PART  1

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HISTORY  OF SULLIVAN  COUNTY.

THOMAS J. INGHAM

INTRODUCTION.

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            This is a history of about two-thirds of the first century of the settlements and improvements in what is now Sullivan county.I have not attempted a narrative of events within the memory of the present generation, but some recent events have been naturally drawn into the narrative.

            Those who read this history will feel that the conclusion has not been rounded up, but left with jagged ends.  This seems unavoidable, for events which make history are constantly transpiring, and the historian can only stop at the most convenient point.

            When I first passed through Sullivan county, in 1850, the most of it was a primeval forest; but old settlements, like islands in a sea of woods, were scattered through it:  Around the Forks, and in Elkland, Fox and Hillsgrove were old farms, free from stumps, with stone fences and old buildings.  In Shrewsbury, separated by miles of dense woods from the Forks, was a settlement which seemed to have been finished forty years before.A thread of small farms along Muncy creek and some old farms along North Mountain and at Elk Lick constituted Davidson; while far away from these settlements, and separated from them by lonely wildernesses, was the township of Cherry.  The new county seat, Laporte, was a mere stumpy clearing, with a few small buildings, surrounded by miles of dark woods.

            The peculiarities of these old settlements excited my curiosity and led me to inquire from the older settlers what brought them into such a wilderness at such an early day.  I made memorandums of information thus received.  After I had accumulated considerable information of this kind, I published in the Press and Standard a series of articles relating to each township, which attracted some attention and brought criticisms, corrections and new facts.

            In 1876 I condensed the most striking facts in relation to the history of the county into an address which I delivered at Laporte on the Fourth of July.  I did not publish this, because I felt that it was incomplete and I desired to add more to it.  In 1894 I delivered a historical address at the Forksville fair, in which I used the material of my former address with additions and corrections.  This I declined to have published for reasons already expressed.An address on the Molyneux, Bird and Warren families, which had been prepared with great research by George M. Pardoe, Esq., was read at the same fair and published in newspaper and pamphlet form.  About this time Mr. William Meylert was employed by the state librarian to write a series of articles on the history of Sullivan county, and I placed my two addresses and all of my manuscripts at his disposal.  He made such use of them as he desired, and made extensive researches of his own, which he combined in a number of articles published in a Harrisburg newspaper, and which I believe are preserved in the state library in scrap-book form.Mr. Meylert has preserved them in the same form, and has given me free use of his scrap-book, for which I here tender him my thanks.  I also tender thanks to Mr. Pardoe for the copy of his address which he furnished to me and which I have used freely.  I am indebted to Ulysses Bird, Esq., for facts collected by him and published in a newspaper several years ago, and also for his kindness in loaning me the docket of Edward A. Eldred, Esq., and other old and valuable manuscripts.

            I cannot begin to name all of the persons who from time to time have given me information in personal interviews and by letters; and to name a part would seem invidious.  Many of them are deceased; to those living I tender my thanks.I have not made use of nearly all of the information collected, because the publishers did not desire a lengthy history, but I have used that which seems most interesting.  I am indebted to my brother, J. W. Ingham, of Sugar Run, for his assistance in collating the material and in writing the history.Without his efficient aid I could not have completed the work at the present time.  Having given just credit to so many others about the only credit I can claim for myself is perseverance in collecting and preserving facts.This I may call a labor of love, for it has been done without any compensation.  When I came into this county, nearly fifty years ago, I was treated with the greatest of kindness by the people then living, and from time to time as occasion has offered, I have experienced many favors from the rapidly increasing population, which I fully appreciate.  My heartiest wish now is that the people who continue to inhabit these picturesque uplands and delightful valleys may be prosperous and happy.

                                                                                                                                                                                    THOS. J. INGHAM.

HISTORY  OF SULLIVAN  COUNTY.

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            Sullivan County is in that part of Pennsylvania purchased from the Indians in 1768, and also in the territory claimed by Connecticut.It was formed from Lycoming county by act of March 15, 1847; and Lycoming county was formed from Northumberland county by act of April 13, 1796.  Many of the original surveys of lands now in Sullivan county were returned to the land office as in the county of Northumberland.

SITUATION.

            The county of Sullivan is situated midway between the north and west branches of the Susquehanna river.  Its waters empty into these branches at widely divergent points.  The Mehoopany creek and a branch of the Towanda creek take their rise near together and empty into the North Branch about forty miles apart.  One branch of the Loyalsock rises very near the head-waters of the Mehoopany and Towanda creeks and running in an opposite direction empties into the West Branch near Williamsport.  The head-waters of Muncy creek and of Fishing creek are but a few miles apart, yet one empties into the West Branch at Muncy, the other into the North Branch near Bloomsburg.  Pleasant stream, which rises in Fox township, takes its way into Lycoming creek, which empties above Williamsport.  The streams which rise on the northern line of our county go north into the Towanda creek.Sullivan county may therefore be called the "Highlands" of northern Pennsylvania; and yet with high mountain ridges running through it, nature has left valleys for railroads, some of which have been constructed and others in contemplation.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

            One of the earliest settlements of the West Branch above Northumberland was made at the mouth of Muncy creek in 1768, by Connecticut settlers from Wyoming Valley, but their settlement was entirely broken up by Colonel Plunkett, under orders of John Penn, governor of Pennsylvania, and the settlers imprisoned, or driven off.  Their improvements were immediately occupied by Pennsylvania claimants, who lived there until 1778, when they were attacked by a band of Indians, and, being panic-stricken, fled, leaving the Indians in possession of the whole valley.  The war with the Indians lasted about six years, the settlers in the valley suffering all the hardships and cruelties of an Indian warfare.  We can easily imagine that no hardy, adventurous settlers undertook to begin settlements within the present boundaries of Sullivan county while this Indian war was going on.  The Indian war-paths from the North Branch of the Susquehanna led through this county, and in the fastnesses of this region the savages retired after committing their depredations on the West Branch, and no doubt caught big trout from the waters of the Loyalsock, and killed game on the banks of that beautiful stream.  When the first settlers came they found an Indian meadow on the flats above the forks of the Loyalsock.

FIRST RESIDENTS.

So far as is now known, the first white resident within the boundaries of what now constitutes Sullivan county, was Daniel Ogden, who settled at Hill's Grove considerably more than one hundred years ago, --- probably in 1786, --- on land at present owned by Richard Biddle.  He made a clearing, built a house and a small gristmill on the waters of Mill creek. He sold his property to John Hill (for whom the township was named) and moved away about the year 1794.  It is said that Ogden, like many other American pioneers in the wilderness, did not care for society, disliked near neighbors, and when the Englishmen began to move in around him, determined to leave the place.  It is also said that, having had a son killed in the Revolutionary war with Great Britain, he had acquired an unreasonable hatred against all Englishmen.  There was a rumor that he was a Tory, but the evidence is against it, and the rumor was, no doubt, started by a personal enemy.

            James Ecroyd went to Hillsgrove before Ogden left the place, and improved the land which was afterward owned and occupied by Jonathan Lewis.  He afterward went to Elkland and built a mill on Mill creed, afterward called King's creek.  The following incident is related in a publication of Mr. Gernerd, of Muncy:  "On Saturday, the 30th of January, 1796, James Ecroyd set out to hunt, and lost himself in the woods.  The whole neighborhood drove the woods every day, yet he was not found until the following Friday.  He had wandered eight miles from the nearest house, although he had been twice within a quarter of a mile of Hillsgrove.  In crossing a run by means of a pine log he had slipped in the water and wet his lower extremities, and subsequent exposure to the frost, on one of the sharpest nights in winter, resulted in the loss of most of his toes.The dog-bark disclosed his whereabouts, and he was found by an expiring fire in a very exhausted condition."

            About 1787 a man named Griffith Griffey settled on land since well known as the farm of Judge Speaker.  He built a log hut back near the mountain side, on a rise of ground about thirty feet high, as he said, to be out of the way of high water.He planted a small orchard, and lived there about ten years.  He was a "squatter," as no survey of the lands thereabouts had yet been made.He was living there one or two years before John Hill settled at Hillsgrove.  After Griffey left the place, Charles Edwards lived there two years and made a little clearing.  Thomas Wallis lived there a short time.  Richard White made the greatest improvement in the way of clearing, and built a small frame house and log barn.  His only title was a clearing lease for a term of years.  He died about 1833, but his widow remained on the place until about 1841, when John A. Speaker moved there.  His farm was called "Sidney," because the James Campbell tract was patented in the name of Sidney, in 1797.

          John Hill settled on what is now Hillsgrove about 1789, and took up all the flat land along the north side of the Loyalsock creek for two miles up and down it, and half a mile back from the creek on the mountains.  This land was surveyed and patented about 1794.  Hill died in 1839 and was buried in the cemetery near by, where several strangers had already been buried before any of the original settlers had died, the first one having been M. Charles Bui Boulogne, a Frenchman, agent of the French colony at Asylum, who was drowned in attempting to ford the Loyalsock at Hillsgrove, July 20, 1796.

            After John Hill's death, his son, John C. Hill, the uncle of John Sadler **, had charge of the farm until his death, when John J. Sadler and W. J. Eldred were appointed administrators.  Mrs. David Rogers, a daughter of John Hill, Sr., became the owner of the farm where John H. Rogers now resides, extending almost up to the mouth of Elk creek.  Mrs. Joseph Sadler, mother of John J. Sadler, became the owner of the second farm above Hillsgrove.  Mrs. Martha Craven, by will, became owner of property where the Tannery Company now own and have their buildings.  John C. Hill acquired the property now owned by Richard Biddle.
** Editor's Note: You can learn more about the history of the Sadler family and its appearance in this area in Aunt Eliza's Scrapbook. John Hill, the founder of Hillsgrove, was married to Mary Robb, daughter of Robert and Susanna Robb of Muncy, PA in 1796. Thereafter, the Hill, Robb, Sadler and Craven families were all related by marriage. You can find out more about the Robb family at Descendants of John Robb.

            Nearly ten miles farther up the Loyalsock a man known as Captain Brown built a cabin on land now occupied by Isaac Rogers, below the Forks.  He was an Indian fighter in the wars on the west branch, and did not like clearing land.He lived by hunting and fishing, always standing ready to furnish venison or bear's meat on a half day's notice.He was probably the first dealer in fresh meat in this county.  A man named Miller lived on the opposite side of the creek from Captain Brown's cabin.A man named Strong came from Cherry Valley, in "York State," and built a cabin on the bench of land where Millview now stands, close by the mountain brook which starts from a spring on George C. Bird's land, and is still known as "Strong's Run."He had been led to believe that it was only twelve miles down the Loyalsock to its junction with the west branch of the Susquehanna, but when he had made the trip to the river and ascertained that instead of twelve miles, the distance was at least forty, he returned to Cherry Valley.  Strong and Ogden were old acquaintances, but there were no roads from Ogden's to Strong's and when Mrs. Ogden visited Mrs. Strong she was taken up the creek in a canoe.The settlers named above came without concert with each other, or backing, and were in the county previous to 1794.

OLD COUNTY LINES.

            Before the year 1796 the territory now comprised in Sullivan was all in Northumberland county.  By an act of the legislature, passed September 25, 1786, Luzerne county was organized.  The west line of Luzerne ran from the head of Towanda creek along the ridge which divides the waters of the north branch of the Susquehanna from those of the west branch, to a point due west from the mouth of Nescopeck creek.  This new county of Luzerne took in some of the eastern portion of the territory which is now in Sullivan, but left the larger part in Northumberland.  By an act of the legislature, passed April 13, 1796, the county of Lycoming was formed, which took all the settlements in this county then commenced.

PRIMEVAL FOREST.

            The country at this time, between the north and west branch of the Susquehanna river, was an almost unbroken wilderness, consisting of dense forests of heavy timber-trees, thick tangled growths of laurel bushes, windfalls full of tall blackberry briers, and dark, dreary swamps containing alders, tamarack bushes, and coarse grass. This wilderness of woods, rocks, hills, mountains and streams was well peopled with wild animals, such as deer, elk, bears, wolves, panthers, catamounts, wild-cats, --- to say nothing of the smaller inhabitants, such as minks, beavers and foxes.  There were also serpents, such as rattlesnakes, copperheads and blacksnakes.

THE LAND LAWS.

            From April 3, 1792, to March 28, 1814, these lands could be purchased from the State for six and two-thirds cents per acre, to which the cost of the warrant and survey had to be added.  It is not wonderful that enterprising men with capital made haste to acquire large bodies of land.  It was not the intention of the law-makers to assist "land-grabbing," as it is called, by fixing so low a price per acre for the State lands, but it was intended to be for the interest of the poor who desired to own land; and to encourage a rapid settlement of the public domain.  The result proved to be exactly the opposite to the intent of the legislature.

            Although the law allowed the sale of only a four-hundred-acre tract to a single individual, the law was evaded generally by men of large means who bought as many four-hundred-acre tracts as they wanted, under different warrantee names.  Having obtained their titles, they raised the price of unimproved lands so high that it placed them beyond the means of the poor, and the settlement of this county, as well as adjoining counties, was impeded.  The State did not first survey the land and then sell it, as was the practice of the United States government, but sold the land, and then issued warrants to survey it.

THE WALLIS LANDS.

            Samuel Wallis, of Muncy, took a large number of warrants to locate on the Loyalsock.  To get supplies to his surveying parties he had a road cut from Muncy to the summit of the Allegheny, thence down the steep mountain-side to Hillsgrove on the Loyalsock.  This was known as Wallis road, but was merely a foot-path, or pack-horse road cut through the woods to convey supplies to his surveying parties engaged in this county.  As early as 1793 another pack-horse road was cut, leaving the Wallis road at the foot of the Allegheny, thence northward to the left of Hunter's Run, on through to the forks of the Loyalsock, where Forksville is now situated.  This was called the "Courson Road," and was first used by surveyors, in bringing in provisions and traveling to and from their work.

            A great deal of surveying was done by Wallis in 1793, and it is said that William Molyneux was with one of his surveying parties at the Forks in that year.  As soon as Wallis had completed and returned his surveys, he sold a large body of land on the waters of the Loyalsock to Joseph Priestley, Jr., and John Vaughan.

PRIESTLEY LANDS.

            Joseph Priestley, Jr., and some other English gentlemen had projected a settlement for English emigrants on the waters of the Loyalsock, and contemplated the purchase of three hundred thousand acres of land.It was to be a rallying point for the English, who were at that time coming to America in great numbers.  It was thought by them that by the union of industry and capital the wilderness would soon be cleared, and made equal to any other part of the country in everything necessary to the enjoyment of life.The project was finally abandoned, as it was found that the generality of Englishmen who came to this country were not adapted to the kind of labor required and the hardships to be endured by the first settlers in a wilderness.  Joseph Priestly, Jr., however, did what he could to establish a prosperous colony.

            In 1794 he sent William Molyneux, Powell Bird and John Warren to make a clearing near the forks of the Loyalsock.  They cleared about two acres and built a small house for Priestly, near where the Methodist church now stands.  These men afterward brought their families, and the manner of their coming is best described by Josiah Warren (a son of John and Mary Warren), as related by George M. Pardoe and found in his Genealogy of William Molyneux and his Descendants.

            Mr. Pardoe says:  "Josiah Warren, of Canton, a son of John and Mary Warren, and who was born on the old Warren homestead, near Millview, May 10, 1808, and who knew all of those old pioneers well, told the writer in 1890 that William Molyneux came up first with a surveying party for Joseph Priestly, Jr., of Northumberland; that soon after he came back and brought Powell Bird with him, and that Molyneux, at least, built his house at that time.  That they then went back to Northumberland, and Molyneux went to England to get his family.  That the next spring his parents, John and Mary Warren, came up with their family and lived in the Molyneux house until they had built a house for themselves, on their land above and adjoining the Molyneux land.  That his sister, Jane, was born on the way up, at Abram Webster's, on the old Genesee road between Muncy and Hillsgrove.  That the father and oldest child, Sarah, came on and left the mother and babe at Webster's, who, a few weeks after, completed the journey on horseback.  That his sister, Jane, was born May 24, 1795.  That Molyneux and Bird came afterward with their families, he thought in the fall of the same year.  He also stated that his mother, Mary Warren, was the first woman who baked bread in Sullivan county.  That Rebecca Bird Molyneux was the first white person born there.  That he, Josiah Warren, was at that time (1890) the only living member of either of the three first families, and also the oldest person then living who was born in the settlement.  This statement as to the date of his sister Jane's birth I find verified in the old family bible of the Warrens, now in the possession of William Warren, of Elkland."

            Mr. Pardoe further states:  "I think it reasonably certain that of the permanent settlers William Molyneux was the first to come and spy out the land, and the first to make improvements, which was in 1794.  That in all probability Powell Bird was the second to come and view the land, which was also in 1794, and that John Warren, who came with his family in 1795, was the third to come, and the first to bring his family, and that William Molyneux and Powell Bird brought their families in the fall of the same year."

            It will be noticed that this differs somewhat from our statement, that in 1794 Mr. Priestley sent Molyneux, Bird and Warren to make a clearing at the Forks.  It is proper, therefore, to give our authority, who was Moses Rogers (father of Judge Rogers), and whose statement was made to the writer many years ago, and taken down by him at the time in writing, which memorandum is still preserved.Those who knew Moses Rogers will attach great weight to his statement, for he was a clear-headed, truthful man, and had an excellent memory.  We will quote still farther from Mr. Pardoe's interesting history:  "I understand that in coming here these settlers came over the mountain from Muncy, past Abram Webster's and struck the Loyalsock at or below Hillsgrove.  It is told that they forded the Loyalsock thirteen times from Hillsgrove up.  That everything had to be packed on horseback or on their own backs, and as horses were scarce they frequently had to go on foot to Muncy, their nearest trading place (only thirty miles), and bring back what few store goods they were compelled to use.  The mortar and pestle was the only mill they had for years."

            These pioneers selected lands on the Little Loyalsock adjoining each other.  Although William Molyneux apparently purchased his land in 1794, the land was not conveyed to him until January 18, 1803.  The Molyneux farm had a large amount of bottom land.  The village of Millview now stands on this tract.

            After the clearing was made for Priestly at the Forks, Molyneux commenced clearing on his own land.  He built a cabin on the opposite side of the creek from where Millview stands.  He lived there several years without his family.  One day while attending a deer-killing at the creek, on his return he found no cabin --- it had taken fire and burned up.  He then built a house of hewn logs, near the present site of the Molyneux sawmill, and having made a house that seemed comfortable, returned to England for his family.  His wife died before his return, but he brought three of his children with him, viz.:John, Thomas and Elizabeth.Edward was left at that time; but came afterward.  He built the third house on the bank of Strong's Run in the limits of the present village of Millview, and only a few yards south of the Molyneux Homestead.Elizabeth kept house for her father until she was married to William Snell some years afterward.  William Molyneux and his son John then kept house for themselves until 1823, when John married Martha Saddler.  William Molyneux lived until 1848, and died in his eighty-ninth year.

            The land of John Warren adjoined the Molyneux land, being the next farm up the Little Loyalsock creek.  Warren's first house stood about half way between the present residence, formerly the Warren homestead, and the creek, on a bench of land near where an old log building stood until a short time ago.  The second house was built just across the road from the present residence on that farm, which was the third and last Warren homestead.  John Warren died April 17, 1813, being the first of the original settlers to pass away.  His good wife, Mary Ward Warren, the first woman who came there, lived until May 14, 1840.  The Warren farm is now owned by the descendants of William Molyneux and Powell Bird.

            The land of Powell Bird adjoined the Warren land, and still farther up the creek still goes by his name.  It is now owned and occupied by his grandson, John K. Bird.The first house built by Powell Bird stood only a few rods from the residence of John K. Bird, across the mountain brook which runs between the house and the barn, and nearer Bird's creek than the present residence.  Powell Bird died April 13, 1829.  His wife, Lydia Hannant Bird, died January 29, 1832.  Powell Bird's descendants are numerous and have always been among the most substantial and respected citizens of the county.

            Thomas Huckell brought his family to the Forks in 1797. He had contracted with Priestly for four hundred acres of land lying on both sides of the Loyalsock at the Forks.  He lived only one year after he came there, and his widow being unable to complete the payments due on the land, surrendered to Priestly that part of the tract which lies on the side of the creek now occupied by the business part of Forksville.  The part which she retained was afterwards owned by her grandson, D. T. Huckell.  The homestead on which the widow resided until her death was on the left side of Little Loyalsock, about a fourth of a mile from the church.  Daniel T. Huckell, grandson of Thomas Huckell, was accidentally killed a few years ago.  He was a man of fine talents, and extensive information, active in all good works.He was one of the most eloquent public speakers who ever resided in this county.

            The farm in Hillsgrove where Wheeler Green now lives, was settled on in 1793 by John Huckell.  It is not known whether or not he was connected with others in the county of the same name.  The old settlers called him "the little Englishman."  He was not successful.  His wife and two daughters died.  He then started to go back to England but took sick and died at Muncy.His son, an officer in the British army, had started to bring his father home, but contracted a fever and died on the ship.  In 1796 Joseph Huckell settled on the land below Hillsgrove.  His son, Benjamin Huckell, who was an excellent farmer and a man of great intelligence and influence, succeeded to the farm, and lived there all his life.He raised a large family and has many descendants.  The Snell farm, now owned by Ezra S. Little, on Elk creek, was first settled by Joseph Warren about 1796.  John Snell purchased the land in 1833.  Mrs. Ezra S. Little, a daughter of John Snell, has lived on the farm since 1837.

THE GENESEE ROAD.

            The Genesee road was opened about the year 1800 --- so called because it afforded the first road for emigrants from southern Pennsylvania to the rich valley of the Genesee river, New York.  This road ran from Muncy (then called Pennsburg), passing the house of William Ellis, on Wolf Run, and of Abraham Webster, near Huntersville; thence over the Allegheny by Highland lake and down the Ogdonia creek to the Loyalsock; thence up that stream, passing Hill's to Elk creek, which it followed to Lincoln Falls; thence over the ridge to King's creek, which it followed for some distance, then turned eastward, passing Eldred's and went over Burnett's Ridge and down Millstone Run to Shrader's Branch and down that to Towanda creek, where it connected with other roads to Tioga river.

AT THE FORKS.

            In 1802, Samuel Rogers, Sr., purchased the one hundred and forty acres of land surrendered by the widow of Thomas Huckell, and made considerable improvements.  His sons, Samuel, William and Jonathan, erected a woolen factory, which stood a few rods below the bridge, on the south side of the creek.The factory was in operation until 1816, when it was swept away by a flood.  The Rogers family had been engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in England, and thoroughly understood the business of making cloth.Previous to the establishment of this factory each family in this region had done its own spinning and weaving.The factory proved a great help to the neighborhood by giving employment to people, and making a ready market for their wool.  When the war of 1812 came, they obtained contracts from the government to furnish kersey cloth for the army. 

Several teams were constantly employed in transporting their goods to Philadelphia; and bringing back raw material.  So thorough was the destruction of this factory by the raging stream that nothing remained to show the place where it had stood except a single log imbedded in the gravel at the bottom of the creek.  The only thing ever found of the building and its contents was a dye kettle which was discovered some months after the flood in a deep hole about a mile below the Forks.

            Samuel Rogers, Sr., brought a family of ten children to the Forks.  His youngest son, Moses, who was born in 1806, took the land after his father's death, and occupied it for many years.  He laid out the village of Forksville in 1854, and lived to see it a prosperous town.He was a quiet, unobtrusive, but highly intelligent man, who was greatly respected in the county.  He died in February, 1879.  His sons were Saddler S., M. Austin, Isaac, J. Wesley and William.Saddler S. is now acting as county commissioner; M. Austin was an associate judge of the county for five years; J. Wesley Rogers is an acting justice of the peace; William Rogers enlisted in the army, and was killed in the service; W. C. Rogers, a grandson of Moses, has served as a representative in the Pennsylvania legislature.

            The first store started in Forksville was in 1848, by Alonzo Potter, in the old schoolhouse.  The next year, having built a new store, his goods were removed to it.  In 1850 he sold out to William J. Eldred, who continued the business until 1853.  In 1855, M. A. Rogers, having erected a new store building, commenced the mercantile business, which he has continued to conduct until the present time, and has probably been longer in business than any other merchant in the county.

            Soon after the first improvements were made at the Forks, Priestly sent a good many settlers to the Elklands.  Among them were William Snell, William King, William Gingley, Edward J. Eldred, James Ecroyd, Jesse Haines, David Thomas, Jonathan Hartly, Joel McCarty, Francis Boyles and Charles Mullen.  The name of Elklands was adopted at an early day, because elk were found in that region.

            William King came to America about 1799, being then about twenty-six years of age.  He stopped at Northumberland a short time and then went to Elkland to work for Ecroyd.About the year 1803 he bought the land now occupied by George W. Glidewell and built a cabin a few rods south of a fine flowing spring.  As he was unmarried, he sent to Northumberland for his father and mother to come and live with him.  Their names were Thomas and Esther King, and they brought with them their youngest daughter, Sarah, who afterwards married George Bird.  In 1817 they built a better house.  Esther King died in 1832 and her husband died some time before.Two years after the death of his mother, William married Polly Crandall, and lived with her until the time of his death in 1852.  William King left no children, but his brothers and sisters have numerous descendants still living.

            William Snell made the first clearing on the land since occupied by Robert and James Hart.  William Bingley made his commencement on the farm since owned by Joseph Whitely.  Bingley's house had a panel door, --- the first ever seen in Elkland.

            Charles Mullan first settled the land now known as the "Peck place."  David Thomas went to Elk Lake, which was then called Thomas' Lake.  Francis Grange was also an early settler, and exceedingly domestic.  In 1828 he went to Northumberland to make a payment on his land, and he then told Joseph Priestly, Jr., that he had been married forty years, and that was the first time h