a millinery store.
22 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
On the same side of the road and a few yards be-
low was another old landmark known as the old Ather-
ton house. It was a large two-story building, but has
now disappeared. Now, again continuing up the road,
next comes the historic old Academy on the corner of
Main and Academy Streets; this I will leave to describe
in another chapter. Just above the Academy is yet
standing the brick store building of the late Elijah C.
Wadhams. This store as has been previously noted was
one of the earliest brick buildings to be erected in the
town. It was built some time not long prior to the year
1850, and was first occupied by Mr. Wadhams and Ful-
ler Reynolds under the firm name of Wadhams and
Reynolds, and Sterling Bedford was their clerk. This
firm was dissolved after a few years and the business
was continued by Mr. Wadhams, who was also engaged
in the business of mining coal, until some time about the
year 1880, when it was occupied by Messrs Ashley, Hunt
& Co., until within the last two years. The second story
of this building was for many years occupied as a lodge
room by Shawnee Lodge of Odd Fellows, and by Ply-
mouth Masonic Lodge.
Directly opposite this store was the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, the first church building — except the Acad-
emy — I believe, to have been erected in Plymouth. This
church was later torn down to give room for the present
handsome structure. The original building was taken to
Forty-Fort by John B. Smith, and there set up by him in
its original form, and dedicated as an independent
church, and later it was destroyed by fire. It is a some-
what singular coincidence that the Methodist Church of
Plymouth should be removed to Forty-Fort, and the old
Presbyterian Church of Kingston, not far distant there-
from, and which was an old landmark of that town,
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 23
should be removed to Plymouth and set up on Franklin
Street by the Primitive Methodist congregation, and that
both these buildings should burn down. This old Kings-
ton church I remember when as a boy, some time about
the years 1844-5 ^^ 1846, I attended Sunday School
there, my parents having moved to Kingston for a short
time about that period in order to receive the advan-
tages of the Wyoming Seminary. That church, as I re-
member it, had very high back box pews with doors, a
gallery on both sides and rear, and the customary two-
story pulpit.
The present Methodist Church was erected in 1876.
Just below this church, on the site now occupied by the
Methodist Episcopal parsonage, stood for a number of
years a two-story frame, private schoolhouse, which was
removed sometime about 1890 by the Episcopal congre-
gation, to their lot on Academy Street for use as a
chapel.
Just above the Wadhams' store, still stands his former
homestead, which was erected by a man named Bennett
some time about the year 1852. After it had been va-
cated by Mr. Wadhams, it was transformed into a hotel
and conducted respectively by A. M. Jeffords and John
A. Gruver. It is now used as a dwelling.
Chapter IV.
Old M. E. Parsonage — Donation parties — H. Gaylord's Home-
stead — Old Store — James Macfarlane — First National Bank
— Conrad Shafer — Draper Smith's Store — F. E. Spry — Par-
dee and Winters — C. L. Farnum — Jos. Preston — C. A.
Kuschke — Gaylord's Store — Capt. Asher Gaylord — Gaylord's
Railroad and Wharf — Dietrick's Hotel — Samuel Turner —
James McAlarney — Eli Bittenbender — Querin Krothe —
Noah Wadham's Homestead — Andrew Shupp — Geo. P.
Richard's — "Squire" Brown — Nesbitt Homstead — Old Scenes
— Elm Hill and Tree — John J. Shonk — Olewine — Culver —
"Sammy" Gould.
/^ N the opposite side of the road from the Wad-
^^ ham's store building, and near where the late
Parrlsh Coal Company tresseling crosses the road to the
breaker, for many years stood a small two-stor)' frame
building which was used as the Methodist parsonage,
and where annually, as was the custom with country
churches in early days, was held the old-fashioned dona-
tion parties. These events were always looked forward
to as a kind of red letter day in the calendar. The
friends, young and old, from far and near, would gather
there on these occasions; the elders during the daytime
and the young people in the evening for a good time;
each one bringing their contribution of money, or some
article of family consumption, such as sugar, tea, coffee,
flour, bread, cakes, etc. ; usually more provisions than
money, and as a feast was always expected on these occa-
sions, naturally much of the donated provisions vanished
with the guests. In this connection, I recall a story I
once read which illustrates the utilitarian virtues of these
beneficial jamborees; it is about a donation party which
was tendered to a young country minister and his bride.
Most all of the donors on that occasion brought as their
contribution a pan full of biscuits, and after the young
wife had shed copious tears over the situation, she per-
Reminiscences of Plyviouth, Pa. 25
suaded her husband that the only appropriate use they
could make of the hard crusted offerings would be to
ornament the tops of the pickets surrounding their house
with them. Near by this house and by the roadside, stood
a large barn, and on the opposite side a little farther up
still stands the mansion house of Henderson Gaylord,
one of the early and most respected residents of the
town. This is now occupied as a residence by Alexander
Ferguson and Dr. G. R. Drake.
Nearly opposite this building, or about on the site of
where now stands the residence of the late Mrs. Levi,
there was formerly a small one-story building where I
remember when a small boy of having gotten cream
nuts from Draper Smith, who kept a small store in it.
This was probably the store mentioned by Colonel
Wright in his history of Plymouth, as the store where
Joseph Wright, Benjamin Reynolds and Joel Rogers did
business, and which was opened in 1812, On the corner
just below this spot is the building now owned by the
Stegmaier Brewing Company, where at one time lived
James Macfarlane, the father of Mrs. Jeanette Lindsay
and Thomas P. Macfarlane. He sunk the shaft which
is just below the Chauncey Colliery at Avondale. In the
upper end of this building was organized and instituted
in 1864 the First National Bank of Plymouth, with
Henderson Gaylord as President and William L. Wilson
as Cashier. On the site of this building there formerly
stood a small two-story frame dwelling house where, in
the early 50's lived Conrad Shafer. He was a butcher,
and his slaughterhouse was a small barn which stood on
the river bank about where the Atlantic Refining Com-
pany's oil house is now located. He used to drive a mar-
ket wagon through town during the summer season, be-
hind a dashing pair of fast horses with sleigh bells, and
was, I believe, the pioneer butcher of Plymouth.
26 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Further up the street, in the building next above Dr.
Ashley's residence was the store kept for many years,
first by Draper Smith, and later by Draper Smith and
Peter Shupp, under the firm name of Smith and Shupp.
This building has been moved back and a new front
built on, and at present is occupied by Mr. H. G. Davis,
the undertaker. Next above that was the large frame
building of F. E. Spry, the plumber and hardware dealer,
occupied at one time by Pardee and Winters in the stove
and hardware business, and also as a photograph gallery
by a man named Richards, who also kept an ice cream
parlor and eating house. This location is now occupied
by the Shawnee Supply Company, owned by Ambrose
West.
The house next above this is another one of the old
landmarks. A two-story frame dwelling which, in my
earliest recollection, I think, was occupied by C. L. Far-
num, the son-in-law of Henderson Gaylord, and later by
Joseph Preston, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. H. L.
Whitney. Eli Bittenbender also lived there at one time,
and its latest occupant and owner was C. A. Kuschke,
who for years and until the time of his death a few years
since, kept a tailoring establishment there, after which
his son, Henry, established a watchmaker's shop in it.
Almost directly opposite this building, where is now the
D. K. Spry block, stood a frame dwelling house and the
store of Henderson Gaylord, erected in 1827, and where
he continued in business until 1856, when he was suc-
ceeded by his son. Captain Asher, a brave officer of the
143rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was
killed while leading his company in battle at Hatcher's
Run, Virginia, and whose body was never recovered.
In the late 50's the second story of this store build-
ing was used for a private school, which was taught by
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 27
E. W. Matthews, a popular teacher, who afterwards
became an officer in the Union Army. I remember a
vocal concert being given in that room during that period
by the celebrated Hutchinson family of singers.
Near the side of this store ran a railroad for the
transportation of coal from the Gaylord mine to the
river. It ran along what is now Walnut Street, and
down the present Gaylord Avenue, where the road bed
in front of the Armory and where the present Campbell
buildings are now located, was some six to eight feet
higher than the natural surface of the ground. The land
in that locality being swampy, and affording very good
skating in the winter.
The cars on this railroad were propelled by gravity
and emptied into chutes at "Gaylord's Wharf," where
the coal was loaded into canal boats. This wharf was
located at a point about where the new bridge starts to
cross the river.
Just across this railroad, on the corner opposite the
Kuschke building, and what is now Hanover Street,
stood the old Dietrick tavern with its long, covered front
porch, at the extreme upper end of which was a wooden
pump. This was the only hotel in town for many years,
and was kept by George H. Dietrick and later by John
Deen. One of Mr. Dietrick's daughters became the
wife of Hon. Samuel G. Turner, State Senator, and
prominent coal operator.
Next adjoining the hotel above, and about on the
site now occupied by the Gas and Electric Light Com-
pany's office, was a small frame building which was occu-
pied by William Renshaw as a tailor shop. This spot
later became the site of a large frame dwelling house
and tailoring establishment of James McAlarney, who
28 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
subsequently established a liquor store in it. This build-
ing, together with the hotel, was destroyed by fire in
1875 or 1876.
Mr. McAlarney was one of the prominent and
progressive citizens of Plymouth. He erected the large
McAlarney's Hall building in which for a number of
years he conducted a general store. One of his daugh-
ters became the wife of Edwin Davenport.
On the opposite side of the road from this hotel was
a small frame building occupied by Eli Bittenbender,
who had formerly lived and kept a shoemaker's shop in
the Kuschke building, and next above, on the site of
Davenport's book store, was a one-story building, where
Querin Krothe, a good natured old German, established
the first barber shop in town. This building was after-
wards converted into a drug store, conducted by Dr. C.
H. Wilson. Just above this, in the building now occupied
as a saloon by Andrew Fleming, was the cabinetmaker's
shop of N. A. Stecker, which later was occupied by John
Dennis, who kept a saloon there for a short time. Mr.
Stecker was also the express agent of the L. & B. R. R.,
and just prior to the time of the outbreak of the war of
the rebellion he did quite a thriving business selling daily
newspapers, which would arrive on the evening train
from New York and Philadelphia. The depot at that
time was in a ramshackle old building located about in
the rear of Dr. Ashley's present residence. The only
subscribers for daily newspapers in the town prior to
this time, were Samuel Wadhams and Henderson Gay-
lord, and people would often wonder how they ever could
find time to read them, and now, nearly everybody takes
one, and many two, besides a magazine or two.
Diagonally across the street from the Stecker build-
ing and about in the rear of the present Jacobs building,
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 29
there stood a long black house, in front of which was a
large willow tree, and where formerly lived Noah Wad-
hams, son of the Rev. Noah, and which later, I believe,
was occupied by James Owens, his son-in-law. There
was a Dr. George Wadhams, a son of Noah, who was
buried in the Reynolds burying ground in 1848.
Crossing the street again, on the site now occupied by
the Ely House block, was a low frame building with a
long porch and in front of which was a pump. This was
occupied by Andrew Shupp, who kept a saloon there, and
was later remodeled and occupied by George P. Richards
as a dwelling and liquor store. Up to about 1855, ^ ^^
not recollect of any other buildings on either side within
the space from Centre Avenue up to Elm Hill, except a
small frame building on the upper side of the creek,
where lived "Squire" George Brown who kept a shoe-
maker's shop, and the first ice cream and oyster estab-
lishment I remember in the town. This building was
located about on or near the site of the present Wool-
worth stores, and near this spot was formerly the house
in which Colonel Ransom was captured by the Indians.
The next was the Miner Nesbitt house in the rear of
where George Durbin's drug store now is. This was
where Robert Love lived and died. There was a large
barn near this house, my earliest recollection of which
was when I watched Theodore Hendershot hetcheling
flax there.
About all the rest of this territory was occupied as
farming lands. On the lower side of the road where the
Rooney, and Moore Brothers building now stands, there
was a large apple orchard. About 1862, the buildings
between Centre Avenue and the Bull Run Crossing be-
gan to be erected. From about where the Plymouth Na-
tional Bank stands and up to the Squire Brown house,
30 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
there was a board sidewalk on the upper side of the road,
which stood five or six feet above the level of the road.
Just above Joseph Switzer's (now Frederick's) furniture
store, was later, the book store of A. F. Levi, and the
Post Office kept by his mother; and there was also a
clothing store kept by Priester & Schloss close by.
What is now known as Elm Hill, when I was a boy
was called "Pismire Hill." Mr. John Shonk afterwards
rechristened it by the more euphonious and aristocratic
name of "Ant Hill," corrupted into "Anty." It subse-
quently became known as "Elm Hill," from the old elm
tree which, until a few years ago occupied a conspicuous
place on its brow.
There has been I think, a good deal of uncertain
myth, and sentimental gush, connected with this tree. It
shadowed an old black house standing a little way back
from the road, on the site now occupied by the Elm Hill
Congregational Church parsonage, and which I believe
was known as the "Moss" or Morse house. This house
was occupied by William Jenkins, familiarly known as
"Major Cobus" ; and for many years after that by his son
also named William and who was a boat builder. About
the year 1901, at which time he was upwards of 80 years
of age, this man told the writer that he remembered that
tree when it was a small sapling, so, if his story is cor-
rect, it is quite unlikely that it could have been a whip-
ping post, if there was such a thing, a hundred or more
years before.
Below this house, on the site of the present blacksmith
shop of Fuller Hendershot, stood for many years, a one-
story frame school house and about opposite this, I re-
member having seen long pine timbers elevated on tres-
tles, where William Jenkins sawed out boat sides. Just
above the Jenkins homestead, between where Arthur
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 31
Young recently lived, and the dwelling house and store
of the late J. W. Weston, was a long row of low black
buildings, three or four perhaps — and joined together,
the farthest one up, occupied a short time as a store of
some kind by the late J. \V. Eno. Possibly it was the
one at the lower end of this row which was called the
Moss or Morse house above mentioned. Near the site
of the present Groblewski drug store, formerly the resi-
dence and butcher shop of Marx Weil, but farther back
from the road, was another old house with a long porch
in front where lived Achen Atwell an old time canal boat-
man. All the rest of the surrounding territory here was
used as farming lands.
On the hill farther up the road, on the site of the
stately residence of the late John J, Shonk and now oc-
cupied by his daughter, Mrs. C. W. McAlarney, was a
frame dwelling house occupied I believe by Miner
Ransom.
Mr. Shonk was one of the early and most prominent
residents of the town, and his son Albert is now one of
its leading and influential citizens.
On the next lot above the Shonk homestead is yet
standing, a two-story frame dwelling where lived a man
named Olewine who moved out West many years ago.
This house was afterwards for a number of years, the
residence of Dr. C. H. Wilson. A few yards beyond
this house many years ago, was the blacksmith shop of
Hiram Culver, who lived in the house near by and which
later became the residence for many years of the late
J. W. Eno.
The next house above this, and one of the old land-
marks, was the homestead of Jacob Gould, the ancestor
of the family of that name. It stood on an eminence
about opposite the No. 1 1 Breaker of the L. & W. Coal
32 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Co., and on the lower side of the road, and near where
the breaker is, was a large barn and on the same lot I
think, was an apple orchard.
"Sammy" Gould used to live in this house, but later
removed to Beech Grove near Berwick. He was a very
jovial and rather witty personage, and when on his re-
turn home from visits to Plymouth, used to cause much
vexation to the conductors on the L. & B. R. R. by pull-
ing the bell rope and causing the train to stop opposite
his residence, which was some distance away from the
station.
Chapter V.
Coal Street — Oliver Davenport — Edwin Davenport — Christopher
Garrahan — Patrick Cullen — Phoebe Pringle — Carpenter
Rinus — French's Grist Mill — John Smith — "Aunt" Charry
Clark — The French Tunnel — Francis J. Smith — ^Calathum-
pian Serenades — The Horse Fiddle — The "Big Coal Bed" —
William Dennis — Richard Egbertson — Robt. Davenport —
Samuel Vanloon — Benj. and Fuller Reynolds — Calvin and
Samuel Wadhams — Manny Wharram — Benj. Pringle — Sam'l
Lewis — Sam'l Harrison.
Ty ETURNING now to the lower end of town, and go-
ing up Coal Street, the first house on the right hand
side of the road, was that of Oliver Davenport. This
house is yet standing and was occupied by him until the
time of his death a good many years ago.
Mr. Davenport was one of the town's prosperous and
respected farmers. One of his sons, Edwin, late presi-
dent of the First National Bank, who died in 19 13, was
the father of former Congressman Hon. Stanley W. and
of Andrew Livingston, a prominent merchant of Ply-
mouth and Luzerne; another son. Dr. Fuller, was a
member of the U. P. crew which contested with the
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 33
famous Henley crew in a regatta on the river Thames a
few years ago. Between this house and the main road
there was formerly an apple orchard in which was a
tree of luscious "Sugar Sweets" which in early summer
was the strong point of attraction for the boys of the
neighborhood.
Just above the house, on Coal Street, stood the barn,
and a little beyond, is a white house where formerly
lived Christopher Garrahan a well known and respected
citizen. This house later became the property and resi-
dence of his son-in-law, Dennison Pringle. Across the
creek on the left hand side of the road further up, and
extending down near the grove, was a long double dwell-
ing house which at an earlier day was occupied by Chris-
topher Garrahan on the one side, and Patrick Cullen on
the other. In the latter house there would occasionally
be held on Sundays, services of the Catholic religion.
This house was afterwards occupied by Carpenter Rinus.
At the lower end of this row and just in the grove, was
the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Pringle. She was a tailoress
and used to make all of our juvenile clothes, and I recall
her process of fitting the garments; the rude adjustment
of position of the patient model, pertinent to her pinning
and basting operations was truly a trying ordeal. One
of her daughters married Freeman Polk, a long time re-
spected citizen of Plymouth.
A little further up the road beyond this row of houses
was a small dwelling, the residence of Freeman Samis,
and across the creek still further up stood the big red
grist mill of my father.
This mill was first built to be run by water power
supplied from a dam, or reservoir just above, but was
afterwards converted into a steam mill. The sulphur
water from the mines above soon played havoc with the
34 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
machinery and it was finally abandoned. This mill build-
ing was, until quite recent years used as tenement dwell-
ings but now stands in ruins.
"The mill wheel has fallen to pieces, Ben Bolt,
The rafters have tumbled in.
And a quiet that crawls 'round the wall as you pass,
Takes the place of the olden din."
On an elevation just above the mill and beside the
old dam, was the residence of George Seiple the miller,
who was succeeded by a Mr. Fisher, and a few yards to
the southeast yet stands the homestead of my other step-
grandfather, John Smith, the brother of Abijah and who
were the pioneer coal operators of the Wyoming Valley.
In front, and around this house in its spacious yard, were
numerous black cherry and other fruit trees, and on the
north side was a thrifty apple orchard and a good spring
of water. Later this house was occupied by Charity
("Aunt Charry") Clark, as clever an old soul as ever
lived. She had three sons, George, William, and Burr,
and they afterwards removed to Ohio. More recently
this house was owned and occupied by David Levi, a re-
spected citizen of Plymouth and at one time prominent
coal operator.
John Smith was a man of positive and decisive char-
acter. It was said of him that at one time he was elected
or appointed to the office of tax collector contrary to his
wishes, and that in retaliation for the honor conferred, he
served notice on the people that on a certain date he
would call for the taxes and would brook no delay in
the payment. Probably neither before nor since, was a
tax duplicate settled up more speedily.
Just across the creek from the old mill, there is the
evidence of a tunnel under the hill which my father had
driven for some distance and I well remember my labori-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 35
ous efforts in lugging the drills of "Hank" and Munn
Massaker from there up to Gabriel's shop to be sharp-
ened, and then back again. Close to the entrance to this
tunnel, in a little frame house lived the family of Free-
man Lamoreaux. The driving of this tunnel was aban-
doned and the one some distance further up was opened,
near where the L. & W. B. Coal Company's engine house
now stands. In this tunnel Edward Crowell was killed
by a fall of rock.
On the hill to the left, just above this first tunnel, and
near the site of the old Washington head house and
plane, and the entrance to the classic precincts of bed bug
row, stands what remains of the once beautiful home of
Francis J. Smith. This place was laid out in beautiful
terraces and was a very attractive spot. He moved to
Ohio where some of his descendants still reside. Mr.
John J. Shonk at one time lived in this house. Just op-
posite, across the creek and at the head of the old dam
was another quite large dwelling house but I don't re-
member who lived there.
Further up the creek on the right hand side were sev-
eral small houses where lived Zeph. Barber and Mrs.
Partington and Munn Massaker. On the left side of the
road, and just above the engine house before mentioned,
was a small house occupied by a man I think, named
Aaron Young, who was killed in a fist fight while parti-
cipating in a Calathumpian serenade given to Ira Daven-
port in celebration of his marriage. This house was at
one time occupied by Fred Myers, father of the late
Robert Myers.
In reference to these Calathumpian serenades, honors
which it was not uncommon to tender to newly married
couples, — one of the principal musical instruments of the
band was the "horse fiddle," which I believe is now a
36 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
forgotten instrument of melody. Its construction con-
sisted of an open topped dry goods box with a well ros-
ined board or rail for a bow, and when vigorously
wielded across the top of the box would send forth notes
of melody both horrible and terrible.
Continuing on, a little further up to the extreme end
of the road was the "Big Coal Bed" which was opened
by the Smith brothers about the year 1807. Here are
several enormous openings or caverns in the side of the
mountain, where we boys used to go to get soft pieces of
stones or slate to make slate pencils. Through one of these
large openings which are now almost completely closed
with fallen rocks and debris, teams would enter, the
driver, with lamp in hand, leading the horses far in to
the breast, or place where the miners were at work,
where the team would be turned and the wagon loaded
and then driven to the river bank, the coal to be loaded
into canal boats. I have often ridden into this mine in
the wagons and watched the operations, my father being
the operator of the mine.
Coming back down the road, about half way to the
old mill, is a bridge leading to a road which runs past
the school house on "Temperance Hill." Turning
abruptly to the left, on the right hand side of the road-
way was the residence of Henry Massaker, and then
came a stone house, the residence of William Dennis, an
old and respected resident, who gave the locality the
name it now bears. A little beyond, was another stone
building, the residence of Richard Egbertson where he
lived for many years and where afterwards resided his
son Henderson, who was a painter. Richard Egbertson
was a stone mason and plasterer by trade, and withal, I
used to think a very wonderful fisherman. He could sta-
tion himself on the river bank where no one else would
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 37
think of fishing, cast in his lines, and invariably catch a
big string of large fish. The manner of plastering a
house in those days, before plastering laths were in-
vented, was to tack a thin board on the ceiling or side of
the room to be plastered, and then with a hatchet and
wooden wedge, make interstices in the board to receive
and hold the plaster. Evidences of this method may still
be found in the old buildings.
Passing on, beyond the school house was a row of
red houses, story and a half high, where lived George
Puterbaugh and Wesley Lewis. Some distance further
on, on the corner of Davenport Street and Shawnee Ave-
nue, stood the mansion house, with its spacious grounds
and towering elms of Robert Davenport one of the earl-
iest residents of Plymouth. He was the father of Samuel
Davenport. A little beyond was the two-story dwelling
with the wide porch in front, of Samuel Vanloon, a pros-
perous farmer and one time County Sheriff. He had a
large family of boys, of whom not one I believe are now
living. Beyond this, stood his barns and sheds, and then
came those of Benjamin Reynolds another old time and
prominent resident. Mr. Reynolds' residence was on the
upper side of the road, where afterwards his son J.
Fuller, lived for many years. The present structure re-
places the original building, which burned down some
time during the early 50s, and within recent years was the
residence of Oscar Lance. The widow of Mr. Fuller
Reynolds, a very amiable woman, died quite recently at
a very advanced age, in Scranton, where some of their
children now reside and occupy positions of prominence.
Still further on, on the corner of Academy Street and
Shawnee Avenue, stood the old colonial mansion house,
with its broad piazza and spacious hallways, of Calvin
Wadhams, a pioneer resident of Plymouth and which for
38 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
many years was the residence of his son Samuel, the
father of Elijah. The large lot laid out in terraces, and
planted with ample shade and ornamental trees and
shrubs, extended down to the creek. On the side and near
the kitchen was the wash house, and next to the road was
an ice house, and on the opposite corner stood the car-
riage house. On the upper side stood a number of barns,
sheds and store houses for grain, etc. Mr. Wadhams
was a prosperous farmer, and both he and his son, were
for many years prominent and influential men of the
town, Elijah being at one time a member of the State
Senate.
Some twenty or more years ago, the Plymouth Plan-
ing Mill Company reshingled this house, and it was
found that the old shingles had been nailed on with hand
forged nails. In early days, houses were built to last,
and this one, although it has been changed in appearance
and altered to suit the requirements of tenants, is appar-
ently in as good condition as ever. A little farther to the
east was the story and a half house, which for many years
was the residence of Emanuel Wharram, Mr. Wadhams'
English farmer. He had a large family and moved to
Ohio a good many years ago and where some of his
descendants yet reside.
Up on the hill from the Wadhams house and I be-
lieve somewhere in the vicinity of the present Shawnee
Cemetery, was the residence of Benjamin Pringle another
old Plymouth resident. He had two daughters, one
named Martha, and the other, Bertha or Berthia. Not
far from the location of this house was the residence of
Samuel Lewis, an old resident, and where later lived
Samuel Harrison whose daughter married Clayton
Young.
IB u
THE OLD ACADEMY
Chapter VI.
Early Relip;ious Services — The Old Academy — Lorenzo Dow —
Great Religious Revival — Revs. Miles and Snowden — Pres-
byterians — A Personal Episode and Erection of a Church —
First Church Edifice — Christian Church — Early Ministers of
— Early Schools and Teachers — The Bachelor's Club — Their
Rules and Proceedings — Benj. Parke — Other Teachers —
Corporal Punishment — The Old Lecture Room School House
— The Spelling School.
THE first church building to be erected in Plymouth
was undoubtedly the old Academy. Prior to its
erection, Col. Wright in his history of Plymouth says,
that religious services were held in private houses. I
have already mentioned where the few Catholics in the
town sometimes held their services in the house of Pat-
rick Cullen, and I hav^e been told that John Madden
taught the Catholic children their catechism in his house
next to the Turner store.
The Old Academy — now transformed into dwell-
ings — was erected, probably by common contributions,
some time In the beginning of the Nineteenth Cen-
tury. The entrance was by high stone steps facing
Academy street, and leading to a wide vestibule, on
either side of which were stairs leading to the second
story which was fitted up with high backed benches for
pews, which extended on each side from the centre aisle
to the wall. In the centre of the aisle were several
wooden columns to support the celling, the columns ex-
tending the length of the aisle, at the eastern end of
which was the high pulpit with a ballustred stairway of
some eight or ten steps on the side ascending into It. In
front of, and a few feet distant from the pulpit, on a
raised platform was a picket fence enclosing perhaps two
thirds the space in front. At short intervals along the
walls hung the sconces or candle holders, which at even-
40 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
ing services the members of the congregation were ex-
pected to supply with tallow candles. I remember of
having attended some of those meetings with my mother
who would take with her, her quota of illuminating ma-
terial. The collection bags, or pockets of black velvet,
were attached to the ends of long red poles whereby the
toll gatherers would be enabled to collect pennies from
the sinners seated on the farthest ends of the benches.
The first story of the building was divided into two
sections, and fitted up with long desks and benches, and
a blackboard on the wall for school purposes.
Tradition says, that before this building was entirely
completed, Lorenzo Dow, — a kind of Billy Sunday —
traveling evangelist, held revival services there, and on
account of the large audiences he drew, some fear was
felt regarding the safety of the building. The memory
of Mr. Dow is still perpetuated in the names of some of
the children of his admirers. It is probably about this
period, that a great religious fervor overspread the val-
ley. The coming of the millennium, and the date set for
the destruction of the world was predicted, and it was
said that some prospective saints had their ascension
robes prepared for the occasion.
In my early years I do not remember of any regular
church services being held there, the building was free for
the use of any denomination who wished to make use of
it. Rev. Geo. D. Miles, an Episcopalian minister of
Wilkes-Barre used to preach occasionally on Sunday af-
ternoons, and on other occasions ministers of other de-
nominations would hold services on Sunday mornings,
and sometimes evenings, and usually there were Sunday
Schools quite regularly held; but until some time after
the Presbyterian Communicants under the guidance of
Rev. E. H. Snowden were organized as a congregation
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 41
in 1856, and after the M. E. Church was erected, there
were I believe, no regular services held there.
The old Academy was for many years, the only place
in the town where public assemblies of any kind could be
properly held, it was in fact the public hall, and there,
were held political rallies, meetings for discussion of mat-
ters of public interest, lectures for educational purposes
or profit, and even shows were wont to be held there.
I remember of an Indian show being held there, and on
one occasion an Irish comedian called "Dublin Dan," was
obliged to hold two performances on the same evening
in order to accommodate his audiences.
In this connection, while it may appear self-laudatory,
perhaps out of place, and withal not entirely commend-
able, yet, it being a matter of unwritten history I feel
constrained to relate a personal incident which goes to
prove the truth of the saying, that out of evil sometimes
good will grow.
Some time about the year 1865, there was some kind
of a gathering of the congenial young people of the
town, — perhaps a Fourth of July picnic — at which Mose
Wadhams, — the brother of Elijah, — and myself were the
ringleaders. It was decided that we would wind up the
festivities of the day with a dance in the evening. There
being no other available or desirable place in town where
we could go, and the Academy being a public hall, we
fixed upon that as the place, and accordingly in the even-
ing, there we assembled with Wm. Hatcher and his
fiddle. The space between the pulpit and the benches was
ample for the formation of two sets of quadrilles and
there we spent the evening.
I was engaged at the time in Wadhams' store which,
like other stores at that time, was a rendezvous for the
gathering of congenial spirits in the evenings. On the
42 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
evening following this escapade, there were assembled in
the store Deacon Chas. Hutchinson, Bryce R. Blair,
Robt. Love, Tom Macfarlane and perhaps one or two
others. I was seated at the desk and before long Mr.
Hutchinson launched forth on the enormity of the of-
fence which had been perpetrated in the house of God
the evening before. I felt the poignancy of his shafts
which I realized were leveled at my head but discreetly
kept silent. After the matter had been fully discussed
in all its heinous phases, Mr. Blair declared that it was
a shame that the Presbyterian congregation which was
large enough, could not have a place of their own where
they could worship in peace and safety, and promised
that he would see to it that they would have such a place,
and turning to me he dictated a form of subscription list
for that purpose. I wrote out two of these and he took
one, and the next morning started out to canvass down-
town; the other one I think Mr. Hutchinson took to
canvass uptown, and Wilkes-Barre. In a short time there-
after enough subscriptions were obtained to warrant the
commencement of the erection of the present church and
parsonage in 1866. I have since entertained a lingering
hope that my indirect instrumentality, by this sacriligous
act, in further extending the influence of Christianity
would, in some measure serve as an atonement for my
many sins and delinquencies.
The first church edifice to be erected after that of
the Academy I believe was the Methodist Church, of
which I have before given a description. The most
active, if not the earliest organized sect, however, was
that of the Christian congregation. They were organ-
ized in 1834 and their present church edifice was erected
in 1857 by H. R. Noll, of Lewisburg, Pa., and who after-
wards married Miss Almina Davenport, daughter of the
Reminiscences of Plymoulh, Pa. 43
late Samuel Davenport, Among the early and active
ministers of that congregation, I recall the names of
Elders Lane, Richmond, Montgomery, Hyatt, Hayes,
Clark, and last. Rev. Knipp, to whose efforts are due the
added improvements to the church and the erection of
their new parsonage on the site of the one which for
many years has stood on Shawnee Avenue.
It would be too much of an undertaking to attempt
to describe the many other handsome churches of differ-
ent denominations that have since been erected through-
out the town; but the largest and most pretentious one
is that of the Catholic denomination erected under the
auspices of Rev. T. J. Donahoe on Church Street, a very
large and valuable property.
My earliest recollection of the schools of Plymouth
dates back to those kept in the Academy. Col. Wright
in his historical sketches speaks of a schoolhouse located
on Elm Hill which was torn down about 1815. He
also gives the names of some of the early teachers in the
old Academy, one of whom, Thos. Patterson, I have
often heard my mother and my aunt speak of in terms
of high commendation. There was another one, how-
ever, named Benjamin Parke whom I have heard spoken
of by old people, and who singularly enough he does
not mention, although he evidently taught there in 1825
and was one of his associates.
I have in my possession an old record book of a
literary society, organized at that time, and of which
apparently, Mr. Parke was the leading spirit. The mem-
bers of that society were: Benjamin Parke, Wm. C. Rey-
nolds, H. B. Wright, C. A. Reynolds, Luther Nesbitt,
Samuel French, Samuel Wadhams, E. Chamberlin, C.
Atherton, Caleb Wright, H. Gaylord, Adnah Atherton
and G. D. Turner.
44 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
The following extracts from the records of that
society, which are mostly written in beautiful penman-
ship, apparently by Mr. Parke, will no doubt be of
interest. On the outside of the paper cover of the book,
was the motto of the society, all except the first two lines
of which are obliterated and are :
Of birth or blood we cannot boast,
Nor gentry does our club afford.
The record reads, "On Friday the i6th of September,
1825, a number of young men met at the store of Gay-
lord and Reynolds, and agreed to form themselves into
a society to be called the Bachelors Club of Plymouth;
a system of regulations were adopted; Benjamin Parke
was chosen President for the next meeting, which is to
be on Wednesday the 21st inst."
The rules and regulations of the club, which are
rather stringent, declared : "This club shall not consist
of more than 16 members, two-thirds of whom shall be
Bachelors. Meetings to be held weekly. The object of
the society, "mental improvement," for which purpose at
every meeting a question upon some subject shall be fairly
and candidly discussed, speeches limited to 30 minutes
at a time." Religion and politics were disbarred from
discussion, and "No profane, obscene or indecent lan-
guage, or irreverent treatment of the sacred Scriptures
to be tolerated," and "No member on any pretence what-
ever shall reveal any of the secrets of this society, or
mention them to any but members; and particularly if
any one shall do it with a view to ridicule or laugh at
any of the rest of the members, he shall be expelled, the
society and the members requested to avoid him as a
friend or comrade."
No member could be admitted without "the unani-
mous consent of all the members present." Any trans-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 45
gression of the rules were punishable for "the first offence
by reprimand by the President, for the second, silenced
for the evening, and for the third, expulsion." The
President and four members had the power to transact
any "common business of the club," but a majority of the
members were necessary to expel a member. The time
of meeting was half-past six o'clock and any member who
was not present at 7 o'clock without a sufficient excuse,
was to be fined 634 cents, and the President was to "pay
12^ cents for non-attendance at any time."
In accordance with their agreement, their first meeting
was held on Wednesday, September 21st, 1825, when
they "agreed to discuss the following question: 'Do the
highest class of people enjoy more happiness than the
lowest?' " Decided in the negative.
Other questions discussed at subsequent meetings, and
which may serve as interesting subjects of discussion by
the present generation, were :
"Is avarice a worse vice than intemperance?"
"Do mankind derive more pleasure and happiness from
anticipation than participation?"
"Is the prodigal a greater nuisance to society than the
miser?"
The next two questions may perhaps be of interest
to the female suffragists :
"Do outward accomplishments tend more to inspire love
toward the female sex, than real worth?" Argument and ques-
tion decided in the negative.
"Would a widow at the age of 30, make a better wife than
a maid of the same age?" Argument and question decided in the
negative.
This last question, discussed November 29th, appar-
ently "busted up" the club, for they do not appear to
have held any further meetings.
Benjamin Parke afterwards became a very prominent
46 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Royal Arch Mason, and In i860 was the presiding officer
of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania of Royal Arch
Masons.
The earliest teachers in the Academy within my recol-
lection were Geo. W. Freeman, who boarded at my
mother's when I was quite young; other names I recall
were Dibble and Turner; the latter was called "little
Turner," on account of his diminutive size and whom I
remember particularly as being an inveterate user of to-
bacco and for lack of a cuspidor would expectorate on
the floor by his seat. I have no remembrance of any
other than the common branches of learning having been
taught. Quill pens were used for writing, the teacher
with his "pen-knife" keeping the pens in order. It was
some little time after I had begun to write that steel pens
came into use. The public school system was then in its
infancy, and there was much prejudice in the minds of
many against "free schools." The minimum length of
the school term was four months. The common methods
of maintaining proper discipline was by means of a ruler
applied on the hand, or by the use of a good sized cudgel
cut from a tree or bush, which would frequently, at un-
expected times and on inopportune occasions fall heavily
across the shoulders of the transgressor, and for very
serious offences the guilty one would be required to step
out on the floor and remove his coat. Sometimes on
these occasions stubborn resistance would be offered on
the part of the culprit, and then a struggle would ensue
which, if it did not inspire terror, would afford a sort of
diversion for the boys.
The little schoolhouse located at the corner of Coal
and Main Streets with which I am more familiar, mention
of which has heretofore been made, was moved when I
was quite young, to a position directly opposite my father's
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 47
house, where for many years the young ideas were taught
to sprout. This building was fitted up with a high pulpit
on a raised platform at the far end, on each side of which
were long desks with benches, and transverse rows of
desks and benches extending down the room on both sides
of the aisle; and in front of and facing the pulpit were
recitation seats. This was also called the "Lecture
room." I don't know why, unless to give it a distinctive
name, for I don't remember of any lectures being given
there, although there may have been. Religious services
were held there in later years by a Welsh congregation.
Among the names of early teachers here I can only
recall those of a man named Brown who ran away with
his wife's sister; one named Box, and one I think named
Curtis, and Miss Julia Reynolds. The most familiar
and popular one, however, was James Garrahan, late of
Dallas. He held the position for a number of winters.
One of the prominent and favorite features of the
schools of those days, and one I think that could be fol-
lowed with great advantage to the pupils of to-day, was
the "Spelling School." These would be held sometimes
as concluding exercise of the week, and frequently on an
evening, when they were occasions of very great interest,
and always drew a crowded house. The custom was to
choose two recognized good spellers as leaders and con-
testants, who would range themselves on opposite sides of
the room, which had previously been arranged for the oc-
casion, and they would choose their spellers promiscuously
from the audience. The ones so selected would take their
places on the floor as called, beside their respective leader
until the lines extended the entire length of the room in
equal numbers. Then the teacher would announce to one
of the leaders the word to be spelled and if spelled cor-
rectly, the next word would be given to his opponent and
■\'
l\i iniiiiu iiii i\ of riytnoulli, l\i.
so oil .il((-t ii.il(-l\ down ili(- Itiu' III (.ISC ol .1 nnss in
Npcllit)^ (lie (l( liiit|ti( Ml woiiM l.ikc Ins or lui sr.U aiul
(lie Inn- woiiM (lose up I In- side whiili rcinainrd staiul-
ing, Ol wt'ir iut( "spcllrtl down" ill tlic close ol tlu' con
IrsJ were dccl.iicil (lie wimu is, lluir were some rxtia
ordiiiiin j'.ood spclKis m (hose il.iys, .md (lusr oiiasion.il
I'ood'sts ii(M(cd iiiiuli hu'ndiv ri\alr\ aiiw)ii|^ (Ik* scholais
and i( was lonsulcrcd (|iii(c .« i omplinutU (o l>r srlrc(cd
as .1 "sprllri"."
,\( one (*i 111 ol si Iiool I m iiuiniui ol li.u ii\|» .iKcndctI
(luMc, "Nr\v(" Siiiilh srlcilcd (lie pnlpK as his scat, aiul
IrtMliirnllv when (he (caihci's h.uk would he hicned he
WiMiKI .imuse (he audienee \\i(h his aniies.
I his old si hoolliouse w.is in i lu (Mil years eoincKed
in(i» (he i^imnuiuous and hase puiposi- ol .1 («n>| .md oil
h«Mise U\ (he I . iV W. W C'oal I'o , l>u( has now rixirely
ilisuppeaieil, and sueh is I. line.
(,'ii \rn K \'l I.
I''iumtin' i\!i ili.nl riuf.liin)'. ;ii\«I I\l;iikrlin)'. (ii.iin l''la\ \t\
«Iii>.ti\ I li. < >lil Spinmn!'. W'licck Pippm!'. l-'iinillrs (oisl
Mill'. (\y\\ li\.lu'.ll\ Hdll.lm;- .«l \^l■. .111.1 HtMls Slmw-
nvi" ,\('..iuf.t ilic Wmitl (>iiiMii ol .Mdi'.iii Mctinuls ol I'lr
pnrin^ .mil Slnpi'im'. i,'n.il ( ^M Kcioul-. (.'imI Maikris
0>st 1*1 Mimii!', .md Scllin-' i'luc. loi ("o.il ll.iul Tinirs
— P('ploi;iI>1r ( 'oiulilioiis \N .irr-. .mil ('n-t t)l I 'oinmiulitif'..
Ill l<M\I' (lu ..»il indu-.dy \yas vlex eloped, and IMy-
■ inowl li h.iil I'll onw .1 ininin^\ t(M\n, l.inninf; n\'.(s (he
pimiipil. il \\o[ (lu- (Mil\ iiiiup.itton ol (lu- inh.ihi( .iM(s.
riu- JMi'.id t.iiiK- .u 1 1 •. ol liu- .SIi.M\iu-r I'l.Ks, anil (he
s(«>n\ .uul K--;s iMoiliu(i\i- lul.l-. imi ilu- iuo\in(.nn anvl hill-
sidi-. Iiiini.hrd rmplo\nu-n( loi lU'.nh i-NCiyhody. Waj^es
for }.\oo.l I .n m h.inds would .i\i-i.u'.e .ilu>u( sexenly fi>'e
Rctiiniisi ciu cs of riyinoiillt, I'd. 4<)
cents a (lay, and (lie hours <>( lalxtr wfic from sun to
sun, and then tame (lie ordinary "rhores" about the barn
and house — caring for the animals aiul jj[ettin^ in the fire-
wood and loal.
1 lay and ^rain when I was a hoy were all c ul wilii
scythe and cradle, and one ol my youthlul tribulations 1
well remember in that eonneetion, was the task ol turning
the j2;rindstone to sharpen those detested im|)lemeiits.
Wa(j[es during I lie haying; and harvesting season rose
from a dollar (o a dollar and a <|iiarter a day whidi was
consideri'd almost fabulous, but swinj^injj; a scythe or
cradle all day was very hard work.
( )n these (xcasums il was a very (oinmon (iislom, and
indeed was exiuilcd lo have a bolllc ol whiskey stand
beside the water ju^ in the field, and about ten o'clock a
generous luncheon would be carried to the harvesters. On
these j)articular occasions the labor o( |)rovi(linjj; lor a
p[un^>; of ravenous workmen, and in LkI, on many oilier
days of the year, the women ol the household did not
enjoy what ir> vulvar parlance is now called ;i "sna|)."
While I have no distinct recollection of liow or where
flax was cultivated, that it was one of the im|)ortant
features of ajj^riciillm al industry mikI domc-slic manufac-
ture there can be no cloiibl. I liave often witnessed and
participated in the process of "breaking and hetclieling
flax." '('he plan! which jj[rew to about the si/e of tim-
othy grass, having a hard iiid woody cxleiioi or bark,
was first |)assed ihrriugb the "llax break" which in con-
struction resem!)lc(l somewhal a shaving horse or bench,
with a long wooden spring handle- or hammer, and manip-
ulated by hand power. I his mac bine would break up the
hard woody stem when il would be; drawn througli tlic
hetchel — a board or block filled with long iron teetli
50 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
something like a comb — which would remove the coarse
material and tow from the fibre or flax.
I have a distinct remembrance, when I was quite a
large boy, of wearing a blue checked suit of linen
clothes of my mother's manufacture of which I was very
proud.
The wool industry was a very important factor in the
domestic economy, and the whirr and buzz of the old
spinning wheel was a very familiar sound in many of the
dwellings. The wool having been properly prepared by
means of some now forgotten process, into long slender
strings or rolls, these were singly connected to the end of
a long iron or steel spindle which was made to swiftly
revolve by means of a large wooden wheel; the spinner
holding the roll in her left hand would walk slowly back-
ward and forward, drawing the twisted thread to the end
of the roll and then retracing her steps in winding it on
the spindle, a process necessarily involving a great many
steps in the course of a day's spinning.
When the spindle was filled with yarn it would be
wound on the arms of a reel, which, after making a
certain number of revolutions would record a click, indi-
cating the completion of a knot or skein. There were
several other implements or machines employed in the
process of manufacture and preparation, one of which
was called a "swift," but their uses, and even their respec-
tive appellations are now long forgotten and it is doubt-
ful whether many now living can remember them. After
the yarn by various processes had been manipulated into
the required form, it was consigned to the dye tub to
receive whatever color pleased the fancy. All the various
processes of this once familiar domestic industry can now
be safely relegated among the lost arts, along with those
of making soap and starch and mince pies.
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 51
There was yet another very important industry of
home consumption which deserves mention, that of the
manufacture of dipped tallow candles which were the
principal, and in fact often the only convenient effective
means of illumination in early days, although I have
heard of instances of fat pine knots being used for that
purpose.
The modus operandi of dipping candles was to slip
the loop of the cotton wicks which had been cut to the
desired lengths, on to slim elder stalks or round wooden
rods of about two feet in length, say six or eight wicks
on each rod. These would be arranged on horizontal
supports holding perhaps a dozen or more rods. The
operator, seated by the side of the frame supporting the
rods, and within easy reaching distance, beginning at one
end, would lift the rods and slowly dip the wicks into a
pot of hot tallow by her side, and by the time the end of
the frame was reached the tallowed wicks would be suffi-
ciently hardened to repeat the process, and thus, by slow
degrees, the candles, like icicles, would grow to the de-
sired size, and they were much more desirable and lasting
than those of the moulded variety.
The many progressive stages made within the last
hundred years in methods of illumination, successively
from tallow dips and dirty whale oil lamps, to danger-
ous camphine or burning fluid, and kerosene to gas, and
finally, the wonderful perfection attained, and the saving
of labor afforded through means of the magic electric
button device, can scarcely be realized and appreciated
by the present generation.
After the crops had been all gathered, and the fall
work completed, then just before the holiday season
came the butchering, and after that threshing of grain,
which was sometimes done by having the horses and colts
52 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
tramp over it on the barn floor, but was more largely
done by means of the flail, the threshers receiving their
pay in grain, the amount thereof being governed by the
number of bushels threshed.
In the early days Easton was the principal market
place for the farmers' products which were mostly hauled
there on sleds during the winter season, but at the time
of which I write the millers and merchants of the valley
were the principal customers. There being no bakers'
shops in those days, every household baked their own
bread, cakes and pies. The grain for the flour and meal
was taken to the mill to be ground, the miller receiving
his pay therefor in tolls which he deducted.
It was not an unusual custom to carry small grists to
the mill on horseback, the sack being thrown across the
horse's back in front of the rider.
I have heard it said, but I can't vouch for the truth
of it, that some riders, in order to balance the bag on the
horse's back, would put a stone of equal weight in the
other end.
The mills to which the grain would be taken to be
ground into flour or meal, besides the one of my father's
already mentioned, were Shupp's mill up near the present
L. & B. Railroad junction; Pugh's mill, which was located
a short distance up Harvey's Creek, and Raub's and
Dorrance's mills in Mill Hollow, now Luzerne Borough.
All of these mills I think were run by water power. There
was another mill up Wadham's Creek but that did not
pretend to do much business. I have taken grists to all
of these mills.
The coal industry as has been previously noted, com-
menced here in 1807 by the Smith brothers, at what was
generally known as the "Big Coal Bed" on Coal Street,
the coal being hauled on wagons down to wharves on the
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 53
river bank where it was loaded, at first on arks, and later,
after the North Branch Canal was built, into canal boats.
The principal roads to the river over which the coal
was hauled was one just above the Samuel Davenport
store; another, at the corner of which stood C. E.
Young's house; both of these roads leading to my father's
wharf. One by Turner's store leading to Turner's and
Ransom's wharves, and yet another, near the present M.
E. parsonage and leading to Wadham's wharf. All of
these roads are now closed up and but little evidence, if
any, remains of their former existence.
The arks, which I have mentioned, and I believe also
most of the flat bottomed boats used in transporting the
coal to market, were built in what was called the "basin,"
a natural formation of the land situated near Wadham's
Creek between Gabriel's blacksmith shop and the river,
which every spring, at the time of high water would fill
up, when the arks or boats could be floated down the
creek to the river.
Those flat-bottomed boats came to be known all along
the line of the canal as "Shawnee boats," and by reason
of the progressive and aggressive qualities of their re-
spective crews, I believe originated the familiar watch-
word of "Shawnee against the world."
The method of preparing and shipping coal to mar-
ket in those early days was very simple. There were but
two recognized sizes of coal, "coarse or lump," and "fine
coal." The former size was just as it came from the
mine, in lumps often as large as one or two men could
handle, and the latter, perhaps as large as a man's two
hands down to chestnut size, or what would not easily
pass through the meshes of a "screen shovel." The coal
was hauled from the mine to the river and piled on the
bank and from thence loaded into boats with wheelbar-
54 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
rows. All pieces of slate were thrown out, and that on
the large lumps removed with a pick. This primitive
method of preparing coal was, in some respects, superior
to those of the present day, in that there was at least
some pretentions made of honesty. Nowadays the slate
is ground up and skillfully mixed with the coal for weight
and everything goes.
The use of arks for the transportation of coal was
probably abandoned about the year 1840. I have in my
possession an old account book which was kept by my
father, in which there is a credit of $24.00 given to
Adnah Atherton for "building an ark" in 1838, and in
1839 a credit of $25.00 was given to Daniel Gardiner
for a like service. In February, 1841, is a record of
"boat sides" being hauled by Samuel Vanloon, and an-
other of "slitting railing for boat" by Alba Bangs, and
also of "boat plank" having been purchased.
In April of that year begins the first record of coal
being shipped by boats. The average boat load was sixty
tons and was shipped to Bloomsburg, Danville, Harris-
burg, Columbia, Lancaster, Marietta, Milton and other
points, the principal market, however, being Danville,
to Peter Baldy for his furnaces.
The coal Industry during the 40's evidently did not
yield enormous dividends. The miner received 43^^
cents a ton for digging, and about the same price was
paid for boating service to Danville. A cargo of 60
tons delivered there in 1841 was sold for $2.25 a ton, or
$135. The cost of the same was:
For Mining $26.00
Boating Service . . . 26.55
Canal Tolls 16.31 $68.86
Apparent profit $66.14
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 55
But in that apparent profit no account is taken of roy-
alty for coal, the cost of carting from the mine to the
river, or the loading into boats; so the net profit was
considerably less than 50 cents a ton.
On a cargo of 57 tons sent to Harrisburg, the cost
of boating was $87.74 or $1.54 a ton, and the canal tolls
were $70, On another cargo of 58 tons to Marietta, the
cost of running was $1.00 a ton, and the tolls $53.54.
During those years there seemed to be no stable or
fixed price for coal in the markets. The operators ap-
parently were glad to sell their production at whatever
price they could get for it. Thus, in 1841, while the cost
of mining and delivery remained the same, it was sold at
Bloomsburg for $1.50 a ton. From about 1842 to 1846
it sold in Danville for $1.87^ and $1.75, at Columbia
for $1.25, and Marietta for $1.80 per ton, and in many
instances was largely paid for in general merchandise,
horses and buggies, pork, pigs, iron pots and kettles,
earthenware, whiskey, in fact in almost any or everything
that could be utilized in the ordinary process of living.
Those indeed were strenuous times of living. The State
government had embarked in the banking business and in
internal improvements, the building of canals and rail-
roads almost indiscriminately, and for which purpose
loans had been negotiated, the interest on which was
provided for by further loans.
In 1839 David R. Porter was installed as Governor,
and he found the government at the mercy of wily poli-
ticians and dishonest contractors. The country was
flooded with State banknotes, many of which would not
stay good over night. Monies obtained by loans for pro-
jected improvements and necessary repairs thereto, had
been ruthlessly squandered or stolen, and the purposes
for which the money had been borrowed, ignored or
^6 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
neglected, with the treasury bankrupt, and in 1843 ^^^
State was unable to pay the interest on her loans.
Wages of workmen from about 1839 to 1848 ranged
from 50 to 75 cents a day, and they received their pay
mostly in household necessaries, which were largely sup-
plied from the private family stores of the employer.
Prices of flour during this period ranged from five
to eight dollars a barrel; coal at retail $1.56 a load de-
livered; a load estimated at one and a quarter tons; coffee
15 to 17 cents a pound; tea, $1.12^ a pound; salt and
smoked meats, 10 cents; butter, 17 cents; sugar, 1 1 to
12^ cents; molasses, 62y2 to 75 cents; whale oil, 65 to
75 cents a gallon; powder, $2.75 a keg; potatoes, 25 to
31 cents a bushel; wheat, $i.i2j/^, and corn, ^6 cents a
bushel.
Chapter VIII.
Early Coal Operators and Mines — Choke Island — Broderick and
Conyngham's Troubles — Exit of Individual Operators and the
Entrance of Corporations — Capture of Fugitive Slaves — Bru-
talities of the Fugitive Slave Law — Uncle Tom's Cabin.
AMONG the early coal operations in Plymouth, the
Gaylord mine and railroad has already been de-
scribed. There was another similar railroad extending
to the river which is now known as the Bull Run Rail-
road, and on which the cars were propelled by gravity
from the old mine now owned by the D. & H. Co. and
located in Poke Hollow. This mine, I think, was first
operated by William Patton, and afterwards by David
Levi, who also conducted a store near the mine, and
whose first stock of merchandise was negotiated for by
my father. Later, Messrs. Charles Bennett, A. J. Davis,
and a man from New Jersey named James Martin, came
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 57
into control under the firm name of Bennett, Davis &
Co., and they were succeeded by Mr. J. C. F'uller. The
old "mud tunnel" up the road leading to "Jersey Hill"
was operated a short time, I think, by the Turners. In
1846 there was an operation somewhere here, conducted
for a short time by E. Bulkley, Caleb Shonk and Draper
Smith, and called the Draper Smith tunnel. I have been
unable to locate that mine unless it may have been the one
just above the first French tunnel on Coal Street, or the
mud tunnel which was in operation on a small scale about
that period. A little way southwest of the mud tunnel
was the Ransom coal bed, which was abandoned before
my remembrance. Michael Shonk was killed in this mme
in 1846 (the father of John J. Shonk).
The Jersey coal mine, which is now under lease to
the D. L. and W. R. R. Co., was first opened by Joseph
Wright, and was later operated by my father until the late
50's when it was operated by Robert Love and the Hutch-
inson brothers as Robert Love and Co. They built a rail-
road and plane on which cars were run by gravity down
to Chutes near the L. & B. R. R., at a point on the
main road a little way below, or west of present Wright
slope and fan house. It was from those Chutes that the
first cars of coal were hauled over the L. & B. R. R.
from Plymouth, about 1855 or 1856.
One of the early coal mines to be opened in this
locality was the famous "Grand Tunnel" mine opened
by Freeman Thomas — Col. Wright says — about 1828.
It is located at the place named from it — Grand Tunnel.
About the year 1852 or 1853 this mine began to be
operated by Mr. William L. Lance, who later became
one of the most progressive and prominent citizens of
Plymouth. The coal from this mine was run into
Chutes on the river bank near by, and then loaded into
58 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
boats. In the river, about opposite the mouth of this
mine, there was a small island formed, which Mr. Lance
desired to utilize in his operations, but Jamison Harvey,
whose coal mine was on the land adjoining the Grand
Tunnel, claimed the ownership of it. They met on the
island, and after wrangling over the matter, Mr. Harvey
seized Lance by the throat and ejected him. The island
thereafter was known by the name of "Choke Island."
Mr. Lance continued to operate this mine for several
years when he was succeeded by a firm or company styled
the New England Coal Co., whose manager was a man
named Brown, from Boston, and who kept a bachelor's
hall while here, in the old Samuel Ransom homestead.
This mine property later came into the possession of
the Susquehanna Coal Co., and the coal therefrom being
removed through other openings, the Grand Tunnel was
abandoned. The Jamison Harvey mine, next adjoining
the Grand Tunnel property, was operated in the same
manner by Mr. Harvey for a number of years, when it
also passed into the possession of the Susquehanna Coal
Co.
The Nottingham shaft, owned mostly by the Rey-
nolds heirs and members of the Nottingham Coal Co.,
was sunk, and the large breaker built during the middle
sixties, under the management of Mr. Bryce R. Blair,
who was formerly connected with the L. & B. R. R.
This mine was first operated by Messrs. Thomas Brod-
erick and Thomas D. Conyngham of Wilkes-Barre. They
struggled along for several years until they were com-
pelled, by reason of the troublesome and petty annoy-
ances caused them by their employes, to sell out their
interests to the L. & W. B. Coal Co. Strange as it may
appear, those obstructive tactics on the part of the em-
ployes who were receiving generous wages, were engi-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 59
neered largely, if not entirely, by men "to the manor
born," whose former lives had been one of constant
struggle with the hardships, privations and environments
of dire poverty, but had, under the vicious teachings and
influence of demagogues and dangerous labor agitators,
become imbued with the idea that the servant should be
master and rule with autocratic power. Almost every
day at that mine a strike would be inaugurated, based on
some trivial and ridiculous cause, and when that was lack-
ing, when the employes would assemble in the morning,
it is a notorious fact that often a stone, wet on both
sides, would be tossed up to decide whether or not they
should resume work for the day, the wet side winning.
Mr. Broderick, the manager, a very honorable and fair-
dealing man, would almost invariably grant every conces-
sion demanded, only to learn the next day that some new
grievance would arise, and it became proverbial for him
to inquire each morning, before arriving at the mine,
"what new grievance is there to settle to-day."
Similarly, Mr. Broderick's unfortunate and disastrous
experience has been that of many other individual oper-
ators, until finally the management of the coal industry
has generally passed into the control of powerful cor-
porations able to combat all difficulties, and yet, some of
those who were responsible for the change wonder why
these soulless corporations are so stern and heartless in
their control.
The Wadhams coal mine up Wadhams Creek was
operated during the 50's by E. C. Wadhams and after-
wards came into the possession of the L. & W. B. Coal
Co., and until recent years was operated through other
channels by the Parrish Coal Co., of which Mr. Charles
Parrish was the founder and first president. The Dodson
mine, so called from the men who sank the shaft located
6o Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
on Elm Hill, was owned mostly by John J. Shonk. It has
been in operation under different managements for a
number of years and is now in the control of Mr. J. C.
Haddock under the title of the Plymouth Coal Co. The
Gaylord mine has been under several different manage-
ments. During the 6o's a Mr. Langdon of Elmira — the
father-in-law of Mark Twain — was in control, I think,
under the name of the Northern Coal and Iron Co.
The preceding reference to Mr. Jamison Harvey,
whose residence was located up on the hill just beyond
the Grand Tunnel, recalls an incident of historic interest
which occurred there not a very great while before the
time of the Choke Island incident just related, and will
be of interest in this connection. It concerns the capture
there by a U. S. Marshal of a colored man in his em-
ployment who was claimed as being a fugitive slave. That
act was committed under the authority of an act of Con-
gress which was passed in 1850 and known as the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, one of the most infamous laws that was
ever enacted. The law provided for the surrender to
any claimant thereof, of any person they might choose to
declare was a runaway slave, and all that was necessary
to do under that law to prove ownership of the person so
claimed was to make an affidavit before any commissioner
appointed to take depositions, that the person so claimed
was a slave who had escaped from his master, and upon
the proper certificate from that official, without any fur-
ther ceremony the accused persons were hurried off into
slavery. Such persons being property, they were not per-
mitted to testify, nor were they granted a hearing before
a judge or jury. One of the obnoxious features of the
law which was really in the nature of a bribe to the com-
missioners, was his fee of $10 in case he directed a sur-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 6i
render of the person of the accused, otherwise it was
only half that amount.
In this case Mr. Harvey was, I believe, subjected to
a fine for the efforts he exerted to save his man; whereas,
under the benign provisions of the law he was in duty
bound to aid in securing his arrest.
Another similar incident occurred at about the same
time at the old Phoenix Hotel in Wilkes-Barre, which
was located on the site of the present L. & W. B. Coal
Company's office building on River Street. A mulatto
waiter there was chased into the river by some slave
hunters and fired upon with revolvers and badly wounded.
He made his escape, however, and was later found hid-
den in the weeds along the shore and cared for. His
would-be captors having announced that "a dead nigger"
would be of no use to them. The brutal enforcement of
that iniquitous law was one of the primary causes which
led up to the war of the rebellion, and yet there are
people who place the responsibility for that war upon the
Abolitionists.
Soon after the time of these occurrences there came
from the press that historic novel of Harriet Beecher
Stowe, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It created a most pro-
found sensation at the time and the story is familiar to
nearly everybody throughout the North to-day. I have
in my possession a copy of one of the first of the many
thousand editions of that famous novel, which I loved
to hear my grandfather read as we all sat around his
fireside on winter evenings.
Chapter IX.
Reverie — Wild Pigeons — Swimming — Rafting — A Disappointing
Experience — Traveling Inconveniences — Flood of 1852 and
the Resulting Hardships — Flood of 1865 — Incidents of the
Flood — Early Military Organizations — The Shawnee Rang-
ers — General Trainings — Martial Music — Black Jack — Later
Military Companies — Top Heaviness of the Military Estab-
lishment.
THE sensations of a drowning person, it is said by
those who have been resuscitated after having
nearly undergone that fate, are that the events and scenes
of their whole lives — like a panorama — are flashed be-
fore their mind's eye in a moment, and the forgotten
memories and most trifling incidents of the past are
vividly brought into view.
It is a sensation something like that which I experi-
ence as I attempt to locate the almost obliterated land-
marks of near a century ago; as the obscure evidence of
their former existence brings them Into view, old scenes
and long-forgotten incidents connected therewith are
vividly recalled and flash through the mind with light-
ning rapidity, and in the effort to describe them I am at
a loss how or where to begin. For instance, here stands
an old tree that appears about the same as I remember
it when a boy. It must be over a hundred years old;
what precious memories it recalls.
"Kind friends are gone but the old tree stands,
Unharmed by the warring blasts."
Over there by the roadside stands the relics of an-
other old veteran of the forest, from whose decaying
branches I fired at a red squirrel with an old horse pistol
from which part of the stock blew off with the explosion,
and I have wondered whether the squirrel or I was the
worse scared. On yonder ledge I have sat, and watched
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 63
with admiration — where now are only to be seen un-
sightly piles of culm — the shadows of the clouds as they
passed over the waving fields of grain and meadow on
the Shawnee Flats, presenting a scene of beauty far sur-
passing the painter's art, and, in imagination, I can see
the crows as they came, flying singly, or in pairs or flocks
to their far away mountain homes. In yonder field, now
covered with dwelling houses, is where we used to coast
on the crusted snow on moonlight nights, on sleds made
up of barrel staves which flew almost with the speed of
the wind. On the brow ot yonder hill I have stood with
gun in hand, patiently waiting and hoping for a chance
to shoot at the wild pigeons as they passed over, in
flocks so dense as almost to obscure the light of the sun,
but so high up that a Krag Jorgenson rifle could be
scarcely able to reach them; and there, way down in that
field yonder near the river, where I was sent to work,
some idle boys would pass and holding up two fingers —
an inviting sign to go swimming — was sufiicient induce-
ment to while the happy hours away In the comfortable
waters at the mouth of Wadham's Creek, while my in-
dulgent father — until, in the interest of my health Fuller
Reynolds advised him otherwise — was fondly indulging
the ridiculous belief that I was industriously hoeing corn.
Thus do "fond memories bring the light of other days
around me," and the happy days of boyhood are again
lived over; but, like a tale that is told, naught remains
but memories which will doubtless be of little Interest
here, and as garrulousness is said to be a characteristic
of old people, that must be my excuse for the telling, if
one is needed.
In the days of early spring for many years it was a
common sight to see the river filled with rafts of lumber,
and arks loaded with potatoes, or other articles of pro-
64 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
duce coming from the headwaters of the river in New
York State, pass by on the annual spring freshet. For
days at a time these would pass almost continuously by
hundreds. They would go through the chute by the side
of the Nanticoke Dam and proceed on down to various
points along the river from whence their crews — as
often did canal boatmen — would return on foot to their
homes.
I had long had a very ardent desire to have a ride on
one of those lumber rafts, with their cosy looking little
cabins in the centre, so one day I procured a skiff, and
with a great deal of laborious effort rowed up stream
about a mile, when I struck out to intercept one in the
middle of the river, fondly expecting to enjoy a long and
very pleasant ride, but alas ! my painful exertions had
strangely enough caused me to overlook the wonderful
rapidity of the current, and as soon as I reached the cov-
eted goal I looked around and to my amazement saw that
I was far below my starting point. Without delay I
pulled for shore and reached home with my hands badly
blistered and a sadder and much wiser boy, and with the
desire for rafting entirely gone.
There being no railroad conveniences, or other con-
venient and expeditious means of travel in those days,
pedestrian methods were quite commonly resorted to, and
I have myself seen men with carpet bag in hand traveling
to Bloomsburg and Danville in the prosecution of their
business pursuits, and — I am almost afraid to tell it —
sixty miles a day was not considered an extraordinary
or unusual distance for a day's journey on foot.
These annual freshets, while they were usually antici-
pated or expected, were often the cause of considerable
trouble and expense in the destruction of fences, and in
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 65
the removal of driftwood and other debris after the
waters had subsided.
In the year 1852 I think it was, there came a rather
unusual and unexpected flood in July, which caused much
loss and damage and subsequent distress. Considerable
of the grain on the flats had been cut and stood in shocks
in the fields. The farmers worked at night with their
teams in efforts to save their crops, but the river rose so
rapidly that very little in that direction could be accom-
plished, and what was saved was covered with mud and
for a year afterwards gritty wheat flour was much in evi-
dence, the only alternative being bread made from rye
which was mostly grown on the uplands, or Johnny cakes,
conditions, which to the fastidious palates of to-day would
doubtless seem more appalling than the horrors of the
present European war. The poor cattle and horses were
probably the worst sufferers, for neither hay or grain
could be handled without raising a smothering cloud of
dust; but in the case of both man and beast, it was simply
a question of eat or starve.
The most appalling flood, however, occurred on St.
Patrick's Day, March 17th and i8th, 1865. The weather
was clear and pleasant and the ice had all passed out of
the river, and people were congratulating themselves that
all danger from floods had passed. However, there had
sprung up a warm south wind which melted the heavy'
snows on the mountains and along the headwater sheds
of the river and brought the waters down with a rush.
On the 17th there was a township election being held in
the upper schoolroom of the Academy and in the after-
noon the tardy voters from the upper end were obliged
to make use of the fence between Mr. Gaylord's resi-
dence and the Wadhams' residence in order to reach the
polling place. Late in the afternoon I rowed a boat up
66 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
to the door of the schoolroom and took the election board
to dry land. The water rose to cover the tops of the
counters in Wadhams' store. Manny Wharram had
hastily built some boats for service on the occasion, and
on the 1 8th I rowed one of these into the front door en-
trance of Mr. Wadhams' residence and took on board
his family, they stepping into the boat from the second
or third step from the bottom of the hall stairway. The
wind was blowing almost a gale and the boat was un-
wieldy. We sailed over the top of the garden fence. I
lost my cap in the perilous voyage but managed to land
the cargo safely at the foot of the hill somewhere near
the upper end of Gaylord Avenue. Later I removed
the family of Rev. J. G. Eckman from the old Methodist
parsonage to a place of safety. In passing one of their
children to me in the boat, before I could get a secure
hold the boat gave a lurch and the kid dropped into the
water. That same kid is now, I believe, or was, the
pastor of one of the largest churches in New York City.
If perchance he should ever read these lines I wonder if
he can remember the incident of his immersion.
While there was much damage and suffering caused
by this flood to many of the people of Plymouth, yet there
were also many comical and laughable incidents connected
with it. Nearly everybody appeared to take the situation
philosophically and in good nature, and in fact, many
seemed rather to enjoy the unusual novelty and excite-
ment incident thereto. In the upper end of town it
seemed as though nearly all of the outhouses of the neigh-
borhood had a penchant for eddying in or near the main
street, and that ever jovial and irrepressible Tom Dod-
son, having marooned a keg of liquor, he established a
free bar in one of them, and it was said that nearly every-
body in the neighborhood got drunk.
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 67
The earliest, and in fact the only remembrance I have
of any military organizations in Plymouth, and that is
very indistinct, is that of the "Shawnee Greens," although
there was some kind of a military system in vogue in the
State in early days whereby the military subjects were
required to arm and equip themselves. I remember of
hearing my father speak of being required, in obedi-
ence to orders of the Brigade Inspector, to report some-
where for muster, when the men would appear armed
with sticks or cornstalks for guns. Where or when these
inspections were held I am not aware, nor do I recollect
having ever seen any military drills or parades in Ply-
mouth.
The "Shawnee Greens," so named from the color of
the gorgeous uniforms they wore, was organized by
Francis J. Smith probably about the year 1842 or 1843.
The officers were Francis J. Smith, captain, and Fuller
Reynolds and Draper Smith, lieutenants. Their green
uniforms consisted of frock-tailed coats with a profusion
of round brass bell buttons, tasseled epaulettes and hel-
mets with gorgeous plumes which might have excited the
envy of Henry of Navarre,
I don't think this formidable arm of national defense
was very large, or that it survived very long, for I re-
member when about seven or eight years of age, while
living in Kingston, where Captain Smith also at that time
lived in the old stone house on the corner, that we boys
got access to a room where the uniforms were stored,
and helped ourselves to brass buttons and gilt trimmings.
I have often heard of general training days which
I think occurred in the spring months, and an important
feature of which was ginger cakes and cider, I think
these military displays generally took place either at
Kingston or Wilkes-Barre. The only ones which I can
68 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
recall were at Kingston when uniformed troops from
WIlkes-Barre paraded and I think they wore white
trousers which were held down with leather straps under
the boots. These all made an appearance which to the
juvenile mind particularly was very formidable and awe-
insplrlng.
On these, as on all similar occasions, perhaps the
most attractive feature of the display was the music. For
martial music I don't believe there ever was or probably
can be, when properly executed, anything more inspiring
or calculated to arouse the highest pitch of patriotic
ardor, than the fife and drums. In this particular on all
military or civic occasions, "Shawnee against the world,"
Plymouth was without a peer. There was Henderson
Egbertson, with his tenor drum; his brother Jim, famil-
iarly known as "Bucksy," with the bass drum, and Black
Jack, with the fife, and whenever they paraded, as they
sometimes did through the main street of an evening,
they always attracted an audience.
Black Jack was one of the conspicuous characters of
Plymouth. It was said of him that he could play the fife
on a march from Plymouth to WIlkes-Barre without
cessation. He used to work for my grandfather and on
one occasion I had it all planned to accompany him on
a sled load of grain to WIlkes-Barre. At the opportune
moment, however, my grandmother despatched me on
some brief errand and when I got back Jack was gone.
I felt very much aggrieved over the shabby trick that had
been played upon me, but it was doubtless fortunate, for
when Jack came home his condition was not such as
would have made his company very desirable. One
morning early he came to our house and told my mother
that he was going away, and gave her his fife for me to
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 69
keep until his return, and I have poor Jack's fife in my
possession yet.
All of the colored people in Plymouth that I ever
knew had the prefix "black" attached to their given
names. Black John and Black Anthony I have already
referred to, and there was a servant of Mrs. Chauncey
Reynolds who was known as Black Ann. I never heard
mentioned any surnames of these persons if they had any.
Concerning later military organizations here, about
the time of the close of the war, or shortly after the
military spirit, particularly among the younger generation
began to manifest itself and many military organizations
sprang up throughout the State. Plymouth at one time
boasted of three infantry companies captained respec-
tively by A. F. Levi, Wm. W. Woodword and Martin
Carey. The militia laws of the State, however, being so
crude and unsatisfactory, and no adequate or material
financial support being provided, these organizations did
not long survive. One, and perhaps the most formidable
feature of the military arm of the State government at
that time was the multitudinous array of officers con-
nected with it. At one time it is said that there were in
command of some three hundred military companies in
the State, no less than twenty-one major generals, with
perhaps near that number of brigadier generals, each
with a large retinue of colonels and majors as staff offi-
cers, which in the aggregate nearly equalled the number
of privates.
About 1879 the military establishment was thor-
oughly reorganized, resulting in its present superior state
of efficiency.
Chapter X.
Early Methods of Traveling — Weaver's Stage Line — Steamboats
— The Little Jim — Transferring Canal Boats — Shows and
Circuses — Burial Grounds and Cemeteries — Early Medical
Methods — Doctors — Bogus Diplomas.
"|\/f ENTION has heretofore been made of the early
methods or means of traveling from place to
place. There being no public means of traveling, the
people as a rule having employment enough at home to
engage their time and attention, unless called away on
business or allured by some unusual attraction in Wilkes-
Barre, generally remained at home, and those who were
thus called away, if not possessed of horses and convey-
ances, took the only safe and independent course, of going
on foot. The city of Scranton was then unborn and Pitts-
ton, with little or no inducements to offer, was nearly as
far distant as is Philadelphia to-day, so that about the
only easy accessible points of attraction were Kingston
and the Borough of Wilkes-Barre. The route there was
through the Narrows and over Ross Hill. Many of
those with teams would tie their horses to the fence, or
to the trees in the grove near the entrance to the bridge
and walk across to save bridge toll which was an item of
expense worthy of consideration in those days.
On the lower side of the road, near the entrance to
the old covered bridge, in an old framehouse, a man
named Gunton did quite a thriving business selling
melons and oysters in season, the latter in small kegs of
one or two quarts size. The first attempt towards estab-
lishing a means of public conveyance was sometime in
the early 50's when Charley Weaver established a stage
line from Plymouth to Wilkes-Barre. His two-horse
coach would start from Lance's barn at the lower end of
town and make two round trips daily. The fare for the
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 71
round trip was fifty cents. The patronage, however, was
not sufficient to insure success and the project was soon
abandoned.
After the L. & B. Railroad got in operation the fare
to Kingston was fifteen cents, and across the Hats to
Wilkes-Barre, on the horse cars, ten cents. Several un-
successful attempts had been made at different times to
navigate the river from Tunkhannock to Wilkes-Barre,
but only during high water stages could a boat get
through. I think a Captain Converse was one of the
pioneers in those attempts. When Hendrick B. Wright
was in Congress he obtained an appropriation to dredge
the channel at Fish Island near Wilkes-Barre, sufficient
to permit a boat to pass through. The river from that
point to Nanticoke being navigable at low water, and he
with others formed a company and put on a stern-wheel
steamboat bearing his name to ply between Wilkes-Barre
and Nanticoke. The boat made four daily trips between
the two points and proved to be much of a convenience to
the traveling public. This enterprise proving so success-
ful, Fremont Jenkins put on a small boat named the
"Magnolia," and afterwards added the "Plymouth,"
both side-wheelers, and Theodore Renshaw put on the
"Mayflower," and afterwards the larger "Lyman Tru-
man," and Joel Walp had a stern-wheeler, the "Wilkes-
Barre.."
The intense rivalry between these steamship lines in
connection with the railroad soon made the business un-
profitable; and with the gradual filling up of the river
channel with culm and the low water, caused by the dis-
use of the Nanticoke dam, made navigation impossible.
The Hendrick B. Wright was wrecked by the ice, as
was also the Wilkes-Barre; the Truman blew up and the
Mayflower was taken over to Harvey's lake.
72 Reminiscences of Plymoulh, Pa.
Aside from a small pleasure yacht, the "Wingohock-
ing," brought here from Philadelphia by James Martin,
the first regular steamboat service on the river here was
a tug boat called the "Little Jim," rechristened the "Wil-
liam Patten," and brought here by that gentleman for the
purpose of towing canal boats to and from his coal chutes
to the canal entrance at Nanticoke. I believe that George
P. Richards was the first engineer on that boat.
Before the advent of that tug, the custom had been
for boats with their teams to cross the river by means
of a rope ferry below Harvey's wharf, and then to tow
thern up the "Pool" to near the Outlet lock above Butz-
bach's, from which point they would be "poled" to and
from their respective wharves.
Boats destined to points further up the canal, before
approaching this Outlet lock would through their boat
horns sound notice of their approach, in time for the
"tender" to prepare the lock for their entrance into the
canal. Occasionally some expert bugler would perform
that duty and often on a calm summer evening their
pleasing melodies could be distinctly heard in town.
Besides the annual elections, the events of most ab-
sorbing interest, particularly to the rising generation,
was the periodical visits of Van Amburg's Menagerie,
and Dan Rice's and Forepaugh's Circuses to Wilkes-
Barre. The former was the only one of these exhibitions
I was ever permitted to attend. The circuses, aside from
the financial aspects of the case, were considered entirely
unnecessary and of a demoralizing nature, and in conse-
quence my only recourse was to view with wistful gaze
the gorgeous pictures of the forty-horse chariots and the
wonderful acrobatic feats as displayed on the side of a
barn.
On all such occasions it was most aggravating to see
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 73
the long processions of male and temale, adult and juve-
nile pedestrians wending their way to Wilkes-Barre in
the early morning, equipped with their day's provisions
and prepared to spend the day in undisturbed enjoyment
of these to me forbidden pleasures.
There was, however, one consoling feature which
tended somewhat to mitigate the pangs of disappoint-
ment; "Milly" would always call us up before daylight
in time to see the elephants and camels and ponies and
wagons with their sleepy attendants pass by on their way
to Berwick. I was about sixteen years of age before I
ever attended a circus and then I ran away from school
at Wyoming and walked over to Pittston at night to see it.
Passing now from the gay and frivolous, to the more
serious and grave concerns, I have already described the
private burying ground of the Hodge family in the
French orchard. I have heard intimated that there was
in very early days another graveyard somewhere in the
vicinity of the flat road near the "swing gate," but of this
I have no definite knowledge, nor is there any evidence
of one having been there. The one on the corner of
Shawnee Avenue and Reynolds Street, known as the
Reynolds graveyard, was established in 1828. In the
records in Luzerne County Courthouse is filed a lease
from John Turner and Benjamin Reynolds, to Calvin
Wadhams, Joseph Wright, Jamison Harvey, Noah Wad-
hams, Freeman Thomas, Samuel Wadhams, George S.
Clark, Henry Gabriel, Joshua Pugh, and said Turner in
common with the others, for land for 900 years, "for the
purpose of a private burying ground." This lease is
dated November 20, 1828, was acknowledged May 14,
1845, ^"d recorded August 6, 185 i, and on November
20, 1828, Benjamin Reynolds and John Turner acknowl-
edges receipt from the lessees of $10, "in full in advance
74 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
for all rents for term of 900 years." Most all of the
bodies have been removed from this burying ground to
other places; but few remaining, of old residents, their
graves uncared for and perhaps long ago forgotten, and
the ground is overgrown with weeds and briars, and
made a depository for tin cans and other rubbish by the
unsympathetic occupants of the adjoining lots. There is
another private burying ground on "Turkey Hill," known
as the Davenport burying ground which has I believe —
since the establishment of the Shawnee Cemetery further
up the hill — been abandoned as a burying ground.
Until within recent years many interments of Ply-
mouth residents were made in the cemeteries at Forty-
Fort or Wilkes-Barre. The HoUenback Cemtery at
Wilkes-Barre was opened in 1856 and my sister Cornelia
was the second person to be buried there in June of that
year.
Perhaps the earliest public burying ground in Ply-
mouth is the old Shupp graveyard near the L. & B. junc-
tion. I have no knowledge of when or by whom this
graveyard was established. It formerly comprised sev-
eral acres of ground but all the larger part of this has
been covered over by the D. & H. Co. with huge piles
of refuse from their adjacent mines, and only a garden
patch in size remains, in a very dilapidated state, but is
still being used by the public, where interments are yet
being made three and four deep.
Perhaps at no distant day the general public will be-
come sufficiently enlightened to substitute the more
humane and sanitary method of cremation for the repul-
sive and revolting one of sepulture; and why, from an
economic point of view, should the dead be permitted to
encumber the ground and be in the way of the living?
From graveyards to doctors, or vice versa, is a very
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 75
easy and seemingly logical transition of topics of discus-
sion; while we all have faults, and are prone to mistakes,
— the easiest of all human accomplishments, — unfortu-
nately perhaps we can't always hide, or bury them in
everlasting oblivion. In the early days when doctors
were few and far between, and not easily accessible, the
mothers, or some neighborly old grandmothers were the
family physicians; and not until the patient got beyond
their skill was the doctor summoned, when, after inspect-
ing the tongue and examining the pulse, he would look
wise, and if he didn't resort to blood letting would al-
most invariably prescribe the proverbial dose of Rhubarb,
or Calomel and Castor Oil; all very excellent remedies,
and well calculated to arouse a very decisive, if not en-
thusiastic hygienic interest; but the vilest prescription I
think, and one on which I always drew the line, was sul-
phur mixed in molasses; that dose is the climax of nastl-
ness. The prevalent diseases or ailments of today, were
diagnosed under different names, for example, diphtheria
was probably an aggravated sore throat, pneumonia, in-
flammation of the lungs, and appendicitis, either inflam-
mation of the bowels or dry belly ache.
In nearly every house might be seen hanging from the
rafters in the attic, or strung along the beams, a well ar-
ranged assortment of catnip, sweet fern, sage and various
other "yarbs" possessing sedative, laxative and purga-
tive, or other medicinal virtues, while a bag of roots of
varied species was usually near at hand, or in case of
emergency some old Nimrod of Knowledge and experi-
ence would be despatched to the woods or fields in search
of squaw roots, golden-thread, burdock or other roots
necessary to the requirements of the domestic pharmacy,
and the compounding or manufacture of all which into
teas, salves or poultices was by no means an occult art.
76 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
I have often heard mention made of a Doctor Mont-
ross of early days, who lived somewhere back of the
mountain who was regarded somewhat as a medical pro-
digy, but my earliest recollection of the fraternity was a
Doctor Boyd of Wilkes-Barre, who perhaps, at that
period was more instrumental in increasing the census
statistics of the town than any one other. Then there
was a doctor John Smith also of Wilkes-Barre, an early
practitioner here who always sat cross legged in his lumb-
ering top buggy which was drawn by a horse with a
maximum speed of about one mile in seventy-five minutes,
but who always brought sunshine and hope in his visits.
Doctor Ebenezer Chamberlin was one of, if not the old-
est early resident physicians. He was a very genial and
kind hearted man, known to almost everybody from his
pointed and witty sayings, and characteristics. He lived
here for many years and had a large practice. He also
served as Justice of the Peace for a number of years.
Doctor J. E. Bulkley and Doctor Brisbane both of
Wilkes-Barre were frequent visitors. In later years there
were as resident physicians Doctors Bixby, Rickard, M.
G. Whitney, Wilson, and McKee, — father and son, — all
of whom were respected physicians and each enjoying a
large practice.
In the late 70's quite a commotion was stirred up
amongst the medical fraternity throughout the State, by
a report to the authorities from our Minister in Ger-
many, the Hon. Andrew D. White, to the effect that a
man named Buchanan in Philadelphia was engaged in
the business of selling doctors' diplomas purporting to
issue from an institution called the "Philadelphia Uni-
versity," which being confounded there with the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, an institution of learning, of
world wide reputation, was heaping discredit upon that
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 77
Institution. An investigation resulted and legal meas-
ures adopted which had the effect of unearthing many
of those bogus certificates throughout the country, much
to the chagrin and discomfiture of the possessors thereof.
Chapter XL
Early Methods of Weighing — System of Barter — Reason for
Peculiarity of Prices of Commodities — Currency Conditions
— Spanish Coins — Fips and Shillings — Counterfeit Notes —
Era of Shinplasters — Customs of Early Merchants — Means
of Travel — Wholesale Merchants — Arrival of Goods —
Pedlars and Their Wares.
T N early days most commodities sold by weight, were
-■- weighed on steelyards. For small articles or quanti-
ties these were weighed by holding the steelyard with the
article to be weighed suspended thereto, with one hand,
and with the other, adjusting the balance upon the ex-
tended steelyard arm which Indicated the weight; hence,
in the records of sales or purchases made, It Is not un-
usual to find such seemingly, to us, odd quantities named
as for example 6)4 pounds of coffee or 103^^ pounds of
sugar. It used to be said of one very early merchant
that In his dealings with the Indians, his hand weighed
one pound and his foot two pounds.
Purchases were very commonly made by means of
barter, or exchange of commodities, — ready money was
in many cases, an almost unknown quantity. The farm-
ers banking capital and facilities was his grain, hay, pota-
toes and other articles of produce, with occasionally
some portions of a dressed hog, or a quarter or side of
beef or veal, most of which articles were always very
acceptable In payment to the doctor, the shoemaker or the
blacksmith, while the housewife sold butter and eggs or
78 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
home knit woolen mittens and stocking, and then, as most
every household had its own seamstress, the concomitant
and convenient rag bag, with "paper rags" worth three
cents a pound at any of the stores, was a small but valu-
able aid in the procuring of thread and other such neces-
sary items.
Another one of the peculiar early customs unknown
or unpracticed at the present time, although a popular
one as late as the time of the war of the rebellion, was
the making the prices to be charged for many articles,
or commodities, 6% cents, or 12^ cents, a pound or a
yard. The reason for such common use of the fraction
in connection with the sale price of articles, was doubt-
less owing to the condition and value of the currency then
in general circulation, which consisted almost entirely of
Spanish silver coins and State bank notes; a standard of
value being, generally, a "Spanish Milled Dollar."
Hon. John Sherman, former Secretary of the U. S.
Treasury, in his memoirs says, that "in 1793 foreign
coins were a legal tender for circulation in this country.
Spanish coins found great favor — Spanish dollars though
three grains heavier than ours, were readily exchanged
in Mexico and the West Indies for our bright new coins.
This led to an exchange of our dollars for the Spanish
ones which were promptly received at our mint at a
profit. This put upon the government the expense of
making coins with no advantage. This was free coinage.
In 1806 President Jefferson prohibited the coinage of
silver dollars and when S. P. Chase became Secretary of
the Treasury in 1861, there were probably not 1,000
silver dollars in the United States."
"By the Acts of Congress of 1834 and 1837, the
ratio of coinage was made 16 to i, with the result that
gold coins were largely introduced and circulated, but as
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 79
16 ounces of silver was worth more than one ounce of
gold, the silver coins disappeared except the depreciated
foreign coins, then a legal tender."
Those Spanish coins were nearly all worn so thin and
smooth through circulation as to be almost undecipher-
able in appearance, but if there remained resemblance of
any of the original earmarks of coinage on them they
would pass at full value without question. The smallest
of those coins was counted d.s 6% cents in exchange,
and the next size iiy^ cents and they were called
respectively six pence or "fipenny bits," — for short
"fips," — and shillings, or "eleven penny bits." A bit be-
ing 123/2 cents which term was probably of Southern
origin where it was commonly made use of. Most all of
the bank notes were counterfeited, and nearly every mer-
chant had one of Thompson's Monthly Bank Note detec-
tors, which gave a minute description of every known
counterfeit bill, and which he would always consult upon
presentation to him of any unfamiliar note.
At the commencement of the war, even this debased
silver currency entirely disappeared and the merchants
and business men were put to great straights, before the
issue of fractional currency by the government, to make
change for bank notes in their business dealings. This
inconvenience they overcame however, by many of them
issuing their own scrip, or "Shinplasters," in denomina-
tions of five cents and its multiple up to 50 cents; of
course, the only basis of value to this scrip was the repu-
tation of the party issuing it. Ev^en brass and copper
tokens of all manner of devices and purporting to rep-
resent cents were put in circulation which were really of
not as much value as a button, but almost anything was
accepted in change without a murmur. After the issue of
"greenbacks" by the government, it was nothing unusual
8o Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
when making change of fifty cents, to cut a one dollar
note in half.
Every spring and fall, before canal navigation closed,
it was the custom of the merchants of the town and val-
ley, to go to Philadelphia to replenish their stocks of
goods. Their route of travel would be by stage from
Wilkes-Barre to Tamaqua ; leaving the old Phoenix Hotel
long before daylight, they would take breakfast at Drums
on the mountain and arrive about noon at Tamaqua, and
from there take the train to Philadelphia. In later years
a packet boat would connect at Catawissa with the Read-
ing railroad. They usually traveled together and would
put up in the city at the Black Bear Hotel on Third
Street, the White Swan on Arch Street, or the Merchants,
on Fourth Street, the principal hotels, and would make
their purchases of the same firms.
The names of those wholesale merchants are yet very
familiar. There was James Kent Santee & Co., and
Ludwig, Kneedler & Co., dry goods, and Eckel & Reigel,
C. C. Sadler provisions, G. S. Gilbert drugs, Joel J.
Bailey notions, James Shields & Co., hardware, Godfrey
Keepler, a jolly Dutchman, whom I later knew very well,
Frishmuth & Co., who sold the white papers of smoking
tobacco with the Indian and his pipe for a label, and
Mason, whose shoe polish bore the familiar label of a
colored boy shining a boot which reflected an angry
rooster.
Their purchases were loaded on canal boats at Peter
Wright's Son's wharf, and their arrival at Plymouth a
week or ten days perhaps later, was always an event of
very general interest, more especially to the women of the
neighborhood, most of whom usually had given some
special commission to the storekeeper to execute. Sup-
plementing as it were these Philadelphia excursions, the
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 8i
merchants had frequent opportunities of replenishing
their stocks of small wares, particularly of candies, no-
tions, and medicines, from traveling peddlar wagons
which habitually passed through town. The medicine men
usually drove gaily caparisoned horses hitched to gaudy
wagons and distributed almanacs and descriptive circulars
advertising remedies warranted to cure all ailments, or
selling the well known Ayers Cherry Pectoral, Hines Tar
Syrup, Swaynes Ointment, Indian Vegetable Pills, or
galvanic ointment.
The first introduction here of kerosene oil, was by
one of those wagons, in the form of crude oil put up in
small phials and labeled Petroleum or Rock Oil, a sure
cure for rheumatism.
Chapter XII.
The Past and the Present, Comparisons — The "Appy Og" —
Mythical Superior Traits of Honesty — Early Habits and
Characteristics of People — Social Courtesies — Sociability
Among Neighbors — Quilting Parties — Visiting — Apple Cuts
and Candy Pulls — Deferences to Old People — Incidents —
The 400 Society — Town Newspapers — Names of Business
Men and Firms.
IN apparent contravention of the old proverb that the
world grows weaker and wiser, in comparisons made
between the present and the past, one often hears lamen-
tations by old people like those made by the Jews in
olden times, of the departed glory of the "good old days"
of yore, when everybody was honest and happy.
There is not much doubt I think, that a greater and
more genuine spirit of sociability prevailed among our
forebears and predecessors, than exists in communities
today. Evidence of this may still be seen in most every
82 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
isolated country village or community which is cut off
from railroad and other civilizing modern conveniences
and luxuries. A natural human instinct there draws the
people together, "to scorn delights and live laborious
days;" their sympathies and their interests are mutual;
what concerns one, is of more or less interest and concern
to all the others; whereas, in populous centres, sur-
rounded by all the wonderful means of speedy travel and
communication with the outside world, the people are
imbued with the progressive and wholly selfish spirit of
the age which is, "every fellow for himself;" people
come and people go unnoticed, and they don't really
know their next door neighbors, and it is very question-
able whether the people of today with all their luxurious
surroundings are, in fact, as really happy and contented,
and enjoy life as did those of a century ago in their
homely simplicity, when their wants and desires were
governed wholly by their resources, and they retired to
bed and peaceful slumber in the happy assurance that
they were "cocks upon their own dung hills."
In this connection, these reflections remind me of the
story told of a certain business man of foreign extraction,
who eliminated the h's in his conversations; in returning
to his home one night somewhat obfusticated, in passing
a pen in which lay a sleeping hog, on viewing which he
thus soliloquized: "Appy, og, appy og, no notes to settle
tomorrow, nothing to worry about."
We often read, and hear, much laudation concerning
the frugality, purity, and honesty of our early predeces-
sors. My memory extends back nearly seventy years, and
during many of those years I have associated with and
been in close business contact with many kinds and con-
ditions of the human species, and from my readings and
personal experiences, I have arrived at the conclusion that
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 83
the whole human family are, and always have been, in-
fected with the same kind of cussedness from the days of
Abraham and Moses down to the present day. Mr.
George B. Wendling, in his recent lecture deliv^ered in
Wilkes-Barre, was correct when he said, "One of our
delusions is, that farmers are more honest than other
people," and when I hear of one of those ancient, honest
pioneers, selling his unsuspecting neighbor "rotten clover
hay," and remember of buying from a "dear friend," a
barrel of rotten apples with a "strictly handpicked" cover-
ing, or a crate of inferior berries nicely concealed under
"choice" varieties, by a professional Christian, I am con-
firmed in my belief, in at least that portion of the holy
scripture attributed to the prophet Micah, that, "they
hunt every man his brother with a net," and the really
"good man is perished out of the earth."
In corroboration of what has been said concerning
the social habits and characteristics of the early inhabi-
tants, little acts of courtesy among neighbors were of
frequent occurrence, in marked contrast to present day
methods. If a man had a building to erect, after the
timbers were all framed and prepared, it was a common
custom on a given day, for the neighbors to all turn out
to the "raising;" and in the butchering season, it was
customary to always remember the near neighbors with a
dainty cut from the slaughtered animal.
Frequently the women of the neighborhood would as-
semble to participate in a quilting party, an event of so-
cial importance. Social calls were quite a common prac-
tice on the part of both men and women, and it was not
unusual for the women folks, unannounced, to start out
in the forenoon with their "knitten," and spend the day
with a neighbor, when, after the usual interesting and
edifying subject of their respective distressful sufferings
84 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
from "rheumatiz," disordered "stomicks" or sore feet,
had been thoroughly discussed and diagnosed, probably
the abstruse theological doctrines of foreordination,
transubstantiation, or infant baptism would be next in
order and consume a considerable part of the time.
In the long winter evenings, oftentimes when it would
be necessary on a dark night, to grope the way along the
fences by the aid of a perforated tin lantern of a one
lightning bug power of reflection, to get out of the mud,
very pleasant visits would be made between neighbors,
when a basket full of luscious apples and a pitcher of
cider or, perhaps a genuine, warm mince pie, would
always be in evidence.
For the younger generation, in the fall of the year
"apple cuts" were a popular recreation. After the ap-
ples had been peeled and cored, they were strung on long
strings, and it was not unusual to see them thus hanging
in graceful festoons to dry, from the floor beams in
houses, and making elegant roosting places for flies.
For the juveniles, molasses "candy pulls," with the
accompanying games of "hunt the button," "choose the
one that you love best," and similar diversions were
much enjoyed by the blushing lads and lassies.
A kind of reverent deference was paid to the elderly
people, as manifested in the affectionate terms used in
addressing, or referring to them. For example, there
was Aunt Liva Davenport, Aunt Fanny Turner, and Aunt
Phoebe Wadhams, kind hearted old ladies, respected by
everybody; and among the men, Uncle Robert Daven-
port, of whom it used to be said, that in a discussion in
reference to winter thaws, he asserted there was always
a thaw in January for he had seen hundreds of them.
And there was Uncle "Benny" Reynolds, and Uncle In-
gersol Wadhams, a general favorite, and of whom it
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 85
was said, that, being annoyed by persons coming across
the river to steal turnips from his patch on the flats, he
concealed himself in the weeds with a shotgun loaded
with beans, and when one of the depredators stooped
over to pull turnips, he fired at his anatomy with the re-
sult that thereafter he was left in undisputed possession
of his crop.
In discussions among the women folks, in speaking of
each other, it seems to have been a custom among them —
perhaps from a similar custom of prefixing the word
black, to the given names of colored persons, — to couple
the first name of the wife, with the first name of her hus-
band; for example, Mrs. Jacob Gould's name was Han-
nah, for short called Hanner, as was also that of Mrs.
John Davenport, Mrs. Robert Davenport's name was
Phoebe, and Mrs. Thomas Pringle's name was Betsy.
This select coterie, probably in fashionable New York
City parlance might be called the 400 Society of Ply-
mouth. These names were rhymed together, thus :
Hanner Jake and Hanner John,
Phoebe Bob and Betsy Tom.
Maybe, like Buttercups babies, I have got these genealo-
gies mixed, but it don't affect the illustration.
Plymouth, as a newspaper town, does not for some
cause, appear to have been a success. The first attempt
in publishing a newspaper here was made by Asher Gay-
lord some time during the middle 50's. It was a small
folio, I think called the Herald. It was printed on coarse
paper that was manufactured at Berwick by Wm. L.
Lance who was experimenting there in the manufacture
of paper from wood pulp. This paper which was con-
sidered merely a joke, only made two issues.
The earliest newspaper to be established in Plymouth
was "The Plymouth Star," published weekly by E. D.
86 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
Barthe. It was established some time during the 6o's
and grew into a large circulation which continued for a
number of years. Ill health of the publisher and a fall-
ing off of patronage finally caused its demise.
In 1869 a weekly paper was published by N. B.
Burtch, called the Plymouth Register, but it was not of
long duration. That paper I think, had first been estab-
lished as a temperance organ by a man named Gould. It
was later continued under the name of "The Index," by
French and Levi, — primarily as an advertising medium —
and was still later, continued for several years as a
weekly by Dr. H. D. Bixby and his brother, and was
quite a lively little sheet.
In 1 89 1, the Plymouth Tribune was published a
short time by W. H. Capwell, who was succeeded for a
few years, by J. S. Sanders — or possibly Sanders was suc-
ceeded by Capwell. However, in 1896, J. W. Louis is-
sued it for a short time as a daily, under the auspices of
the Plymouth Board of Trade. In the issue of The
Plymouth Star of Nov. i, 1871, appears the advertise-
ments of the following named business men and firms in
Plymouth which will be of interest; they were: Harvey
Bros. & Kern, and D. E. Frantz, planing mill and lum-
ber; C. A. Kuschke, merchant tailor; C. H. Wilson, H.
D. Bixby, G. W. McKee, A. G. Rickard, physicians and
surgeons; Prof., H. Stadler, music teacher; E. Hair (suc-
cessor to Samuel Snyder), and Barber and Jenkins, hard-
ware; Dr. F. L. DeGour, dentist; Thos. Nesbitt, attor-
ney; D. K. Spry, S. W. Frantz, drugs; E. C. Wadhams,
Anthony Duffy, Wm. Davis & Co., John Albrighton &
Co., J. Albrighton, Peter Shupp, dry goods and groceries;
S. Weil, Freeman & Lees, Priester Schloss & Co., cloth-
iers; J. Y. Wren, machinist and foundry; H. Hudson,
David B. Williams, painters and decorators; E. W. Beck-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 87
with, photographer; Thos. Dodson, carpenter; John
Lees, James Eley, saloons and restaurants; Geo. P.
Richards, liquors; M. M. Weir & Son, Frantz House,
hotel; Frank Chelius, tobacco and cigars; N. Vanloon,
Wm. Brown, John Hummel, Miner Nogle, livery stables;
Dooley & Nealon, J. M. Williams, Joseph Switzer, cabi-
netmakers and undertakers; Tuttle, Edgar and Har-
rower, building materials and flour and feed; Brown &
Mangan, Marx Weil, Harris & Morgan, Lewis Gorham,
butchers; T. G. Jenkins, marble dealer; French & Levi,
real estate and insurance; A. F. Levi, books; Carter &
Co., fruits and vegetables; O. P. Gould, flour and feed;
M. N. Madden, confectionery and canned goods; L.
Boughtin, blacksmith and wheelwright, J. M. Connor,
harness.
Chapter XIII.
The War of the Rebellion — Captain Gaylord — Copperheads —
Fishing Creek Confederacy — Skulkers — Funeral of First Vic-
tim — Rev. Thomas P. Hunt — An Incident — Bounty Bonds
— Railroad Riots of 1877 — Acts of Lawlessness — Arrival of
Troops — The Molly Maguires — Killing of Dunleavy.
ON April 12, 1 86 1, with the firing on Fort Sumpter
at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, began the
War of the Rebellion which was destined for five long
dreary years, to spread death, destruction and misery
over all the land. In that war, Plymouth furnished her
full quota of men in support of the Union, some of whom
are now sleeping in unmarked graves or among the "un-
known" in the South; among that number being Captain
Asher Gaylord, of whom mention has been already made.
In this connection, a short time prior to his last bat-
tle, Capt. Gaylord who was at home recuperating from
88 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
wounds he had received, paid me three dollars for a
sword I had, and which he doubtless carried at the time
of his death.
While Plymouth had many loyal sons during that
war, she also, like many other communities, had within
her boundaries a few "Copperheads;" so named from the
venomous characteristics of that reptile which, lying con-
cealed in the grass was ever ready at an opportune mo-
ment to inject its deadly venom. A colony of those cop-
perheads near the close of the war, formed an encamp-
ment back of Bloomsburg in Columbia County, known as
the Fishing Creek Confederacy, and were organized and
armed, for the purpose of resisting the draft. It became
necessary for the government to send U. S. troops there
to disperse them.
During that period, some few — now-would-be
patriots, — found the climate of Canada, or of distant
states, more congenial to their health, and a few in Ply-
mouth were arrested for acts of disloyalty.
Among the first victims from Plymouth of that war,
was George Chamberlin, a son of the old doctor, who
died in camp and his body was brought home for burial.
The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon in the Metho-
dist Church which was crowded to overflowing. Rev.
Thos. P. Hunt, a Presbyterian minister from Wyoming,
who was chaplain of the same regiment officiated at the
services. Rev. Hunt was a small hunchback man who,
by force of character had earned a wide reputation. His
eye was penetrating, and his tongue, which he was utterly
fearless in using, was sharper than a two-edged sword.
On this particular occasion, his discourse was more
patriotic than theologic and it gave so great offense to
one old gentleman present, that he arose in his seat and
protested against what he called a prostitution of the
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 89
pulpit. As he started down the aisle to leave the church,
the old doctor and chief mourner, who was intensely
loyal, shouted out, "Give the old rebel hell." The ser-
vices were concluded without further incident.
Near the close of the war, when conscription became
necessary to fill up the depleted ranks of the armies, in
order to fill the quota of Plymouth, the School Board is-
sued bounty bonds in amounts aggregating upwards of
$15,000 to supply substitutes for those unable or unwill-
ing to go.
In July, 1877, almost immediately succeeding the
peaceful enjoyments incident to the centennial celebration
of our national independence, the country was startled
at the outbreak of very serious rioting by the railroad
employes in Pittsburg. These outbreaks of lawlessness,
like an epidemic of contagious disease, rapidly spread
over near the entire State. Railroad traflic was for a
time interrupted, employes being assaulted and engines
and cars demolished. Local authorities were utterly un-
able to cope with the situation, and the entire national
guard of the State was called into service. The miners
in the anthracite regions of Schuylkill and Luzerne and
Lackawanna Counties were at the time on strike and
soon became infected. A demon like spirit seemed to
pervade the masses. In Scranton, Mayor McKune had
been violently assaulted, and a posse of the leading citi-
zens had fired upon and killed several of the rioters. A
passenger train on the L. & B. R. R., arriving at Ply-
mouth from Northumberland in the evening was stoned
and the train obliged to remain on the siding at the depot.
I was Burgess at the time and a committee of represen-
tative citizens reported to me, their fears of contemplated
incendiarism against certain of the properties located
here and connected with mining industries, and requested
90 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
me to officially Invoke protection from the State. I tele-
graphed the State authorities and soon thereafter a regi-
ment of soldiers was in possession of the town. Great
was the indignation expressed at the arrival of troops,
and — as also occurred in more recent years — many
anxious inquiries were made regarding the responsibility
for the presence here of troops. The answer may per-
haps be found in the Adjutant General's report for that
year.
Governor Hartranft, who had hastened home from a
western journey at the commencement of the troubles,
had by this time assumed control of the situation, and
by a singular conincidence, Brigadier General E. W.
Matthews, a former school teacher in Plymouth, was in
charge of the troops which invaded the town. In front
of the engine of the train which carried the troops was
placed a gun, and at Nanticoke several companies were
disembarked, and as skirmishers, during the night, pro-
ceeded up the road, taking into custody every man
caught out of doors. Near a hundred of these night
prowlers were thus captured, quite a number in Plymouth,
some of whom were carried to Scranton, there to give an
account of their actions.
The troops remained stationed here, and in the lo-
cality for several weeks, the staff officers using the stalled
railroad cars for their headquarters.
During this period, occurred the trials and executions
of the notorious Molly Maguires, an organized band
of assassins which, for a number of years had terrorized
all the counties in the anthracite coal region. It was a
secret organization whose members were bound together
by oaths and having signs and passwords, among whom
assassination of objectionable persons was but a mere
pastime.
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 91
So powerful had this dangerous organization become,
that it required several years of patient effort on the part
of skilled detectives, under the auspices of Franklin B.
Gowen, president of the Reading Railroad Company, to
unearth and disband them. Many were arrested and sen-
tenced to long terms of imprisonment, and near a dozen
of them were executed in the several counties. Some of
the members of this nefarious gang were located in Ply-
mouth, and I still have in my possession as relics, quite a
choice collection of murderous lead and brass knuckles,
and leaded billies which were captured by the policemen
of the town during those troublous times. One of their
number named Dunleavy, was mysteriously shot one even-
ing in, a saloon on East Main Street, which incident had
the effect of putting a quietus on the band in Plymouth.
Chapter XIV.
The Avondale Disaster^Typhoid Fever Epidemic — The Changes
in Population — A Filial Tribute — Conclusion.
P LYMOUTH among other means, has gained a wide
notoriety throughout the country by reason of her
misfortunes and calamities. One of these occurred about
10 o'clock on Monday morning, September 6, 1869, when
a fire broke out at the Avondale Shaft which was known
also as the Steuben Coal Co., which, in its terrible results
gave a shock to the entire country, and spread a pall of
grief over the whole valley.
The fire originated from a ventilating furnace at the
foot of the shaft and was thence communicated to the
breaker located directly over it, causing the death by
asphyxiation of no persons in the mine and leaving des-
titute 72 widows and 153 orphaned children. Appeals to
92 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
the country at large were made for relief of the destitute,
which was generously responded to, to the amount of
$155,825.10.
Again, on the loth of April 1885, there suddenly
broke out one of the most serious epidemics of typhoid
fever on record. Its origin was traced to a typhoid fever
patient living in a house which was located near the source
of the town's water supply. The accumulated deadly germs
emanating from this patient which had been cast upon
the snow and frozen ground during the preceding month,
were thence washed by the rains and melting snow into
the stream which supplied the town with water. So
rapid and virulent was the disease, that fifty cases a day
developed, and some 1200 persons were stricken, among
whom occurred over 100 deaths. The doctors of the
town were unable to cope with it, and the suffering
throughout the town was intense. Four and five cases
were to be found in a single house and in some instances
as many as three in a single room. The good people of
Philadelphia came to the rescue and sent here a corps
of trained medical attendants besides rendering substan-
tial financial assistance. The High School building on
Shawnee Avenue was converted into a hospital, and many
of the patients were removed there.
Among the many wonderful changes which have
taken place in Plymouth within the lifetime of its oldest
residents, none are perhaps so marked as in that of its
inhabitants. From a mere hamlet, composed mostly of
Connecticut Settlers or their descendants, every one of
whom was well known to each other, it has grown to a
heterogeneous population of some 17,000 — the dimen-
sions of a third class city. The changes in the char-
acter, manners and habits of the population have oc-
curred at regular intervals, and bear a striking resem-
Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa. 93
blance to the migrations which have characterized the
world's history, and verifies the truth of the saying, that
"westward the star of empire takes its way."
At the commencement of the extensive developments
of the coal industry in the town and valley, the popula-
tion was composed largely of Irish and Germans, drawn
hither by those operations. These in a few years gave
place to the English and Welsh, and they in turn have
been largely displaced by the Slavonic and other peoples
of eastern and southern parts of Europe who, in like
manner may eventually give place to the Chinese and
Japanese, who knows.
Frequent mention of my father has been made
throughout the preceding pages, and necessarily it could
not well be otherwise, for the name of Samuel French
was connected, or associated with, nearly every indus-
trial and business enterprise in the town for many years,
hence, that reference was not the result of studied effort
to exalt family pride and needs no apology.
In closing these reminiscences however, a filial affec-
tion for a kind and affectionate parent, as well as one
of the leading and respected citizens of the town,
prompts me to add a word to his revered mem-
ory. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, July 6th,
1803, about a month after the death of his father, who,
by a singular coincidence, was born on the death bed of
his mother. At an early age he came to Plymouth,
where he lived, and died July 25th, 1866, a little past
the age of 63 years. At an early period he engaged
in the business of mining and shipping coal, later, in
connection with mining, farming and merchandising. His
mining operations he conducted until within a few years
of his decease. He was always industrious — never idle
— and by his industry and frugality he accumulated sufli-
94 Reminiscences of Plymouth, Pa.
cient means to live more than comfortably. He was
kind, indulgent and charitable, attended strictly to his
own business and enjoyed the esteem and respect of every-
one.
In an obituary notice of him, published at the time of
his death, it was said of him, that "he lived and died an
honest man," and what better eulogy, or more noble
heritage can be bequeathed.
Now in conclusion, in penning these reminiscences, it
has been my aim to present a pen picture of the town as I
remembered it in boyhood days. In locating old land-
marks, and gathering data, I have consulted old residents,
records, and documents, and the results as I have re-
corded them, I believe to be very generally authentic.
The scenes and incidents related, are most entirely
those of my own personal knowledge of the occurrences,
or, as I have heard them related by old people.
This recital of former scenes and incidents relating
to my native town, in which my endeavor has been to
"Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice," I
have little doubt will revive in the minds of older people,
long forgotten memories of the past, and perhaps, in a
historical sense, may not be entirely uninteresting to the
younger generation; and, if perhance their perusal af-
fords as much pleasure to the reader, as the recital has
afforded pleasure and recreation to the writer, he will be
in a measure repaid for his time and labor.
'HThe evil that men do lives after them;
The good, is oft interred with their bones."
LOTUS PRESS, NtW YORK
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